Doherty's

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

from the Doherty's

Ryan, Morgan, Samuel and Corrie

Way to go Corrie!

2011-12-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

You are now sitting all by yourself. And it only took you 8 1/2 months!!

We love you and your laid back personality.

Tacky Christmas

2011-12-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Aren't you glad you know us?

How's your week?

2011-12-21T21:17:00.002-05:00

Wow. We have had a crazy few days in the Doherty household!

It all started Saturday with cough and colds for the kids. No big deal, just another cold for the 150th time this season.

Come Monday, Corrie is getting worse and starting to wheeze. As a professional lung listener, I do not like to hear wheezing, especially in my 8 month old baby girl. So to the doctor we went, only to be told to keep watch.

Come Tuesday, Corrie is having episodes of shortness of breath. I called several people and put Corrie up to the phone so that she could breathe into it and everyone told me to get her to the doctor ASAP. I like to think of myself as a calm and collected person, but I was panicky. I drove up to the doctor without an appointment and demanded they see Corrie (I was that mom). They whisked us back and checked Corrie's oxygen levels, which were great, and told us to wait for the doctor. I was beginning to get mad at Corrie because she was not doing the shortness of breath thing and of course she was smiling at everyone. Making me out to be a liar! Doctor came in and sent us home with inhalers and an antibiotic for a double ear infection (although you would never know it because the girl smiles all the stinkin time).

Come Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, Samuel cries on and off the whole night. He wakes up complaining of his ear hurting. To the doctors we head for the third day in a row. He also has a ear infection and what do you know... antibiotic.

Come Wednesday night, Ryan tells me he feels "funny". His hands are itching and they begin to swell. Then his feet begin to itch and swell. Next thing I know Ryan's neck, lips and tongue are swollen. I am running frantically through the house searching for Benadryl and thinking to myself... I am a nurse, why don't I have any medication! I run next door, get some meds and by the time I get back Ryan feels like his throat is closing. Awesome. I call some friends and they pick him up and take him to Urgent Care to get a Benadryl shot for who knows what allergic reaction.

I sit in here in peace as 2 kids and 1 big kid are sleeping upstairs.

After everything that has happened, one song kept coming to my head. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. I am so thankful for that Rock, knowing that is where my hope and peace lie. These last few days when I have wanted to fall apart, I can cling to the cross and be given more grace than I ever could imagine. So many times I felt as if I wasn't in control, and you know what, I was okay with that. I knew that the God who overcame death on a cross was in control of my family, and I could trust that. I could trust Him.

Photo sessions with a 3 year old BOY

2011-12-12T21:33:00.005-05:00

Samuel, smile please.....

No.... smile.

That's not smiling. Give me your best smile.

Really?? That's not a smile. Please smile so we can have a nice picture of you and Corrie.

Okay. You're done. Can you just get out of the picture please.

(I may or may not have said please)

Go Blue!

2011-12-12T21:19:00.002-05:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we headed to Ryan's parents house for the annual Michigan/ Ohio State game. Ryan and I have been married for 7 years and dated for 2 and I have only seen Michigan beat Ohio State one time (ouch). We were ready for a change....

Samuel waking up from a nap finding himself in "the BIG house"

Corrie proudly supporting her daddy's favorite team.

We are so proud of our kids in all they do... but I am pretty sure Ryan boasts a little more than usual that our son knows all the words to Hail to the Victors.

Halloween rewind

2011-11-29T21:08:00.001-05:00

Yes, Samuel is milking his dad.

Yes, this is Samuel's "I got to pee" move.

Yes, this is the cutest duck I have ever seen.

Mountain retreat

2011-11-29T20:20:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago Ryan and I took Corrie to the mountains for a few days. My favorite season is fall and for the past few years I have wanted to take a trip up to the mountains. But with young kids a four hour drive in the car is not appealing to me.

This year we decided to do it. Thanks to some great friends who have a beautiful house in Bat Cave and were so generous to let us stay there and thanks to my parents for keeping Samuel for a few days. Ryan and I really enjoyed being able to spend one on one time with Corrie and be able to reconnect with each other without a 3 year old interrupting every 2 seconds.

The cottage was adorable and the view was incredible! We loved sitting outside on the porch, playing scrabble, reading books, taking naps, drinking coffee, snuggling with Corrie and my favorite, apple picking! I guess I will just have to get over the long drive (you might be thinking 4 hours is not that far, but with 2 young kids, 20 minutes is far) and make this a yearly tradition.

Step 3

2011-11-27T19:51:00.002-05:00

Decorate for the party

Simple menu- sandwiches, chips, veggies and fruit kabobs.

Ice Age dinosaur. I took one of Samuel's toys and froze it in a 9x13 pan, then popped it out right before the party. Great way to help keep the drinks cold. Samuel was only slightly concerned about the state of his dinosaur.

The dig site was ALL Ryan, his own little birthday project. I think he nailed it.

I had a lot of fun making this pennant banner. All you need is twine, scrapbook paper and double sided tape.

Have I mentioned that I love birthday parties???

Step 2

2011-11-15T20:00:00.001-05:00

Plan party

I knew I wanted to do a dinosaur theme this year since Samuel has a slight addiction. One project was to create dinosaur bones using sand molds and Plaster of Paris.

Another project was to make dinosaur eggs with a dinosaur in the middle. Samuel and I had fun one morning making these eggs out of sand, dirt, flour and salt. A little thanks to all his friends for helping him celebrate his big day!

Organize and plan the scavenger hunt. Ryan tackled this project and for that I am grateful. My rhyming skills end with roses are red....

I should have prefaced the birthday posts by explaining my love for birthdays. I tend to go overboard but I just can't help it.... birthday love is in me and it's in there deep!

Step 1

2011-11-14T20:00:00.001-05:00

Invitations

I picked up these dinosaur cutouts for a whopping .99 cents! I painted them, made a leaf cutout for the wording and popped a magnet on the back.

So easy. So simple. So cheap!

Happy Birthday Samuel!

2011-11-13T19:33:00.002-05:00

This will be the first of many birthday posts. Be prepared.......

First birthday craft... making this balloon wreath.

Oh how I love Pinterest.

Welcome Fall

2011-10-06T18:15:00.000-04:00

Need I say more?

5 months

2011-09-09T14:55:00.004-04:00

Corrie, you are such a joy. We can't believe that you are 5 months old already. Your daddy and I always say we feel like we are missing you grow up right before our eyes. It probably has something to do with the loud but adorable boy that is always around.

You are the sweetest baby. You are so content wherever we place you or whatever you are doing. You love to lay on your back and kick your feet. This is when I can get the best smiles out of you. You have the BEST smile. You smile with you entire face... your nose scrunches up and your eyes crinkle. I love it.

You are such a great sleeper. You go to bed without making a peep, sometimes you fight it when your daddy puts you to sleep. You can be picky. You fight the dinner time nap but are so content to sit in our laps while we eat or play. You constantly surprise us when you have been up for 3 or 4 straight hours and go to bed without a fuss. You have been sleeping from 7p-7a for about a month now. Except the last week you have been waking up at 8:30 pm screaming. We are not too sure what is wrong with you... please stop. =)

You have just started rolling over from your stomach to your back. We never thought you would roll over because if we gave you tummy time and you became bored, you would just place your forehead on the ground. Pitiful.

You are loved by so many people and we can't imagine our lives without you!

Preschool

2011-09-09T14:48:00.003-04:00

Samuel started preschool this week. He is getting too big!

Topsail Beach

2011-08-27T15:44:00.004-04:00

We just got back from a great week at the beach with my parents. It was a fun but exhausting trip with a young baby and a 2 year old boy who has more energy than 4 adults.

Enjoying some family time on the beach. Don't worry, Corrie was in the sun for approximately 35 seconds.

How sweet is a daddy with his daughter

Taking pictures with a 2 year old is a blast....

I love this little girl.

He's pretty cute too...

I think this is her 3rd dress she has ever worn. The girl doesn't know she has feet because of all the sleepers she wears.

If you can't get a good family pic.... take a wacky one. Corrie is so embarrassed of her family she hangs her head in shame.

Melt. My. Heart

Thanks Mimi and Pop-pop for a great week! Here's to hoping a hurricane doesn't send us packing early next year....

Best Friends

2011-07-15T20:19:00.000-04:00

How sweet are Corrie and Eliza?

2011-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Samuel is such a good big brother. Ryan and I always knew he would love having a brother or sister but he amazes us everyday by his love for Corrie. He has such a tender heart towards her and is always hugging and giving her loads of kisses. He is all boy, our little human tornado, but is so gentle with her. When Corrie gets upset, he shows genuine concern for her and wants us to fix the problem as quick as we can. He will share anything with her (even his blue blanket)... which is huge during the 2 year old stage.

My prayer is that Samuel would continue to love Corrie and protect her as only a big brother can!

Man of many talents

2011-07-12T19:51:00.000-04:00

Artist

Conductor

Car seat tester

Construction worker

Grocery shopper

Photo op

2011-07-11T20:26:00.000-04:00

I realized that Corrie has had approximately 8 pictures taken of her since birth, poor thing.

I don't know why I don't take more pictures of her... the girl is photogenic!

I like em'

2011-07-10T20:14:00.000-04:00

Whenever I get frustrated, upset or impatient with my children. I will look at this picture and think... yep, I like em'.

My first dress

2011-07-08T20:00:00.001-04:00

Things I love...

2011-07-07T18:00:00.000-04:00

... Beautiful weather. Fun Friends. Blowing Bubbles. That sweet smile.

Happy 4th

2011-07-05T20:17:00.000-04:00

Update on Corrie

2011-07-05T20:02:00.004-04:00

Hard to believe Corrie has been in our family for 12 weeks. I can not say enough about this girl. She amazes us everyday with her sweet personality and her beautiful smile. She is so laid back and relaxed... I mean it, the girl never cries. And I am ok with that. She is a wonderful eater and a wonderful sleeper. What a joy she is. If this is how all little girls are.... bring on more girls!

NC Zoo

2011-07-02T21:41:00.005-04:00

On the way home from our trip we stopped by the zoo.

Samuel thought the bison were "stinky". I agreed.

Samuel and I practiced our best flamingo stance. I think we rocked it.

We all slept really well that night =)

Mini vaca

2011-07-02T21:32:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago we took a few days and went to the lake. We had so much fun. We were able to relax, go to the pool, play on the docks, and make s'mores. Ryan and I were able to both read for fun while the kiddos slept.

Corrie stayed covered from the sun and looked super cute doing it.

Samuel is a fish. This kid LOVES water.

This is really what Corrie did all week-end. What a bum.

When did he get so big?

2011-07-02T21:24:00.001-04:00

2011-05-26T21:27:00.001-04:00

Corrie, 6 weeks

We are having so much fun being a family of four!

Corrie Rae

2011-04-12T19:55:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the family Corrie!

born- April 7th

weight- 7lbs 8oz.

height- 19 3/4 inches

First group shot after Corrie was born. Labor was much more intense this time around but I loved my epidural and my nurse, thanks Katie Baker. You were truly amazing.

We loved having you be a part of our big day!

I was a little shocked when they told me it was a girl. Anyone who knows me would tell you I always pictured myself as a mom to ALL boys. I didn't think I could love a little girl as much as I do this one, she is melting our hearts!

First family picture. Samuel has been AMAZING with her and constantly wants to kiss her cheek. He walks around the house saying, "where is my sister"?

We are adjusting to life as a family of 4.

I am so thankful for 2 beautiful children and a husband that is off of work for a week!!! =)

Ode to Jackson

2011-02-19T07:45:00.003-05:00

This is Jackson. He is Samuel's best buddy.

Granted, their friendship was forced... but they now really love each other!

I have loved seeing the boys grow and learn together. I can't wait to see how their friendship continues.... We love you Jackson!

He said what?

2011-01-24T19:59:00.002-05:00

[Setting] All of us around the dinner table with chicken parmesan pizza on our plates.

Samuel takes his first bite and says...."Mmmmmm good. Pound that!"

Really??? My two year old is complimenting my culinary skills with a fist pound.....

Here is the link to the recipe if you would like to make some "poundable" pizza!

Chicken Parmesan Pizza

2011 goals

2011-01-19T14:42:00.002-05:00

I try NOT to make resolutions for myself and my family but instead try and set some goals for the upcoming year. Last year, my dear friend Ivey and I created goals that would help us to grow spiritually. It was great being able to share the goals with a friend who could encourage me and hold me accountable. This year, I have set some broad and some specific goals for myself and our family. I am not going crazy with the goals because I know in April when baby number 2 comes.... it will be an accomplishment to take a shower! Over the next few weeks I wanted to share some of my goals with you (in no particular order).

Spend intentional time with husband.

Once a week (we have designated the night and time) we spend at least one hour of time together. This one hour has to be spent intentionally growing closer together. We are going to take turns planning out the date night. This month is my turn... so last week we ate fondue and talked without being interrupted by a sweet 2 year old.

Last night we drank Chick-fil-a milkshakes out of wine glasses and went over our 2011 budget. How lame is it that we planned out our budget on a date night? But we really had to work at being patient with each other as we realized we think completely different when it comes to planning out and managing the money.

Once a month we will get a babysitter and go out. We think it will work better to just put Samuel to bed and have someone come over after bedtime and grab dessert or coffee out. I am excited to plan our first outing next week... anyone want to babysit =)

All this to say, we are not perfect. Our marriage is flawed because we are 2 sinners.... but we love God and each other and want to continue to deepen our relationship. This is one way we are going to try to spend intentional time together. However it works for you... seek out your husband this week and get to know him better!

2011-01-11T20:44:00.002-05:00

What can I say about this kid?

Samuel,

- you are 100% boy. If you can jump off something, you will climb it. It if can be thrown, you will chuck it. If it is gross, you will eat it. You love to hit, squeeze, run, jump, dance, spin, spit, kick and flip. And I love you for it.

- you are also 100% sensitive. We joke that you are a "gentle giant". Your feelings get hurt very easily and you are affected more by verbal correction than anything else.

- you love to give hugs and kisses. For being all boy, you sure are sweet. You will give kisses to anyone and most of the time it is without being prompted.

- you love to eat. You never shy away from a meal. You are a great eater and have always impressed us by your willingness to try new things. But I know the way to your heart, chocolate milk and cinnamon rolls!

- you are so smart. I know every parent says this and rightly so.... they should be proud of their children. You amaze us with the things you say. It is so true that kids are sponges because even when I am not sure you are listening, you are soaking everything in. You are really good with names and putting people together. Even if you have only met someone once, you can remember their name.

- you love to play with animal figures and little people. All day long you pretend with your figures and have conversations with them. I love that you are so creative and already have a great imagination.

- you are still obsessed with Sesame Street. This was your first love and still is. We have tried other things for you to watch but you always say, "different video". You even have little sesame street action figures that go everywhere with you.

- you are a mommy's boy to the core. I can not leave the room without you following me. You still have your nights when only mommy will do to tuck you in. Secretly, I love this about you because I know one day mommy will not be as cool as daddy.

- you already have an interest in Jesus. You love to read your bible and will go around saying things like, "Sneaky snake trick Eve" and "No more praying Daniel"! We are already praying for you and your heart, that you would know Him and follow Him hard.

Samuel, you amaze us everyday. You are a true joy and we can't imagine our lives any other way!

Where have I been?

2011-01-11T20:15:00.003-05:00

I know that I have officially taken the lead as WORST blogger.... but what can I say, we are a busy (and tired) bunch! Here is a quick, and I mean quick, recap of the last couple months.

We found out we are pregnant with baby number 2, due April 10th. Hence the reason I am so tired. We are being surprised again and waiting to find out the sex. More Ryan's idea than mine, but I went with it.

Such a good wife =)

Samuel turned 2! Can't believe how big he is getting. We had a construction themed party and he LOVED it.

It has snowed here a bazillion times. This is Samuel wanting to come in after 10 minutes of being outside and 20 minutes of getting him dressed to go outside.....

Samuel enjoyed meeting Santa at the Museum of Life and Science. I think he enjoyed the candy cane more than seeing Santa.

Christmas came and went in a blur. Samuel's big gift from us this year was a big boy bed. And yes, Ryan made that! My hubby is amazing =)

One of my goals of 2011 is to blog better. Not just with pictures but to show a glimpse into our life in ministry with one child and one on the way.

Picking Out Our Pumkins w/ Mimi & PopPop

2010-11-01T06:19:00.002-04:00

still HERE!

2010-10-11T06:40:00.002-04:00

Life with a toddler...

I love Craigslist

2010-06-12T21:40:00.003-04:00

I found this great cabinet for a steal off Craiglist! We have been looking for something bigger to put all our dishes in and couldn't believe it when we found this beauty.

Ryan and I worked hard on it one night ( we.... really means Ryan. But I did sit outside with him and read a book =)

The finished product. (Except for 2 missing white knobs that we finally found)

I am so pleased with it.
And of course I love my new sign, "Life is short, eat cookies." For anyone who really knows me... it is a rule I live by.

Trip to the Zoo

2010-06-12T21:24:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we took a trip to the Asheboro zoo with Tootsie and Bampaw.

Walking into the zoo where he spotted an ant. I think it might have been his favorite exhibit.

Checking out the elephants with Tootsie

We had a blast! Samuel did great and loved seeing all the animals. He was so worn out from all the excitement he fell asleep a minute after getting into the car. Poor buddy....

Badin Lake

2010-06-12T20:31:00.003-04:00

We packed up the car after church on Sunday and headed to Badin lake. We LOVED getting away for 3 days. We rested, cooked fun meals, played at the pool, took lots of golf- cart rides and read lots of books. I was so proud of Ryan that he relaxed and read a book that did not involve theology!

Our "mini" vacation has gotten us excited for a week away at the end of August!

Mother's Day Week-end

2010-06-12T20:09:00.003-04:00

First... let me just say that I know I am a terrible blogger.

Second... I know I am also going a month back, but I can't pass up a cute picture.

Mother's Day week-end Samuel and I traveled up to Richmond since Ryan was in San Diego with the Summit pastors. Here is our trip in pictures...

Samuel fishing with his Pop-pop

Mowing the lawn.... tough work.

Talking to the chickens and rooster

And catching his first egg!

ALL BOY!

2010-05-27T08:08:00.003-04:00

So thankful Samuel is our son...we LOVE him!

WHERE IS SAMUEL?

A-dorable

2010-04-19T21:08:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Shannon... I now have some GREAT pictures of Samuel.

You can check her out here.

I know every mom says this.... but man, I have the cutest kid in the world!

While Ryan's away...

2010-04-09T10:10:00.002-04:00

I usually don’t write too much on the blog… but I thought I might try it out for once.

Ryan left early Monday morning for Taipei and Samuel and I have been trying to survive without him. It is amazing how much one depends on their spouse, especially if said spouse is dependable. This week has been great at times and also, not so great. I started to notice on Monday that Samuel was not acting like himself. And then I got to thinking… maybe this is his personality and we are hitting the terrible two’s terribly early. Wednesday morning he woke up pretty sick and I felt justified! Yes, I was sad my sweet little boy was sick, but also ecstatic that he was not himself because he was coming down with something. Only a mom would understand that logic. I took him to the doctor where we were given an antibiotic. We rushed right over to the drugstore to get it filled. Samuel was happy to play with a ball in the aisle while we waited, when I looked over and he proceeded to throw up in that very same aisle and all over that very same ball. I just looked at him not knowing what to do. First off, I am a nurse. I majored in bodily excretions. But I have never seen Samuel throw up and of course he did it in the middle of Rite-Aid. I whisked him right up and into the car where I proceeded to clean him and take him back into the store…we still had to get the medicine. I seriously debated on whether or not to inform the employees of the “accident” in the aisle. I would have been more than happy to clean the mess up… but with what? Diaper wipes? Don’t worry, I did inform them of the mess and they cheerfully cleaned it right up. As I was walking out of the store, with my medicine and a kid who smelled pretty bad, I thought… man I wish Ryan was here. Of course Samuel would get sick, being extra needy, extra clingy, and extra cranky with my husband thousands of miles away. But all of this to say even though this week has been tough, I have been thankful for so much.

I am thankful for Samuel. Even though he feels awful and needs a lot more attention, he is still the sweetest thing. He teaches me everyday how to love, how to be patient, how to show compassion, mercy and grace. I am becoming a person who exemplifies Christ more and more because of him.

I am thankful for my parents. Both my Dad and Mom have taken time off of work to come and stay with me, separately even. They sacrifice so much for my family that I am forever grateful.

I am thankful for my in-laws who kept Elliot for me for a few days so that I would not go crazy in the head. I am thankful that they call and continue to check on me. I know that if I needed them they would be here in a minute.

I am thankful for my friends. I have the MOST amazing friends in the world who make sure I am well taken care of. I am thankful for the phone calls, dinner and the time each invest in my life. They each sharpen me and encourage me to become a better wife, mother and friend.

I am thankful for my salvation. What do people depend on if not Jesus? I am thankful that God has given me supernatural strength this week so I can play the role of mom and dad. I am thankful for the mornings when God has filled me with His Word and allowed me to start my day off right.

And last, I am thankful for my husband. I was showing Samuel some of the team video taken in a Taipei temple. I started to get weepy explaining to Samuel that is where daddy is and explaining to him why he is there. I told Samuel how proud we should be of daddy that he is giving his time and talent to proclaim the name of Jesus in another country. A name that many people have never heard of. So Ryan, we are proud of you and proud of your love for Our Savior.

But come home soon please….

2010-04-01T21:23:00.002-04:00

We watered the plants today but Samuel wanted to water himself instead. These pictures are precious and I love that they capture Samuel's amazing smile and sweet personality!

Musuem

2010-04-01T20:58:00.004-04:00

We visited the NC Museum of Life and Science today with Ivey and Jackson. The boys had a blast! They were able to see a donkey, goats, sheep, a duck, pigs and a cow. Whew!

The boys checking out the pigs.

We also walked the dinosaur trail where Ryan tried to feed Samuel to a T-Rex and Samuel was able to dig for dinosaur fossils.

We were also able to see the bears, wolves and some lemurs.

We had a great day!

Fun idea

2010-04-01T20:50:00.002-04:00

Again, I am trying to come up with new things to do with a one year old so I am not staring at him while he stacks some blocks. With the nice weather, we are taking outdoors by storm. I took a bunch of Ryan's paintbrushes, paint rollers, a pan of water and we "painted" the driveway. Samuel loved it. He mostly just dumped water on himself, but he still had fun. It kept him entertained for 30 minutes, which is a lot for a one year old!

NC State Farm

2010-04-01T20:16:00.003-04:00

Samuel and I visited a farm near NC State with some friends. They open this up every year to anyone and it is FREE and they give away FREE ice cream... why would we not go??

My little buddy checking out the tractors

He would rather play in dirt than look at the horses... me too.

He LOVED the goats and the sheep. He kept racing back to climb on the hay to check them out.

If the turkeys came to close, Samuel would say, no..no... NO!

We even were able to hold a chick, too cute!

Self portraits

2010-03-15T14:55:00.002-04:00

The other day Samuel wanted to put on every winter hat he owns and I thought... what a great photo op. I tried to get a picture of the two of us to send to Ryan.....

Take 1- not even in the pic. But check out those baby blues.

Take 2- better... better...

Take 3- perfect. This picture shows Samuel's sweet personality and of course the fact he loves his Mama!

Painting

2010-03-15T14:48:00.002-04:00

Samuel loves to "finger" paint, but I do not love the mess. The other day, I stuck Samuel in the bathtub and let him go at it. This way.... the mess was contained and the paint comes up easily with a little soap and water.

This is his "cheese" face.

We will be doing this again!

2010-03-05T20:47:00.002-05:00

We can't wait for warm weather to make this a daily occurrence!

15 months

2010-03-05T20:32:00.003-05:00

Samuel had his 15 month check-up this week (a little late though). It was a rough visit. From the moment we walked into the room he broke into tears and didn't stop until we left. He did give some good smiles to the doctor but once the exam started the tears started coming again.... poor kid!

He is so much fun these days. It seems he is learning a new word everyday. He loves his Mama right now and I am loving it! I know it will be short lived but I kinda love that he cries when I leave the room =)

His stats:

Weight- 25 lbs (55%)

Height- 32 1/4 inches (90%)

Deer??

2010-03-05T20:24:00.002-05:00

Samuel's favorite word right now is deer. Every time Elliot barks, Samuel cries out... deer, deer, deer? One morning he would not stop saying deer so we placed him in front of the door to keep watch while he ate his breakfast. Too cute.

Snowed in

2010-02-05T21:47:00.004-05:00

Ryan and I "camped" out downstairs Friday night and watched movies. You know your getting older when you both toss and turn all night because you are not in your own bed.

But Samuel enjoyed lounging around that morning. I take all the cuddling I can get...

We spent 20 minutes getting him dressed to go outside and lasted about 15 minutes. Oh well, it was still fun.

Sound Asleep

2010-02-05T21:27:00.002-05:00

The other week I walked into Samuel's room to get him up and this was how I found him. Out. I can't imagine being that tired!

Whipplewill Park

2010-02-05T21:19:00.003-05:00

We love taking Samuel to the park. And there is a great one right down the street! I can't wait until the weather warms up so we can do more outside.

Samuel enjoys swinging.... not too sure what he is doing??

And he is done. Swinging does not last long.

Behind the wheel

2010-02-05T21:15:00.001-05:00

This car was a Christmas present from us. He loves getting in and out of it. That's it. But he has a blast doing it!

2010-01-24T20:47:00.002-05:00

What a sweet buddy. He is so much fun and is learning and growing everyday.

New kicks

2010-01-24T20:35:00.003-05:00

Samuel received money from his great- grandparents for Christmas. We decided to take the money and buy Samuel his first pair of shoes.

Ryan has always wanted to buy Samuel a pair of Nike Shox. I found these at a great price online.... how cute!

After shoe shopping we celebrated with ice cream!

Haircut

2010-01-24T20:29:00.003-05:00

Getting ready for the BIG cut

Content to eat the hair clip

He did AMAZING. Even the hairdresser was shocked by how well he did. He actually giggled the whole time she cut his hair.

The finished product. Looks like such a big boy!

Christmas

2010-01-24T20:23:00.002-05:00

More pics to follow.

(we are in between 2 computers and are trying to get our pictures organized)

Christmas Eve

2010-01-24T20:12:00.003-05:00

How fun to have a 13 month old at Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we had a fun family lunch and were able to pack out Cole Mill that night for our Christmas eve service. When we came home, Samuel was able to open one present, which will be a pair of pajama's each year.

How precious is he in his new pajamas?

Way behind

2010-01-24T20:06:00.003-05:00

Forgive my lack of blogging. It seems whenever I have the "extra" time to sit down at the computer, I cringe because I would rather be watching a movie or reading a book. But at last, here I am, ready to blog. And I apologize that we are a month behind and I will just now be blogging about Christmas.

But there are some pictures that are just too cute.....

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T19:41:00.007-05:00

Love,

Ryan, Morgan and Samuel

Pre- haircut

2009-12-22T09:44:00.002-05:00

Ryan has been bugging my to get Samuel's haircut. I finally gave in one morning when his hair was uncontrollable! Here are a few pre shots.

Typical day

2009-12-22T09:35:00.003-05:00

I love that Samuel can entertain himself by screaming and walking around looking a little "drunk." Crazy kid....

O' Christmas Tree

2009-12-08T14:56:00.004-05:00

We finally were able to find time to go and get our tree, decorate it while listening to Christmas music, bake cookies, put Samuel to bed and then watch Miracle on 34th street. I love this time of year!

Christmas Prep

2009-12-08T14:41:00.003-05:00

Samuel, Ryan and I started decorating Samuel's very own tree. We hope to keep the tradition going every year and letting Samuel decorate his own tree and placing it in his room.

This year, we are keeping it in the hallway....

Thanksgiving

2009-12-08T14:23:00.004-05:00

The 3 Doherty's traveled up to Richmond for the Holiday's.

Check out his plate!

His great Poppie

His great Nannie

Samuel did great and of course, LOVED eating!

1 year stats

2009-12-07T10:12:00.004-05:00

We had a great check-up. 4 shots, 1 finger stick and a healthy babe!

Weight- 23 lbs 12 oz. (70%)
Height- 31 1/2 inches (92%)

I am loving this age. He is doing something new everyday and he is such a joy to be around.

I love that he loves people. He is soooo social and thrives when he is around people. At first it hurt my feelings that he could care less if I was around....but I love that he will go to anyone and smiles while doing it!

I love that he is walking everywhere. He entertains himself a lot now by walking in circles. Although, he always seems to have a new bump or bruise everyday.

I love that he is ALL boy. You could toss him into a wall and he would laugh. He is very active and moves constantly. Ryan and I will find ourselves reading books to him and he is walking circles around us. I am guessing this is why he still hates the car seat and his stroller.....

I love that he loves his daddy. Samuel lights up when Ryan is around and they have a blast on Daddy Day.

I love that he loves food. I can't think of one thing that he will not eat. But I do know the way to his heart..... bread.

I love that he is such a good sleeper. The kid loves his nap and his sleep. Probably the one thing he picked up from his mommy!

I love his energy. I love when other people watch him, they tell me how tired they are! Gives me a little sense of pride in my hard work....

We love this boy.

Birthday Partay!

2009-12-07T09:50:00.005-05:00

Samuel had his Birthday party on Saturday. What a blast! Samuel napped great that afternoon and was ready to party that night. We had BBQ and everything that goes with it and invited our families and a few friends for the event.

What would a party be without Samuel's best friend, Jackson?

A pretty good attempted family shot. Samuel loved Lydia and thought she was one of his presents.

His loot. He received some great gifts! Books, clothes, a new wagon and a tent to play in!

Of course, the best part was watching Samuel eat his JUMBO cupcake. And he ate the entire thing! One hand held the cupcake and one hand held the icing.

He went at it going back and forth between hands.

Thanks everyone for making his party a great one!

Birthday

2009-12-07T09:28:00.003-05:00

Wow. This is a LATE post. We have had some computer problems and then of course Thanksgiving....so there has not been a lot of blogging here.

On Friday the 13th, Samuel turned one!

We woke him up by singing to him and bringing him "breakfast" in bed. We hope to continue that tradition every year (and maybe with actual food in bed!)

He opened his very first present which was an animal farm, which he loved!

Mimi and Pop-pop came that afternoon and we were able to open more presents, sing to him over and over and let him play in his new rocking horse. We love it because, when you flip it over it becomes a desk and when it stands up it becomes a highchair....awesome!

(oh yes, that is drool on Samuel's shirt)

Happy (late) Birthday!

Birthday Boy

2009-11-24T14:49:00.004-05:00

That's right. Samuel is one!

What a joy. We love you buddy!

Couponing

2009-11-08T09:09:00.002-05:00

I was so excited to share this picture. I have been trying to coupon to save some money and I couldn't believe how much I saved during triple coupon week at Harris Teeter.
All of this for $5.44!!!! Can you believe it??

Playtime Fun

2009-11-08T08:58:00.002-05:00

I am trying to be creative with Samuel's playtime. I find myself doing the same things over and over.... Samuel doesn't seem to mind, but I am getting bored! Here, Samuel is playing with lots of different bowls, a strainer, some ladles and measuring cups. I poured water in the different bowls, and let him have at it! He stayed right there for 40 minutes, which is pretty successful for an (almost) one year old!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T22:15:00.003-04:00

Have you ever seen a skeleton this well fed?

2009-10-31T21:52:00.002-04:00

Ryan and I had tons of fun last week carving Samuel's first pumpkin.

He really got into it by helping Ryan with his own spoon!

And trying to eat it... check out the video.

2009-10-28T14:51:00.001-04:00

Doesn't he look guilty?

I walk away for 2 seconds and I come back to find him in his toy crate. He sat in there for about 10 minutes and had a blast. Why do we buy him toys when he just wants the crate?

Beep Beep

2009-10-27T20:15:00.003-04:00

Samuel loves when Ryan takes him to the store for his weekly ride!

2009-10-22T10:16:00.001-04:00

What happens when your child has lots of diarrhea and their booty looks like it has been dragged through gravel???

LOTS and LOTS of nudity!

2009-10-11T19:59:00.002-04:00

Samuel has started to take some steps on his own this week-end. As you can tell from my voice.... I am really excited!

Samuel vs. Jackson

2009-10-11T19:46:00.002-04:00

We have found out that Samuel likes to use his size to "bully" those around him, especially his best friend Jackson!

Pumpkin Time

2009-10-03T19:06:00.004-04:00

Today we headed out to Ganyard Hill Farm for some October Fun!

What a better way to celebrate October then with a hayride,

a hay "maze",

tons of pumpkins,

time with daddy,

time with mommy,

and of course... picking your very own pumpkin to take home!

Sweet boy

2009-10-03T14:40:00.002-04:00

I just love being able to wake Samuel up from his naps. It is not very often when I get to go into his room and catch him still sleeping.... so of course I had to snap a picture!

Then... I get the pleasure of hanging out with a kid who is in a great mood!

We're in trouble

2009-09-19T07:53:00.003-04:00

Everyday Samuel gets closer and closer to walking on his own.

Living local on Labor Day

2009-09-07T19:24:00.003-04:00

We were able to spend a great day together as a family. We took Samuel up to Northgate mall and took a spin on the carousal. Samuel was not too sure about it at first but ended up enjoying himself.

The boys also rode the train... good thing there wasn't a weight limit!

We ended the evening by dressing in our favorite sports team attire and getting FREE Chick-fil-A!

Beach Trip

2009-09-02T20:20:00.007-04:00

Last week was Samuel's first trip to the beach. We had a blast! We were able to enjoy the beach and pool everyday and Samuel LOVED it! He had so much fun kicking his legs around in the pool and crawling around in the sand. Can't wait to go back next year when he won't be as interested in eating the sand!

Thanks Mimi and Pop-pop for a great vacation!

2009-08-20T21:21:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to my Pop-pop!

Then and Now

2009-08-20T21:14:00.003-04:00

1 day old- 7 lbs 13oz 21 1/2 inches long

9 months old- 21lbs 1oz (75th%) 29 inches (75th%)

Wow. What a big boy we have.

Happy Birthday

2009-08-16T17:17:00.005-04:00

Saturday we traveled to Raleigh to eat at Ryan's favorite place, Fat Daddy's! He was very excited to share the experience with Samuel.

Today I took on the challenge to make Ryan a hamburger birthday cake. I think it turned out pretty neat!

Never has a burger looked soooo good!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband and wonderful dad!

Lydia is here!

2009-08-15T21:58:00.006-04:00

Lydia Grace was born at 3:02 am on August 15th, weighing a whopping 5lbs 7oz.

She is beautiful!

Check out her gorgeous head of hair. We think she already has blond highlights!

Sylvie has been in the hospital since Monday on bed rest. Lydia came 4 weeks early and both mom and baby are doing great!

Sylvie is such a trooper....our hero!

Ryan was really hoping Lydia would hold out one more day so he could share his birthday. Close enough.

Samuel did not get to meet his new cousin. He played downstairs in the lobby. But I just had to snap a picture of him on the way home. He was pooped from all the excitement!

9 months

2009-08-12T14:22:00.005-04:00

Samuel is turning 9 months tomorrow! Here are some things he is doing:

- Yes, our son is that kid who goes to bed at 6:30pm and wakes up at 7am. We LOVE it! Although it doesn't do a whole lot for our social calender.

- Still takes a morning and afternoon nap. Usually 1 1/2- 2 hours.

- Has 3 teeth. 1 bottom and 2 top. Sometimes I believe the teething stage is worse than the newborn stage..... sometimes.....

- Eats a lot! The kid can put food away. So far, there is not one thing he will not eat.

- Crawling everywhere. You can not contain him!

- LOVES Elliot. He will just sit and laugh at Elliot.... too cute!

- Waves bye-bye. (Only when he wants to... just like his mommy!)

- Can say Mama and Dada. Not too sure if he is making any connections. But loves to talk!

- Is a climber. Climbs everything! Most of the time he is standing in the crib waiting for us to come get him.

- Does not like cuddling =(

-Is such a happy baby. Smiles all the time and loves flirting with the ladies.

- Hates his car seat. Cries (or screams) when he has to be in it longer than 10 mins. We hope this is a phase.....

- Is a drooler. For anyone who has been around Samuel knows this guy should be dehydrated! We change him A LOT throughout the day.

- Is a joy. Ryan and I can't wait to see how God uses him.

True fat kid

2009-08-12T14:17:00.001-04:00

5 years!

2009-08-09T10:19:00.003-04:00

Ryan and I can't believe we celebrated our 5 year anniversary on Friday. We were able to get away for a full 24 hours! We stayed at a great B&B in downtown Raleigh, had a wonderful dinner and best of all..... slept in! (Well, not really....our biologically clocks woke us up at 7am, but we didn't have to get up and go feed a baby... so that was exciting!)

2009-08-03T20:49:00.003-04:00

It seems Samuel is doing something new everyday. Last week, we walked in and found him standing up in his crib. Now, all he wants to do is climb up on things. I guess I can expect him to have at least one bruise on his forehead at ALL times!

What a cutie! He has even now learned to scale up the pack-n-play!

The children waiting for daddy to come home.

Family Photos Have Arrived!

2009-07-29T20:02:00.010-04:00

We LOVE our new pictures.

Enjoy a few of our favorites.....

2009-07-10T18:30:00.002-04:00

Check out our new best friends blog; Nancy Ray photography.

This past monday we did a family session with her and LOVE the results! If anyone is in need of a photographer.... please think of her!

2009-07-08T19:53:00.001-04:00

Who would have thought one could be this happy when eating prunes??

Poor us!

2009-07-08T19:42:00.002-04:00

Here in the Doherty house we are all pretty sick. Ryan has the flu (hence the facemask that his crazy wife is making him wear whenever he is around Samuel). I have a bad head cold and Samuel has been really stuffy. We are a mess!

Even though he doesn't feel good he has been in a great mood. What a cutie!

Fourth of July

2009-07-08T18:59:00.003-04:00

We had the pleasure of hanging out with some great friends on the fourth. We grilled out and let the boys play in "doherty land"

They LOVED it!

Holt looking like he was traveling somewhere....

playing well together because they don't play at all together

Ryan put on the starfish hat and he never took it off! I think he really liked it...

They had so much fun we are going to start charging for admission!