"Sam I Am" is 2 !!

FYI - This is a long post! As you can imagine, we took a zillion pics so it was hard to pick just a few !!

This is our baby at just a couple of days old....

And this is our baby at 1.....

And this is our baby at 2......guess he's not really a baby anymore !

Samuel's birthday celebrations were sort of haphazard.....Mom was sick the week before his birthday, Samuel woke up sick on his birthday, and Mom was sick the week after, so the celebration plans were sort of "last minute" but it all worked out just fine !

Fortunately, we had shopped enough ahead of his birthday that we did have gifts on hand for him! We let him open our 2 smaller gifts on his birthday and that was about the extent of the celebrating on his actual birthday ! We were too busy wiping runny noses ;>)

One gift was the new baby Elmo. Samuel loves Elmo and we thought this might be a good way to introduce the concept of a "baby" to him ?? Of course, the real thing won't have an "on/off" switch, won't say "thank you" after he's burped, and won't sing himself to sleep ;>)

He also got a small tool bench which, as you can see, made a perfect platform to play with his cars ! Oh well.....


The Saturday after his birthday, the grandparents and other relatives came for lunch and celebrating all afternoon. Samuel had the absolute best time---we all did. He was so happy to have so much of his family around and it was a really fun day!

Opening gifts with cousin Brooke

See how cars make him smile !

Opening gifts with Brooke, Aunt Stacy, and cousin Kayla

Samuel and his parents have been blessed with generous relatives who like to spoil him! Most of his presents were waiting in the garage---it looked like a ToysRUs showroom out there!

I'm not sure there's anything left to get him when he's 3 !!

His other present from us was a sand/water table (although it will probably be a rock/water table for awhile---we want to be sure we can keep the cats clear---don't want them thinking they have a new fancy litterbox!!)

The grandparents got him a basketball goal----Samuel was able to dunk quite a few with it set at this height !

They also got him a tricycle! He can't quite reach the pedals yet, but the cousins helped him along below.....

His other grandmother and aunt gave him a picnic table/umbrella. He'll have to have some little friends over when the weather is better and the illnesses are over. He's already had lunch at it once this week!

After lunch, we brought out the birthday cake (or cupcakes!)

He had to have help blowing out the candle.....

And then it was time to dig in ! The chocolate may have been his favorite part of the day !

Cousin Kayla teaching him bad habits

And just goofing off with her camera

With Dad's parents

Mom's family that got to spend the day

Playing at his new water table one day this week

Thanks again to everyone who made such a special birthday for Samuel (whether you were here or not !) and also for all the people who are such good influences in his life throughout the year......we love you !