Deep Thoughts by Sam K.

Sam is taking a class at Little Gym and loooves it. Anyway, we were driving to Little Gym, kind of a quiet drive, but Sam broke the silence with this:

Sam: I like your ears, Mom.

Me: Well thanks, Sam. I like your ears, too!

Sam: Thank you!!

The Moments I've Been Waiting For...

it's here! the beginnings of broccoli!

This may very well seem like a little much. But, this growing season is way more exciting than the last for some reason. I have to admit that my new 'hobby' feels more like an addiction.....but oh well. I've decided that even though it may bring out the compulsiveness in me, this veggie garden is here to stay. Why am I this excited about broccoli and gardening in general? Let's see.... there is a small chance that it's because this endeavor is turning out to be productive and won't be destroyed the minute I am finished (which CANNOT be said about any housework attempted) or maybe that, thanks to the interweb, I can learn so many new things quickly. Also, our backyard veggies were surprisingly tasty last year, and I'm feeling greedy for more!

I have dreams of blanching and freezing enough green beans and broccoli for meals that last through winter. I have visions of jars of backyard-made salsas and sauces filling our pantry. Am I crazy? Possibly. Is this realistic? Probably not. Am I going to keep daydreaming? Yep!

baby sugar snap peas!!

Sam is 2!!!!!

Our little man is 2!!!!!

I can remember the car ride home from finding out that our second baby was going to be a boy. I kept thinking, "A boy. A boy. Hmmmm. I wonder what that will be like. I have no idea what that will be like." Well, I do now, and it has been a trip! Sam is absolutely one-in-a-million. He is smart, funny, animated, and dramatic. He loves to snuggle and is very caring and concerned about those around him. He often tells family members, "I lub you." He loves to talk. He absorbs and uses every word he has ever heard. He used to call his Grandparents, mawmaw and pawpaw, but has graduated to Grandma and Grandpa. He is unusually clumsy, but comes by that honestly. His poor noggin seems to catch every corner he encounters. In so much, that he has come to me on many occasions, rubbing his head with tears, saying, "I caught the corner." He loves to help in the kitchen and INSISTS on being my assistant.

He can turn anything in front of him into a big, destructive mess...quickly. He adores his sister. He is aware of his dairy allergy, and often reminds those around him, "I can't have cow milk. It makes my tummy hurt" or can be found asking, "does it have dairy in it?" He is athletic and recently has been practicing frisbee. He has one volume, loud. He can count to 20. He knows his colors and shapes. He loves all things birthday and is very serious about telling everyone the steps for presenting and eating birthday cake.

He loves to sing and dance. Literally, he feels the music in his soul!!! At 5 months, he surprised me by humming with his lullaby and has always automatically started to dance when he hears a good beat. He plays a mean air guitar. He knows the definition of a slow jam and dances accordingly.

A little air guitar before breakfast

His interpretation of the pediatrician's office on hold music

He loves to draw, mostly fishies, strawberries, or circles. Everyday is opposite day for Sam. Up is down, off is on, in is out. His favorite animal is a zebra. He laughs a ton and enjoys telling knock, knock jokes. His favorite is told in one breath, "Knock, knock, who's there, interruffting cow, boo!"

He is an early riser and always has been. He loves to eat. He usually has about 3 breakfasts. His favorite foods are clif bars, waffles, pancakes, chicken nuggets and asparagus. His favorite desserts are cake, suckers, jellybeans, and "black and white cookies". He looks handsome in a tie. He pretends to go to work like daddy. He rarely asks a question once. In fact, now that I think about it, it is possible he has never done this. He prefers repeating himself. Right now, he especially likes asking repeatedly, "Whatchya say? What'd ya say? Whatchya say?" He likes reading books and doing puzzles. His favorite books are The Foot Book, "The Owl Sammy Book", and Goodnight Moon. He likes to point out that the bowl of mush "is just like oatmeal."

Sam, you are more than we could have ever imagined! We enjoy you everyday and are thankful you are here! Happy 2nd Birthday!

Finally!

Ok...so by "I resolve to be more committed to this blog", apparently I meant starting 4 months into the new year. I apologize for all of the broken promises and will leave you with only one more. I promise not to make promises. No more forecasting what I am going to blog. It doesn't work, and apparently makes me avoid blogging.... so no more promises, for now.

My absence can also probably be explained by the time period between November through February, also known as the Plague-That-Was-Our-Life. From what I can recall it went a little something like this: flu viruses, rsv for everyone, a week in Children's Hospital during an ice storm, followed by a few more emergency room visits, 100 popsicles (or according to Sam "possibles") consumed, 105.7 fevers that last 9 days, ear infections, pneumonias, chest x-rays, strep cultures, blood tests, destruction of any kind of sleeping routine we have ever had, food logs, medication diaries, diaper documentaion, daily visits to the pediatrician, asthma treatments every 4 hours around the clock, pink eye for everyone, and allergic reactions to antibiotics. Yep, that about covers it.

in good spirits despite the plague

sending Emma picture emails because we were snowed in away from her

But, most of you reading already know this because you were there for us every step of the way. Thank you. Thank you! We never forget how lucky we are to have all of this support. SOOOO..... FINALLY....spring has sprung, and we are mostly healthy, and a little more informed. Sam does not have an IgA immune deficiency, which I was suspecting. Emma is allergic to both fall and spring allergens, compliments of me. And apparently, the viruses lurking this season, were NOT messing around. I was ready to put those two in bubbles.

But yahoo, it is April. We haven't seen our pediatrician or her staff in quite a while, and I'm pretty sure we are not going to experience any more freakish spring snow storms. Also, gardening season is here! I've been drawing out my plans and studying up on companion gardening and organic pest control.

So far, I have not been able to stop myself from planting cool weather veggies like broccoli, swiss chard, spinach, and a red leaf salad mix. I installed a strawberry pyramid and moved our transplants. Seeds have been started for heirloom pole beans, purple bush beans, snap peas, rainbow colored carrots, chives, more spinach, and salad mixes. I'm hoping to get a salad out of the back yard. We'll see what happens. Right now, all I'm getting out of the backyard gardening is two very muddy lil' ones and a new tradition where it is required to take off all of their clothes at the door and immediately carry them to the bath. But despite the mess, I do appreciate their help, most of the time.

So, to wrap it up, my apologies for the hiatus, many thank yous for helping us through the plague, and stay tuned for updates on all things growing around these parts.

All better!