Picture overload! He's just too cute!!! I had to post a bazillion of them.

Yes, Sam has started standing.  Just a couple things to look for. 1.) chubby knees.  2.)  toes curled completely under feet.  3.) dimples on knuckles.  

:)

Scare

Last night we had quite the scare. 

Lamine's prayer mat is right inside our closet door (don't ask me why) which means our closet is never shut.  Sam LOVES sitting on the prayer mat and most of all loves sticking the prayer beads in his mouth (don't worry, they're safe. I've checked.)  Last night, Sam was sitting on the mat, jabbering and drooling on the prayer beads while I sat just next to him.  I had even set out a pillow behind him so that if he fell backwards he wouldn't knock his little noggin on the closet door.

So, there we were, just hanging out, when out of nowhere the closet door falls off it's hinges with Sam sitting right there. Everything was in slow motion.  Samory immediately fell backwards, belly up and facing the falling door. I threw my arms out in front of the door and immediately realized that I couldn't hold it back. The door was so heavy and falling fast and I knew I wasn't at an angle to stop it. I looked at Sam, and you could see his little face braced for the door falling on him. I heard Lamine call out my name but no matter how I reached for the door, it wouldn't stop. I thought it was going to kill him. Thank god Lamine was close and speedy.  He jumped from the bed and caught the door just as it touched the palms of Sam's outreached hands.  I snatched Sam out of the way, and we both cried a little from the scare. 

This door is seriously heavy. Maybe 80 lbs?  I'm still a little shaken up from it.  I can't believe that almost happened. I don't want to think about what could have happened.  Being a mom is terrifying.

Seven Months

My sweet, sweet baby boy,

You are seven months old.  I'm having to hold back tears as I write this because I just can Not believe how fast Time has gone.  I look into your Eyes and I know Love as I have never known Love before. I feel as if I have been sleeping my whole life, and as your mother I am finally Awake. I am finally living.

Already, I wish I could do this over again. And that scares me.  I want those first 11 weeks back with you-when I didn't work, and I could just breathe in your scent and feel your tiny, rolly polly body against mine. I find myself wishing that I had done more with you. Wishing I had taken more pictures (as if the 3,000 + aren't enough), wishing that I had written more.  But when I go through the catalog of memories locked away in my heart, I realize that I cannot have a single regret.  I remember all the hours and days I spent with you lying against my chest-heart against heart-and I can't imagine anything better. More than anything, I just see you growing so fast and wish I could slow it down.

My sweet, sweet boy, I love you more than I thought it would ever be possible.  You are absolutely the light of my life. Today, we spent hours just staring at one another,  and I spent all my time delighting in your little grins and giggles. 

I want so many things for you darling. I want you to know only love and acceptance in your life, and my heart sometimes aches in knowing that this will not be the case.  But I hope that no matter what you encounter in the world, you will always know how much you father and I love you.  You are absolutely everything to us. 

So, happy seven months, Samory.  Please don't you grow up to fast!

Love you always,

Mama

Sleepy Baby

We spent a lot of our Fourth of July weekend walking around. And Sam spent a lot of the weekend in the stroller just like this.