At least half a dozen times a day I realize the house seems quiet and I wonder “what’s Sammy up to?”  The answer could be anything from looking at books quietly in his room, snuggling with Sister Clare, looking out the window at the birds, or something else calm and mellow.  The answer could be that he’s unrolling the toilet paper, emptying out a dresser drawer, or methodically throwing the contents of his toy box down the stair case.  Mostly likely, however, the answer is that he’s climbing on something.  I might find him standing on the dining room table, or having pushed a package of paper towels into the kitchen and is using them to reach the cupboards, or he’s scaling the entertainment center using his fingers and toes.  Our boy loves to be vertical – the higher the better, and nothing is safe.

 

 

Of course we do have quiet moments – moments of snuggling while we read books, or point to and label our toes, nose, fingers and ears, or sing his favorite songs (Baby Beluga – or, “Bay-bee Bawuugah”).  He’s begun a little bit of pretend/imitation play of driving cars and trucks, cooking food in the play kitchen, and patting and snuggling with doll babies and stuffed animals.  

 

 

Honestly, usually I don’t have to wonder what this guy is doing since he’s usually right next to me.  Either he’s careening around the house with his little impish and mischievous grin, grabbing things off the kitchen counter while I’m cooking, or I’m trying to find things to keep him busy and occupied.  We spend a lot of time outside so that he can throw, run and climb to his hearts content.  We spend a lot of time playing in water, splashing, pouring, and painting with shaving cream.  He likes to experience things fully, so the answer to “What’s Sammy up to?” is usually everything.