Sweet Potatoes!

Samantha recently started eating rice cereal and tonight had her first taste of sweet potato.

My Birthday

I chose to take a family hike to celebrate my birthday.  Joseph and I ventured out to Paris Mountain State Park, which was packed with mountain bikers and miscellaneous walkers/hikers and dogs.  We brought our pack and also brought Samantha on her first hike.  Thanks to my friend, Barb, we have a small backpack/carrier that Samantha can't slip out of.  We managed to dodge most of the people and animals on foot and passed friendly mountain bikers who didn't mind the dogs.  It was a beautiful day out today...cool, but sunny.  I have to say, both the hike and my birthday were a success.

Joseph's 10+ hour drive home from work

As many of you probably know, western North Carolina got hit with a snow storm on Friday night.  I believe all you northerners got snow from the same storm, as well.  Joseph commutes to work to Western North Carolina three days a week.  He debated whether to drive north to work on Friday.  The committed worker that he is made the 1 1/2 hour trip, north, to work on Friday morning without too much trouble.  At the end of the workday and with the utmost determination to get home Joseph got in his car (really my car) and attempted to drive home, not knowing how bad the conditions really were and not knowing about the 18-wheeler that jackknifed on the interstate blocking traffic going east AND west.  Joseph sat in deadlock traffic for 6-hours until roads cleared.  He watched the snow pile up and watched plow trucks, wreckers, and other servicemen attempt to clear the roads and help stranded drivers.  Still determined to get home Joseph kept on "truck'n" ahead once traffic started moving.  He arrived home at 2:10AM Saturday morning, 10 1/2 hours after leaving work.  I did not support Joseph's decision to drive to work nor his decision to drive home, but the Mississippi boy did not wish to abide by my orders (not unusual!!).  Maybe now he understands why I have no desire to live in the North again.

Weather where we live cleared up quickly.  It's quite cold, but we are staying warm.   

Enjoy the pictures of Samantha. 

Samantha's 5 months old today

Samantha turned 5-months-old today.  She is going to celebrate by getting her first taste of rice cereal later tonight.  Hopefully, once she get used to eating solids (at night) she will sleep through the night.  The last few weeks have been the hardest for me since Samantha was born.  She has been waking up twice during the night, sometimes to eat and sometimes to get her pacifier.   I guess i'm going through what most parents go thru when their baby is 6-weeks old.  Samantha was a sleeping angel at 6-weeks old.  I have also hit a rough spot with my own sleeping and have had trouble falling asleep.  The combination of sleep deprivation and a cold has drained me of energy.  With time i am sure our troubles will pass. Sam is calling...

Christmas Time is Here Again

My dad on Samantha duty!

Samantha's response to her new toy was to blow bubbles!

Samantha's hair bows.  I don't think she has lost any of the hair she had at birth.

The McGowin's Christmas Tree.  We need to get Samantha her first ornament to add to the tree.

Samantha and I are currently in Florida visiting my dad and Karen.  Samantha has been a bit fussy because she has a tooth coming in.  I can feel sharp "bumps" on the front part of her bottom gum.  Joseph is back home watching the 4 canines.  We wish he could be here with us, but we understand someone has to stay home to watch the dogs.  We miss him very much.  

Christmas Tree Hunting

Here is a photo of Samantha and Joseph searching for the perfect "1st Christmas Tree".  Our tree is small, but it is absolutely perfect.  If only our tree stand didn't leak water.