To the Zoo

Sam learned a new sign today. He learned how to give me Thumbs Up!



I'm a little proud. But he had a lot to give Thumbs up about, we went to the zoo today, for the first time without big brother. And we had a good time.



Sea lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh My!



But we met up with our friend Nathanael and his mama Rachel, which made for a nice playdate too.



I better get used to this weird feeling of being with Sam for most of the day all by ourselves,



These two crack me up. They think I'm the Crazy one? I'm not the one hopping fences to run off with giraffes.



Or just run off.



Luckily Sam doesn't go too far.



It was a great visit, good to see friends, albeit a little strange to not have big brother dictating or troublemaking. Don't get me wrong, Sam is feisty, he really fought a nap when we got home, powernapping in the car doesn't quite count, but it's like a whole different kid.

Did I mention he's starting to say his own name, I thought I heard him say Sam today. Not Siv. I don't think i'm ready for that. Though sometimes I can talk him into saying his whole name, Samuel Elijah Willman, sometimes it sounds like Siv Yijah Nulan. Today I swear I hear Sam Yijah. Mostly he says, I Not Sam Yijah. But you are baby, you are.

Big Brother's Photography of Sam's 1st Swim Class

Chris took pictures on his waterproof polaroid camera of Sam's First Swim class, which was June 4. Big Brother wasn't allowed to swim yet because of his surgery, so he sat under the lifeguard chair next to our class. Chris has got a good eye, if only he'd quit moving the camera around while he snaps, a lot of his pics are blurry.



But I think Sam is his favorite person to photograph. Even when he's screaming. ;)

Singing, and Dancing, in the Rain

I know I probably shouldn't take my camera outside in the rain, but this week our group Crazy days of Summer's theme is Water. And this week we've had nothing but rain, it's only sunny during naptime. And today we were getting buckets of it. Flood warnings all over and everything. Leave it to Sam to want to go out and play in it.



Sam's upper right molar is in now too, hooray! 2 down, 2 to go. Sam is Crazy. But he was having lots of fun exploring in puddles, and putting out his hand to catch raindrops.



Even I have to admit, I love summer storms. It's the tornadoes that make me nervous. Luckily, this round is just rainstorms. It's so adorable seeing him take his crocs and try jumping in a puddle for the first time. He's been practicing trying to Jump. He gives his body a jump, and his body jerks, but his feet don't leave the ground. Then he takes a step, and he's thrilled, so we cheer him on, just like he did jump. One of these days, the feet and body will learn to work together.



But he was pretty happy to run in the rain. And I couldn't help break into song. So there we were playing outside in the rain, literally singing, "Singing in the Rain".



A Good Day!

Sam's VBS

This week big brother was feeling good enough to attend VBS, Vacation Bible School with his best friend Emily at her church. Sam has been really bummed that brother gets dropped off. Sam had a big meltdown the first day because he wasn't going to get to wear a purple scarf and a Disney castle shirt like brother...he even called the church Disney castle. I tried to convince he wasn't missing much, but he didn't believe me.

So we took Sam and his best girlfriends over to where Sam will be going to Preschool (Mom's Morning Out) this fall, at Advent Lutheran Church to register. Unfortunately, only the maintenance man was home. But the kids had a WONDERFUL time running wild around the church.



Who'd have thought all we needed was an extra wide sidewalk and Sam and the girls would have run wild.



It felt like Kathleen and I were playing Keep Away, but we weren't throwing anything, just exchanging hugs with sweeties, and they'd run back and forth and back again for more hugs. It was Wonderful.



Yesterday morning, Sam wanted to be just like big brother; he told me he had to poopoo potty. So on the potty he went. He fibbed a little, he'd already gone. But at least he's showing signs. Maybe we'll potty train 2 boys soon!



When we took Chris back to VBS yesterday, Sam was upset, but he said he wanted his OWN VBS. Who were we to argue?

So we took Sam to the Art Museum gardens with the Julius twins on his own playdate.



Mommy and her Siv find a fountain!



Not exactly a VBS per se, but more like letting them investigate God's wonders on their own. We let the kids get down and play. They had a great time.



Tiptoeing through the hostas. It was perfect weather for an early summer romp in the gardens.



Sam and the girls poked sticks into holes in trees, good times were had by all.



We even found a giant rock and took a few pics there. Sam was so good. He called it my rock, when he first found it, he ran up to it and gave it a hug.



Have I mentioned he's starting to say his full name, mostly as a joke, like when he's playing, he'll say, "I not Sana Yija Nillan, I Siv." But I thought I heard him say something close to Sam the other. He's saying real words, like Yes (yus) instead of yeah. I don't know what I'll do when he doesn't call himself Siv anymore.



I didn't take any pics of Sam playing with the girls today, but Sam will be having a great time on his own VBS adventures this summer.

Ba ya agin

When Sam woke up from his nap this afternoon, as soon as I picked him up he said, "Mommy. I watch Ba ya agin. OK? I watch Bayaagin." Backyardigans. He was so sweet, so matter of fact.

But Mommy's no sucker.

I tell him, you have to ask nicely, say please. Without a word, he rubs his belly, the ASL sign for please.

Yes. I caved.

I turn on the show on Netflix streaming, even though big brother is still sleeping. As soon as the intro starts rolling, Sam turns to me, "Mommy, I yuv you."

But what he really means is Sucker.

Little Heartbreaker

This week Sam has been a hot fuss. Not just because its a bajillion degrees outside with equal % humidity. I spent most of the week thinking Sam wasn't sleeping because he was just adjusting to us being back home again. I imagined that being the center of everyone's world for a week took its toll.



You can see where I'd get this idea. We met up with my friend Jaime this week, she'd kept Sam for an overnight, and he just was so content with her, almost like he was an honorary member of the family. Was he working the system? Perhaps. Some of the friends that watched him last week posted pictures so I could see just how tough Sam had it.



But I don't think many minded the addition of an honorary member of the family. Sam was spoiled pretty thoroughly, and frankly I was glad. Let him think that last week was a bunch of slumber parties and play dates, not because brother was in the hospital. Actually, I was a bit jealous that Sam's been having so much fun without me.



Apparently, he had a great time watching Dr. Jason play video games during his slumber party with Noah.



And after a trip to the park, playground, and lunch, not Sam nor his friend Riley could stay awake, and they fell asleep on Aunt Belinda. I was so glad Maria sent this pic, it's so adorable, and it really is a telltale clue to just how much fun Sam was having while we were at Riley.



In other news though, Sam started swim classes today. Big brother had to sit poolside and watch, but I managed to get this pic in before we hit the water. Sam was so excited, he didn't want to listen to the pool rules, he wanted to "Get in Wa'er!" So we let him, it was Cold. But he splashed and splashed. He had a wonderful time. I think he's really going to love swim class this summer!

I also learned today that he has been sleeping terribly because he was/is teething. 2 year molars are working their way in. We were saying Ahh and I got a glimpse of an extra, his Lower right molar has worked itself about 2/3 through, but that explains the terrible sleeping the last few nights. He's been up every hour or two.