Santa Visit

Growing up, we never did the Santa-in-the-mall pics. It just wasn't part of our repertoire. So, naturally (for me) we have not made Santa pics a regular part of our holiday. Today I decided to try. I even warned Sammy that if the line was too long, we would have to leave. (Is that bad?) There was ABSOLUTELY no way I would even attempt to brave a REAL mall three days before Christmas so we went to Country Club Mall. The main stores are Macys and Gottschalks and there is not a whole lot in between. It is a tiny, unexciting mall that happens to be very close to home. We got a great parking spot, walked right up to Santa, had a little chat, took our pics (Abby was even fairly agreeable), printed and bought the pics and were completely finished in about 7 minutes! I'm not exaggerating -- I was amazed! The pics are even pretty cute!

Success! Quite honestly, not what I expected. 

First Haircut

On Friday, Abby got her first haircut! It wasn't quite the occasion it usually is, but her hair looks cute! Here's the story:

She is a finger sucker and as she sucks those little delights, she pulls her hair. Not a gentle little twirl, no, our girl rips her hair right out of her pretty little head. So she was growing long blonde curls on the right side of her head and a little bald on the left. She had that lopsided 80's look. It was getting really bad. I felt like I should start dyeing it blue and giving her dangly earrings. 

One of the wonderful daycare moms is a stylist and she fixed Abby's hair for us (for free). Thanks Kim! It is still way thinner on the left, but it is far less noticeable now. No more comb-over attempts! Yay!! It looks like a little curly wedge cut to me. I love it! 

Normal is sometimes good

So Sammy's blood work all came back normal which is very good news except now the illness is still a mystery. It is not cyclical neutropenia which I suspected it was.  We will keep reporting symptoms to the doctor and see what develops. The next big step would be to see an infectious disease specialist. We'll wait for now...

Sammy is sick....again.

My poor boy gets sick soooo much. He is like clockwork. Every 4 - 6 weeks, his fever starts and stays with him for 3 days. It usually spikes to nearly 104. His current doctor is the first who suspects that it may actually be something other than "viruses." Really? Does it take a doctor to figure that out? I think it is neutropenia, but that is unconfirmed until I take him in for a blood draw while he is running the fever. Last time he got sick, he was so miserable, I just couldn't bring myself to take him to have them poke him with a needle...poor boy. Especially when the poke will NOT lead to him feeling better. 

Anyway, we were supposed to go get pics with Santa tomorrow. I don't think that will be happening now. It looks like I'm in for a day of TV and lounging on the couch (Sam lounging, not me). He'll play a little bit when the Motrin kicks in, but the rest of the time, he'll be down. Poor boy.

Sammy Stories, Volume 2 -- Backseat Driver

Sammy has always been a backseat driver. Since he was 2, he was telling me things like that I turned the wrong way.

One morning when Sam was in his early threes, we were driving down Whitney on our way to Nana's and this was our exchange:

"Mommy, you are driving too fast."

"No, Sammy, I'm not. Does it feel like I am going fast?"

"Yes, Mommy, you are going too fast."

"Sammy, I'm really not."

"Yes, you are."

"Sam, I really wish you wouldn't argue with everything I say."

"Well, I really wish you wouldn't drive too fast!"

I can't wait for the teenage years!

As Gramma parked the car, she accidentally pulled the tires up onto the sidewalk a little (which Sammy always has believed should be punishable by law) so Sammy bent down to check it out. He looked up and said, "Grandma, you need some gas in your tires."

Sammy Stories Volume 1-- Baby Abby

As everyone with children knows, there are constantly things said that you are sure you'll remember, and then you don't. My parents were Sammy's caregivers for his first year plus so we have lots of these stories. Gramma and Grampa have always called them "Sammy Stories." About a year ago, my mom and I sat down and wrote a bunch of them down. I am going to use this space to document our "Sammy Stories."

When Abby was a newborn, we were ending a visit to Grandma & Grandpa's house. As Sammy hugged Grandma to tell her good-bye, he whispered in her ear, "Is Baby Abby staying here?" 

Many times Sammy questioned me about the status of Baby Abby. 

"Is she going to live with us?"

"Yes, Sammy, she goes everywhere with us. She's part of our family. She's your baby sister."

"Even to the store?" (:

Newborn Abby was crying which she didn't do very frequently. 

Sammy cried out, "Mommy, I know what's wrong with her..." 

"What is it?"

"She misses her mommy."

"Oh? Where is her mommy?"

"She's at work."

"Sammy, I'm her mommy."

"No, you're MY mom!"

Uh oh, we've got a little misunderstanding!

I will mark this on my calendar!

Today is Veteran's Day which means we have a day off. As everyone with small children knows, a day at home with the kids usually consists of many exciting moments. In our house they usually include:

1. What Papa Stan has affectionately termed "Dear or Ordeal". Sammy is a negotiator of everything. Debating almost any topic includes, but is not limited to the following:

Sammy vs. Dad

Sammy vs. Mom  

Sammy vs. Dad and Mom

Sammy vs. the entire adult world

2. Bouts very similar to WWF matches between Sam and Abby. This includes "tickling" and wrestling. There is lots of giggling and laughing, then yelling and laughing, then screaming and unidentifiable squeals. They always end in one of two ways: 1. A child in tears or 2. Mom yelling loudly to make it stop.

3. Playing with toys. This one NEVER works out because whatever Sam has, Abby wants for at least 10 seconds which is long enough for him to have an absolute fit. And whatever Abby has, Sam needs simply because Abby has it. He may not have touched a toy for two years, but now that Abby has it, it is the must-have toy. See #2.

 4. Quiet activities like coloring are very popular. Both kids LOVE markers and Daddy just bought them a new set so they did color this morning, but it only stayed quiet until Abby threw all her papers and markers on the floor. She had to yell for someone to pick them up. (They are both amazing artists)

5. TV. Yes, I admit it, we do watch TV. Sammy loves Noggin, Nick Jr., Disney, and Sprout. I am picky about what they watch, but sometimes TV just feels necessary. He seems to be outgrowing most of the Sprout shows, but Abby is beginning to show some interest....that could create some good arguments. We will not put TVs in their rooms.

6.  The reason I posted this is because this morning after breakfast, I went to do the dishes and noticed it was VERY quiet. I panicked and ran to check what was broken or who was hurt; instead I found them sitting in Abby's room together reading books. I took pictures to prove it. It lasted long enough for me to finish the dishes and write most of this blog! 

7. Number 6 has currently ended and turned to a combination of #3 and #2, so it might be time to go OUTSIDE!