This morning, Eric and I took Sam to a baby animal petting zoo. We weren't sure how he'd react to all the new animals. I don't know when I'm going to learn that my son isn't afraid of anything!
He loved the baby chicks - there were a few tense moments when it looked like he was going to throw himself on top of their little cage. He spent the most time petting them. He also loved the calf. He grabbed the wire around the calf's little area and walked, facing inward, all the way around. When he got to the end we took him to the other side and he did it again.
Pictures are below. He was honestly so happy he didn't have time to smile.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Learning Every Day
Every moment of every day is a learning experience for me and for Sam. I can't help but be surprised by all of the things that Sam knows, and I don't. For example, I didn't know a double roll of Charmin could fit in a Fisher-Price shape sorter. Sam knew, and he proved it.
See below.
See below.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Christmas in March
Sam and I are just beside ourselves with this nice weather. I have found the definition of bliss - spending a spring morning with the windows open, building Megablocks towers with a one-year-old boy.
With spring, comes spring cleaning, and Eric and I spent a big part of yesterday cleaning out our back room. We are planning a garage sale and we were amazed by all of the stuff we were finding to sell! As Sam was helping move stuff around, he found a roll of Christmas wrapping paper. He was so happy and excited. I'm thinking he liked the colors and the way it crinkled - ? Anyway, having him help us was much less helpful than you'd imagine, so I let him get away with the wrapping paper.
Watching him play with it was like watching a bad slapstick comedy. He hooked one arm under the roll, one arm over the roll, and then walked away - until he got to the doorway. Then he was knocked to the ground as it was not wide enough to pass a sideways roll of wrapping paper. He stood up and tried again...and again...and again. Eventually, he managed to get out of the storage room by laying the roll next to him and pushing it out like a train.
Once in the living room he managed to unroll the paper and rip off a strip about 10 feet long. Since yesterday, he has carried that 10-foot strip of wrapping paper everywhere he's gone. He doesn't want anything but his wrinkled, enormous wad of paper.
Ah, well...more "regular" toys for the garage sale!
With spring, comes spring cleaning, and Eric and I spent a big part of yesterday cleaning out our back room. We are planning a garage sale and we were amazed by all of the stuff we were finding to sell! As Sam was helping move stuff around, he found a roll of Christmas wrapping paper. He was so happy and excited. I'm thinking he liked the colors and the way it crinkled - ? Anyway, having him help us was much less helpful than you'd imagine, so I let him get away with the wrapping paper.
Watching him play with it was like watching a bad slapstick comedy. He hooked one arm under the roll, one arm over the roll, and then walked away - until he got to the doorway. Then he was knocked to the ground as it was not wide enough to pass a sideways roll of wrapping paper. He stood up and tried again...and again...and again. Eventually, he managed to get out of the storage room by laying the roll next to him and pushing it out like a train.
Once in the living room he managed to unroll the paper and rip off a strip about 10 feet long. Since yesterday, he has carried that 10-foot strip of wrapping paper everywhere he's gone. He doesn't want anything but his wrinkled, enormous wad of paper.
Ah, well...more "regular" toys for the garage sale!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Spring has sprung!
I hesitated to use such an optimistic title for this post. Having lived in Minnesota for the majority of my life, I know all too well that a snow storm could hit at any time. But today it's hard not to feel excited about spring!
Yesterday, Sam and I went for a walk at the lake without our jackets on. The path was so busy, I had to wait for an opening and do a quick merge into the line of people. As we went on, the groups started to thin out and the walk was just wonderful. Sam pretended not to be interested in the dwindling chunks of ice and adventurous ducks in the lake, but I know he was just as excited as I was.
Today we have the windows open and are doing some spring cleaning (to be honest, I'm cleaning and Sam is un-cleaning). We just went into the backyard for a break and we welcomed the season with Sam's first swing ride of the year. I think he's a little too big for it now, but the tight fit didn't stop him from having the time of his life. He was laughing so hard he started snorting - unattractive on an adult; cute as heck on a little boy.
Snorting or no snorting...we love spring!
Yesterday, Sam and I went for a walk at the lake without our jackets on. The path was so busy, I had to wait for an opening and do a quick merge into the line of people. As we went on, the groups started to thin out and the walk was just wonderful. Sam pretended not to be interested in the dwindling chunks of ice and adventurous ducks in the lake, but I know he was just as excited as I was.
Today we have the windows open and are doing some spring cleaning (to be honest, I'm cleaning and Sam is un-cleaning). We just went into the backyard for a break and we welcomed the season with Sam's first swing ride of the year. I think he's a little too big for it now, but the tight fit didn't stop him from having the time of his life. He was laughing so hard he started snorting - unattractive on an adult; cute as heck on a little boy.
Snorting or no snorting...we love spring!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Computer Malfunctions
Huzzah! After not being able to create a post for over a week, I have now successfully logged in. No time to write right now, though...so I've attached a picture of Sam on the move! His tent behind him, cup in his hand, the future in front of him...don't try to make this kid hold still for a picture!
Monday, March 12, 2007
A Boy and His Dog
We got Dee Dee, our beagle, the same weekend we moved into this house. She has literally been a part of our family since Day One. We were concerned about how she would react to having a new, noisy little person join our family.
When Sam was very little, Dee Dee paid no attention to him. She didn’t look at him or even lift her head when he’d cry. She refused to acknowledge his existence. The most she’d do was step over him instead of trampling him into the floor.
Once Sam started moving around, Dee Dee couldn’t pretend any more. Sam loved crawling after her as she’d try to get away. She really hated being near him and he thought they were best friends. He liked cornering her and then grabbing two little fistfuls of fur to pull himself up. To Dee Dee’s credit, she has always been very gentle with him. She will just mournfully roll her head back and look at one of us, waiting for us to save her.
Sam’s introduction to table foods marked a change in his and Dee Dee’s relationship. I do a few simple signs with Sam – one of them being the sign for “eat.” When I look at Sam questioningly and put my fingers together near my mouth, Dee Dee will sprint up the stairs and stand, panting, next to Sam’s high chair. Should dogs be able to understand sign language?
It’s no wonder, though, that Dee Dee is so interested in Sam’s mealtimes. He loves heaving himself over the side of his chair and letting Dee Dee eat out of his hand. I hate it, but can’t really complain. When Sam is done eating (hah!), I simply take him out of the chair and swipe everything onto the floor. Within seconds, my dining room is clean.
I think I’ve been witnessing the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
When Sam was very little, Dee Dee paid no attention to him. She didn’t look at him or even lift her head when he’d cry. She refused to acknowledge his existence. The most she’d do was step over him instead of trampling him into the floor.
Once Sam started moving around, Dee Dee couldn’t pretend any more. Sam loved crawling after her as she’d try to get away. She really hated being near him and he thought they were best friends. He liked cornering her and then grabbing two little fistfuls of fur to pull himself up. To Dee Dee’s credit, she has always been very gentle with him. She will just mournfully roll her head back and look at one of us, waiting for us to save her.
Sam’s introduction to table foods marked a change in his and Dee Dee’s relationship. I do a few simple signs with Sam – one of them being the sign for “eat.” When I look at Sam questioningly and put my fingers together near my mouth, Dee Dee will sprint up the stairs and stand, panting, next to Sam’s high chair. Should dogs be able to understand sign language?
It’s no wonder, though, that Dee Dee is so interested in Sam’s mealtimes. He loves heaving himself over the side of his chair and letting Dee Dee eat out of his hand. I hate it, but can’t really complain. When Sam is done eating (hah!), I simply take him out of the chair and swipe everything onto the floor. Within seconds, my dining room is clean.
I think I’ve been witnessing the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Friday, March 9, 2007
MIA
Wow - I knew it had been a long time since my last post but I didn't realize it was last month! Sorry.
Sam and I have been sick all week. It has been a truly miserable experience. At about 3 in the morning on Monday, Sam was really fussy and I changed his diaper. I was only half awake and was marvelling to myself how warm Sam was. I was amazed by the heat coming off of his belly and was impressed when I realized his feet were just as warm. THEN I was able to wake up and realize the poor kid had a fever.
I kept him pretty well drugged until Wednesday afternoon. He hasn't had a temperature since then but he is still really crabby. I haven't slept more than an hour or two at a time since last Saturday. So perhaps he's crabby because I'm crabby - ?
I'm so thankful for Eric working all the time, which allows me to be home with Sam. I honestly could not imagine what this week would have been like if I had to add a full-time job to my schedule.
I'm hoping next week gets back to normal.
Sam and I have been sick all week. It has been a truly miserable experience. At about 3 in the morning on Monday, Sam was really fussy and I changed his diaper. I was only half awake and was marvelling to myself how warm Sam was. I was amazed by the heat coming off of his belly and was impressed when I realized his feet were just as warm. THEN I was able to wake up and realize the poor kid had a fever.
I kept him pretty well drugged until Wednesday afternoon. He hasn't had a temperature since then but he is still really crabby. I haven't slept more than an hour or two at a time since last Saturday. So perhaps he's crabby because I'm crabby - ?
I'm so thankful for Eric working all the time, which allows me to be home with Sam. I honestly could not imagine what this week would have been like if I had to add a full-time job to my schedule.
I'm hoping next week gets back to normal.
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