Seven and Sassy, that's Samantha!

If you ask Sam a question, there is a good chance she will spell out her answer.  "Y-E-S" or "N-O".    That's just one of the new things she's started doing this past year.  It's been a year of major independence; learning to tie her shoes (at a much quicker pace than Ian and a full year younger too), learning to ride a bike without training wheels (a full 2 years past when Ian learned -- who wanted to deal with her falling?), putting away her clean laundry, making her bed, and getting showered (shampoo & conditioner) complete with getting dressed on her own.

Another major event was Samantha coming out of her shell a bit more.  Either credit her with getting another year older or progress being made with her social skills group, but it makes my heart melt each time she says "hello" to a fellow classmate, looks them in the eye and uses their name.  There was even a day not too long ago when she allowed one girl from her class to give her a hug good-bye and another girl hold her hand on the walk home from school.  This is amazing progress.

First day of 1st grade!

This past year Sam's tv watching has turned towards the house flipping shows, specifically "Flipping Vegas".  It is seriously cute when she walks into someone's house for the first time and says, "Ooooh Amy would like this light fixture." Or, "Amy, would not be happy with that wall color."  For a few months Sam has been commenting that when/if we redo the kitchen, this one particular wall could be a load-bearing wall and we probably can't take it down.  Seriously.  What 6 year old talks like this?

Samantha is very inquisitive.  She will ask why something is the way it is and have this amazing understanding of the bigger picture.  It's very impressive how observant Sam is.  And her memory could rival an elephant.  It has come to my attention this past month that Sam is brilliant and I should have her tested.  I believe I've known that all along, but its interesting when you hear a professional tell you.  Unlike Ian, I don't see Sam applying herself.  When her report card came, she had no desire to know how she did.  Even when I said, "Sam, want to hear what your teacher wrote?"  She spelled the word  "no" and couldn't be bothered.  It's interesting to think of the road that lies ahead and wonder how it will be best to challenge Sam and keep her motivated.

Sam still loves coloring and creating pictures. Her favorite things to draw are rainbows, hearts and flowers. It doesn't matter if she uses crayons, markers, or paints to make the pictures as long as she has an endless supply of paper to use.

Another new development in how Sam chooses to spend her time is to be in her room alone on her iPad.  Initially we thought she was watching YouTube videos on Minecraft.  But after further investigation, Sam was playing a strategy game called "Free Flow".  She had made it to level 9x9, which is a very challenging level.  I've spoken with her therapist about the time Sam is spending in her room and so far, it's ok.  She apparently needs the downtime.   As long as Sam comes out periodically and is up for leaving the house when we want to go somewhere, we should give her space.   And believe me, she is still mixing it up with Ian quite a bit.

Sam's love of music has continued beyond Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift, who are her favorites.  She can easily sing along to most every song played on the pop stations.  It is very cute listening to her sing, especially when her headphones are on and you realize just how little of the actual words she knows.  

This past year Sam took gymnastics as her sport of choice.  She enjoyed the class and tried her best to learn what she had to, to advance to the next level.  At the end of last month, Sam made it to level 3-4.   I wanted to sign Sam up for swim lessons before Summer begins. We spend so much of our time in the water, it was important she had a refresher course.   She made a deal with me; she would willingly take swim lessons if I got her a frappacuino after each lesson.  Deal!  She actually enjoyed the lessons more than she expected and said after the first one, it was ok if we only got frappacunios every other week.  It didn't have to be every single time.  Ha!  How very nice of her!

 

I am learning to embrace the qualities that will make Sam a force to be reckon with later on in life, or you know, when she's 7.  She is silly, wicked smart, incredibly focused when she wants to be, creative, and a master manipulator!  She is also honest, straight-forward, and outspoken.  She stands her ground, gets her point across and thinks out of the box.

One of my favorite stories from this past year of Sam being creative, thinking out of the box, taking matters into her own hands is from a day during Spring Break.  My friend Anna and I had taken 8 kids with us to a rock climbing place in Laurel, MD.  Due to the distance we'd be in the car, each child had their own individual iPad to play with for the drive there and back.  We had Susanne's 3 kids with us and on the way back home, was going to drop them off at her office where she was working.  We arrived a little early and decided to entertain all the kids until Susanne was done.  All the kids wanted to do was continue playing on their iPads.  But the weather was gorgeous and there was no reason they couldn't be up and moving.  I decided to play a game of "Simon Says" with everyone.  Instantly Sam asks if she could be Simon for the next round.  I got all excited that Sam was so eager to play. The kids did great during the round I was leading as Simon.  We were having fun.  It's now Sam's turn to be Simon. Her very first command?...."Simon says play with your iPad."  And with that, the game was over. 

I hope Sam knows how much I love her.  How I so very much want her to be happy and be open to new ideas and experiences.  I wish for her to jump feet first into the deep end and make friends along the way.

Happy 7th birthday Samantha!  You are our shining star, keeping us on our toes and in awe of how hip you are. I love you more today than I did yesterday.