Sam's words

Sam turned 2 today! I started this blog post last week and didn't get back to it. In just that week his language has exploded. He's a little parrot. Sentences are still shaky - and each word in his 3 word sentences comes after a thoughtful pause, but he's on his way to chatterbox-dom. He is patient and persistent and somehow makes himself understood when he really wants something.

Here's an abbreviated list of his words. He doesn't say "r" or "s" so translate these words in light of that.
"Wa-hoo" (waffle)
"Cin-chee" (candy) - boy's got his parents' sweet tooth
"Oo-koo" (orange juice, orange and sometimes yoghurt)
Morning! As in "Morning, Mama!" And "ata'noooon, Mama!"
"Tanks, mamma" he has realized the power of this so he says it often - when you give him things, pick something up for him, help him when he asks for it, etc). He says Please too - "Peez"
"Hewp!" - he uses this liberally
'Tuk" - stuck as in "I'm stuck" "My hand is stuck in my sleeve", "I can't get up", etc.
"Owoow book". His favorite book - that and "Mama Day" his newest favorite book since I can't find Owl Book. Update - for the last  3 nights he also wants "Fwag an' Dod, Mama, Fwag and Dod book!" (five points if you can figure out what characters those are)

Of course, in the past few weeks, his all time favorite words have been those 2 year old universals: "MINE!" and "NO!"

Other cutness:
When he's carrying a cup with liquid in it he walks like he's carrying radioactive material - concentrating so hard he's almost shaking. But he often leaves his cups of milk on the floor for me to trip on and spill. Aargh.

He starts moving his mouth to drink the instant the cup is near his mouth, no matter where the liquid in it is. Little smacking noises go on until the drink actually reaches his lips - which can take awhile, since he's a deliberate little fellow.

He loves playing the piano. Plinking around, up and down. Not banging, and not connecting notes to a tune, just listening to the sounds it makes.

He puts his boots away himself, and helps me take off my coat if I haven't done it soon enough (by his timing). Unsnapping the snaps as high up as he can reach, then pulling on my sleeve cuff. After it's off he tries to hang it up on his hook - which is much too low for my long coat. But the idea is a fabulous one and I'm going to encourage every tendency to tidiness. Hurrah for Murray's genes!

We had such a fun birthday. His big gifts were a train table (to match the train set) from the Carlisle's (BIG hit, Lindsey), a pop-up tunnel and a fish. (I'm sliding down the slippery pet slope. First chickens, now fish.)

Here's his cake:

(Thomas the Train if you're not in the small boy child world) He liked it quite a bit - which is the goal.

A new...everything

Day two at the new office and all's well. We're getting the daily minutiae that matter so much fine tuned. Wireless up and running, lamp shades on lamps, etc. We do still need to get some pictures and instruments hung - - tomorrow, for sure.
 Murray's nurse is great - totally can-do and unstoppable. She's coming over to Quiet Corner Family Practice (QCFP) full time in 2 weeks. I waft in and out, sometimes with kids, sometimes with treats. Murray is a whirlwind of phone calls and techno gizmos. (Reminds me of our wedding week - I swear I thought the phone was going to grow into his ear. Remember he took a call during our toast at the rehearsal dinner? Amazing).
For me, the best part of starting up this practice has been the chance to see Murray work with his patients. I know that they love, trust and respect him and it's obvious why; he's immensely patient, kind, respectful and comprehensive. I don't mean to sound like I am surprised at this, but it is fabulous to witness - and to work with.
One of my favorite things in life is to see friends in a different capacity than I usually do - like when my friend Rebecca painted the tree on Natty's bedroom wall. She was in such a cool zone - her Artist zone that I don't see as often as I see her Momma zone or Friend zone. That's what I'm getting to do with Murray. And it's nice after 8 years together to see sides of him that I don't think about.

As for the rest of life: Natty had a fabo birthday, Sam is getting cuter and cuter (when will it stop?) and New Year's in Vermont was the usual great bash. No snow to speak of here and I'm missing Alaska, but that's nothing new. On the bright side: I'm ramping up to fulfill a 10 yr goal of running a marathon. Mayor's in Anchorage anyone? I'll see you there. You could not be less fit than me so let's get a move on! I'll keep you posted on my progress.