Fun in the Sun

     Hey everyone! Sorry about yesterday. I know Saturday mornings are sort of the unspoken day and time for our blog post, but I'll tell ya, Friday night at about 7:00 I was half asleep. Sam and I went to have lunch with Mesia and I guess it riled Sam up so much that she didn't nap all afternoon and it wore me out. So here I sit at 10:22 on Saturday night giving our update for the past week. Hope you enjoy.

      Our week began last weekend when Nana flew into town to visit for a few days. During her stay she spoiled all her girls with much needed time together and of course, as grandmas always do, little somethings that although are bought from a store, find their value with the love behind them. The girls also took Nana to the pool for some fun in the sun. This was Sam's second ever experience at the pool and she had a blast! She always enjoys it more when big sister is there to play with her and help her make it through the overpowering current of the kiddie pool.

All growing up I wanted a big brother, or even a big sister I suppose. Whatever I wanted, I always wanted a bigger sibling. Being the oldest had its perks and comes with benefits (my mom is always telling me in secret that I am her favorite :0), but there is a different kind of safety in having an older sibling. I know in many cases there is sibling rivalry, but putting the natural tenancies of children aside, I think that older siblings may never realize just how valued they are in the eyes of a smaller and more dependent sibling. I see this value in Sam's eyes every time Alex walks into the room and while it's tough having an 11 year difference between you and your younger sibling, I sure hope Alex truly knows the influence she carries.

You will notice as I quickly did that Nana is not in any pictures. Crazy huh? But I will let you in on a little trick I have learned that the Baum women do. I learned after 4 years of studying my wife's behavior, that she is the first to volunteer to be the picture taker. Now, for the first 3.5 years I didn't think much of it until one day I was looking through pictures we had recently developed and Mesia wasn't in any of them! Yes, sneaky trick they play. So as you might imagine, Nana is the picture taker of these pictures (I was actually out golfing during their girls time). Not to worry though,  now that I have caught on to their little game, I have become the official photographer and Sultan of the Camera at all times. So as we have visitors and company and family outings, you will be seeing more of everyone who is naturally a little camera shy. :0)

Sam is so funny with the pool. She might be amphibian or something because she NEVER wants to get out. She thinks it is so fun. When she finally does get out she collapses like Mesia did the first day I winked at her!

And as I mentioned in last weeks blog, Alex is in her element when it comes to water as well. Look at this happy smile, we haven't seen a smile like this since....well...the last time we were at the pool. 

On another day with Nana, the girls went to the beach and played in the sand. Sam packed along her sunglasses so that she could fit in with the older girls. 

And yet, on another day, Nana bought Sam an early couple of birthday presents since she won't be here on Sam's 1st birthday. For all of you who have potentially forgot, and I won't name names (Scott Gaston for sure and probably McKenzie Jones) Sam's birthday is on the 23rd. Sam opened up a couple boxes of...every girl's favorite--brand new shoes!!!!

 

And naturally, with Nana being as gracious as she is, Alex received a little love as well. 

                                          

And what about me you ask? Well, I crossed over the line of masculinity and into the realm of girlhood after Nana left. One day, I decided to style Sam's hair so that she "looks like a girl" as Mesia says. To do this, Mesia pulls the hair on top of her head and rubber bands it to make a little "pony tail" on the top of her head. Personally, I don't see how this makes her more girly, the samurai in ancient Japan did the same thing--the men made a top knot on the top of their head. The top knot on a samurai was his identity in being samurai. But whatever, if Mesia thinks it looks girly and cute, that's her delusion. We all know it just gives little Sam the identity of being a hardcore little samurai baby swan. Anyway, back to the story...so I've never done this sort of thing before, BUT I have watched Mesia do it and in my world, I don't need any sort of instruction manual, once I see it done once, I'll get it done...eventually. 

I got the little black comb out and began by combing out the tangles and priming the hair for its soon to be masterpiece. 

Then, I took the edge of the comb and separated the hair line for exactly where the top knot should be in relation to her bone structure and facial features, thus creating a truly aesthetic look.

Once the lines were made, I then gathered the hair in one hand and held the miniature rubber band (which matched her outfit by the way) in the other hand.

And then I paused. Visualizing how exactly to perform this minor surgery with such small instruments.

Sam was holding still because I planned ahead and gave her cheerios to eat--they acted like a general anesthetic.

I knew I had to get the hair gathered together toward her scalp and the only reasonable way to do that was to twist the hair. But I also knew that holding a comb and tiny rubber band in one hand and her fine hair in the other wasn't going to make it easy. Simply twisting the hair would be dang near impossible--for a novice like me.

So, in holding her hair at the twist point, I started walking around the high chair in circles. Sam sat and looked in curiosity. 

After three distinct and perfect circles, the hair was now twisted into a small rope. I felt a bead of sweat form on my temple as I went to put the pea sized rubber band over it.  

Eureka! I got it on. Now I needed to double up the rubber band 4 or 5 times to tighten it down. So I stretched it again and went to double up the rubber band when...it snapped and broke!

Yes, true story, every part of it. I repeated this process with another rubber band 4 times. 12 circles in all around the high chair. When I finally got the rubber band on and doubled up nice and tight, I was so proud, I took a picture! Here marks my entrance into "girly."        

Uh huh, who's the man? Have you ever seen a cuter top knot?

Soon Grandma Kini (Cindy) will be here to visit! We are looking forward to it! 

Thanks Nana for the fun time!

Until next week, hope everyone is well!

Oh by the way, I have added a fun little survey to our blog. Below you can click your reaction to what you read. Did our blog make you laugh? Cry? or just kinda...nothing? Be sure to click! And comments are always fun to read too.

Love you all.