Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

  Just quick post to show this funny video. As you know my mom is a sign language interpreter and so Sammy has been learning some signs.  He LOVES to sign Twinkle Twinkle with her and he is gotten to where he can sign about half of it. The second time through on the video is much better than the first. I also put up one of his babbling in sentences. We have had to study language development in my program but I am just fully enyoing watching my own little guy learn, it is so much cooler than all the research and text books. So amazing if you think about all their little brains have to do in order to understand concepts and assign labels and meanings, then learn categories, etc. Wow. Sammy is now at the point where he pretty much understands and repeats what we say but only about half of what he says in interpretable. The rest we have no clue, as you will see in the second video. He will babble in sentences and ask very long drawn out questions about things, even raising his voice with inflecion at the end, it cracks us up. 

  Lastly, I had to include a copule pics of Sammy's favorite things to do lately. The first is plugging his ears to play & explore sound localization, it is very funny but not so great when out in public as he likes to whisper and SCREAM to hear the difference with his ears plugged. The next is of his newly found skill of catching a ball, he hold his arms out and waits, so funny. Lastly, we have his original silly face (big oh shaped mouth) that he still does mutiple times a day and now his newest silly face which consists of scruncing up his nose and mouth. Oh my silly silly boy, you keep us on our toes and we just love you oh so much! 

               Do you hear what I hear?

                             I'm all ready daddy!

                           The original silly face (above) and new and improved (below)

It's a BOY!!!!!

  Couldn't wait to announce that Audra had her baby yesterday and that's right.. it's a sweet little healthy boy! Audra and Patrick were one of those crazy couples who did not find out the sex of the baby and yes, I was wrong again as I just KNEW she was having a girl. I can't wait to see her and meet this precious little one that we have all prayed for.  His name is Pierce Julio Locquiao Macabasco and he was 7lb 80z and 21 inches long. The coolest thing is he was born yesterday at 3:16 pm, when I talked to Patrick on the phone he was saying how it made him think of the Bible verse, John 3:16, awww! Anyway we couldn't be happier for our friends, please continue to pray for them as they will bring little Pierce home tomorrow. No pics yet but they promised they will email some when they get home so for now here are few from one of her baby showers. Congratulations!!!!

                                 Just a few more weeks!!! Boy or Girl???

                                      Congrats Audra & Patrick!

                                           Sammy & Malia just chillin

Malia is such a big girl now!

True example of Acts 2

   I just wanted to say thank you again to our wonderfully amazing Sunday School class who have literally been a living example of an Acts 2 church to us during our difficult times. As you know, Sam was laid off and my stipend ended and thus, within just a few days we went from barely making it to no income. We thought times were tough as we struggled to make it through the transition from GPD salary to that of Chrystler but as we watched our savings dwindle we knew that sacrifices were needed to do what was best for our family and thus we made changes where needed. Then.. to learn that he had been laid off.. yikes.  What's up with this God? Yes, I hate to admit it but I did question God, I wondered why we had to go through another rough year especially after our previous year. Thankfully, God surrounded me with those much wiser than myself and pretty much sat me down and had a good talk with me. Within literally a couple days of the bad news Andrea had an engagement in Gville and stayed with us. Coincidence? I think not. God spoke to me through her. I was whining to her and said, "I just don't get it. What is God up to? We went through our fire last year" her reply, "yes but God never said there would only be one fire". Simple but oh so true. In fact, in retrospect, had we not gone through trials and grown in our faith & marriage through circumstances of the previous year, we may not have been strong enough to make it through this financial crisis.  I want to be careful in how I word this because I am not glad we are having such a rough time of it but I am VERY thankful for the many things we have learned through this and how God is growing our faith. I am thankful for the job Sam will hopefully soon start and that it seems like it will be a much better experience than he had at Chrystler and will hopefully meet our needs better.

    

    God has literally provided for us through our Sunday School class and of course my mom and Richard. Acts 2:44 says "all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need....".   Our class is filled with amazing couples just like us young (or relatively so, ha ha sorry remember my husband just turned 30!) married couples who have yet to or are just starting thier families. Not only is money tight but TIME is a valued thing with working families and new babies. So, to think that they would take the time to cook and bring us dinners and gift cards for groceries and things we need. I mean it just blew my mind. The outpouring of love, support, encouragement, and prayers on our behalf was just amazing. For instance, we had a day where we had tried to make the budget work on paper and were so worried and thought hmm... how on earth will we put gas in the car for Sam to get to the interview and then viola! Gas card appeared on our front door the next morning (thank you again) and same thing over and over with Publix and Walmart giftcards, even dog food for Franklyn! So wonderful. Not only did they help God provide for our physical needs but really for our spritual needs. Just when we would start to get discouraged someone would call or send card or come by with meals, it was just a constant reminder of just how much God loves us and is and will always take care of us. It is pretty hard to be bitter when you are constantly saying thank you. So, as a result of the sacrifices of our friends and family, we have been able to stay strong in our own faith and see this for the opportunity it really was, to grow closer to Him.

    

   Sometimes I wonder why I have to be so dense, God must get so fustrated with me sometimes. He is so obvious about things and I just don't get it or just doubt in the back of my mind. Samantha, Hannah, and Krista gave me a good wakeup and lesson in terms of faith. Right about the same time that all of this happened our little dog Franklyn started limping and only using 3 legs. We obviously couldn't afford to go to the vet so we tried to just minimize where he could roam and keep him off stairs, etc. The girls were just devastated to see him like that and prayed off and on while they were over for a sleepover. Their Sunday school teachers at church told me they lifted Franklyn up in class as a prayer request. Samantha told me before she left that she just KNEW God would answer their prayers and that I should just trust God. "It's easy Teri, just trust Him" is what she said with her big ol' smile when she walked out the door. In my mind I immediately thought, ha well yea sometimes, but not always. See, I knew in all my wisdom that Franklyn needed to go to vet and have something done to get better. Nope! Wouldn't you know he stopped limping that very night? Obviously a coincidence, it will come back was my thought but nope, he hasn't limped since. I have thus been trying not to doubt and to trust fully. It is not easy, especially with the big ticket items, but I believe God used little Samantha to speak to me too.

  

  There are so many many other ways God has been and is working in our lives to show us his ultimate plan for our family and to grow us and shape us into who He wants us to be. I will spare you all the details but I am just so thankful for all of those He has placed in our lives to help us through this. We love and appreciate all of you and all you have done. Thank you for giving to us and helping us! Thank you God for our experiences in Guatemala that have kept our "struggles" in persepective. Thankfully our bellies have been full and we have been healthy and safe during our "difficult times" and for that we are truly blessed. 

Muchos Gracias Mi Amigas!

Playdate!

  So, must warn, these pics are x rated and viewer discression is advised, lol. Had to post these up, I just LOVE the ones with the 4 older boys. We had fun playdate on Friday, it was all boys with the exception of adorable little Gina who tolerated all the testosterone very well (ahem.. Suzzane & Deborah, we missed your girls. We'll re do on a weekend). Thank you to Katie for allowing us to take over her home. Sammy had soo much fun playing in the baby pools and sprinkler! He did super great for the first half. I was a little worried b/c given his new poor sleeping habits he had only 5 hours (as apposed to his typical 10) of sleep the night before. I remember thinking as we packed up, well this could either go really well or really poorly but I really wanted & needed to have some fun mommy time with friends so off we went and I am so glad we did. He had soo much fun and did great sharing and well, he was just wonderful- that is until the hunger and sleepies set in and woa have mercy! Talk about a handful. I went inside to get lunch for him and returned to find that he had pulled hair. Then, sadly... dum dum dum.... HE BIT !!!!! I thought we were totally over biting but nope, Daniel had his truck and Sammy wanted it back so he thought he would just bite him, um no sir (sorry sweet Daniel, we'll play better next time). So, needless to say he was disciplined and we packed up and went home. Thank you again to Heather Griest for the suggestion of "Mr. DoBetter", it has revoluntionized our discipline and we never leave home without him. All in all it was a fun time but I was a teensy bit sad that the biting is I guess not totally a distant memory. 

   Hope you enjoy the pics, especially this first one!!!! 

Can YOU tell which one is Sammy? Think BIG, DIMPLY, and WHITE, lol , I love mi gordito!

Were You Correct.....???

                                   Nicolae with a mouthful, too cute!

            Abby and Baby Josiah, the newest addition to the group

            Josiah is just too cute, I had to go in for a close up. Isn't he just the sweetest thing??

                    The ball was almost bigger than Gina!

                    David was hillarious, he would run and do belly flop into the pool!

             Luke was all smiles, even with his house being overtaken!

Looks like Daniel meant buisness with that tuck! He was also so funny running and jumping in pool, splashing everywhere

Some silly sounds and GIRLY TIMES!!

Just quick post to put up a fun video of Sammy, it is in Spanish but basically Gloria asks him what the car, the airplanes, Sammy, Franklyn (our dog), Kobe (our cat), and Hannah say. Just thought it was cute.

        Also, a few pics from the girls' sleepover. Hannah got to pick one sibbling to spend the night a few weeks ago as a reward and she chose Samantha. We had a blast, they were so very giggly and my Sammy ate up all the fun and attention. Samantha was such a huge helper, she even made breakfast for all of us and cleaned up! WOW! Hmm....how can we get Hannah to follow her lead?

       

                             We ate supper out on the porch, Sammy sang for us =)

Samantha making our breakfast!

                                          All ready for church

     We made brownies after lunch was a very messy process, they had blast though

Sunghee's baby shower

 So few months late on this but hey, better late than never! Kim and I threw a shower for one of our friends in the program, Sunghee. Sunghee is just the sweetest person, I have really admired her from the time I met her. Her parents passed away when she was younger and she then left her brother and friends in Korea to come to the US to get her PhD. I can't even begin to imagine how hard grad school would be without family & friends close by and then to add being in a new country, a new culture, and having to WRITE academically in a second language... wow. She is nothing less than motivated and determined and we have had so much fun together over the years. We have talked a lot about the differences in Korean and American culture and she has introduced me to some delicous Korean dishes and tried (rather unsuccessfully, my fault not hers) to show me how to make my favorites ones. I think my absolute favorite memory with her was at Molly's house when Sunghee was trying to show me how to do these stretches that were to have helped me with ballet (back when I had time for classes, lol).  It was just too funny, we were all laughing so hard. Sunghee and her husband Kim are expecting their first baby, a boy, in about a month. She finished her PhD a few weeks ago and they should be settling into their new home up in Chicago right about now. So glad we had chance to throw little shower for her before she moved.. here are some pics!

       Sunghee is so tiny that she barely looks preggers even this far along, she makes me sick!

       Burcu, Katherine, & Kahn totally called each other to plan their outfits, lol




  Had to have some gator gear for baby! Go Gators Go!

  Erin won the guess how big baby belly is game

       Lisa won the baby food game, her prize was the baby food.. lol

                             Molly & baby Jane with Sunghee

         Janie is one of Sammy's friends he plays with on Fridays, she is soo sweet& just turned 1
   Burcu was one of brave few who actually tasted rather than smelled the food..mmmm yummy!
                               Guess the baby food game was too funny! 
    Molly's cupcakes were a hit, too cute! The other half were little monkey cupcakes, just adorable!

A Nerdy Post

                Go Gators!!!          Congrats Berg Lab!!!

  Wanted to put up a few pics from our last lab meeting of the Spring semester. Sam calls us The Nerds b/c our lab is called "The Developmental Neuropsychological Research Team". When working on our logo, I said "well, I could put D.N.R.T." and Sam replied, "ha ha, you guys are Da Nerds!" and with that we were nicknamed Da Nerds. I just love our lab, we work really hard to create a fun, family type environment where a lot of hard work is accomplished. We are in fact training the next generation of professionals so is super important that they see that yes this work is hard BUT we don't have to be cut throat competitive and stressed to max to get things done. Each spring is always sad b/c we loose so many great RAs (research assistants) as they graduate and move on to the next chapter of thier lives. I have been so blessed to have had such an amazing bunch of RAs during my grad carreer. I am guessing I have had maybe somewhere around 45 or so total, give or take a few, that have worked with me over the last 5 years. Even more that have worked in the lab as Kim has her own folks to help with her stuff. Back in the good ol' days when our testing was going strong Joe & I had about 17 to 20 RAs at a time that would test consistently each day for us, but now that we are in our final year of testing I just haven't needed as many folks. So, as I see my little group dwindling it is sad but a good sign of the times that the END IS IN SIGHT and my own graduation is just around the corner! In fact, I have only interviewed two new RAs for summer so hopefully can get things finished with a super small group. 

   I have supervised several senior thesis students who are the undergrads that are really cream of the crop and need the thesis experience to apply to grad schools. I am so proud that every single one of my students received highest honors!! Kady, see below, was my last student and I must say I went out on a bang. She was just excellent (they all were, don't get me wrong) but she had the benefit of experience on her side, given she was my last. By the time Kady was ready to do start the thesis process, I had learned what management style worked best for me, how to really keep them on deadlines, how best to teach various aspects, and how to balance many other aspects of supervising. Supervising a thesis takes a lot of time, we help them develop their plans for their study, teach writing skills as we read several drafts and make many revisions of each section, teach them how to analyze their data and interpret their results, and then of course, their big defense presentation. It is great learning experience for them and for us grad students, helps prepare us for having our own grad students (if going to be professor which I really hope it doesn't come to that, I really do not enjoy teaching). I have thoroughly enjoyed each of these students and love hearing about all they are doing with thier lives now. I am looking forward to the publications that will come from each study BUT I will NOT miss those weekly meetings with each student! I have been given the gift of time, lol! Goodluck to each of you as you, remember us little people when you become big fancy doctors!! =)

Celebrating end of semester and many accomplishements with some of the lab members. Several missed meeting b/c finals week but can still see some of our super amazing RA's with Keith, Kim, and Me.. the cake was super yummy!

Janelle and Kady super excited that they were almost done.. Kady's defense was the next day and Janelle's was the day after.. Congrats ladies!!!!

                     Meet my left and right arm.. Adam and Amanda... I seriously don't know what I would do without either of these two, they keep things running and are just angels. I honestly could not be more thankful for them. Case in point- Adam is now in Austrailia doing research BUT is still heading up and coordinating all of my heart rate data processing from afar. Just wonderful!!!

    Congrats Naveen! He is done and off to med school to be ER doc, how weird will it be if I am ever in ER and look up to see Naveen is treating me?????                                                 

Congrats Melissa! Just finished last exam and is now graduated and starting med school too. We will miss you!!!!

Kim was so sad, Melissa is her right hand and she is still mourning the fact that Melissa graduated, hang in there Kim

Here is Kady doing last min prep before her defense!! She was simply amazing, I was so proud of her, totally rocked it.... See, I TOLD YOU HIGHEST HONORS all the way !!!! Congrats, I wish you all the best in life!