January 2011

Happy New Year - 2011!

January was a good month, despite the snow every other day it seemed! But Samara did get to make her first snow angel (with help from Daddy) and Daddy even made one too. We celebrated Winter birthdays - 29 years for Jeff and Amanda - sheesh. Jeff continues to work extra hours for his job due to a string of projects that just keep coming. Thankfully he is able to bring home a laptop and has set up a second "office" in the basement. He can leave work around 4, come home for dinner and family time, then do some work when Samara is getting closer to bed time. But, we are still glad that the jobs keep coming - a blessing to have job security right now. Amanda's work has calmed down so she is just working her three days a week and leaving work at work. :) Samara is so grown up now- two bottom teeth have started coming in (which made for some less than fun days/nights, but we have survived), she is starting to babble more, she eats baby food and applesauce/cereal with skill, she can sit very well by herself and she loves to be held by the hands so she can "walk" around. In fact she now thinks that standing is basically the only desirable position to be in. She will sit and play for a while, but then it is let me stand by the table or better yet, walk around! Daddy and Papa have been very determined to teach her to crawl but she is less than enthused about that idea. I asked at the 6 month check-up if she HAD to crawl before walking and the Dr. said that some kids just skip the crawling phase. Just wanted to let the guys know so they could hold off on the crawling boot-camp a little. Let's enjoy the staying in one place phase maybe? :) She is also learning "Give me Five" and holding her hands up "So Big!" in response to "How big is Samara?". At her six month checkup she was 15 lbs 10 oz (30th percentile)and 26.25 in long (53rd percentile) so she is very healthy and still our long, thin girlie. She gets more fun everyday as she learns new things and notices more and more of what is happening around her. More to come in February about our little sweetheart!