Reach little arm!

Sam is still working on walking. He's bravely stretching from the coffee table to the couches.

Artistic Swinging

Jesse and Sam take two walks a day; one in the morning, one in the afternoon. During one of the walks, they usually stop at the grocery store and pick up a few items while the ladies that work at the store fawn over Sam. On the other walk of the day, they stop at the park and swing.

Shark eats Monster

Happy Halloween!

Sam was not wholly thrilled to rock a too-tight shark costume for his second Halloween. Mama probably shouldn't have bought his costume 2 months early.

The excitement was overwhelming as we strolled around the neighborhood with our favorite girlfriend Reece, aka Zebra.

About 10 minutes into our stroll, Sam let us know that the velcro under his chin was scraping away his skin. Not his best wordrobe experience. We put the shark hood back, put the monster hat on, and voilà, new costume: Shark eats Monster.

I wouldn't call this "restful" behavior

Just in time for Halloween, Sam has discovered a new trick at bedtime, performed in the pitch dark for extra style points:

1 year old

Dear Sam,

It has been one year since we had the extraordinary experience of meeting you. It's hard to believe how little we knew you then and how much we think we know you now. Which I realize will be nothing compared to a year from now-- or 5 or 10 or 20. But I can now imagine how fast those years will come.

Whooowee did this year fly. Time flies when you're hanging out with an awesome baby. Isn't that how the saying goes?

At any rate, you have been an awesomely consistent person so far. From the beginning, you have been mellow, kind, happy, thoughtful, observant... with a touch of feistiness which your Dad says comes from your Mama. You are what they call a 'textbook' baby. You hit milestones when you 'should' and you follow all the 'easy baby' rules. And we are eternally grateful.

A year ago you were tiny and sleepy and had very few, persistent needs. We watched you, day after day, turn into a strong, independent, curious and happy (dare I say) BOY. A boy that we adore. You continue to light up the faces and dispositions of almost everyone who crosses your path. You make it so easy.

Except when you don't. Which is pretty infrequent, but I must mention it so you don't get a big head from all of these positive adjectives I'm piling up here. You do have a knack for whining when you're tired or tired of something. And if the Whining Warning doesn't cause the problem to be resolved, wenching your body back or away or somewhere difficult soon follows, which can do wonders for our blood pressure.

Let's work on not doing that.

Overall.....overall this year with you has easily been one of the most rewarding and happy of our lives. Thank you for making us a family and for being you. Here's to many, many more.

We love you today,
Mama and Dad

Welcome home

Tonight my son hugged me. It's the only way to describe what he did. I got home from work and peeked down the hall into the kitchen. He was sitting on the floor, playing with a speck of something, too engrossed to notice me. So I said, 'Hello?'.

Sam's head whipped up and he spotted his Mama. He turned on a dime and crawled down the hall towards me.

Did I mention he's crawling? I didn't? Well, he is and he's patiently showing us new things every day that need to be moved out of his reach. And every day he's gaining speed. You can hear the progression with the ever accelerating 'patpatpatpatpat' of his hands on our hardwood floors.

Anyway, he quickly navigated through the maze of toys in the hall where I waited for him. I scooped him up and carried him into the kitchen, covering him in kisses. Then. THEN. He opened his arms straight out from his sides, put his little hands around my arms, leaned in and squeezed.

Now, THAT is how to welcome a girl home.

Preparing for Sleep

This is the very first post dedicated exclusively to what Sam Said today. Here is a little clip of him sitting in his crib preparing to go to sleep.

Wait..... what was that he said? The part before the screeching? 

Happy Birthday Dada!

Jesse's 31st birthday was a great day. We went to the zoo, drove down to the University of Chicago for some sight-seeing (stumbled onto a Frank Lloyd Wright house in the process) and ended the day with a successful trip to the Army and some cake.

At the zoo, we met up with Auntie Shea and Uncle Trent and their niece Riley.

Here are the Fitz men in the cat house.

Uncle Trent is hilarious

A little family shot

This is the Hull Gate at the University of Chicago. Whenever we come here, we like to look at the gargoyles on this impressive gate.

Two blocks from the University is a Frank Lloyd Wright: The Robie House. It is a piece of work.

Sam is now saying Ma ma ma and Da da da. He doesn't so much associate those sounds TO US per se, but we like to delude ourselves into thinking so.

Happy Birthday Dada

100 years apart

Today is the birthday of Sam's namesake, his Great-Grandpa, Samuel G. Trowbridge. Great-Grandpa would have been 101-years-old today. In my opinion, he is a wonderful person to be named after; the kind of guy that guys strive to be. He was kind, strong, resilient, thoughtful-- a sharp and creative person that was liked by all who knew him.

He grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa as one of ten kids. He would hunt rabbits with his brothers. He would ice skate to school. He once told me that the only fight he ever got in was with a guy who stole those ice skates. Great-Grandpa was a wrestler and on the track team, and he even took part in the junior play. He wrestled in the state tournament, and ran in the Drake Relays. I have his yearbook in storage, so all of this is from memory, but I think he was voted the second cutest boy in his class.

Great-Grandpa went to the University of Illinois where his nickname was "Toby". He was there on a wrestling scholarship and he would tell us about how he would come up to Chicago with his fraternity brothers. These were the late 20s-- the times of Al Capone. I would love it if he could see the Chicago of now-- the Chicago his Great-Grandson was born in.

This is easily one of my favorite things about my Sam being "Sam". Great-Grandpa Sam was born in 1909 and baby Sam was born in 2009. 100 years between them.

I had the unique experience of living with Great-Grandpa Sam for a summer when I was 19 and he was 90. It was challenging, interesting and a time I wouldn't trade for anything. I can only hope that I soaked up enough Sam-Trowbridge-essence to pass a bit of that on to Sam Fitz. I can't help but think he'd be better for it.

If you're reading this, and you knew and loved Great-Grandpa Sam (because to know him was to love him), leave a comment with your favorite memory or thought of him. We love you Great-Grandpa!!

Sam in Great-Grandpa's chair:

10 Dolla 10 Dolla

The Fitz Fam likes to take trips to the local Salvation Army (aka The Army). We go mostly to score sweet used books, but I always keep my eye out for a diamond in the rough. Especially now that there's a kid involved... do you know how much STUFF you need for a 19 pounder??? Actually, you really only need diapers, wipes, some clothes, some food and a cardboard box.

So, flying in the face of that logic: Behold---- the Hope Diamond in the Rough:

We found this at the Army about a month ago, in mint condition, heavy as all get-out, and here is the key: only 10 Dollars! I looked these suckers up online and see that they can go for $250 or more. Yahtzee!

We are admittedly more pumped about this than Sam is, or likely ever will be. I'm imagining him finally climbing on it in a year or five, rocking it a couple times, and quickly burning away when it doesn't light up or make sounds. But you know what??? It's okay. 10 bucks.

Mr. Fitz Goes to Washington

The Fitz Family took its first stereotypical family vacation to Washington D.C. over Memorial Day weekend. The monuments were impressive, the weather was sweltering, the pace was slow with The Dude, but a wonderful time was had.

A summary of the highlights:

A perfect trip out. We got to the plane with plenty of time to spare, Sam was an angel on the flight, and we successfully navigated the Metro to Bethesda on our first try. I keep telling Jesse we should be professional travelers.

Truly impressive monuments. Sam observed them with reverence.

This WWII Vet loved Sam! Approached us and wanted to know how old he was and what his name was. Gotta love men that love babies.

Sam kicked us to the couch so he could enjoy the lap of luxury at our hotel.

We were able to make it to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. It was intriguing for all of us.

One thing not directly related to DC: please check out Sam's chunky thighs in the picture above. They are the only chub on him and they are glorious. We affectionately call them 'Thunderthons'.

And one thing directly related to our trip to DC: It's probably not the smartest idea to take an 8-month-old to the Holocaust Museum. Even if he's Angel Child, he's still got to give an inappropriate shout out once or twice. Who on earth would actually take their baby there?!? 

If you'd like to see more pictures from our trip, click here to be linked to the pictures that I loaded on Facebook. 

This is #101

I have 100 other things to update you with, but I'm going to start with the first thing I saw this morning:

Time to lower the crib mattress!

Party at the Park

It was a beautiful day in Chicago today. We decided to take Sam to the park and have a couple of new experiences. First up: the swing. He's done this before with Dad, and he was equally impressed this time around.

Next, the T-Rex rocking chair. Sam's critique: Meh.

Then- the coup de grâce: The SLIDE. It was tolerable.

We had so much fun we really hated to leave.

On our way home, we were struck by the beauty of the streets in our neighborhood.

Sam could only wrench his body to show his shared appreciation of the day.

So that we don't appear to be completely heartless, I'll tell you that the tantrums were interspersed with a calm and quiet Sam. He was just tired, and was back to his jolly self after a quick nap at home.

Full disclosure: this is not an actual picture of Sam after his nap. But it is a picture of Sam as happy as he appeared to be after his nap. Delicious, no?

Inaugural Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day which means we've had sausage and pancakes at two different meals today. Isn't that customary?

Three things of note:

1/ Sam has discovered the joy of repeatedly throwing toys from his highchair to the floor. A milestone if there ever was one.
2/ He is working furiously on adding to his arsenal of teeth. It appears that four top teeth are taking their sweet time breaking through. We've seen a new Sam over the last couple of days! He's fussy, cries a bit and is quick to frustrate. Basically: he's like a 'normal' baby when teething. The angel wings are taking a breather.
3/ We have graduated from the blue sink tub to the ducky bathtub tub. As long as Sam doesn't make eye contact with the duck before entering the water, we're safe.

Bongo Boy:

Visit with Bibi:

Blue:

Tub graduation:

Kitty tails:

Catching up on the financials:

Again in the morning light:

New Camera

Jesse gave me a new camera for my BIG 3-0 birthday. I still have a lot to learn, but here are some shots after a little practice and many failed attempts:

The pictures still don't fully capture him, but this camera does a slightly better job of highlighting his gloriousness.

Two beautiful, razor-sharp teeth:

Just woke up from a nap in the stroller:

The Hambone's Repertoire

We don't think he can get much cuter. We really don't. And then................ he DOES.

He does all sorts of stuff that makes him cuter. For instance:

1. He rolls from back to front. Then from front to back. All the while being very proud of himself.

2. He sits unassisted. Once in awhile he still does a face plant, but so far, only into our soft bed. Lately, Mama has devised a plan to 'toughen him up' that involves him sitting on a stack of every blanket we have in the house. Really. Every blanket. Then, we take one single blanket away as he face plants and bonks his head. One of these days he may put an arm out to break his fall.

3. He belly laughs. Mama is HILARIOUS. She just makes a funny face and watch out-- laugh mania. Dad tickles his belly and under his chin-- laughtastic. It is our favorite endeavor.

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4. He sleeps on his stomach with his legs pulled up under him and his little buns up in the air.

5. He shrieks like a peregrine falcon. All of the baby books say that any day he will babble away with Gaa gaa gaa's and Baa baa baa's and dare-we-say-- Maa maa maa's.  Not our boy. Only friendly shrieking will do.

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6. His latest trick: motor boat sound with his lips. You know the sound.

7. He survived two teeth! His two bottom teeth have come in and he didn't really mind it too much. Even when teething the cuteness abounds.

8. Some kids throw tantrums when you put hats on them. Not our son. Name the hat. Name it. He'll wear it.

9. He eats all sorts of delicious foods. Cereal, carrots, green beans, peas, pears and mango, apple yogurt oatmeal, blueberries and apples, prunes and oatmeal, apricots and apples. Not only will he eat all of it, but he'll wear all of it on his face with reckless abandonment.

10. He loves the cats. When Daddy needs to wipe his mouth after the delicious Sweet Potato Chicken Dinner, all he needs is a cat- any ol' cat- sitting on a stool in front of him, and Dad can wipe to his heart's content.

What are you thinking right now??? I have a good, one word guess:

Cute.

PS- Yes. His current nickname is 'Hambone'.