Samantha Turns 1!

I can't believe my baby girl is 1!

We had 2 celebrations for Samantha. October 4 we had a "friends" party and on her b-day, Oct 11, we had a "family" party. It was so much fun & everyone was there. Everything was pink & it was a party fit for a "princess"!

11 Months!

Samantha turned 11 months yesterday on 9/11! We are just one month away from her big 1st birthday. I can't believe it at all. This year has flown by and Samantha has gotten so big. She loves to stand and occasionally I notice her let go of the table or sofa for a second. We taught her how to raise her arms when we say "touch down". She claps her hands when I sing "If your happy & you know it clap your hands". She's so much fun and I love every minute of her.

There was other big news on 9/11/08...Our close friends & cousins Sari & Brad Glazer welcomed Jordan Reese into the world! He was born at 8:32am, weighed 7lb 1.6oz & 21.5in. Mike and I had the honor of meeting him on his birthday and he sure is a cutie pie! Sari & Jordan are both doing great.

Ocean City, MD

We went to OC Friday - Monday with the Amerstein's- Michael, Marcie & Emily. Marcie & I were best friends growing up so it was a lot of fun to go to the beach with our little girls. Samantha had many 1st's this weekend~ beach, pool, boardwalk, carousel, baby ferris wheel, etc. She had such a good time! My mom & Paul babysat Saturday night so the adults could have a free night. The weekend was too short but we'll remember that for next time.

"If I go before I'm old Oh, brother of mine please don't forget me if I go" ~DMB

For those of you who know me well, you know I LOVE the Dave Matthews Band. I am very saddened to say that we have lost a member of a great band but his music will play on forever!

"We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program."

http://www.davematthewsband.com/

Cousins

Justin is in town from San Diego so we had dinner w/ him, Sara, Aunt Vicki & Uncle Harvey. At my favorite place of course...Bare Bones! Justin looks great & we were so happy to see him! He hadn't seen Samantha since Thanksgiving when she was 1 month old!

We're like the Energizer Bunny...We keep going & going & going!

Another busy weekend for the Halle clan!

Friday night we went to Hunt Valley again with our Lamazel Tov friends to Jesse Wongs which was yummy. Then if course the ladies went to Greetings & Readings. I can't get enough of that store!

Saturday we had our next door neighbor Zach's 1st birthday party. There weren't many kids there so Samantha got tons of attention.

Today we went with Bubby & Poppy to Spring Meadow Farms "petting zoo". Not much to pet but it was fun. Samantha's favorite party was Poppy's ice cream!

We're Sick

Samantha started with a runny nose last Saturday which turned into a low grade fever which turned into a bad cold. And now MOMMY HAS IT! I stayed home with Samantha a couple days this week and I caught her nasty cold. I'm starting to feel better today and she's back at daycare so hopefully it will clear up for the weekend. Tonight we're supposed to have dinner w/ some Lamazel Tov friends. Tomorrow we have a birthday party & then Mike's going to the Ravens game & Sunday we're taking Samantha to the Baltimore Zoo for the 1st time. Cross your fingers that Mike doesn't catch this cold!

Another busy but fun weekend

This weekend was jam packed with fun days & nights.

Friday night we went to dinner in Hunt Valley with 2 of our Lamazel Tov friends, the Kravitz's & the Singer-Blanken's. After dinner there was live music outside and we walked around the shops.

Saturday was Jill's Bridal Shower which turned out fabulous! Everything was perfect from the flowers to the food. Jill really enjoyed herself and that's all that matters.

Saturday night Mom & Granny babysat and Mike and I had date night. We saw Pineapple Express which was horrible! I couldn't wait for it to be over. We hadn't been to a movie in ages so it was very disappointing.

Sunday we had to cancel going to a b-day party because Samantha had a green runny nose and a small temp. Jill, Josh & their friends stayed w/ us for the shower so all of us +Mom went to Reisterstown and walked around Main Street, something I have always wanted to do but never have, until now. I came across this sign while we were walking so of course I had to take a picture of it!

Then because of the horrible accident on the Bay Bridge Mom couldn't get home on the Eastern Shore so she stayed w/ us which was fun.

Today is Samantha's 10 month b-day and poor baby has a fever! I think she's teething but I decided to stay home w/ her because I know how comforting it is to have your Mommy when you don't feel well.

Samantha also hit another milestone........she can CLAP! Mike and I were practicing w/ her and now she claps non-stop. Now we're working on "touch down".

Life will never be the same

Life will never be the same...Samantha crawled up a step tonight for the 1st time! Time to put up the baby gates. Now we really can't take our eyes off of her for 2 seconds. Ahh, I remember the days when she just laid there on her play mat...

Jewish Times

Look who was featured in the Baltimore Jewish Times!


Michael and Lauren (nee Brenner) welcomed Samantha Arden on Oct. 11, 2007. Samantha’s Hebrew name is Dodi Avra. She is named in loving memory of her maternal great-grandmother, Dorothy Brenner, maternal great-aunt, Sharon Davids, and paternal great-uncle, Arvin Rosen. Proud grandparents are Sue and Paul Breitschwerdt, Sandy and Jeffrey Brenner, and Harriet and Fredric Halle. Loving great-grandmother is Gwen Cosman.

Weekend Fun!

We had another busy but fun-filled weekend. Saturday we went to the shore house in Pasadena for Paul's family reunion. The house is right on the water and it's so peaceful to just hang out and watch the boats go by. Naturally there was a TON of yummy food & crabs and all the kids enjoyed playing in the water. Today we had Samara Blanken's 1st Birthday Party. Samara was the 1st baby born from our Lamazel Tov class. I still remember the day Seth came into class to let us all know they had their baby and to show us pictures. The party was at the JCC and Samantha had a blast! We sang songs, she shook her bells to the music, played with the parachute & bubbles. Before we know it Samantha will be having her 1st party.

Look What I Found...

Look what I found when I went in to get Samantha this morning...she was STANDING in her crib! Oh boy, we're in trouble now:)

Eddie Bauer Convertible 3-In-1 Car Seat

Samantha is officially in the Eddie Bauer Convertible 3-In-1 Car Seat! She wouldn't go to sleep tonight so after Mike installed the seat we took her outside (at 9pm!) to test it out and she seemed to like it. It's really nice actually and it's a lot different from the carrier seat we're used to.

Summer update

I keep telling myself I need to write on here more often...

We've been having a busy summer and having so much fun. Samantha is getting so big and is changing every day. She's the happiest baby I've ever met and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mother:)

Here are some of my latest favorite pictures...

there's nothing like a naked baby!

daddy being silly at bath time

4th of july

9 months

Baby Naming & Park

It's been a while since I last posted. We got new emails and I haven't been able to log in until Mike just figured it out. Since my last post we had Samantha's Baby Naming on May 24 where she got her Hebrew name. We also went to a local park on May 25 and took some cute pictures. Samantha will be 8 months on June 11. 8 months, I can't believe it! She's already been invited to a ton of 1st birthday parties. Hers will be here before we know it!

Jean Jean the Cleaning Machine

I couldn't resist........here are a couple pictures of Samantha & Jean Jean the Cleaning Machine!

My 1st Mother's Day

This was my 1st Mother's Day & I got the best present ever...Samantha Arden! She has brought so much joy in my life it's hard to even describe. We went through a lot to have her but it was all worth it and I'd do it all over again.

Saturday we met my Mom & Paul over the Bay Bridge at a nice restaurant called The Narrows. It was such a beautiful day. Sunday we went to Amy's for brunch & had dinner w/ my Dad & Sandy.

4 Generations