Monday, October 1, 2012

A Day At The Park

Sam and I ventured out to the park for the first (and second) time this week. Our friend Madi came along, and i'm so thankful she did! Not only is she super cute and fun (as you'll see in the video) but she's also talented! She captured some great pictures, which was impressive because I forgot my camera so she had to take them with my phone. 

Sam really enjoyed the fresh air, the breeze, the swings, the grass. She was one happy girl soaking in all the love and sunshine she could get!






She's coming alive again after fighting her first American cold. It started a couple weeks ago and resulted in an ear infection :( As you can see, she is feeling much better! Its nice to have her back to her happy, healthy self.
















The park we chose for our adventure is not the best park in town. Its small. It sits in-between two houses on an average-sized lot. But its the closest park to our house. 

I take back every bad thing I've said about our little park :) Sam loves it. So much so that she just had to sing about it! She sang and sang and sang...and sang. All while happily wiggling and looking all around. 


When we got home she was still excited and open to adventure. She even let us put this little tiara on her head. You'll notice I'm in the background scurrying around, looking for my camera. All the while Madi was shooting pictures, rapid-fire, on her ipad. Good thing she was prepared! Sam literally only left it on for a few seconds...but that was just enough time for some great photos.





Today brought about yet another first. 

I went back to work.

I. Have. Been. Dreading. This. Day. 

But, we made it through. Without tears! I had a super productive time in the office (very motivated to complete my work and not bring any home!) and Sam had a great time with Katie and her family. She enjoyed some water play, a ride in the wagon, and some quality time with her cousins. 

As hard as it is for me to leave her, I can tell that spending time with the "big girls" is going to be so good for her. She watches their every move and works extra hard to keep up with them. She has been crawling more, even at home now, ever since her practice run at Katie's house last week. This is a true blessing as Sam is still very cautious and can easily zone out and stay frozen in one spot if I let her.

I have to remind myself that this is good. For Sam, and even for me. God has blessed us that we only need to be apart for a few hours, four days a week. (Sam also comes to work with me for a couple hours a day) So I'm going to work on being thankful for what God has given us. An excellent babysitter/aunt who loves Sam to pieces and takes care of her at no charge. A job that I love, with a boss who "gets it", that I can work part time, that provides insurance. And on and on and on. 

We are so loved and cared for and provided for its ridiculous :) 

So I'd say we only have things to smile about around here. I'll have to repeat that to myself tomorrow as I leave Sam with Katie again. But that's the way it goes. Just because something is good and true doesn't mean its easy. And that's okay. We're okay. More than okay.

Love to all of you.




10 comments:

  1. Kimberly Umland-WaddleOctober 1, 2012 at 11:57 PM

    Sam's singing is beautiful! Songs from a heart that is overflowing with love. Grace, you have filled her heart with love! I watched one of the videos from your first visit with her and was so moved to see the changes that God has brought about.
    You are doing a fantastic job and I know it is hard to let her go, even if it is to Katie. But our job as parents is to help our children feel secure enough and loved enough that they can go out into the world to learn, explore and grow.
    Just as your mom did for you, you can do for Sam.
    Thank you for sharing her with us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sam sing just like her mother so beautiful like a angel.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sam sing just like her mother so beautiful like a angel.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sam is such a joyful child. So happy to see her thrive.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Grace, I love your posts. It is awesome to see you both doing so well tOgether. I am single and adopting an older boy with DS. Your posts fill me with hope. At times the unknown can be scary but with faith and examples lIke you I am encouraged.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Just because something is good and true doesn't mean it's easy."

    YES!

    And Grace, I loved seeing that pudgy little belly!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can't believe I'm just now seeing this. Those pictures are GREAT, but that's a given when the subject is so beautiful. We are thankful to have the privilege of watching Sam. She's fits in perfectly and brings us all so much joy. :) Love you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can't wait for another update!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Neither can I..I check everyday..: )

    ReplyDelete
  10. Me too! I hope everything is okay and they are just really busy having good times together.

    ReplyDelete