Christmas is coming and we are all sick. Today will be another pajama-wearing-house-bound-snot-blowing-day. The cold that Sam caught two weeks ago has now infected Steve and me. I keep thinking that when I we wake up in the morning someone will feel better but during the night something happens and instead someone feels worse. Don't worry Family we will do whatever it takes to kick this cold before we see you on Thursday.

We were discussing our pre-Sam health this morning. Oh what a wonderful thing it was. It seems that no amount of hand-washing can take us back to that place.

Despite our colds we are all very excited for Christmas and to see everyone.

I hope you are wrapping gifts and drinking egg nog!

Ellen

Fall 2009

Time is flying by. Since the last time we wrote, Sam has become a very big boy. In late October, we drove to Denver, and flew to Kentucky (via a short visit to cousin Caleb) to go climbing. We stayed a week with our good friends Janelle, Mike, Axel, and Lucas Anderson at their cabin in the Red River Gorge.

Sam has learned so many new words we can't even remember them all. He's figuring things out faster than Mom and Dad can adapt. Like how to get on the kitchen table, how to make calls on the phone, how to slide the child safety gate away from the fireplace, how to climb up onto the bed, open boxes, reach into the knife drawer, open the oven, turn on/off the gas on the stove, unplug appliances, flush the toilet, unroll the toilet paper (only one full roll at a time), put toys in the garbage can, get in the dishwasher, open closet doors, throw heavy objects, using a broom or stick to clear off tables or shelves, and how to get on Olive's back for a short ride.

Sam has become very conversational, and is really fond of kissing...especially Mama. When upset, he has several ways of saying her name. Moh-Maaah, Maw-mae, Baba (when his nose is stuffy), MaMAA, etc. Ellen started a list recently, and ended up with many more words than would fit on one page.

Sam has lots to say.

Sam's vocabulary is growing in leaps and bounds. He confidently spouts words like, sit, elbow, Mama, Dada, baby, nose, eye, hat, head, up, on, apple, UM for Uncle Matt, Sesee for Aunt Leslie and doggie. We are also starting to figure out his foreign-sounding phrases, "what's that?".

Sam is eating more meals with silverware too. He gets frustrated but won't give up the fork. By the big, family Thanksgiving he'll be ready to eat turkey and pumpkin pie with his fork. We are going on vacation at the end of October. We will visit Caleb near his 1st Birthday and then go climbing in Kentucky. We are all looking forward to a break!

Sam and snow.

We got our first snow of the season at the beginning of October. It snowed for at least two days straight. We were very excited to bundle Sam up and pull him around in the sled. He loved it! When we'd stop to take a break he would fling himself forward, saying "get going Dada"! He also made lots of truck noises as he drove around in the snow. There were a couple of crashes as you'll see in the video.
The snow has melted but we are already looking forward to the next big snow. Maybe we'll build a snowman next time.

He was so small once.

This picture of Sam was taken his first day home from the hospital.
Wow, how he has changed!