Day 102: Oops...

So, as I've quickly learned time has flown by with Samantha. I had this amazing day 99 post already written in my head, only to miss the day! Opps...

Well, that's certainly not going to stop me! This entire blog process has been absolutely amazing and I cannot wait for the day Samantha has a child of her own and I can pass my letters and stories and now this blog down to her. That being said, I can certainly wait quite awhile for that to happen and just live in the moment with her now.

Looking back, these last 102 days have shown me and taught me so much. Day 1 was all about trying to get Samantha to laugh every single day. Just the sound of her giggles could brighten even the most frustrating day. And trust me, as many of you know, there were many-a-frustrating days!

Next week, Samantha will be 10 months old and she has already taught me more in those short months, than in my entire life! She has taught me to laugh at life, to see the details in life and that time flies! But, the I think the most important thing I learned was that to laugh, you have to find the laughter in life! As simple as that sounds, it was hard to learn.

Looking back on all those hard, sleepless nights...I'm happy I got to cuddle my baby girl back to sleep. Funniest part, I'm sure that's all she wanted too.

Watching the videos of her laughing...I can see how something as simple as gravity and magnets can be absolutely hysterical.

And how a human face can be so amazing. With the smallest muscle movement, a facial expression comes to life and so do her giggles!

For those of you who have been following, and there more of you than I could have ever imagined, I hope that you have laughed along the way too and learned how to find the laughter in life! As for 99 Days of Laughter, well it does not stop here! Look for a post every week and watch Samantha and I discover the laughter in life!

Day 82: Best of Friends

OK, this sleep training thing has gone amazing! Samantha has slept through the entire night 2 nights in a row; without the 11pm feed! I am feeling so much better, sleeping so much more and feel like a completely different mommy! Now, I'm just trying to perfect her daily schedule with meals vs nursing (this kid eats like a horse) and I think we'll be ready for a real life outside of the house!

This morning I made the first attempt at that life outside of the house, since momstown had a fun Barbie Music & Movement event happening. After, actually getting sleep the last 2 nights, I felt brave enough to invite my 3 year old niece along too. Everyone thought I was crazy for trying to take care of both a 9 month old and 3 year old and I was starting to think the same thing! But surprisingly, everything went amazing! She helped me get Samantha ready for the event, give her breakfast and even change her bum. I was so impressed that Desiree used her listening ears all day and even helped to play with Samantha when I had to take a few pictures or help make the punch (complete with adult supervision, of course).

Watching Samantha and Desiree laugh and play together was really refreshing and really makes me think that we could have a second child and I would be OK. That being said, I'm not about to jump on the baby wagon for at least a few more years. But today gave me the hope that Samantha will help with baby #2 in the same way Desiree did today and the courage that I can be a great mother to 2 children! What a great family we have and what an amazing family we will be when Samantha has a younger sibling!

My favorite moment today, with the exception of all the girls playing with the life size barbie box, happened at the very end of the event. While I was helping to clean up, the two of them sat on the floor together and played. Samantha was holding onto Desiree's balloon while Desiree was making funny noises and faces. Samantha was laughing and giggling and bouncing away while she did it! Unfortunately, I didn't catch the best parts on video and the balloon took off to the ceiling (which I did catch by the way in one big leap), but watching the two of them together is just SO cute! They will certainly be best of friends when Samantha is old enough and big enough for them to play together.