Sam's First Haircut

It was finally time for my first haircut. It was long overdue. I was worried they were going to start putting my hair in a ponytail or something. Or maybe they wanted me to be a heavy metal star like Bon Jovi? Who knows? But at least it got cut. I got to sit in a cool fire engine chair. Then they put on the biggest bib I've even seen. I stayed really still. She used sharp scissors and buzzy razors, and I didn't even flinch. The finished look was worth it. I looked pretty handsome in the end if I must say so myself...

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

In the beginning of September we flew to North Carolina to visit Grandma and Grandpa DeJoseph and have a little beach vacation. Mom and Dad were ready for a little R&R after our big move to the new house. We flew into Wilmington, NC and were met at the airport by Grandma and Grandpa. How fun! We spent the night at their house before heading to the beach the next day. But before we hit the road we ate at Daddy's favorite NC restaurant, "Something Fishy." There was yummy fried seafood as far as the eye could see. I loved the hush puppies. With our bellies full, we were off to the beach. I love the the beach! (and I love my new sippy cups.) I'm not loving the windblown look of my overgrown hair though.


The beach had lots of sand and an ocean just like the beach in Delaware. Mom said it was the same ocean but I'm not sure I believe her. How did it follow us all the way to North Carolina? I had fun crawling around on the sand and in the water. This time I could even walk in the sand (well a few steps anyway. That sand could be tricky.) I loved the water. The waves were much calmer at this beach (I told you it wasn't the same ocean) so Mom and Dad could take me in the deep water. It was fun.

We ate out at lots of restaurants. I tried lots of new food - shrimp and fish.

Look Mom-mom - I still have my Elvis lip (and rediculously long hair)...

There were lots of fun things to do at our condo. There was a little playground for babies just like me. Mom took me for my first ride down the slide which was followed by my first head injury as I fell off the platform playing with the telescope and bonked my head on the ground. No worries - I was fine. Come to find out I have a very hard head which we will soon find out comes in handy in the months to come.

There were even pools and a hot tub. I just love the water. Grandma and Grandpa showed up for a few days too. Dad and Grandpa Tony went fishing while I hung out with Mom and Grandma Marge. Grandpa Tony come home much earlier than Daddy though. I think he must have missed me, but for some reason he looked a little green. Speaking of changing colors, Daddy's tongue turned blue while we were there. What is it about that place? I was trying to pull out Daddy's tongue so I could do a closer inspection, but I just couldn't get my hands on it. Fortunately, after some time everyone's color turned back to normal.

We didn't spend all of our time lounging by the pool and on the beach. We visited the North Carolina aquarium. That was pretty cool - lots of fish and other animals like turtles and even a baby aligator. We visited Fort Macon - an old Civil War fort. Mom and Dad thought it was really neat...

...but I didn't really know what was going on. Like why am I sitting next to these huge balls? They wouldn't even let me out to play with them.

Oh but the best part!!! Grandma Marge brought cupcakes to the condo since it was just after my birthday. I love cupcakes! Maybe even more than then beach. But did I mention I do not love my super long hair?

Oh and something else I didn't love - the plane ride home. I mean come on. I'm one. I tried really hard to sleep but I woke up. I didn't mean to scream for over an hour straight but it's not like they would let me down to play. I'd been on a lot of planes by this point and had been a model traveler. I thought I was due for one awful flight. Apparently, Mom and Dad were not seeing things my way. I heard them say I'm not allowed on another plane until I'm 10. Oh man! I hope you all don't mind flying cuz it seems like you're going to have to come to Phoenix if you want to see me.

Happy 1st Birthday!

Sam's first birthday came so fast. It was the day before we moved and 3 days before vacation, but we managed to have a small party with some close friends and family. I mean really, what's important to a one year old?... CAKE!!!

It's my birthday. Bring on the cake!

Yummmmm...

I can't quite open my mouth wide enough. I'll manage.

I think I may explode.

Birthday kisses

I'm so lucky. For my birthday, I got a laptop and a pony!!

Being 1 is great!

Sam and Bob

Sam and Bob are buddies. Bob is teaching Sam everything he knows - how to walk carry things around...

... to fetch his leash...

... to drool...

His next trick may be going pee in the backyard, but that's advance dog training. For now, the just share food and pillows,

and roll on the floor together.

Sam loves his Bob.

The Hoovers are back in action!

Alright so my first promise that we'd be right back didn't quite happen, but this time, maybe this time, the Hoovers will truly be back in action. The second half of 2010 was a little rough for all of us and well, the first half of January 2011 isn't turning out to be so great either. We've been handed our share of hard times and have plowed through. So with all of it behind us we march on.

In June, poor Sam spent nearly a month on and off (more on than off) with an unrelenting stomach virus. Poor Matt managed to catch it twice. We were constantly changing sheets and outfits - both Sam's and our own. After many bottles of Pedialyte and a trip to visit me at work for IV fluids, Sam eventually bounced back just in time to make our trek across the country to visit Delaware. By mid July, Sam was gaining back the weight he had lost and was back to his busy self.

Over the summer, we made the difficult decision to sell our house. With the economy struggling and the housing marking in Phoenix tanking, we had to get out. So we spent the month of August packing up our house. Sam celebrating his first birthday amongst mountains of boxes, but that didn't stop the cake eating festivities. With everything bubble wrapped (including Sam) and all boxes taped up, Matt and I spent our second anniversary moving to our new house. Maybe we'll actually get to go on a date for our third anniversary. Third times a charm, right?


We were started to get settled into our new house and use to having a mobile toddler when Mom-mom starting getting sicker and sicker. October was met with her passing. She had 90 healthy years that included a great love, a successful business, great adventures, many days fishing, dancing, and beachcombing, and shared her life with two daughters, four grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Who could ask for anything more for their grandmom? But we will still miss her.

As if the day Mom-mom passed away wasn't hard enough, Matt and I spent that evening in the ER with Sam after our curious little man hunted down a scorpion and was stung. While Matt knew something was wrong, I refused to be "that mom" who brought their kid to the ER for crying. The kids are always fine by the time they get there. After two hours of unconsolable screaming, I finally noticed that he refused to open his eyes. Sure enough, that were beating back and forth - a serious sign of a scorpion sting. So we loaded in the car and rushed off to the hospital. One dose of antivenum and 30 minutes later, Sam was back to normal. The next day, you would never know anything happened to the little guy. I mean seriously, he was only 13 months old as he'd already had two ER visits.

2011 came and we thought it would be a new year. We truly felt like we had had our share. We made in through all the drama plus croup and a double ear infection which may seem minor but definitely make life with a 1 year old rough. But it wasn't over. Matt had to make the tough decision to put his faithful companion of almost 16 years to sleep. Poor Garci just wasn't the dog he once was. He could no longer get up on his favorite spot on the couch, no longer chased his toy, and spent most of his days sleeping. It seems he was suffering from complications of liver failure and left us yesterday for the meaty steak in the sky.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. With that in mind, we're moving forward. I've taken some time off in December and January to get caught up and regroup. Matt has found himself busy once again in real estate. Sam is happy and healthy and has turned into one busy, mischievous little boy. We were lucky to have Matt's dad and Laurie move just 15 minutes minutes away from us, and there is a rumor that Sam has a certain Gram moving in the next few months. Even more great news in grandparent land, Dad and Carol and celebrating Carol's victory over colon cancer. We are looking forward to our search this summer for a new house - one with a landscaped backyard and perhaps a pool (even though I can't believe I have to pack again.) Despite all of trials over the past 6 months, we are truly fortunate for all that we have. We have not been the victims of any natural disasters or mass casualties. We have not been stricken with any serious illnesses. We are employed, healthy, safe and most importantly have each other. We are so thankful to have wonderful friends and loving and supportive families - those that are no longer with us, those that are here with us now, and those that will join our crazy clan in the future (no I'm not pregnant.)

So this blog is dedicated to Garcia and Mom-mom. We love and will miss you.

March 1995-January 2001

November 1919 - October 2010

Mom-mom, I hope you're up there telling Pop-pop all about Matt and Sam. I know he would have loved them as much as I do, and I'm so sorry he didn't get the chance to meet them. OK, I know this is a stretch but if you see a little gray shaggy dog up there named Garcia, pat him on the head for us or at least throw him his toy.