Happy 1st Birthday Sam!

What a great year it has been. It's really amazing how fast Sam has grown. From 8 lbs. 3 oz 21" tall to 22 lbs. Everyone warned me that the first year flys by and then every year after. Sure enough, they are absoultly right. From fighting Billy Ruben all the way to taking his first steps, he has led us on quite the adventure. His favorite foods today are: Cheese, yogurt, gold fishies, cheerios and Turkey! Still pretty stubborn on a few things, but we continue to work on them. He has a spunky personality that still likes to wake his mom and dad up at night, but we also continue to work at that.

Words today are: Mama (Pacifier), Ba (Ball) and Mo (Elmo) and Yeah!

Stay tuned for pictures from his party!!!

Walking at 11 months!!!

Sam has finally figured out how to coordinate his little feet to walk together. Yes, we still have our share of tumbles, but the tumbles are now filled with laughs and giggles. Thank Goodness for the diaper padded landing.

Me and my Great Grandma Trudy

The Pumpkin Patch!

Fall is here and we went to the Pumpkin Patch last weekend. It was 84 degrees and sunny! We ate carmel apples, took a hayride and saw a big doggie!

Sam and his girlfriend, Ana

Ana came and spent the day with us yesterday! We had a great time. We hung out and read books, went for a walk, played with toys and even drank some bottles:) We had a great day and can't wait to hang out again.

My 2 bottom teeth!

I can do it mom...

We've finally came to the conclusion that our little man is growing up. Sam is soon to be walking....very very soon. He can now get from a sitting position to a standing position all by himself and when he stands up, all he can do is Clap!!!

Todds Wedding & French Fry's

This past weekend we had a wedding in Amery Wisconsin. If you're like me, you have no idea where Amery is, but I can tell you it is about 35 miles east of the Minnesota border, a little over 5 hours away. We went to Todd and Tasha's wedding. We had a great time with old friends who we came to the conclusion that we need to get together on a more regular basis. We stayed at the Country Lodge! Sam did great, he even had his first taste of McDonalds French Frys and absoultly LOVED them!

Happy 28th Birthday Brad!

This is a picture of what Brad's team did to his office for his birthday! It is a back to the future onsomble. He didn't use his office for 2 days! Sam and I had the honor of seeing it in person as we stopped by that day for a little impromptu Happy Birthday Visit!

That night we celebrated at home with dinner, cake and ice cream!

Me and Sassy

I'm a MESS...and so is the floor!

Yes, yes, yes...our little boy likes to feed the floor more than he can feed his mouth. But it's ok, for now... If you look closely you can see his 2 little bottom teeth!

The new fun walker!

Thank you Haley for letting me borrow your walker! I LOVE it. I get soooo excited to use it!!!

A trip to Heckers...

We ventured to get Sam his frist pair of shoes today! He is a proud size 5 double Wide. He did great as we tried the shoes on. He was too destracted by all the other little kids walking around the store.

Lisa on the Traipse

Stephanie & Justin

Club Med-Sandpiper FL

Brad and I just returend from our 1st real trip away from home to Sandpiper FLorida, on the Port of St Lucie. We stayed at a Club Med. Even though we missed our little Sam sooooo much, we knew he was in good hands with his Grandma Sue and Papa Tom. Brad and I got up (for the first itime in about 6 years) on water skis! To our suprise, we were not as sore as we thought we would be the next day. The weather was hot and humid and we did have our share of rain each day, however, we spent many relaxing days out by the pool with our daiquiris and margaritas. We met some very nice people and conqured many vicious games of volleyball and even attempted to try to play water polo. Uncle Marc, Lisa, Brian and Heather all went on the Trapise. We also celebrated Grandma Shirl and Papa Fosters 60th Wedding Anniversary on Saturady night, September 3rd, 2005. Every night we had wonderful dinners surrounded by our family. It was a great relaxing trip and it was nice to have someone to come home to who (we think) missed us!

Uncle Darren came to visit!

Bottoms UP!

More mommy MORE!!

We've discoverd a new love of food! Mac n cheese! We often believe that Sam doesn't even breathe while eating it. He devowers it and demands more. As you notice, keeping a clean house these days is a little next to impossible. Sam likes to think that he can feed the floor as well. The books all tell us that he is just trying to understand cause and effect. I'm trying to understand how to hire a cleaning lady!

Outside Elmo

It's Elmo! Sam adores everything about Elmo. We go to the store, he can spot him a mile away and start to panic. Recently we purchased a elmo sprinkler and Sam just thinks this is the best gift ever. He will crawl to the window and pound on the glass. It is hilarious!

My New Cousin

Sela Ivy Teplin was born on August 28, 2005.

Dinner with Papa Stan

Tonight we went out for dinner with Papa Stan...all we're going to say is babysitter!! I think this will be the last time for a while that Sam goes with us out to dinner. He was a mess. Didn't want to sit in his highchair...didn't want to eat....didn't want anything to do with anything, except go outside and watch the cars pass the restaurant. So needless to say, we've learned our lesson. Thank goodness the waitress put us kind of in the back...it looked like a tornado ripped through our table. Sam is still fighting a cold (again) so we'll hope to get some sleep tonight.

9 month pictures in the Park!

Whoever knew that haveing a 9 month old picture took could be so draining. We tried to go to the studio to get his picture, however, it turned into a nightmare, not to mention that Sears photography was running 2 hours behind and we had a screaming baby on our hands. Once we got into the room, Sam would not sit still and just wanted to crawl around and get into everything. So we packed up and left. Brad and I decided to use some of our hidden creativity and make a day out of it and go to Clody park and be our own "professional" photographers!

A Trip to the Milwaukee Zoo!

We've officially pruchased a Zoo Pass for the year! We first visited the zoo with our Books Bagels and Babies playgroup. All the kidos did very well. See if you can find Sam!

Learning to Crawl

It has finally happened...Samuel Lewis Teplin is now mobile! We actually love every minute of it. He is into absoultly everything and it didn't take long for that bottom lip to drop and eyes start to water when he learned the word NO! With a little help, he found his way into the dryer and thought it was the best thing EVER!

Trip to Fort Atkinson

Me and my friends Caleb & Jake!

Sam and his FOREVER Rash!

July 27, 2005, a mysterious rash appeared all over Sam's body. After being in urgent care over the weekend and then a trip to Dr Paley, Sam has a ugly virous. It started out with a high fever, cold like symptoms and then this rash and a white tounge. Through it all, Sam has been in pretty good spirits, just no appetite. Let's hope it goes away soon in time for him to go to School on Thursday.

Sam in pacifier heaven!!!!

Sam is ever so addidcted to his love for his pacifier. Brad and I are worried that this is going to be a real challenge to take away. We'll keep you updated when we do decide to take it away. We also may ask you to take him for a few hours!

Daddy's WAMU Baby

Fun at the park

A lazy Saturday afternoon in the park. We enjoyed a little lunch

and a lot of people watching. People watching seems to be

one of Sam's favorite pastimes.

Look mom, I can do it...

With all stubbornness set aside, all fingers in place, he can finally hold his bottle on his own! However, Sam has became a little too busy these days and would prefer to be doing something other than eating. On a good day, we even tend to get a few smiles through the sides, that is if Milk isn't spraying everywhere.

Family Fun before the 4th

It was a hot sticky day today. Uncle Stephen, Aunt Vicki and Alivia were all in town to celebrate with us. We watched the Mequon Thiensville parade and then, as we dodged the raindrops, went to the party afterwards at Firemans Park. It was great fun!

The Florida Teplins Visit!

The Teplin Bunch!

Sam and all his cousins (so far)...
From left to right: Zachary (4) Alivia (3) Joshua (3).

Uncle David and Papa Stan are really proud of this picture!

Sam and Baby Ana

Uncle Darren's Graduation

Great G&G Esch come to visit!