The family is taking it easy, staying at home today. Amy is under the weather, and it’s been pouring most of the day. Sam is more entertaining than any day out and about town, so we’re still having a grand old time. In the past week or so, it seems like more and more of those little synapses are firing – and hitting. Although we think his recent early AM wake-up calls may be the sign of another upper tooth coming in, he’s been most helpful lately using the simple sign language we’ve been showing him since he was about six months old. During a 4:30 AM cyring jag, he was standing in the crib, putting his fists together to say ‘I’m hungry’. Officially, that means ‘more,’ but who’s gonna argue with a 13-month old? He also knows how to say ‘all done’ by moving his hands, palms down, from side-to-side. And of course there is the plaintive lifting of both hands when he’s on the ground in a sign for ‘UP!’ All very cute, and frankly amazing for us first-time parents to watch.