Sammy's First Kiss

Today is a big day ladies and gentlemen! That's right...this is a call to everyone to pucker up because Sammy Lee is officially kissing. This is very exciting stuff because not only is this very cute and delightful, but this is the first time that Samantha has done anything when asked. This is a huge cognitive development and we are thrilled. Here's the story:

I was sitting on the couch, Callie to my left, Sammy to my right. Callie was rather fussy, so I was keeping her entertained by sticking my tongue out at her. She thought it was pretty funny. Then I thought I should probably pay some attention to Samantha. So, I look to my right, smile, and say "Hey Sammy. Give me a hug." She leans in to me and presses her open lips against my cheek. Cute. For the past...oh, long time...every time I kiss her I say "kisses" as to put a specific word with a specific thing. Well, I wasn't thinking that this "first" kiss was a real kiss. Nonetheless, I thought it was important to reinforce her action. So I cheered and said, "Oh thank you Sammy. Thank you for the kiss." Then I kissed her back, because really, I can't resist kissing Sammy. (I think Marcus is embarrassed by how much I kiss our children.) Then I followed up by asking her to kiss me by pointing to my cheek and saying "Sammy, kiss." Sure enough, she leans and puts her open mouth against my right cheek. Wait. Was this really a kiss? So I do it over and over and over again. Every single time, I cheer, clap my hands, she smiles and kisses me more. At this point Callie is pretty tired and getting fussy, but this was prime kissing time. She had to wait for that nap. This went on for about 15 minutes. When Marcus got home, Sammy was a little distracted. She was excited to see her daddy and just wasn't quite into kissing anymore. However, she did give Daddy the last kiss before quitting for the evening.

I really hope she keeps this up. Once again, not only is it super cute, but I want to be able to show all her therapists! This is HUGE people and we couldn't be more proud of our little kisser.

I Love My Girls

Meet our one-legged daughter, Sammy.

Callie won't be Cinderella for Halloween. She'll make a great Yoda. BUT, come on, I couldn't pass up an adorable photo op. I had to pull Sammy's old costume out.

Braids!

Check this out!

And it's held up to a day full of play.

Today's Thoughts

Today I'm sick. I've been getting sick for about a week, and it finally hit hard today. I didn't sleep all last night, my head is aching, my nose is running, and I'm just feeling sick. Both Samantha and Callie have been great today, so I've allowed a bit of sloth to enter my life -- just for today. During this time of waste, I've had some thoughts.

#1 I love the Cosby Show. You know, there is so much on tv that corrupts our minds and wastes our time. But Cosby? I love love love this show. I told Marcus that one day I would like to have the seasons of the Cosby Show on dvd. There's not a season I don't like, and it's just pure, clean, funny stuff. I don't know one person who doesn't like this show and there is a reason for it. Plain and simple, Bill Cosby's comedy makes me happy.

#2 I am so blessed. Despite the Lord's knowledge of all my faults, He continues to copiously bless me. I've been mostly thinking about my family when it comes to blessings today, though there are other areas in my life where I've been blessed. Out of my list of things I want to do and accomplish, being a wife and mom were the most important things to me. In Young Women I had written down my list of what I wanted in a husband. Well, not only am a wife now, but Marcus has far FAR exceeded my expectations that I had written down many years ago. I'm a pretty independent person (this can be good and bad) but I really can't imagine not having Marcus by my side. I may choose to do some things alone, but I never want to be alone, without Marcus. And, because of the blessing of eternal marriage, and I know I won't be. Blessing.

I am now a mom as well. Those who have children feel the same way I'm sure, but my life has become more complete since having Samantha and Callie. These are not the children I envisioned in my future family picture. They are more beautiful and perfect. Blessing.

Sammy on the Gonzaga Bulldog

Samantha continues to teach me how to improve my faith, patience, prayer, humility, hope, charity, and how to properly organize my priorities. She is our little star. She is a visual reminder that miracles are real and still happening, large and small. She is my sweet little girl and I love her more than I ever knew possible. Blessing.

Sammy on the swings

When we got Callie came quickly. I immediately fell in love with her, though it took time to feel like she was my daughter. With each passing day, I believe that bond grew, but it was one day in particular when I felt a special closeness to her. I felt a motherly love for her. That bond has grown so much stronger. When she cries or says "ma ma," my heart melts. I know Samantha thinks it, and that is special to me, but to hear Callie say it and seek my comfort..well, it's something that I've been waiting to hear for a long time. I have always felt that Callie was supposed to be in our family. And now we are sealed and she will forever be in our family. Blessing.

Callie loving graham crackers

Callie definitely made our family more complete. It's hard to explain that feeling, but there is a feeling of, um... more completeness. I don't feel like the family is done, but getting there. That brings peace. Blessing.

"No Mommy. You're the cutest."

Since moving to Spokane, Samantha has received therapies superior to what she's ever had...and we loved our past therapists. She gets physical and speech therapy twice a week and occupational therapy once a week. Her physical therapist is one of the best in the city. She is also getting craniosacral therapy about every other week from #1 and #2 in the city. I've already seen improvements. Blessing.

#3 Change is good. It's great in fact. Sometimes it's hard, but it's a great thing that stretches us. I have a list of things I want to do in life and sometimes circumstances make it so I can't do some of those things...travel, write my many books, start a business, run a marathon, continue my education. That doesn't mean that the change that doesn't allow us to do some of these things is bad. I didn't get my masters because I got married and had kids right away. Does that make my family a bad thing? No. It just means my masters plans will change and may have to come later. Or, the book I've started has to go on hold because Samantha has 6 appointments in 5 days. My time is stretched to the limit and writing isn't my priority on my spare time. That doesn't make Sammy's therapies bad; it changes the situation. Change, ultimately, has been a good thing, if not a blessing throughout my life. I'll get to those places I want to travel to, I'll get my books written, and I'll finish that marathon or triathlon one day. It'll happen, when the tides change. Until then, I adjust to this new change in my life, love it, and learn from it. And along the way, I'm sure new opportunities will present themselves.

(** I can't get the fonts to match up and it's driving me crazy bringing out some of my obsessive tendencies! NOT a blessing.)

Halloween Party

I may have taken on a little too much this month, but at this point it doesn't matter. I just have to get it done. And I need your help.

I wanted to throw a Halloween party for the kids in the complex...that's at least 50. They love Samantha and Callie, always coming over to play with them, etc, and I just thought it would be fun for them. But, what will we do? These are some of my ideas:

1. Relay Race -- with silly things they have to do.
2. Scavenger/Treasure Hunt
3. Halloween Pinata
4. Bean Bag Toss for the smaller kiddos

Any other suggestions? This will be about an hour. It can't be longer because I'm doing a Halloween dinner that night -- plus the kids will probably go trick or treating anyway.

Esme

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I saw this on Tara's blog and thought...why not. So, I'm also an Esme, which makes sense to me. BUT, I have to say, this actress who is playing Esme (I don't know her name and I'm not taking the time to look it up) bothers me. I didn't particularly like her on Grey's Anatomy and I saw about 5 minutes of her new show Ex List -- or something like that. There's something very manly about her. And I really don't see her playing Esme...another vampire perhaps, but not Esme. I could be alone on this, but oh well.

Daddy Daughter Outing

A few days ago, I (Marcus) was eating a simple dinner together with Callie and I told her that green beans were on the menu. She politely refused, reminding me that she had eaten her fill of antioxidants earlier in the day as she had eaten squash for lunch. I gently chided her, and reminded her that I was her father and she needed to obey. Angered slightly and feeling a little "saucy", Callie decided take this opportunity to confront me over her curfew (8:00 on weekdays, 8:30 on weekends), but I stood my ground on this issue as well. The conversation quickly escalated and soon Callie had challenged me to a "Agni Kai," or a battle to the death that originated in ancient China, and was traditionally invoked by a family member when he or she had been "dishonored" by another family member. Admittedly, I was a bit surprised, but, bound by tradition, was obligated to fight for my life, . . . or die trying.

Here is Callie during the battle, filled with rage, moments before lasers shot from her eyes.

A close up of Callie during the fight.

Soon after we began the fight, and after Callie had permanently crippled a local groundskeeper with an errant laser beam, we realized the foolishness of it all and laughed and laughed. Callie and I were thinking about escorting the injured groundskeeper to the local hospital, but it was getting pretty late.

(Callie and me, right after the fight and on our way home)