Cabbage Patch Baby

Then this happened...

Strollers and Puddles

We got a toy stroller for $1 from a neighbor's yard sale today.  Sam loaded up the basket underneath with toy cars (obviously) and his baby went it and luckily got buckled in.  Then he raced around the house crashing and yelling, "oh no!  The baby tipped over!  The baby bumped!"
(Nothing to do with his feelings for his sister of course).
Later on we went to a graduation party and wanted to take his stroller and walk down the sidewalk with Vivian and I, and push strollers together.

This is what happened to the stroller at the party when he found a giant mud puddle.  You can't tell in the photos, but the basket is caked in mud.  Glad I only paid a dollar!

                                      

Riding with Baby

Sam has become very attached to his baby doll, who we encouraged him to name "Rachel," to get it out of his system.  He has been caring for her in his own way, and wants to take her to bed at night,  and when we go out in the car.
Recently we retrieved some baby items from the attic to get ready for his sibling.  In the process he remembered that his really annoying, ride-on-toy was up there.  It came back down (the poor downstairs tenants), and is intermittently a fire-truck or car.  When it's a car, the baby doll needs to be riding with him, which involves strapping it on with rubber bands.  The poor doll is usually haphazardly hanging to one side.  One unfortunate time the baby fell off and Sam arrived in the kitchen and opened his seat to reveal the baby stuffed inside.
Chris peered at it and said, "that's the Italian in him, the body in the trunk," as I was saying, "that's why he is not being left alone with his sibling, ever."

Preparing for Baby

Sam seems to be adjusting to the idea that there is a baby arriving soon, in his own way.  I'm sure the reality will be very different, but small steps are good.  He is fascinated with the bassinet, although he calls it a "baby's nest." He puts his own baby to bed in it and tucks it in.  (He also sometimes hides in it when he plays Hide n' Seek).  He has practiced diapering his baby doll too, which is great fun but he wants to throw the "dirty diapers" away when he's done (which will cost a fortune if we let him as he uses the real newborn diapers), as well as the ten tissues he uses to "wipe" the baby.

The names he has picked for the baby are "Rachel" for a girl, which is the name of his best friend at school, if it's a boy, he wants to name it "Santa Claus."  We can't tell if he's joking or not, but why not? Rachel and Santa are both important people.

We get digital albums of photos from Sam's school once a month or every two months.  I thought he talked a lot about school, but I think I hear about the same activities repeatedly (& probably because I know about them so I ask about them).  I was surprised to see photos of him "washing" a baby, with the caption, "Sam washes the baby every day."  When I asked him, he told me, "yep," in that careless tone that means "of course, you should know that."
I mentioned he could help us wash his new brother or sister when he/she arrives.
He said, "no, I don't help, I do it myself, I know how."  (note the baby in the tub is face down).

  

Sam & Baby Hang Out

Sam hanging out with his baby doll in a new hat made by a dear family friend in Wales.  His baby doll is newly outfitted also, with a  matching hat.  He was thrilled.