Sweet Samuel

Good morning, Mom!
Bedtime snack- YUM!

I love me some oranges!

I bought a bag of oranges this week that Klaytor and Sam have been enjoying at night. Tonight, Klaytor put Sam's in a bowl- you see the result! He was drinking the juice, and slurping the oranges. We laughed so much!
This evening, tired of "spanking" Sam and feeling mean for doing it, I decided to try another form of discipline. As he headed for the stairs from the kitchen (the one set of stairs that we don't have blocked off) I implored Sam to "Come here" instead of saying "NO!" As that didn't work, we tried time out.... Has anyone ever attempted this for an 11 month old? We set the timer for 1 minute, sat Sam on a stool, and I stood guard. Sam screamed (no tears- just screaming!), did the Burden frown, and Klaytor and I struggled not to laugh. The timer goes off, Sam gets up, and the whole process begins again. Sam heads for the stairs, I set Sam down, and Klaytor sets the timer....This time, Sam gets up, by-passes the stairs, and heads for the "pretties" (read: breakables) in the dining room. Daddy to the rescue: He said "Mom, the boys are going downstairs to play!"
Oh well, I'm sure we will have plenty of opportunities to master the time-out chair!
Don't worry Mama and Meems, No Sam Burdens were hurt in the discipline process. He gets enough bruises daily-everyday we discover new ones from his "adventures". He is certainly not delicate or hesitant when he wants to move something or get somewhere! He just lowers his head and starts ramming into things! He did walk around outside in the yard a little bit today. I think it was his first time ever walking by himself outside- more laughs as he could not quite get steady or balanced on our uneven ground!
Before Samuel devoured his oranges tonight, we read books and played. He is starting to figure out more of his Christmas toys, and likes the pony Mama and Papa got him. We will have to try to capture some pictures of him "riding". He moves and bounces and bobs his head to try to make the music go. He is doing many new things since the last time we have seen some of you. Sam shakes his head "yes" and "no", dances, mostly with head bobs, and walks so fast it is almost a run. He claps his hands and will clap his hands and "dance" when we sing or there is music playing. He can stand up without pulling himself up on something. This week at Elva's the water for her cats that she keeps up off the floor (to try to deter little people from playing in it) mysteriously dumped all over Sam. No explanation from him on how this occurred. :)
Klaytor and I experience so much joy watching Sam and all the funny things he is learning to do. It is amazing to think that he will be one year old before we know it!
Much love and many prayers,
Andrea, Klaytor, and Sam