Sam snippets

We're all sick. This is the first time we've all come down with a cold at the same time. Sort of the first time Sam has had a cold, so I guess I shouldn't complain. He's had a 24 hour stomach flu (that was awful) and then I think he had a cold a while ago, but it was very mild and short-lived. So this is the first time where we're stuck inside for days, all coughing, sneezing, and stuffy nosed. All of us. Uck. But I think Sam and I are on the mend. Aaron isn't sure he is yet. I hope we're all feeling better real soon because Christmas is right around the corner and we have oodles of visitors a-comin'.

Sick or not, I'm leaving the house tomorrow to get a haircut, if nothing else. It's been many months. I have bad highlights growing out that I can't do anything about really since I'm pregnant, but at least getting rid of the fuzzy ends will hopefully make things feel better! And I better decide on something to make for Christmas dinner and hit the grocery store as well.

Sam is so funny. He's been such a charmer lately. The other night he was drawing with his dad beside the Christmas tree, listening to an old Christmas record and he just told us "me happy, me happy". We said, "you're happy??" and he said "'kay." (he says okay for any positive yes word). Then he asked his dad if he was happy, then he asked me if I was happy. Then he looked at me around the chair and said "kiss!" and asked me to come over and give him a kiss. What a sweetheart.

And tonight while prolonging actually going to bed, he wanted to sing me a song. He stood in front of me with his hands clasped behind his back and smiled coyly, then covered his face and giggled. I suggested the Lollipop Guild song from Wizard of Oz. I asked if he wanted me to sing it with him and he said "No!" So then he built up the courage to perform, singing "Lollipop Guild! Lollipop Guild!" over and over, starting off shy and soon dancing all through the house.

Also tonight he did a lot of singing "Barbara Ann" with his dad; Aaron used his plastic microphone while Sam played his guitar with a makeshift guitar strap he put together. He was really hamming it up. Got into Huey Lewis' "Power of Love" too.

Oh! And also prolonging bedtime tonight: He wanted to drink some water and surely spilled a little on his pants. I said, "Don't worry, it will dry." He fussed about getting some dry pants. I gave in with a huffy "Fine." (because I'm so grown up and mature) and gave him a dirty look. As I left the room to get the dry pants he said "Love you too, Mom."

And another cute moment... Aaron was coughing in the other room and Sam said "D sick?" (Dad is always D). I said "yes." Sam said "me sick too." and then "mom." (because mom is sick too). Then he asked "Baby?" haha. I said "No Sam, I think the baby is ok." He'll give me bites of food for the baby too.

And speaking of baby. We have such the wiggle worm here! He's always rolling and tumbling around. I think I can kind of feel him from the outside now too. We have made little progress on names (please, feel free to share suggestions). I also have realized that I'm kind of sad that I won't be having a daughter. I'm not sad that our new guy is a boy, but since we're not (at this point in our lives) planning to have more than two children, this is it. I will be a mom of two sons. I guess I just always imagined I'd have a daughter. I feel really silly or guilty to say it, but it's true. I want excuses to buy stupidly cute little girl things and all of that. But announcing this loud and publicly seems to help me get over it. I love my little boy now, and I'm sure it will be love at first sight with my second little guy too. And how nice that they are brothers and will have each other. Still, those of you with baby girls watch out. I may just have to shower you with girl stuff.

It's a...

BOY!

But you all know that already anyway, thanks to Facebook and email.

I realize now that I really thought it was going to be a girl. I'm not SURPRISED that it's a boy, I just thought it would be a girl and most of my day dreaming was of girl stuff and girl names and what not. I'm glad we decided to find out the gender because now we can actually start thinking about who our little guy is and Sam can prepare for his little brother. Little brother!! So fun.

This little guy already seems to have his own personality (which, you know, is obvious, but still...). He wiggles and moves ALL the time. He wouldn't stay still during the ultrasound either. I wonder what that will mean :-/ Of course you feel the movements a lot more second time around, and this time we have a posterior placenta and the first time we had anterior placenta so that has a big impact on how you feel it all.

Anyway, we are all just so excited to have had a chance to see him move and have all his parts and all of that. He's really there! He's with us already! It's pretty amazing.

In other news, work has slowed down, we're prepping for the holidays. Mike & Sarah will visit, as will my dad, and then Aaron's parents will even be able to stop by for a couple of nights. It will be nice to have time with family.

Here are some Christmas Sam pics:

Winter Updates

It's cold. It has been cold. There is snow. There is ice. It's too cold. But I definitely prefer cold with snow to cold without. At least it's pretty and feels like Christmas.

We have a Christmas tree! I think our first in five years. We just picked it up at the grocery store. I hope it lasts until Christmas! It is full of weird and charming (to us, anyway) ornaments, primarily made by friends and family. I am sitting writing this post by the glow of the lights. We've been watching Christmas movies and listening to the Erlewine Christmas Tape (now as mp3s, of course). I have to say that one awesome thing about kids is holidays. They become really fun again. Sam is starting to understand all of these things, and it is so fun to share traditions and excitement with him. I'm having a hard time deciding what gift to get him though. I've purchased a lot of small odds and ends and want to have some presents under the tree before Christmas, but then some for the magic of Christmas morning too. But I also don't want to go overboard. It's too much money, too much commercialism, too much consumerism, and my two year old would be happy with so many simple things. Plus, I know his extended family will also shower him with goodies. It is interesting to figure out how we are going to "do Christmas," mixing different family traditions -- trying to relive those of our own past, yet forge our own new ones. Do we tell him all about Santa? Do we really try to make him believe all the stories? I guess we'll see.

In other news, the semester is winding to a close. I don't have a real break like those academic appointments do, but still, half time work, flexible hours, and decrease in faculty/activity around campus will feel like a break. And I could use one. I never thought about my job as being particularly physical, but in the last month or so it has become increasingly apparent that there are aspects of my job that I cannot (or SHOULD not, which may be more accurate) perform. It is not uncommon for me to haul stuff around, do lifting, climb ladders, paint walls, and all sorts of not-recommended-for-pregnant-ladies activities. It has been really hard to not be "able" to do them, particularly when I feel like I am perfectly able. Quite frankly, this may be the aspect of pregnancy I like the least. Feeling incapable, or like that fragile little lady in "delicate condition". The human body is strong; the female body is designed to protect this womb in amazing ways. Pregnant women are now encouraged to exercise and do all sorts of things. At the same time, I guess ladders and heavy lifting are still no-nos. Sigh. Anyway, next semester should be ok though. I've managed to get myself a grad assistant for the term. It won't be renewable (because of funding) but at least I'll have someone to help me with all that stuff, as well as the tasks I never seem to be able to do in just 20 hrs/week. Also, if baby comes early (or even on time), there will be someone there to oversee things while I'm off.

In Sam development news, all is going great. He's a kid now. He's talking more and more every week. He still can be a bit hard to decipher. Sentences are still primarily 2-4 words long, but he may have done 5 or more words now. He is getting really into singing. Often gets the words at the end of a phrase and speak-sings more than sings. Some of his favorites are "Charlie Brown" and "Barbara Ann," "Happy Birthday,"... He likes "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman" too. He is a really funny kid and most of all really nice and sweet. I'm so proud of him and who he is. I am always unsure as to what impact a parent really has on who their child is. I think we really just lucked out with this guy, but if I can take credit for it, I will. He's just a really neat kid. Today we had a nice day that again started with too much TV (he's into the cartoon Josie & the Pussycats -- "pussycat! pussycat! watch that!") but then we had a playdate, went to Walmart (complete with toddler meltdown -- I felt right at home in the socially questionable Walmart), lunch, nap. After nap Sam made lasagna with me, he did a huge poop in his pants (he is struggling with doing #2 on the potty), had dinner, took a bath, then had hot cocoa and watched some of a movie with me. Good day.

I have some work to do but don't feel like it. But I should probably get to it since it's 11 pm. Tomorrow is our office holiday party. Hope that's ok and not too awkward. I have to set up and clean up because there are only four of us in the office right now, including the head of the school, so...

Some snow pics of Sam:

New Post

Today started off very nice. Sam and I have had too much TV time (cold out, and I'm always tired). BUT we did make salt dough Christmas ornaments and that was a lot of fun. Then this afternoon I had to go to work and it was work. Sigh. There are days when I love my job and days when I want to run away. Do you suppose there are any jobs out there that don't include the wanting to run away feeling?? I guess I don't think there are. There are always colleagues that are awkward to deal with. Always tasks that you'd rather not do. Or reasons to cause second guessing and self doubt. I'm trying to get over that, or just accept it and not let it get me down. I need tricks on how to do this though.

Sam and ornament making: