Samuel has somehow got it in his head that he doesn’t need to nap anymore.  Often, I’ll tell him it’s naptime, only to be challenged with a, “No naptime.  Sit pillow and blanket, watch tee-bee.”  Then Sam gets comfy.

I sometimes humor him.  “Ok, if you stay right there and rest, you don’t need naptime.”   Of course I make that offer knowing exactly what’s going to happen next.

A few days ago I was watching Erik work on something.  I couldn’t help but laugh when he put on his Concentration Face.  Erik rolled his eyes and gave me a, “What?!”  I’ve always loved his Concentration Face, but it’s even funnier now because Samuel does the exact same thing when he is concentrating really hard.

These nesting Santas kept Sam busily concentrating for a pretty long time.  Thanks, Grandma B!  We can’t wait to see what else we got over these next few days.  It’s been lots of fun so far!

I have a little Willow Tree figurine in my room of a mother and father holding a baby.  Sam loves to grab it in the off chance he makes it that far into our room.  The other day I heard this conversation between Erik and Samuel.  I’ve been thinking about it a lot.

Sam: Mommy, daddy!

Erik: Yep, and who’s that?

Sam: Baby!

Erik: And do you know what that’s called . . . a mommy, a daddy, and a baby?

Sam: Mommy, daddy, baby!

Erik: That’s a family.

That conversation has really stuck with me.  I am so thankful for the things my child is being taught.  Of course I am worried when I look around and see the world in which I have to raise my sweet, innocent, little boy.  But despite the declining morals and values, and the constant changes around us, my husband and I can still our teach child what is right and true.

. . . that I {love} them?!

Samuel put words together for the first time this weekend.  He’s said the same thing enough times now that we’re sure it’s not a fluke.  For a boy who is 100% his dad, Sam’s first sentence couldn’t be more appropriate.  “I poo, dada.”

Here are a few more pictures we took on Friday, Samuel’s 5 month birthday. As if we didn’t already know how much Sam is like Erik, we have some more evidence. It’s actually so cute to walk in and find the two of them like this. Then Sam started getting bored, and reaching for things. Of course Erik was proud, “Learnin’ the tricks of the trade!”

But THIS is hilarious!!! That night, I put Samuel to bed as usual. I rocked him for a bit, he finished his bottle, then I put him into his crib. I came downstairs with the monitor and heard Sam making his usual noises. Then he started getting mad and fussy, so I sent Erik up to check on him. While he was up there, I heard a noise that sounded like Samuel playing with his crib toy, but I thought that was weird since he rarely plays with it, and I didn’t even put him close to it. Then Erik came down laughing soooo hard, “Where’s the camera? You have to go look at Sam.” Feeling all mommy-smart, I said “He’s playing with his toy, I know, it’s funny.” But Erik said, “No, you have GOT to go up there.” So we both headed up. And this is how we found our little Sam. (Note, I put him down on the opposite side of the crib, turned 180 degrees in the other direction.)

I honestly cannot tell you how funny it was to see a pair of legs kicking at the toy, the blanket moving up and down from hidden hands, and a fuzzy head poking out the top (the bottom?). Erik and I just about died from laughter.

This is what happens when you get distracted by your new Wii, your son wakes up from his nap, but is making happy noises, so you assume it’s ok to leave him in the swing without looking at him, and you forget how much of a wiggler he is. (Note: “YOU” does not refer to ME!)

Saturday afternoon, I left Erik downstairs working on his laptop and Sam asleep in his swing, to go upstairs to shower. A little while later, I came downstairs and this is how I found the two . . .

With Sam’s swing now propped in front of the tv, Erik was excitedly explaining his video game tactics (“All you have to do is stay away from the bright lights, Sam!”) while I sighed and realized this was not a battle worth fighting. Only because I know I will NEVER win!

Erik was being silly with Samuel while he was changing him, and put the burp cloth on his head. Samuel has so much fun with his dad!