April 2008 Archives

Samantha had a particularly great time at My Gym this week, and Mommy actually brought the camera!

Follow this link to see really poorly executed footage of Samantha doing a forward roll.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5720845989077324388&hl=en

 

Here, Samantha and her "boyfriend" Evan are swinging on a big platform-type swing.  It's actually a good 2 1/2 feet off the ground, and swings and shakes.  More exciting than it looks here.

And. because we hadn't yet had to do laundry today, Mommy decided it was craft time!  She mixed up some vanilla pudding and food coloring, and we finger painted.  And foot painted.  And, as you can see, face painted.  Honestly, Samantha wasn't that into it, but I had a great time!

 

 

 

Samantha is getting more grown up every day!  She's learned to "scoot" on the floor by pushing off on our hands, the furniture, etc.  This is particularly exciting on the wood floors, where she can cover ground VERY quickly. 

The other big event of last week was that she learned to "put in".  Put her blocks in a box, put her toys in the trunk of her little truck, put her cheerios in a cup -- now everything goes "in".

She also likes to sit on her little truck and push herself backwards across the room.

She enjoyed something I cooked for dinner for the very first time last week - meatloaf and potatoes (blended to a fine puree and mixed with a LOT of water, but it's a start).

And, she is mimicking sounds.  This makes her sound like she is using words often, but I think she is just repeating them without understanding the meaning.  Again, you have to start somewhere!

 

I think, since I finally got the baptism photos up, I am going to declare victory and move to the present day.  Woo hoo!!!!

So how is it that kids can sleep like this and not wake up stiff?  She woke up with an imprint in her cheek from the chest buckle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In another "how fast they grow" moment, Samantha had her first "big girl" tantrum yesterday.  Complete with foot kicking and angry crying.  Yikes.

I think it was an offshoot of being totally exhausted from a weekend at Farmor and Papa G's.  We were celebrating Auntie Carolion and Uncle Barry's engagement.  Farmor threw a beautiful party!

Samantha had fun bonding with Papa and playing with Cousin Ava, although she was otherwise pretty over-stimulated by all the noise and excitement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We sort of missed the window this year for the long-awaited "bluebonnet shot" -- all good Texas mommies take these in the spring, I guess.  Here's my version. 

 

 

Easter morning was chilly and windy, but a beautiful day.  The service was excellent, and the pastor did a beautiful job of creating a message out of the miracle of Samantha's healing without being dark about her early days.  People had tears in their eyes throughout the congregation.  It was truly wonderful.  She was baptized on behalf of "the church universal" and presented by Dixie Johnson, one of the amazing women in her prayer group.

We had a few good photo opps in "The Dress".

 

 

 

Preparing the cream puff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the pastor in Germantown Presbyterian.  It's a beautiful church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tres generaciones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha with her best present of all.  The bear (who we've named Carol) was commissioned by my mom's close friend (also Carol, hmmm....) before she passed away in March, and was hand-made by her daughter.  Carol even wrote the card that went with it.  We will treasure that special bear always!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve, Carol's husband and close family friend, with Mom and Samantha (and Carol the Bear).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ties are good fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Easter Bunny did come, and Samantha got most of the loot.  Here, she's clutching the world's tiniest New Testament, in pink, of course.  Apparently, there's not a board book version. 

Wow, at this rate I may never catch up.  But this stuff is just too good not to share!

On Saturday of Easter weekend, my mom/Samantha's Grandma held a brunch at her house so that Samantha could meet the members of the prayer group that met (and actually still meets!) to pray for her.  We are so grateful to these ladies who have given so much time and love to helping Samantha!  They have really been part of a miracle.  It was so nice to meet them all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha got to make a new friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She really enjoyed playing with Mom's old xylophone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, there were MORE PRESENTS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She really liked playing with the beautiful necklace her Papa sent for her christening.  Thank you, Cal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still don't like to eat.  Why does that make Mom so cranky?

 

Wow, at this rate I may never catch up.  But this stuff is just too good not to share!

On Saturday of Easter weekend, my mom/Samantha's Grandma held a brunch at her house so that Samantha could meet the members of the prayer group that met (and actually still meets!) to pray for her.  We are so grateful to these ladies who have given so much time and love to helping Samantha!  They have really been part of a miracle.  It was so nice to meet them all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha got to make a new friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She really enjoyed playing with Mom's old xylophone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, there were MORE PRESENTS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She really liked playing with the beautiful necklace her Papa sent for her christening.  Thank you, Cal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still don't like to eat.  Why does that make Mom so cranky?

 

Samantha took her very first airplane flight the day after her 1st birthday.  I have had sort of a strange fear about letting her fly, just because of all the wierd brain stuff I don't understand.  What if the pressure changes somehow cause another blood vessel to burst?  Everyone says it shouldn't/couldn't, but no one can tell me why it would have in the first place. 

Anyway, all fears were for naught.  Samantha traveled like a champ.  Dad did scare her by tripping as he moved into the seat with her, so she was shrieking like a tiny banshee when the other passengers began to board.  You should have seen their faces.  I laughed because that has been me -- boarding a plane with the "please don't be in my row" look.  She settled in just fine, though, and didn't cry at all during takeoff and landing.  She actually slept through most of the flight (I credit sleepytime pal Bloose you see in the photo below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got to Grandma's there was - of course - more CELEBRATING!  You only turn one once, after all.  But you can celebrate it 3 or 4 times just to be sure you get it right.  Grandma sure throws a good party.

With more FAVORITE PEOPLE, more PRESENTS...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And more CAKE! (which Samantha still won't eat, but at least she was agreeable enough to taste the icing).

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll be adding a few entries over the next few days to try to catch you up on the many goings-on over the past few weeks.  We last looked in on Samantha on the morning of her first birthday...

Later that day, Samantha's young beau, Evan, came over for a quick birthday "hello".  He brought her a beautiful wooden shape sorter selected by his "mum's mum" and hand carried all the way from the UK.  As you can see, she was delighted.  You may also be able to see her friend Sophia lounging in the background.  It was a very social day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later, Miss Karen, our neighbor next door, came by with a very special present - Samantha's first "Princess".  This "baby Cinderella" even has her own pony.  I was dubious, but as you can see, Samantha was definitely NOT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone deserves a little downtime on their birthday...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With most presents, the best part was the wrapping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although she wasn't much of a fan when Mom got into the act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you say "disaster waiting to happen"???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All's well that ends well.  No 911 calls.  Another successful day.  Although someday she'll hate me for not bothering to do her hair before taking all of her first birthday photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the truly dedicated Sam Fans, here's a video of some of Samantha's favorite activities from her birthday.  I like the lion clip because it shows her "full body excitement" mode - watch the feet wiggle!  BTW, I've had some feedback in the past about the ads and related video links that appear on the video page.  I am hosting these videos on Google, so the ads are beyond my control, sorry!

Samantha's Birthday Adventures