On the Farm

OK, full disclosure, it wasn't really a farm. But it was close enough for Sam's purposes. We visited Uncle Rob (whom Sam lovingly referred to as "Bob," from Bob the Builder) and Aunt Christy for a few days before Thanksgiving at their lovely house on a huge plot of land in the beautiful Virginia countryside. They have dogs and cats and all kinds of "trucks," so Sam was pretty much ready to move in for good. He slept in a bedroom that had a deer head mounted on the wall, which he seemed to think was totally appropriate bedroom decor. Every night before bed he would say, "Night, night, deer."

Milestone Alert! First Train Ride

We didn't go to one of the many wonderful farms around these parts to pick our own pumpkin, wander in a corn maze or take a hay ride. I think Sam will get much more out of that sort of thing next year. Instead, we rode on The Pumpkin Patch Express at the Museum of Life and Science. It was a beautiful day for a train ride.


Headed to the station.


Choo choo train.


Checking it out.


Still checking it out.


Lucky No. 7.


All aboard!


Mom is super excited. Mom doesn't get out much anymore.


Sam's getting a little nervous (as evidenced by his hands covering his ears). Best family portrait ever. This may well end up on our Christmas Card.


Loud!


Looking for a pumpkin in the patch.


Success!


You can't tell by this photo, but he was seconds away from hurling that pumpkin.


After the pumpkin haul, reviewing some train literature. Something about the Santa Express?


Enjoying something called a "popcorn ball."


Tried to get him to pose on a giant pumpkin, but he refused to give up his popcorn ball.

Bouncy Castle

Sam's first time in a bouncy castle went as expected. He was intrigued but stand-offish. But the second time? Oh, the second time. He. Was. All. In.










Took a break from bouncing to play with the bubbles. Choices!

(These photos were courtesy of Jim Stratford, the professional photographer we hired to shoot the law school's tailgate party during reunion weekend several weeks ago. I didn't have the heart to tell him to stop taking photos of Sam. I'm thinking of using him in all our promotional materials.)

Halloween II: The Main Event

Sam prepares to go trick or treating with his new neighborhood friend, Eli. Eli only speaks Mandarin, but somehow he and Sam are still able to communicate. Sam did teach him what sound a firetruck siren makes. It's the universal language.


Sam's first call was on our neighbor "Nick!" Sam loves Nick. He didn't say "Trick or Treat," but he did say "Bye, Nick!"


Terrorizing the neighborhood.


The dynamic duo discusses strategy before approaching their next victims.


Sam making the tough call between a Kit Kat and a Reese's cup.

But I did forget to carve the pumpkin.

You'll excuse me a little Halloween hubris. After last year's costume FAIL, I approached this year's holiday with a determination bordering on neurosis. Bruce's mom graciously went to Jo-Ann's with me to buy the felt to DIY this beauty. Her only miscalculation? That I wouldn't need the 1/2 yard of orange felt that I insisted on purchasing. While, technically, she was correct in that a 1/2 yard is more than enough felt to create a Bamm Bamm costume for an entire prehistoric village, what she didn't realize is that I would have to make the skirt three times before I got it right. Measure twice, cut once, right? Except, no. That's not what I did.

Anyway, skipping ahead...after much sewing, ironing, gluing, velcroing and, finally, safety-pinning, I ended up with this:

Do I hear the Halloween angels singing?

The only minor problem was, Sam didn't want any part of the costume. Time came for the Halloween party at his daycare's church, and things turned violent when I tried to dress him. You'll note I left out as part of the costume the club that Bamm Bamm always carried with him in the Flinstones. That was intentional. Finally, after distracting Sam with a brownie (Bruce tried an apple. Rookie.), I got it on him. He then ripped the bone most of the way off, but I safety pinned it back on. And we were off!


Bamm Bamm!


Group photo! You'll see Sam looks a little cross, while I appear to be manically smiling and gripping his arm with a little too much enthusiasm. That seems about right.


Choosing a sucker from the sucker tree (as I coined it).


Enjoying his first spoils of Halloween.

We'll see if I can wrestle him back into the costume for actual trick-or-treating. Bruce, get the apples ready!

A breakfast conversation with a two-year-old

Me: Sam, what do you want for breakfast?
Sam: Candy!
Me: No, you can't have anymore candy (he gets a chewable vitamin with breakfast that he calls candy).
Sam: Choo Choo Train!
Me: OK, I'm going to give you a few choices....
Sam: Choices! Choices!
Me: Yogurt, egg, cereal, toast...
Sam: No! Choices! Choices!
Me: Sam, no, choices isn't a food. You can have your *choice* of egg, yogurt...
Sam: CHOOOIIIIICCESSSSSSS.....!

I never did figure out what he thought choices was, but he ultimately accepted cinnamon toast and sliced banana.

The bike.

I haven't gotten many good photos of Sam lately, largely because he has figured out that when I pull out the phone or camera he can see pictures of himself on it. Here's how it goes down: Sam does something cute. Typical. I pull out the camera. Sam stops doing something cute and runs straight for me to see his picture on the camera. I snap off a quick shot that ends up being a super close-up of his shoulder. Sam cries because he doesn't like the picture of his shoulder. I try taking another one by telling him to stand still while I back up quickly and stealthily, like a reverse ninja. Sam is still crying, either still upset about the botched shoulder shot or because I'm walking away. I take a photo of Sam crying. Everyone forgets what he was doing that was so darn cute anyway. Ah, memories.

Case in point.


Looking back through the photo archives, I see I never posted follow-up shots of Sam riding his new tricycle. He rides proudly, if not expertly.



 
Edited to add: You know, we don't make him wear the helmet, right? I mean, I'm safety conscious to be sure, but I don't see us investing in a helmet yet. The helmet is a hand-me-down from a wonderful neighbor, and Sam loves it.