Sam's New Pal

This past weekend, Sukha got to sleepover. I was a little nervous about Sukha with Sam due to their past relationship (often included growls). However as you can see from the photo, they worked it out and became the best of friends. Sam thought Sukha might need to share his blankie for "night-night". Sukha looks kind of interested-right?

The river is something that you can't keep Sukha out of. After watching Joe compete in the kayaking rodeo (me with Sam in my arms and Sukha on a leash), Joe took a swim through the hole. Sukha insisted on following him and practically pulled my arm out in order to swim out there. These next photos are a sequence from that excitement. Luckily, Sukha is a really strong swimmer.



And this final photo.....Sam, just how we like him at the end of the day.

May Day Flowers?

This is what we woke up to on May first......six inches of more snow. (Just what we need.) Sam acted like it was his first time in snow all over again. He seemed to forget that we have already been through six months of white. California is looking more and more appealing everyday.

Sam gets to play with his new tricycle inside. Notice the helmet too, he wanted to take his nap with it on. Today it is finally sunny and warm and Sam got to take his trike outside. I hope the sun is smiling on you today as well.

Guess who's 2?

Yes, we celebrated Sam's birthday last night with Russ, Julie, and our neighbors. Doesn't he look like quite the big boy now? He insists on wearing a hat everyday, so I thought that it was time to get him a new summer cap. I think that he approved.
Before the party started, Sam was running up and down the balcony singing "birthday, birthday". I think that he gets the idea a little more this year. He even wore his birthday hat throughout the entire evening, until he opened up his new baseball cap.




The first blow of the candles was more of a spit. After a few tries he figured it out. We saved the slobber piece for him.






Julie said it best, "Do you know of any kid who can get more excited than this?". Sam has always had a unique way of expressing his enthusiasm. He continues to get better with age. Despite the continual testing of his limits and my patience (this is normal I'm told), the "terrible twos" aren't looking that terrible at all. We enjoy the new words everyday, watching him play at the park, big boy undies all day, noticing the little signs of spring together, and all of the opportunities to learn and grow together. He will be an amazing big brother!

We are anxious to see everyone in July. If you haven't heard already, we are moving to California. This means that we will be closer and I think that this will be even more appealing for all of you to come and visit us at the beach. Love...Jenelle

Happy Spring!

Busy Boys

Yes, we are busy. If you haven't heard already, Joe took a job in Vermont. This is exciting and sad at the same time. We will deeply miss our friends here and the sense of community that we have felt. Feel free to let us know what you think. We'll keep everyone up to date as our plans evolve.

Happy Easter! (I'll post pictures from our fun day with Julie and Russ this week.)

The Big Boy

Sam was lucky enough to spend the last week with his Grandma and Grandpa Carberry, while Joe and I were soaking up the sun in Mexico. He handled the separation easily considering he had two constant caregivers giving him their total attention. I on the other hand, missed my boy terribly. Children live in the moment and therefore more easily accept their current circumstance, while as adults we tend to busy our minds with the past and future.

As Joe and I arrived in Mexico, I realized that I had a passport that still read my maiden name. Somehow I had made it past security, and now I would spend too much of my vacation worrying about whether or not I would make it back into the country. Don't get me wrong, Joe and I had an amazing trip.

The weather in Sayulita was a perfect average of 82 degrees, with moderate humidity, and blue skies. The swell was plenty big satisfying Joe's desire to surf. I simply enjoyed the empty spaces, often making friends with other moms on the beach who had brought their kiddos. Sam would have loved the sand and water.

Sam was busy with the grandparents, walking, shopping, playing, swimming, eating, and pooping in the big toilet. Yes, Sam is starting to get potty trained. He is doing a wonderful job telling us when he needs to go, but he tends to get stage fright when he sits on the pottie. So we often go back and forth all day, until finally he can't hold it any longer. After the past week, he has definitely gotten better at releasing.

We are home, our family complete, and Sam is my little cling-on. After so much anxiety about my passport, I realized while home that there is a stamp in the back of my passport that reads, "Jenelle Blackhurst has changed her name to Jenelle Carberry". Whew....If only I could also learn to live more in each moment and not worry about the past or future.

Valentine's Treat

I know that this blog is really intended to show off our little man. However when the mama and papa get to go on a date there is reason for celebrating, particularly when we get to spend the whole day cat skiing. Now for those of you who think that we went skiing with our neighbor's cat, let me share of few moments of our day with you. We rode in a CAT (machine used for grooming snow) up to the top of Buffalo Pass. From there, our guides helped us find the fresh, light, fluffy powder. Joe and I weaved through the Aspens together. Joe hootin' and hollerin' while I couldn't stop the little girl gigglin'. By the end of the day we managed to ski 12 runs of total fresh, only stopping midway for a three-course lunch. Thanks to Steamboat Magazine for helping Joe make this Valentines Day one of the most memorable. Special thanks to Annie and Catherine for watching our little valentine. We are feeling blessed and hope all of you are feeling the same.

On a side note, Sam got to experience his first Winter Carnival last weekend. You can imagine the "excited face" as Sam watched the Lighted Man ski down Howelson Hill, the Nordic Jumpers leap through a ring of fire, and one of the best fireworks show that I have ever seen. He kept doing his sign for more, more.