Downtown DC Take 1

While we were in DC we got to see a lot of great museums, monuments and local venues. Luckily almost all of these landmarks are free, so we really got to pack them in! I was actually surprised by how much I liked DC - it seemed clean and the people were some of the friendliest I have ever met....which is a HUGE compliment since I claim NC as home! :)

The Supreme Court

Samantha checking out the animals and pictures at the National Museum of Natural History.

We went on a tour of the Capitol Building that morning. It was really interesting and luckily, Samantha seemed to love it to!

This was the statuary hall where many of the figures symbolizing the states are held. Each state has 2 figures and they must be made of marble or bronze. Also interesting was that this was referred to as the "echo room" because they is one place in the room where if you stand over it, you can hear people on the other side of the room - as if they were right beside you. Our tour guide demonstrated this - is was so neat!

The rotunda of the Capitol building, where massive oil paintings of different wars are held.

This was what you saw when you looked up, while in the rotunda. It was amazing, esp. in person. The architecture, beauty and history of this building, and esp. DC as a whole was amazing. We really enjoyed our first day trip to the city. :)

Beautiful Annapolis

One of our many day trips since in DC has been to Annapolis, MD. It is an old harbour city, having with the character of an old downtown, a beautiful water view, a college vibe, and filled with navy pride.

We walked the streets, devoured some of the best crab cakes I have ever eaten, and finished it all off with double-chocolate ice cream -- who could ask for better!

A Legacy to Live Up To

Samantha recently got to meet my Aunt Janie and Bettye - my father's sisters. It was so special to get to spend some time with them. They are wonderful women -- and hysterical to boot! It is great for Samantha to meet the strong, crazy women that are her bloodlines. She has quite a legacy to live up to. :)

Life's a Beach

While in NC for the first two weeks, Samantha and I also went to the Outer Banks for a week. During our trip there we got to go to the Aquarium. It was nice, except for the fact that the AC was out - it was seriously hotter inside than out and that is saying a lot!

In a moment of weakness, I allowed Samantha to suck on my Peach (all fruit, no milk, before I get a lecture) popsicle to ease the hit. However, in her true dramatic style she threw a complete fit everytime I took it away .... she became obsessed! As my sister said, I was going down a dangerous road...baby food just won't stand a chance if I introduce these goodies.

(Above) We stroke a pose in the Aquarium despite dripping with heat -- hence the run to the popsicle stand afterwards. ;)

We also got to visit the beach several times. You would think it would have been warm enough to get her in a little more, but it was freezing! This was as much as her or I were willing to get in!
Here Samantha is enjoying her new lovey. Nana sewed one of her binkies onto pooh bear, so that she can have something to cuddle when she falls asleep.... too cute! :)

Okay, so I admittedly suck at taking self portraits. But, here is one of my many efforts. Not bad, if the wind hadn't been whipping us around. Oh well, I keep trying. ;)

Thanks to Aunt Tara (my personal Once Upon a Child - I so love the awesome hand-me-downs!) Samantha got her first bouncer. The first time in it she was confused, after that you just had to put on some music and she went to town. Sadly, the first music she danced to was Back Street Boys -- blame Nana who pulled out a CD she had way too close to reach!

Tara and her family got to join us at the beach. Here is proof that not all children are obsessed with just one type of binkie also, because her youngest Allyson would take anything - hence the disturbing binkie that my sister bought her.

Yet another attempt at self-portraits. Yes, I am picture crazy. I literally took around 600 in one week - you are seeing but a small fraction of all the pictures I took. My poor 2nd and 3rd children will get so angry, because I can't possibly keep this up with them (or so I am told).

Posing with Nana and Papa. We SO enjoyed our time with them, even though it felt WAY too short!

Another beach portrait. This kept her just enough away from feasting on the beach - yuck!

We bathed her a lot in the sink, which she loved! She was completely enamored with the faucet and that magical water. Explain to me again why us mothers spend so much on all those toys-- she is just as content with bottles, tags and water!

While back at my parent's home in Chocowinity, NC she got to bond with her neices - Grace, Danielle and Allyson. Just watching them was entertainment enough for her.

My Southern Belle

Looks like I might actually have a Southern girl on my hands - yeehaw!

Go Sami, Go Sami...

While in NC, Samantha went through a major learning curve. Her "mmm" became "mamas", though everything from a cracker, to a bear, to me falls under that category. ;) Her arm lifts became lifts on arms and legs and a very fast backwards crawl. She now claps and thinks the word "yeah" is its universal signal. And, God bless my sister for giving us this, she had discovered the joy of the bouncer! Put on music and watch her get down! :)

Here are some video clips of her new skills and her great giggles. She is such a ham...wonder where she got that from?!

Reuniting with old friends

In the past two weeks, we have been nomads. We began our venture with our temporary move to DC for one of Keith's conferences, which entailed a two week stint for baby and I in NC to see my family and some old friends. During our time with Nana and Papa we got to see our old friends Megan Christie and Becky Allison, and got to meet Megan's son David. We also got to reconnect with lots of family, and even tag along to a week trip to the Outer Banks at Nana and Papa's vacation home. We had a wonderful time, albeit way too quick! However, we relished in every minute and took lots of photos as you will see -- that is why I am SO behind on blog posts.

During the first week in NC we spent a couple of days with Megan, Becky and David. Megan and I have known each other since we were in 6th or 7th grade when I lived in Wilmington, NC, and our parents have also remained close friends. Her first born, David, is almost exactly 2 months younger than Samantha. Despite the many moves and years that have separated us, we always enjoy coming back together for laughs, going down memory lane and to revel in the similar paths our lives have taken.

David and Samantha also took to each other right away. Samantha is a chatterbox (like all women in my family) and just "baba" and "mama" David to death, while he just watched her like she was a crazed woman. He also had this adorable habit of folding his hands like he is praying, and sometimes he did this at the most opportune times, like when my bull dozer of a daughter tried to attack him (as Rya herself knows). ;)

Megan, David, Samantha and I

The Whole Crew

The Standoff...

Samantha and David posing on the swing set outside of my parents home.

David trying to pray for and heal Samantha of her crazy ways.

Visit with Grandma and Papaw Newbrough

Keith's parents, Ken and Karen, came to visit Samantha last week. We had a wonderful week, despite the dreary and unseasonably cool weather. We made it to the pool, went on several outings, enjoy several games of corn hole and all got to participate in the many changing moods and antics of Samantha. With a tooth seeming to be on the way, Samantha had many a restless night, but maintained her happy, giggly personality during the day to impress her Grandma and Papaw.

They of course made over her, and relished in every moment they had with her. It is great to know that Samantha is surrounded by so much love. She is so lucky to have two sets of amazing grandparents.

Grandma Newbrough feeding me some lunch!

Papaw and Sami enjoying a sweet photo op.

Enjoying a nice day in Amish Country, on one of Keith's days off.

We got one night at the pool. The rain had made it chilly, but Samantha didn't seem to mind. She loves the pool and just giggles up a storm. When not in her tube she splashes like crazy, but with the tube she can touch the bottom and move around herself like a big girl. :)

Worn out after the pool

Queen of her exersaucer domain


A perfect picture with Grandma and Papaw to end the week.

Many Faces of Samantha

My Princess Charming

Okay, it has taken me 29 years, but I have finally gotten this whole romance thing figured out! As little girls, we all get swept up in Disney and the prince on the white horse. That false dream has left many of us women completely devastated...men like that don't exist!

Romance is not like in the movies... it isn't easy, it isn't perfect and I have yet to have Keith dance with me in a dark street (Notebook), sing about his love to me (High School Musical - yes I went there), write letters to me that bring endless tears (PS I Love You), or chase me across different time periods (Lake House) - have I done something wrong, or is it in fact that the movies and yes, my childhood obsession with Disney, has left me bewildered in the romance department. Not, that I don't have an amazing relationship with my husband - I do, he is an incredible man. But, no where in those "ideal romances" is the toilet seat left up, farts heard from the other end of the house, and date night being us trying to make it up past 10 pm (esp. since baby).

However, since Samantha I have learned a couple of things about romance. True love is even better than the movies! True love is your husband holding your hand and encouraging you as you push (and push and push) out his child. True love is your husband watching the baby while you take a much needed shower or bath (smelling like breast milk is SO not good for romance!). True love is your husband never commenting on that fact that his once manicured, preppy, and dressed up wife has now traded heals for tennis shoes, jewelry for breast pads, and cute outfits for the perfect, comfy tee. And let us not get into the now saggy boobs, toneless stomach, and that fact I swear I am losing my hair since baby!

True love is also never more evident than with your child. No person can ever explain that type of love until you are there. For example, last week alone I was pooped on twice (Sweet Potato poops!!), spit up on countless times, hair pulled out by little inquisitive fingers, and had several nights where sleep was hard to come by.

Nonetheless, I was still 100% enamored with Samantha. I managed to laugh off the poop and make cleanup into a silly song. Sleepless nights were hard, but I'd pull her out of her crib to comfort her and she'd just fold into me...like she was saying "ahhh...mama's here."

No, life is not always perfect, being a mother and wife can be trying and hard, and I don't always cherish those trying moments when I'm in the moment. But, overall life is really good.

I guess over the years my idea of love and romance has changed. For years I searched for the prince on the white horse, but finally I realized that my cup is truly overflowing. For I have a blessed life with friends, family, the best husband in the world and Samantha as my Princess Charming. :)

My Little LoveBug...

Okay, my little girl is almost 7 months now -- I can't believe it -- where has the time gone!! At her last 6 month appointment she was a robust 18.3 lbs -- prime fighting weight for any sumo wrestling competition. :)

She is a major babbler, esp. in the morning. Her high pitched "talking" and giggles, make even the earliest morning more pleasant.

She is a very happy little girl. I swear she smiles with her eyes and cocks one eyebrow all the time. It is hysterical! Plus, her favorite game at this time is peek-a-boo - that gets the best giggles. Though, you can tell she is getting smarter...she will almost fall out of her exersaucer or seat to follow you if you have hidden. :)

I look at her and I'm taken with how big she looks! She is already sitting up in her high chair, eating baby food twice a day, taking juice from a sippy cup and eating Mum Mum crackers. Where did my little baby go?! Okay that is a bit melodramatic, but they seriously do change so much SO quickly in the beginning.

It is fascinating though. I think about how quickly she is picking up things and I can't even manage to remember what I did yesterday -- when does it start to go downhill like that?! hehe

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July weekend with Keith's sister, Vicki, and her family. We had a lot of fun, despite the dreary weather. We went to City Market and the Canal downtown, Dave & Busters for games and food, grilled out, played lots of Corn Hole, and Keith made his amazing Margaritas and Pina Coladas.

We also got to enjoy the fireworks. Though, we didn't even have to leave our neighborhood. Even with us going on our third year in Indy, I can't get over the type of fireworks you can let off in your neighborhood - they are like professional fireworks. In WV, we got excited to let off fountains, twirlers and smoke bombs...here you let off the big boys. And, you ought to see how excited the guys get... they were giggling like Beavis and Butthead the whole time, as they let them off.

Here is a short video of the fireworks let off by one of our neighbors down the street. For all of you non-Indys you will be shocked! This is what you can buy at your fireworks store. Keith even let off a few this size, but out of all the videos I took this came out the best. I was scared to death that someone would lose an arm, but it was amazing to watch. Boys and their toys! ;)

Here are also some great pictures from the whole weekend. We had a great time with Vicki, Randy, Logan and Haley. Samantha got spoiled with all the attention - and loved every minute of it.

Samantha also got to sport an adorable 4th of July outfit sent by Nana (my Mom). She stopped traffic everywhere she went that day.

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