Sam Gives Good Face

Sam has arrived into toddle-dom with an ear-piercing, repetitive shriek. As I write this he's unwrapping parchment paper. He’s walking, talking, climbing, head-butting, running and he’s weaned. He ain’t a baby anymore.

 

My father, who never lectures me, did lecture me about allowing Sam to bust up the joint. Sam will empty the kitchen cupboards, jettison the bottles of specialty cooking oil, pitch eggs out of the refrigerator, and leap for the stove knobs. He's well supervised and we are baby proofed but my father fears that in my attempt to grab him before he crawls into the oven, I'll slide on a baking sheet and end up yolk soaked. My father envisions Dave, Sam, and my life as a Three Stooges short.

 

Dave bought a gate for the back of the kitchen so while I’m at my housewife station, Sam can be in the kitchen with me without fear of pratfalls.

 

The first few times behind the gate, I distinctly heard Sam chant, “Att-i-ca, Att-i-ca.” He then launched his toys over the gate. A pretzel finely soothed him. He’s full bore toddler.

 

There are 2 more entries so scroll on down.

What Sam Does Now that He's One

SamSpeak

When the pizza delivery man comes to the door (who else knocks and then doesn't just come in), Sam says in cadence if not words, “Who is it?”

 

He’ll pick up any object as if it’s a phone; put it against his ear and say, “Hi”. He has received very little in the way of role modeling for that behavior--as phone phobic as I am. Perhaps he’s trying to tell me something.

 

He says, “Bye” with accompanying fanfare. If he says bye to you, he’ll get shoes (his, yours, anybody’s), he’ll escort you to the door, wave and blow kisses at you from behind the glass and then shut the door behind him. Again, super polite but not role modeled behavior.

 

My favorite word which he refuses to repeat very often is “kiss”. We were at Lowes and I gave him a kiss and said, “Kiss”. I stepped away and he said, “Kiss” and then presented his forehead. He slays me. But of course in the tradition of all mothers and sons he melts me with his charm but refuses to perform on demand.

 

He also says Hank (the greyhound next door) which means dog. On the Grammar ToDo List learn the difference between name vs. noun.

Sam's Peops: The Fam

This spring we’ve been busy with the family get together—Easter, Brayden’s Baptism (my first Godmother stint) and in the Ferguson clan it’s the Birthday season so there are lots of family photos. I decided that since I’m spending so much time recording Sam’s life, blogging and going to endless family functions (oops sarcasm slippage altho I'm not sure why I'm complaining since I'm always suggesting another one) that I might need to learn how to take better photos so this spring I’m taking a pt. and shoot class. Can’t get enough of Sam's blog? There will be so much more of this to come.

The 1st Birthday Party

For his entrance into his party (after his prefunc nap) I gussied him up in a white tux that our friend Peg had sent him. I set him down in the entryway not realizing that I set him down on a red carpet. He preened. Cameras flashed. His paparazzi said, “Hey Sam look over here.” I thought he might crumble under the glare, but the kid thinks he’s George Clooney.

 

The party that almost wasn’t turned out great. We had some problems with location (no heat at the lodge), but Nana saved the day with her condo clubhouse. Dad made chili and Mom made cornbread. We had deserts galore—Joyce made her signature dish Baklava and Mom baked the traditional chocolate chiffon cake originally made for the celebration of Uncle Scott’s birthday and now continues forth with Sam’s birthday. If you notice, on this cake the candles read “Happy Retirement”. Mommy and Daddy picked out the wrong candles at Party City. My dad who is perpetually retiring but never does thought it was fantastic that his grandson could retire at 1.

 

Sam received a galaxy of toys. One of my favorite gift was a t-shirt that said, “I do my own stunts” (thank you Ann, Rose, Claire, and Nick).

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.