Sam & Chris in the Morning

Sam's breakfast the other morning while I was getting ready for work.  Daddy was definitely up with him ; )  Chris got a little extra sleep and his head patted while Sam munched on his bagel.

Mad Cat

Annie decided she wanted to go outside today and tore out of the house in front of Sam and I.  I figured she'd learn her lesson quickly enough.  Sure enough, after she made it down the snowless stairs and portion of sidewalk, she took off for the backyard and we heard relentless meowing.  She was not happy at all and sought higher and dryer ground until she could be retrieved.  Nothing like watching a 2.5 year old in mounds of snow, while trying to get a pissed-off cat off a gate where of course it is not shoveled, while 9 months pregnant.

Blizzard February 2013

Thankful for making it through with power and no damage, no arrival of the baby, Chris being able to sleep last night between plowing and shoveling, and a little one who loves the snow.  Sam would still be out there now if I let him.  These were from about 10 am this morning when the snow was still falling and taken after Chris's guys had snow blowed and shoveled.  The snow was/is in drifts up to my knees where it is untouched.  We haven't made it off our property get, driving ban is still in effect and no where to go anyway.  

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).

  

Developing Music

Lately Sam has been loving music class at school, which translates to different things at home.

• playing his toy piano, loudly and singing at the top of his lungs
• reciting rhymes and songs 
• making up songs for us that tend to be slightly repetitive ("Lilac room, Lilac room, lilac room...." (his classroom) for several refrains)
• asking me, "you know this song?" singing it for me, and if I try to join in, shaking his head and sadly saying, "no, you no know it."  
• listening to one or two songs repeatedly- like "Puff the Magic Dragon," (a little depressing) and "Life is a Highway," (I never want to hear it again).

Here is one of the cuter and more manageable clips of his newfound love for music.  He came home and starting doing this for us for a few days, until he really learned the words and we understood.

Chilly Day

Ahh, Boston.  Commuting today was not very fun.  The car did warm up about 5 minutes from work (20 minutes after I would have liked it to) and I had Sam with me, "Mama, it's cold," repeatedly.  Sure was.

Sled & Snow

It finally snowed a decent amount (five inches) and we pulled out the sleds, which is the first time in Sam's lifetime. (Last year we had a very mild winter & the year before he was too young).  Sam much prefers to pull the sleds, on snow or pavement, then riding in them.  I think it's about loss of control and not being able to manipulate the direction.  So we hike around the neighborhood pulling sleds.  It does make it convenient if we are stopping at a store though, we just pull the bags home on the sled (or Chris's 6 pack of beer).
                                       

                                     

to the Vet

Off to the vet again today, for a follow-up appointment to another bite wound from another cat fight.  Since it's finally cold out, I think the cat may actually stay inside now and hopefully encounter less injuries.
This time Chris helped me load her into the carrier before he went off to work.  Sam packed a backpack full of toys, even though I explained we would only be there for a short time, and after a scramble to get dressed (how are we doing this with two again in a few months?), we were out the door.  The cat of course was going nuts, meowing nonstop, so "to make her feel better," Sam belted out, "Itsy-Bitsy Spider," and "Baa-Baa Black Sheep," for the drive.  When I finally got him to sing at a normal volume, the cat strangely enough did quiet down.  The bite was all healed, some vaccines administered, and she is of course on quarintene again, inside for 6 months.  When we got home, she immediately got out when Chris got home, but came back shortly after as it is snowing and cold.
Sam's been checking on her constantly, giving her no peace at all, but she seems content.