Happy Happy Joy Scream

Dear Sammie,

While I'm on spring break (and pretending that I'm a stay at home mom), I've had the pleasure of taking you out and about as I run errands. Each and EVERY time, we get stopped by people who simply MUST tell us at that very moment that they've never seen a HAPPIER baby. I usually respond by smiling proudly at you, making some cute/gag-me-with-a-spoon-cheesy-fake-mom-voice-comment...and jetting out of there before the aforementioned passerby figures out that you aren't always that happy.

Yesterday, while I had you in the shopping cart at Costco, we were stopped by a former co-worker of mine. You were VERY happy/borderline ridiculously cheerful, so I was feeling a little too good about chatting for longer than ten seconds. Here's the play by play:

Me: Hi *former co worker of mine* (FCWOM)
FCWOM: Hi, Sar--WHAT AN ADORABLE BABY!
Sammie: *giggle, giggle, lean pigtailed head on mommy's chest to up the cuteness ante*
FCWOM: I've never seen a more happy baby!
Me: (looking at you) Tell the nice woman thank you! Tell her thank you! You are a cutie little baby, aren't you? Yes, you're so happy! (looking back at FCWOM) We're really lucky, she's a very happy baby.
Sammie: *sit straight up and look at mommy, clasping hands and grinning to show your two new pearly whites*
FCWOM: Seriously, she is so cute!
Me: Yes, she's so fun. Her name's Samantha.
Sammie:*doing the shy smile trick thing again for more attention*
FCWOM: So...are you still teaching at Central?
---fifteen minutes later---
FCWOM: I'm so glad I got out of there when I did.
Me: Yeah, I'll be there until I die. But at least I really like the kids.
Sammie: *smile smile. wipe eyes, decide that you want a bottle* WAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

FCWOM: Wow she changed moods quickly.
Me: Yes...it's a bit Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Have a great week! (Run to make a beeline to the shortest line while avoiding eye contact with FCWOM)
Sammie: *look over my shoulder at FCWOM to resume the grinning position*
---two minutes later, in line---
FCWOM: (Pulling cart behind mine) I guess I'll get to spend a few more minutes with Samantha while we wait in line!
Sammie: *realize you still don't have previously thought of bottle* WAAAAAAAAAAUGGGGGGGGGGH!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHCKKKKKKKK!!!!!! WANYH-WANYH-WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
FCWOM: She turns the tears on fast!
Me: Yeah, she does that. *Nervous chuckle*
---five minutes later, paying for my purchases---
Me: (Yelling to be heard over the screams) See you later, FCWOM! Have a great week...again! (Mad dash to the exit)
Sammie: *smile, smile, grin*


I think in future years people will refer to similar mad mood shifts as "The Sammie." I think it'll play out like this:



Guy #1: So I went on this date the other night, with this really cool girl. Started out great, she was all fun and smiles. Then I mentioned my ex-girlfriend's name and she totally pulled a "Sammie" on me.

Guy #2: Yeah, better watch out for those mad mood shifts. Once they pull "The Sammie" on you, you just never know when it's going to come back again.



Or something like that.



In other news, we had a crazy busy weekend. It started off on Saturday, with the Pullen side of the family trekking down to Visalia to take some artsy family pictures. Your Poppa had promised Nonni TWO YEARS ago that he'd get family pictures taken for her for mother's day. Then came pregnancy/plans of adoption, then came baby, and baby again, then came the "let's wait until the babies can sit..."



Finally, your cousin started sitting a month ago, and Poppa had run out of excuses, so we booked a session with the same photographer who's been shooting your professional baby pictures. Nonni even bought you and Ben coordinating blue and yellow outfits, and made the rest of us wear clothes to match the two of you.



The photo shoot took place in a field/oak preserve, and it was freakin' cold. Which is a bummer when the usually-prepared-mommy forgets to bring a sweater for her baby girl who's wearing a sleeveless dress. Fortunately, you turned on the grins as soon as the camera came out. Whenever you weren't in a shot, we had you wrapped in a blanket and Nonni's sweater. I think the pictures will come out okay, but I won't know for sure until we see them for ourselves on Friday. I was hoping to get a good picture with the three of us, and I *think* we succeeded in getting at least one halfway decent shot. Anywho, we capped off the day by going to dinner and giving you spaghetti for the first time.



Um, I think you like spaghetti.

The next day was your very first Easter. You started the morning off by perusing what the Easter Bunny brought you in your Easter basket (plastic eggs, some with cheerios, some little toys, some just empty).







The Easter basket kept you entertained for quite a long time when Daddy's side of the family came over that afternoon. Uncle Tom got at least fifteen hours worth of footage out of you exclaiming over each and every egg as you pulled it out of your basket.

I managed to finagle you away from your admirers long enough to get some pictures of you outside with your basket (again, it was super cold--seriously the coldest Easter I can remember in a loooong time). Fortunately, you saw the camera and gave me a few good shots.





After a too-quick afternoon nap, we shuttled ourselves off to Nonni & Poppa's for Easter #2. You and Ben seemed to hit it off. Literally. You sat there and hit each other on the head with your Easter eggs. I channeled Uncle Tom and took a bazillion pictures. Bummer that all of the sixty something pictures are blurry.






Love you, my Sammie Girl,

your mommy