Why Sit When You Can Stand?

Sam is now nine months old. I tried for the monthly photo in his "Sam chair," but it was a no-go. Standing up is a lot more fun than sitting down these days, so this month's photos are actually quite fitting.

Cousins Unite

Claire, Meghan and Sam did some serious bonding this week -- from crawling and climbing together, to mouthing toys and playing in the pool! It's astonishing how similar and how different they can be at the same time. If this week is any indication, it will be a lot of fun to watch them grow and learn together.

Michael Phelps, look out!

When I was a kid my parents always described me as a "little fish." We had a summer cabin and I'd spend morning, noon and night swimming. Well, I've decided it must be hereditary because Sam literally can't get enough of the water. To say he loves the pool is an understatement! The child is a maniac in the pool, the tub and the lake. If he had it his way, he'd swim right away from us.

Holiday Road

After a total of 12 hours on the road, we finally made it to Grandview Lodge for our first official family vacation. Sam didn't take to the car nearly as well as we'd hoped -- he set a world record and only slept for 50 minutes between Chicago and Minnesota. But we made it (miraculously) and are now enjoying the beauty of Gull and Roy Lakes. Our cabin sits about 10 feet from the shorline and every morning we wake up to the loons (and Sam's cries, of course).

Parrotheads Stand Up!

While Mom and Dad were away being Parrotheads at the Buffett concert, Sam was home learning to pull himself up. Grandma was kind enough to come all the way to Chicago to babysit Sam and taught him how to stand up while she was here! I guess she has the magic touch. Needless to say, in our post-Buffett fog, Steve and I had to adjust the mattress height. Sam, as evidenced below, is really excited about his newfound skill.

Made in the Shade

When Steve showed up with these sunglasses for Sam, I couldn't help but think of the old eighties song..."the future's so bright, we gotta wear shades.: If this week is any indication, I think it's true.

Enjoy the weekend.

Fireworks and Baptisms

Part of the Boylan contingency came to town this weekend. We spent a lot of time just lounging around on the deck, but did take time for an adventure at the wading pool. Sam’s reaction confirmed his love of the water, and after going back on Sunday, the pool will be a permanent part of our summer routine.

Sam was baptized on Saturday afternoon. Three minutes into mass Steve and I noticed a strange, but all too familiar, scent coming from Sam’s diaper. For the rest of the service we prayed nothing would leak out and ruin his precious little christening gown. It didn’t, and Sam is now an official member of the Catholic church.