Last night Samuel woke up twice, once at about 1 am and then at 4 am.  We let him cry it out.  He didn't cry for too long, which was nice of him.  Hopefully tonight he will be better, but we are not going in to deal with him.  He needs to sleep and so do we.  

I am almost 100% sure that Samuel is right handed.  He has been using a fork and spoon to eat now and he picks it up only with his right hand.  Sometimes he will switch it over to his left, but he consistently uses his right hand.  

I think tomorrow will be my last day to breastfeed Samuel.  For the last month I have only been breastfeeding him in the morning.  Since we have been gone almost the entire month of March, I figured that he had enough change going on and I didn't want to deal with trying to stop.  However, I am pretty much done.  I just have a feeling that he would never quit.  

So Megan asked about our trip to Europe.  We are leaving the end of April.  We are not taking Samuel.  He is staying with my parents for a week.  Dave's Great Aunt and Uncle are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in the Netherlands and they are having a big party.  So we are going for the party and will spend a few days in the Netherlands with Dave's family.  Then we are going to spend a few days in Paris, then take an overnight train to Rome.  I think we are spending two or three days in Rome.  We are so excited.  That is another reason why I have to quit breastfeeding ASAP.  I would like to have as much time as possible before we go, not breastfeeding.  

I better go, I have a child that just wiped oatmeal all over his face and hair.  I think he wants my attention.  

Highs and Lows

This weekend was full of highs and lows.  Mostly highs until last night.  

We went to Michigan on Saturday morning to surprise Dave's dad because Dave's mom had planned a surprise retirement party for him.  The flight was great.  Samuel slept almost the entire time.  We got into Michigan about an hour after the party started and I am pretty sure he was surprised to see us.  We also saw family from Canada: Aunt Irene, Uncle Butch and Uncle Joe. It was so nice.  It was a very short visit because we left on Sunday morning around 9:30.  

The flight again was perfect.  Samuel slept the entire time, we got home, ate a late lunch and relaxed for the evening.  

I don't know if the traveling bothers Samuel or what, but he had some serious digestive issues.  Samuel has never really had a diaper rash before.  His bottom will get red sometimes, but never too bad.  Last night it was terrible.  It was actually pretty disgusting and we felt terrible when we had to change his diaper.  We gave him a bath last night and this morning it looks much better.  

I think that Samuel is trying to fight off the cold that both Dave and I had.  He was coughing a lot last night and his nose was full of snot.  He could barely breathe.  He woke up last night at 10 pm, 2 am, 4 am and then he woke up at 7.  It was terrible.  I know he isn't feeling well, but I think he will be crying a little bit tonight.  I just can't handle the 3 times waking up in the middle of the night and neither can Dave.  We just can't function.  

I made a menu for the week last night. Samuel and I are about to head to the grocery store before his first nap.  

We aren't traveling at all for the next 3 weeks.  Thank goodness.  I am sick of flying and packing.  However, the end of April, Dave and I leave for Europe.  We can't wait!!!!!!!!

Better

I feel much better today.  I still have a cough and stuffed up nose, but I don't feel like I am in a fog.  My head has cleared up.  However, I have a terrible attitude today.  I have reached my patience limit with Samuel.  I don't want to have to deal with him at all.  One week and one day of spending all my time with him and I am burnt out.  

He looks so freaking cute and looks up at me and smiles and I feel bad that I just want to walk away.  A nap can't come any sooner.  

I have a meeting today from 10 to at least 12 and I have to bring him with me.  That means I will be running around chasing Samuel and trying to concentrate on the meeting.  So much fun.  

Last night the Parents as Teachers (PAT) lady came by.  I had been thinking that Samuel was saying "Thank you" but I am the only one who has heard it, so I thought it could be possible that I was making it up in my mind.  However, the PAT lady was here and Samuel brought me one of his toys and I said thank you to him and he said thank you back.  I looked at her and he said he definitely said it.  Hip Hip Hooray!  I wasn't making it up.  I can tell his vocabulary is really increasing.  He understands everything.  The PAT lady asked him to get things for her in his toy box, things that I have never asked him to get and he went right over and brought them to her.  I was pretty impressed.  

It looks like it is going to rain, which isn't helping my disposition.  Would it be bad if I just locked myself in my room and let Samuel and George free in the house?  I am seriously considering it.  

Thank goodness it is Friday.

I'm sick. Not in the mood to do anything.  

I am going to sit and stare into space while Samuel is sleeping.

Need Sleep

It has been a very crazy few days.  On Sunday we were coming home from Las Vegas.  Our flight was supposed to leave at 11:35 am, we didn't get on the plane until a little after 1 pm.  We sat on the plane and on the runway until a little after 2 pm.  The plane was super hot, it was waaay past Samuel's nap time and the flight was completely full.  We thought that we were going to be leaving Vegas at 11:35 (1:35 our time) and then arriving in St. Louis around 5 pm, so the whole trip was only going to last about 4 hours.  Well, the whole trip lasted about 8 hours.  We didn't get into St. Louis until 7 pm.  Here was the problem...I only brought 4 diapers in the diaper bag.  Normally Samuel only poops 2 times a day.  For some reason on Sunday he decided to poop 4 times.  It was miserable.  We ran out of diapers.  I had to put one of his burp clothes in his diaper, then it busted out all over.  It was absolutely disgusting. Dave and I both had to change him in the plane bathroom, which is totally not suitable.  It was miserable.  

When we got home on Sunday night, Dave said he wasn't feeling great.  When he woke up in the morning he asked me to feel his head and it was burning hot.  He has had a fever off and on since Monday morning.  Now he has a sore throat.  I am trying to fight off a cold myself.

Then on Monday afternoon my mom called me and said that they were heading to Kansas City because the doctor didn't think that my grandmother (Bube) was going to make it through the night.  My brother, Samuel and I started driving around 7:45 pm to get there.  We got in around 11:30 pm.  Bube was completely out of it and didn't recognize us at all.  She made it through the night and when we went to the hospital this morning she was sitting up, lucid and recognized everyone.  The doctor said that he thought she was stable, so we headed back to St. Louis.  

Then tonight I had a meeting at Woman's Place from 5:30 to 7:30.  I am so exhausted now.  I needed some time to wind down before going to bed.  It has been a crazy week and it is only Tuesday night.  

I am going to finish watching a little bit of The Biggest Loser and then I am going to bed.

We've got a dancer

The family is in Vegas and we are having a blast.  Samuel and I are staying with my friend Kate and her baby Anabelle.  Dave is with some of his friends at a golf tournament.  

Samuel has adjusted completely to the time change.  It hasn't effected him at all.  I can't believe it.  He slept on the plane over here and then woke up when we got off the plane.  I think he thought that the plane ride was nap time.  When I put him to bed the first night he slept until about 6:45 am West Coast time.  He has been on his exact schedule all weekend.  It is pretty nice.

I will post pictures later, but for now:

Kate has a Flip video camera and we were at lunch today and Samuel started dancing when he heard the Jordin Sparks song, "One Step at a Time".  I look like shit, so please close your eyes when I enter the video.  

I am getting one of these video cameras.  They are so easy.

Happy Birthday Brody!

Samuel's I guess 3rd cousin is 1 today. My cousin, Nicki's son is exactly 2 weeks younger then Samuel.  Happy Birthday to Brody!