Sam & Amelia

It’s 7:30pm. Sam has been asleep since 3:30pm. I am just wasting time, piddling around the house waiting for him to wake up. Its ridiculous – I should be getting something done, making the most of my time, etc.

Last night he slept for the longest stretch since he’s been born – almost 11 hours! It’s such a big change from last week when he was waking up at 2:30 and 5:00 am. I hope this is a new routine for him, but I know better than to think we have a “schedule.” As soon as I think I have him figured out, he changes on me! He keeps me on my toes for sure!

Last Sunday we took Sam to his first live sporting event – the Arkansas Travelers game. He was taking in all the new sights and sounds. I’m not sure he was watching the game, but he seemed to have a good time on “Aunt” Wendy’s lap!

Sam,
I can’t believe you’re three months old! Your biggest milestone this month has been sleeping through the night. On our trip to New Orleans three weeks ago, you surprised us by sleeping 8-9 hours overnight. You’re also working on taking longer naps during the day. In the last week you’ve taken several 3-4 hour naps in the afternoon. You’re smiling a lot more these days and love to be held and talked to. I can tell you’re using your hands more to discover your world – you grab at your blanket, put your hand over your face and feel around, and squeeze our fingers tighter. Sucking on your thumb, or trying to put your whole fist in your mouth, is one of your favorite things to do now. While lying on your playmat, you can swing your arms at the toys hanging above your head and on the mat next to you. You kick your feet and swing your arms when you get excited – it’s so cute! Another cute thing you’ve been doing is sticking out your bottom lip when you are unhappy. Sometimes you follow through with a cry and sometimes not. It’s hard not to laugh because you’re little face is so cute! Your hair is growing longer and is still light brown. Who knows what color it will turn out to be – mom and dad both had blonde hair when we were little.
Love,
Mom

Happy 30th Birthday, Dad!
Mom helped me pick out this cute outfit this afternoon at Old Navy. It says “Handsome like my Daddy!” In return for making me look so cute, I helped her shop for your big presents. We had a good time! I let her wrap all the gifts, though, because I know how much she loves wrapping presents!

Love you,
Sam

We had such a busy, but fun, day today! We started out meeting “Aunt” Wendy for lunch at Dixie Cafe. Your carrier fit perfectly in the the booth, so we didn’t have to perch you on a highchair. I have this fear that someone will run into the high chair and knock you over – I’ve never seen it happened, but I still think about it everytime we go to a restaurant. Weird, I know…

It’s been nearly 10 weeks since you were born and we still hadn’t been to the Capitol to see my former co-workers. I decided that today was the day and they probably wouldn’t let me in, if I waited much longer.  They were so excited to see you and really didn’t notice me! James met me at the car and carried you inside, which I was so grateful for because you’re getting so heavy for me to carry! Debbie took several pictures of us and nearly everyone got to hold you! You were so good and smiled for Debbie and LeighAnne. This picture is where I posed every week when I was pregnant…Debbie was my pregnancy photographer – not missing a single week of taking a picture of me and my growing belly!

After our visit at the Capitol, we went home to rest and eat before heading to Danielle’s house for your first playdate. We saw Ava, Juliana, Maggie and Mimi and got to meet some other babies and their moms. You were the youngest baby there, although you probably don’t remember it because you slept most of the time.

It was such a fun day and I’m so glad we’re getting out more to see your friends and mommy’s friends.

Sam,

I want to remember all the things that you are doing at two months old, before you start changing and growing even more. In the past two weeks you’ve started a lot of new activities. You’re now cooing and making noises other than crying. It’s fun to hear you wake up and “talk” to yourself. Sometimes you can soothe yourself by sucking your thumb – if you can find it! You’ve started smiling in response to mom and dad – a wide grin that makes our hearts melt. You are more content for short periods of time in your swing or on your lilly pad play mat. You love to swing on the front porch, stare at the ceiling fans and your mobiles. You almost always fall asleep in your car seat, minutes after getting in the car or stroller. During the night, sometimes you can go 4 – 6 hours between feedings, although not on a consistent basis yet.

Can’t believe it’s been 2 months already….we’re so excited to see what’s in store for you (and us) in the coming months!

Sam had his first round of immunizations today. He had a good check-up and weighed in at 14 lbs, 10 oz . We knew he was growing but didn’t realize how much! He’s also grown 3 inches longer! He’s in the 97th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height! Way to go, Sam!!!
The shots were pretty painful for Sam, but he only cried for a few minutes in the doctor’s office. He took his pacifier and fell asleep on the way home. The rest of the afternoon was rough, as Sam would wake up from a deep sleep in a lot of pain. His little cries were so heartbreaking. This picture was taken as we were leaving the doctor’s office – his eyes are so sad and he’s still clinching his fists. Grandma and Grandpa Sproles came up for the day to go to the doctor with us – they were a big help in comforting him after his traumatic doctor’s visit.

After Sam started feeling better, we were playing with him on the floor and Robert noticed the little animals on Sam’s outfit. When I bought it, I thought they were turtles and ladybugs, however, the turtles have antennae. Robert named them Snurtles – a cross between a turtle and a snail. Recently another mother that I was working with realized that her son was wearing an outfit with the phrase “The angry fish jumps out of the water.” It was a very small phrase that was repeated all over the outfit with cute little fish. Do fish really get angry? It’s funny how we didn’t pay attention to the little details on these outfits.

We gave Sam a pacifier for the first time about 2 weeks ago and his reaction was so funny. His eyes got so big and his brow furrowed, as he tried to figure out what it was. He was sucking on the pacifier so hard that it would fly out of his mouth.

Sam has recently started sucking on his thumb. Sometimes he tries to put his whole fist in his mouth, if he can’t find his thumb. Both the pacifier and his thumb really calm him down when fussy.

Sam looks so adorable after his bath, wrapped up in a hooded towel.

We took Sam to church with us for the first time two weeks ago. He sat in his carrier in the pew next to us and was pretty quiet for most of the service – in fact he slept right through it! Today Robert wanted to put him in the nursery while we went to church. I wasn’t ready to leave him quite yet, but knew I had to start sometime. Knowing the nursery workers helped comfort me some, since I had volunteered in the nursery for several years with them. Sam was sleeping peacefully when we dropped him off, not that he would have known we were leaving him even if he had he been awake!
After the service, I had to go check on him like a good mother! I’m glad I did because the bottle that we had packed for him was leaking…..I had put one brand of bottle with another brand of nipple and they were not compatible! More milk was leaking from the bottle than was getting into Sam. Fortunately, I was able to nurse him before he got too hungry and upset.
I’m sure this is just one of many “new parent” mishaps we’ll have!