I said I never would...but I did!

Sam drives us crazy walking around with sticks yelling "Pow!" We're those parents who don't want our child playing guns and refuse to encourage his games. However, I bought my kid a gun yesterday...and it may have been the best $2.30 I've spent in a long time!

I bought him a little bubble maker that he can use to make bubbles for himself. Let's face it, as much as I love watching bubbles and as much as I love the joy they bring Sam, I HATE blowing bubbles! I even go so far as to hide the bubbles whenever I notice them sitting out. I know. Sometimes I am NOT a good mother. But, to redeem myself, I've been looking for something automated that Sam could actually use himself...that would also serve to get me off the hook! This bubble gun was almost perfect! (If only it weren't a gun!) He has enjoyed playing with it lots today. And, believe it or not, he has not once pretended it was a gun. Not one "Pow!" today! Go figure!

So, now I get to sit back and take lots and lots of pictures while Sam gets to enjoy creating lots and lots of bubbles. It's a win-win situation, really.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of pictures I took today:

Dear Missy and Ryan,

Dear Missy and Ryan,

Thanks for coming over today. It was fun. Hope Carson feels better soon.

Strange request. I would appreciate it if you would start referring to me as "Mama."

We took Sam to the park after his nap this afternoon. As he ran to the slide, he yelled "Come on, Sunny." Scott and I just looked at each other with wide eyes. Oh, no! Tell me my son did NOT just call me Sunny! Well, we figure he heard you call me Sunny all morning. Therefore, we hold you responsible and ask for your cooperation in this matter.

Thanks!
Love,
Sunny...I mean Mama!

Scientific Study

If you thought our beach vacation was simply a vacation, then you were wrong. We were actually conducting our own research and were very impressed with the results. While at the beach, we studied Sam, collected data, and have concluded that the beach makes one smarter.

I try not to brag about Sam too much (wink!) but I have to brag today...all in the name of research, of course. Our interest in the effects of the beach on higher level thinking was piqued when Sam all of a sudden counted to 15. Now, we knew he could count to 10. We were working on strengthening his 1-to-1 as he counted, so we were counting the steps as we climbed over the sand dunes. We were shocked when he continued past 10 on his own all the way to 15! We've never practiced that with him and are not sure where it came from. So, obviously being at the beach had something to do with it.

But that is not all the data we collected. Sam's language also exploded while we were at the beach. Sam went from very short, simple sentences to much longer, complex sentences overnight. I don't think I'll ever forget Sam standing in the kitchen, handing me his cup and saying "I want some more chocolate milk." Daddy and I looked at each other and then started counting the words on our fingers! The whole week, we were just amazed at what came out of his mouth! "I don't want that, Mama." "I can't find it." "What happened?" "I'll be right back."

And the final piece of data collected was the depth of the conversations we started having with Sam. He has understood complex directions for a while and could follow a deeper conversation, but not until a few days after we got to the beach could I actually get him to tell me about his day. As we were laying in bed one night, I asked him the routine "What did you do today" and he actually told me about lots of the things he had done during the day. It was SOOOOO cool!

So, what is one to do but conclude that the beach makes one smarter. Therefore, we recommend everyone spending time at the beach. We will be heading back as much as possible to continue our research...and maybe get a little smarter ourselves!

P.S. I realize that Sam is no more advanced or exceptional than anyone else his age. I just can't help sharing/documenting his growth. I am absolutely fascinated by the changes I see everyday and I love getting into his head to figure out what he is thinking and how he is learning. That is most certainly the teacher in me!

Sammy's Favorite Beach Things

We're going home tomorrow. Yippee. Woo-hoo. Can't wait to get back to hot, boring old home.

I asked Sam what he liked best about vacationing at the beach. Here's what he said he loves the most:

Finally!

We finally got Sam into the water yesterday! He still doesn't love it, but at least he doesn't freak out when we take him in. (It only took seven days!!!)

Beach Bum

We're still enjoying the beach...in our own ways. Scott and I love the water, the breeze, the dolphins and collecting shells. Sam loves to look for rocks and dig in the sand with Daddy, but he still will not go into the water!!! If a "wave" sneaks up on him and gets his feet wet, he calmly says "I'm ok. I'm ok." as he walks further up the beach, quickening his pace. That's what I say to him each time I try to get him wet. "You're o.k. I've got you."

Here are a few shots of Sam making the most of our beach vacation. Notice two things: how dry he remains and how he gets his shorts off as soon as they get "dirty".



Don't let the towel fool you, he had still not gotten wet.

Topsail Island 08 Day 1

We arrived at our cottage at midnight and decided that leaving home at bedtime was definitely the way to go! Sam slept most of the way and there was no traffic. Of course, even though we were all up until 2, we were still up at 6:15!

Things are different on vacation. Even me. Sam asked for chips for breakfast...and I said sure! Daddy couldn't believe it, but hey, we're at the beach. That's my reply to everything this week.
Our first day at the beach was fabulous! The water wasn't too cold and the breeze was perfect. Sam has no interest in the water yet, though. Last year we couldn't keep him out of it so we're hoping by the end of the week he'll enjoy it.

Here's my favorite picture so far:

I just had to get a picture of Sam's beach hair:
Just one more of Sam on the beach:
And this is how the day ended...with Putter and Daddy fast asleep.
Don't worry. I don't plan on writing a blog each beach day.

Anchors Away!

This anchor is a lovely decorative feature on the wall in Sam's room here at the cottage.

Sam looked at the anchor and said "J" the first time he saw it. I couldn't believe it but Scott was not quite as impressed as I was. But in my purely professional opinion, I thought Sam was brilliant to recognize the letter J in the anchor! Let's not forget, Daddy, that he is just 2!

Not About Sam...Really!

I love blogging. I am so glad I discovered blogs. There is something about getting to know my friends more intimately through reading their blogs that is very satisfying. Also, getting to stay caught up with friends who live far away from us is a nice treat. I like reading blogs from people I don't know as well. Reading blogs is like reading a book that doesn't end. I love that because I am usually sad to get to the last page of a book. I so desperately want it to go on and on. So, blogs provide the perfect outlet for that kind of reading. Read a chapter a day and wait in anticipation for what will be added tomorrow.

I fell into blogs through an e-mail sent to me with a prayer request. "Confessions of a CF Husband" was my very first blog. If you haven't read it, I insist that you must. I think it is worth the hours to go back and start at the very beginning without peeking ahead. It reads like a great book and I promise you will cry, get angry and celebrate as you read.

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

Reading that blog has led me to three other blogs/websites that I love to check frequently. If you love photography you should definitely check out these three sites:

JessicaClaire.net
ColemanShots.com
DavidMolnar.com

I also stumbled upon, or rather she stumbled upon me, another blog by a woman named Jennifer Juniper. She is very creative and sells her wares through her blog. She makes absolutely beautiful frames. She also writes entertaining blogs. Check her out at

http://hopestudios.blogspot.com/

Her most recent frame may be my favorite:



I hope you check out and enjoy the blogs I've discovered and please let me know of any blogs you have found that you enjoy reading.

See, I told you this blog entry was not about my incredibly cute, smart, loving, thoughtful, entertaining son who shall remain nameless...

Chicken Dunkins

Sam's been sick all weekend--cough and fever. He's slept a lot but has generally been in good spirits. We've heard a lot of the following cute things this week:

I don't want that.

Oopsy daisy!

What happened?

Oh, my goodness gracious!

Try it.

God bless you, Mommy.

Chicken Dunkins (chicken 'n dumplings)

Oh, he's also starting to count stuff using one-to-one correspondence and he can count to three in Spanish! "¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tres! ¡Vayamos!" This morning he woke up at 5:30, said "Count" and started counting the airplanes on his sheets. I only know that because I stayed with him last night since he was sick. I was not nearly as perky as he was so early in the morning. Scott bought me an Americano this morning from Starbucks with four shots of espresso!

I'll work on getting his "contar en español" videotaped. He's sleeping right now.

P.S. Later in the day: Sam has been up and down with his fever. When it breaks, he's really good so we're keeping him on Tylenol. He has slept a lot this afternoon and I just couldn't help but take these pictures of him sleeping in his new beachsocks. Don't judge me. I promise I'm taking good care of him (between pix)!