Last weekend we all ventured to Colorado to celebrate one year of Miss Madeline! Maddy was celebrated in huge style with a big party, including 14 people who flew in from several states. That’s one loved little girl! But how could we not celebrate her? Besides being the cutest little one-year-old on the planet she’s just a joyous little ray of sunshine.
Despite the craziness of the party, JP and Debs hosted us (including our two-under-two entourage) at their house. They very thoughtfully set up a backpacking tent for Clare and put her bed in it, which she LOVED. It contained her at night and made her feel a little more secure. She is still talking about the “cozy tent” she slept in. She hasn’t asked me to set one up yet in her room, but I’m waiting for it.
There was a lot of people competing for the birthday girl’s attention, so the little girl cousins didn’t get quite so much playtime together but they got along really well. Clare was sooooooo excited to go to Colorado and see everyone and told me before we left “I will be nice to Baby Maddy. I won’t hit her.” I told her that was a good plan.
This blog is essentially a baby book for my kids, but sweet little Maddy did a couple of cute things I want to remember.
She has a little alligator walking toy that she loves and is really good at walking behind. She got it stuck against a table, turned to her mom, bent her knee and patted it like you do when calling a dog. We were just talking about what baby signs Maddy knows, but it turns out she had picked up another one. It worked too since Debbie got up and walked over to her.
Mom and I took Sam and Maddy on a walk in their strollers on Monday afternoon. Maddy insisted on taking one of her dog’s toys with her. The whole walk she waved it up and down in the air like a little drum majors baton. I kept thinking she would drop it, but though she’s 90% sweet sugar Maddy is 10% solid steel will and she didn’t put that toy down once.
This is little Samster thinking “how am I going to get a word in edgewise between Clare and Maddy?” Honestly, he probably won’t. He will, though, be able to overpower them with strength since he’s already bigger than Maddy.
“Mama, be happy.”
Last week Adam went into Clare’s room during nap time to find her playing instead of sleeping (this happens pretty much every day). When he reminded her that she had to get into bed she said “I can’t Adam. The elephants are napping and I can’t wake them up.” Sure enough, Clare had carefully put her stuffed elephants into bed and tenderly tucked them in. 
One morning I was getting ready for work and Sam was on the bed. He started to fuss but I was in a hurry and couldn’t pick him up right away. I asked Clare to sing him a song so she climbed up next to him and sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Sam – I love you very much – You are such a sweet baby – I love you soooo much – Don’t cry little boy…” and on like this to the tune of Twinkle Little Star. Sam stopped crying and smiled at her. It was all I could do to keep getting dressed, since I, of course, had started crying.
I pretty much ignored Easter last year, but this year I resolved to play it up a little more. So Clare and I did a few Easter crafts (including the obligatory construction paper bunny ears – no pictures but they were cute) and dyed eggs. Egg dying was fun though I’m not sure that Clare really got it. Her favorite part was putting the stickers on the eggs. For me, the smell of hard-boiled eggs and vinegar dye says Easter, along with the feeling of cellophane grass and stiff new sandals. I tried to duplicate all of that for Clare, but it will be fun to add new experiences and traditions to our family.
One new thing that we did this year that may become a tradition was going on the Portland Spirit riverboat for brunch. It made for a busy morning doing the egg hunt and baskets before getting the family downtown for an early brunch, but it was worth it. 
Sam’s put his rolling practice on the back burner a bit as he’s working very hard on his balance while sitting up. He stays up for a good 5 or 10 seconds now before toppling over. He hasn’t had any good spills yet but he has face planted a few times while laying on his tummy. He’s a tough little dude though and barely, barely cries out of discomfort. He’s also discovered his legs and feet and spent most of today trying to pull his socks off.
It’s a good thing he’s a tough little dude, because Clare can be kind of rough with him while trying to “play.” Twice now I’ve walked into the room to see Clare dragging Sam across the floor by his feet. She’s also been known to flip him over, lay on top of him, or stack toys up on him. He’s very relaxed about the whole thing and sometimes even seems to enjoy it – giggling while she drags him for example. 
A really fun development is how social Sam is. He will engage people with cooing and making eye contact, and he’s so cute that of course we talk back to him. He’s also started reaching out to touch our faces, putting his hands in our mouth while we talk, that kind of thing. His favorite person is still J. When he comes home Sam shrieks with joy and reaches out to touch his beard. It’s the sweetest moment of the day.
We’ve added applesauce and baby oatmeal to his meal plan, and he continues to LOVE it. When he sees me start to mix up food he waves his little arms and legs in excitement. I also gave him a sip of my water the other day because he kept grabbing at my glass. He even loved that. I think he’s going to be a person who thrives on new and different experiences.
