The Cake

My mom always made us fun birthday cakes when we were little so I decided this was a tradition that I would like to have for our kids too!  We choose a friendly dinosaur for Sam this year- not too themey but cute and boy.  Nothing too fancy but I think I did a pretty good job for my first time!  Bryan was my consultant and confidence!  Sam will love digging into this tonight!

Happy Birthday Sam!!

Good morning everyone! It's my birthday today!!!!!

One Year Ago...

We were ready to meet our little boy!  Here are a few of the first pictures we saw of Sam.  We were blessed to have five ultrasounds while I was pregnant- three normal and two just for fun!  Isn't it amazing what they can see?!

Look away if you don't want details- Here's a quick rundown of our story... Last year on the night of the 9th I had a regular appointment (38 weeks, 4 days).  I had been struggling once school started four weeks before with terrible swelling and blood pressure that would go back and forth from trouble to okay.  Dr. Casavant sent me to the hospital to have some preeclampsia bloodwork done that night.  If my numbers were high, they'd keep me and get things going.  If they came back low, I'd go home.  One indicator came back really high which meant I was headed for trouble so Dr. Casavant kept me at the hospital and broke my water at 10:30pm.  I was given medicine to help me sleep plus magnesium sulfate for the preeclampsia.  Needless to say the lights went out for me once that all hit my system and I don't remember a thing until 7:00 the morning of the 10th!  Ever taken PM meds on accident during the day- that's what I remember it feeling like- couldn't keep my eyes open and slept through the majority of my labor.  Doesn't look too bad does it?!

Woke up at 7:00 with some pretty rough contractions but was still only dilated to a 3.  Hung in there until 9:30 when I got my epidural and then went back to sleep until 2:00 or so.  I woke up slightly panicked- pretty out of it and worried he would be born on the 11th if things didn't get going.  I begged them to check me but they were hesitant since Sam and I had both been sleeping so much which meant they didn't think too much progress was being made.  When they did, we were shocked to find out that I was ready to push!  Took me a bit to get him out since my body was so out of it from that magnesium sulfate.  Sam was born at 4:32pm on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008.  Healthy, beautiful and perfect.  Our love affair began outside of my tum one year ago tomorrow.  Sheesh. 

More to come in the morning!  Tomorrow is a big day around here!

First Day of School

Thought I'd share a few cute pictures of Kate and Luke before their first day of preschool yesterday!  This will be Kate's second year and she will go Monday-Thursday from 9-1.  Luke starts this year and goes Tuesday/Thursday from 9-1.  Although strange, Daniel will enjoy the alone time with his mom I'm sure!  What big, happy kids they are!!!!!!!  Enjoy! 

New Look!

Just wanted to say a big thank you to our friend Amber for transforming our blog!  We love the new header she created for us!  She promises to show me how to use Photoshop as fluently as she does someday too!  Thanks Amber.  You do great work!!!!!!!!

First Hair Cut!!!

Today Sam got his first hair cut!  It was starting to look pretty shaggy on the sides and a small rat tail was forming in the back so we went to Jack and Jills and got him all cleaned up!  He even got to sit in a cool blue racecar!  He whinned/cried during most of if but sat still and let the lady quickly get it done.  Clippers on the back/side and scissors on the top... what a big boy he must be!  Kate and Luke got their's cut too before they head back to school!  Enjoy a few pictures!

My favorite... oh lady... please say you're done!! 

Not quite...!

BJRempt

Not many pictures of just us these days... : )

Naptime

Here is a short video of Sam from earlier this week. He had fallen alseep while drinking his bottle at naptime that morning. After I laid him down in his crib he woke up and decided to talk to me for a bit. He couldn't quite work up a real cry and couldn't say anything other than yahyahyahyah! I end up walking in there to show him on the camera just sitting, facing the wall, feeling so, so sad. : ( Then I felt mean and picked him up. We snuggled and he was sound asleep not even two minutes later. He is delightful!

Wrestling With My Dad

First Baseball Game for Sam

Friday night Sam went to his first Cubs game! They played terrible and the Rockies won 6-2 but it was a beautiful night. Sam did great and enjoyed all of the sights and sounds of the game. I'm sure we will make many trips to Chicago over the years!