Silly girl in the mirror.

This is the 3rd weekend in a row that Lance is out hunting elk. He tells me that next weekend is antelope season- I tell him that he owes me for giving him a month of hunting!
So this leaves me here again, not ready for bed & my daughter asleep. Whenever Lance is gone I seem to go overboard cleaning... I shampooed our couch last night, bleached our doorknobs & cleaned all of our doors as well as windows. I'm finding that during Sami's naps I don't have enough time to pull out any of my hobbies but enough to notice the dirt on the screen door!
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I'll leave you with some photos... yesterday I put Sami in her swing during a nap & stepped into the next room. When I came back & checked on her she was wide awake & staring at the mobile on the swing just laughing & smiling! This went on for several minutes so I had to get my camera! I am absolutely loving this phase of Samantha's life; she is 8 weeks old today & smiling & laughing. She will be completely serious one moment & the next she breaks into the biggest grin & it just melts my heart & makes a smile spread across my face in return.

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I can't believe it's the last week of September! Life seems to be getting faster & faster with each year! I do hope everyone out there is doing well & Enjoying their Fall Season.
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Also here is a photo of myself, Samantha & Dr. Hope Cassell at our 6 week appointment. (Dr. Cassell delivered Samantha. Sorry the photo is yellow- all we had was a cell phone camera.)

Just for fun

My husband is out of town, my little girl is asleep & the house is spotless; so I am watching Pride & Prejudice on TV & decided to update here as well. Whew, for once I feel as though I'm on top of life, even if just for a fleeting moment! I really don't have much to write but here are some photos.
Samantha has been smiling a lot lately & think at times she is trying to laugh! I've tried over & over to get a photo of her smiling but when I get the camera she just fixes on that. Here are a few of my best attempts...

Samantha is really starting to enjoy her baths- at least she is smiling more than crying anymore!

Here is the closest photo I've got to her smiling!

Sami is becoming a little ham with all of her faces!

Just for fun.

Maternity leave is over :(

Well, at least the paid portion that is; I am taking an extra 6 weeks of unpaid time... man we're going to miss that paycheck! Even though I know it has been 6 weeks it still seems like yesterday that Lance & I were staying up late watching a movie & my water broke. I didn't know what was going on so we googled the symptoms & called the dr to see if that was really what it could be. We drove to the hospital knowing for sure they would send us back home but ...'better safe than sorry'. When they told us that we were getting admitted we felt like the floor fell from under us- this was really it!?!? Now, 6 weeks later, I can't even imagine leaving her for 8 hours. My hat is off to all of you who did; that is strength.
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As for everything else, Lance is going hunting for an extended weekend- bowhunting for elk for those of you keeping tabs.
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I am writing now a couple of days later... Lance got home last night- no elk...yet. Hurricane Ike went went through the south- all of our family is okay, without power but safe. Well, if I want to get this posted then I'd better do it now, so here's hoping all of you are safe & happy.

Samantha in her Baby Bjorn- she falls asleep in it every time!

Sleeping with mommy.

Visiting with Debbie.

The hunt begins.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!! I have been working on this post for a few days- 3 mins here & 3 there but since today I am going to publish it & today is my brother Chris' birthday I had to start it with a 'shout out to my bro'!

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

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Today is September 1st- opening day of dove season. The first of many days that Sami & I will be home together while Lance heads out the door during the wee AM hours that should never exist! In the past I would barely open my eyes when Lance would say goodbye. However this time Samantha & I were already awake & actually woke Lance up!

Samantha wore her camo in support of daddy's hunt!

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Yesterday was the CSU vs. CU game. We went to my parent's house & had a birthday BBQ for my brother Chris; he will be 26 on Wednesday- Happy Birthday Chris! After the BBQ Chris & friends went to the football game while my parents watched Sami so that Lance & I could get some down time. We were going to go home & sleep- we left my folk's house- got home & realized that our house keys were no where to be found- we thought we must have left them in the diaper bag. So we head back to my parent's & once in their driveway we find the house keys in the truck's console (keep in mind it is a 30-40 minute drive one way from my folks to our home.) So instead we ended up watching the latest Die Hard movie with my parent's while Samantha slept. I guess sleep is just not in the cards for us any time soon! :(
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On Saturday we took Samantha on her first road trip!! Cabelas! Before heading out we stopped by Lance's grandmother's house & Samantha got to meet her 2nd cousins Evelyn & Addison. She is 1 month old & growing like a weed. She is much more alert & we are starting to see smiles! I tell you what, nothing fills my soul more than seeing a smile spread across my little girl's face. (Whatever the reason!) Hopefully summer is wrapping up well for all of you; I can't believe it's already September!

Evelyn, Addison & Samantha

Sami was so small next to the elephant! (At Cabelas)

Her first elk sighting. (At Cabelas)

Since she has been so alert we started playing on this mat- she actually enjoys it.

Sami actually really enjoys tummy time.

4 weeks old.

My 2 precious angels.