This first month, caring for Sam himself has been relatively easy. Now that Lydia has been putting us through our paces for the past few years, newborns are a piece of cake. Sam doesn't roll, crawl, or run away from us; he doesn't require specific foods that he is craving at that very second; no entertainment needed other than cuddling; and no backtalking. All Mr. Samwise needs is milk at three to four hour intervals, a regular change of diapers, and a snuggly spot to sleep.
The New Thing (tm) to learn has been the coordination of two children when leaving the house or navigating some place other than the home. It's not just Lydia's well-worn routine that we fall into when preparing to leave -- diapers, extra paci, juice cup, blanket, child, LEAVE -- there's a blend of routines we try to fit in together . . . and sometimes the two-year-old is impatient. Now it's more like: feed Sam, change Sam, is Lydia dressed? okay, pump, make bottle for Sam, Lydia has pineapple juice on her shirt, change Lydia, gather diapers, juice cup, emergency paci, blanket, get Sam in carseat, Sam's mad -- feed Sam again?, feed Sam, where's my shoes? Lydia ran off with my shoes, get shoes, bags in car, kids in car, GO!
And then we're worn out before we get to where we're going. Whew!
Thankfully, most of our outings have involved just Sam and myself -- at least when we're leaving the house. We head out each afternoon to pick up Lydia from daycare, and we've conformed that into an art. Sam has a lot of admirers in Lydia's class when I tote him in with me to get the girlie. They all come a-running to see Sam, pulling down on his carseat carrier to get a better look at him and give commentary.
"He sleeping!"
"He paci!"
"He night-night!"
"Sham! Sham! Mommy!" Lydia hollers when she sees us. Then in the car we go to head home where Lydia will start up a movie (lately, The Iron Giant), and Sam eats again or I start dinner, depending on the fussiness level.
Though their birthdays didn't end up being on the same day (praise the Lord), they are still only three weeks apart, and Lydia celebrated her second birthday last weekend. Many people were there to celebrate with her and meet Mr. Sam as well. His cousin Elizabeth felt he would look more distinguished with some Potatohead glasses.
Something tells me this year will go by quite fast. Just one year ago, Sam was a twinkle in his Daddy's eye and Lydia just spoke her first word -- "Uh-oh." Now Sam's dozing in my arms (one-handed typing FTW) and Lydia is chanting, "Spongbob, Spongbob!" from the living room. Thanks for that, Uncle Kevin.
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