The Big 6 - 0

Today is my dad's birthday. We celebrated yesterday with a "party" at our house. We grilled out and my Grandma made his favorite coconut cake for him. Hannah was so excited and couldn't wait to sing "Happy Birthday" to her Papa. Not the traditional version but the one from Madagascar. "Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo. You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too." After we ate we all went outside and took turns playing in the sandbox with Hannah as Emily came over to chat. It was so relaxed and fun Happy Birthday Daddy!! We love you very much!! ~Heather

As I took the picture of my dad in the sandbox he exclaimed, "Heather!! This better not end up on the internet!! All my friends will make fun of me."

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Playtime fun...

Noodle eating...Hannah

There were oodles of noodles and puddles of milk.

Hello Gorgeous

I started out trying to get a picture of Sam in the new outfit we bought him and I got this one...

Ryan & Bethany

Of the past four days this is what we remember the most...

"Where's the debit card Bethany?" (asked randomly throughout the course of the weekend) - Ryan. "Has anyone seen my cell phone?" -Bethany. 'Beep, beep, beep...' of the uncharged, recently found cell phone. "Get down Leia!!" yelled by everyone and usually followed by this command from Hannah, "Put the doggy in her 'piano'." Upon visiting Sonic with Bethany one night, Heather realizes that they offer entirely too many choices!! What kind of Limeade would you like Bethany? After Ryan & Heather discuss how "G" it is to wear socks with sandals, Bobby commits this very crime when he goes to get lunch, but makes it worse by wearing women's sunglasses as well. At least none of us were seen with him! Let's see, there are more... Later in the weekend we heard Bethany lament, "I lost my cell phone at work today." Was anyone surprised? And who won the tennis match?

Here are some random quotes we liked: "Wonderful!! Better than Mama!!" "I'm not lost!! I just can't remember the name of the road I'm supposed to turn onto!" -Heather. "Adam & Eve were praying Ryan." -Hannah. "When's the last time you took a shower? And how many 'Devil Wears Prada' shirts do you own?" - Heather. "Your neighbor is running in circles around his back yard." -Heather. "Oh look!! There are business cards all over the wall!" -Bethany. "The goods, milk trucks, semi-trucks and headlights." "You ate how many Oreo's?!!" (mint double-stuffed Oreo's that will open your sinus' and make your mouth feel wintry fresh!) -Ryan incredulously asks Heather. "Just go to sleep Bethany and it will all be okay." Hannah commented several times, "I don't like Ryan, I like Bethany." To the chagrin of the Health & Safety guy, "The hairdryer is not only plugged in and next to the sink, it's plugged in and it's in the sink! Nice." And let's not forget ending our weekend with supper at "Gur Best Country Restaurant" and the corn-bread that Ryan begged for but did NOT eat!!

Thank you for letting us stay with you. And thanks for all the good food you cooked Bethany. Heather also wants to give you a big big thanks for the miracle you performed on her hair. We had so much fun and we miss you already. Come visit us soon!! We love you both very much!!
Love always,
Bobby, Heather, Hannah & Samuel

~This morning Hannah woke up and asked, "Where's Ryan?" :)

diaper laughs

Sammy & his Daddy have a blast during a diaper change...

Potty Time

I've been wanting to write this blog for a while but I had to get a really good picture of Sammy on the potty first.

My good friend Lindsay told me about Diaper Free Baby while I was pregnant with Sam. I secretly thought she was crazy - this would be too time consuming and besides, Hannah wasn't even potty trained yet. But after seeing the success they had with Jack and reading the actual book, I decided to give it a try. When Sammy was two months old we ordered his little Baby Bjorn Infant Potty and I started putting him on it during diaper changes. The book is really encouraging and helped me to understand Sam's "potty cues." Babies tell you when they're hungry and tired. Why can't they tell you when they have to go to the bathroom? Babies don't want to sit in their own poo and pee any more than we do!!

Sam will use his potty, an adult toilet (if we're visiting friends or out in public) and the other day he peed outside while we were hiking. He's so awesome!!

Potty time is now a family event. Hannah helps make the sign for potty while Sammy's actually using his potty and our families are learning Sam's cues so they can take him if he needs to go. It's not about 100% success, we just want him to be comfortable using the potty so that he'll choose to go when he's older and can walk. Plus it's so much fun!! He looks like a little naked buddha on his potty!!
~Heather