Look, Ma, no hands!

| March 31, 2010

She did it!  Mark and I have been helping Sam practice sitting up on her own, and yesterday was the first day she really seemed able to do it at all for more than a half a minute.  Well, today, she did great!  She sat on her own for at least 10 minutes I would say, and even righted herself a few times when it looked like she was about to topple over.  Here she is, looking very proud of herself.  We have been waiting for this day for a while now so that she could have more fun playing (she was getting r-e-a-l-l-y tired of laying down all the time, we could tell) and so that we could take more interesting pictures.  Look out!  Many, many photos to come!

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The Many Faces of Samantha

| March 27, 2010

This morning Mark was taking some photos of Sam in our family room because the sun was finally out and he has been trying to get some natural light photos of her.  This is the wonderful result.  We were cracking up at how very many expressions crossed her face in a time span of only a few minutes.  Here she is!

Bored…

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Amazed. . .

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Inquisitive…

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Mad…

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Happy…

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Sleepy…

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Pensive…

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Surprised…

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Content…

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And because it is her favorite expression, one more Happy!

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Sam’s 6 month check-up

| March 26, 2010

Today we took Sam to the doctor for her 6 month check-up.  She is just perfect, as usual!  She weighs 15 lbs, 3 oz now (6.889 kg) and is 26 inches (0.66 m).  The doctor said her weight is great, right on schedule, but noted that she is pretty long — she is actually in the 59th percentile for length.

She starts getting fluoride drops now because there is no fluoride in our water and we want her soon-to-emerge teeth to be in tip top shape!  As for solids, the doctor said I can try giving her 3 meals a day with cereal and fruit for breakfast, fruit and a veggie for lunch, and fruit, veggie and meat for dinner.  (All meals being supplemented with formula, of course).  She is eating solids, but nowhere near that much or that often so we are going to start stepping it up.  She hasn’t had any meats so far, but I do have a jar of chicken (pureed – yuck) that I have been wanting to try, so here’s my chance to see if she likes it at all.

The poor baby got 3 shots today but she was a real trooper.  Mark came with us this time and I think it helped a lot.  She cried after her shots, but with a big, immediate hug from her Daddy she stopped right away and even managed to smile at the doctor before she left the room.  Her next appointment isn’t until 9 months, and no shots — yay!

Right now she is sleeping.  She started to get a little cranky late this afternoon, so I gave her some Tylenol so hopefully she will sleep ok.  Usually after getting her shots she has a bad night. 

We are just so very proud of our little girl. 🙂

Happy 6 month birthday, Samantha!

| March 23, 2010

Today Sam is 6 months old and I just can’t believe it.  I have been looking at pictures of her from right after she was born and she just seems so very small.  She has grown, and changed, so much since September.  She has learned how to do so much, it’s amazing! 

Here is Sam sitting in the glider in her room.  She hasn’t quite learned to sit up on her own, but she is getting there, and she loves to sit like a big person in a chair.

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Apparently, something about getting her picture taken was hysterical!

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Looking wide eyed out the window.

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Here she is enjoying some 1/2 year birthday applesauce.  I tried to give her the rest of her peas that she opened yesterday, but she said, “Really, Mommy, peas? As a 6-month birthday treat?”  so we switched to something yummy and sweet.  She started grabbing the spoon like crazy trying to figure out how to use it herself.  She imitates, or tries to imitate, a lot of things we do now.  For example, she loves when we drink out of a glass or use a straw. It always makes her laugh, and simply fascinates her at the same time.  She wants so badly to do it herself, but every time she tries it doesn’t go so well.  I think she is just taking everything in so quickly. 

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Also, yesterday, I saw her in her crib on her hands and knees — she hasn’t even learned to sit up on her own yet and she’s in crawl position!  Let’s hope that was a fluke…..

Everyone always says to enjoy every moment with your baby because the time goes so fast, and it really does.  I try to cherish every moment with her so that I will remember every detail for the rest of my life.  I am the luckiest mom in the whole world!

Sam in Natural Light

| March 21, 2010

We’ve had such a miserable winter weather wise that we are overjoyed to see the first hints of spring. The days are getting longer and the sun is getting higher, giving me more opportunities to photograph out little model in natural light. Here are a few photos we snapped today, hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

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