Sooo Big!

Dearest Sammie,

Today, you are four weeks old. I can’t believe how quickly this past month has flown by. Yesterday’s doctor’s visit only confirmed what I already knew: you’re getting big, little girl. You put on ten ounces from the visit you had two weeks ago, bringing you up to a whopping 9 lbs, 4 oz.. They didn’t do a height check, this time, but I’ll betcha that you’ve also grown at least a half an inch—the onesies that once snapped so easily are now getting harder and harder to fasten! Sigh. You’re trying so hard to grow up before our eyes; I feel that if I blink, I’ll miss everything!

This last week has been a rough one for all of us. It’s been a hard one on me because I (insert groan and stomping of feet here) started summer school on Monday. I really didn’t want to teach this summer, but as your father starts his new business, we need all of the extra income we can get. Fortunately, it’s only ten days and I’m home by 1:45. Still, I’d rather be at home, watching you purse your lips as you yawn (Have I mentioned you do that? Because you do. And it’s uber cute.). I think you’d rather I be home, too. You snuggle up to my neck like crazy when I go to pick you up each day I get home.

Your father, who celebrates his first father’s day on Sunday (the same day you turn exactly a month old), is still getting the hang of fatherhood. He loves you to pieces and squeals whenever you do something cute, but (like most new fathers) the crying thing is a little hard on him. He wants so badly to fix it that when he can’t figure out what’s wrong on the first try, he gets flustered.

This past week, unfortunately, you’ve been crying more than normal. And by more than normal, I mean you’ll cry for an hour or two a day as opposed to the thirty or so minutes we’d gotten spoiled with these past few weeks. The pediatrician is having us switch to a different kind of formula, one that’s supposed to be easier on your stomach. Hopefully, this will do the trick and you’ll go back to being our smiling, purse-your-lips-as-you-yawn-baby-girl.

A few nights ago, you did something so cute I not only took a zillion pictures but I also videotaped it. I had put you in the swing while I changed clothes (um, let’s just say you ‘christened me’ after your evening bath). When I came back into the room, you had taken the burp cloth I had laid on your feet and clutched it up to your face, like a blankie, while sucking your thumb. Your other hand was contentedly snuggled up by your ear. I swear, Samantha, you looked just like Linus from the ‘Peanuts’ cartoon. How cute are you?!?!

In other news, we had your second baby shower this past Saturday. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed showing you off to your dad’s side of the family. You got spoiled that morning! Everyone pitched in and got you all of your bath gear (tub time, here we come!) and we even got a video baby monitor from your Grandma Max. It’s such a relief to be able to ‘see’ you when you’re napping in another room. At any rate, Aunt Beth really went out of her way to make this a special baby shower for you. The theme was pink and brown, and we even managed to arrange it so that you matched your dress to the (delicious) pink and brown butterfly cookies that Aunt Beth had made for the occasion.

I like the color combination so much that I’m going to make your baby announcements pink and brown. I’ve been working on them during breaks at school (heaven forbid I should put you down when I’m at home to work on the announcements). Hopefully, by the end of next week, they’ll be ready to be mailed out.

Another big thing that happened this past week has more to do with me than with you. I went to the first adoptive mom’s book club that our church is sponsoring. We’re reading that book I wrote about a while back, the one I despise (‘Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wished Their Parents Knew:”). I dragged my feet there last night, but truly these women are a godsend. What a wonderful thing to be able to chat with other adoptive moms and learn better ways to raise you, my precious miracle! I can’t wait until next Wednesday to see these wonderful women again. You’re going to have so much fun growing up in a church that is filled with other adopted children. What a blessing!

Well, darling, I should sign off for now.

Love you until you’re old and wrinkly!

-your mommy