Happy Lady!

Just thought I'd post a pic of one of the many smiles of the day! We took this picture right after she had her bedtime bottle on the boppy in daddy's lap. Sam is truly SUCH a smiley baby . . . everyone that meets her comments on her many smiles and how easy-going she is. She giggles more each day too, which is such a treat!!! Her giggles are like little hiccups/squeals combined and we can't get enough of them. She is a SUPER easy-going baby, but does have an opinion and when she needs to, she lets us know . . . she's recently started getting mad when she has a toy or something and we take it out of her hand. She gets mad sometimes at the end of bath time when we take toys to put them away . . . its neat to watch her personality continue to develop!

Week 1 with our new nanny has been WONDERFUL. Each day I left for work with the most peculiar peaceful feeling . . . one that I haven't felt with ANY of our other childcare providers. I also found that when Sam smiled each day when our nanny arrived, I felt relief and not even an ounce of the jealously I worried I'd feel about a nanny (and none of the "but will she know I'm the mommy?" stuff either that I thought I might feel). Maybe its due to the drama that got us here, I'm not sure, but it just feels GOOD to know she's happy during the day, and allows me to try to focus on work a little better (though of course, I miss my Bean during the day). And every time we come home (and its not always at the same time) the two of them are playing and Sam's all smiles.

I had a great talk with the partner at work that I am currently working with about how I've been a little checked-out and feeling guilty for it . . .he asked me what I'd been working on, and I just came clean . . . "well, not much really, but I know I need to get myself back in gear . . . " He was actually super understanding and said I needed to let myself off the hook . . . that everyone knows I'm a go-getter and conscientious, and that's why he wants me on his cases, but that sometimes, other things in life require our attention and that I have to put Sam first and he understands that. WHEW! So, I feel like I'm sort of getting a new lease on the work life too . . . just gotta prove that I'm not kidding when I tell him that I'm ready to put myself back into work 100%. . . .

A few things to be thankful for (besides the above!) - last night I put Sam on her belly on the floor while I got laundry out of the dryer and I turned around and she was on her back and quite pleased with herself! She's rolled over a few times in the past, but always on accident . . . I think she's finally becoming purposeful with her movements. Today in her PT (after she whined the first half of the session over a bad tummy) the therapist also commented on her rolling . . . we are doing less and less of the "work" in rolling her and she's just getting stronger and stronger! She also held her toes up with her fingers all by herself (usually we hold her feet up toward her mouth so she can play with them with her fingers, but now she held them herself). She also let the therapist put her in the crawling position and held it by herself for a second. These things all sound simple (and maybe for most babies) but they are particularly hard for our Sammie b/c of her especially weak shoulders/arms (where her lowest tone is) but she's getting stronger :o) And, tonight, when Brian got home from work, I was holding her, and she reached over toward him with BOTH arms :o) Best thing ever . . . this little Bean is growing up!

This weekend Nana and Papa are visiting . . . . and we just know they are going to be in HEAVEN playing with the Bean. They haven't seen her in person in a few months, and she's really grown and changed so much!!! They are sure to get lots and lots of smiles, giggles, squeals and love!