Junior

Here's a classic mini-Brian picture.

Thanks for your support!

Here's a free photo someone snapped for us after the 5K charity walk on Saturday. Samson was a big trouper and did not complain about spending an hour in the BOB while we trudged up the hill to the Capitol and then back down again to Auditorium Shores in 90% humidity and 90+ degree heat. He was just excited to marvel at all of the construction cranes and police vehicles downtown.

It felt wonderful to finally participate in this annual rite of passage for families with preemies. We walked with hundreds of other individuals and groups who raised money for March of Dimes, many of whom were carrying memorial messages about babies in their families who didn't survive -- a sobering reminder of how very fortunate we've been....

So far, we've collected $755 for the March of Dimes! If you've not yet sent in a donation, there's still time to help us reach our $1,000 goal. Please visit our walk team page at marchforbabies.org/SamsonsLeftyMama for more information. Any support that you can provide will be greatly appreciated and put to very good use helping babies like Samson once was.

Beach Baby, Beach Baby

Eggs and a Dirty Rabbit

Oddly, given that we're not a particularly churchy family, it appears that Easter has become the source of our first bona fide family tradition for Samson. For the second year, we took a trip to IKEA for photos with the Easter bunny, and earlier in the day, Samson collected eggs in the yard.

Mama hid several hollow plastic eggs and a few dyed boiled eggs along the path Samson usually takes when he goes into the yard: up the back steps, into the grass toward the pool steps, around the house into the front yard, and to the swing. At first, he wasn't that interested in the eggs, but then he realized that the hollow ones rattled when he picked them up, so he could shake-shake-shake like with his musical shakers. Inside were either Matchbox cars (Samson is newly obsessed with all things wheeled) or coins. Unfortunately, the excitement of the plastic eggs made the silent boiled eggs seem boring in comparison, so these were quickly discarded.
((check back here later for video of Samson testing the eggs))

After the egg hunt, the cold windy weather pushed us back inside for some traditional Easter treats. Here Samson tastes his first Peep:

















Then it was time for lunch and a nap, with the outing to IKEA waiting for the afternoon.

As you'll recall, last year's photo session with the Swedish Easter bunny did not result in a very good photo. The amateur photogs were more intent on featuring the IKEA products than the children and the guy in the bunny suit was less than enthusiastic in engaging with the kids. This year, the set-up looked better and the process seemed improved, even if the bunny had a curious brown stain on his head. We waited for a few minutes in line and then it was our turn. Samson seemed fine until we close to the bunny's sofa and he realized that Mama intended to leave him there (if only for a minute). Samson was not in favor of this plan.


Needless to say, we didn't get our free portrait this year. Oh, well... we'll try again in 2009.

Running boy

Running boy, originally uploaded by LeftyMama.

After walking for just a few weeks, Samson wants to go faster. He let loose in the backyard this afternoon and giggled as Daddy chased.

Excellent table manners

On Your First Birthday

Dear Samson,

This is a picture of the time that we first met, face to face:
















The occasion was much more dramatic than we had expected, and the next few weeks and months were very difficult for us all, but at this moment, your dad and I were bursting with joy and relief that you were with us, kicking and screaming with your tiny body that was not yet really ready to join the world.

It's been 365 days since this photo was taken and boy, have you grown! You're now over 21 pounds and 29 inches tall. You crawl like a commando, you swig from a sippy cup, and your current mission in life (besides consuming all bite-sized objects) is to stalk kitties. You sleep all night (usually) from 7:30p to 6:00a like a big boy in your own room. It's almost impossible to tell that you were ever anything but perfectly healthy; only the little IV scars on your ankles and arms give a hint as to how you lived your first few weeks.

Everywhere you go, people notice you and comment on how big you've become and how very handsome you are. They say you look just like your mama or just like your daddy, depending on which one of us they know the best. They also say that you're an old soul with very observant and curious eyes that seem wise beyond their age. Recently, a burly punk-rock chick behind us in line for a half-hour said about you, "I don't even like kids, but this one's pretty cool."

You adore:

• feet, especially toes
  
• dogs, and you giggle whenever you see a real one
  
• cats, which you will tackle if they allow you to get close enough
  
• tickles, especially under the arms
  
• Mama, pretty much 24/7
  
• Daddy, especially when he arrives home from work
  
• PawPaw in his red shirts
  
• whiffle balls to chase and crash together
  
• swinging in bucket swings
  
• drinking Mama's milk
• eating anything that you can feed yourself
• brushing your teeth
• smiling for people and cameras
  
• songs with hand motions and sound effects, especially Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, and Sammy-Pie (sung to the tune of "Lollipop, Lollipop")
• Moose A. Moose and Zee, the hosts from Noggin
• reading Goodnight Moon and Where's Spot?
• playing with things you aren't supposed to have, like the TV remote control, the phone, and the weekend newspaper
  

You detest:

• discovering that you've reached the end of a bowl of food
  
• getting your face washed
• having your nose picked or your nails clipped
  
• pulling a shirt over your head
• knowing that Mama is nearby but not in the same room with you

You are very sociable in most settings, but you're just now learning how to wave good-bye and hello, to give high-fives & pounds, and to kiss. Your most frequent companions of a similar age are Hayden and Samantha. You hang out with Ava, Weston, Kelly, and Owen pretty regularly, too.

Already we can tell that you have a mischievous streak that's likely to cause Mama and Daddy a few gray hairs (or more in Daddy's case). Your response to Mama's recent first attempt at discipline (saying "No!" in a stern voice with a serious face) was to laugh hysterically and immediately continue the behavior that produced the first rebuke. You also find it comical when Mama uses that same tone with misbehaving pets.

We couldn't be any more proud of you, darling son. Your existence has made us a family in ways that we didn't understand we were missing before. As each month passes, we are delighted to learn more and more about the unique person you are, finding the little bits that remind us of ourselves but being most impressed with the things that are singularly yours. Live well, Samson.

Love always,
Mama and Daddy

Baby's First Rock Show

Samson braved the Austin City Limits Music Festival for a half-day at the beginning of the 3-day affair. It was hot, hot, hot, but the ACL people did a great job of creating a kid-friendly area complete with shade and a special stage with music just for tots. Luckily for Mama, Daddy and cousin Emilie helped wrangle Samson at home for most of the rest of the weekend so that Mama could keep her annual ACL attendance streak intact.

Slobber Talk

Action Samson

Last weekend, PawPaw helped us hang Samson's first swing. Thanks, PawPaw!















And this week, Samson had his first trip on Daddy's shoulders. He's growing so fast.

Family Self-Portrait

Samson has become so accustomed to the camera, he knows to smile as soon as the red light shines. What a ham!

Can you see all four teeth?

Sorry about the lack of recent posts, dear readers. We've been super busy at the Hobbit Hole this summer and Mama hasn't had much time to write. We promise to get back on track this month....

Mama's Horns

Samson sports his first UT t-shirt, a gift from the Engineering School. No pressure, son!

Note the appearance of a third tooth on the top of Samson's mouth. He actually has four now and the emergence of these latest two incisors has given him a bit of grief. We've had to stock up on baby tylenol and Mama has had to learn the art of avoiding the chompers during nursing. Ouch!

Houston, we have a tooth!

Samson traveled to H-town this weekend to visit with friends and family and attend his first wedding reception.

The trip got off to a fine start with a peaceful (no kidding) 3 hour car ride in which Samson remained in the carseat the entire time (a first). The family checked into the swanky hotel at the Galleria and Samson was instantly mesmermized by the birds' eye view from our 14th floor windowseat.


This doubled as our changing table for the weekend, and Samson took advantage of the great natural lighting to pose for the camera as he attempted to set the world record for number of one's own digits to be put into one's own mouth.


Friday afternoon, we tried out the rooftop swimming pool. Samson enjoyed the water, but it was still a little too chilly to stay for long; there will be plenty of time for splashing at home this summer. Later that evening, we had dinner with Uncle Kevin, Aunt Kiki, and Cousin Bridget.


On Saturday, the family had a fancy room service breakfast and then got gussied up for the afternoon wedding. Though the wedding coordinator at the event hall was obviously nervous about a baby being present (attempting to steer us to the free childcare room - umm, no thanks), Samson was a perfect gentleman and never made a peep. Daddy's old buddies from high school were impressed by the quality of his reproductive output and everyone wanted to make Samson giggle.


Later, Daddy went to have some guy time while Mama and Samson retired to the hotel. When Samson began gnawing on Mama's finger as he is often fond of doing, Mama noticed something new. Ouch! Something sharp... a fang! After the past 4 months of gumming everything he can fit into his gob, Samson's efforts have paid off and a tooth has finally emerged. It won't be long before he'll be eating enchiladas with Daddy.

Sunday morning was for packing up for the ride home and meeting Grandma and PawPaw for breakfast. A fitting end to the adventure, Samson went down for his morning nap as we left Houston and happily slept all the way back to Austin in his carseat. Our baby is growing up!

Chillin with Dad

Shots from Last Week

Tummy-time with Daddy


Fuzzy bluebonnets


Staredown with Blue Puppy

Half a Year

Six months ago, Daddy took Mama to the hospital to check out what seemed like a strange stomach flu; hours later, Samson was surgically removed from the womb two months earlier than expected to start his life in the neonatal intensive care.

Since then, Samson has made incredible progress. Here are just some of his accomplishments:

• coming home with no monitors after living for 6 weeks in the NICU
• growing from less than 4 pounds to over 16 lbs
• healing from a heart murmur, sepsis, sleep apnea, and umbilical hernia
  
• transitioning from tube feeding to bottle feeding to breastfeeding over a period of 12 weeks time
  
• going from a "colicky" constant crier to a happy, "rarely cries" baby after we removed all cow milk protein from his (and Mama's) diet
• from soaking 20-30 burp cloths (plus 2-3 changes of clothes for himself, Mama, and Daddy) each day to minimally wetting only 6-10 burp cloths and wearing the same outfit all day long
  
• from staying awake & fussing most of the night to sleeping most of the night between 9pm and 6am (and most importantly, going immediately back to sleep after his night feeds)
• from demanding to be held at all times to enjoying several 20-30 minute independent play periods each day in his crib, exersaucer, jumper, and playgym mat
  

Samson is becoming quite an active boy. He loves to kick and jump and wave his arms. He can hold his head up very well, and sit or stand with assistance. He likes to read picture books, suck and chew his fingers, and giggle and "talk" (especially first thing in the morning). Recently, he's begun to pick up some objects on his own and get them to his mouth for a taste; his favorite teether is a cotton burp cloth. Yesterday, he discovered that he can scoot/wiggle around his crib and he was able to roll from his back to his side for the first time.

Though we kept him cooped up for the first couple of months to protect him from germs, Samson has since made a few trips away from home to meet his East Texas family. He's been as far as Bryan, San Augustine, Beaumont, Houston, and Livingston. In town, he's been to the homes of the Turners, Murphys, and Boriches. He's eaten out at Elsi's, Central Market, Curra's, Opal Divine's, Chuy's, and Logan's. He's shopped at HEB, Whole Foods, IKEA, Sears, and Babies R Us.

Mama and Daddy are very proud of our strong, beautiful boy. We can't wait to see what Samson will do next and we're looking forward to some big milestones in the coming weeks. He will soon be sitting up unassisted, rolling over, and eating his first cereal.

Evidence of recent cuteness:


3/29/07


3/29/07


3/26/07


3/18/07


3/13/07

Mama's boys

Nice shoes

Mama's Favorite Picture

Primera Comida Mexicana

To start off the new year on a brave note, Daddy and Mama decided to take the plunge and venture out for the first time to a restaurant with Samson on January 1st. Since

• Daddy's favorite food is Mexican, and
  
• our favorite restaurant is Elsi's, and
  
• the place tends to have lots of kids on weekend days, and
• it's pretty noisy so a crying child wouldn't bother anyone,

Elsi's is where we went. Well, Samson kept his cool for the drive over, but after 10 minutes in the restaurant, he decided he'd had quite enough of sitting in the carseat. Mama freed the boy from his confines, but the fussing continued and intensified. Once the food came, Daddy held Samson so Mama could eat her Huevos Motulenos. After that, it would be Daddy's turn.

By that time, though, it was clear that only one thing would tame the wailing baby and Mama wasn't yet ready to try it in a public space. So, it was off to the car for mother and child for some semi-private nursing. Daddy had to wolf down his burrito alone.

Oh, well. It could have been worse. At least there was no blowout diaper on Mama's lap while we were in the restaurant...