Your are 1 year old!

Sammy, you are 1 year old! I know this is said by many but time really does fly when you have children! You are eating all big people food and you are drinking whole milk from a sippy cup most of the time (you still like your bottle in the morning). Most importantly, you are walking! On August 2nd I put you out in front of me and ran back to encourage you to walk towards me and I barely had time to back up; you were almost running. Maggie was there and she was just as excited as I was. She exclaimed "Sammy walking all by himself Mommy!". Then she decided that she wanted to be the one to call Daddy to give him the news. We then proceeded to call Nanny & Papa, Grammy and More Nanny (Great Grammy). It was so exciting!


Your birthday party was a great success! You were such a good boy and you remarkably took notice in each gift you were given. You had to take each one in your hand and look it all over. You seemed indifferent to your birthday cake appearing to be more interested in the texture of the icing than the taste. Your sister was the opposite. She couldn't have cared less about her presents and when given her birthday cake - she decided it was faster if she just put her whole face in it. The nice thing about your party, besides the lovely weather (it was sunny and 29 degrees), was that it was very easy going and everyone seemed to have a nice time. Maggie had fun playing with Hannah & Carlie Cole in her pool and the three of them took turns helping you open your gifts. I was so proud of Maggie as she was more than willing to let her friends take turns opening your gifts.


I went back to work on July 30th with little trouble from you. Of course you had been to Barbie's with Maggie a few time in July in order to prepare you for this transition but I couldn't have predicted it would go so well. You hestitantly went into Barb's arms that Monday morning but you didn't cry. On Tuesday, you reluctantly went to Barb and cried for 2 mins (so I'm told) and Wednesday you went to Barb with open arms and a big smile. Barb has been babysitting for 15 yrs and she said she had never seen a baby adapt so quickly! Now me, that's another story. Going back to work was hard since I would prefer to remain at home for another 2 years or so - at least until you enter kindergarten, but alas, it is a must for our current situation. I feel bad as well that you won't get another year off with me as did Maggie but a good friend pointed out that you have had other advantages such as having Maggie as a sibling and spending time with her this year.

With all that is good with you, we are experiencing a biting problem. You do it to everyone and for many reasons. You appear to bite me, on the face, as a way of kissing me, with a big smile and grunt. You bite Maggie out of anger and a way to say "go away"! The first time you bit her it was on the face and you left a bruise. I don't think I had ever heard her scream so loud! I've tried everything and you aren't getting the message. I'm hoping you will grow out of it soon.


You are such a handsome boy and your smile lights up a room. Some folks say you look like your Dad but they always tag on that you have my eyes (and I agree). Other folks say you look like a Williamson and those who know Papa, your namesake, say you look like him. I think they are all right since you have a bit of everyone in you (unlike your sister who is all Daddy - I was merely the incubator). Everyone agrees though that you are all boy! At your 1yr checkup you were 25 lbs. You are in the 90% for weight and height. You come by it naturally since your Dad is 6-1, Uncle Pete is 6'2, Uncle Mike is 6'3 and Uncle Robbie is and even 6.

We love you so much Sammy! We thank God everyday for blessing us with such a wonderful and playful little boy. I get choked up when I try to imagine you older, as a teenager in highschool, as a young adult moving out; as a young man getting married? Who will you choose to be and what will you do with your life? When I think about what I want for you I pray for faith in God, confidence and self-esteem, self-reliance and independence and coping skills because despite how much I might wish to the contrary, life is not always going to be easy. But most of all, I pray that you will be as happy as you are now and that this world will see how wonderful you are. I also hope you will grow to love someone 1/2 as much as I love you! I found this song while making a slideshow for your birthday and have recorded the words for safekeeping in your memory chest. This song (by christian artist Janelle) really says it all in terms of how your Dad and I feel about you:

~ Amazing ~

The morning cold and raining

Dark before the dawn could come

How long in twilight waiting

Longing for the rising sun

You came like crashing thunder

Breaking through these walls of stone
You came with wide eyed wonder

Into all this great unknown

Hush now don’t you be afraid

I promise you I’ll always stay

I’ll never be that far away

I’m right here with you

You’re so amazing

You shine like the stars

You’re so amazing

The beauty you are

You came blazing

Right into my heart

You’re so amazing

You are, You are

You came from Heaven shining

Breath of God still fresh on you

The beating heart inside me

Crumbled at this one so new

No matter where, how far you wander

For a thousand years or longer

I will always be there for you

Right here with you

I hope your tears are few and fast

I hope your dreams come true at last

I hope you find love that goes on and on and on and on and on

I hope you wish on every star

I hope you never fall too far

I hope this world can see how wonderful you are!

This is my official sign off on your blog. I promised myself that I would record your first year as I had with Maggie so this will be my last update. Perhaps now we'll create a Malloy Family blog and add your and Maggie's weblinks.

It's been one of the best years of my life Sam!

Love Mommy