Smiling for the camera

So last night I took a little video of Sam as he was eating dinner, but he is used to me saying "smile for the camera" for a still picture so that is just what he did!

Lately, whenever Sam gets reprimanded (in this case for throwing food on the floor) he covers his eyes with his hands as if to say, if I can't see you, then you can't see me! Of course, you can always see him peeking through with one eye. As parents trying to reinforce some rules, the toughest part is to not laugh when he does this!

He really is so much more toddler and less baby these days. For instance, after lunch today, I was eating a chocolate chip cookie and set the half eaten cookie on the table as I sorted through some papers. All of a sudden I heard this sneaky little laugh. I looked over to see Sam with the cookie in his hand, and as I got up to get it from him he went running into the living room giggling. When I got to him, he had the cookie shoved into his mouth and was grinning from ear to ear. What a little stinker!

Yesterday, we went to the Mall of America, and for the first time, Sam didn't really care to be in his stroller. Normally he enjoys the ride, but nope, he wanted to walk like a big boy. So he did, and he loved pointing to and saying "ooohh" to everything he saw in Nickelodeon Universe and Legoland. He also loved to peek through the railings at the floor below, and of course, he HAD to play with the Thomas the Train track at Barnes and Noble.

Sam the Plumber

A few random pictures

We haven't been up to anything incredibly exciting lately. Just lots of school work for me and work for Peter. Last week I finished up my field placement at Wellstone International School, where I had the opportunity to observe classrooms and teach a few lessons. It was a lot of fun and confirmed that teaching ESL does feel like the right fit for me (whew!). Thank you so much to Peter's mom, my mom, Jenn, Luke, and Leanne for all your help watching Sam over the course of my time volunteering at Wellstone the last two months. We really appreciate it!

We got a little snow last week, though it was gone by lunch time. Even so, Sam got to try out his new snowsuit, which makes him look like he doubled in size!

Oscar was outside with us, and Sam knows just where we keep Oscar's sticks for a game of fetch.

Sam reading the paper...
Sam enjoying chocolate ice cream...

This morning's beautiful sunrise out our front window...
Sam on the phone...one of his favorite activities!

An Old Fashioned High Chair

When we visit Great Grandma Helen and Great Grandpa Kenny, Sam gets to sit in a high chair that is more than 100 years old. We keep him in it by tying a dish towel (which also makes a great makeshift bib) around his waist and the chair. Grandma says this is how they used to do it! We always have a great meal when we are there. Sam really likes visiting them, and he knows just where they keep the toys - which are the same toys I played with when I visited them as a child!

Sam's First Hair Cut

Sam got his first hair cut a couple nights ago from Auntie Candy, our personal stylist:-) He had some hair hanging in his eyes and tickling his ears, so now he looks a little more clean-cut! Here he is before the haircut.

Once we got started, Sam got pretty upset and was screaming. He didn't want me or Candy to touch him. I was trying to calm him down, so I didn't get any pictures of that, but once Sam got a sucker and Daddy came down, he calmed down and cooperated with the rest of the haircut.
Afterwards, he shared some ice cream with Auntie Candy, so now they are good friends again!

Thanks, Auntie Candy for the great haircut!

Sam the Dragon

As you can see, Sam was a little dragon for Halloween, and what a cute little dragon he was! For only being 17 months old, he scored a lot of Halloween candy, three new books, and a new toy truck - and we only went to two houses! Earlier in the day, I brought him to my grandparents' house, and we enjoyed a great lunch during our visit. In the evening, Peter and I brought him to my parents' house, and Candy, Jeremy, and Amy were there as well. He got his picture taken so many times that I'm sure he thinks he is a celebrity.