Cow Appreciation Day!

Isn't Sam the cutest cow ever? We think so!

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Another first

Baby's first jet ski ride! Sam and BubbaDaddy went for a spin on the lake today. They both had a great time. And last night, Sam got to experience fireworks for the first time! He took a late nap and went out with us on the boat at dusk. When the show started, he got very still and just watched all the beautiful colors light up the sky. The loud bangs didn't even phase him. And on our walk from the dock to the house, at every boom, he would turn towards the lake and look up and the sky. He wanted to see all the fireworks he could before bedtime!
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Beach Time!

We went to Isle of Palms for our first beach experience as a family! We went down there with my family and are had such a great time! Sam still LOVES water, even the salt water. When we put him in the sand, he immediately started crawling for the ocean. He can't get enough! He also enjoyed it when we'd hold him and go a bit deeper because he liked to kick his legs and splash with his arms. He didn't even mind when big waves would splash into him mouth. He took it in stride. Sam certainly got the appropriate skin tone for being outside and around water all day. He is so tan! It's amazing! It is the most perfect color! I'm so glad he got James' olive skin!

And the other night when we were eating out, everyone was enjoying the conversation and laughed when we looked at Sam in my mom's lap because he was eating fried shrimp with both hands! It was adorable!

Bubbles

I pulled out some bubbles that my sister gave me in the car on our way to the beach. It's safe to say that they were a big hit! Sam loved them! He just smiled and tried to grab them when blew them right at him. Only bad part was that he didn't like it when I stopped blowing the bubbles. Good thing we were only 10 minutes away when he saw his first bubble!
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water water

One of my very favorite books growing up was Love You Forever. I would read it and cry and cry. The story was just so special to me.

And ever since having Sam, I have been waiting for this to happen in my house. I was so excited the other day when I found him in the bathroom with toilet paper unrolled on the floor. I just wish I could have gotten another huge grin in the picture like the one he gave me when I found him.

By the way, the toilet lid is down on purpose because someone very short likes to pull up on it and splash his fingers in the water!

Which reminds me, we have a total Water Bug. Sam is crazy about water. He's always enjoyed bath time, but now it goes much further. He went swimming for the first, second, third... sixth time last week. He's been in a pool, a lake, and an ocean. And he seems to just love it! He seeks out water at every turn, even going so far as to dump out the dog's waterbowl and then play in it!

Does anyone know how to teach babies to swim or know of a place Sam can take a swimming lesson?

Watermelon

My baby loves watermelon! And I am so glad. It is my favorite food and I'm just excited that he likes it too! I was thinking that he may not like it because when he was just a few weeks old, his Aunt Rachel gave him his first taste. He was so confused and had no idea what to do with it, though it was smaller than my pinkie fingernail. He just smacked his little gums together with the funniest face! I fished it out of his mouth and today was his first taste since. So, Aunt Rachel, maybe he loves it because you introduced him to it! Thank you!

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date night numero uno

James and I heard about The Great Date Experiment from Amy and then April. There are six "great dates" and each date revolves around one of 6 "essentials." If you're married, try it, it's fun! I must warn you though, April's post has a "spoiler warning" and Amy's doesn't. Forewarned is fare warned. Now you know.

James and decided to "take the plunge" and start dating again. We thought it might improve our relationship since we haven't had a night out alone (together), much less left our house past 6pm since Sam has been born. just kidding. But we did think the Great Date Experiment sounded like a good excuse for a lot of fun!

We went to Rome for our anniversary. OK, OK, not that Rome, this Rome. Rome, Georgia. We stayed at a cabin on the campus of Winshape, which is located on the campus of Berry College. And Sam stayed with CiCi and BubbaDaddy (James' parents).

James decided we would do both the 1st and 2nd date nights while we were gone, but this one is just about:
Date Night #1. essential: nurture romance

Select a place for an appetizer: Arby's. curly fries. As we were eating, we had some questions to talk about. a.k.a. food 4 thought. One of them was: What is the best date or trip we have ever been on? We both said our first date and our honeymoon.

****spoiler warning! don't read any more if you are going to try the Great Date Experiment****

Next up, we selected a place for an entree: Provino's Italian Restaurant. While we were waiting, we had some "would you rathers," which by the way, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE and could sit around all day and ask/answer them. Here goes:
Would you rather go on one $5000 week long vacation or five long weekends that cost $1000 each? We both said five long weekends!
Would you rather eat and never gain weight or speed and never get caught? We both said eat and never gain weight. I questioned James because he has a lead foot and a few "certificates" to prove it. He said, "I just worked really hard and lost 26 pounds and I haven't had a ticket in a long time. Maybe you should ask me again after my next ticket." Unfortunately, I got the opportunity to re-ask after he got caught going 50 in a 35 without proof of insurance or registration near our home not a week later. His answer was unchanged because the officer showed grace by issuing 2 warnings and only citing him going 9 mph over.
And finally, Would you rather have an average house and a vacation home OR your dream home. We both said OUR DREAM HOME!

Then we went to Walgreens and split up with $2 in hand to buy an "it's the thought that counts" present. James cheated and spent $11. I got him a Milkbone dog toy squeaky plush Squirrel. It is black with a brown stripe on the tail and has MILKBONE sewn onto its back. It also squeaks when you squeeze it. I got it because he loves squirrels and we can hide it in conspicuous places around the house so the other person knows we love them (his idea). I'm pleased to have you meet our "love squirrel."

Dessert was next. We went to a Chick-fil-A Dwarf House to get a milkshake. It was about 9:20pm. There was not a single car in the parking lot. James says we'll just drive around, you know, just to make sure. He proceeds to the drive thru and places our pretend order for a chocolate milkshake. Then we pull forward to the first window, which said "Next Window Please." He complies. At the next window, James pulls our his money and holds it out the car window, just like if someone had actually taken his order. I am cracking up at this point, and then a truck turns in. I laugh even harder. They drive around to place their order, then pull around really fast and try to leave, but we are blocking them. James gets out and apologizes. WHOOPS! I actually felt really bad for them because I've been there too! It's not fun. Sadly for us and the people in the truck, they closed at 8pm because it was Memorial Day.

There were more questions, and we had a great time talking. Overall, James and I had a really fun night out together! Oh and there were also some suggested pet names used, such as Ghangsta Love, Duckling, and Bambie. I was totally oblivious (though I had read the instructions too) and just thought he was being weird.