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."

Baby Beluga and Mummy

Sam and I were drawing pictures last night.  He has an oval shape that he draws a lot, which resembles the shape of a whale.
"Oh, I drew Baby Beluga."  (A favorite song and book that we read).
"Here's another Baby Beluga."
He holds up the paper for Chris and I to see and points to it.  "This one is bigger.  It gets bigger and bigger, just like mummy!"

I have gotten bigger and bigger, this is true.  With this baby hanging out a few days overdue, it was lovely to be compared to a whale ; )

Alligators and Kitty-cats

I was getting ready for work the other morning and Sam was in the bedroom with me.   He had been playing with Annie, who was attempting to rest on the bed.
He told me, "ow!  Annie scratch me"
I assured him that she had just swiped at him because she didn't want to play, she was trying to rest and didn't know how to tell him.  He left the room and returned a few minutes later with his Etch-a-Sketch.
He drew quietly for a few minutes and then asked, "will you draw me at alligator?"
I drew a quick alligator and continued to get ready.  When I glanced over Sam had the Etch-a-Sketch positioned over Annie and she looked pissed off.
"SNAP!" he was saying, moving it closer, "SNAP!"

Nothing like a little Etch-a-Sketch retaliation.

Painting

Pure concentration.  Another snowy day and super windy.  I have no desire to be out there!  Keep hoping the wind will die down at least, so we found lots of indoor activities to do.  I retrieved the easel my Dad made me from the basement and got the paints out.  The easel is the perfect size for Sam now.

Painting is very serious business.  We also painting egg carton caterpillars.  Not very seasonal, but it took a while.

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).