The Many Faces of Sammie...and the End of the Summer

Dearest Samantha,

Woo hoo! Eleven weeks old today!

I know I mentioned this a while back, and this is probably a little random, but it's so awesome to be able to write "Samantha" or "Sammie" instead of "child." Just thought I'd say that ;-)

As you continue to grow and develop, your personality is showing through more and more. You're quite the:

Charming/smiley

-on the go go, traveling:
Inquisitive/curious:

Animal loving:

Well dressed

Relaxed:

Frowns when mildly upset:

But wails when hungry:

Chatty Cathy:

...and TRULY LOVED baby I've ever met!

As I write this, our summer together is rapidly drawing to a close, because I have to go back to teaching on Monday--4 days from now. The last four days won't be in vain; we're going to be spending it in the mountains with daddy's side of the family. I'm sure we'll have fun, even if the weather is going to be cooler than we had hoped.

Hey, at least you can break and model out your winter duds now!

Love you tons,
your mommy

Grabbing, Rolling, Cooing and Growing; OH MY!

Dear Samantha,

In half an hour, you will be exactly ten weeks old. Holy Cowgirl!

While we haven't done a whole lot since returning from Disneyland late last week, YOU have been quite the busy girl; filling up our empty days with all of the amazing things that you're doing. Namely, you're grabbing things, rolling over and cooing 'till the cows come home.

Last Saturday, the two of us were hanging out with daddy on our bed. I noticed that your fingernails were looking a little bit too long, so I did what any mom would do: I laid you down on the bed while I clipped your nails with the baby scissors (that don't cut your itty bitty liddle fingers, thank goodness). I set the scissors aside and turned to talk to your father, and when I looked back, you were waving the scissors like an American flag in your fist. In the seconds it had taken for me to turn away, you decided that you needed to figure out the "reach and grab technique." With scissors. I told your Nonni this; she found it amusing but immediately bought you a little rattle that would be better for a child your size to play with. We tried this rattle out on the boat the following day and breathed sighs of relief when you seemed to like that just as much as the aforementioned scissors.

Oy.

Yesterday, you and I were taking a nap on my bed, when you decided that it was time for yet another milestone: rolling over. As we woke up, you became very interested in your fist and decided to "chase" it. In the process, you rolled over from your back to your side to your stomach. Thinking it was a fluke, I put you back on your back, only for you to give me "the look" (which, at the age of two months, you've perfected quite nicely, thankyouverymuch)...and roll over again. And again. We repeated this process until finally you just got so frustrated with me putting you on your back again that you just threw in the towel and started crying. Sorry about that. I just couldn't believe that my little girl was rolling over already--two months ahead of schedule!

I waited for you to roll over today, and it didn't happen. Methinks we'll try it again in a day or so. You know, just to make sure that yesterday wasn't a fluke and all.

As you've been reaching these momentous milestones, you've also become quite the chatty Cathy. You will "talk" from morning until night. Your daddy and I have been having such a good time chatting it up with you, and I think you're having a good time chatting right back. Right now, our conversations are something like this:

Me: Aaahhh
You: Aaahooh.
Me: Aaaahhh
You: AaaOOOH? *spittle, spittle*
Me: OOOHHH.
You: Aaabllleeeh?

I don't know how to explain it, but when you respond to our baby talk, you manage to make it sound as though you're asking a question, complete with the inquisitive look in your eyes. These "conversations" have become the highlight of my days at home with you (which, by the way, are becoming numbered as I start school in a week and a half). I've taken several videos of these chats, but still don't know how to upload them onto the computer. I'm hoping to be able to figure it out by the time I go back to school. Maybe.

As if grabbing, rolling and cooing weren't enough, you also decided to grow on us. Two weeks ago, at your two month check up, you weighed 10 pounds 12 ounces and were 22.75 inches long. You fell exactly in the fifty percentile in height and weight when compared to other kids your age.

Then we went to Oregon, and you grew. We went to Disneyland, and you grew. We went to the front yard, and you grew...yeah, you get the idea. In between all of the bottles you've been drinking and naps you've been taking, you've hit quite the growth spurt.

This growth spurt means that the 0-3 month clothes that used to fit oh-so-well are now fitting oh-so-snug. Nuts. I teared up a little when I called my friend Amy's sister to see if she wanted any of your "old" clothes for her daughter. This was very difficult for me; I just can't wrap my brain around the fact that you're growing up--literally--before our eyes. I'm trying to look at the positive side of things: in spite of having an insane closet of clothes and very little time in which to wear them, we managed to get you in most outfits at least two times. In the case of your polka dot onesie which I really, really loooove, we got you in that sucker a whopping twenty times. I think. I didn't exactly keep a tally on the thing.

Apparently you aren't as excited by the polka dot onesie as Mommy is.

But I digress. The clothes that you wore for the first several months of your life will be no longer as of this weekend. They're bagged up and ready to go to little Lilly, and your new 3-6 month clothes have been washed and are anxiously awaiting the time in which you will wear them. Ok, so most of your "old" clothes have been bagged and are ready to go to Lilly. There's a few items that I just can't bear to give away just yet so we're hanging onto them. Surely we can get a few more wearings out of them in the next few weeks.

So can we strike a deal or something? Can you just stay little long enough for me to just watch you while I catch a breath? No? You've still got more growing to do? Bummer.

Love you, big girl!
your mommy

PS. As I finish up this post, it's exactly 12:02 AM--you're EXACTLY, to the minute, ten weeks old now. Happy 10 weeks!

Baby Go-Go

Dearest Sammie,

Whew. It's been a busy past week and a half. As I wrote in a previous post, you and I went up to Oregon with your Nonni & Poppa to visit Grandma & Grandpa Pullen. You were super baby pretty much the whole trip (9 hours each way)--you slept while we drove and woke up only to eat and let us know of your presence. Seriously, girl, super baby. If they made a red onesie with an "S" on the front and a cape on the back, I'd buy it because you traveled like a champ.

While in Oregon, we hung out with your Great Grandma and Great Grandpa and let them hold you and cuddle all over you. That is, your great grandparents got to hold her when your Nonni & Poppa weren't hogging you. They loved their Sammie time, too, and Poppa took full advantage by taking care of your morning feeding and diaper change (he also boasted of the fact that he changed a *ahem* loaded diaper).

This was the last of the 'Four Generation' pictures that you took: the Pullen portrait!

No trip to Oregon is complete without a trip to the Walmart Store (that's what your great grandpa calls it). So we went--twice in one day. Your Nonni & I had a good time checking out all of the (cheap, tax free) baby clothes. Because you needed more clothes, you know.

Grandma Patty cried with joy when she saw you the first time--she was so happy for us!

While you slept in the swing on Grandpa Pullen's porch, your Nonni & I stepped to the side of their property to pick blackberries. I love picking these things. I know that most people out of California think I'm nuts for how much I love it because they're considered weeds just about anywhere, but I enjoy getting the berries. It reminds me of the summers spent up in Oregon picking berries when I was much (much) younger.

Here's your mommy picking berries
(wearing Grandpa Pullen's shirt to avoid thorn pricks in the arm).

On our way back down, after Grandma had gotten her requisite Sammie loves and kisses in, we stopped and visited with my Uncle David & Arlene and my college friend Sarah and her family in a Starbucks by Sacramento. I hadn't seen Sarah since we had graduated college nine years (!) ago. We visited a bit and it was pretty cool to sit with another mom, each of us holding our babies. Sarah's daughter Zoe is a few months older than you are, and what a cutie she is (Zoe's brother Lincoln is a handsome little guy, too!).

Here we are with Sarah & her beautiful family.

We didn't have much time to recuperate once we returned to Fresno because we were on the road less than 24 hours later, heading to Disneyland to meet up with Auntie EllenAnn and her daughters Acacia and Piper. I've always been somewhat of a Disney fan (ok, freak might be a better word--my freshman dorm room looked like a shrine to Mickey Mouse), so this was pretty cool for me to take you on your first trip to Disneyland.

With Auntie EllenAnn, Acacia & Piper with Mickey.

I gotta tell you, Sammie--it's fun going as a teenager and a single adult, but nothing compares to the joy I've had showing you around Disneyland. Granted, you're all of two months old and really don't grasp (at all) what's going on around you, but it does leave me room to imagine what it'll be like to take you when you're a few years older.

On the Bugs' Life Ride.

I went to Disneyland pretty much expecting to sit out of all of the rides, waiting for Piper & Acacia to have their fun. This hasn't been the case. We've gone on a lot of rides here! Your first ride was Pirates of the Caribbean. You slept through the whole thing (shocking considering the noise and splashing that goes on in that ride). We also have done the Jungle Cruise, several Bugs' Life rides in California Adventures, and the Finding Nemo submarine ride. We've been busy in the park, but your favorite 'ride' remains the same: hanging out on the blanket in the hotel room.

Those light up bears say the darndest things!



We've also taken the time to meet several of the Disney characters. I appreciate the fact that you're too young to be terrified of them yet, and am taking full advantage by posing next to as many of them as we can. As I write this, we've taken pictures with Tigger, Pooh, and Mickey.

With Mickey
With Pooh

With Tigger
I'm hoping to snag a Minnie, Donald and Goofy picture tonight--we shall see if I am successful in getting these shots! I should sign off now--we're heading to the park for one last hurrah!

Love you,
your mommy

PS. Happy 9 weeks, kiddo!

The Announcements Are Out!

Dear Samantha,

In my rush to get out your weekly blog post out last night, I forgot one very important detail:

YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE DONE!

Yep. After working on them sporadically for a month, your Aunt Beth & I finished your announcements just in time for me to get them in the mail last Friday. While we spent probably five or six hours working on them together, I spent about twenty hours working on them by myself off and on these past few weeks. Basically, whenever you were napping, I was frantically cropping, gluing and adjusting the individual components so that they'd come together as I had envisioned.

I was able to complete 67 of them. That was enough for our families and a few close friends, but it wasn't enough for everyone on the list (the grandparents had a few on their wish list, too). So, I had to order extras from Costco. All said, I think about 115 people have now received the official announcement that you have arrived. We wanted them to get something in writing, even though they probably already knew you were here because they followed the star (I'm repeating the same joke Uncle Tom quipped after he saw everyone making the trek to our house after we brought you home).

So, here they are:

This is the front:

Here's what it looks like when you open the announcement part way (this was your "solo" picture--I had 6 different pictures that I put in this spot. Dad's people got the one of him holding you, my people got the picture below, and there were 4 other pictures with just you in all your cuteness):



This was the inside with the adoption poem that I makes me tear up each time I read it:

And, for good measure, here's the backside. I had stamped your feet when you were a few days old, and made color copies for the announcements. Apparently, I'm obsessed with your feet. They're so little I just want to kiss them all over!


Ok, I'm done gushing. I've got loads of laundry to do and those clothes aren't going to magically find their way into the bags themselves for our upcoming trips.

Hugs and kisses,
your mommy

Sammie: The Travel Edition

Dear Samantha,

I (your mother) am crazy. I've decided that it's not hectic enough trying to adjust to life with a new infant, so we're going to take this show on the road.

Yup, we're hitting the road and going to Oregon for several days so you can meet your Great Grandpa Pullen and Great Grandma Patty. They're so incredibly excited to meet you in person. They've kind of met you over the phone (Grandma Patty sung to you over the phone when you were just a few days old; you stopped fussing long enough to hear her sing the same song she sang to me when I was a little girl). I've sent them pictures, but try as I might, pictures just don't do your cuteness justice.

So, in order for them to truly appreciate just how spectacularly precious you are, I'm getting in the car with Nonni & Poppa and making a nine hour trek up north so that you can dazzle everyone within a half hour radius of Grants Pass, Oregon. We're leaving at 4 AM on Thursday, hoping that we can take advantage of your "sleeping in late in the morning habit" (which, by the way, your daddy and I still totally love).

I suppose going to Oregon for a few days isn't that crazy, but coming home for a day and then driving solo (with you, of course) four hours south to spend a week at Disneyland with my college friend EllenAnn probably is crazy. I'm getting heart palpitations just thinking of it. Come to think of it, maybe I should stop thinking about it because just thinking about it makes me want to pull my hair out.

Hopefully, these trips will be a little more enjoyable for both of us because I decided to listen to that little mommy voice in the back of my head and take you into our chiropractor (who, incidentally, is the son of my high school drama teacher). I have had a suspicion that something isn't right with your neck because you're always turning your head to the left and must be forced to turn to the right.

The straw that broke the camel's back came Monday night, when I took you to Nonni & Poppa's so I could help Nonni work on bridal shower invitations for my cousin Diedra. To fully set the stage, you had had a wonderful day that day, full of smiles and good naps and more smiles. When we got to Nonni & Poppa's house, the smiles continued...until I decided to give you some Tummy Time and put you on your stomach.

Bad mommy. You did not like that and spent the next three and a half hours screaming to remind me how much you did not like that. I got the point. Something wasn't right.

Soo...back to the chiropractor. He had me hold you and talk to you (more cute smiles) while he felt your back. When he got to your neck--immediate screams. While we laid you down on the chiropractor's chair/table thingamajig (what are those things called, anyway?), Dr. Robertson explained that spinal manipulation in the neck usually doesn't work with infants. You were fussing a little bit as I sat with you on this table and he tried to get your neck adjusted...and POP!

Instantly, you seemed to feel intense relief and the fussing was replaced with huge grins.

Apparently, your neck was out of alignment and it was causing you quite a bit of pain. You've been so much happier since the adjustment (not that you were super unhappy before). Hopefully, you won't be in any pain anymore, because when baby's not happy, mommy's not happy.

I think I'm going to sign off now. We've got a busy day of preparations (plus your two month check up) tomorrow. So let's get this show on the road, girlie!

Lots of love,
your mommy

PS I'm realizing as I write this that I haven't been writing about daddy a whole lot. It's not intentional, it's just that he's been hard at work with our other new baby: Headlight Tech (his new business). While he hasn't been able to go on any of these trips with us (someone's got to bring home the bacon), you've still managed to get him wrapped around your oh so cute little finger.

My favorite daddy story came the other morning when he was holding you and remarking at how vocal you've become with all of your coos. I tried to show him how he could carry on a conversation with you, repeating the vowel sounds like "aaah, eeeeeeeeehhhh, ooooooooh or eeeeeeeee."

The conversation that followed was something like this:

You: aaaaaaahhhh
Daddy: a-e-i-o-u
You: aaaaaahhh aaaaaah
Daddy: A-e-i-o-u
You: *spittle followed by grin* oohhhh
Daddy (a little louder): AEIOU!
You: *looking seriously confused and giving up on sounds, choosing instead to stick your tongue out*

While I think you're a genius baby, I think I'll need to work with him on taking things a little slower---we'll work on finding the square root of 4 first before getting to our vowels.

Week 7!

Dearest Sammie Joy,

Today, you're seven weeks old. I know I've been saying it a lot lately, but it's true: you're growing so quickly! When I hold you, your longer body is now hanging off the side of my lap. You don't fit in my arms like the nice and neat little bundle you were seven weeks ago!

Fortunately for both of us, you don't seem to mind that your body hangs off to the side. You just like it when I hold you and talk or sing to you. Last night, your aunt tried to calm you down while we were doing some late night Wal-Mart shopping, and you were having none of it, you just kept crying and squirming as she held you. When I took you in my arms, Sammie girl, you turned your face toward my chest and instantly calmed down, settling in for a light snooze. I got to admit--I liked that I was able to calm you just by holding you. I like that you want your mommy!

This last week was a fun but busy one for all of us. We went to Shaver Lake last weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July with your Nonni & Poppa (and Uncle Grant & Aunt Erin, too). We spent the weekend on the boat, and while the scenery was pretty fantastic, you still stole the show. How could we not stop ooh'ing and aah'ing over you when you looked so cute in your little life vest?
We think you like the boat. You get the wind, the swaddling affect from your life vest, and the gentle rocking of the waves. Yup, you pretty much sleep the whole time. But, in baby language, that means you like it, right?

I had so much fun dressing you up for the Fourth. We received several 4th of July outfits, but I eventually settled on this white tank top with red sequins:

Say it with me now: how cute are you?

Since it was the first of the major holidays (save Father's Day), of course we had to get a family picture. This time, I made daddy dress up, too. He was a good sport and wore his flag shirt with a smile.
Granted, he changed his shirt right back to his Headlight Tech shirt after this picture was taken, but hey, we appreciate the effort, right?

We tried something new while at Shaver: we broke out your activity gym thing. Yeah, you like it. I would put you on it each morning and you would just stare at the bear, smiling and kicking away. You are quite the busy and happy little girl!

Nuts. I went to find the picture I just took of you staring in awe at this bear, and I can't find it. Bummer. I'll set the scene instead:

You're lying on the colorful mat, staring at the white bear that lights up and plays music.

Hmmm....maybe I need to work on describing things better. Um, you looked cute? This is also the first time you've reached for something. Tonight, you just kept reaching and grabbing the bear's belly and looking in awe at what your hand can touch. Check another milestone off the list!

I should probably sign off for now. It's getting a little late, and you are desperately wanting to be swaddled so you can go to bed. Come to think of it, a little sleep sounds good to me, too.

Loving you tons,
your mommy

Six Weeks & Growing

Dear Sammie,

Today, you've reached the six week mark. Where have the past 6 weeks gone?

You're staying awake for longer stretches of time during the day, and you're cooing and smiling like crazy when we lay you down on the floor with your foot rattles (which are these orange socks that have animals attached that rattle when you kick your feet).

I don't have much time to write, as I've really got to get us up and moving soon. We're going to Shaver Lake this morning, where we'll be hanging out with Nonni & Poppa and Uncle Grant & Aunt Erin until Sunday (your daddy has to work today, but he'll be joining us on the boat tomorrow afternoon).

I tried my hardest to pack everything yesterday so that all I had to do this morning was load the car up and go. When I finished packing, though, I noticed something: you've got four times the amount of stuff as your dad and I do (put together). I hope this isn't the sign of things to come--will you be kid at camp who packs everything and the kitchen sink?

I did manage to find the time to get some pictures off of the camera and onto the computer, so rather than writing a long oratory this morning, I'll just post these pictures, ok?

Here you are after your bath eating your hand:


This is you on the boat the day before father's day. There was more life vest than there was baby!

Here you are on the boat--not quite so happy this time.

Here's you and I...again...on the boat:

I think I may have mentioned it in another post, but when you take your morning nap with daddy, you both always end up sleeping in the same position:

Speaking of your daddy, here you two are on his very first father's day. You can just about see the buttons popping, he's so proud (although the sun was making him squint a bit):

...and back to me. Here we are at the baby shower that was thrown for you last Saturday by family friends Valerie & Jill:
This is everyone who came out for your big shower day:


Here you are with my bestest friend Melissa. I'm sure you already know that you share a middle name (Joy) because we named you after her!

Here you are sucking your thumb with a diaper rag as a blanket. How cute are you?

And I wrote in a previous post about taking pictures of each outfit as you wear them. This was one of the outfits from last week. Turquoise looks so good on you!

And...last but definitely not least, this would be the picture of the Sammie smile that I took last week. Woo hoo you're smiling!

Ok, one more smiling picture:

Loving you tons,
your mommy


PS At your last baby shower on Saturday we had sooo much fun and you got spoiled beyond belief. You've got an insane amount of clothes now, kiddo!