Super fun weekend!

This last weekend was so much fun! We of course had to go back up to OP given the arrival of little miss Caitlin Grace McCarver, just the most precious little thing in the whole world. Linda and baby Caitlin are doing great. Caitlin is just so beautiful! She has a full head of thick dark hair and just took my breath away when I got my first look at her. She was just so sweet and peaceful and it was like I was looking at a little tiny version of my Winna Kaye (well with dark hair). She does have a tiny bit of Patrick that I could see but Linda's features are what jumped out at me. The happy little fam was just too sweet, those first few weeks are just so precious (before the sleep deprivation sets in, lol). I am so happy for them, they sure deserve this amazing gift, they are just such a great couple. It is so fun to go through life together. I can remember us, as litlte girls, talking about how we would have babies together and how they would be the best of friends. So, to grow up and cheer each other on as we "do life" and our dreams come true, just such an amazing gift. I am so thankful for our friendship and that we have remained so close. I can't wait until Caitlin is old enough to play with Sammy, will be so much fun! Congrats again Winna Kaye! We love you! Give that sweet girl a kiss from me!

We had lots of times with family, Sammy loved his time with "Nendy" (Cindy) and his cousins. He has been asking for Cindy several times each day since. Uncle LaVaughn and Stan have the boys, Duncan and Quiten visiting (my little cousins who recently moved up to GA) so Sammy absolutley loved swimming with them. He simply adores all his big cousins and thinks everything they do is cool. Julie & Bryan came over on Sunday and we had blast in pool. My little Julz is growing up way too fast, it blows my mind. Such a beautiful girl, inside and out. Sammy discovered Aunt Sandra's monkey/gorilla collection from Uncle Tom. Each Valentienes he gets her one of those that sing or dance, Sammy had all the buttons going that he could at once, it was a lot to handle. He also fell in love with one particular one and hugged it all weekend (See video below).

We also had the pleasure (I am being facetious) of having pics done. Thankfully mom treated us to 18 mos pics of Sammy and the photographer said she would take few family pics. It could not have gone more wrong. Sammy was pretty mad b/c he had to let the giant red balloon she brought for the first few shots go and it was all down hill from there. Thunder and lightening rolled in, sand storm blew sand in our eyes, bugs were buzzing around Sammy's face. Needless to say she thankfully asked if we could reschedule a re-do, continuoation appointment. So, I am glad for that but hope it won't be quite as stressful! It is alot to get us all ready and color coordinated. She did give us sneak peak of couple of the pics and they are good so atleast few turned out. We loved Amy, the photographer, she is very skilled.

I love this one, mommy & baby, so sweet!
So proud of you Linda! You did it!!!! Can't wait to watch our girl grow =)
happy little family
The first of many important conversations with my little "niece"
Daddy changing the princess's diaper, it was a rough one and he did a fantastic job! very impressed!
Everyone say ... "awwww" here

My Aunt Sandra and Uncle Tom, love you both!

I think he's sweet on her! =)

Sammy had fun "talking" with Aunt Sandra and had many things to show her. I won't lie and say it didn't hurt my feelings in the least when he kept calling her mommy... ouch!

Our budding musician, he just loves music (and trucks, the truck he found at Aunt Sandra's never left his side all weekend)

Below:

This is how we found him when we picked him up fro Debbie & Glen's after hanging out with Cody (more later), fast asleep with his little friend Jamie Lynn. They apparently danced the night away and were tuckerd out. They play so well together, so cute! Just wish we lived closer so they could play more. Thank you to Debbie & Glen for our fun night out!

THE END~ (I just couldn't resist given the nature of this last picture)

making memories

Sammy had so much fun visiting his grandparents recently. We have always had fun with him but now that he is older he can do so many more things. We have loved watching his relationships with each grandparent grow, it is just so sweet. He has really started loving art so he has been busy making little things for each person and is just so very proud of himself. He surprised both Grammy & Papi with pictures he had made for each of them that they proudly hung on their fridge. We laughed b/c literally at least 10 or 12 times he went and pointed to the fridge and clapped for himself, he would get us and take us to the fridge to show us how his work was displayed. Very cute.

I was thinking how things like this, little daily moments that seem typical to us are not so typical to God. He uses these to shape and mold our children into little forms of the people they will eventually be. As most of you know I study child development and the first 3 years are just so critical for so many aspects of development, particularly attachment and self-concept/esteem. Just like so many other topics, it has just been amazing to see first hand with my own child all the things I have learned in school. It makes me think a lot of the kids at Casa and other kids we know who don't have people to cheer them on and celebrate each little accomplishment. I can see now just how critical the little moments like that are in confirming his importance to us and building confidence and it breaks my heart that so many kids don't have opportuinities like that. I don't know what the future holds for us but the more I watch Sammy grow and learn the more I think about adopting our next child rather than having one naturally. Sam is on board with either option as long as it is very far in the distant future, lol. How great would it be to change the life of a child in such a way?

I often think of how I hope that in some way Sammy will understand just how blessed he really is to have so much, to have so many people who love him and want to be a part of his little life, to have so many opportunities. Heck, he has done some things in his first year and a half that it took me half of a lifetime to do! I hope we can instill in him an appreciation for what God has blessed him with so that he does not take all he has for granted. I have met so many amazing children with hearts for God and who seem really selfless for their age and I think to myself, this is how I want Sammy to be. On the other hand, I have met unfortunately MANY more other children who seem so ungrateful for their quality of life and just expect new things all the time. Sammy will obviously be his own person but I hope we can teach him to be grateful for what he has and to learn to see things and life from other people's persepctive. This is how he will feel compasison and empathy for others and be thankful for what he has. Big mission for parents but one worth investing in.

Well, I've digressed so back to what I orginally planned to post, here are some pics from time with Sam's fam! See this is what reading a million papers about the effects of poverty on child development will do to ya, I am sooo sick of studying for my qualifying exams. In fact, yesterday on my way in to a meeting I actually thought to myself "how great would it be if I was driving to my actual quals defence meeting right now...." seems forever away but I know Sept will be here before I know it so back to the books for me!

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Sammy is such a good helper! We stopped by Papi's garage and he loved "helping" Papi with everything. He is Papi's right hand man for sure!

Soneone thought it would be fun .. (Sam's dad) to give Sammy an entire ice cream sandwhich of his own, um let's just stay this was the start of a very very long sugar rush and NO nap that day. Sam's dad actually said he wants to give Sammy that much sugar every visit b/c he had so much fun with him. =)

Sammy and Papi watching the froggies, just imagine a lot of "this?" "That?"

Disapointment

Well we had some dissapointing news over the weekend and then today. First we learned that Kylie's adoption is AGAIN delayed due to some insane processing issues on the Guatemala side. Their case was completely out of PGN, she is legally Dave and Andrea's daughter, then b/c of errors in paperwork that were to have been corrected forever ago and incompent people they went back into PGN~ the whole fiasco angers me. Andrea headed down to Guat on Thurs and has been having meetings and working her bootie off to get things straightened out. You don't mess with Mama! Thankfully last I can tell they had some good news at end of day today but still please keep my sweet friend and her husband and daugther in your prayers. Also pray for her friend Shelia who is adopting Kylie's bff, Lilly, and the several others waiting to get their kids home from Casa. The Guat adoptions are just so messed up right now, we need these kids home with their forever families. It's been too long.

Second dissapoing news was that Sam did not get the job with the state attorney's office. He also has not heard back from Mercedes or UPD, so we are just beyond frustrated. It is just discouraging and makes us wonder what God is up to. We still know and fully believe He is in control and apparently that state attorney's job was not what He had planned for Sam. It is just hard as humans to see & understand God's timing. Pondering it and trying to figure out what God is up to is just exhausting. I know this will be one of those times like most other things in my life where eventually years from now I will be able to look back and say "oh wow, look how God was working in our lives, look how he was orchestrating everything to turn out just like He had planned so that we can be the family He wants to shape us into" but here in the midst of it all it is hard. It is very humbling to be completey dependent on my mom and Richard (muchos gracias Mom!).

Pastor Gary was just referring to unexpected challenges and how what seems to be stumbling blocks to us are really stepping stones for God. As long as we stay optimistic, faithful, and keep good attitudes with our hearts bent on following and serving God he will do unexpected and great things, things that we can not even begin to imagine now. I totally believe this 100%. When I look back to where I was when I graduated high school, did I think 11 years from then I would be completing a PhD?? Nope. God had bigger plans. I am thankful for these words of encouragement from PG and for those of you who have encouraged us through this. It is hard but we are trusing our Jesus to carry us on through. Thankfully we have yet to go to bed without food or anything remotely close to the struggles many around the world are facing this very moment and we are just beyond blessed. So many images come to mind throughout the day, anytime I feel the woe is me mood. I am glad these images creep in, it helps me keep perspective. It seems so wrong to complain about how hard things are as we sit in our comfy safe house with all our "stuff". I continuously picture the tin houses with dirt floors with literally 8 or 9 people living happily in them in Guatemala or the straw huts from the islands and the families we met who literally lived on the beach (um, if things don't look up we may just move in with them!). We seriously have NO ROOM to complain. So, in light of our commitment to dance in the rain regardless what comes, and because apparently I just can not post without including a pic, here is one of Sam and Sammy discovering rain and playing in it! They had a blast and no it was not lightening Mom. =)

Oh, very quickly. Just want to brag on my man.. he had a super rough day, it was disheartening to get that phone call. Did he come home to his two pals Ben & Jerry and veg out on couch and b/c too sad and upset to do anything? (btw, this is totally what I would have done and have done in the past, hence the example) My sweet husband cleaned the entire house, mopped it and all, went for a run, played with Sammy, then cooked us all dinner and through it all had a giant smile on his face for Sammy. I love you Sam, you are best hubby a girl could hope for!

Videos!

Here are a couple of recent Sammy videos. Mom & Richard are on their big summer trip and have been gone about 3 weeks now, maybe 4?, feels like forever though! I thought I would post up some videos so they can see Sammy's recent accomplishments. The first is his new funny thing where he asks where several people are at random times throughout the day. The second is his new ability to walk backwards. He was VERY proud when he learned he could do this.

Quick funny story, we were walking outside the other day I told him to turn around b/c he had gone too far down the street. He looked at me kinda strange and then literally started spinning around in a circle, he made 3 giant full circles before he fell down and then looked at me and cried and said "No No mommy!". Poor thing, he did just what I said, he turned around and it made him dizzy and he fell over, now why would his crazy mommy tell him to do that??! It was too funny, I was just cracking up which did not make him happy at all. I tried to explain that I meant I wanted him to come back towards me, not literally turn aroudn but he didn't seem to care much. I just love watching him learn how things go, it really is like we get to discover the world all over again, right along with him.

Sam's Job Update: He had an interview yesterday that went really well with state attorney's office. We are just waiting now to hear if he got it, should know something by Monday... we are on pins and needles. Thanks again for the prayers!!

Remember to pray for Linda today, she is having csection at 12:30!! yay!!

Here are the videos. I have posted 2 of him saying everyone's names in an effort to let you see the more sensored verson or the silly version, whichever you prefer. In the silly version he thought it was funny to say "la boomba" (balloon) instead of names and then got so silly at end he literally gagged himself, what can I say.. that's my boy! Sensored version involves no gagging at end and few more names.

1. Silly Sammy's roll call 2. Sensored version of his "roll call"

He can walk backwards!

Adios Na-net

Sadly we had to all say goodbye to Janet (or Na-net as Sammy calls her) as she left to start her new fancy shmancy life in Colorado. Janet is Gloria's daughter and we have just loved living next door to them, they are the best neighbors we could have ever hoped for. We call Joe and Gloria Sammy's "Gainesville Grandparents" as they have just been irreplacable over the last few years. Besides the fact that Gloria helps to raise Sammy since she keeps him each day, they have been so helpful when Sammy was sick, when things around the house needed repairing, when a certian little boy locked himself in our house and Joe thankfully resuced him (yea we'll save that story for another day, not one I want to relive), and are just great to talk and have fun with. Their family is one that lives out their faith in everything they do and I love the ways they teach Sammy how to love and appreciate all that Jesus has and will do for him.

Sammy simply adores Janet and Juan (who he calls Juancho) and lights up when they come in the room. He loves to play with them and will do just about anything to make them smile. Both of them are just so sweet and so great with him. Janet recently graduated from UF with degree in engineering and has accepted an amazing graduate position in Colorado so, although we are happy for her it was so sad to say goodbye and see her leave. She will also be getting married soon too, so lots of big changes for her! We couldn't be more happy for her. Thankfully with Joe & Gloria next door she will be back for visits. Sammy has become very attached to his Conchita, a little stuffed horse she brought back from Columbia for him. She has only been gone about a week and already Sammy has pointed to their house asking "nanet?" and then he waves to their steps and says "adios" and then "Dia" (his way of saying beun dia - have a good day) in the saddest whiniest little voice, it really is sad!

We love you and will miss you Janet! Thank you for all you have done for our Samuelito. He loves you more than you can know. We wish you all the bset and you better stay in touch!!!

Introducing..............

Pierce Julio Locquiao Macabasco !!!!

We were finally able to meet Audra & Patrick's sweet little baby and oh he was just precious. He was just so very tiny and so perfect, we have prayed so much for his health and safe delivery so it was just a long awaited moment to hold him and kiss him. He sure is a blessed little baby to have such a great family, Audra & Patrick are just the best parents. They were so cute and so attentive. Just seeing all his little stuff and talking with them about that first week just made me realize all the more how far in the past those days are for us. It seems so long ago that we did that!! Their little family is doing great, he is just perfection. He slighlty opened his eyes for a moment and oh, it was just too much. So sweet! I got all choked up when I thought about all the fun that is in store for them, all the firsts they get to experience. I am so very happy for them!

Please continue to pray for Audra's mom, Julie Locquiao. She sure knows how to kick some lung cancer butt! She is one strong lady, I really admire her faith and her approach to the situation. They had great news that the recent scans showed the tumors on her spine were gone (yay!) but they left holes in her spine, the dcotor said like swiss cheese, that could paralize her since she already had a fracture they were unaware of. So, she spent few days in hostipatal and was released with neck brace to wear when moving and will have surgery very soon to fill the holes with cement like material that should seal and act like bone. Please keep this situaion in prayers and her treatement and healing in general. Please also pray for her family, it is so hard on everyone. Audra had to leave her new 2 week old son to be at the hostpital with her mom, can't imagine how stressful that must have been. She wanted me to be sure to tell everyone they are so thankful for all of the prayers!!!!

We have two more babies coming this week so keep them in your prayers!! Gayle & Jason's baby Ana should be born today, the birth mom is going in for delivery I beleive so please continue to pray for Ana's health, for Gayle & Jason, and of course for the birth mom as I can't imagine how hard this will be for her. Also Linda and Patrick will welcome Caitlin into the world on Friday at 12:30!!! Linda and I have been friends since we were in 4th grade and I have been blesseed beyond measure by all of these years of friendship. She and her fam are definitely considered family rather than friends. I thank God every single day for her and that we have stayed so close, I just couldn't be more happier for them. Please pray that all goes as planned (Patrick won't be back in Fl until Thurs night) and pray for Linda's strength and courage and for doctor's wisdom and for Caitlin's health and safe delivery. YAY!! Babies babies babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Real Little Boy

We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend with Sam's family and got to squeeze in a little bit of time with Linda (who is scheduled for c section on Friday, yay!! Can't wait to meet baby Caitlin!) & fam as well as Cindy, Aunt Sandra, and Uncle Tom. We spent a lot of time in the pool and it was just great to be able to create fun memories with family. Me being the eternal optimist that I am have been able to find very few positives to Sam being laid off but one of the biggies is the extra fam time we have had.

Several times over the weekend others and even myself commented on just how big Sammy seemed and it dawned on me as we tried to teach him to blow bubbles out of his mouth in the pool that he is a "real little boy" now. Sam laughs when I call him that but, he is. In other words, there is just hardly any baby left and you can't help to see him as a little boy rather than a baby. Then even more daunting, I realized he is now being 19 mos old.. closer to 2 years old than 1 year old. WOA! When did this happen??? Seriously, it has just gone by too fast.

I am just fully loving toddlerhood, albeit challenging it is just so much stinkin fun! I have to admit I was very much dreading this stage when we found out we were expecting but I have been very pleasantly suprised with how much I enjoy it. I absolutely love seeing him develop into his own little person with prefernces and ideas. I love that as big as he is he still comes to me for comfort and wants to show me his latest accomplishment (twisting his pointer and thumb finger??) and of course needs me to kiss each boo boo and wipe away his tears. He is by far the best entertainment we could ask for. I thought I had rediscovered my childhood being matched with Hannah and having tea parties and dress up and .. gulp, Barbies (Yes, as much as I hate to admit it the girl loves her some Barbies). Having a little boy though has allowed me to discover my inner tomboy who was waiting to be found. I LOVE racing cars with him and hopping outside while we look for froggies, and believe it or not, looking for and counting each worm. I like rolling around on the ground with him and playing jungle but I also love our sweet time where we rock his teddies to sleep and for a slight moment I see his sweet nurting side before he sails them across the room as he moves on to our next adventure. It is just so fun. I'm loving it. The below is just a little about Sammy at this fun stage that I included in his babybook.

For Sammy

We are so thankful God chose us to be your parents, you are our world and bring us so much joy each and everyday. At 19 mos old you are so sweet and so very very silly. We just simply adore your personality. You are very social and love meeting new people yet you have a very serious side too. You have such a kind heart and love to help other people. We can always count on you to help clean up any mess (you literally come running saying "boom!" carrying your broom) and you are just the best little chef yet! All our meals are much more yummy now that you help with them. You are a very smart boy and amaze us each day with things you can do and say that we just had no idea you knew. You love to read books to us and to sing and dance. I hope you never stop dancing, I just love to watch you. You are so free and uninhibited. I love to pretend cook with you in your kitchen, I don't know what you think you are cooking for me but I do know you work very hard at it and serve it up with such a sense of accomplishment and a giant kiss. Your silliness has cracked even the toughest of men and you have the ability to get them acting silly right along with you. You love to give hugs and kisses to just about anything and everything. Kisses are your way of showing you like something- when you see a new thing you like you lean in and "muah!" give it a kiss, we found it quite funny when you kissed each and every tractor in Home Depot (lol). I am quickly learning all the various types of construction vehicles and parts of trains because you love any and all types of transportation. I am amazed at how you can spot airplanes when they are just spec in sky. You love to feed your food to the characters on your sippy cup or your stuffed animals, so sweet. We think you may just be a soccer player one day because you enjoy and are really great at kicking balls. You kick with such purpose. You love to pray and are just so sweet and focused when we talk to Jesus. You ask to pray several times a day and we stop right where we are regardless of who we are with to pray with you. I hope you will always talk to your Jesus like that as you get older, I know you make Him smile each time. You have a new funny way of coming right up to our faces to tell us things, you get about 3 inches from our eyes and look directly into our eyes when you tell us your very important babble. You have started a "roll call" and run through the names of those close to us asking where they are. You are a little explorer like your Great Grandpa and Aunt Sarah. You are happiest playing outside and looking at & touching & watering different kinds of plants and watching "buuugs" and "woms" crawl around. Your little laugh is contagious, I truly believe a person can not remain unhappy after hearing your belly laugh. You have the most fun "streaking" when we take off your diaper and let you run naked through the house laughing the whole way, too funny. Your little bottom and rolls just jiggle the whole time and you giggle with glee. You love to crawl and pretend you are a kitty, dog, lion, and cow and you do great monkey and gorilla impressions too. You have a pretty hard time sharing right now, but we are working on that one and you have made some good progress. I am confident you will get the hang of it eventually. One of my favorite qualities is your nurturing spirit. You take good care of Kiera each day at Gloria's house. You get her doll for her when she cries, you try to feed her, and you hug & kiss her hello & goodbye. You have a few friends who are special needs and it is like you sense that there is something different about them, you lead them around holding their hand and are just so gentle, you stroke their faces and show them various things, it truly melts my heart. Your favorite saying these days is by far "oh man!" and "oh no!" and you say it at the funniest times. You sign and then say "all done" in dramatic style, it is very drawn out and you fan your arms out somewhat reminicent of a ballerina, which makes me laugh each time. Somehow you have managed to interface your signs & Spanish thankfully, we were worried you would be confused but you have done wonderfully. You, my sweet little prince have our hearts and you know it. We love you more than words can say and enjoy watching you grow into little you. I hope we will always be the best of friends as you grow and graduate kindergarten, start driving, go off to college.. oh my it is right around the corner. My baby is all growing up too fast, sniffle sniffle.