Mommy Work

After my shower this morning I went in to get Sammy out of his crib. When I asked him what he wanted, he said, "Mommy's bed," so I carried his warm little pajamed body into my room and we snuggled under the covers playing some of our favorite morning games. (Mommy Sleep, Mommy Wake Up being the current favorite.) After about ten minutes I said I have to get up and get ready for work.

"Remember Mommy is going to go away to work for the whole week and you're going to stay at Jamie's house all week?"
"Mommy trip. Mommy be sad."
"Right. Mommy is going to miss you. But you'll have fun at Jamie's house all week."
"Mommy no work. Mommy sleep."
"Mommy has to go to work to earn money to buy groceries and toys and those little goldfish you like."
"Mommy no work. TT buy groceries toys."

When I dropped him at Jamie's he gave me a big hug and kiss and said "I love you much!" before running off to play with the new plastic phone.

I miss him already.

Spasgas

No new Sammy pictures or stories of our spring adventures. Just this quote that is now my new favorite Sammy line:

"More spasgas. More spasgas. More spasgas PLEASE!"

:)

I So Excited!

Helping TT in the garden

Last week when we started counting down the days until Sam would see TT, he jumped up and down and moved his arms at high speed. "I so excited. I so excited," he said with a giant smile on his face. And TT did not disappoint. There were toys and sidewalk chalk and time in the garden. There were avocados ("I like cados.") and grilled steak ("More steak. More steak.") and fresh blueberries and an Easter basket full of chocolate and skittles. When we told Sam we were going to the zoo the next day, he said "I so excited," and did his little happy dance, pumping his arms and grinning for show. "I see animals." And when we mentioned a picnic that would include cheese, he wanted to know when. "I so excited picnic."

Hunting for the egg that is the right color

Our quiet picnic at the zoo morphed into a venture into the crowded world of toddler Easter egg hunts, and the day was less about animals and cheese than it was about purple and pink plastic eggs and Starburst fruit chews and Kit Kats. But we all had a blast. And after only a short nap we had a nice visit with Kelly and her family that still has Sammy talking. ("I want go Kelly's house. I play bubbles. I play cars Zacky Josh. I play blocks. I want go Kelly's house.")

Some things about the big boys haven't changed.

See more pictures of our action-packed easter weekend here.

I Scared Ants

A toddler picnic

Despite Sammy's sudden dramatic fear of all bugs ("I scared bees." "I scared ants.") we had a great time hanging out and picnicking and eating amazing Ledebuhr burgers with cottage bacon and delicious co-op tomatoes (care of Chef Dave) in Lucy's backyard. Perfect spring weather surrounded by purple crocus and the early sprouts of daylilies and daffodils on the verge of blooming. Sam even went for a bike ride in Dave's bike trailer ("I so excited.") On the way home he wanted to stop at the grocery store and buy yellow fish crackers. But once I convinced him that TT would buy more this weekend he said, "Lucy's house. Geddy. Arie. Fun! Geddy. Arie. Fun!" He kept saying everyone's name over and over again followed by "Fun!" until he remembered the ants. "I scared ants."

Lucy and Sam taking turns blowing bubbles

Sam and Gedion in the sandbox

Getting strapped in for a fun ride


Jamie and Lucy push Arie

I Love You Much!

Two moments I hope to never forget:

Sam over and over again saying "Peeeeee-euw!" and laughing hysterically as The Backyardigans hopped across The Swamp of Stinkiness to deliver an important message to King Austin. I have never seen him laughso hard at himself.

After I laid him in his crib tonight and said "Good night. I love you," Sam looked up at me and stretched his arms long and wide and said "I love you much!"

TT BUY More

TT and Sam venture to see the eagles on the river ice.

Last week Sam’s daycare was closed so TT came and took care of him for 3 days and he had the time of his life. A trip to the children’s museum (“I push buttons and chase lights, Mama!”), a venture to watch eagles on the river ice (“The eagles fly, Mama! And boats! Big boats. Yellow boat. Blue boat. And TT’s eagles.”), several trips to the grocery store and Target and the park and even McDonald’s (where he climbed up to the top of playland and then was too scared to come down by himself until some little boy named Caden helped him).

Sammy's morning at the Children's Museum.

Here are some snippets of conversations we’ve had since TT left on Wednesday afternoon:

Fishes. I want fish. Orange fish. [referring to goldfish crackers]

There are no more. You ate them at Nolan’s house.

TT buy more.

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More cookie. More cookie. [after dripping milk-soaked chips ahoy pieces all over the kitchen table.]

There are no more. We ate them all. Look. All gone.

TT buy more.

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Do you want cereal?

No.

Wheat Chex?

No.

Are you sure?

No cereal! Banana.

Okay.

[Mommy proceeds to eat the last of the wheat chex, soaked in milk and sprinkled with sugar.]

Mama! Cereal. I want that!

You want this? Here.

NO!!!!!!!! No milk. Just that. [pointing to wheat chex. When I pick one out of the milk and hand it to him he throws it.] No!!!!!! No milk.

That’s all that’s left. Mommy took the last of the wheat chex. See? [shaking the box] All gone.

TT buy more.

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[Standing in front of the refrigerator door after Sam insisted on juice.]

I want that! [pointing to an open can of Fresca with just a few swallows left]

No. You can have juice. You want juice?

I want that!!!!!

Okay. Here. [handing him the can and waiting while he gulps it down]

I want more.

There isn’t any more. All gone.

TT buy more.

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Here's something else that TT bought:

Big Thaw

Playing in the driveway 2 weeks ago

Helping Mommy clean the driveway 2 days ago

Hoops

Who needs dinner when you have sunshine and melted snow and temperatures in the 40's and a basketball hoop at just the right height? It was at least 30 minutes before our game deteriorated into splashing in the puddles. Spring is just around the corner. Check out the little man's form. Future badger?