Sam went to the doctor last Thursday

December 31, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam went to the doctor last Thursday. All is well, not even a shot required. He's grown quite a bit. His first annual checkup put him in the 25th percentile in weight, his next at 50th, and this latest at the 75th percentile. In terms of height, he's in his 90th percentile. That's 34 lbs and 3' 3+" for those who like numbers.

Sam's also been on a spelling kick lately. I hooked up the Lego computer in the craft room and Sam wanted to spell things with the keyboard. After a little coaching, he was hunting and pecking like a pro. I asked him to spell "dad", and he did it all by himself. Pretty amazing.

We all went hiking yesterday. Fortunately, Jamie was there and I didn't have to be Princess Leia. Usually, we play Star Wars and pretend we're riding speeder bikes through the forest. Sam actually got tired this time around, even though he loves running as fast as he can down the hill.



Sam got quite the loot here in Portland, and ...

December 25, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam got quite the loot here in Portland, and only the first of three Christmases has passed. He's been playing with the new Lego characters (Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and the evil emperor). The entire present opening ceremony had the noise from Sam's new remote control car going in the background. Every few minutes, Judy would jump with a gasp as the tiny truck raced across the floor.

Sam has also really enjoyed playing with Josh while he's been up here. In the bath, he announced that he wanted to be Josh when he grows up. It hasn't been all roses, however. Josh absconded with one of Sam's toys, and I bugged him about it. Sam repeated, "Josh, do you have issues with sharing?"



Sam woke up next to Jamie this morning and sa...

December 11, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam woke up next to Jamie this morning and said, "Let's say good morning to the new baby."



Sam turned to me last night and asked, "Dad, ...

December 07, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam turned to me last night and asked, "Dad, what happens if your penis falls off?"



Sam and I were wrestling together when he sta...

December 07, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I were wrestling together when he started quoting Star Wars:
"This is your last chance Jabba. Free us or die!"



Sam wandered downstairs at 6:30 this morning

December 04, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam wandered downstairs at 6:30 this morning. He walked down two flights of stairs in the dark - I practically ran into him while I was heading out to work. Needless to say, I had to play with Legos for ten minutes before I could haul him back up to bed with Jamie.



Sam came across my old toy, Gerb

December 03, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam came across my old toy, Gerb. Sadly, he was worse for wear, having been eaten by numerous pets and played with for over thirty years. Sam decided Gerb should be fixed, so we hot glued on some new eyes (donated by Sam's poster) and sewed on some new feet. Once he was all in one piece, Sam proceeded to hide him behind the couch.



Sam had an idea while we got him out of the bath

December 01, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam had an idea while we got him out of the bath. He decided that we'd be the mom and dad that played with him, and we'd build a robot mom and dad to do all the work. Sounds like a plan to me.



I took Sam swimming the other night and we we...

November 30, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I took Sam swimming the other night and we were changing in the locker room. He was quite impressed with the urinals and asked, "Why do people sometimes pee on the wall?"



A couple nights ago, Sam woke up in the middl...

November 14, 2001 by Adam in Sam

A couple nights ago, Sam woke up in the middle of the night saying, "Mom, turn off Pajama Sam." Evidently he was having a dream about Pajama Sam, except there were monsters with one big eye. I suppose it's better than the dream where Darth Maul came into the house and was watching everyone while they slept.



I was pretending to be a robot and Sam was co...

November 14, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I was pretending to be a robot and Sam was controlling me with an old computer joystick.

Dad: "Who do you like more, the real dad or the robot dad?"

Sam: "The robot dad, because he does whatever I want him to do."



I figured out how to get Sam to do math

November 06, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I figured out how to get Sam to do math. I asked him, "If there were 4 tie fighters and the Millenium Falcon blew up two, how many tie fighters would be left?"

Sam (after thinking a bit): "Two."



Sam wanted my attention so he called, "come d...

November 03, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam wanted my attention so he called, "come down here, old man!" "Old man?" I asked. "Yeah, because you and mom are old."



Sam and I had a little discussion last night:...

October 24, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I had a little discussion last night:
Dad: You're a good boy, Sam.
Sam: I'm not a boy.
Dad: Oh? Are you a man?
Sam: I'm a young man.



It's hard to describe how much Legos have bec...

October 21, 2001 by Adam in Sam

It's hard to describe how much Legos have become a central aspect of Sam's existance. Elaborate reinactments of stories, exciting explorations into the outdoors, and simple dismemberment have all found their way into Sam's playtime. Virtually every day coming home, it's "Dad, I want to go downstairs and play with tricky Legos." There's a never ending cycle of life played out as well. Lego people's heads and bodies are removed, switched, lost, and slowly replaced by purchases at the store. Luke Skywalker's head may be on a Rock Raider body, wearing an Ocean Rescue life jacket, and holding a cobbled together Darth Maul light sabre. Amazing.



I'm sick as a dog today

October 15, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I'm sick as a dog today. I told Sam I loved him and he replied, "I love you dad, even though you're sick. I don't love you too much when you're sick, just a little."



Last night, I was watching Buffy the Vampire ...

October 10, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Last night, I was watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer while Jamie was trying to get Sam to bed. Evidently, it failed, and he crawled up to the couch next to me to watch the last 15 minutes. I warned him to let me know if it got scary, and as soon as it came on, he said "It's scary! It's scary!" So, I had to cover his eyes for the scary bit.

The other really cute part was when I looked over at him, and said, "I love you Sam." At the exact same time, he said, "Dad, I love you." Awww . . .



Sam and I went out to Toys R Us and then the ...

October 09, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I went out to Toys R Us and then the bookstore, stopping off for a little treat. He's been sick the last few days, but I'm hoping is starting to feel better. His sense of humor is getting better and better these days. We were playing with Legos last night when he exclaimed, "Look dad! A human head on a windshield!" as he showed me his strange creation.



Sam and I were at the park yesterday, playing...

October 02, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I were at the park yesterday, playing with Legos. I took my Lego person, picked a flower, and asked the other Lego person if he'd like to smell it.
"But I have no nose," said Sam.

I thought that was pretty hysterical, so we walked home to tell mom.



Yesterday morning, Sam woke up next to Jamie ...

October 01, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Yesterday morning, Sam woke up next to Jamie and asked:
"Why was your hair long when dad met you?"

I vaguely remember talking to Sam about it awhile ago. It's funny what things he remembers.



Yesterday, Sam came up to me after work and s...

September 27, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Yesterday, Sam came up to me after work and said:
"Dad, I want to show you the truck!"
"The truck?"
"In the craft room. You have to go quietly."
We proceeded to sneak into the craft room, where Sam opened a cabinet and whispered "See?" It was the truck I had bought him for Christmas, which Jamie had hidden away. Sam, being the sneaky monkey that he is, found it immediately. I quickly hid it in another location and I'm hoping that he'll forget all about it in a few months.



Sam had a wonderful time at the coast

September 25, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam had a wonderful time at the coast. There were lots of people to play with, and everyone laughed at his jokes.

Sam's been going through a growth spurt, I think. Last night, he ate a huge amount of food. Every time he'd stuff something down, in a few more minutes he'd be hungry again. He's also been much more polite lately. There's a lot of "Please may I"'s, which are pretty hard to resist.



Sam came in to our bed this morning and dropp...

September 21, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam came in to our bed this morning and dropped his binkies on the mattress. He told Jamie, "See mom. That's gravity."



Jamie's been working hard for the first part ...

September 19, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Jamie's been working hard for the first part of this week, doing Tiny Tots and preschool things. I've been watching Sam in the evenings, and it's been great fun. I think he was a little sick for a few days, as he tended to whine a bit more than usual. It's been better, which makes him more fun to be around. He's also going to bed at 8 pm, which is wonderful. I've even had some time to relax in the evenings.

Sam's imagination is amazing. Last night, he was Max, not Sam. Sam was off for a walk in the forest, where he was captured by spiders and put in a cave. We had to drive off to Borders to rescue him and take him back. I think he got the idea from my stories about the Hobbit. Nice to know he's absorbing fine literature already.



Sam's sense of humor is improving

September 18, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam's sense of humor is improving. Tonight, we had this little discussion:
"Dad, I want to tell you something."
"What?"
(burp)

How he timed it so perfectly, we'll never know.



Sam's been going through a phase lately

September 16, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been going through a phase lately. Lots of whining. I keep assuring myself that it's normal and try to correct him:
"Why don't you ask 'could you please get me a cracker?'"
So far, it only sort of works.

Sam started preschool last week. He's really enjoying it.
"Gonna go, mom?"
"Yep."
"Will you pick me up after story time?"
"Yep."
"Okay, goodbye."

He's really enjoying the new sandbox. He had me bury him today while we were playing.



We were talking to Sam last night about the u...

August 20, 2001 by Adam in Sam

We were talking to Sam last night about the upcoming trip to Nebraska.
"Sam, what are you going to do in Nebraska?"
"Pee. Pee in the snow. Because that's what you do with snow."
"Oh, and who told you this?"
"Grandma and Geedu."
Evidently we're going to have to have a little talk with my mom and Dick.



Time for a quick Sam update

August 18, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Time for a quick Sam update. He's growing more and more every day, developing his personality and trying out new things. Unfortunately, that means he sometimes challenges us as parents, seeing how far he can go with the "whiny" thing. He's also much more creative - we made this outfit after reading a book about superheros. Lots of fun. His molars are almost finished coming in. He claims it doesn't hurt, but I'm never sure. His bee sting has mostly cleared up too, after a few days of being swollen.



Sam and I went swimming tonight and we were t...

August 16, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I went swimming tonight and we were the only people in the pool. Pretty cool - even the lifeguards jumped in for a swim.

Yesterday, Sam got stung by a bee. His poor little wrist is a little swolen, but he doesn't complain. What a trooper.



Sam sung me a little impromptu song today

August 03, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam sung me a little impromptu song today. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure there are many levels of symbolism in it.



Sam and I went hiking up Skinner's Butte yest...

July 16, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I went hiking up Skinner's Butte yesterday. We called it "Mount Doom" and Sam was pretending he was Frodo, throwing the one ring into the volcano. We had a great time until he slipped and bonked his hands on some rocks. Not too bad, but enough to turn us around. We were chatting it up as always by the time we made it to the bottom.

Out of the blue he announced, "When I get big, I'm going to go to Star Wars and be a Stormtrooper." I explained that maybe that wasn't a good ideas, as the Stormtroopers were bad. "Okay, maybe I'll be Luke."



When I came home from work last night, Sam wa...

July 12, 2001 by Adam in Sam

When I came home from work last night, Sam was in the back yard with only a shirt on. So, practically buck naked, he was wacking baseballs from his t-ball across the yard. Pretty talented for a two-year-old. Jamie watched on, obviously exhausted from watching our little creature all day.

Sam's still into Star Wars. We occasionally battle it out as Luke and Darth Vader using pillows from upstairs. I gotta get a recording of Sam saying "Give into your hate."



Well, I'm never sure if a toy purchase is for...

July 03, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Well, I'm never sure if a toy purchase is for Sam or I these days. I spent most of today watching Sam and we made a Toys-R-Us run. Since Sam's been getting into both Legos and Star Wars these days, we picked up a couple Star Wars Lego kits. I couldn't find Darth Vader anywhere, but we picked up Luke, Han Solo, a stormtrooper, and a Tie Fighter pilot. It's really weird - the pilot and stormtrooper don't have faces. If you take their helmets off, there's nothing there. Creepy.



Sam has been saying a few really funny things...

July 01, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam has been saying a few really funny things:
"Do you know what's my favorite thing? Lightsabres."
"I want to watch t.v. forever."
"Everybody has scary dreams sometimes."



I walked into the house last night and Sam sa...

June 28, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I walked into the house last night and Sam said, "you startled me dad." Where did he learn the word startled? Very funny coming out of a two-year-old's mouth.

Sam's been interested in dreams lately. We talk about how he can use his special powers in his dreams so they won't be scary any more. This morning, I asked him if he had good dreams. "No, just bad ones." I asked if he used his special powers. "Yeah, I flew away from the creatures."

Star Wars is also clearly made it's mark on Sam's persona. I've spent endless hours dueling with lightsabres with Sam (typically using pillows and paintbrushes). His Lego people have become Luke, Leia, and Darth Vader. The swimming pool has become a space ship. Great fun.



Jamie was giving me a report on the things Sa...

June 08, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Jamie was giving me a report on the things Sam's been able to do these days. Jamie couldn't find Sam for a little while her back was turned. He had picked up a huge basket and somehow taken it upstairs. Sam is also able to open the refrigerator, take out a juice box, put the straw in the hole up top, and drink away. "He's turning into a person," she said.



Sam told Jamie that he wanted his own house

June 01, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam told Jamie that he wanted his own house. When Jamie asked what he would do in it, he replied "Play and vacuum."



We were out on the back porch with Sam when w...

May 27, 2001 by Adam in Sam

We were out on the back porch with Sam when we smelled something a little funny. "Is there poop in your diaper?" we asked. Sam replied, "No! It's treasure!"



Sam continues to grow and learn

May 25, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam continues to grow and learn. He's recently gotten into swords and swordfighting. I think it's all the Disney cartoons, which seem enamored of melee combat. I'm thinking about taking him to the Eugene Fencing Club some day, as I think he'd enjoy it.

He also periodically says "I love you Dad" without any prompting. Needless to say, that makes my day.



Sam was helping Jamie make brownies last night

May 12, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam was helping Jamie make brownies last night. He likes the stirring part quite a bit, but I think his favorite is the licking.

We went swimming last night. Sam absolutely loves it. He would plug his nose, plunge his body under the water, spin around, pop back up, and say "I want to do it again." This was repeated about twenty times. Later, Sam wanted me to go to the deep part and let go of him for awhile. He'd drop to the bottom then float back up. Lots of fun.



Sam was playing on the computer last night wh...

May 10, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam was playing on the computer last night when he sneezed and flipped his head forward. He bonked his nose hard enough on the desk to make it bleed. We promptly stuffed some tissue up his nose and held him until he stopped crying. His first words were, "But I still want to play Pajama Sam."

We took him back to play his Pajama Sam game, a tissue hanging out his nose, until it was time to go swimming.



Today Sam was playing with a small toy car, a...

May 08, 2001 by Jamie in Sam

Today Sam was playing with a small toy car, and it made a loud zooming noise when he dragged it across the floor. He got very excited and tried to explain to me what kind of a noise it was making...racking his brain for something similar to describe the noise. Finally, he said, "You know, like when you take the top off a bottle of beer. THAT noise!"



We've been using the chalkboard in Sam's room...

May 06, 2001 by Adam in Sam

We've been using the chalkboard in Sam's room to write letters and spell things. Yesterday, he was actually able to identify the letters and read the words for SAM, MOM, and DAD. A little prompting was needed, but it was still pretty amazing. He's especially good with his own name. I suppose we can only spell out things like "ice cream" a little longer before he catches on.



Last night, Sam threw a shoe across the room

May 04, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Last night, Sam threw a shoe across the room. "Sam!" I said in a sharp voice. Sam hid himself, looking sheepish.
  Sam: "I feel bad."
  Adam: "Why do you feel bad?"
  Sam: "I feel bad because I threw the shoe."
I went on to explain about how sometimes it helps to pick up and help the other person. I then asked if he wanted to do that.
  Sam: "No."
  Adam: "Why?"
  Sam: "I want to still feel bad."
Needless to say, that got a laugh out of Jamie.



"I'm just like Pajama Sam!" When we got th...

April 24, 2001 by Adam in Sam

"I'm just like Pajama Sam!"

When we got the "Pajama Sam - No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside" game, little did I know how much it would affect Sam. He now wants to dress up like Pajama Sam with his cape, gray flashlight, and red lunchbox. In the game, you need to collect those things before you face Darkness. Now Sam feels he needs to be similarly equiped. Yesterday, we went to the park with Sam all in costume.



Sam and I went swimming last night and had a ...

April 21, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam and I went swimming last night and had a great time. I put a life jacket on him for the first time, and he went crazy. He would splash around by himself, giggling and flailing about. We played "rocket", where he would push off my chest and propell himself away from me. Great fun.



Sam got underwear today

April 18, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam got underwear today. He picked out the Darth Maul ones himself, preferring it over the Anakin themed ones. Figuring out how to use them hasn't quite happened yet. He did tell Jamie he had to pee once, though he managed to get all three pairs a bit soggy today. Still, another milestone for our boy . . .



I was giving Sam a bath last night

April 11, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I was giving Sam a bath last night. He was playing with the gel balls that are filled with oil, one of his favorite bath toys. I explained that we were almost out and he told me, "The next time we go to the store, we can get yellow ones and Johanna can get red ones" (Sam's favorite color is yellow and Johanna's is red). It appears that at age two, he's already picked a favorite color.



Sam woke up this morning and said, "Mom, I ha...

April 05, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam woke up this morning and said, "Mom, I had a dream about water in the bathtub." Pretty amazing that he's figured out what dreams are so soon.

Sam and I played with his velcro balls yesterday. He was wearing his sweater, which turned out to be quite an excellent target for the occasional wayward ball.



Sam's been into playdough lately

March 31, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam's been into playdough lately. Tonight we spent almost an hour making little creatures and hand puppets. The only fiasco involved brushing blue playdough out of Sam's teeth, though I think I got it all.

The boy's been especially chatty. Today he told me, "I had a dream last night where I liked different food." Unfortunately, it's still a dream. He's one of the pickiest eaters I know.



Sam spent all day yesterday with this cape on

March 17, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam spent all day yesterday with this cape on. He started with an impromptu blanket cape, then Jamie arranged for a more sturdy one. He refused to remove it all day. When I got home from work, he wanted to play "swords" using his spatula. I also ended up telling him Lord of the Rings stories. Sam and I later ran upstairs to get the elves to reforge our broken swords. It's pretty funny hearing a two-year-old say the word "reforge."



Last night, Sam got a little over excited and...

March 11, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Last night, Sam got a little over excited and threw up a bit. After cleaning him up, we returned to the play room to find the dog licking up the carpet.

Dad: "The dog's licking your throw-up."
Sam: "Oh. He's a good helper."

As for the photo of Sam with bags on his head, I can't explain. He decided it was the latest fashion rage after we returned from shopping.



A woman from Sam's preschool called over the ...

February 26, 2001 by Adam in Sam

A woman from Sam's preschool called over the weekend. The kids were being asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, and Sam had missed that day. I asked Sam what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said he didn't know, but his helpful cousin Josh suggested, "a pilot!" Sam turned around to me and replied, "a pirate!" So, if Sam turns out to sail the seven seas in search of treasure, we'll blame his cousin.



I took Sam to Amazon park yesterday

February 25, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I took Sam to Amazon park yesterday. He had a great time jumping through the puddles and getting mud everywhere. He had to ride home with no pants.

A few days ago, Sam saw Jamie sitting in bed with a Crossword puzzle. She was tapping her finger under her nose in thought. Sam asked, "mom, what are you doing to your philtrum?" Too funny.



I told Sam I was sick today

February 22, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I told Sam I was sick today. He replied:
"Please may you . . .
Some toys will make you feel better!"



Jamie got Sam some educational goodies - book...

February 21, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Jamie got Sam some educational goodies - books, stickers, and puzzles with a Farm theme. I think Jamie liked it almost as much as Sam. They spent a good chunk of an hour counting chickens, applying stickers, and having a good time.

Sam continues to amaze us. Not only did he remember the name of the person who cleaned out our sewer line last Fall, but Sam remembered that he had tatoos on his arms too.



Last night, I awoke to tiny hands trying to b...

February 19, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Last night, I awoke to tiny hands trying to burrow through my soft underbelly. It turns out Jamie had moved Sam to our bed, then left. Sam was trying to find his binky, and he must have thought I'd swallowed it or something.

The photo is from the birthday party yesterday. Sam and Hanna sat for quite some time playing with home-made playdough. Sam would periodically turn to Hanna and say "Goopy, goopy".



The other day, Sam layed down for a nap with ...

February 18, 2001 by Adam in Sam

The other day, Sam layed down for a nap with Jamie.

"Mom, there's no air in space."
"That's right Sam."
"Mom, there's no gravity in space."
"You're right Sam."



Jamie picked up an antique school desk for Sa...

February 09, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Jamie picked up an antique school desk for Sam a couple days ago. It's pretty nifty - probably pre-1940's, but hard to tell. There's a little drawer in the seat for storing books. When Sam saw it, he know that right away it was for sitting and drawing. As you can see, it also fits his gorilla just fine.



Sam is quite the character these days

February 03, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam is quite the character these days. He's very much into rockets, space ships, and astronauts. Sam turned a little basket into a helmet, and he's been blasting off all around the house.

This morning, he decided that mom was really "Space Mom" and the puppy was some sort of alien. We added green food coloring to his milk so he could drink weird alien milk with his pancakes.



I've been rereading the Lord of the Rings and...

February 02, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I've been rereading the Lord of the Rings and summarizing some of the tales inside for Sam. He'd sit at rapt attention as I talked about the hobbits and their encounters with orcs, Black Riders, and other Tolkien creatures. Hey, I thought, he's getting an early start at fine literature. Unfortunately, I got in trouble with Jamie when she reported that she spent an hour putting Sam to bed. Evidently, she had to convince Sam that the Black Riders weren't coming to get him. Ah, the joys of fatherhood.



Sam's gotten really into hiding these days

January 24, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Sam's gotten really into hiding these days. He likes to "hide from the scary goats" (I told him the story of how goats tried to eat my hair as a child). From there, he moved into hiding in different places, remaining quiet and still for a long time. One time, we caught him hiding his head in the shopping bag. Why, no one knows.



I was trying to put Sam down to bed last nigh...

January 20, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I was trying to put Sam down to bed last night, and I suggested he snuggle for awhile between his parents:
"No! Just mom!"
"Why can't I lay down too?"
"But you're hairy all over."
Well, there you have it. I offered to shave my entire body, which Sam thought was pretty keen. In the final moments, thought, I couldn't bring myself do it.



Poor Sam has a cold today

January 12, 2001 by Adam in Sam

Poor Sam has a cold today. He woke up crying, like he often does, so I scooped him up and dumped him in bed with Jamie. After a shower, I still heard him crying, so I went back upstairs. He settled down and then I heard this conversation:
"Where are you mom?"
"I'm right here, sweetie."
"Where's your head, though?"
I suppose some parts of mom are more important than others.



I watched Sam for most of the day today

January 07, 2001 by Adam in Sam

I watched Sam for most of the day today. He was a bit of a wild boy, running around and yelling a lot. After having breakfast with Jamie, we hit the toy store, the book store, and Amazon park. I just finished plunking him down for bed, where he completely collapsed. My favorite weird quote of the day is "But I'm not a gell ball."



Older Posts

Samatopia.com
Splugger's YouTube

Sam's first words



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