Practice, practice

Sam is practicing his dog walking skills by pulling his cart of blocks in circles around the house. This is step one in his campaign to prove to his father that he can handle the responsibility of owning his own dog. (See the damp ring around his neck? That's not sweat from exertion but drool from cutting four molars at once.)

A blur

Sam literally had the time of his life over Thanksgiving (hey, he's had a short life), but I did a terrible job of documenting it.


This is pretty much what he looked like the entire time, but instead of photographing him, I was chasing him down. Clearly, I've got a lot to learn about action photography.

Sam had two dogs, two cats, and a number of cousins to keep him busy, plus all the turkey he could eat! He loved all the action and attention, so coming back to our quiet lives in Charlotte was quite an adjustment for him. The only people I felt more sorry for than myself upon returning to work this past Monday were his daycare teachers.

Here are a couple of (still) shots I did manage to capture of him:

Sam swings

Fridge run

Can I get anyone anything while I'm in here?

Holiday greetings

You might think two people with full-time jobs and a budding genius/pro athlete/international humanitarian might be too busy to think of such matters as holiday cards, but you'd be wrong. We're spreading the cheer, so step off!

Here's the pic we used in last year's card. Awwww.


I have no idea what photo we're going to use in this year's card, but that hasn't stopped me from looking at possible card designs. I'm sort of loving this card, but I can never tell if it's because the design is cute or because the kid in the photo is so precious. But I'm pretty sure Sam can give that little guy a run for his money, especially if I can learn how to Photoshop out the drool.

I'm also digging some of the cards here. Particularly the one they call "hip and happy." Cause that's us...hip...and happy. Or, how about "outrageous and ornery?" Does Shutterfly make that card yet?

And, I don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone, but for those who have been more nice than naughty this year, Santa may deliver this surprise to you. Assuming Santa finds the time to pull his photos of Sam together to make it. But that's what elves are for!

Do you have any holiday card faves? Leave a comment and let us know if there's one that's particularly fitting for Sam's mug. Of course, Bruce is convinced this pose is the best holiday card fodder.

When Babies Attack

AAAAH! This is the scene when you get two babies together on a Sunday playdate. Sheer chaos. It involved babies dressing up like bats, babies dressing up like monkeys, babies eating egg off the floor, at least one baby getting temporarily misplaced (I won't name names but my baby doesn't walk and is a bit of a mama's boy), and general baby merriment.


Here's a shot of bat baby Harrison (left) and monkey baby Sam. Look! This is what life would be like if I had two babies! Wheeee!


Best friends. It won't be long before they're sneaking out at night together and stealing my car. Little punks.


Harrison showing off his keen walking skills. I didn't want to say anything in front of his mom, but he's a bit of a show off, what with his standing steadily on two feet and walking everywhere. The nerve!


Not to be topped, Sam takes off in bipedal mode, with me close behind. He had forgotten he actually doesn't know how to walk. I'm not clingy.

Photos courtesy of Harrison's mom, Paula.

Halloween, Then & Now

Halloween 2009





Halloween 2010





Can't wait for 2011! We're taking costume suggestions now.