Getting Big Too Fast!!

Time is going by too quickly! Not only is Sam growing and doing things faster than I ever realize he would, Travis leaves for the Academy in a week and a half.  I'm going to miss him like crazy.  We are trying to squeeze in time every minute we can with each of our schedules.  It's hard and takes some juggling, but we are making it work. 

Sam has decided that at most times now he wants to feed himself his bottle  :o)  Which actually gives me a little more freedom.  I have been trying to find a little bean bag chair or something to let him set in so I'm not always putting him in the highchair to drink a bottle.  He uses my niece Caitlin's old Dora chair at daycare and it seems to work well!  So far no luck, but I found a little fold out couch that might have to work!  I'm hoping with Travis leaving this will let both Sam sleep a little later in the mornings because I can give him a bottle while I get a few things done around the house and get ready... fingers crossed!  LOL

Trying out our big boy cup... not so sure about water though, especially if it's COLD!!

He started sticking out his tongue on Saturday night when I was feeding him.  I wasn't sure if he was trying to lick something off of his chin, or he was just trying to imitate something he had seen?  Needless to say, it was a little messy with food in his mouth! 

He has started pulling himself up in the last week or so as well!  At first he started just pulling himself up to standing grabbing on to my hands and he would stand on the floor holding onto the couch... but this past weekend, this is what I found...

Yeah, lowering the mattress was a MUST!!  :o)  He wants to stand all the time now.  I'm just waiting till we realize we can move around while standing... it's coming, and I'm guessing probably sooner than I'll be ready for!!  LOL 

I've always said Sam and our dog Mia share a very strong bond.  I said this even before he was born, Mia used to curl up with my tummy when I was pregnant.  He would kick and she would poke him back with her nose.  Now she tries to trade him toys, leaving one of hers in place of one of his and she likes to chew her raw hides next to him.  I watched one day, probably quite irresponsible of me, as she chewed on her bone and he took his little hand and took it away.  She didn't growl, bark or scratch at him.  Just slowly put her mouth on the end that he wasn't holding and gently took it away.  Then proceeded to curl back up next to him and commence chewing.   I was pretty proud, she could have acted any number of ways, but just sweetly took it back.  Now they have moved into him grabbing the bone, she licks his hand, he giggles and she "talks" to him.  It's adorable!  She loves her little boy!  Always has to check and see where he is at.. which sometimes is an annoyance at nap time!  LOL  She gets pouty when he's not there. 

We play a lot in his room, I will play with him on the floor, sometimes I put the gate up and let him explore his room on his own for a bit.  I like to turn on the radio just for some background noise, plus he likes to dance :o)  I used to be able to cuddle on the couch with him and read a book but now all he wants to do is go, go, go!  So I started just picking out a book and laying on his floor while he is playing and reading out loud.  He seemed to like this!  I made it through a couple pages and look over and he had crawled up to my face and was listening to me read and looking up at the pages.  Whatever it takes!!