Okay so the title of this post has nothing to do with anything except maybe that relish goes with ketchup (see Ketchup post below, if ya didn't get that reference). So as we continue to post ourselves back into the present, here are some of the adventures we enjoyed back in April....or I guess you could say, these were moments that we RELISHed. (hold the applause, I'll be here all week)
Our little Sam is between 14-15 months old in these photos. He was growing like crazy and seemed to be sprouting a new tooth every few seconds. He had some mildly grumpy days and a low-grade fever here and there, just enough to let us know something was going on. But luckily for all of us, for the most part he plowed through a really busy period of growth without too much stress. He's a tough little cookie and doesn't seem to let things get him down for long. Sam is still a great sleeper, catching around 10-11 hours of uninterrupted sleep most nights, plus a nice long nap during the day (ahh, to be one again). He loves to eat, mostly regular grown-up food at this point (even if it sometimes has to be cut up into smaller bites), and has gotten really good at feeding himself while thoughtfully leaving a pile of crumbs on the floor for his best furry buddy, Teddy. We joke quite often that no one should ever try to raise a toddler without also having a little dog around to clean up after them! Just like his dad, one of Sam's current favorite foods is cheese, which he asks for regularly in his cute little voice..."cheeeees?".
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| Here's Sam taking his dinner on the veranda at sunset, what a life! |
One of the more distinct characteristics that we can report about Sam through this period is that he loves to be outside. Doesn't matter to him if it's hot, cold, sunny or raining, he just wants to be out there. He loves to walk and run until his chipmunk cheeks are flush, loves to push or ride in his wagon, and is happiest when he can find either water, dirt or mulch to play in (and occasionally eat)! This little one is ALL BOY, and we are loving every minute of it. Oh, and he is still crazy about dogs, so he has grown more interested in playing with Teddy (sometimes against Teddy's wishes), and wants to talk to and hug every other puppy or dog he sees.
We had plenty of great outdoor adventures in April, when the weather here in Florida is often nearly perfect. Not too hot, not so much rain...just right. Let the good times roll!
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| "See ya later, guys!" Sam, on the go, at Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor, FL |
We all enjoyed a nice long weekend on the west coast of Florida, enjoying our friends and family and the gorgeous natural attractions that come along with the region. We visited Wall Springs Park near Palm Harbor with Shawn's sister Kathy, where Sam got to run around to his heart's content and also got to play with a big pack of adorable dogs. He was in Heaven, and cried when we had to say goodbye to all of the cute little critters.
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| If only we could have captured the gigantic smile on Sam's face in this moment! Arf, arf! |
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| Here's Sam, telling Aunt Kath and Mommy all about the history of Wall Springs |
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| Sam loves the view from the top...of Daddy! |
Sam also got to spend the evening with Aunt Kath and Uncle Mike while we went out for a real "date night"! As much as we miss our little guy every minute we are away from him, we also realize how important it is to enjoy time as a couple, and with other adults! Much thanks go to Kath and Mike for allowing us to have an amazing dinner out with a group of our friends at the
Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, to celebrate our friend Jill's birthday.
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| A rare childless moment for Heather and Shawn! |
Speaking of Jill...three very imortant reasons for our trip to the coast were Heather's BFF Jill, her husband Chris, and their "Sweet Baby James" who were visiting the Bay area from their home in Utah. The three of them invited us to join them for an amazing day at the beach, North Redington Beach to be exact, and it couldn't have been a more perfect day for more outdoor adventures! We really enjoyed the time we got to spend with our friends, and we miss them already.
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| Aunt Jill was lovin' the Sam hugs! |
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| Happy family at the beach (and Sam chomping a fake starfish)...awesome! |
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| Our beautiful boy, lovin' every minute of it! |
Back on the home front, we are sad to say good bye to some other great friends who will soon be moving away from the Orlando area and starting a new adventure of their own in North Carolina. Heather especially will miss her friend Ashley, and Sam will miss palling around with little Jack. We have had a few chances to spend some extra time with these special friends before they depart, and we look forward to visiting them in their beautiful new home "up north"!
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| Sam and Jack playing together in the fountain on the plaza at downtown Winter Garden |
With the weather being so perfect, a little boy who loves to be outdoors and on the go, and a nice smooth cycling trail within a few blocks of home, we decided a bike trailer was a good investment for our family and found a beauty of a deal on craigslist for just the thing we needed! Sam loved going out for a cruise with us and exploring the areas right here in our back yard that he had never seen.
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| Sam was grinning ear-to-ear about bike riding with his mom and dad! |
Finally, we will leave you with this photo that Shawn snapped of Sam playing in the water at a popular Winter Garden gathering spot. We have already had so many happy and playful moments here, and are sure to have many more. Happy Spring and Summer to you all. We hope you are enjoying it as much as we are!
To view these and more photos from April,
click here.
