Dear Samantha (43 Month Update)

Dear Samantha,

Today you are exactly 43 months old. You keep growing up by the day it seems, and you've been keeping Daddy and I challenged and entertained these days.

One of the reasons that Mommy started this blog was because when you first started to develop your personality, I wanted to document what you (and eventually Sarah) were doing, and saying. I also wanted to keep any family and friends in the loop on what's going on with us.

You continue to be a huge help to Daddy and I around the house. You enjoy cleaning and helping Mommy with baking and cooking dinner each night. Now that Snowpocalypse 2011 has been happening, we've been doing some baking and we've found that making Jell-O and pudding is very entertaining for you...and very good entertainment for Mommy and Daddy's wallet :) We've been enjoying being "snowbound" with you too and exploring new forms of entertainment. We've found that you LOVE hide and seek. You can't seem to get enough of that game. Mommy also enjoys bringing you to the library for story hour/craft hour on Monday mornings. Hopefully sometime soon if this snow goes away, we'll be able to have some fun with fun field trips with Sarah's old EI group.

For Christmas, Mommy and Daddy bought you a Dora the Explorer Wii game. We don't allow you to play it everyday, but Daddy and I have found that each time you play it, you get better and better at "guiding" Dora through wherever it is she needs to "go". It shows that you're testing your independence. We've also noticed that you're also speaking a little "Spanglish". (Spanglish = English + Spanish). It's cute to hear you ask Mommy and Daddy for things and say "Por favor" ("Please" in Spanish). We're so proud of you for learning something new and a little bit challenging.

We are also reminded each day at how big your heart truly is. During one of our many recent snow storms, we watched outside the window as someone (sadly with rear-whell drive) get stuck at the end of our driveway in the snow. Without prompting you came up to Daddy and I and suggested that we say a prayer for the driver to become unstuck. Daddy and I were just so moved by that comment. Sometimes there are days where we wonder if we're doing a good job at teaching you things, but after that comment, you just reminded us that we're definitely on the right track.

Daddy and I are so proud of you, and we hope that you continue to learn as well as you have been. We need to remember that you are only 3 1/2 years old...sometimes you act older. We just hope that your argumentative side calms down a little bit. It's ok to not fight everything Mommy and Daddy say. Always know we love you. Thank you for challenging Daddy and I to be better parents. Thank you for all the happiness that you've brought to us. Thank you for your beautiful smile and your contagious laughter. Thank you for your spirit and your reminder for us to be good people and to pray for others. Thank you for always saying "thank you", especially for when you're really appreciative about something like when Mommy paints your toe nails.

When you're in doubt of how amazing you are, just ask us because you truly are amazing.


We love you,


Mommy & Daddy

Here's some photos that were taken of you one year ago in February 2010

Here is what you look like today in February 2011