At barely a year old Samuel already has some killer dance moves! He really knows how to get his groove on. See for yourself....
It was a total surprize when he started dancing for the first time to my silly made-up song. Allen and I are both big fans of making up songs with Samuel as the subject but using popular tunes. The day he decided to bust a move I was about to change his stinky diaper so I was singing "Poo Poo" to the tune of the old 1950s Rock-a-teen's song "Woo Hoo."
Other favorites includes Allen's rendition of "Samuel-razzi" (from Lady GaGa's "Paparazzi") and my take on "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," which goes "Samuel's Got His Poo Pants On."
There's never a dull moment at the Graham house!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Farm Fresh
Anyone who knows me very well would probably list "farm" as the very last place you would find me. There is something about smelly animals, dirt and grown men in overalls that just rubs me the wrong way. Although, last weekend I was at a farm and actually had a pretty awesome time!
When it comes to farm life I am completely clueless. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've been to a farm on only one prior occasion. When I was about 4 I visited my dad's friend's parents' dairy farm. All I remember is that I tasted the fresh milk and spit it right back out because it tasted weird. Even 4-year-old Laura knew that farm living would not be the life for me.
My cluelessness was pretty evident by the attire I chose for the day. I knew I would be picking vegetables but for some reason I guess I didn't realize that I would be getting really dirty. I chose to wear a Juicy hoodie, Citizen's jeans and Converse tennies. Not exactly the most rugged choice. At least Samuel was dressed appropriately. I put him in a pair of hand-me-down jeans and boots.
I'd heard great things about Miller Farm so I was very excited to be partaking in this adventure with our church group. I was also looking forward to helping my friend Kerri celebrate her birthday, which was part of the excursion. Allen wanted to go too but was already committed to a volunteer activity for work.
The idea of growing our own produce appeals to both of us since we enjoy cooking (and eating) so much. We would really like to grow our own garden one day. We tried to a container garden a few years ago but that was before we knew there was a book called "Container Gardening for Dummies." If you assumed that the outcome was failure then you would be right. Between the cold weather and lack of watering I think our harvest amounted to a handful of cherry tomatoes and one cucumber. But as I recall it was a damn good cucumber.
Back to the farm....
So after a hearty Subway lunch and cupcakes (for Kerri's b.day) we loaded up in the back of the truck lined with hay bales to start pickin' our veggies. This farm had just about every vegetable you can imagine and for $10 you can have as much as you can carry. Score! I was planning dinner menus in my head as we made our way for the corn stalks.
I set off with Olivia and Jeremy since they both seemed to know what they were doing. I got a quick lesson on how to twist the husk off the stalk and then Samuel (who was riding on my hip) and I set off on our own. It took a while to find ears that were large enough to pick, but eventually I ended up with about 8. I was so proud. Allen loves sweet corn so I couldn't wait to show him what we had picked just for him. I was already imagining his praise. Back on the wagon Olivia started helping me shuck my corn and much to my dismay, every single ear I had, all 8, were infested in worms. Eww!!
I was quite discouraged as we headed for the potatoes. In fact, I was convinced that if we were somehow thrown into a post-apocalyptic situation where the survival of my family depended on my ability to gather, we would certainly all die. This realization made me more determined to make sure that I at least took home something that was suitable to eat.
After digging, pulling, twisting and scrounging around all afternoon, most of it with a 22 pound baby strapped to my back, I harvested a decent size sack of red & white potatoes, about 12 onions, 2 cabbages, several carrots and 2 mini pumpkins. Also, thanks to the generosity (and, most likely, pity) of Olivia, I brought home 4 ears of sweet corn. I also had some help along the way since bending over with a baby can be somewhat of a challenge.
While exhausting, it was also fun being out there with Samuel. I felt like a real pioneer woman since throughout history women have had to wear their babies while they harvested. I even stopped to breastfeed him since that, undoubtedly, would have been part of a real pioneer woman's day.
After workin' in the fields we headed back to the amusement part of the farm so the kids could play. Samuel got to pet a goat, who nipped his hand. Bad goat! We also rode a petal cart made to look like a John Deere tractor. He attempted to climb a giant hay bale pyramid but settled for just chewing a few pieces of hay. He also got to climb through a tractor-tire tunnel and he attempted to push a tractor. That might have been my favorite part of the day. He got behind a tractor, put his little hands out and started pushing with all his might. When it wouldn't budge he looked up at me with an expression that could only be interpreted as, "what the heck?"
Samuel and I had a great time getting dirty. Now that I am the mom of a little boy I know I'll be doing a lot of things I never thought I would do and this will be the first of many times when I'll have to toss aside my preconcieved notions of certain activites and just jump right in to the unknown. I'm sure this won't be the last time that I'll come home covered head to toe in dirt!
When it comes to farm life I am completely clueless. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've been to a farm on only one prior occasion. When I was about 4 I visited my dad's friend's parents' dairy farm. All I remember is that I tasted the fresh milk and spit it right back out because it tasted weird. Even 4-year-old Laura knew that farm living would not be the life for me.
My cluelessness was pretty evident by the attire I chose for the day. I knew I would be picking vegetables but for some reason I guess I didn't realize that I would be getting really dirty. I chose to wear a Juicy hoodie, Citizen's jeans and Converse tennies. Not exactly the most rugged choice. At least Samuel was dressed appropriately. I put him in a pair of hand-me-down jeans and boots.
I'd heard great things about Miller Farm so I was very excited to be partaking in this adventure with our church group. I was also looking forward to helping my friend Kerri celebrate her birthday, which was part of the excursion. Allen wanted to go too but was already committed to a volunteer activity for work.
The idea of growing our own produce appeals to both of us since we enjoy cooking (and eating) so much. We would really like to grow our own garden one day. We tried to a container garden a few years ago but that was before we knew there was a book called "Container Gardening for Dummies." If you assumed that the outcome was failure then you would be right. Between the cold weather and lack of watering I think our harvest amounted to a handful of cherry tomatoes and one cucumber. But as I recall it was a damn good cucumber.
Back to the farm....
So after a hearty Subway lunch and cupcakes (for Kerri's b.day) we loaded up in the back of the truck lined with hay bales to start pickin' our veggies. This farm had just about every vegetable you can imagine and for $10 you can have as much as you can carry. Score! I was planning dinner menus in my head as we made our way for the corn stalks.
I set off with Olivia and Jeremy since they both seemed to know what they were doing. I got a quick lesson on how to twist the husk off the stalk and then Samuel (who was riding on my hip) and I set off on our own. It took a while to find ears that were large enough to pick, but eventually I ended up with about 8. I was so proud. Allen loves sweet corn so I couldn't wait to show him what we had picked just for him. I was already imagining his praise. Back on the wagon Olivia started helping me shuck my corn and much to my dismay, every single ear I had, all 8, were infested in worms. Eww!!
I was quite discouraged as we headed for the potatoes. In fact, I was convinced that if we were somehow thrown into a post-apocalyptic situation where the survival of my family depended on my ability to gather, we would certainly all die. This realization made me more determined to make sure that I at least took home something that was suitable to eat.
After digging, pulling, twisting and scrounging around all afternoon, most of it with a 22 pound baby strapped to my back, I harvested a decent size sack of red & white potatoes, about 12 onions, 2 cabbages, several carrots and 2 mini pumpkins. Also, thanks to the generosity (and, most likely, pity) of Olivia, I brought home 4 ears of sweet corn. I also had some help along the way since bending over with a baby can be somewhat of a challenge.
While exhausting, it was also fun being out there with Samuel. I felt like a real pioneer woman since throughout history women have had to wear their babies while they harvested. I even stopped to breastfeed him since that, undoubtedly, would have been part of a real pioneer woman's day.
After workin' in the fields we headed back to the amusement part of the farm so the kids could play. Samuel got to pet a goat, who nipped his hand. Bad goat! We also rode a petal cart made to look like a John Deere tractor. He attempted to climb a giant hay bale pyramid but settled for just chewing a few pieces of hay. He also got to climb through a tractor-tire tunnel and he attempted to push a tractor. That might have been my favorite part of the day. He got behind a tractor, put his little hands out and started pushing with all his might. When it wouldn't budge he looked up at me with an expression that could only be interpreted as, "what the heck?"
Samuel and I had a great time getting dirty. Now that I am the mom of a little boy I know I'll be doing a lot of things I never thought I would do and this will be the first of many times when I'll have to toss aside my preconcieved notions of certain activites and just jump right in to the unknown. I'm sure this won't be the last time that I'll come home covered head to toe in dirt!
Suck It Up
Now that Samuel is able to drink from a straw he has become kind of obsessed with them. If he so much as even sees a straw he's got to have it. There are times when this is very inconvenient. Like when I am trying to enjoy a Frappuccino, which is very much not for babies, or any beverage that contains caffeine, sugar or artificial garbage. Mom likes to drink a lot of junk. Babies, on the other hand, should really just stick to milk and water. I'm not proud to say it, but I've let Samuel have sips of tea and some of my decaf Fraps. So far I've been able to hold out on my biggest vice, Diet Coke. Good for me!
While the straw obsession is usually a bad thing I have found a way to use it to my advantage. It's become my magic wand of distraction. Oh, so you don't want to ride in your car seat today? Here, have a straw to play with. Not a fan of what's for dinner? Here's a straw and a cup. Have fun!
I was actually pretty amazed to discover that Samuel would eat a huge amount of food as long as he has a straw and a cup to play with. He is endlessly amused by putting the straw into the cup, chewing on the straw, waving the straw around, turning the cup over and banging on it with the straw, all while we spoon feed him his meal. Now that he is in an anti-finger-foods-stage the straw & cup trick has been really helpful. If we try to feed him with out it he takes about two bites and frantically starts signing "all done." I guess he just likes to keep his hands busy. Although, isn't that the point of finger foods?
Straws: just another personality quirk that makes me appreciate Samuel even more. I love having such an interesting and entertaining little person in my life!
While the straw obsession is usually a bad thing I have found a way to use it to my advantage. It's become my magic wand of distraction. Oh, so you don't want to ride in your car seat today? Here, have a straw to play with. Not a fan of what's for dinner? Here's a straw and a cup. Have fun!
I was actually pretty amazed to discover that Samuel would eat a huge amount of food as long as he has a straw and a cup to play with. He is endlessly amused by putting the straw into the cup, chewing on the straw, waving the straw around, turning the cup over and banging on it with the straw, all while we spoon feed him his meal. Now that he is in an anti-finger-foods-stage the straw & cup trick has been really helpful. If we try to feed him with out it he takes about two bites and frantically starts signing "all done." I guess he just likes to keep his hands busy. Although, isn't that the point of finger foods?
Straws: just another personality quirk that makes me appreciate Samuel even more. I love having such an interesting and entertaining little person in my life!
Adorable Baby Noises
One of the most adorable things Samuel does is also the hardest to catch on film - his baby babbles! It sounds like gibberish to us but I know that to him a lot of it has real meaning. I just wish I knew what he was saying!
Sometimes his babbles are little whispers and sometimes they are big yells. One of his favorites is dadadada. I'm not sure if he's always referring to his dad or if he just knows that he will definitely get a response when he says it. Either way it's fun to see his eyes light up when he says it and I start talking to him about Allen. I ask him, "Where is dada? Do you know? Let's go find him!" Or, I tell him, "Your daddy loves you very much!"
He loves to babble in the car especially when he is sleepy. We will be driving along and he will just be stringing vowels and consonants together and talking to himself. I think he's even started trying to sing because sometimes his babbling is so melodic.
Soon his adorable baby noises will turn into words. In fact, he is getting better and better at imitating real words. He's been working on "poop" lately and I swear that the other day he said "sock" when I was putting on his sock.
I sure will miss all the sweet babbles, coos, and gurgles but I'm excited to have a real conversation with him and to hear him say "I love you, Mommy" for the first time!
Sometimes his babbles are little whispers and sometimes they are big yells. One of his favorites is dadadada. I'm not sure if he's always referring to his dad or if he just knows that he will definitely get a response when he says it. Either way it's fun to see his eyes light up when he says it and I start talking to him about Allen. I ask him, "Where is dada? Do you know? Let's go find him!" Or, I tell him, "Your daddy loves you very much!"
He loves to babble in the car especially when he is sleepy. We will be driving along and he will just be stringing vowels and consonants together and talking to himself. I think he's even started trying to sing because sometimes his babbling is so melodic.
Soon his adorable baby noises will turn into words. In fact, he is getting better and better at imitating real words. He's been working on "poop" lately and I swear that the other day he said "sock" when I was putting on his sock.
I sure will miss all the sweet babbles, coos, and gurgles but I'm excited to have a real conversation with him and to hear him say "I love you, Mommy" for the first time!
Vroom, Vroom!
He's definitely all-boy because Samuel loves things that GO! If it has wheels, he will push it. His favorite toys are his ride-ons which he will push all over the main floor, especially his Playskool cart. He also loves his Radio Flyer Coupe. He pushes it around, stops to climb in, and then plays with all the buttons and switches.
Giving Monkey a ride:
He took his first steps behind his Playskool cart. Now it's his favorite thing to push!
Upstairs, he drives his chubby Tonka cars all around the road map rug in his bedroom. I always say "vroom, vroom" as he pushes them around. It didn't take long for him to start saying it too (although it sounds more like "uhn, uhn")! Now, anytime we see a real vehicle he will point and say "uhn, uhn" or if I look at him and say "vroom, vroom" he will go find his cars.
He even pushes his chatter telephone!
And his stroller (he also loves shopping carts):
Giving Monkey a ride:
He took his first steps behind his Playskool cart. Now it's his favorite thing to push!
Upstairs, he drives his chubby Tonka cars all around the road map rug in his bedroom. I always say "vroom, vroom" as he pushes them around. It didn't take long for him to start saying it too (although it sounds more like "uhn, uhn")! Now, anytime we see a real vehicle he will point and say "uhn, uhn" or if I look at him and say "vroom, vroom" he will go find his cars.
He even pushes his chatter telephone!
And his stroller (he also loves shopping carts):
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Falling Fast
Our blink-and-you-miss-it Summer is quickly turning into Fall. The morning and evenings have been much cooler. I've decided that Fall is my favorite season, but only because I love pumpkin flavored everything. I also like long sleeves, jeans, crock-pot meals, throw blankets and the holidays. Who doesn't like Halloween and Thanksgiving?
I don't really mind the cool, crisp weather either except that it seems to turn from warm to freezing-ass cold in about 2 weeks. Allen and I keep debating as to when the first snowstorm will hit. Allen thinks it will be the first week of October, like last year, but I am hoping (no praying) that it won't hit until after Halloween.
Since our days outdoors are numbered we have been trying to take Samuel on walks in his Radio Flyer Coupe and go to the playground in the evenings. He is just now starting to really enjoy the park so it's sad to think he will have to wait 9 months to use it again.
We took him to the park for the first time when we were visiting my parents in March. Of course, he was only 7 months old so we just let him swing for a while. That was about the exent of our trips until recently when we showed him how to slide on his tummy. Now that's all he want's to do! At the park by our house he likes the tunnel slide best, and always heads straight for it, but that one makes Mommy a little nervous since it's also the tallest.
We have made some great memories at the playground this summer. We played in the rocks (Samuel ate some), looked at leaves, climbed stairs, rode the teeter-totter together, rocked on the airplane (Mommy on the back holding Samuel in front), went down all kinds of different slides and did lots of swinging (Samuel on his own and also on our laps or facing me). Next summer we will do it all again!
I don't really mind the cool, crisp weather either except that it seems to turn from warm to freezing-ass cold in about 2 weeks. Allen and I keep debating as to when the first snowstorm will hit. Allen thinks it will be the first week of October, like last year, but I am hoping (no praying) that it won't hit until after Halloween.
Since our days outdoors are numbered we have been trying to take Samuel on walks in his Radio Flyer Coupe and go to the playground in the evenings. He is just now starting to really enjoy the park so it's sad to think he will have to wait 9 months to use it again.
We took him to the park for the first time when we were visiting my parents in March. Of course, he was only 7 months old so we just let him swing for a while. That was about the exent of our trips until recently when we showed him how to slide on his tummy. Now that's all he want's to do! At the park by our house he likes the tunnel slide best, and always heads straight for it, but that one makes Mommy a little nervous since it's also the tallest.
We have made some great memories at the playground this summer. We played in the rocks (Samuel ate some), looked at leaves, climbed stairs, rode the teeter-totter together, rocked on the airplane (Mommy on the back holding Samuel in front), went down all kinds of different slides and did lots of swinging (Samuel on his own and also on our laps or facing me). Next summer we will do it all again!
Happy Birthday, Babies!
Since moving to Cheyenne we have been fortunate to meet some wonderful people. Several of our friends have young children and 4 families have babies born within a month of Samuel. It's been great knowing other parents who are experiencing the same things as us and Samuel has enjoyed spending time with his baby friends.
Over the last year we have watched these babies grow from precious newborns into fun, active toddlers. Of course, this meant we've had quite a few parties to attend in the last month. Samuel had a great time helping his baby friends celebrate their birthdays!
Happy Birthday, Payton!
His favorite part of her party was trying to reach the ribbons and balloons attached to her highchair!
Payton and Samuel are checking out all the candy from the pinata.
Happy Birthday, Hayden!
Samuel wanted all of Hayden's gifts for himself!
Samuel and his silly dad.
Happy Birthday, Landon!
Samuel walked everywhere that day! It was the most I'd seen him walk on his own.
Hangin' out with his pals.
Happy Birthday, Charlotte!
He did a great job putting candy & toys from the pinata into his treat bag. He even put candy into the other kid's bags!
Going for a ride!
Over the last year we have watched these babies grow from precious newborns into fun, active toddlers. Of course, this meant we've had quite a few parties to attend in the last month. Samuel had a great time helping his baby friends celebrate their birthdays!
Happy Birthday, Payton!
His favorite part of her party was trying to reach the ribbons and balloons attached to her highchair!
Payton and Samuel are checking out all the candy from the pinata.
Happy Birthday, Hayden!
Samuel wanted all of Hayden's gifts for himself!
Samuel and his silly dad.
Happy Birthday, Landon!
Samuel walked everywhere that day! It was the most I'd seen him walk on his own.
Hangin' out with his pals.
Happy Birthday, Charlotte!
He did a great job putting candy & toys from the pinata into his treat bag. He even put candy into the other kid's bags!
Going for a ride!
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