I'm back!

And cuter than ever...

Look how big I have gotten!

Well... not literally. Sam's a little peanut (like me). He sure thinks he is a big boy though.

I have not posted for such a long time! Lots and lots of changes and big events,that's why. We've moved, Sam turned 2, we've been out and about plenty taking pictures, and we've been also fixing up the new place. But most importantly, an IKEA opened 45 minutes away from Miami. Sam already knows how to recognize the sign and says enthusiastically "furniture!!" when we've been there. He actually thinks that is what IKEA spells. He points to the big letters and says "I..K..E..A...furniture" as he makes a sweeping finger move. Very funny. Also, the meatballs were a big hit I guess, because that is what he answers when I ask him what he wants for dinner often. So much that I was inspired to make him some the other day from scratch. But they came out totally Cuban.

One of these days, I am going to catch up and post some important shots of the summer and early fall, like him in his lion costume. Until then, these are some teasers that I have readily on this computer, for those who asked me why I hadn't put up anything new for such a long time.


My favorite latest shot.

This was at Natty's 4th birthday party. It was a crafts party. I was amazed at how well Sam did. At 26 months, he was the youngest of the whole bunch and concentrated as well as the other 4 year olds! This was the day I discovered he really dug painting with a brush (we'd been sticking to crayons) Now he has this whole set up for the house and he loves it. We've yet to find these plastic aprons and we are in desperate need of those.


Titi helped me the whole time.

Yummy!

Wednesday Date

This may seem like no big deal to document, but Sam's been slow to experiment with foods. He has discovered ice cream, fruits, and chocolate lately.

Sam does not like sand. So going to the beach with him is a pretty clean experience. Lots of laying around in the mat, looking at the water and cookie eating. Some reading of picture books and just looking cool. Here we are on the first half of our 4th of July. Our friend Katia is still missing her glasses, guess who still has them? That's what she gets for not coming around for almost one year.

And here we are on the second. He is one happy guy, I don't remember what he was laughing about here but he was a little hyper that night.

Here he is saying "cheeeeze" when you take a picture.

Computer time with Dad, then and now

Sam loves to be on the computer. He asks to be picked up whenever we are on it which makes getting anything done harder. We open up an empty word document, put the caps on and a large font size and let him go to town. OK, bragging time...

Then (4 months)... sucking on hands, looking at screen.

Now (23 months)...if you ask him to write his name, he can. He can also sight read a number of words (family's names). He will press on a key for a long period of time until they come out of view in the screen and then says "bye, bye D" or "bye, bye Seven". He is such a cutie.

Isn't the human brain development just the most amazing thing?

Sam "hearts" Alice

Meet Alice (aka "A-es" to Sam). Toddler extraordinaire and top notch high school senior to be.

She has been coming over to play with Sam since I took up a bit more work this summer. He grew fond of her (and her cell phone!) quickly. In the mornings when I ask "who are we going to go get?" he'll say her name. If the dog barks at the door, he thinks she's arrived and will run to the door saying her name. This may very well be his first crush. I will keep this post in mind when my future 18 year old son walks in with an Alice look-a-like for dinner one day.

When she comes in, he grabs her by her hand and takes her to his room and starts taking all of his toys out. He really likes for her to read to him. Alice has also taught Sam lots of new things.

We're really going to miss her when she goes back to school in the Fall.

Some Alice facts:

She is 16

She is second (yikes, that's hard to do) in her high school class

She belongs to numerous smart-people type clubs and takes AP classes

She is the fastest text messenger in Western Broward County, after it takes me about 10 minutes to text her one sentence, she replies in full paragraphs in less than one.

She likes Dulce de Leche ice cream

She is the founder of the Pembroke Pines Harry Potter Fan Club (not a confirmed fact)

She lies and tells me it's yummy when I throw sorry lunches together for her

She likes Mexican food, actually make that ALL food

Toddler shenanigans don't scare her one bit

She will be Sam's future pediatrician

She says Sam's smile "is the bessssst"

She's a runner

She plays a mean Marimba

This is pretty much all we know so far... she's kinda quiet but super sweet.

What a difference a year makes!

From a June 28, 2006 post.

Out and about in the city

Sam likes to mention the buses he sees while we drive..."mama... bus". That, and trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, taxis, diggers at construction sites, all the typical boy stuff. I just got him a vehicles book with huge clear real-life pictures of all that stuff and he LOVES it. He wants me to tell him what each one is. So now I am learning the difference between a digger and a front loader. I thought it was time he rode a bus again. Last time he was on one was almost a year ago in New York City. He was so excited about it today, every time one passed (not the one we needed) he held out his toy bus up to it. Here we are waiting while he eats his "pips".

He LOVED the ride. Had a permanent smile the whole time and couldn't sit down.

At our destination, before lunch.

Museum Day

Sure the exhibits were good, but the ramp was the best part.


Yikes, it's hot.

No, really.

Let's go!

at the Starbucks Music

Sam and Dad enjoy a little music time with the Foo-Fighters soft album.

Sam thinks these machines are like the pay machines at the supermarket check out, and that the Starbucks cards are the credit cards. He was looking for the slot to slide it.

Mother's day (recap)

Just a little behind on posts. Even on Mother's day, I am still the photographer! I think I'll use these for a father's day post too and no one would know the difference. Now that Brandon is working more, weekends are all about Daddy for Sam. I can't even put him down at night when he knows Daddy's home.

On Lincoln Road, searching for just the right Eggs Benedict (mommy's favorite).

Sam and Brandon decide what to get in advance. If I had to guess, Sam eyeing the home fries.

Still waiting, now at the bar. Mom's day is a busy brunch day.

We got a table right under these huge skylight, good for pictures.

Sam does his "panting puppy" sound at this part of the book.

Starbucks Sam

Sam and I go to Starbucks a lot during the week, it's one of our outings. Toddlers go crazy if kept within walls for more than 4 hours at a time, in our experience, so we try to escape once a day and do something or nothing at all. You'll see lots of pictures here of that nature now that summer has come.

Natty and Sam

Dinner with friends when Brandon's away... is always nice

Last weekend

Easter

We walked to get some lunch.



Sam with his cousin Isabella (same age), who apparently
does not know what to make of this big thing either.



Ok, so I put them in here, and then what? I don't get it. Don't worry cutey, neither do we.

If you're happy and you know it...

Touch your hair

Pull your ears

Touch your nose
This is a little song game we play with all sorts of different words and actions

Snack time at Starbucks

Months ago, I couldn't imagine Sam being able to just sit in a normal size chair, just hanging out.



Cookie faces

Sunday

Sunday mornings are nice. Even walking Zoey becomes extended. Sam now insists on holding the leash. He has gotten really good at doing this and now wants to walk her several times a day.