Today Sammy took his first steps!

Well, Granddad said he saw Sammy take three steps yesterday, but today was that first time Chris and I saw him walk. Sammy knows this is a big deal, he laughs and I can tell he is proud. 

Gone fishin'

Today was fishing day. After a week of using Chris's fishing pole, Olivia got her own Barbie-pink one this morning. 

Then it was off to Blue Lake Park. 

What a gorgeous day and one of those special times that make having kids worthwhile.

Olivia took this picture of us:

We didn't catch anything, which is probably for the best. When asked if she would eat a fish she caught, Olivia replied, "I would bring it home and put it in a fish bowl! I really want a pet. And a kitty." Noting that fish and cats don't get along, we side-stepped the pet conversation again.

Here are some drawings Olivia did later about a sea full of sharks and one little fisher girl.

Love love love

We had our sixth wedding anniversary on 8/18 and it was great to be able to spend time alone. We checked into the Paramount Hotel downtown, had some Asian-fusion dinner, walked around downtown and even checked out the new Target in the Galleria where we both spent countless hours (separately) in our teenage years.

I feel like I'm getting the hang of this marriage thing and really take the effort to cultivate our friendship. Maybe the secret to a happy marriage is that you have to not only like your partner but you also respect your partner AND you tell each other that ALL THE TIME. And by respect I don't mean in a mindless patriarchal sense. I see respect as a fundamental enjoyment of that person's talents and quirks, their strengths and weaknesses but ultimately a reflection of the esteem that the person holds for themselves. That is one of my favorite things about my husband: he knows exactly who he is.

Oh, and he's romantic, thoughtful and loving.  In fact, today as I was nearly overwhelmed with exhaustion (children don't sleep, did you know that?), Chris said the most romantic thing: "I'm taking the kids to the zoo now." Gahhhhh. I love love love him.

Olivia is 4.8 years old!

Ladies and Gents, we have entered the "Kids Say the Darndest Things" era with Miss Olivia. Just the other day she looked at me pensively as I was changing another one of Sammy's poopy diapers and said:

"Mommy, when I grow up, I want to have a daughter."
"Oh, so you can be the mommy and I can be the grandma," I offered.
"No," she said firmly. "You'll be the babysitter."

Then we were in the park on Friday and she was looking into the clouds. She said, "I see Elena's dog up there. He's in heaven."

Trying to be helpful or turn this conversation into a teaching moment or whatever, I said, "Elena's dog was really old and now he's up in the sky and he's happy."

"No he's not," she said. "He's dead."

Okaaaaayyyyyyy.

Speaking of death, she also drew this picture of Simba from the Lion King crying because his dad, Mufasa (that is the one with the big mane) is dead: 

Chris and I are amazed at her drawings and keep pretty much everything. I especially like the way she draws tears. Everyone cries, including the sun. Even on a sunny day.














In other news, Olivia is also very into mermaids right now. Here she is with her tiny Ariel doll who may, or may not have slipped Sammy a sleeping pill.

4.8 is super fantastic.

Sammy's first birthday party

 
 

Well, officially, Sammy had his first birthday party on his actual birthday on Friday. BUT, we all celebrated with a big fiesta in our backyard on Saturday. Grandma Marjie and Grandpa Chuck came all the way from New York just to celebrate. Here they are helping us get organized for the party:

Some decorations:





Olivia, Signe and Elena in the hammock:


Elena photo-bombing with Grandma:



Sammy with Nicole, Granddad and Franny: 






So I messed up and did not inform Chris of the importance of getting a photo of Sammy with his Lamb-y cake, the same type of cake my grandmother made for me and every other one-year-old in the family for 40+ years. Unfortunately, Chris's camera was out of memory and we did not get a photo of Sammy with the cake. We did, however get a photo of him with the crumbs of the cake. (Confidential note to Sammy: When you are reading this years from now and wondering why we didn't take a photo of you with the cake when there's one of your sister? Blame it on the terrible technology of 2013. Flying through the air in your electric flying car of the future, you will probably laugh that something as quaint and laughable as not enough memory stymied our best laid plans, but just know: you were adorable and we love you.)

  

Thanks for coming to my birthday party everyone!

Sammy is one!

Our Sammy boy is one today! I just love everything about this little guy from his shy smiles to his baby toes. What an amazing and integral part of our family. Love you, Mama

p.s. Here are his stats: Height: 2' 6.12" (58.98%), Weight: 22lbs 6oz (64.5%), Head circumference: 18.9" (91.34% He's a Welch alright!)