Dear Sam

Dear Sam,

This week you turned two.  I can barely believe it and at the same time it feels like the last year took forever.  It is amazing how much you have grown in the last year, much less the last couple of months.  You really have become a little man.  Well aside from throwing everything (still) and now starting to play rough.  Sometimes I think of you as a little professor.  You talk amazingly well.  Even in complete sentences, well just one.  (Last week you asked your dad, "Dada, want more pizza?")  You tend to chatter a lot in the car.  You constantly repeat what I say and usually with correct pronunciation.   You like to watch before you join in.  Last night for your birthday party all of the commotion was a bit much for you.  You hung out under the table for a couple of minutes before you joined in with the rest of the kids and playing.  At our New Year's Eve party you sometimes were playing by yourself.  You love to line things up.  You often line up your cars and I can usually count on you to "park" all of the ride on toys before bedtime.  You still notice when things are different or not in the right place.  You really enjoyed finding the Elf on the Shelf every morning during Christmas.  Sometimes you find a toy that was missed when we picked up and you insist on putting it in the right place.  You are into building towers and Thomas lately.  You will even watch 10  minutes of Thomas and Friends. 

You are normally happy but you sometimes seem to be anxious.  You have become a little bit whinny and I think it is helping you get some attention.  "Blankie" is normally what you whine.  You are quite attached to your blankets and more so since you stopped using your pacifier.  Whenever you feel uneasy or anxious you want your blankie. You like to test limits and often will do things you know you shouldn't.  For example, you kept letting the water out of the bathtub during bath time even though I told you not to.  Time outs don't seem to work very well with you.  You sometimes will put yourself there.  Your sister has a tendency to make you feel anxious.  She takes your things and pushes you around.  You still like to snuggle.   You ask to snuggle before you go to bed and you like to be held for awhile after you get up from your nap.  You've added turning over to your nighttime routine.  I put you in bed after snuggling and you announce, "Turn over," you turn over and I cover you up.

You love your "nilk" and you drink a ton of water.  You are just starting to want to drink out of a cup.  Up until the last few days you have been sticking your tongue into the cup when you try to drink out of it.  You aren't too picky when it comes to eating.  You still have favorites (fruit, tomatoes, cookies) but we can usually get you to try new things.

You are for sure our little man.  You love balls, drums, throwing things and trains.  I love your surprise attacks and your bed time snuggles.  I love your help while I cook dinner.  I love your appetite and willingness to try new foods.  I love you hesitation and need for reassurance when you try new things.  I love your enthusiasm and infectious giggle.

 Happy Birthday Sammer!
I love you.