From crawling to swashbuckling

This week Sam decided to walk.  One day (Thursday in fact) he just stopped crawling and walked all around the room.  Now nothing can stop him - not even a little swordplay.  

P.S. This is Ethan's greatest dream realized.

Teamwork

I only walk when no one is looking.

Sam has been a bit of a late bloomer in the walking-and-talking department.  He started standing in mid-May and took one or two steps around Memorial day, but has only just started willingly walking from one place to another, maxing out at around five steps.  But it definitely counts as walking in my book.  Here's the proof:

This is what "talking" (and eating yogurt) looks like:

Sam's First Bike Ride

While Ethan was at pre-school we snuck away for a ride along the Connecticut River 

and Sam took his first trip in the Burley!  Here's how it went:

BEFORE: Sam is not exactly thrilled about the bike trailer.  

AFTER: Sam is blissful after a head-bobbing nap along NH dirt roads, 

torrential downpour and steady supply of raisins and cheerios.

As for me, it felt INCREDIBLY good to be on my bike again.  I was reminded of the hundreds of hours I've spent in my saddle over the years, quietly reflecting on life, enjoying the breeze, struggling slowly uphill, flying downhill.  So much has changed in our lives since we used to spend days on end riding around rural Wisconsin, but we still love to bike.  What a treat to find a way to enjoy it with our boys.

-Jody

5th Birthday Party

We spent a gorgeous day at Riverside Park celebrating Ethan's 5th birthday.  

I feel so lucky that we have (finally) found a sweet little community here.

 

 

 

In case you were wondering, river + playground + shelter + skate park = best park ever.  

 

 

Turns out it's kind of hard to light candles in the wind.  

Good thing I had a crew of advanced problem solvers to help me figure it out.

Thanks to Marcy Hogan for the incredible photos (and good company and cute kids)...

Brothers

The brothers Holiday are getting along so much better these days.  Ethan loves to make Sam laugh and to engage him in physical play (crawling across the hall, wrestling in bed, pushing Sam in a stroller).  Ethan often asks to sit right next to Sam at meals and sometimes feeds him.  

Thankfully, Ethan also usually asks for help to remove Sam when Baby Brozilla starts meddling with toys that are "too special to me", instead of just punching/pinching/kicking him out of the way.  The relocation of the lego table to Ethan's room has helped with this alot - good call Jeremy!

It is a tremendous relief to be able to trust Ethan to be (mostly) kind and responsible with his little bro.  It's a far cry from the constant supervision that was required for most of the last year, when violence was the norm and sweetness the exception.  So proud of Ethan for growing into his role as a big brother.

 

Sam may not walk yet, but he climbs wherever he damn well pleases: the dryer, the table, the counter, the toilet, inside the dishwasher.  Ethan thinks Sam is on to something.  And don't worry about them in the dryer; Jeremy taught Ethan how to kick the door open if he gets stuck.

 

 

 

Videos of brother love (and a little solo Sam cuteness):

April 2012

 

Winter 2012-13

 

 

 

 

May 2013

Five Years

 

 

On that hot, summer day in 2008, I really had no idea what I was in for. What a journey we've been on ever since. Seeing the love and spirit and sense of humor and intensity and curiosity in this kid, I couldn't be more honored and humbled to be his Jody.

 

Happy 5th Birthday, Ethan.