Sam's new favorite expression is "I can do it myself!" She is very clear about this. She can zip up her own jacket, put on her own pants (except for the snap part) her own shoes that close with Velcro, and her own socks. She practices with Dolly alot, although Dolly mostly gets a dose of rash cream and a diaper. Sam is working on putting on her own diaper, the regular kind with tabs. She lays the diaper out flat on the floor, sits on it, and tries to attach the tabs around her tummy. She almost has it down. She goes back and forth with the pull up diapers. Some days she likes the Big Bird ones, other days she wants the Cinderella picture on the front. Other days she doesn't want anything to do with either. I ask her which one she wants and we go with what she says.

We had a nice morning on a puddle adventure. Sam wore her magic puddle boots and we romped through this large field near the Hanscom Air Force Base. There were some spots where the snow had almost melted and she could walk in the water and ice over the grass. The grass smells heavenly. We met two other people who were out walking. Ella was curious but left them alone when I asked. It was very quiet which surprised me. It is a nice, flat path and very little ice left. Sam stomped on every puddle we came across and also got to walk Ella on leash. Did I mention that Ella is a very patient and lovely dog? It was 60 degrees and sunny all day today, just a spectacular day. I played Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a Wonderful World” all the way home. Sam has lots of exposure to Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte. She can round it out when she gets older. :-) Just kidding, We listen to lots of classical and some modern stuff too. I just find myself having such a blast with “Day O” and “Twisting” that I keep going back to them.