A Developmental Week

What a week it was!  Last week was quite the busy one for Samantha, but what is new?  She is ALWAYS busy. =)

I had last posted that she was getting up on her hands and knees, and of course she is doing that with more ease now.  However, it seems like now that she has discovered it she really doesn't seem that excited about it anymore.  Kind of like...'eh, I can do it, but who cares." She would much rather roll all over the place.  She gets up on her hands and knees, then scrunches her knees up and then lets the front half of her body slowly slide forward, but without moving her hands.  She has only done that a few times though.  This past weekend, her little cousin Nathan (who is a month younger) is up on his knees and rocking back and forth like crazy.  In the short time we were with them, he was digging his feet into the carpet and getting his knees going.  Quite the quick learner.  Samantha watched him pretty closely so maybe she will get it figured out.  However, after awhile she didn't seem to be that enthralled with his movement.  Once while he was up on his hands and knees she gave him a little push on the back-side of his diaper.  haha - too cute! 
She also wanted to reach out and "pet" his hair.  However, Samantha's petting is more like grasping and trying to let go.  She also went for his eyes so Troy and I were playing referee's for awhile.  So we're still learning what "be easy" means...=)

On Wednesday I headed over to Indy with 7 of my students for the National FFA Convention.  We spent the night over there and then I was back in time to pick Samantha up at the normal time on Thursday evening.  When I picked her up she was doing the mmaaa maaa maa sound but with her tongue out so it really wasn't a true "m" sound, but close enough for me!  By the end of the weekend though, her tongue pretty much stayed inside and she is getting much better at it.  She is pretty proud of this new sound she has discovered.

A recurrence is the scrunched up nose and snorting.  She used to do this awhile ago - maybe 2 months ago- but at some point stopped.  Well, this weekend, it was back with a vengeance.  She looks plain EVIL or ornery when she does it, but cute none-the-less. 

She has also finally figured out how to go from sitting to laying down without falling over backwards.  She discovered how to tuck her leg back when she leans forward to smoothly go to her belly.  That was a discovery on Sunday, I do believe. 

Also last week, she has become more steady in pulling herself up from a sitting position to standing by holding onto our fingers.  She has been able to do this since about 2 months but this month she really has perfected it and is very sturdy.  She doesn't seem very inclined to move her feet though when she is standing.  She would much rather jump - I blame the Jenny Jump Up.  That toy has been the greatest thing EVER - however, I don't think she will walk first - she will jump. 

As you might recall, Samantha has never accepted a pacifier and is not a finger or thumb sucker.  Breastfed babies (and I assume others too) are said to latch onto something when they go through weaning.  Breast feeding provides for them a comfort and when that starts to diminish they look for something to fulfill that comfort.  Samantha has latched onto an old blanket that we think used to be my mom's.  It is a thermal blanket, I think is what it is called.  Very soft, very light weight, very warm, and has a very silk binding around the edge.  Heaven for Miss Samantha.  And of course we cannot forget the bear that makes 4 different noises.  However, we can do without the bear but the blanket is a MUST.  She doesn't suck on it, but as soon as you hand it to her she uses both hands to kind of wad it up and push it up on her face.  Too fall asleep, most times it is covering her face.  I assume the softness of the blanket is similar to the softness of my skin.  I try not to give her the blanket unless it is nap time.  I figure that is one less habit we'll have to break later. I really don't mind if my child has a blanket that she keeps with her for life.  I still have my teddy bear and I wish I had my blanket.  I hope Mom and I find it.  No matter how old you get in life, when you are sick all you want is to go home. I might be known to pull out my bear when I get sick or homesick and just cuddle up with it at night.  Just might......

She is getting a sharp little memory.  She knows that I usually have a necklace on and when I pick her up and don't have one she keeps checking the neckline of my shirt and looking down my shirt.  She must have realized this about Grandma Keach because at church on Sunday she was trying to find Grandma's normal necklace and she didn't have one either.  It's hard to convince her you aren't hiding it, but man does she remember if you usually wear one. 
Thinking of remembering, Samantha just LIGHTS up when she hears her Aunt Joy say "Good Morning" when she walks in the door.  She loves her Aunt Joy and has been able to pick her voice out from the very first day. =)

I think that is it for developments.  Another few weeks of school and it will be Thanksgiving break..oh my oh my... where has the year gone ?
Anyways.... I think that is pretty much it for developments.