Today the temperature is 70 degrees, and I open all the windows to get some fresh air. It feels so wonderful to be part of the outdoors again. I took off all the winterizing stuff off the rose bushes, and tomorrow I’ll fertilize them. I am not sure how I’ll get my gardening stuff done with Sam this year. I guess it will have to wait.

She stood today. Not on her own of course, but she held herself upright and I had my hands under her arms for balance. I think that is normally done in the third month, not 1 and a half months. She is a very strong girl! Matt caught her tracking her bottle, and she really does try to keep tabs on it. She notices it is gone and finds it pretty quickly. She can’t continuously track it yet, but she can notice it is gone and find it again. She always knows where her daddy is. He is that fun jungle gym with the convenient hand holds to climb with. I guess chest hair is really good to climb with. This is one kid that will really need a jungle gym early.

Going to services last night was nice, but very hard at the same time. I grieved so much for Emily, missed her very much. Having Samantha with us is the best. She also is an example of what it would be like to have two little girls sitting with us. I missed Emily so much, it was like she was there with us. I just gazed at Sam with tears in my eyes for a while, watching Matt with her. It amazes me sometimes, when I experience all at once how much I love her. An overwhelming feeling, almost painful, and very sweet. This Samantha is a very special person.