We Finally Flipped....

Sammy! That is now that he is 1 we turned him around from the rear facing position in his carseat to the front facing. Mom, I know you are so happy we FINALLY turned him around and he can finally see out of the dashboard. She said she was worried we would drive up to kindergarten with him facing backwards. This car ride was just too funny, what an experience! We unfortunately didn't realize what a big deal this was to him so we didn't catch those first few moments on video but we did get some of it once the car got going. He cracked us up.. he was a good combination of stunned, confused, amazed, and humored all at once. It was classic Sammy, and we laughed the entire way to the park and all the way home. For those of you who are around him regularly and know his most used word... "this", well you can only imagine how much he said it on this car ride. At the end of the second one he gets very into his monkey shoes so just ignore that, sorry. Here are the videos!

Leslie, Benji, & Jamin Came for a visit!!

"They finally came down from their mountain" as Hannah put it. We were so excited to have them come down for a visit. It sure was baby-tastic in our house! I hadn't seen 7 month old Jamin since he was 2 months old and Sam had never met him, so it was great to see our little guy and love on him as much as possible while we could actually hold him. He had grown so much and is just as cute as can be! He has these puckered out little lips like Zoolander and the most gorgeous giant blue eyes and he is so tiny! I just love how small he is, he is super early with crawling, walking, and just about everything so it was so shocking to see a tiny little thing like him pull himself up and start crusing! We had a great time.. our outings sure have changed now that we have babies in tow! Matt, Kendall, Jenn, and Kim came over for dinner one night, it was so fun to catch up with everyone. It had been just about a year since Leslie saw them and it was fun to have an almost reunion (missed you Andrea!) of our Guatemala team.
We had to spend some special time with Hannah, she has developed a relationship with them over the years and had so much fun when they took her out last year. So.. needless to say she was thrilled beyond belief to have them here and play with Jamin. She had been asking for about 6 months when they would ever come back to see us, so it was fun to surprise her. I posted some separate pics of her time with them too.
Sammy & Jamin got along really well together. Poor Jamin had to suffer through what was probably our worst time of Sammy's hair pulling and biting but thankfully he was a good sport and we are even more thankful that those days seem to be behind us for the most part... Just a side note, had no idea disciplining a 1 year old could be so challenging.. seriously dreading the two's. Leslie and I grew up living in different states but have remained super close throughout the years, seriously closer than sisters I would say, and so we are hoping that our little guys will also develop a strong friendship and will share a similar bond as they grow up together. We are so glad that they are really close in age. We had so much fun, so hard to say goodbye but I am already looking forward to my trip up to Nashville in the spring! Love you guys!

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Video of Sammy walking... yay!

Ok, so we caught him walking, finally! We had our real video camera out for all the action and I can't begin to figure out how to upload those videos so I finally remembered tonight to use our still camera when we were playing and viola! Here are some videos .... now if I can only figure out how to post it.. The first one is him walking on his own, he is up to about 7 or 8 unassisted steps now. I really thought based on some of my friend's babies that once he took those first steps he would be off but I think he has a little confidence issue. He is soo cautious (which I love!) and so his first week of walking wasn't so bad. Today he started letting go of his push car while he was walking, it was so funny. It seemed like he needed the car to get himself going and then he would just let go and keep on walking, that is the second video. Hope you enjoy them!

He took his first steps!!!

I just had to let everyone know that Sammy took his first little steps, it was just perfect! He is 12 mos and two weeks and it was the cutest thing ever, so wobbly of course! It was the end to just the most perfect day. We had been to church then came home and we all took a nap, ahhhh so wonderful. After the nap we had been out to the park but it was really cold & his little nose turned red so we decided to leave and get some hot chocolate & coffee. We came home and Sam made us a yummy dinner and then we made our first fire of the year in our fireplace. Sammy was totally amazed and loved the fire. We were all three playing on his little play mat and he was holding on to the coffee table and looked like he wanted to walk to me. So we started cheering him on and he did it! He let go and took one little step! His little eyebrows were raised and he had the funniest expression on his face! He stopped and clapped (of course, he claps for everything now, so funny) and then took three more steps before he wobbles so much that he toppled over! We were just so happy and proud of him, we grabbed him up and hugged & kissed him. It was so cute b/c while we were on the phone with his Aunite Sarah telling her the good news, he walked about 7 or 8 steps and then fell got up and did it again! We got out the video camera and got some super cute video that is just too funny of him squealing and clapping while he walked.
I know some won't agree with this, but I really think that was a little gift from God they way it happened. I often feel very guilty about leaving him with Gloria, his sitter, during the day while I go to work and feel like I miss so many little moments with him. I was assuming that he would take his first steps while he was there and we would miss them completely. I know this may sound insignficant, but I had prayed some that he would take those steps at a time when Sam and I were both together and we could expereince them as a little family. All I thought of when it happened in that moment was just how perfect it was and I just thanked God right then in there for His little gift to me of that perfect moment. That moment will forever be etched in my mind and it was just truly perfect, I wouldn't have changed a thing. He knew when I woke up that morning that it would happen and I am just very thankful for our family time that Sunday. Thank you Jesus for my Sams! I hope to get some video of him walking up soon!

Happy 2 Year Anniversary!

So most of you reading this know that I am a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program to Hannah...or Hannah Banana as I call her. We were matched in April of 2006 right after she turned 5 years old (kids have to be 5 years old to be in the program). When you first start as a "Big" you are given several children to choose from and they will give you several options, I felt bad passing on the first few they mentioned but for some reason they just didn't feel right for me. Then they called and told me about Hannah. They were going to originally match me with her older sister, Samantha, but said that Hannah had been on the waiting list and knew she would be difficult to place b/c of some issues she had and when they described her and given my background in developmental psych they thought we would be a good fit. I knew right off the bat.. she was my little. I prayed super hard about it and knew within a couple days she was who I was to be matched with and so called back and set up our meeting date. I still remember the first time I met her and the rest of her family. She was soooooo tiny and seemed sooooo shy (for any of you who know Hannah, that shy is not a word you would use to describe her). We went out for ice cream that first day and she was just so much fun! We instantly bonded and had so much fun and have made soo many memories over these two years. Now don't get me wrong, it has not been without challenges, she has challenged me beyond belief but we have both learned so much from each other and have grown together. She has come SUCH a long way from that first day when I look back, wow.
Well she was having such a difficult year when she first started kindergarten and was getting reds (the worst color on her behavior chart) daily and so I offered her a reward. Sam and I had annual passes to Disney World so I told her that we would go to Disney to celebrate her getting one week of all blue, which is the best behavior color. She really tried hard and poor thing would get so close, 4 blues and then a yellow for example. She talked about Disney all the time and in fact when she sat on Santa's lap that year rather than asking for toys or anything else under the sun she asked for 5 blues in a row. It was so sweet. We talked a lot about how it was in her control, not something someone can give to her. Anyway, she finally got her blues the last few weeks of school! We were all soo proud! Problem was, by then ( I honestly had no idea it would take her the entire school year, I had way underestimated her) our passes had expired and we didn't have the money to pay for the tickets, gas, hotel, and spending while there. I felt sooo terrible! Plus, Disney in middle of summer is a pretty rough, it is soo hot and the lines are soo long, a combo that screams trouble for Hannah's behavior. We had a talk and decided we would wait until Christmas time or right after Christmas time when it as cooler and not so hot and had a plan. That way we could save up the money and have our trip. Nope... who knew I would get pregnant! If you remember I was sooo sick, like I lost 16 pounds in the first trimester sick with throwing up, plus couldn't ride on any rides so, Disney was out again. It was all I could do to still hang out with her and the poor thing and her siblings had to see me throw up a few times, gross!
Well, long story short, I had Sammy and so it definitely wasn't happening this past Christmas.. he was barely 2 months old and I had not adjusted to mommyhood yet and EVERY week when I picked her up she would ask 2 questions... 1. "Are we going to Disney World today?" and 2. " Can we go to Chuck E Cheese with Megan and Marc?" , both of which were out of the question given they were both too expensive and out of town.
I won't go into her family background history, but Hannah & her 4 siblings live with their grandparents. We got word that her mother may be coming back in the picture and it was looking like the kids would be going to live with her. I was devastated! Putting my own feelings aside was hard and I really didn't think this was in the best interest of the kids, it was really scary. I just kept thinking, great.. she will leave and I will never find her again and out of everything I have tried to teach her and instill in her, all she will remember is a promise I made to take her to Disney and never came through on. It really burned me up b/c I am soo careful not to make promises I can't keep. ugh! Enter my dear dear friend.....
I got the best surprise one day.. my amazing friend who will remain nameless was over and said God had blessed her family extra well that month and they had decided what they wanted to do with the extra money was to buy tickets for me & Hannah to go to Disney World to celebrate us! I cried, obviously, and couldn't wait to call my little Banana but decided to tell her in person. I wish I had recorded her reaction, it was priceless! She was beyond excited and screamed and jumped up and down, so adorable. So a few weekends ago we got to go on our long awaited Disney Trip, and what a trip it was. I can not thank you enough, you know you you are, for your kindness, you will prob never know the impact that trip had on that little girl. She was so overstimulated the entire time, it was hilarious. I will post a picture (the first one..trust me, there will be no question if you are looking at the right picture) that really sums up Hannah at Disney World. Hilarious! It still cracks me up! I also am going to post one of my favorite pictures of her from our first year together as well as one of Haley & Kim on Thunder Mountain and Haley & Hannah with the one & only... M-I-C-K-E-Y!
We ended up going with Kim & Haley (Kim and I joined the big Sisters program together and thus Haley and Hannah have hung out a lot over the years) on a Friday and we ate at one of the character dinners, then spent the night in a hotel which Hannah thought was the coolest, then spent the entire Sat at the park. I was so proud of her for going on her first ever roller coaster.. Thunder Mountain! She thought it was just a little train ride.....little did she know! She even put her hands up during the middle of it! After that there was no stopping her and she went on Splash Mountain with us all too. Very brave. I have uploaded the pics to our photo site but also put them in an scrapbook below. In doing this I found a scrapbook I made the year we were matched and thought I would post it too.. she was so very tiny!
Hope you enjoy the pics and thank you Kim and Haley for going and surviving Disney with me and Hannah.. you should get an award! haha! We love you two!

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Encouraging Words...

So a close friend of mine sent some very encouraging words my way and thought I would share them. I was feeling particularly overwhelmed with the stress of my program when I read them. My program was daunting enough before we threw a baby into the mix. I was feeling like there was no way on earth I would ever get all the things done that I needed to complete this week when I opened up her email. Jesus really spoke to me through her words and His scriptures and gave me a new perspective on things. I am so blessed to have such Godly people in my life to keep me keeping on when it seems like there is no way on earth I can.
She passed along some of the message her pastor shared on Wed night... one line read "Remember, Jesus carried the cross so that we would not have to carry our own burdens". For those who grew up in church/attend church a lot, this is nothing new and something you have heard repeatedly. However, it was nice to be reminded that it doesn't have to be the huge ginormous decisions of life that are counted as burdens. All the little things build up and make us weary and drag us down, but I think maybe, just maybe, He is even more interested in all these little details b/c it is in going to Him with the small things that we will truly grow in our faith and learn to talk with Him and lean on Him more. Hope a few of these verses will encourage you as they did me! Remember, He gives rest to the weary!

Matthew 11:29-30

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Isiah 40:29
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak.

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Philippians 4:19

My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (I love the Message version: Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. )

Sammy's first Halloween!

Thought I would put a few pics of Sammy's first Halloween up, we had so much fun with him. I couldn't help thinking back to the previous year when I was oh so pregnant and waddling around sooo uncomfortable and all I could think was puh-lease stay in until at least midnight, I really didn't want him to be born on Halloween.. although his cousin Cole sure did, he thought it would be cool to share a bday with baby Sammy (Happy Birthday Cole! We love you!). Now just a year later we had the cutest little lion ever to share the night with. We drove up to Jax that morning since his bday party was the following day. We decided to take him to the fall festival at Debbie's church and it was such a fun time. They really had a nice set up, Sammy went in a bounce house made just for preschoolers, it was a miniture one and he LOVED it! His Grandaddy helped him learn to jump in it- thanks Richard! At first he just slid on the slide some (with assistance of course) and then he got very brave and crawled in. He crawled right over to the wall and pulled himself up and started to bounce, he giggled and just had a blast!
He of course loved the loud music and danced most of the night but he also enjoyed the scarecrows and a little digging game b/c he could push the red wagon around. My favorite part was when he got to see horses for the first time! We decided not to go on the hayride b/c it was getting pretty late and he was oh so tired but he got to pet one and talked with her. It was so cool. Once they trotted away and everyone in the wagon waved to him he squealed and kicked, so cute! I think his fav part of the evening though was that his Aunt Cindy suprised him and was waiting back at mom's for him. He LOVES to hang with her so they had fun tickling and playing with the dogs. He really liked Cindy's lighted up pony tail, pretty fancy. Gigi (Cindy's dog) & Pixie (mom's dog.. that is not a misprint, MY MOM has a dog now and no... the world has not stopped spinning yet!) had costumes on! Our poor little Franklyn was naked.. hey we were doing good just to have the baby dressed up! Here is a scrapbook I made with some of the pics, the others are on our Shutterfly page, the link is http://deluccafamilyphotos.shutterfly.com/ you can click directly on it (no password needed) and view our favorites. I am going to upload albums from my pictures on my computer so they will all be stored in one spot. This is not only b/c I would like for everyone to see them (proud mamma, I know) but also b/c I am so paranoid something will happen to them! Will be nice to know they are safely stored online too. Well thanks again for reading about our little fam as we embark on this new blogging thing.. haha!

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