Psst! Guess What?

Most of my Mondays start out like this.

This Monday is no exception. I will still be carting my tumbler of black java wherever I go until it's gone. And then I'll be looking for my afternoon cup. (How did I ever cut back on this stuff when I was pregnant?) 

Anyway, this Monday is better than normal because, as a wonderful reminder to you, it is....*drumroll please*....

A SHORT WORK WEEK!!

Thank God for the birth of a nation and the reason to get together on a day normally reserved for work and hang out with friends and family.

So drink your java, grin and bear Monday and remember you are only FOUR days away from a THREE day weekend!! 

Cheers,

Samara

Summer Holidays

Although I got started a little late with my holiday decorating (thank you, grad school), I did manage to get a few festive items up around the house last weekend for the upcoming holiday.

I never really did much of anything in the way of décor for the 4th of July until I went to a craft store one summer recently and found some adorable items that I couldn't resist.  Now, I decorate our home during the summer months, which is a nice addition to the holidays-to-decorate-for list and makes me really appreciate the summer holidays, too, for something other than just nice weather. (Although that is good all on its own.) Here's a peek at what I've managed to get done!

The stars are up on our dining room table tree. (A Christmas decoration item that has become a permanent fixture on our dining room table.)

I imagine my repertoire of summer patriotic decorations will grow over the years, but for now, the intent is to keep it simple. 

I find holiday-themed towels are a fun and inexpensive way to dress up a kitchen.

And of course, my favorite part of the decorations--the patriotic décor balls sitting near tealights in a hurricane vase. 

I love this area because it feels nautical and summery. 

My mom always made holidays special for us and I want to continue that tradition with a little one in the house now. My mom never did anything over-the-top, but always had very thoughtful, special items during holidays that we helped her place. 

Are you ready for the 4th of July festivities? What fun things do you have planned?

Cheers,

Samara

Seven On Saturday

What a busy week this has been! So busy I missed "Five on Friday", but I did not fail to bring you Seven on Saturday!

1. Another Class Completed

I really enjoyed this course and the professor who taught it, but I will not miss Friday night class (after a long workday) and turning around and going back to class AGAIN from 8 to 5 on a Saturday. I finished the course last weekend and my grade is in! 

One more class down!

2. Summer Birthday Season Begins

All of my nieces' birthdays are in the summer, so I've dubbed summertime "Birthday Palooza." June is Audrey's birthday, July is Ava's birthday and August is Amelia's birthday. They all have theme birthday parties and their parents go all out (I don't know how they do it!!) and we all participate. Last summer was the summer of: pirate party, paint party and cowgirl party. 

But that was the summer of 2013 and this is the summer of 2014. 

My first invitation arrived in the mail today for my niece Audrey's birthday party. She's having, very specifically, a pink butterfly birthday party.  

I love this picture because she looks like a little kid model. 

3. Arrival of Summer

Today was the official start of summer and it couldn't have been more perfect. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and I celebrated with these beautiful roses in our window sill. Cheers to summer! 

4. Starting Another Class

This is my third-to-last grad school class. I repeat, this is my third-to-last grad school class. This includes my thesis course. This is the last course of the summer semester and I then begin my LAST semester. If you can't tell, I'm a little geeked. 

I feel like I started my grad school journey out with a light jog, energized and ready to roll. I am now on the ground, crawling through mud and the only thing getting me to the end is a complete mind-over-matter approach. 

I don't meant to seem ungrateful; I love learning, I just don't love the time away from my family. I'm very much looking forward to finishing up!

5. "Crawl With Me" Turtle

The online group of moms I've talked about before--"December Moms" on Facebook--have this care package rotation set up for those who want to participate. I don't participate just because I wouldn't want some poor soul waiting on this overly busy mother to get her act together and get stuff in the mail. However, when the moms who do participate post a picture of what's coming for the next person chosen for the care package, I get good ideas for stuff for Jackson.

One of the moms posted their teaser picture of the care package items and I saw this little turtle. It was too cute to not investigate myself. 

This is the "Crawl With Me" turtle by a company called Gund. The turtle is reasonably priced, plush and adorable. Jackson is thrilled with the music that plays and the encouraging words that come out of the turtle, i.e. "you're doing great baby!"

The turtle slowly crawls and is meant to encourage your baby to crawl. It's seriously one of the most adorable toys you will ever see. 

6. Rock Garden Border

So, we contracted a gentleman from Smith Floral to remove our weeds, dig a trench around our garden, remove some old plants that weren't working and lay mulch. He did such a great job (and wow was it nice to not have to worry about doing the work myself during such a busy time) that we decided to have him lay a garden border as well. 

The contractor came out last night to take a look at the garden and talk through border possibilities. 

We are going with a rock border and are anxious to see the results. 

7. Ready Rice

My husband and I figured out a really delicious, low-fat and easy to make dinner, which includes this easy staple--"Ready Rice."

All you need is a microwave and a minute-and-a-half. Seriously! 

At least until the end of December, I'm all about finding shortcuts for delicious and low-fat meals and these rice bags are definitely one of them! (And as you can see, they come in a variety of flavors.) 

 I hope you enjoy the rest of this wonderful weekend, darlings!

Cheers,

Samara

Happy Father's Day

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, I was thinking I couldn't hide our pregnancy secret from our families much longer. I was running out of baggy blouses and about to explode with excitement. Fast forward a year later, and I sit here looking at a sweet little boy, fast asleep, swinging in his swing with stuffed monkeys rotating above his angelic head. His dad is still asleep upstairs after 9 a.m. and deservedly so.

I didn't know my father growing up. It wasn't a situation where I never knew who he was or never saw him, but I saw him only on visitation night, weekly, until around age 7. And then, I never saw him again until I was nearly 18. The formative years were gone and the ability to casually say "my dad" and have it mean anything and nothing at the same time all gone. Having a dad at the time was something other people had, not me. It just seemed to be a foreign concept.And to be honest, it was something I only felt the loss of on occasion. At that time, I couldn't have told you when Father's Day was except "sometime in the summer".  My mom gave me so much foundation and love all on her own that I often forgot what  I didn't have. 

My mom later remarried (during my college years) and I was fortunate enough to have a stepdad who adopted me and by any measure or standard was considered my dad. He helped me navigate some of the rough terrains in my young adult life. He always lent a listening ear and was supportive and I will be forever grateful for that. I love you, Frank Washington. 

Back to my husband and why his sleeping in is so deserved. Having a father around, period, seems deserving of accolades these days. Having a father who is excited to be a father is deserving of a standing ovation. From the time we began even talking about the prospect of children, Thomas has been happy and supportive. Maybe this seems a relatively "everyday" thing to be grateful for, but sadly, so many don't get that from their significant other.  Jackson has been loved by his dad long before he ever made his entrance into the world. 

Thomas was by my side, and by Jackson's side, for every visit to the doctor during my pregnancy and for the entire hospital stay once I delivered. He has changed just as many diapers, (if not more), fed the baby just as much as I have, played with him, laughed with him and most importantly, loved our boy to death. I often hear the two of them on our deck having conversations. Thomas imparts his wisdom upon Jackson and Jackson happily babbles back. And, as I headed back to work, and was still in school, Thomas totally picked up the slack as an amazing father would do. 

They attend sporting events together...

...lounge around and watch soccer at home together..

....and love getting dressed up for church together.

Some of my favorite Jackson and Daddy items:

The made up bath time song by Thomas

The song Thomas sings to Jackson that is basically a remix of Arsenal's fight song

Jackson and Daddy naps 

When Thomas asks Jackson: "Are you a big guy? Bigguy.com? Yeah!"

They have had a special bond right from the beginning.

Jackson has so many wonderful years ahead of him with Thomas as his dad. They are the best of pals. 

My heart is full.

Happy Father's Day from our little family to all the dads out there. 

Cheers,

Samara

Five on Friday

Fridays lately don't quite have the same thrill they used to. I know what you're thinking, "yeah, welcome to parenthood", but, you're wrong! It actually has nothing to do with my little buddy;he is actually the really GREAT part about the weekend. The lackluster feeling I have on Fridays these days is that it just means I'm headed into my other job--school. (Blah!)

Just the same, I try to minimize my whining and still participate in the "wheeeeee!" feeling that is Friday.

Here is what I'm diggin' this week!

1. Book Club

My amazing December Moms group on Facebook convinced me to join my first (virtual) book club. I didn't think it possible for me to have time to read for pleasure, but it's amazing how you can whittle the time out when it's a book you actually want to read. 

The first book chosen by the group was "Divergent". 

It's an enjoyable, easy-to-read book and I've already reached the halfway point. 

2. Haircut

It was just a trim, but it always feels so good to go in and get pampered at the salon. A couple of inches of dead ends gone makes you feel like a million bucks!!

3. Ladies of London

Darn you, Andy! You have sucked me into yet another series of yours! 

These women are serious forces to be reckoned with, too.  One woman's husband owns one of the hottest nightclubs in the world. You have to be a member or have won an Oscar, Grammy or be a royal. NBD, right? Another cast member was the muse of the late Alexander McQueen. So far, this is good. 

4. Garden Progress

So, this year, I swallowed my pride and decided to do my part in boosting the economy just a little by ordering up the services of a gentleman with Smith Floral here in Lansing.  Since I've lived in my townhouse, I've always taken great pride in doing my own gardening. Last summer, between being tired and pregnant,working quite a bit and being in school, I totally let our garden go. This summer wasn't looking much better, what with contending with a baby, school and still working a lot. I just needed help getting things cleaned up--weeds pulled, old failed stone border attempt cleared out and a trench around the garden built. Done, done and done!

This is a pic of the work in progress. I wish I would have taken a "before" pic so you could see what hideous shape our garden was in. Only then could you really appreciate this picture. The gentleman at Smith Floral has since laid mulch, pulled plants that weren't doing well in the full sun of our front yard and thinned out some of the flowers that were growing wildly (I'm talking to you, Lilies of the Valley). 

5. New York City--BOOKED

A couple of months ago for my husband's birthday, I surprised him with tickets to the first game Arsenal has played in the States in 25 years. The game is in NYC and we are making a long weekend of it. Well, we finally got the details of the hotel and flight nailed down and I am so excited!! I haven't been to NYC since I was a kid and I can't wait to feel the city's energy for the first time as an adult! 

Enjoy the beautiful weather we have in store for Saturday, friends and....

eat, drink and be merry! 

Cheers,

Samara

Five Months Old

Our little buddy drooled past his five month mark!

Jackson Nazir Morgan

Five months old on 5-18-14

Milestones and Memories

1. First Easter

Although Jackson was able to meet the Easter Bunny before his four month mark, Easter actually fell within the next month of his life. We tried to fill his first Easter with special moments and traditions. Warning: I have included several photos for this "memory". 

We started the day out by discovering the Easter basket left by the Easter Bunny.

The Easter Bunny left some Legos, a book, plenty of clothes, and other goodies like fruit and a soccer ball. 

After diving into Jackson's Easter basket, we headed to church where Jackson made quite the impression with his Easter suit. Church was followed by an impromptu family selfie session, Easter dinner with the family and an egg hunt. 

For some reason, people couldn't get over the shoes. (Never a bad thing!) 

Here he is hunting for eggs. I just love this picture. 

He found another one! 

The silly Easter Bunny left this basket for Jackson at his Aunt Angie and Uncle Adam's house! 

And this is, by far, my absolute favorite picture of Jackson on his first Easter. 

I just love his big, lazy baby eyes, his pot belly and the little drool on his lips. I will miss this when he is big someday!

2. Four Month Check Up

Due to the normal scheduling process of a physician's office, Jackson's Four Month Check Up was a couple of days after he completed his fourth month, so his visit technically occurred at the very beginning of month five. 

In the beginning of the appointment, Jackson was so happy and smiling, just lying on the table in his doctor's office. My husband sent me a picture with his stats including his weight and height--15 lbs, 13 ounces and 25 1/2 inches. Healthy baby boy with no issues!

Then his vaccinations came and the happy baby turned into this:

No worries, new moms. This crying lasted for only a very brief period and he bounced back to his happy self much quicker after his four month vaccinations than he did after his two month vaccinations. And, the crying for a few minutes is worth it to protect him from so many nasty--and sometimes deadly--things out there. 

3. First Overnight Stay At Grandma No No's House

My mom, as a Grandma, goes by a couple of different names. One of them is "Grandma Go Go" because she is always on the go and the other is "Grandma No No". I think she was dubbed Grandma No No because she said "no" to the grandkids when they were younger, but I like to think it's because she's the rebel--naughty--grandma, always spoiling the grandkids.

Grandma No No offered to take Jackson for the evening on the weekend before our wedding anniversary so we could stay out later and be able to still get some rest. We missed our baby, but he was in good hands with Grandma, had a great time and showed up to church looking like this:

I'll take the credit for his outfit, but kudos goes to Grandma No No for maneuvering that tricky jacket on! 

4. Holding His Bottle

While it's not the first time he's ever held his bottle, it was the first time he held it through the entire feeding. We never wanted to be the pushy parents, trying to force him through developments. My philosophy thus far has been simply encouraging what is natural. I figure he will move through these things when he is ready. 

5. First Teacher Appreciation Week

Jackson attends a wonderful daycare and the administration was kind enough to give us a heads up about Teacher Appreciation Week. I have to admit, it was pretty funny coming up with ideas of gifts to get his wonderful teachers and classroom assistants. 

You can read more about Jackson's first Teacher Appreciation Week here.

6. First Time Saying "Mama"

Jackson says "Mama"

I know it seems a bit unbelievable that he would say that at such an early age, but he did. (Oh, don't worry, I'm not bragging. He has other areas he's probably "behind" on, lol, but this one was really cool to witness, so I had to share!) It's not an extremely articulate "mama", but in the video, when he looks to his right, smiles and mouthes something (what appears to sound and look like "mama"), I had just entered (and quickly left when I noticed my husband was videotaping) and left the room.

7. Visit to Grandma Vicki's House

I have a friend I call my "other mother" so naturally, she is now Jackson's "Grandma". Due to the awful winter and Grandma Vicki having another grandbaby (OK, her actual grand baby) born near the same time (and just life, crazy life), Jackson didn't meet his grandma until this month. Vicki sent me a message saying we needed to get a date in the books because "seriously, Jackson will be walking before I meet him". She was right!

So, we got Jackson all dolled up and headed to Grandma Vicki's for dinner. We were able to meet the newest addition to Vicki's family and spend time with the rest of our "extended family". It was a great night and I was kicking myself for having waited so long to visit!

8. First Mother's Day

Although this day actually celebrates me, the mother, it was Jackson's first time being able to celebrate it with me. You can read more about what Jackson did for me and for his grandmas and aunts here.

As you can see from this picture, he was hard at work for Mother's Day presents to give to the ladies in the family!

9. Jackson's First Soccer Game

 Recently, the first semi-professional soccer team--known as "Lansing United"--started up in Lansing. On Mommy's first night of a new class, Jackson and Daddy bundled up and headed to the very first Lansing United soccer game.

Jackson was able to meet a handful of Daddy's friends who had seen him on Facebook, but not yet had the chance to meet him in person. 

He loved the big, green field and watching the players run up and down the field and kick the ball around. Jackson is a people watcher--much like his mom and dad--and resultantly had a great time. He greeted everyone with a smile and one of Daddy's friends described him as a "perfect little sir". 

Cheers,

Samara