PS We Love You

Dear Samantha Joy,

This past Sunday, your father and I set out to do what millions of couples across the country did: go out on a date for Valentine's Day. The downside to millions of couples going out at the same time (aside from the obvious insanely long wait for tables in restaurants) is that finding family members to babysit becomes increasingly difficult as they are going out on dates of their own. So, after mildly panicking last week, I turned to the next best thing: a real live babysitter.

I met Breanna last year when she was in my theatre 1 class, but I really got to know her this year when she was cast, appropriately enough, as Annie. I had heard through the grapevine that she is The World's Most Perfect Babysitter (TWMPB)at her own church, so I crossed my fingers and said a prayer that she'd be available on what is surely the most difficult day of the year to find childcare. Fortunately for all involved, she was...so operation babysitter was on.

As I was the babysitter in demand at my church growing up, I knew a thing or two to do to keep TWMPB happy, so therefore the first step of Operation Babysitter was to make sure that our pantry was full of yummy snacks (Cheez-Its and Oreos) and that our house was in relatively decent condition.

The second step of Operation Babysitter was to compose a detailed contact list and Sammie information sheet (about feeding, sleeping, etc) so that she would have something to refer to throughout the night and keep you a relatively happy camper, as well as writing up how to work our overly complicated TV set up to keep TWMPB a happy camper, as well. An hour later, I was moving on to step three: trying desperately to install our printer and get it synched with my laptop. Step four came an hour later: cursing at the machine and threatening to throw the printer out the window as I gave up on the aforementioned list and settled for a much-less pretty scrap of paper with the bare minimum of necessary contact information.

Step five was making sure that you had had a decent naptime (that deserved a half of a check because the naptime came far too late and was a little too short for both of our liking). Step six was getting food ready to go so that TWMPB could feed you as we left and thus become your BFF in a matter of minutes.

Operation Babysitter had been completed with literally seconds to spare when the doorbell rang. TWMPB went right to where you were playing on the floor, and I tried to explain how to work the TV (I soooo lost mom points there, taking more time to explain how to work the TV than how to work the child). Just before we walked out the door and she sat down to feed you, I snapped this picture of history in the making:


The 'HUH?' look you're sporting can be attributed to the lack of sleep and pure confusion as to what to do with all of the attention TWMPB has already poured upon you.

The evening went on without a hitch. Your dad and I had a great time on our group date with Jeff and Tamara & Brad and Ashlea, and when I texted TWMPB to let her know that we had ordered and that we should be home in a few hours, TWMPB rose to the level of TUMPB (The Universe's Most Perfect Babysitter) by responding with a picture text of the two of you playing dress up with your tutu and grinning from ear to ear. TUMPV kept you a happy camper up until a few minutes before we got home (your mom-dar must've gone off because somehow you sensed that it was almost time for us to be home). As soon as we walked into the door, your face broke out into an ear to ear grin and happy camper-dom resumed its normally scheduled programming.

In non-babysitting related news, you received more valentines than your father and I combined this year. Your very first valentine was a handmade one from your Great Grandma and Grandpa Pat, but you also raked in a light-up bear from Grandma Max and Grandpa Mike as well as a gift card to a bookstore from Nonni and Poppa. Speaking of books, being read to remains among your favorite things to do (seriously, you have an amazing attention span for an almost nine month old--you pay attentino to things longer than I do sometimes!).

Developmentally, you're still rolling all over the place, and while I may have half-joked about needing to babyproof the house last week, I'm not kidding anymore. Three times this afternoon I had to get you away from the pile of junk by the recliner that I've dubbed Mt. Saint Daddy (it's tons of scraps of paper and shipping stuff and just general stuff).

I should also mention that you've got quite the sense of humor and get quite the kick out of making me laugh. Lately, you've been cracking me up by blowing spittle all over the place as you blow raspberries at anyone who will look at you:



That picture is worth a million words. But, so's this one:



Have you EVER seen a baby that happy or that cute?!?!

Lovin you forever and ever my funny and cute little valentine,
your mama