Sam is TWO!

Well, it is the big day! Sam's second birthday and I am in total disbelief, but I really do love this age. We went through a rough spot at about 20 months, but since things have been great and I am not sure why they're called the "terrible two's"...yet anyway!

At two Sam:

• Loves to play with his cars, trucks, boats...anything that will "go, go, go", as he likes to say frequently.


• Has some language skills, uses a few words such as, "more", "please", "go,", "NO!"...and a few muddled phrases like, "Where did it go?" and "Go away, please", which he says to the dog when he is trying to steal Sam's snacks.


• Puts himself to sleep in his big boy twin bed that beloged to his father, grandmother and great-grandfather.


• Sleeps usually until 6 a.m. then joins us in our bed and sometimes sleeps longer.


• Is completely weaned, as of about 22 or 23 months of age and it quite fine with it. He adjusted well and never asks for milk anymore, but will still talk about it when he sees my exposed breasts!


• Is beginning to share very well and show compassion for others when they are upset. He is also beginning to understand that his actions have reactions, such as taking a toy from his friend will make his friend cry.


• Is showing signs of being a somewhat disciplined boy! Or I should write that he is listening to directions and requests with much more respect than ever before! I like that!


• Is extremely energetic, enthusiastic and exuberant! He has more personality than most kids his age here. I am not just biased! He will express himself with fabulous shouts of joy, grunts of distaste, screams of anger. All of his emotions are amplified compared to his friends. I really enjoy it.


• Enjoys the movie "Robots" and almost any book you'll read to him. He will now sit through 4 or 5 books before bed and really likes the "Little Monster" and "Little Critter" series from the late '70's and "Duck on a Bike" is still a big favorite.


• Weighs about 30 lbs and I am not sure of his height...but will measure him soon. He wears a 3T consistently now and his shoe size is an 8/9!


• Still enjoys cuddling with mama and I LOVE it. He will sometimes take a nap laying on my chest on the couch.


• LOVES daddy and looks forward to his homecoming everyday...loves to help with yardwork and generally be outside.

Score!

I couldn't let this score pass by without bragging....just a little! For all you Birkenstock lovers out there....I scored these birks, the exact birks I have been wanting, in my size (almost to a "T"), in the exact color I wanted....for only....wait you'd better be sitting down.....yes, for only ONE DOLLAR! I know, you can stop crying now...I will add that the the soles are in superb shape, the leather inners are barely worn....aside from a few slight scuffs you can see around the toes...they might as well be brand new! So, with a savings of around $119.00, I can now go buy a cute summer preggo dress to wear with them! And who knows...maybe in a few years when I am in need of a new style, they'll get passed on to one of you lucky folks! P.S. Ignore the pasty white, scaley, legs attached!

Update

Well, I haven't written much in a while, as there isn't much new here. Just trying to get through this first trimester (almost there, another week to go!) and salvage my house and family. My visit with the midwife at 9 weeks, after an internal exam, showed that my uterus is growing about 2 weeks larger that my actual gestation. Just like with Sam! I am beginning to feel better. The mornings are good, but by afternoon and definately evening, I am tired and then feeling sick around 8 pm. So I try to get most things done in the morning and so far so good. I am not napping everyday, like I was, but some days I still need them.

We meet with the midwife on Monday to hear the heartbeat and I am excited for that, as we haven't heard it yet.

Next week is Sam's 2nd birthday! I am planning a little playgroup party..should be fun!

Immigration Demonstration

Yesterday Matt, Sam and I went into downtown Wenatchee to watch and support the immigration reform demonstration. Thousands of people came to protest and it was so empowering I was in tears. The peacful and strong chanting in English and Spanish, "Yes, we can!", and "Once unified, never divided!". It was such a sight to see and to be a part of. For the story and photo credits visit: http://www.wenworld.com/index.php

Never Thought

The past month of our lives has pushed us to make a few parenting decisions that I thought we'd never come to...but they seem to be working for us. With my being sick all the time and feeling my worst in the evenings and Matt now working more in the evenings; we have been working with Sam on putting himself to sleep....and yes, there has been some crying involved.

A few nights ago we decided to talk to Sam about putting himself to sleep. So, I read some books to him and sang a few songs and then explained that I was going to leave the room and that it was time for him to try to go to sleep on his own. He nodded and seemed to understand. I left the room and the crying ensued. He cried for about 15 minutes when Matt went in (I was in bed at this point) and once again explained that everything was okay, we were just outside the room...Sam nodded and Matt left. He cried.....etc. This lasted about 45 minutes. He didn't cry the entire time, and Matt went in every 15 minutes to comfort him and eventually he went to sleep. The next night it was 30 minutes....the same routine and last night it was less than 10 minutes. Nap times are working the same and today he only cried for about 5 minutes.

I know that any hardcore AP parent would chastise me for what we're doing and I have felt a little guilt. I just can't go through the nighttime bed routine we were doing feeling like I am and Matt is now working right during bedtime. This solutions is working and Sam seems to be doing just fine. I haven't noticed any extra clinging during the day or acting out or any strange behaviour at all. It helps that we are completely weaned now and have been for a few weeks. He doesn't even ask for milk at all anymore! (I am actually okay with it too!)

So, needless-to-say, I never thought we'd let Sam "cry it out". And even if I rationalize that he's almost two and we can reason with him, that he's not an infant and he can understand our presence exists outside of him room, that he is showing no signs of rejection or abandonment......it is still a form of "crying it out". I am coming to terms with the fact that we can still be AP parents even if we've chosen this method...right? I still honor Sam's needs and listen to him. I am still a compassionate mother that holds the mother-child bond higher than any other. I still encourage positive discipline. I don't spank.

I just never thought....

"It Was Easy!"

Matt and Sam returned from their cross-county adventure yesterday about 5 p.m. I was gifted another full day of rest and "LOST" episodes on DVD as Matt decided to spend the morning in Seattle with friends before the drive over the mountains.

When they pulled into the driveway I expected to see Sam awake and smiling, excited to see me...but to my surprise he was fast asleep in the car seat. This gave Matt and I some time reconnect and talk about the trip. When asked how it was to travel alone with a toddler across the country, Matt replied, "It was easy!" Yes, I was very surprised at his response, as I have never found it to be easy! But, I was glad to hear that he enjoyed the trip with his son. This could lead to future adventures without Mom, you see....and I could handle that once a year or so.

Today was a very good day with my feeling exceptionally well and energized for a change. The weather was amazing, 70 degrees and sunny...so we spent the morning at the park blowing bubbles and playing in the sun, the afternoon sleeping, and the evening grilling chicken and taking a leisurely stroll with Matt and Cyrus. All in all a very nice day.

Now, I am feeling quite sleepy and ready for bed...good night.

A Bit Better

I don't have much time to write this morning as I head out to babysit for the day, but I am feeling a bit better. It comes and goes and yesterday was a little rough, but today seems to be going pretty good so far.

Matt and Sam are on a daddy-son adventure to Iowa to visit Matt's grandma. I opted to stay here due to my sickness! It is a quick trip, but it leaves me here with no kiddo to watch and no hubby to help! I am mixed about the time away. If I were feeling well I would be excited and busy with fun projects....but since I am not I rented the first season of Desperate Houswives so I can see what all the hubbub is about and plan on doing nothing!

It is gorgeous here and my gardening thumb is beginning to itch....it is just that my gardening energy is too busy growing a baby!