The Cook Family: So Blessed

I was doing so good at making sure a few days didn't pass without a post of some sort. My bad. I'll try to be better about posting more often! This one is just gonna be a catch up, brief and full of pictures. :) It's been a most wonderful month so far. Big news is that Sam turned A YEAR OLD. I have a one year old....how did this happen?! It was just another day to her, except I kept telling her, "Happy birthday Sam!" And then she'd throw her food on the ground, woddle away, or stick something in her mouth, like she always does. :)

Skyler came up for the weekend, Kathy and Rulan made a special trip down to spend the day with Sam, and we had Tasha and her kids over for dinner and cake. It was a marvelous weekend.We got lots of snapchats from family and friends wishing Sam a happy birthday, and phones calls (which Sam loves!). Sam is very much loved and cared for.

This was on her actual birthday. Not the best quality picture, but here she is, all grown up and a whole year old!

We went to JoAnn and she thought she was big stuff, standing in the cart. She'd squeal with delight as I pushed the buggy, and the ladies would just smile at her.

I had to get a picture because she usually doesn't just lay in the ground and relax...too much to do and see. But she just laid down and snuggled with her doggy....which I figured out later was because she wasn't feeling good...she threw up :/

Since then she has not wanted to drink milk...we gave her whole milk for the first time and then she got a tummy ache...

But later that day she felt fine, which was good, seeing as how we had a party for her!

She didn't get the whole present-opening thing....haha

She sure is loved. :)

Thanks for all the gifts and love! My mom got her the CUTEST outfits, some really fun toys (which I have hilarious videos of, that I'll post somewhere in this blog soon), and a book! :) Kathy got her a ball tent and balloons.

Here are some other random things from the month.

At the library discovery time we learned about shapes. So the name tags were different shapes. I took this picture of her and later that day was looking through them and kept trying to hit "play" on this picture, thinking it was a video...but it's just the triangle name tag...haha

It has snowed in the mountains, but not down here. I'm sure it won't be long.

I attended the funeral of a very special and dear friend. Dixie Carruth passed away this month and I was one of many who came to celebrate the life she lived. It was a snowy, cold and cloudy day, until we got to the graveside. I almost had to take my jacket off because the sun was so warm. I smiled, knowing that Dixie put in a special request for that break in the clouds to let the sun shine through, as a special way of letting us know she is happy and well. I miss her greatly and I'm thankful for the friendship that we have. She was 81 years old and had a zest for life that is unmatched. I always told her that I hope I age as well as she did and that I can still find so many reasons to smile, despite the setbacks that naturally come with age. Thanks Dixie, you are amazing.