As a cursory glance at the photos below will tell you, the big event this week was Sam’s first real snowfall. Last Thursday a huge winter storm hovered over our house and dropped several inches of frozen rain. Then it belched, scratched itself, and dumped several more inches of snow on top of that.
The result was that everything was delightfully frozen and wintery, the kind of thing that we never saw in Southern California. Sam had technically seen snow before on previous Christmas vacations, but she acted like it was completely new and it was fun to watch how excited she got. She insisted on going out while it was still coming down, at which time she just kind of wandered around in a glee-struck stupor. When she broke out of the trance she grinned at me and actually started a (admittedly feeble) snowball fight. I totally won, but she got hot chocolate as a consolation prize.
The next morning everything was covered in a blanket of brilliant white snow and Sam was once again totally keen on getting out there and stomping around in it. We dressed her more warmly this time, and because out subdivision was so snowed in that I had to work from home that day I got to take some pictures, some of which turned out to be my most favorite in a while. (Tip for other mom and dad would-be photographers: even though is sounds counter intuitive, increase the exposure bias by one stop when shooting in the snow. All that white stuff makes your camera think there’s more light in the scene than there really is.) Sam ran around, jabbering about icicles, noting how her swing set was covered in snow, and generally having the time of her life. But by the time Saturday rolled around, we had put her to work shoveling off the sidewalk, so her enthusiasm may be dampened a bit.
The other thing on the agenda this weekend was some “Super Siblings Class” that Geralyn had signed us all up for at the hospital. Having a sister as I do, I thought I pretty much knew all there was about having a sibling and didn’t think it would be that hard for Samantha to pick up on. But apparently there are life lessons that must be learned in a classroom, for a $10 fee. For example, in its exquisite thoroughness the class taught Sam that:
- Your baby brother or sister is coming!
- Baby brothers or sisters are neat!
- Yaaaaaaaayy!
- Clap clap clap!
And besides the part where the teacher passed out little paper cups full of animal crackers, that’s pretty much it. Furthermore, Samantha spent a large chunk of the time ignoring the lecture and trying to root through various cabinets and drawers well out of view of the teacher. The only potentially worthwhile part of the class was when we all wandered down to the nursery to look at some newborn babies, but even that was limited to peering through a window into a soundproof room. It was basically like watching one on TV with the mute button on. But still, Samantha now has a certificate stating that she is a “Certified Super Sib.” It is, as I explained to her, a binding agreement and we can sue her for breach of contract the first time she wakes up the baby after we’ve finally gotten it to sleep.
And speaking of waking up, earlier this week the day finally arrived when Sam realized she could just open her door and let herself out of her room after waking up. She had never done this before for some reason, always preferring to just stand up in her bed and yell at us through the baby monitor when she decided she’d had enough. An honesty, we didn’t see the point of changing this habit given that it made her easier to keep track of. But her newfound mobility was sweet on Saturday morning when she wandered into our bedroom at 7:30 with a armload of books to read. It meant, after all, that we didn’t actually have to get out of bed.
However, it was all less charming that afternoon when I was trying to take advantage of her supposed nap time to take a shower. I looked up from my lathering to see her standing there outside the shower door, staring at me and holding a toy I’m pretty sure had been all the way down in the basement when I put her down. I’m just glad she sleeps through the night so we don’t have to worry about any nocturnal wanderings.
Congratulations Sam on your first snow! What fun! May I recommend our 3 yr old’s fav snow activity – snow angels. The fine art of swooshing snow around and on one’s body with icy snow can keep one entertained for hours..and hours…
Though, a word of warning. I’m guessing by your recent weather posts that you live in our neck of the woods (western burbs of Chicago?) – in which case – enjoy it while it lasts. The weather here can go from 70 to -3 back to the 60s all in a week’s time – especially during early spring.
Yeah, I tried to talk her into the snow angel thing, but the closest I could get was her sitting on her rump and kind of flailing her legs a bit. We’ll work on it.
And yeah, the weather around here is crazy. The snow may stick around for a few more days but then it’ll probably be all slush until the next one. And slush angels aren’t nearly as satisfying.
Hmmm..slush angles are perhaps not satisfying for the likes of you or I (or any sane adult for that matter)…and yet somehow I see myself outside with the two girls as one of them attempts to do just that this weekend… It’s kinda sad when you know what’s coming.