If you’re ready to meet Samarah Josephina Hoffman, she’s ready to chat 🙂
p.s. All images below were taken today (except for the very last one), on Gotcha Day, by the lovely Jenni Tellers, who came with us lovingly to help capture our perfect day.
p.s.s. Once you get to the bottom, there is even more beyond these pictures. Enjoy!
I am Samarah Josephina Hoffman
Samarah was not the name given to me at birth, but by the grace of God it’s what my birth certificate changed to today.
My name means, “Protected by God,” and I share a special middle name with my great grandmother, Josephine and aunt Kelly Jo.
In addition to my real name, here are some of the other names my mama calls me, “Mara, Mara Jo, Josephine, Josie, Angel Baby, Lovie, Sweet Lovin’, Twinkin’ Tots, Mari,” and of course, Sam.
I was born on September 12, 2013 and weighed in at all of 2 pounds, 5 ounces with a height of 14 inches.
Tomorrow I turn 22 months, even though mama tells me I may have already entered the terrible 2’s.
I have tight, curly black hair and beautiful little brown eyes (or so my mama says).
My smile will make your heart skip a beat, and if you’ve never seen a grown man in love, just watch my daddy when he makes me giggle.
I have two dogs, Reagan the Great Dane and Fiona the Peekepoo. I refer to them both as “Puppy.” (You’ll see us in our videos soon.) I also refer to cows, cats, pigs and all other animals as, “Puppy,” except for my stuffed monkeys, which are, “Monkey.”
I love to eat, but I’m sure my mama has already told you that. My daddy still can’t believe how I love cod liver oil, green olives and steelhead trout. I’m a growin’ girl.
I cook and bake with mama in the kitchen a lot, bang on pots and pans with spoons and empty out as many kitchen cupboards as I can before they catch me doing it. “Peanut Butter,” or “Butter Butter” as I call it are my favorite kitchen words. I say them no less than 5 times per day.
I am busy, and into everything. I love to explore, and I love to figure out how things work and how to put things together. I can dance, and my mama and daddy have no idea where I got my moves from, but I am good at them.
My favorite accessory are my shoes. I play with them more than with toys, and today I sported my new cowgirl boots in the Judge’s Chambers. How cute am I?
I make funny faces, do tricks with my eyebrows, flare up my nose and am generally entertaining all the time. Of course, except for here, I wasn’t too impressed with the Judge’s Chambers apparently.
I love playing with the kids at Miss Liz’s (my daycare), and they are teaching me all kinds of things like sharing our toys, picking up (“pick up, pick up, everybody pick up….”) and being kind.
I have a really big heart, which matches my smile. I love giving multiple hugs and kisses to my mama and daddy right before bed time. I also hug and kiss my two monkeys and a giraffe.
All of my grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins and family members live in different states (mostly Minnesota), but rumor has it they are excited to see me tomorrow. I’m sure they will be shocked at how much I’ve grown.
I’m still just a wee little, and the world is a very big place, but my mama and daddy sure do love me (have they told you yet?!). Â I can feel it every single day.
We just got out of the San Joaquin Judge’s Chambers where the state made me theirs forever.
This might be the best day yet.
I am loved. I am loved. I am loved.
Hello, world –> today I officially became: Samarah Josephina Hoffman, and my mama and I have something special for y’all to check out. Just click on the picture of she and I.
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Xox,
SKH
You will heal. I will help.
Words cannot even begin to describe how happy I am for you and your little family! S is a very lucky little girl to have you as her mama. Big hugs from NC! ox
Thank you, Emily!
This is just the BEST. She is so beautiful, so perfectly yours <3
Thank you:) xo
wishing you blessings upon blessings…
Thank you, thank you!
Beautiful! Wonderful moments captured!!
Thanks, Mike! Hope all is well.
She is as beautiful as I thought she would be! Congratulations to you all. ♡
Thank you so much, Laurie!
It has been a blessing to see you through your journey. I remember our conversations about fertility and seeing you post your new love. Now she’s all yours! How all that time seemed to have traveled slow yet all for this one worthy moment. May God continue to bless your lives as she grows. Thank you for sharing all your raw footage of your journey. There were many moments where I had a few tears rolling down my cheek for your journey, strength, humbleness and humility. Thank you for sharing Samarah with us so graciously. She is as beautiful as I imagined her to be. Continue being amazing. May there be more opportunities to come. xoxo Maria
Love everything about this, Maria. Thank you ever-so-much. All my best!
Brought tears to my eyes! I am so very very happy for you and your family! God bless 🙂
Thank you so kindly, Deanna!
Congratulations! She looks just like I expected. You’re right about your husband being in love with her. It is written all over his face.
Right? It’s priceless. I could never ask for anything more.
Words can’t even begin to describe how happy I am for you. All of you. There has never been any doubt how much you all love Samarah and I am so happy it is official. One land of worry behind you, now you have so many blessed days, weeks, months, years ahead of you to make memories ☺
Thank you so kindly!
So incredibly happy for you Sarah. Congrats to u and your hubby. Tonight you’ll go to sleep with a level of knowing that you’ve never known before. This is yours.
Xo
It’s been amazing!
so beautiful !!! Samarah. You. Your family. Your story. The video. All of it. Just beautiful !! Sooo very happy for your. with you. God is so good !!
So glad you were there my friend. xo
Sooo happy for your family!!
Thank you, Shawn!
congrats!!! she is so beautiful! so happy for your family!
Thank you!
BEAUTIFUL. Words cannot describe how over the moon happy we are for you & your family. Love her sweet face! You’re an angel Sarah. This world sure could use more people like you. My heart is full seeing & reading this. Xo
Thank you…loved reading this, Jennifer!
Congratulations Sarah, Ryan and Samarah! You are a beautiful family.
Thank you, Thomas!
As I’m sitting here with tears of happiness for you, Ryan and Sam… I just want to say thank you for sharing all of this, Sarah. What a beautiful little girl (with lashes any of us would kill for) Miss Sam is. Congratulations. My heart is just bursting with the joy I can imagine you are all feeling right now. It’s no longer a dream Sarah… it’s for real and forever.
🙂 <3
LOVE that, Jane… “it’s for real and forever!” *tears*
I’m looking forward to all the new stories about the family now, Sarah. (and pictures… now that you can)
My heart is STILL just bursting with happiness for you all. One day… you’ll get to tell Sam about how you and Ryan were “specially chosen” just for her.
<3
This is true!
Congratulations to your entire family! Loved all the videos, but my favorite was part II, when I think Samarah was playing with her shadow on her high chair tray! I smiled through it all. Happy for all of you.
One of my favorite parts, too:)
Wow. I am thrilled, happy and beyond words for you. I knew this day would come!!! It’s been wonderful following this journey with you and I am so proud to be your friend. Samarah is so beautiful. So so beautiful!!! All the glimpses of her in the past was just a preview, and worth it. Congratulations!!!
Thank you! We sure do love her.
Muchas felicidades! Samarah es una niña afortunada de tenerlos como padres. La mayor bendición es un hijo y ustedes han sido bendecidos con una pequeña niña que viene a entregarles mucho amor.
Dios los bendiga, saben que son parte de esta familia que está al fin del mundo y desde acá les enviamos mucho amor y bendiciones.
Raimundo está feliz con su nueva “prima”
Los queremos mucho
Julia, Kako y Raimundo
Gracias por el mensaje amoroso! Somos bendecidos y estamos emocionado para mover adelante como una familia oficial! Esperamos con ansia el dÃa que la Samarah se puede conocer a su primito Raimundo!! Espero que sea un dÃa pronto!
Gracias, de nuevo – Les echamos de menos y les enviamos un abrazo gigante con mucho amor.
Ryan, Sarah y Samarah
So happy for you and your hubby and of course your baby girl! She’s even more precious than I imagined! Beautiful family!
Thank you!
THIS MANKES MY HEART SING!!!
I am so so so so happy for the whole family!!
So wonderful to see this little smiling face!
Isn’t it a sweet smile?!
Sarah – The pictures are amazing and the story is a true blessing. I wish you and your family nothing but joy! 🙂
– Janette
Thank you, Janette!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey. Your family is beautiful!
Blessings,
Tequilla
Thank you, Tequilla!
This is so exciting!! How amazing and what a wonderful day this must have been!! I can’t even imagine the joy!! Be blessed friend!!
Thank you!
Randomly came across your blog and I’m so happy for you!!
LOVELY to meet you, Samantha! Hope you enjoy the blog.