My brilliant girl...

Sam is learning to read! It must be all those bedtime stories I read her and the hundred books she has. This was when we went to help out in Grandmas classroom I gave her a book to hold and she looked so cute I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Makin the blog...

Well the last few times we saw Louise we have forgotten to take pictures so finally, Lou is making the blog! You even get 2 pictures! How cute do Sam & Louise look? And Louise looks so pretty, how come I don't come out like that in pictures? It must be all those weekends on the Jersey shore. And lastly is a pic of Sam on the way home from the city, we really tired her out!

The Wedding

We went to a wedding last weekend, it was our one "date night" of the summer. It was our friend from college, Chris. We actually left Samantha with her Aunt Katie for about 6 whole hours, I know that hasn't happenned. The only person besdies daycare who has watched Samantha is my parents, and that was only twice. Since May we went out to dinner once. So this was a big deal. And guess what.. we all survived! Samantha is still alive, as am I. I'm already making plans to go out again, it wasn't so bad. Here's some pics of me & Tim, me & Danielle, and Emma Kate dancing at the wedding.

So big...

Sam is really getting so big. She can pull herself up on her own, although she's only done it 3 times so far. She can stand and even take steps if you're holding her hands.

A Hiking We Will Go...

Sams Uncle Peter came to visit and we went hiking up Bish Bash Falls. It was really fun. I had her in the Baby Bjorn and she did great, she either slept or was happy looking around. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to carry her in it though. She's 16 pounds now and by the end I was tired, but it was a good little workout. Tim went up to the top, off limits especially for me with a baby, but we had fun by the rocks in the water.

Bronx Zoo

Courtney and Aunt Jeanette looking for animals on the monorail.

courtney and Sam

David and Ava enjoying the goats.

Here's Sam on the monorail looking at the rhinos, deer, and tigers.

Samantha went to the Bronx Zoo with her cousins yesterday. She had a great time and saw lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Just kidding, but we saw tigers... We had a long train ride there. So it was Sams first time on Metro North, first time in the Bronx, and the first time to a zoo! Wow, lots of firsts yesterday. We didn't get to see enough people in the city afterwards. The zoo is huge and took a long time to get through even though we didn't get to everything. We have to plan another NYC trip soon. Here are some pictures of our trip.

Nana & Grandpa Kovacevic

We went to visit Nana, Grandpa, Aunt Karen, and Stephanie and Melissa on Monday. Peter came with us. We had a great time. We got the garden tour, Grandpa doesn't have too many grapes yet, but he does have some. And he has lots of squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, and gourds. The tomatoes are delicious. Samantha had a great time seeing her great grandparents again and even went swimming in the pool. Samantha doesn't get to see this side of the family nearly enough, since they live only 40 minutes away it's inexcusable. We're going to make sure we visit more often.

so cute

We've been busy, will post for real later, for now here's some pics to tide you over. by the way, Sam is a crawling professional now, she's all over the place!

How funny!

Someone gave us this hat when Sam was born but since she has a miniature head it never fit her. Well the newborn size hat finally fits at 8 months. How cute is this?! She looks like some little floral Amish person. And she loved it she didn't even try to take it off!

Quadruple Yuck

We got home today and there were 4 mice by our back door! Dead mice! I hate hate hate mice. Oh, I'm sorry my dad informed me that they are voles not mice, well if you ask me it's the same thing. I don't like voles any better. Apparently my cats or dog are catching them and bringing them to my back door. Yuck! I don't want to let my animals out of the house again. Between the voles and the crickets that I find in my living room I'm ready to leave the country.

(I'm kidding, I won't leave but I really don't like it. It brings me back to my teenage years when my room was in the basement and a mole (I think) got in and was running back and forth in the doorway to my room. I screamed for my dad and wouldn't get off the bed. My dad claims this is "no big deal" and "they won't hurt you". Anyway, I slept upstairs in the living room for a week. This time I have no place to go. Help me!)

This pic is of Samantha on the ferry lying down on the seat.

Update: I haven't seen any mice or voles since. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't see anymore!

Ava's First Birthday

Ava's party was so fun. I think the kids really had a good time. The 3 girls played so nicely together and Courtney is such a good "big cousin". She really watches out for the babies. It's so great that Samantha has cousins close in age, Courtney is 2 years older and Ava is only 4 months older. I didn't have that growing up so I'm really excited especially that Ava is so close in age. Ava had a great time at her party and had a cupcake and loved it. It made me really excited for Samanthas first birthday which really isn't that far away. It was nearly impossible to get a picture of the 3 girls because they are all ALWAYS moving. Here's the best I could do.

Some Pictures

Random thoughts: Bridget Jones Diary is on right now, twice in a row, I didn't get to watch the whole thing the first time... I love that movie. It's the kind of movie I want to own. Tim thinks you shouldn't own any movies because you shouldn't watch movies more than once or twice. I can't help it. I just think it's so cute. I love when she's singing all by myself on the couch with a bottle of wine. It is just soo funny...

by the way, my daughter is the cutest kid I've ever seen, don't you agree??

Yipee!

We are going out east to Ava's First Birthday Party tomorrow! It is a Tinkerbell party and Sam just can't wait. Any ideas for Samanthas first birthday theme?? We have to start planning SOON.... Send ideas my way.

Sam is sending an August BDay shout out to: Emma Kate, Uncle Jimmy, Cousin Jimmy, Josh, David, Ava, Cousin Christina, Mommy (of course) and probably to Ryan Nicholas or James Ryan Trakis (we hope for Aunt Lisa's sake).
Sorry if I forgot anyone, just let me know.

So anyway, today we didn't do much, although since my daughter is no crawling nothing is safe, she just rawled over and picked up a pen that fell out of my bag. She has toys all over the floor and yet she is crawling over to the stereo now. I think its time to start child proofing the apartment. Now she is trying to stand up at her learning table, she is holding on and has one leg up. She is a genius, I tell ya. A genius who is going to get hurt if we don't start the child proofing.

Oh, big news!! Sam has Cheerios today for the first time! And she didn't choke! She was actually okay. I guess the doctor knew what he was talking about when he said she could have it. Go figure...

We have to go pack for our trip, we can't wait to see Ava, Courtney, and Googie and Pop pop!!! (And everyone else too)

My Daughter the Rock Star

This past weekend Emma Kate played her drum for about 30 seconds, and then Samantha went right over to the drum and started doing it too! She's obviously a genius! I really can't believe that she knew exactly what to do so quickly. She actually picked up the drumstick and then went and hit the drum with it... Amazing. And here's another picture of Sam playing outside a few nights ago.

Me & My Girl

Well Tim has off tomorrow! Yeah! We are very excited to have some "dad time". We might go to the beach. Then on Sunday we are headed to East Marion for Ava's First Birthday party! We can't wait! And Tim is very happy to only have to work 2 days before having another day off.

Fall Fashion Must Haves

Sams Fall WishList

Hug & Learn Baby Tad, this is a Leapfrog toy for babies.

This is the incrediblocks game, Sam saw it at her friend Rhea and Maddie's house and liked it.

this is my favorite toy of them all, the Neurosmith Music Blocks, you put in the blocks in different ways and it plays different classical music. This toy is on backorder at every place I've seen it so far, Sam HAS to have it.

Emma Kate's Birthday Party