Only God Knew...

Only God knew.... the gift he had in store for us on July 9, 2008. It makes me tear up just thinking about how I had longed for a child for so long and was blessed beyond belief on this hot summer day. Samara Diane Penland was born at 5:59 p.m. She weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. I do not really remember her crying just staring wide eyed at me. I'm sure I was staring just as wide eyed back.

Only God knew.....the way we would worry about her constantly and check on her countless times throughout the night just to make sure she was okay.

Only God knew.....the special place she would have in her daddy's heart, the smiles she would bring into his life, and the tender moments that daddy's and little girls share together.

Only God knew....the way I would love her so much that my heart would feel like it would burst, the excitement I would feel everyday when I picked her up out of her crib, and the special way she would hold my hand at night.

Only God knew....the joy she would bring into our lives.

There is no way to describe the past year except such blessing. Every day with Samara has been special and I will never take this gift for granted. I only wish we could hold on to her and this moment a little bit longer.

Today we celebrated her birthday with just the three of us. We let her open her presents and we sang Happy Birthday to her about a million times. She loved it! Saturday we will be having her actual "party" with friends and family.

Just a side note...we had a diaper blowout and the birthday onesie was no longer wearable!

Here are some things about Samara as she turns 1.

• Samara has only 2 bottom teeth. She got these when she was 9 months old. I keep thinking she is getting some more in but not yet!
• She still does not have much hair although she is really working on it! Her hair is still light and in the sunlight it looks like she might have some red in there.
• She is pulling up and wants to walk really bad. She tried really hard today but not quite yet. That being said, she can crawl faster than I ever imagined.



• Samara loves to climb and mastered her first set of stairs at PaPa's last week. She about gave me a heart attack!

  



• She can say baby, mama, dada, nana, dog, no, turtle, and tickle-tickle.
• Her favorite toys are her baby dolls, stuffed animals, and her walker.
• Samara loves to eat big food and is learning to drink out of her sippy cup. I do not know of any foods she does not like.
• Samara is very alert and is interested in everything and how it works. She can be very serious. (Don't know where that came from!)

• She loves kids but is not so sure about strangers. She does not really like being touched by people she doesn't know. I guess that is a good thing.
  
  

  Turning 1 is such hard work!