Samantha seems to be working very hard on sounds right now. When I feed her, she strokes my face with her hands, and if I talk, she keeps sticking her fingers in my mouth. It reminds me of how Helen Keller’s teacher showed her how to talk, by putting Helen’s hands to her mouth. Maybe all children start out that way? Sam can certainly see very well. She also makes squeaky noises that sound just like a parrot, which is ironic because parrots are capable of mimicking human speech.

Toes, though are obviously the center of her world. Any time she can reach them is a happy time in Sam’s life. I envy the kind of flexibility that allows her to grab her toe and put it right in her mouth.

Sometimes Samantha gives me hugs. When I pick her up in the morning, she reaches one hand around my neck and starts to play with my hair and squeezes for a second. I squeeze right back and smooch her. Of course, sometimes she extends that hug into a full blown hair pulling, but I know the sentiment is there. We all have to watch her with hair now, and I can’t wear dangly earrings anymore. I’m not willing to have a hole ripped through my ear. In any contest between my earlobe and Samantha, I’m betting on Sam.

Oh, Hamlet was shoving Sam and purring today. Sam grabbed a handful of his fur, and it just made Hamlet purr even louder. It was a very precious moment. I had to prevent Hamlet from kneading Sam, but other than that he was a sweet gentleman. Matt will never believe that!