I can't believe how old Sam looks in recent pictures.  He is really growing up and turning into a big kid. 

My Bedstefar is here visiting from Denmark.  He brought some things to make a kite with Sam because he knew what fond memories I have of making kites on our visits when I was a kid.  Sam thought it was dang cool, and brought it for his show-and-tell that day.  Since then, he asks almost every day when it will be windy enough to fly it.

Sam has been very into the Halloween season.  They've been doing lots of fun things at school with it.  On ghost day, he brought this home.  It's a picture of a ghost, who ate 5 other ghosts (a mommy ghost, a daddy ghost, an Owen ghost, an Emmett ghost, and a Jacob ghost).  And once I looked closer, I saw he had written "Boo" on it.  I was impressed, and asked Sam if he did that all by himself.  "Sure!  B-O-O spells Boo!"

We've also done a few things here at home, too.  The other day we went to happy hour at Sonic with some friends, and one of the car hops brought out balloons for all of the kids.  When we got home, Samuel wanted to draw a scary face on his.  "Here are the big spooky eyes, and a round nose, and scary sharp teeth, grrrrrr." 

And while I'm here, I ought to do some back blogging.  (I thought I had caught up on that, until I realized I never blogged about Sam learning to ride his bike or soccer.)  So way back in May, Samuel popped his bike tires.  We could not find new 10" tubes anywhere, so Erik just bought a new bike for $5 at the D.I. with the intention of taking the tires off of it and putting them on Sam's bike.  Samuel saw that bike and ended up being very taken by "his new silver bike."  So Erik took him to the church parking lot and we were totally impressed with Samuel's balance, but he still struggled a bit.  He could do a straight line, but couldn't turn or start himself without a running push from Erik.  That's where we left it for the time being. 

A couple days later, Sam brought that bike with him to the park even though he wasn't riding it.  His buddy Gabe, who is a maniac and has zero fear, and is also an expert on his balance bike, gave Sam's bike a shot.  In 10 minutes flat, Gabe was a pro.  We decided to switch bikes for the day, so that Gabe could show his dad.  The next day Gabe rode over to our house on his new bike (also $5 from DI).  That was all it took for Sam.  He hopped onto his own bike and took off without help.  I was blown away.  That evening, Sam took Erik out to show him his new skills.  Clearly, he was still working on stopping and accurately stearing, but that didn't stop us from being impressed.  By the next day he was a pro, and pretty much didn't get off his bike for the rest of the summer.

Samuel started his soccer season in August.  His first practice was the Saturday after Emmett was born.  So the first couple weeks were a bit crazy, but I am so glad we had something for him to do in the evenings when the world pretty much stopped for a few weeks there with Baby 3!  There were a few practices, then 4 on 4 games twice a week.  Samuel was on the same team as two of his neighborhood buddies and a boy he goes to school with.  Sam had a lot of fun, although sometimes at the cost of his father's complete and total frustration.  Erik was diligent taking videos with his phone, but I didn't once bring the camera to take pictures.  I realized that, and planned to most definitely have it with me at the last game.  Except that Sam came down with a fever of 104 that afternoon and was in mood for a soccer game, even if it was the last.  He was disappointed, but cheered up when Nathan brought over his medal. 

So, while I'm here documeting the Amazing Mr. Sammers, I do believe it's time for a new edition of Samuel Says.  It's been so long.  I could write a book.  But instead, I'll just highlight some recent favorites.

• He loves to ask about animals if they have teeth and if they lay eggs.  One day he knew he was being silly when he asked me if monster trucks lay eggs.  I told him of course they don't, to which he replied, "Sure monster trucks lay eggs, that's where Hummers come from."   
• Em started fussing while Sam was holding him.  He rubbed his head and said softly, "It's ok, don't worry, Samuel is here."
• Another time I was holding Em on my shoulder.  Sam said, "Aw, he looks so cute like that, like a tiny . . . . TIRE!"
• Owen totally sneezed on Sam, who was not happy about it.  He yelled at him, "Owen, that's disgusting, I'm not a tissue!!"    
• Sam stopped his playing one day to randomly tell me, "Mom, I wish we had a balcony and fancy stairs."  Me, a little confused, "A balcony??"  "Yeah, so me and Owen could play on them."
• For Pet Day at school, Samuel wanted to bring his stuffed moneky, and polar bear and seal.  The other two boys and I came to meet the other animals, and watch Sam share his.  The moms all went up front with their kids who had real pets.  So when it was Sam's turn (he was the first without a real pet to share) I thought it was really sweet that he still wanted me to come up front with him.  Then he proceeded to show his "pets."  I didn't give him any prompting, because he knew just what he wanted to say.  "This is my monkey.  He lives in the jungle and likes to eat bananas and bugs.   This is my polar bear and seal.  They are artic animals.  The polar bear is a land animal and the seal is a water animal, but the polar bear can swim in the water and the seal comes onto land.  The polar bear is the predator with very sharp teeth and he swims after the seal and eats him."  At this point, Samuel started acting out a very dramatic predator vs. prey with his animals, complete with sound effects.  Then he stopped.  "Ok, that's it.  I'm done now.  Any questions?"  It was great.
• He was playing an iPad game with Erik and asked, "This game is going to be more technical?"  We laughed, "Uh, what do you mean by that?"  "I mean, like it's gonna be more difficult?" 
• Preparing the boys for conference, Sam was not having it.  "Conference makes me siiiiiick.  I need to go lie down in my bed with the light off and rest.  Mom, you can bring me breakfast up there."  But he did take it upon himself to make sure Erik was up and ready for conference.  "Mooooom, I told Dad to get dressed and come down for conference but he didn't hear me.  Now I'm going to go back up and tell him in my loudest voice.  My loudest voice EVER!"  So he took off, and I heard him yelling, "DAD!!!  IT'S CONFERENCE!  YOU NEED TO COME LISTEN TO THE PROPHET SPEAK TO US NOOOOOOW!"
• He was burping at the dinner table, and I asked him to stop.  "I'm not burping.  Those are bird calls.  *burp*  See, that was an Amercan parrot from Asia.  *burp*  That was a North American bird from India."  Then he gargled, so I rolled my eyes and asked what that one was.  "That was just a human gargling."
• Seriously, this kid does. not. turn. off.  He wakes up talking and doesn't stop until he is asleep at night.  Perfect example:  I heard his door open one morning.  I'm still in bed and hear him lift up the toilet lid.  I heard the pee begin.  Then I heard Samuel, "Mom, are predators nocturnal?"  What do you think Sam? "Lions are predators, and they're nocturnal."  Flush. "But cheetahs aren't nocturnal, they have black lines on their face to protect from the sun, so they must be diurnal."  Walking downstairs. "And cheetahs are predators, so that means all predators aren't nocturnal, I guess.  Owen turn off the light upstairs, you don't want to waste electricity!" Downstairs now. "Oh, I forgot my new micro machine upstairs.  I lost it but then I found . . . " voice fades as he goes upstairs, but here he comes again  " . . . my army truck and they go in the big helicopter."  He takes a breath.  "MOM!" and this is where he goes into a monologue about lung fish and how they breath and Jeremy Wade on River Monsters. Then, finally, "I'm ready for breakfast, can I have some waccles?"  Right.  He knows the difference between nocturnal and diurnal, but still can't say the word waffles.

Anyway, so that's our not so little Samuel.  Who is almost 5.   

Last week was supposed to be my regular OB appointment.  They called 20 minutes before, as I was literally walking out the door with both boys, to cancel.  And the girl was pretty rude about it all.  I have not been happy with Valley OBGYN this time around.  I was majorly bugged.  So I took the boys to IHOP. 

My appointment was rescheduled to this past Thursday.  Lovely 6 pound weight gain.  Wahoo.  I have had some concerns about Lambert being pretty quiet and not so active.  So I mentioned it to the Dr.  That and my super regular Braxton Hicks contractions.  Add that to Dr. having a hard time getting a good heart beat, and they sent me down for an unofficial Non-Stress Test.  (“Un” official since technically it’s too early to do one.  Or something.)  So they hooked me up to a couple fetal monitors.  It’s a pretty cool sound, but it was also very different from the only 2 other times I’ve been hooked up: when I was in labor and Baby was 15 weeks bigger.  I listened to the wump wump and every couple seconds it would sound like someone tapping a microphone.  The technician laughed, “He has the hiccups.”  Sure enough, I pushed on my tummy and with each microphone thump, I felt a jolt.  She also did an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid levels.  Also perfect.   So everything checked out great.  Greater than great, really.  His heart was perfectly strong and right on track.  The technician showed me the charts and monitorings and explained you could also see Lambert oxygenating which isn’t something you can usually see at 25 weeks.

At this point in the pregnancy, I’m feeling pretty aok!  I actually think with Owen at this same time, I was much more uncomfortable.  My reflux is definitely the worst thing that bothers me, but I got permission to take whatever otc med worked for it.  I get nasty sciatic twinges, too, that sometimes come out of nowhere and so strong that I almost fall over.  But usually I can anticipate it and deal with it.  And I’m almost totally used to Erik making fun of me for whining about “Oy, my sciatic.” 

I am totally in love with Samuel’s interest in baby Lambert.  On the way home from school the other day, Samuel asked if he was really a big brother, and if he would still be a big brother when Lambert came.  So I explained that Sam would always be a big brother, and he would soon have two little brothers.  But Owen would be a little brother and a big brother.  It was cute.  Sam also still thinks it’s funny that the baby is upside down.  I explained that to him after the first official ultrasound, and when he sees my weekly emails with a picture, he always comments on that.  He also pointed and asked what “the big white twisty tube” was.  So I got to explain about his belly button and the umbilical cord.

My favorite so far, though, would have to be the other week when Sam wanted me to lift up my shirt.  It was a bit weird, but I figured, Hey, if he’s that interested . . . Then he took a huge breath, puffed up his cheeks, and came in for a  giant raspberry!  So I pushed him away and laughed, “No way!!”  But Samuel didn’t give up.  He kept trying and insisted, “It will be so funny!  Lambert will like it and he will laugh and laugh.”

This is a real life “creature adventurer,” and host with his brother, Martin, of several children’s television shows including Wild Kratts, Kratt’s Creatures, and Zoboomafoo . . . this is Chris.

This is a little boy who for the past 3 or so months, THINKS he is Chris.  TELLS you he is Chris.  BAWLS like a baby when you tell him he ISN’T Chris.

In all of his shows, Chris Kratt wears a green shirt.  So green is always always the color of choice for little “Chris.”  Heaven forbid his mom choose an outfit for a school day that doesn’t involve green; but after a major battle of wills, Mom usually wins as long as “Chris” can wear his “Wild Kratt boots” and have “Kratt hair.”  Never can anything be colored without a green crayon or marker.  It would be a terrible thing if “Chris” didn’t get his meal served on green dishes, and it’s quite disastrous if Owen has a green straw when “Chris” is forced to drink from a yellow one.  Because that would mean “Chris has to have green power, Owen can’t have green power, he isn’t Chris!!!!” and thusly the world would surely end.  (At least you’d think so sitting at our kitchen table.)

This little kiddo of ours loves to meet new kids at the park and other places so he can tell them his name is Chris.  He came home with a special book about his family he had made at school.  There was Mom, Dad, “me Chris” drawn in green, Owen, and “my other brother, Martin” which the teacher asked about, and I had to clarify.  He had a substitute teacher one day at school.  He came home with “Chris” written across the top of each of his papers.  He’s even gotten Owen to call him Chris several times.  On the off chance we convince him he isn’t REALLY Chris, Sam tells us he is going to be Chris when he grows up or he is “Samuel the Chris.”

Sometimes it’s funny.  Sometimes it’s cute and clever.  Sometimes it gets annoying.  Sometimes we wonder if we’re letting him take it too far and setting him up for future psychological damage and identity crises.  And by “him” I mean Samuel.  Not Chris.

Halfway there.  Kind of crazy.  I am still deciding if it went fast or not.  20 more weeks is still a while to go.  August is a long way away.  But right now I think that’s a good thing.  I’m still shaking in my boots thinking about three . . . three BOYS!  I’m also so unbelieveably excited to add another blonde hair blue eyed hooligan to the mix.  It’s going to be so fun.

So the first 20 weeks have been rough.  I haven’t hid that.  Although I’m not throwing up every day (my record is 9 days without!!  But usually its more like every 3 days or so, and that doesn’t count my regular morning vomit every time I brush my teeth) I’m still pretty nauseous on a regular basis.  Food is still mostly gross to me, and smells of any sort knock me over.  I haven’t gained any weight yet, in fact right now I’m less than when I first got pregnant.  I have no doubt that’s going to change fast.  My sciatic is already starting to bug me.  Forget indigestion, I went right to reflux.  Ugh.  And I’m already having braxton hicks contractions.  Isn’t there supposed to be a middle part where I get to enjoy this a bit?  But that sounds a lot more negative than I really feel.  I’m just getting old and fat, and my body sure ain’t what it used to be.  I’m finally feeling what I know is the baby, and I love it.  That seemed to take forever.  I still don’t feel him a lot, and part of that as we discovered in the ultrasound is because my placenta is on top of/in front of the baby.  I’m sure he’ll get moving soon, though. 

Samuel is excited about the baby.  He likes to talk about it and ask questions.  I love that!  It’s so fun to see him so aware and really internalize it.  Sam reminds me almost daily that I’m getting fatter.  Every time I eat he asks if I’m feeding the baby, too.  He also told us tonight at dinner that the baby can see my heart and into my lungs and he sees all the food I swallow.  Before the ultrasound, Samuel was confident he was getting another brother.  I asked what would happen if he got a sister.  He said, “It’s a brother, I know it!”  When I came home from the ultrasound, Samuel was giddy to see the pictures.  He laughed and giggled the whole time I pointed things out to him.  Then we named the baby Lambert. 

So, as far as the ultrasound went, everything looked perfect.  I was so so so anxious about it.  I don’t remember anticipating the ultrasounds nearly as much with either of the other boys.  (Of course I was still excited with them, I just don’t remember it being as intense.)  Baby was being pretty shy and had his legs crossed most of the time.  Thankfully, while she took measurements and such, the technician kept checking back to see if he had exposed himself yet.  After I was really starting to wonder if we would get a peak, we finally got it.  Oh!  We’ve seen that before!!  Lambert also kept his face hidden most of the time.  We would see bits, but never the whole thing.  We poked and prodded and jiggled, but he kept his face nuzzled up to my placenta or tucked into my pelvis.  But he seemed pretty ok in there with his ankles crossed and both arms up, hands tucked behind his head.  Lambert must be getting nice and comfortable for the next 20 weeks.

January 18, 2011

Samuel asks tells me EVERY day that he is ready to go to California.  His backpack is always stuffed full and he usually has his pillow and monkey in hand.  So every time I tell him, “Sam!  We are NOT going to California today,” he replies, “We can go when Daddy gets home from work.”  One day, he took his packing to the extreme.  I heard him and Owen rummaging around and playing upstairs, but didn’t think much of it while I did my best just to stay conscious on the sofa.  I remember Sam telling me he and Owen were all ready to go to California.  Again, didn’t think much of it.  Until later when I tried to go upstairs.  Every bin from Sam’s room was piled on the landing, full of clothes, shoes, pillows, and toys.  “Samuel!!!  What on earth did you do?!”  “Oh that’s just me and Owen all ready to go.  We’re so packed!” 

I would say so.

November 12, 2010

In between birthday festivities, Samuel got a package from Grandma B delivered to the door.  He loved the robot game and the new books, but he was most excited about the big red shirt in there.  Erik had left it at his parents’ the last time we visited, so it was included in the box.  I tried to explain that to Sam.  He wasn’t going for it.  “Oh my, that’s a big shirt for MEEE?!  I’m growing up bigger and BIGGER and I get to wear a big shirt just like Daddy’s.  I’m grown up now!”  He put the shirt on and didn’t take it off all afternoon.  He didnt take it off when we went to meet Erik at work.  I made him take it off before we got out of the car to go in to Pirate Island.  Funny kid.

He also refused to open his eyes for a picture.  Stink.

Have I mentioned what a challenge Samuel is for me?  But man alive, I still love that kid.  He is turning into such a big kid.  And he reminds us of that often.  He also loves to tell us (and anyone else who will listen, including the cashier at Walmart and the mail lady) that he’s growing up.  And that he keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger. 

Samuel is loving school with his friends and Ms. Laura.  He gets excited for it, and has to verify with me every day he doesn’t have school, “Oh, it’s not a school day?”  He had some new fall clothes on one morning, and was particularly excited about his new shoes.  He looked like such a big boy, I had to take some pictures before we left.   

My journal of “Samuel Says” is filling rapidly.  And I know I have forgotten several things before I could write them down.  But here are a few way too good to pass up without sharing.

The other morning Samuel told me, “I’m going to get married . . . ” and then there was a long contemplative pause.  I thought I’d help out.  “In the temple?  When you grow up?”  “Yeah . . . [still thinking] . . . But I’m going to get married . . . [ah ha, I saw the lightbulb go on] to Tegan!”  Then Sam chuckled.  “Nooo.  I can’t.  Haha.  I don’t have the right clothes.”

One evening I was making dinner while the guys watched a show called Nat Geo Amazing.  It’s kind of like Ripley’s Believe it or Not, with a bunch of random things.  They also do True or False bits before some of the commercials.  One of those was apparently playing when Sam yelled to me in excitement, “Oh my gosh, Mom come here quick!  You gotta see this!”  They were showing a (fake) video of penguins flying.  “Look, Mom, I can’t believe it!  Penguins are flying now!!” 

Just the other day, the boys and I went for a walk to pass out Primary fliers.  Sam loves to help me “deliver messages” so O and I wait in the driveways while he runs up and hangs them on the doorknobs.  Sam started walking up to a house and came running back screaming bloody murder.  “AH! AH!  There’s cats! They’re scary and they’re going to get me!”  I told him he was being ridiculous but he refused to go back up there alone, so I walked with him.  Then he saw another cat and lost it all over again.  As we walked, I tried to tell Samuel why cats weren’t scary at all, and that they were scared of us and would run away.  After that, we spent a good hour at the park and we had forgotten about terrifying cats.  But on the way home, we passed our neighbors who have the hugest fluffiest gray cat you have ever seen.  (Sam used to think it was a dog when he was a year and some, and would woof at it.)  The cat was sitting under their trailer and Samuel stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted it.  He would not walk by!  “It’s too scary, Mom!  I can’t!”  Exasperated by now, I rolled my eyes, grabbed his hand and reitterated, Cats are NOT scary!  And practically in tears, Sam said in a shakey voice, “Yes they are!  Cats are scary and mean with big sharp claws and they’re going to KILL me!  Cat’s kill kids!!”  I have no idea where this cat terror came from, but it’s beyond hilarious.

I keep a regular log of Samuel Says.  This kid is a character and all personality.  Plus, he never ever ever EVER stops talking.  Never.  But he keeps us laughing regularly, even if it’s behind our hands with our backs turned because we’re supposed to have our Mean Mom and Dad faces on instead.  Anyway, I’ve been holding onto these gems for too long.  It’s time to share. 

We took off for a walk, when Sam stopped and sat down on the ground with his legs spread.  Sam what are you doing?  “I’m just stretching, Mom!  It’s so important for me.”

Jumping on the sofa absolutely out of control, Samuel screamed at the top of his lungs, “Yaaaaa!  I’m a ROCK STAR!”

Sam was whining during dinner about the wind coming in through the window but we wouldn’t let him shut it.  So he got a bunch of his monster trucks and stacked them up about 8 inches high in front of the 5 foot window and threw his arms up in the air in triumph, “I saved the day!!  The wind is gone forever!  Now I need a candy.”

Driving home from SLC one day, we saw about 50 paragliders at the point of the mountain.  Samuel gasped, “Incredible!  I’ve never seen that before!”

Playing in the backyard, Sam pulled a chair up next to me, sat down and let out a big sigh. “This is such a nice day.”

I couldn’t find the wipes, so I asked Sam.   He replied, totally exasperated with me, “They’re right there, Mom!”  Where, I don’t see them?  “Right there . . . MOM!  Look where I’m pointing!”

At the Walgreens drive thru, as I was talking to the pharmacist, Sam growled in a really funny, deep, gruff and LOUD voice, “I’ll have 2 fries please!” 

Sam was ticked about something when we loaded into the car to go home.  A few minutes later, our cd in the car started playing If You’re Happy and You Know It.  Owen was clapping, so I said, Come on, Sam, clap your hands.  “NO!  I will not clap my hands.  I am NOT happy right now!”

At the dinner table one night Samuel held a handful of rice above his lemonade, looked at me and then Erik, me and then Erik, daring us to say something.  Samuel, do NOT put rice in your lemonade! I said in my mean mommy voice.  Samuel, hand and rice still above the cup of lemonade, looked at me again, then at Erik, still saying nothing but testing us with his little three year old eyes.  Then he grinned.  “Daddy didn’t tell me no!”

Sam was helping me by bringing toys to Owen as I tried to feed him.  Owen threw them straight to the floor.  “Owen, don’t throw the toys I give you.  It’s just rude!”

“Mom, I have a rule for you.   The rule is don’t say no to me, and be happy!”

Samuel played downstairs early one morning before I got out of bed.  When I came down he was playing with his monster truck ramp and told me, “Jesus was playing with me.  See, he’s right here.”  Then he turned, pointed, and gasped, “He’s gone!  Jesus left and went back to church.  He’s in the picture now.  Then he’ll come out of the picture and be so happy and play with me again later.”

“I like Caroline, she’s a nice girl.”  Oh yeah? “Yeah, she doesn’t say no to me.”

So excited about going to IHOP with Mormor, Sam walked right up to the cute lady at the cashier counter and said, “I’d like some pancakes please.”  Then the waitress came over and asked what she could get us to drink, We have Pepsi products, maybe an orange juice?  Sam looked her dead in the eyes and said, “Yes, I’ll have a Pepsi please.”

Caroline was babysitting so Erik and I could have a much needed night out.  I explained to Sam that we were going on a date, and he asked, “Are you going to church to kiss?!” 

After a long afternoon running errands the boys were getting a bit restless on the way home.  I turned on the radio and found “Another One Bites the Dust” and started busting some moves in the car.  Grumpy Sam huffed, “Stop dancing, Mom.  I don’t want to dance.”  Why not?  “Because I’m boring!”

Oh this 3 year old of mine!  Boy, how he and I butt heads.  He is probably my biggest trial right now.  Besides telling me “NO!” 672 times a day (most often while stomping his foot and shaking his fist at me) he tells me to “Move it” “Get out of my way” “Stop that” “I can’t” “Freakin’” and my favorite, “No, YOU [insert whatever I just told him to do].”  I am still trying to figure out the most (or even AN) effective way to deal with all of Samuel’s SASS!!!   

A few cases in point.

The other morning we were heading outside for a bike ride and walk.  I remembered I needed to grab something from upstairs, so I told Sam to hang on for just a sec.  He stood by the door and shouted, “No!  We are going outside right now!  Five . . . four, three, two, one.  That’s it, you’re on time out.”

Driving home from a doctor’s appointment in Provo, Samuel was looking out the window.  We had the following coversation.  “Mom, I see a big X on the mountain.”  “You know, that’s actually the letter Y, but I see it, too, and that was smart to notice it’s a letter.”  “That’s very naughty, Mom, you have to go on a time out.”  “What?  What’s naughty?”  “That’s very naughty you put that big Y up there, you should not do that.  Now you have to go on time out and sit on the naughty stool and I turn on the timer until you’re really really finished.”  “Samuel, it’s not naughty that the Y is there, and besides, I didn’t have anything to do with it.”  “Well you tell Daddy not to color with his crayons on the mountain.  It’s very naughty.”

And today, after 5 hours of being away from home playing and shopping and eating, we pulled into the garage.  Samuel was begging to go play in the backyard.  I explained that we needed to go inside and feed Owen, and go to the bathroom, and rest.  Sam got more and more worked up because he wanted to play outside, and I wouldn’t give in.  Clearly he’d had enough of the argument, and knew exactly how to end it in his favor as he shouted at me, ”You don’t get to tell me NO!” 

Oh boy oh boy oh boy.  Yes, the sass is bad, but even worse is the fact that every sassy thing he says, he heard it from me first.  Lesson learned . . . or at least, learning.

This was Samuel’s third Sunday as a Sunbeam.  I spent most of November and December utterly flabbergasted that my baby was old enough to be going to Sunbeams.  The first Saturday of January, we had a Primary activity for the kids to meet their teachers and play a get-to-know-you game in their classrooms.  Then everyone came back together and watched a movie with popcorn and twizzlers.  Sam was stellar.  He was so good, followed right along, and fit right in with all the other kids.  I couldn’t believe it.  Little Sam was so grown up.

Sunday, unfortunately, was not so effortless.  Sam screamed and cried (I never would have thought that’s how he would react!) and was all over me as I tried to do Sharing Time.  It was a huge struggle.  The Sundays since have been just as trying.  Samuel is having a hard time adjusting, and I really think it’s totally my fault.  If I wasn’t in there, I think he’d be doing so much better.  At least class time goes really well.  He and I will just have to figure out how to make Sharing and Singing time work with Mommy there, too.

Samuel these days is growing up fast.  He has so much to say, and does not stop talking . . . ever.  He still loves to pretend, and he also enjoys making up crazy stories.  He spent a good 10 minutes telling me about how he went swimming with a shark, and they were fighting, and it bit him so he bit the shark and they were both very hurt, and it was naughty to fight, so then he got out of the water and was cold and needed a towel but the towel was in the laundry and on and on and on.  I wish I could remember the whole story.  It was amazing.

We were driving in the car and I started singing a silly song.  Sam, the bossy little thing, told me, “Stop that!  Don’t sing Chicka Chicka!”  So I asked what I should sing instead.  “Sing I am a Child of God.  That’s my favorite!”  So we sang that instead.  Then Sam was quiet for several minutes, kind of spacing and staring out the window.  He broke the silence and explained to me, “Mommy, Jesus was a baby on his birthday.  And Mary was Jesus Mommy and Joseph is the daddy and the three kings and wisemen brought Jesus his presents on camels.”  Oh.  He DOES listen.

I might have taken a turn a bit too fast one day when we were out.  Sam hollered at me, “Whoa, Mom, be careful!  You’re going to crash me!!”

With all the commotion that was going on in our house the last several weeks, Sam loved to follow the guys around, ask them their names, and find out what they were doing.  “Hey man, what are you doing to my house?”  It was all good and fun to have people in and out, but when they started taking things apart, Samuel was very ticked.  “Noooo!  Noo that’s my HOME, don’t break my HOME!!!”

I told you about Sam’s sad reaction to Owen’s 6 month check up.  So, a couple weeks later, when we had to take O to the doctor when he was sick, Samuel was beyond concerned.  He cried and cried most of the way there, telling me Owen was not sick anymore so I didn’t need to take him to the doctor again.  “Owen’s go to the doctor already, he doesn’t need go again and get more pokes.”  Once Sam figured he had me sufficiently convinced, he calmed down and turned to Owen.  “It’s alright, Baby O.  You don’t need to be afraid.  We’re not going to the doctor for pokes.  We’re going to see Grandpa W and the doggies!”   

Last night, Caroline came to visit.  We decided to go to Fuddrucker’s for dinner, but Caroline drove separately.  Samuel was a bit concerned, and kept asking me where Caroline was, and if she was coming with us.  When we were stopped at a traffic light, Sam gasped.  “Oh no, Mom!  Caroline’s going to get lost and go to McDonald’s!”  Much to his surprise, Caroline did in fact find us at Fuddrucker’s.

Also at Fuddrucker’s, Sam was ”playing” one of the arcade games.  He pulled out one of the big guns and started waving it in the air as he hollered, “Watch out everyone!  Stand back!!  I’m going to shoot now!”  Seriously, you don’t want to mess with this kid.