I wish I could convey the awesomeness of Sam. Almost-three has to be just about the cutest age in kidhood. Still a bit baby-faced, but getting tall and dextrous; full of joy in simple things, but beginning to (constantly) look into the abstract world with "why? why? why?", this is a great age.

And Sam is a great boy. He's still the cuddliest of the kids, and learning to play pretend for real (and not just in imitation of Brigid) has been an excuse for him to invent games like "baby bear", which involve asking "mommy bear" to hibernate with him (i.e., cuddle on the couch). Well, that, or he's St. George killing the dragon or David killing Goliath. His pretends sometimes fall on the two extremes of sweetness and violence.

Or construction. That's the other big one. Lots of play involving building things and trucks.

He still sleeps better than any of the other kids, including the twins.

And he is learning to love Jesus, which is a joy to see. He is learning to pray - though much of it is still rote. But he is interested very much in the Christmas story, and he and Brie act it out a lot.

He reminds me (and just about everyone else) very strongly of Adam. Not a copy, but very certainly a son.