Squealing!

Ah, Samuel has found his vocal cords. That means that mommy has begun going deaf in whatever ear he happens to be screeching in. You can just tell he's experimenting--he'll go up and then he'll go down and back up and all around. He's got some strong lungs, that one, and very much enjoys replacing cooing, laughing, crying, moaning, etc. with very high pitched squealing. Yes, he definitely goes higher than mommy.

He's getting very good at grabbing things; I'm considering the mommy haircut, but probably I'll just keep putting my hair up. He just can't keep pulling on it, because it's all falling out anyway, and I don't have that much to begin with. :-P When he was just learning, anytime he would see something he wanted to grab, his little hands would come together right in front of his chest, trying to get it, regardless of the position of the object. He still often does that, especially when I am getting him a bottle. So I'll be holding it in front of him and his little hands will come together, as if in a pleading motion--please, please give me that bottle!! So cute.

Samuel has found his thumb. Time will tell whether this will be detrimental or not, but, he's really cute! I confess I kind of wanted him to take after me in this respect (my teeth didn't get malformed), but hopefully he won't take as long to break the habit. Any ideas on how to get them unattached to their thumb before they get really attached?











Samuel loves to look at this. He could look at it all day long. He doesn't mind being in the swing itself, but to look at the buttons on the swing, THAT is exciting. He will look from the buttons to the swing, waiting for the swing to start moving (because I turn it on). Fascinating!










He also loves this display that I put up for the 4th of July and never took down because he likes it so much. We still haven't understood why he likes this quite so much. Maybe he's the future president (though with how much I love politics, that would be a task).









This is what we wish Charleston looked like right now, but does not. We wait anticipatorily (is that a word?) for some changing of leaves, but no fruition. :-(












Here is Samuel actually plinking! We have to be quick to whisk him away from it anytime he starts drooling/spitting up. He'll also often sing along with himself as he plays.













I am so excited for the new Ensign this month. It's wonderful--all about temples! This is a picture of the D.C. temple that we took on our way down here. It's pretty awesome because the spires just start coming out of the ground and then there's this beautiful white building floating in the trees--gorgeous! I am excited to go to my sister's sealing in Utah in December!! :-)