Another trip to the Zoo!

I'm way behind on posts, but a few weeks ago Andrew, Sam and I joined our friends Ashley and Gabe for a trip to Hogle Zoo. I hadn't been in years, but it was just as fun as I remembered, but somehow a lot smaller.

Sam and Gabe got up close and personal with many of the animals. Sam really enjoys seeing them. He squeals and points and sometimes it is difficult to tear him away.

The spotted leopard was napping right at this window. The little girl next to the boys kept saying, "nice kitty, kittycat". I didn't tell her that the nice kitty would eat her up in a second if it had the chance.

The elephants were huge and really neat to see.

This looks like one sad giraffe.

They were so tall and gentle. They came right up to the fence. Gabe was within inches of him.

The two amigos and their matching strollers.
This image prompted Ashley and I to recall an experience we had not too long ago. We were pretty much one anothers shadows in high school. Always together. At Christmas time we were together at the Festival of Trees (for like the first time in two months) and ran into a guy we went to high school with. There he is telling us about his grown up job as a pilot and all the while we were both thinking, "Yep, he totally thinks we have done nothing since high school, but hang out together every day and lead identical lives everlinked to each other." It was a little pathetic, but mostly untrue. And even if it is true, I like Ashley. So there.

Here's Sam trying to grab the camera. He had a great day.

When we got home from Costco the other day I went into the kitchen to put away a few things and when I came back Sam was precariously checking out the rest of the purchases. I just can't get over how he is growing up so fast. He is so much happier now that he can get around more independently.

We spent Easter weekend in Idaho Falls. On Saturday we went to the zoo. I thought it would be a nice walk, but I didn't think Sam would be that interested. Turns out he had a ball. He loves to look at the animals.

Sam and Aunt Lindsey with the camels.

Sam in the children's petting zoo with the donkeys.

The monkeys were the funniest. These monkeys came right up to the window and visited with Sam. He thought they were very interesting.

We saw the lions and leopards, but Sam loved the tigers. I literally couldn't tear him away.

He watched and watched and talked to them.

He was a little nervous of this tiger at first, but warmed up to it right away. He even took a ride on it.
We had a great Easter!

Sammy is too cool for school.

Sam and his cousin Madison got to hang out a couple of weeks ago when Chris and Lindsay were in Provo visiting. It is so fun to see these two together because they are so close in age. They are getting so big. Follow the link to Chris and Lindsay's page to see a photo of the two babies when they were about 6 weeks old.

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

"You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."

So I took this little quiz, but I don't really feel like I am a Canna. But I took it twice so who knows. Sometimes do you think that other people (not some random internet quiz), but the people you are closest to, really do know you better than yourself. I think sometimes it is nice to see yourself the way others see you. It's reassuring, like looking in the mirror. And no matter how well you think you know yourself it's always good to know if you have spinach in your teeth.

Sam is getting to be so mobile. He can pull up in his crib. Scary!

Sam scoots around the floor army style. He goes backwards better than forward sometimes. The other day I was putting some laundry in the dryer and I heard some frustrated noises coming from the living room. I went in to check on Sam and he had gotten everything but his head under the couch. He was very annoyed that his round little head didn't fit. It was pretty funny.

Sam and I are so happy because our friends The Raybacks moved to Provo. We have had so much fun the past few weeks with Ashley, her husband Mat, and their baby Gabriel. Gabriel is 7 months older than Sam and they have had fun playing together. Gabe shares all his toys with Sam and Sam thinks Gabe is very entertaining.

We got to play with Gabriel this afternoon for a few hours while Ashley got her hair cut.

Sammy and Uncle Pablo. Sam is wearing some of Pablo's bling.

Here is Sam with Daddy. When Daniel comes home from work Sam gets so excited. He says "Dadadadadada"

Look what a mess I make with my teething cookies. You have a problem with that?

I love them. They are so tasty.

Want a bite?

Here I am doing the world famous excited arm shake. If you've seen it you know it.

Bath time!

Sam and his Uncle Andrew are getting to be good buddies. Sam likes to give kisses that Andrew calls "Mr. Peepers kisses" (ode to SNL). Here Andrew is giving one to Sam.
Sam was starting to look like he had the same hair dresser as Donald Trump. This would be okay if he had the same income, but alas, the comb-over had to go.

Dad gave Samuel his first haircut on Saturday.

How do I look? Is it fabulous?

It is fabulous! I am one handsome kid!

Sammy just can't stop admiring the new do in the mirror.

I forgot to mention that Sam got his first tooth on Saturday! He was such a grumpy boy for like three days and then a little tooth poked up through his bottom gum and we were so relieved that we would't have to sell him to the gypsies after all.

So last night was the big night. Sam's room is finished and he got to sleep in his crib all by himself.

Look how much fun he's having. He has no idea how his life is about to change.

The hardest part of letting him cry himself to sleep is not knowing if it is really the best thing to do. I'm not sure I completely trust Ferber. The idea is to establish a good evening routine and then put him to bed sleepy, but awake. He is supposed to learn to fall asleep on his own. We let him cry for 5 minutes and then visit him for 1 minute to reassure him, but not pick him up. Then he cries for 10 minutes and we come back for 1, and then he cries for 15. The rest of the night you can go back in every 15 minutes if he is still awake, but eventually he is supposed to fall asleep. We did this for an hour and a half last night and then he did fall asleep, but he was very sad. Then he woke up 30 minutes later and we had to do it all again. This time though he fell asleep after the first visit. Then he woke up again at 1:30 and 2:30. He looked so sad and I felt like the meanest meany. But he slept the rest of the night and I had to wake him up this morning at 9:00. At nap time I put him back in his crib and he fussed for about 5 minutes and then slept for an hour and a half. It is more convenient for me, but I hope it doesn't scar him for life. I can hear it now: "Yes doctor, All my insecurities in life began the night my parents made me cry myself to sleep."
But this morning as I look at him he seems a little different to me. A little older maybe, he isn't as clingy and he lets his Uncle Andrew hold him and play with him. We'll see how it goes.