Having Trouble Remembering Your Middle Name?

Open up a kitchen cabinet and take out the super cool stamper ink pad and start to play with it. Make sure all fingers are totally in the ink pad and then make sure you touch as much of the cabinet as possible. I promise you that when Mommy turns around you will hear, loudly and clearly, your first, middle and last name!

Oh, and the word washable on the ink pad was a bit misleading. Soap and water only works on hands, not on cabinets. Good thing Mommy thought of rubbing alcohol and is planning to redo the kitchen in a few years...

And the color, you ask? Hot pink, of course!

Rest Up, Turkey Lurkey

So, I wish I could dazzle you with great stories of fabulous vacation adventures, but no such luck. We had such a relaxing, quiet vacation that it was borderline boring. And it was just what Dr. Samantha ordered. We've been running ragged with too many things going on in this here year of 2009, so the luxury of doing nothing was more welcomed than a double decker ice cream cone left out on my high chair.

Today was three hour nap day and it was cut short by Mommy coming into my room and enticing me with a visit next door for some fingers up the nose time with Phoebe, the most beautiful yellow labrador I've ever hugged. Mommy asked Phoebe's Mommy if they ever see Roger and how Phoebe likes Roger. We heard stories that made my belly puff out like a budha- Roger is one tough kitty cat and has a reputation of being the king of this here farmland and he's wrapped around my tiny little pointer finger! He is super gentle with me and all my playdates.

Sadly, our family time has come to and abrupt end. I helped Daddy pack for his Orlando trip by sitting squarely in his suitcase as he tried to pack around my 25 pound body. Don't go!

I should add that Daddy surprised us with a super cool high definition video camera the size of my foot (hey, I have small feet!) and there will be lots more video postings on this here blog. It even makes pictures from frames on the videos. The things Daddy can do when his is on vacation is truly amazing!

Guest Of Honor, Sort Of

For the first time ever, the blog is going to feature Mayberry's most conservative citizen. How did this come to be? I step back a moment to lead up to this interesting development.

We accepted Bridget's kind invitation to spend the turkey holiday with her family and headed over after my very long nap (yes the morning involved a trip up and down every aisle in ShopRite to tire me out-it's the baby version of a treadmill!) and hunkered down in front of all the super cool toys.

As you well know, I am obsessed with chairs. Any kind, any place. Put me in the same room with a pink bucket chair just my size and I'm a goner.

Why must chairs me so difficult to get into?

Finally, I can plop my tush down and rest in the glory that this here beauty of a chair is all mine!

We had a blast playing dolls and later moved onto some live action- yeppers, I'm talking about their super cool dog Torrie. Then we played a super challenging game of hide-n-seek, Bridget style. What does this mean? Well, in her excitement to find her older brother she grabbed my hand and ran to Danny. I'm pretty sure my shoulder left its socket for a good four seconds as I flew (literally) down the hallway in pursuit of bragging rights for finding Danny.

We then plopped down at the table with the intention of eating all turkey in sight. Yummy! We missed Bridget's cousin this year because she is spending the year in Australia. So, for the first time ever, I skyped! And I liked it! Mommy was a little distressed about the peep show. You see, I showed my bare belly button to an entire continent down south- all without prompting from anyone else. I was immediately told that a paper route was the most honorable way to save money for college.

After an amazing dinner (thank you Bridget's family!) we headed home to bed. Without the camera, I must note. When Mommy picked it up she found that her camera had many more pictures taken than she remembered. In honor of keeping the holiday going, I bring you some great pictures of events that happened long after the Burts left the party.

This here is a photo taken by Bridget's very funny Daddy. This is the only person I've ever known in my whole seventeen months who can set himself on fire while powerwashing a deck. He is my ultimate hero!

There were many other pictures taken, but I'll spare you the potty and the potty humor...

I leave you with someone near and dear to my heart. I know her nose as well as I know my own. Meet Torrie!

So to all my family and friends, I hope your Thanksgiving was as amazing as mine was.

Gobble, Gobble!

In honor of Thanksgiving, my art project this month was creating custom turkeys for fridges all across America. Take a look at the masterpiece made special for my house. Bet you can't guess that I made this beauty all by myself!

Cleared For Turkey Day

We took yet another family field trip today, this time to the doctors. Dr M said Mommy and Daddy wasted their co-pay because my tubes are in place and my ears are infection-free. Any crankiness at this point is blamed squarely on the six teeth that are breakin' through.

For those counting, I have the two bottom front teeth and the top right (if you are looking at me) officially through and causing damage to any cheese stick that gets in my way. My top left tooth (again, looking at me) has officially broken through the gums but is taking its time coming all the way in. The two teeth on either side of the top front teeth are jealous of the attention the exposed teeth are getting and are in competition to break through next. The top molars are also vying for victory. Who will win this race? It's my secret!

Back to the day...Mommy and Daddy then dropped me off at school and then they went home to organize closets. I'll take play time over Mommy's version of 'cleaning' any day of the week except school is closed on Saturday and Sunday, darnnit.

When Mommy did pick me up we decided that Target needed to reduce their baby food inventory, so we relocated two weeks of jarred fruit to our pantry. Yep, I flat out refuse to eat fresh fruits so Mommy has to buy stage 2 fruit meant for six month old babies. Hey, at least I'm eating fruit, right?

At home we had a blast with my shopping cart and then playing with the goldfish snack that turned into a toy in my garden.

I sure live a blessed life and can't wait to share tomorrow with family and friends- miss everyone who isn't going to be hanging out with me!

Mommy And Me With A Daddy Picture To Boot

You see, Mommy snuck off to the Carter's outlet after my torture session on Thursday and decided to bring home more torture for me.

Exhibit Number One- mittens that fit me like a glove but are too tight for me to take off on my own.


Seriously, she has a heart of stone to not be moved by this face.


It wasn't until Daddy saved me that I perked up and agreed to be nice to Mommy again. Here we are in the middle of one of our favorite games- put things in the now empty tissue box and then take them out only to put them back in again. Fun times, I swear!

See what cool things you can fit into a big tissue box? Seriously, who needs Toys R Us when you have Kleenex in your court?

Budding body builder in the making. Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns! (Nope, the quote doesn't really belong, but in this time of thanks we need to give props to our 80s movies!)

Family Field Trip

What else is there to do on a beeeuuteeful fall Saturday morning in November besides head to the park? Can't think of a darned thing can you? Well, neither can I. So, I pushed aside all thoughts of my bum right ear and hunkered into my carseat for the 1.4 mile trip to the super cool park. The best part of the day, you ask? Daddy and Mommy spending it with me!

Hmmm, just what is the best way to navigate the slide today?


On my belly with only one shoe on, of course!


I share with you my aspirations. One day I will be able to climb up to the slides this way. Until then it's stair city, baby!

Like Frankenstein, must get to swings now!

After sufficiently wearing out the slide and swings it was time for some quality time at the picnic benches. Daddy is super funny and I can't seem to stop laughing whenever he talks to me.

A quick note from the historian in me. You see my life has been a bit off kilter these days. I'm stuck on my side while the hydrogen peroxide/water mixture attacks the germies in my right ear, then need to remain equally still for another round of antibiotic drops plopped into my hearing horns to then asborb into my tubes. For those of you who have ever met a budding toddler, you can imagine that sitting still for over 30 minutes a day is a monumental challenge that should not be attempted by the weak at heart. Thank goodness Daddy is there to entertain me while Mommy holds me. We do a lot of 'Daddy sharing a pillow with Samantha' and 'finger touch' and 'high fives' and 'fist bumps' and practicing body parts. You can certainly cover a lot of ground in 30 minutes when you're lying down in a wrestler's hold. I sure hope to be better soon. On a bright note, I have slept through the night every night since my surgery!

Planning Ahead

So, my ear situation is still a bit murky- kinda like the stuff coming out of my right ear. Still gross, I tell ya. Mommy talked to the doctor today and we upped the plan of attack and also included a placeholder appointment on Monday morning before his office opens just in case I need another run on the torture contraption to have my ear suctioned out again.

I'm hoping next week is a whole lot better than this one!

An a positive note, I am totally in love with this portable music device.

I am such a devoted practicer.

Samantha Gets Sicker

Before I get into the mess that has defined my week, I wanted to take a minute and show you how well I can help Mommy get the house ready for Miss Ewa. Mommy picks up and I go shopping. As it should be!

Brainwashing begins at such an early age- shopping is such fun!

I take my shopping duties very seriously!

Here I am hammin' it up for the camera.

I am such a good walker!

So, the whole tubes thing backfired. Now I have the worst infection ever and need antibiotic drops, oral antibiotics and lots of Dunkin Donuts munchkins.

Mommy had to take me back to the doctors today to flush out the infection. Yes, that does suck as much as you imagine it does. They straitjacketed me and flushed and sucked out the infection. Yes, it's also as gross as you imagine it is.

Mommy took me back to school and then she headed out to the tea house for a much needed break from reality, then she picked herself up and headed to the Carter's outlet to pick up some 18-month sized goodies for yours truly. If you must know, most days I'm still in my trusty 12-month sized clothes but my belly is getting a bit bigger so the 18-month tops are a welcome relief after a big lunch. (Oh, and I forgot to share that I was weighed at the hospital on Tuesday and came in at a whopping 25 pounds on their very unscientific scale.)

Then we came home and watch Daddy deal with Roger and three of the biggest ticks in the entire world. It's quite an adjustment having an outdoor cat. This is why we aren't making him an indoor cat.... Enough said.

Starving Samantha -Sadly Successful

I'll keep this quick because I'm recovering, but thought I'd share that surgery went well. As expected, the happy juice worked wonders, but being a pro didn't help the situation because I knew what was a comin'. On a positive note, it was just the gas mask and no IV was in sight or in my arm. Yay for this uplifting tidbit.

Here I am in the toyless waiting room. This blows.

Then I was called to the totally-not-kid-friendly pre-op room. Not a happy camper.

At least Mommy thought in advance to bring a pen along for me to play with.

And the happy juice kicked in pretty quickly.

Not sure who had more fun- Daddy or me!

After the surgery I screamed my head off until they let Mommy and Daddy hold me. They learned what anyone who knows me already knew- when I'm in need of comfort, walk me around and let me look outside.

Mommy poo-pooed the whole clear liquid diet after surgery crap and honed right in on the whole wheat bagel with cream cheese and my trusty whole wheat pita with garlic hummus. Then the nurses couldn't believe how quickly I calmed down. Mommy must have been an awesome nurse in a pre-Samantha lifetime.

Home we went with a mandatory stop at Chipotle to recharge the good ole' batteries. Then it was nap time! After we woke up it was time to get back to surgery schedules- Mommy and I headed to the park while Daddy mowed the lawn. Ahh, tradition in the Krempa-Burt home!

After the park Mommy and I needed some quiet time (the park was filled with about 17 kids who were super energetic and loud) so we drove up and down every street in Mayberry (including a respite to watch a huge tractor thing take down a farm field and fill a humungo truck full of either corn or soy beans). Four minutes later we found the most amazing park in Mayberry, if not the entire northeast corridor. This baby had slides that made Mommy nervous. I laughed everytime we went down the slide and begged for more, you know- just what the doctor ordered!

Update- this is way worse than the tumor surgery because I felt icky all day and my grumpiness was evident to more than just me. Then, to top of the crapper of a day, Mommy and Daddy pinned me down (think wrestle mania) and forced antibiotic drops in each ear and expected me to take them lying down for five minutes on each side. Between the surgery stuff and the six teeth (two are molars!) coming in at once, I feel strongly that I must use adult language twice in one post. Crappers!

Preparation For Operation Starve Samantha

Can you say super rough night? Samantha didn't sleep. Mommy didn't sleep. Daddy didn't sleep. Kitty-cat? Perfectly content in the basement. At least one of us was lucky!

Daddy was a real trooper and took First Samantha shift and then Mommy took Second Samantha Shift. I was on deck for both shifts- pooper!

Shift duty included the requisite string cheese to soothe my gums along with my trusty pacifier to hold on to just in case.

Hey, at least one of the bunch can smile at 2am. Thank goodness its me!
And after a restful sleep it's time to welcome the day once again, which brings me to part two of today's post-----

Yeppers, it's that time again. Mommy takes the day off work to spend with me, but really she's just trying to keep me from catching any germs at school right before I go under the knife. Seriously, with all these surgeries you'd think that I'd come back with the best nose job around. But, nooooo. This time no one is even going to SEE the fruits of Dr. E's labor. So, at midnight tonight I'm going to be woken up and forced to eat and drink plenty and then deprived of all comforts in the morning as we prepare for the journey to New Brunswick for me to get tubes in my ears.

Of course the camera is coming along for the ride. Of course I'm wearing my "I may be little, but I'm tough" outfit!

PS- this day off from school included a trip to the doctor where Dr. D confirmed that I have a boatload of non-infected fluid in each ear, my four top front teeth coming in AND my top molars starting to push through. And then they talked about my foul mood. As if! (The consensus was to plow me with Tylenol and know I'm going to be a bear tonight- and hoping that the tubes work wonders so I can just focus on my power teething spurt I seem to have found myself in.)

PPS- Who makes a baby skip breakfast and schedule surgery for 9:45am? Seriously annoyed by this whole thing!

Weekend In Review

So, the weekend started off great. Daddy picked me up from school and then took me on 'Operation Tire Samantha Out', which meant a Daddy and me trip to Target. I swear I could map out the aisles in my sleep. That's how much I go there, seriously! Mommy went on her second GNO in two weeks. Hope this turns into a trend. I sure love my quality time with Daddy!

Saturday morning was fun except for the whole bath thing. Something about company coming and not being allowed to smell. Good thing Mommy and Daddy took charge because when company came, they brought me a super cool shopping cart loaded with goodies. Can you imagine if I smelled so badly that Toni turned around and left right away? The girls (that's Toni, Mommy and me!) hung out in the family room while Chef Daddy made us a decked out lunch. Cooking skills are a requirement that is totally making it in my match.com profile as soon as I'm old enough to have an account of my own.

We had a blast! Toni is such a great friend and amazing company. She was so much fun that she wore me out and I had to take two naps on a Saturday. Wowsers!

Sunday morning and it's off to the races. I mean park, silly. Daddy headed to workland and we headed to slide heaven.

I tried to go to work with Daddy, even sitting properly in the front seat, minus the seat belt and that whole pesky illegal thing.

I say if you're going to laugh in the face of the law, then go whole hog. Here I am trying to hop in the drivers seat with Daddy.

Here's one last push for keys to the car before Daddy booted me out and sent me on my way as he went to workland.

Thank goodness I ditched his Daddy butt and headed to the park because it was a gorgeous day. Here I am just about to head down the slide, not aware of what I'm about to get myself into.

Too bad it rained cats and dogs last night and everything was covered in puddles of water. Mommy laughed way too hard as I tried to climb up the super slippery slide and kept falling and finding myself back at the bottom of the slide. After I was covered in dirt and water we went home to clean up and take a nap. Why you ask? Because the afternoon was reserved for play date time!

Connor, Emily and I had such a blast on our play date. We hung out on the riding lawn mower and ran around the house like the rascals we are. It was awesome, I tell ya! Daddy was equally unexcited as we were excited about all the toys that make lots and lots of loud noise. Three to one, baby! Once again Mommy screwed up and, in all the fun, forgot to take pictures until Connor had gone and we were totally winding down from all the excitement.

Here I am taking a break from all the fun to have a well-rounded, face covering meal.

Yes, I just tested out my gross motor skills by letting yogurt pour ever so beautifully from the container to my outfit.
Emily's Daddy is super talented as puppeteers go. Don't let Mommy's lack of photography skills skew your take on this super fun moment.
How does Paul Revere's 'one if by land, two if by sea' factor into choosing between a fish and a moose?



Before I knew it night had fallen and Connor and Emily were whisked away to their own cribs. Sure hope we have another play date soon!

Art Projects Galore

I received a distraction from surgery package in the mail today. Not totally worth general anesthesia to get sympathy packages, but pretty darn close. I totally scored with lots of little treats (think Fruit Loops and Gerber Graduate treats) and tons of artsy things for my to take my creative streak to the extreme. Take this here shot of me sensing all the possibilities of the stampers and washable ink pads that I now have in my art supply cabinet. I'm sensing some bonus time at my art table!



Thanks for thinking of me!

Totally Ready For Keys To The Car

See how nonchalantly I can reach over and turn the car on? What can I say? I'm a natural!

And for those who drool over my owl dress, here's one for you!

Words Are Overrated

So what that I'm not that into words these days. Sure, I know what they mean. I just like to give my head a workout bobbing up and down or shaking side to side as Mommy and Daddy play 20 questions with me. Much like an artist, I'm spot on with few words.

Today Mommy picked me up from school and found me in totally new clothes (Miss Kim blabbed ((again!)) how much I absolutely love to drink our of a cup and then drink to fast and watch all the water rush down my clothes) and then watched Miss Kim ask who everyone in my class was while I pointed to them. I know what's going on!

Though, if I were to use words they would be
Mommy
Daddy
Cat
More
School
Up

Then, even though it was practically pitch black outside I sweet smiled a trip to the park out of Mommy. We saw Katie there again and her Mommy told mine that I taught Katie (a whole month younger than me) how to slide down the slides like a toddler. Imagine -me an inspiration! I played on the baseball field, hit the swings and the slide and threw a toddler tantrum when I was told it was time to go home. Mothers!

We went home and had a great bath in the big girl tub. See, Mommy had a GNO over the weekend and the other Mommies said I was too big for the duck tub now so she bought a non-slip mat for the tub and it's been splash central ever since.

Then I refused to eat dinner- teething crap again. Went to sleep without a fuss until I was rudely woken up by a parent (though no way I'm blabbing which elephant is to blame) and found myself back in my high chair where we had great fun. Mommy tried to feed me, I opened my mouth and laughed as all the food fell out of my mouth and onto my sleeper and Daddy kept his hand FIRMLY over his mouth to cover his amusement with Mommy's reaction to the scene in front of him. Then it was off to bed, again.

Don't you wish you had this much excitement after 5pm on a school night?

The Krempa-Burts On A Play Date

So, I know I'm posting a bit out of order, but I wanted to make sure you saw these AMAZING photos that Connor and John's Mommy took of me. Boy, her camera couldn't love me any more, huh?

So, without further ado I bring you pictures taken on Saturday from a camera that clearly loves me!

Here I am hard at work on November's art project. Remember that I do one art project a month and then do my bestest to clutter up your fridge fronts? Here's to foam sticker fun!

Not sure how you feel about this picture? Me, too. But somehow the thought that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"comes to mind.Family fun time. I'm hard at work, while Daddy is prepping the snowflake. Mommy? Smiling at the camera, of course!

Connor and John arrived at my doorstep bearing the tastiest treat ever- munchkins. Wanna know my idea of heaven? Munching on munchkins while on a riding lawn mower. Need proof? Check the pudding.

And a perfect family shot. Excuse the mess. Who cleans out a detached garage when you could be playing. Oh, and this is the place where Stanley the Snake hangs out. Enough said.

I found these in my email box tonight. Yes, I have a gmail account! I am going to bed the snuggliest baby ever. Thanks to the Woodsies for making my week so great. Fun company and pictures to keep the fun alive!

Lessons Learned

Irking Mommy is never a good thing. Look at what she can do to bad babies.
Wait- it gets worse.

Mommy made me wear this getup all around Mayberry this morning while Daddy was working his tail off. I played so much with the three girls and two daddies at the park that I fell asleep during the one mile car ride home and was a rag doll while Mommy changed me out of my outfit (dumped water all over myself on walk to the park and Mommy only changed my pants so I was still damp when we got home.) Then he came home while I was napping and weeded and mowed the lawn while Mommy 'watched tv' on the couch with her eyes closed and the tv turned off.

After all that yardwork it was time to celebrate with round two at the playground. This time Daddy came with us. Yay for Daddies!

Super cute shot of me and it's my blog. Enough said.

Daddy and me on the swings.

Then we went home where Daddy made some of his famous chili. Mommy went to the store to pick up ingredients for the chili and came home without them so I had to take her back to the store. Silly Mommy!

Then I had a great dinner of sweet potato with vanilla yogurt (I still won't eat most vegetables or any adult fruits so I'm stuck with baby food in this area of culinary delights) while taking time outs to suck on the top of the chili powder canister. Yummy!

For those awesome folks who check my precious booty, I mean blog daily (or hourly), scroll down to the day after Halloween a little bit for a new candy-counting adventure and body part lesson. Totally worth it!