Who Has Time For Pictures?

Certainly not me. After a big disagreement among the parents about my demanding to be coddled at night, the sympathetic parent won out and cried victory when sweet, sweet Dr. G diagosed me with an ear infection in my right ear, same as the last time. So, turns out that my ear infection never went totally away. We then headed to the pharmacy and to see Dr. W who gloated that I was a textbook case of perfect tumor removal.

How'd I spend the rest of the day? Annoying the crap out of Mommy! She tried her darnest to work while I tried my darnest to cause mischief. Here's what I did today between being pathetic from ear pain....

• Learned how to make the water dispenser work and watch the Niagra Falls in my new kitchen.
• Learned how to make the central vacuum work in our house.
• Helped wrap UB's birthday present by ensuring the box could withstand almost 20 pounds of 'shaky yer booty' action.
• Called lots of people from the house phone, including Mommy's cell phone.
• Watched Mommy race to the next room to answer my phone calls.
• Took every remote and caused havoc.
• Banged on Mommy's laptop keyboard while she tried to type messages.
• Screamed into people's voicemail boxes while Mommy was trying to conduct business.

Whew- and that was all before Mommy cried 'uncle' and took me for a two hour walk around town, where we ran into Christopher, Heidi and Langdon. They took us to Village Park and I played on the swings and slide. Yippee!

A Trespassin' We Will Go

Daddy has been working super hard to move us into the new house, while Mommy has been demonstrating similar diligence in meeting our elusive neighbors. We went trespassing this evening on our after dinner stroll and saw signs of life in the lawn of our neighbors behind us. What's a Mommy to do? Walk a good 1/8 mile on someone else's property and invite us into their home. I totally flirted with their high-school aged son and Mommy volunteered their driveway for our morning walks. She knows no fear!

After our social stroll, we came back for some eatin' and I decided it was high time to figure out this whole 'feeding yourself' thing.

How do you think it's going?

Bull's eye!

Hmm, think the spoon is backwards.....

Must get more food on this elusive spoon.

For play or sustenance?

I seem to be getting the hang of this thing called eating.

Happy camper in the house!

Here's a close up of my new tool and my empty yogurt container. Success!

I'll Take That To Go

This morning Mommy painted the master bedroom while Daddy and I went to Home Depot. Not sure who made out in this division of labor. The field trip was so tiring that I came home and slept for four hours. Yikes!

I woke up just in time for lunch and a quick trip to Target, and then, guess what? Another nap, of course!

This time I woke up just in time for dinner. Detecting a theme here? We headed out for a family dinner to Outback. I was super well behaved and scarfed down half a loaf of their heavenly bread all by myself. Then I noshed on sweet potato fries and a very tiny bit of a grilled cheese sandwich, which Mommy ripped into little pieces. I prefered her steak and then realized that grilled cheese is way better if I can eat it whole and let me two teeth tear off tiny chunks of sustenance. I'm really into biting my own food these days and pass over things served to me all nice and neat. I'm a messy girl at heart. When it was time to go I brought my sandwich with me. Take out!

Night night!

Mack Truck In The House

Looks like a truck ran over my face, doesn't it? Fortunately, I'm no worse for the wear. I feel great and haven't even tugged at the offending swollen mass that was, at one point, my eye.

See, I can even bust out an almost toothless smile at a Daddy joke!

Here's a close up of my beauty.

One thing that's happened in the last week or so that makes Mommy and Daddy weak in the kees is my penchant for hugging them full on-yep, both arms extended and wrapped tightly around their neck. Snuggling isn't as bad as I remember it, or I just need a little more lovin' these days. Either way, we're all digging this token of affection.

This extra lovin' seems to be working because Mommy's been taking me on these super fun walks in downtown Cranbury and we stop for a special ice cream treat. Yep, my onesie really says 'perfect is my middle name'.

I'm ready for ya, cone! Ready, set, go!

What do ya mean, you want to share? This is a Samantha-sized treat. No ice cream for you!

This is way harder than it looks.

Must focus if I want this frozen treat to end up in my buddha belly.

This is way harder than it looks, so don't try this at home Samantha fans.

Finally, perfect execution!

Thank Gooseness for Dr. W

Today is the big surgery to remove the 'bump' next to my right eye. Mommy popped me into my "I might be little, but I'm tough" onsesie and we headed to the hospital for our 7am arrival time.Once there, I swallowed 2.2ml of tasty stuff and then some Tylenol. Then I got woozy, calm and relaxed. Mommy and Daddy tried to score some more of the good stuff, but got totally denied.

Here I am playing on the phone and hold Mr. Goose.

Look- we're all linked together! Even Mr. Goose had a band so he could stay with me.

See how happy I am - meds are great!

I think it's a little sad, but this is the same surgical center that Mommy and Daddy BOTH had surgeries at this year. I've spent way too much time here. The nurses remembered me and, if that wasn't funny enough, Mommy's doctor walked into the pre-op room and thought he was going to operate on my toes. As if! Mine are perfect, I tell ya. Mommy told Dr. S that one of her toes needs more attention and he just looked at Daddy and said he had five minutes until his next surgery, did he want him to cut off Mommy's toe. Ha!

An hour and 15 minutes after being wheeled into the big OR, Dr. W came out to tell Mommy and Daddy they could stop pacing. Dr. W said it was the easiest bump removal he's had because it was free floating and we got it so early. I am an overachiever, huh?

After an eventful time coming out of anesthesia, we hung out at the hospital for the required hour and then headed home. Mr. Goose was my constant companion, both in and out of the operating room. Thank gooseness for security blankets!

This is me, minus my bump and plus three layers of stitches.

After a quick lunch of french fries and a frosty, I was back to my old self. That is, I chased Mufasa around the house and got into mischief.

Mommy and I went for a walk in downtown Cranbury. I had my first 13month-old-sized ice cream cone. I was over the moon that this melting mess was all mine. Yummy!

Then we came home to find Daddy breaking in his John Deere. I think the colors go better with my complexion. What do you think?



That is hi ya dog that Mommy got when she was a freshman in college nineteen years ago. It is a good distraction and makes me feel tough. I rock!

Rest Up, Buttercup

In honor of being almost 14 months, I've been expanding my eating horizons. This is a jar of apples and apricots that I'm willingly eating. And it tastes good to boot!

I seem to have lost a hand during this feeding....
Spoon? What exactly do I do with it?

Oh, put food on hand, then swipe on spoon and insert in mouth. Got it!

Tomorrow is the big day. Gotta rest up!

Operation "Bored Out Of My Mind"

Is in full swing. Mommy stayed home from work this week so she could keep me out of school in anticipation of the big day on Thursday. Unfortunately, she'd had to actually work most of the time, so I'm stuck playing by myself. I have stolen the show on several conference calls. So, if you're on the phone with Mommy and trying to be super serious, take heart if you hear baby laughter in the background. Life's too short for everyone to be on the straight and narrow.

Showing Off

There is absolutely no reason for this post other than I am super cute and love this outfit. Don't like this reason?

Let's take it outside. Come on!

Here I am with all my goodies I received in a care package for my surgery day. Yeah, right. Mommy doesn't wait to open packages, so why should I? Mommy, don't take my treats!

Yummy, Apple Jacks.

I think I can fit in this car.

Yay for great television. Can you believe they took Married with Children off the air?

Dog Days Of Summer

I'm recovering nicely from my ear infection though I must say that it's been quite the week.

Since Daddy's flight to Chicago was canceled, we got to spend Saturday as a family. We were
experiencing some ill effects from some hurricane so it's been raining cats and dogs. I made the executive decision to direct all activities inside the confines of our home, far away from the endless rain.

I know I'm not supposed to stick my fingers in other people's mouths after I did it at school and ended up with a bite mark on my pointer finger, but I can't resist when Daddy is around.


Whoops- that moment was caught on camera by the paparazzi? Snag that camera!

Kisses for Princess Samantha!

I just love shoes these days. And I totally know that they go on my feet. What I haven't gotten a hang of is why Mommy and Daddy's shoes don't fit my feet so well. Any ideas?

Hmm, I really think that I can fit inside this trash can. It would be the ultimate ride!

Surf's up!

Mommy needed a break from me? What is she talking about? Soooo, Daddy took me on a magic blanket ride around the living room, dining room and kitchen. Then I took the magic blanket ride upstairs into my playroom where I found Mommy had just finished assembling my Little People Garage.

Daddy stole a few moments to himself and put down my new rug, so I trooped down the hall to inspect his handy work and discovered that my clean clothes were inside my dresser drawers. What is wrong with Mommy? Thank goodness someone around here knows where things really belong. Clean clothes go on the floor, Mommy!

See, now I know exactly where my complete, matching outfits are as soon as I get up in the morning. Now that's efficiency!

What is this basket of my sun items doing on top of my dresser. I can see this is going to be a long row to hoe.

I found out that Mommy also out together my Pottery Barn Kids anywhere chair. Boy, this is really turning out to be my day! Think I'll break it in and see what's going on outside in the corn field. Can you believe I got a talking to that chairs were made to be sat in? Daddy just laughed at Mommy and told me to go ahead and do what I want. Talk about mixed messages.

What's a baby to do with conflicting advice? Look totally innocent and hope the parents get distracted by the cat.

Back to nature watching.

I totally love this chair!

One of the baby shower gifts received from Daddy's generous work buddies was a super cool rocking chair with my name on it. I decided it should go right next to the glider in my room, right under the reading lights so I can go to town with all the great books in my library. Now, if I can just get in the rocking chair. Daddy, help please.

Here I am in total concentration mode.

One foot up, one more to go.

Yikes, this is much harder to do when the chair rocks under you!

Success!

Daddy, you're the bestest! Thanks for being my knight in shining armour and always coming to my rescue.

Here is one of my trademark 'tongue to the side' smiles that I display when I'm totally at peace with the world.

I rock, literally!

Go, go, Samantha, go, go.

I absolutely love talking on the phone, but think they are too heavy to hold up to my ear. Instead I prefer to throw them o’er my shoulder like a continental soldier.

Whew, what a great, fun-filled day. Now it's off to bed to rest up and get ready for family Sunday.

Side note, I am totally digging the scenery of my car trips to and from my new house. I absolutely loved the sunflower field until a few days ago when they were cut down. I also see a lot of corn, fruit trees and berries. There are some fields that have mystery growth, but I'm sure to figure it out one of these days. I also love that at least four houses on my street have horses, two of them are stables that offer lessons to the public. I'm the public as soon as I turn six!