The Guests

Sam’s party guests were asked to write a memory of the last year or a hope for his future. These index cards inscribed with memory and hope will be read by Sam…well…when he can read. Some guests abstained—his great grandmothers (who I had hoped would leave a little note for Sam to read in the future). I’ll dog them until they do it. But everyone else participated. There were some very sweet messages as you will see in the pictures. Grandma Joyce wrote “stay close with all your family” and my mom wrote, “taking your first two steps when Mom and Gram let go for a second” (Grandma Gert—how her nieces refer to her—filled up 20 index cards. Never ask a writer to jot down a thought. It turns into a cavalcade).

 

One of my favorites was from two year old cousin Owen (we’re still wondering who his ghost writer was—Uncle Matt): “Sam, Keep the beers cold and the chicks hot!!! Your Buddy Owen—Have a Good Summer”.

 

If you weren’t at the party, you can still participate. Jot down a memory or hope and send them along to me lollily@aol.com. I’ll save them for Sam to read.

And Introducing Sam's Newest Peop

Since the last blog entry Sam has been joined by another cousin—Brayden Alexander Palinski. That makes 11 for the Ferguson clan. Joyce is looking for an even dozen—a not so subtle nudge in Dave and my direction. Unfortunately Dr. Gong has retired but I found a new old Chinese man—Dr. Wu. He’s not the sorcerer Dr. Gong was but he’s kindly and knows his needles. Wish us luck. Sam likes new peops.

Twas the Season

Sam has had a tremendous holiday season. Now and then Mommy misses the motel-like apt. she lived in up on Phinney Ridge—teriyaki and videos sometimes sound good and peaceful. Balance—impossible to incorporate into life. We trick or treated with Caeley and Soph; Uncle Scott and Tiffani (Sam’s new girlfriend. Loved her.) blew into town for his birthday; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve we spent with some of the first cousins once removed at Gram’s house; and Christmas day with the first cousins. Sam loved Christmas evening. The presents weren’t all that interesting but his cousins rushing around with colorful boxes thrilled him. He stood up, raised his arms, and screamed “Whoo”. He’s ready for his first sporting event.

My First Summer

Over the last 3 months since the last blog entry, Sam has become a regular little feller and a sweet natured chap at that. He pudged up; babbles Dadadadadadadada like he’s doing his own Performance Art piece--The Dadaist; lounges and nurses on his bopi; goes garage sale-ing with his great grandma and mother; waves to his constituency while riding in his stoller; stands up with assistance and swims with assistance—Sam loves his assistants; eats like an Italianootse (code word in my family for those of us who know how to seriously and passionately mangia); plays with the toys that Oma Barb gave him; sprouted two teeth; laughs at his Dad as if his dad were moonlighting at Second City; whips off his socks and jams them into his mouth; sleeps in his own crib (see the fourth new blog entry—The Nursery); and thankfully still naps.

 

There are three other entries in addition to this one so please scroll on down.

"Mommy took Adobe Photoshop classes this summer"

I’m a wee bit concerned that I’m heading toward a “Cat’s in the Cradle” situation with Sam, the computer, and me. I spend too much time playing with pictures on the computer, so then he’ll grow up and spend too much time with his bootlegged and parentally banned copy of Grand Theft Auto and have no time for me. “When you comin’ home son? I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then”.

 

I’ll regret not sending him to The Waldorf School where digital is frowned upon because of the brain wave changing properties. Of course by then I’ll be brain dead from my altered waves. Oh dear, I’m about to begin a rant on The Digital Age vs. The Waldorf School. I’ll refrain, get off this computer and get together with my son now rather than then.

Sam and his Peops Revisited

Three Grandma Bears—Karen, Mary, and Peg—arrived for a visit. Peg and Karen were Sam’s first not-Grandma-Trudy babysitters. It was a short and splendid b-sit and helped Mama Bear ease her grip off the reins. I have a touch of separation anxiety. Oops, that's supposed to be Sam's problem not mine.

 

There is a picture here of Claire and Rose—Rose is our nanny-in-training (she’s even taken a baby-CPR class) and Claire has volunteered to be Sam’s first teenage babysitter—I’m almost ready for that…almost…the movie season will be starting soon and we do have tickets to see David Sedaris—I’m sure I can white knuckle through those events. I’m just so lucky that there are so many Sam-takers.  

The Nursery

Ahhh…the Nursery…the nursery project began when I was about 5 mos. pregnant. We hired a few guys who made things crooked so they get no blog time. Dave worked hard and received lots of family help to get the room straightened out.

 

Sam ended up sleeping in his cradle WAY longer than he should have because we wanted the nursery to be Sam ready and Sam worthy. The first night in his new nursery came at the end of the day that I discovered his first tooth. It was a rough night. Dave should have taken the empty cradle out of our room. By my reaction, you would have thought that Sam had packed up and left for college. My 11 year old cousin Rose showed me where to stand in the doorway of our room to see into Sam’s crib. I do love my family.

 

Making the nursery was a family endeavor. As you will see in the pictures, there were lots of hands in the mix. Four hands that were in the mix but aren’t shown in the pictures are Sam’s Uncle Rich and Aunt Felisse who sent us a crib. It’s a beauty as you can see. Sweet Dreams.