Samara proved to be a good luck icon for our intramural softball team that Shana and I partook this summer (although Shana was on the Injured Reserve for most of the summer). After returning from our trip to Oklahoma, several of our games were rained out and were rescheduled, which allowed Shana additional time to heal. We headed into our last 3 games of the season winless, but not defeated! Samara provided an inspirational spark for the team that propelled us to win 2 of the last 3 regular season games! Unfortunately, Samara's spiritual hairdo (which looks a bit like an 80's Rod Stewart) was not enough for us to win our only tournament game. We made Samara an honorary member of the softball team (see photograph).(written by Shana) We had a scare the other day. Chris had settled down for the night. I was tending Samara's nutritional needs. She was having some trouble eating because she couldn't breathe very well due to nasal stuffiness, so I decided to go find the 'snot sucker'. I started to head downstairs, with Samara in hands, when my foot slipped on the top step. My whole body swung backwards just in time for me to realize what was happening. I grabbed onto Samara trying to protect her from making any contact with the stairs. I ended up just sliding down the stairs on my back with Samara cuddled in my arms in the front. When we reached the bottom, I looked at her and she looked at me like 'what in the hell was that?' Then she curled up her face and wailed. It took a couple of minutes for Chris to wake up and figure out what happened. He came rushing downstairs with a frantic look upon his face. We turned on the lights and I undressed Samara and looked her over. We didn't see any marks on her skin and all her joints seemed to work okay, but she was still crying hard. We comforted her the best we could. I resumed to feeding her and she stopped crying. I figured if she would eat, then she was probably okay. She got quite startled from this event and since then seems to startle more easily. I got a pretty nasty rug-burn on my back, but it was worth it to make sure Samara didn't get hurt. God, I'm such a klutz! I'm starting to second guess my choice of a split level house. As my mother always said "you're like a bull in a china cabinet".
(written by Shana) We went on a hike at the base of the flatirons last weekend to expose Samara to the elements that turned Chris and I into geologists. Samara was slipped into her front-side pack while sporting an orange camouflage hat (very stylish!). She loved to look around at the trees and dogs that came by. Dogs are so interested in Samara. They come right up to her and smell and lick her feet. One time I reached down to see if her feet were getting cold and found my hand slimed by some dog slobber that was left by the last dog. Yuck!
Shana forgot to mention that once we arrived at Bear Creek and had enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere of the hike, the devious afternoon thundershowers began to form at the base of the flatirons. We decided to hike back to our vehicle when the thunder and lightening became more frequent and moved ever so slightly closer (the 5 second method of counting between seeing the lightening and hearing the thunder). Of course, we were more fearful (as the rain spit on the three of us) when we heard a passerby explaining to her companion the statistics of "deaths in Colorado caused by lightening". Our pace quickened! Shana hadn't pushed herself that hard since Samara's birth! But, as our adrenaline raced through our blood, Samara happily enjoyed the rain splattering her face (a new experience)! We created a true naturalist!
On days that Samara hangs out with dad, she and I typically do chores around the house together. From cleaning the house to mowing the lawn, we have a blast. When I mow the lawn, I either put her in her pouch or set her in her bouncy chair outside (see photo to the left). She enjoys being outside because, my hypothesis is, that there is plenty of things to look at. Once her attention span dwendles, she can look at something else and be happy for another few minutes.
We have been learning minute details about Samara's personality the last couple of months. She is generally quiet, but will let you know when she is unhappy. Beca
use of this, Shana and I feel we can take her anywhere at anytime. One of Samara's quarks is that when she awakens from a nap, she flings her arms above her head and stretches her appendages; all while grunting. I laughed at myself the other day at school; after I had read a journal article, I flung my arms above my head (instinctually), stretched, and grunted. The two pictures I embedded with this paragraph are of Samara within the first couple of minutes after awakening. She's enjoying the nice Colorado air while wearing her tie-dye outfit.
(written by Shana) Chris, Samara, and I are doing well and adjusting to swapping days with mom and dad! I stay with her on M, W, and F and Chris stays with her on T and Th. She is developing well and can already control her head (a feat for a 4 month old). She smiles and talks (coos and ah-goos) to us everyday. She really finds Chris funny. She even laughed at him one day! We haven't been able to get her to laugh since then, but we won't stop trying. I sing to her quite often (sometimes I even make up songs because I can't think of any), and she tries to sing with me. I have to say her voice is much better than mine.
On our days hanging out with Samara, we try to fill the day with as much action-packed adventure as we can. One of these activities is to take Samara on a walk; most of the time in the morning (although sometimes we walk in the early evening). Shana took Samara to the recreation center in Louisville and I ca
rted Samara in her stroller to Lowe's (to buy a light)! On another occassion, Samara and I walked into downtown Louisville (see photo at the bottom left) to pay the tag tax on our vehicles (after a afternoon shower; we also were sprinkled by some rain)!
Today (August 24th), the three of us went to the university campus to meet up with a group of graduate students; we were going to lunch as a farewell to several students. Afterward, Shana went home to make up some work hours that she missed and Samara and I stayed on campus to take care of some "business". We ended up trekking back-and-forth from the financial aid office and the Geology Office "taking care of business" and while there, visiting with the secretaries. I had not anticipated being on campus for that long of a period; it was a race with time because I had packed only one bottle. Samara made me proud! She didn't start crying until I put her in the Jeep and we were well on our way home! Samara had fun, but walking through campus the week before school starts made me realize that I never want to be 18 again. Youth was definitely in the air, but so was immaturity!
Samara had her 2-month check-up at the pediatricions office today (which happened to be her 2-month birthday), which unfortunatly for her, was the time for the doomed first set of immunizations!!! We marched into the doctor's office focused with the vision of Samara bellowing screams of terror in the forefront of our minds. Samara was a champ! First came the nice, warm greetings; then, Samara's measurements! She weighed in at 12 bls 9.5 oz and 23 inches long (both in the 90th percentile of infants her age) with a 14 inch cranium (50th percentile; thank goodness her head does not look abnormally huge). Samara's baby acne and cradle cap have cleared up, so there was no need to pester her doctor about the subject! After all of the pleasantries came the sound of the bell; the prize fight was on! Samara took one shot to the left thigh (which took a couple of seconds to register) and two shots to the right thigh!!! The needle was at least an inch long!! Samara took the shots like Rocky and came out as THE CHAMP(see photo)!!!! 
