Sam Being Awesome

I've stopped trying to figure out all of the words Samantha can say because that would be impossible at this point.  But, because of that, I haven't been writing down the ones that I think are just so adorable.  I know that one day I'll want to remember how she said certain things and even though I try to get it on video, it doesn't always work, so I might just have to write them down instead (too).

1.  Thank you (Day doo)

2. Vaccuum (am-youm)

3. Button (butt)

4. c'mon (mon) as she holds out her hand for us to grab...

5. giraffe (raffe)

6. kangaroo (roo)

7. outside/slide (dide)

8. stairs (dee-uce)

9. meow (meee-owww)

10. potty (pah-eee)

11. breakfast (back-est)

12. blanket (bankek)

13. crib (bib)

14. lunch (wowch)

15. soother (fyou fyous)

Other funny things she does:

1. hits her (or your) nose and says, "beep, beep"

2. squeezes her (or your) nose and says, "onk, onk"

3. Oh, and dance.  She loves to dance. 

A Girl and Her Elephant--18 Months

Yep.  She's 18 months now.  Crazy!  Elephant pictures are getting more and more fun to take.  This month, I was able to tell her that I was going to take her picture and tell her where to lay or sit.  And she did it!  It was awesome!!!  Here they are for your enjoyment.  

She was giving the elephant loves in this one.  So sweet. 

Samantha is as sweet as ever.  She gives loves and kisses.  She says "wuv you."  She dances and smiles and giggles.  Well, when she wants to, that is.

She has QUITE the personality.  When she's not in the mood to do any of those things, she'll dramatically throw her head to the side, get a huge scowl on her face and yell, "NO!!" It's kind of funny, but I feel bad when she does it to people who didn't do anything to deserve it!

I think part of her grumpiness in the past has to do with all of the teeth she's gotten in the last little while.  She got her 2 front teeth (FINALLY) and two molars on the top too.  Now she has a total of 8.  And, on any given day, there are 4 more that get pretty swollen.  So, she's happy for the most part.  But, when those teeth are bugging her, or she's tired, she lets us know!!!

Father's Day.  Look at how cute they both are!

Before the flood, we were able to make it to the zoo one last time! Sam, looking at the gorillas!

Not of Sam of course, but man, look at that river!

We had a chance to go to Montana with our friends and Sam had a BLAST!!!  There was a park, a boat, and of course, WATER!!!

Going down the slide!

I love this picture!

This one will get framed and go to work with Daddy!

Driving the boat!

Water baby. 

Look at that face!

Yep.  She has now learned to get on top of the window sill.  Awesome.

Stylin'

On the carousel at Heritage Park.  She LOVES the carousel!

First train ride at Heritage Park. 

So cute! And look at the crazy hair!  

Man, I love this kid!

We went to the stampede and we had to dress up for it! 

She's so fun at this age!  This month, we are excited to see my friend Laura who's coming up to visit us in Calgary!!! And, for a trip down to Utah to visit my family.  I'm excited to see my family, not so excited to drive down there!!!  We'll see how that goes!

Les Miserable

Les Miserable was my dad's favorite play.  I knew that from the time I was small.  I have strong memories of my mom playing the piano while my dad belted "I Dreamed a Dream" in our living room.  My dad had a beautiful voice.  Something I like to think he passed down to me.  I sang "Castle on a Cloud" in a 7th grade choir trio for my entire middle school.  When I had a singing coach in high school, I asked to sing "Dreamed a Dream" but he wouldn't let me because he thought I didn't quite understand the lyrics and it was too adult for me.  Maybe he was right.

I've grown up on Les Mis.  Even if I never actually saw the performance until it came out in theaters.  It was a part of me and my childhood. Once I did see it, I understood completely why it was my dad's favorite play.  My dad was no Jean Valjean, but he also didn't have the easiest of lives, like most of us.  He related to the play, just like I think all of us can.

On Friday I went to the actual play for the very first time.  Live actors, live music, incredible atmosphere.  Every time I felt a bit emotional (so pretty much the entire 3 hours), I grabbed Derek's hand to my left.  But at the same time, I imagined my dad, smiling, with tears in his eyes sitting next to me holding my right hand.

I haven't felt that close to my dad my whole life.  When he was alive or since he's been gone.  It felt incredible.

It may surprise some to hear, but I don't think of my dad very often.  He's been gone 16 years.  That's a lot of time.  Almost an entire childhood and all of my adulthood up to this point.  When I used to think of him, I'd feel a lot of anger at the choices he made at the end of his life.  Choices that made him leave me and my family.  I didn't want to think of that and feel angry.  But as I've grown older, I look at the things that my dad faced and I honestly can't say I wouldn't have made the same choices.  He faced a lot of things that I would never want anyone to face, at a time that wasn't very accepting of those struggles.  When I think of him now, I feel a lot of compassion towards him.  I never used to feel like I wanted my dad here because at the end of his life he wasn't a good person to be around, but it is times like this that I wish he were here so I could tell him that I get it.  As much as I can for not having dealt with the same things.  I get it and I forgive him.

I think that is what everyone can learn from such a powerful musical as Les Miserable.  Forgiveness and Mercy.  It isn't our place to judge.  Just forgive and show mercy.  I think that was all my dad wanted when he was alive.  Forgiveness and mercy.  And, even though he's not alive to hear me say it to his face, I'm pretty sure he knows how I feel about him now.

So, go see Les Miserable.  If you've seen it already, watch it again.  If it doesn't make you strive to be a better person, then I'm not sure what to tell you.  Because it has influenced my life almost completely.

Calgary Flood 2013

I've been feeling a lot of emotions lately.  Most of them have to do with the devastation I've seen first hand this weekend.

For those unaware, Calgary (and several other cities/towns in Alberta) has suffered some major flooding.

Our home was spared as were most of our families/friends' homes, and I feel blessed because of that.

But, I can't help feeling overwhelming sorrow for the people who were evacuated from their homes (around 75,000-100,000 were evacuated) only to return to find their homes and basements devastated by the water.  They will have to spend so much time, effort and money to fix the mess.  But, they've also lost so many sentimental possessions and my heart breaks for them.

I'm feeling sorrow for the city in general.  How much time and money will be spent to rebuild bridges and LRT tracks, to fix the Stampede grounds and the Saddledome for upcoming events, to ensure businesses downtown can get back up and running?

The other overwhelming emotion I've been feeling the last couple of days, however, is awe.  I have seen so much heartfelt giving by those around me and I can't contain the emotion.

When 600 volunteers were asked for this morning, 7,000 people showed up.

Some donation centers are having to put a halt on people donating because there is simply not room to store it all.

Communities have organized relief efforts.

Facebook groups have been created to keep people updated and to ensure word gets out for volunteer opportunities.

I have seen so much giving, so much banding together to help our neighbors.  It has made me want to be a better person, to be more like the people I see around me.  Not just during disaster situations, but everyday of my life.

And for that, I'm feeling grateful.

In case you haven't seen, here are some pictures of the city:

Stampede grounds.  This is where they do the rodeo, chuck wagon races and the Grandstand show.  Under water. 

Some of the damage that'll have to be fixed. 

Homes and cars ruined. 

This shows how high the river was.  This is the Peace Bridge, a foot bridge that goes downtown.  Typically, the water is 15-20 feet below the bridge and here it looks maybe 5 feet? Less?

Inside the Saddledome.  They said that it was flooded up to the 10th row.  This is where the Flames play and where a lot of concerts and shows are performed during Stampede. 

A look at Downtown Calgary.  Derek wasn't able to go into work today, and it doesn't look good for him for the rest of the week. 

Some of the damage.  Houses with the decks torn off, and this is just the outside.  You know the damage gets worse inside.  

If you could keep these Calgarians in your thoughts and prayers, I'm sure they'd appreciate it.  And, I'll do my part around here to help with some of the more physical things!

A Girl and Her Elephant--16 AND 17 Months

I didn't ever write a post for Sam's 16 month and here's why: I had been keeping a running list of all the words that she had been learning and saying and by the time 16 months rolled around, there were WAY too many words that I couldn't think of all of them and even beginning to write the post felt overwhelming.  So I procrastinated.  Procrastinated long enough for her to turn 17 months.  So we're combining the posts.  Elephant pictures, if you feel so inclined:

16 Months

 As you can tell, these are getting harder and harder to take each month...

17 Months:

...but, somehow, we can always end with a good one!

As I said earlier, Samantha is talking like CRAZY!! Anything we say she tries to copy.  Sometimes it sounds like it, other times not so much.  She's started saying 2 syllable words and even 2 words together.  Ones that pop into mind are "love you" (wuv you) and "oh no" (sounds pretty good).  Another thing that's new is she's starting to answer questions instead of just repeat the last word we said.  For example, a couple months ago if we asked "Samantha, do you want some milk?" she'd say "milk" and we'd know she wanted some (oftentimes this was accompanied by her running to the fridge for the milk).  Now, however, if we ask "Samantha, do you want some milk?" she'll say "yep" or "nope" and then we'll know.  

Along with all the talking has come a lot of babbling too.  She yabbers up a storm.  It's kind of nice when she doesn't say real words because then I can make up whatever conversation I want to have with her...

I started running (as in, I've done it twice this week and am planning on going tomorrow and if this lasts longer than this week, no one will be more surprised than me...) so Sam has had some fun in the stroller.  Let's be honest.  I bribe her with cookies.  Then she has fun.  

She likes green smoothies.  It's the only way I can get veges into her. 

The kid can't get enough of books.  And, as bad as it is to admit, the interest is solely hers.  It gets tough reading the same books over and over, and just flipping to the dang page with all the ducks every. single. time.  And, I know it'll just get worse.  I mean better.  Of course it'll be better.  

Sam loves slides but hates the swing.  

Fun as always!

Told you, she loves books!

This is what it would look like if we had a boy.  After getting sopping wet at a playdate, she had to go home in boys clothes...

She now has one top tooth through, and the other one should be coming through any day now. 

What it looks like as she goes down.  

She stuck the landing!

Oh yeah, she can now climb up her high chair.  Awesome!

She loves putting on shoes. 

Not sure what she's doing here but she's having a good time. 

Oh how I love the "wait I have to get the camera because what you're doing is too funny not to capture" photos...

And I'll leave you with this one.  Man, I have one cute kid!