Lambie the Great

Lambie is Sam's constant companion-- not always physically but certainly in spirit. Lately, Lambie has a knack for doing things Sam seems to really wish he could do OR things he really doesn't want to do at all. Either way, he's good at testing things out while Sam mulls things over. Today's example: "Lambie is afraid of predators. At school, Lambie doesn't want to play with the bucket of dinosaurs because they have so many teeth. But I might. Maybe." And Tuesday's example, in response to finding out he's going to have a brother: "Well, Lambie really doesn't like babies. He doesn't like when they cry too much because it makes him have to 'baa' really loud and that isn't good."

Lambie has also recently partnered with Otto and they are now mom and dad to their new baby, Little Lambie. This family is very non-traditional, cross-species breeding aside. Most of the time, Lambie is a girl and "the mommy", but also takes on the role of Sam's brother when need be. Otto is decidedly a boy, but is often both Lambie's AND Little Lambie's father. Let's not ponder that for too long. But anyway you shake it, it is much fun to see Sam using his stand-ins to work through what is on his mind.

I tried to capture some of this on film, but really is remarkable how videotaping Sam is one of the only things that can get him to stop talking. I would SO love to tape some of his wildly imaginative monologues or intense inquisitions...but alas, the camera comes out and Sam just clams up. We're going to have to get sneaky so we can get some representative footage of this fun phase. Here is the best I could do (after a day of non-stop talking!) to document Sam with his friends, Lambie, Otto and Little Lambie.