Perfect Date

I had the perfect date today with this little man......

We went to our first day of Kindermusik and he was great. I was a little concerned because he only had a 30 min. morning nap (and he is still sleeping for 2 hrs.) but he was happy to be there. We then went to CFA and I decided to let him try the playground and he found a huge ball that he loved. I started singing "Happy Birthday" to him today and he looked at me and started clapping. :) I think he is ready to celebrate too! I am so sad that I have to work tomorrow. Justin and I are going to try to do something fun with him tomorrow afternoon.

He loves to take a bath! When I asked him if he is ready to get out he crawls FAST to the other end of the tub. Then when I have to take him out he starts kicking. Justin said this was fine because when he was young and his mom told him to get out of the pool he would just go under water and pretend that he did not hear her. Boys! :)

PICTURES!!! :)

Samuel has changed so much over the past several months. I feel like he is becoming a little boy and I am still trying to hold on to my little baby. He is FULL of personality and we are enjoying every second. One of the cutest things he does now is fake sneezing. If he wants to get your attention he will "sneeze". Hilarious! Justin and I are having so much fun watching him grow. The other night Justin was hugging him and he said, "You're our little bundle of joy." I smiled and my heart was happy. :) I could never put into words the love I feel for him...Now I understand how much my mom loves me :) I rock him every night before he goes to sleep. We used to sing "Jesus Loves Me" but a couple of weeks ago I started singing the song "Blessed." He lays on my shoulder and sometimes leans back and smiles. These are moments I want to hold onto forever. Sometimes I cry knowing that this stage will pass as quickly as the others have and I hold onto him a little tighter.

"Blessed"

I have been blessed, God is so good to me

Precious are his thoughts of you and me

No way could I count them, there is not enough time

So I'll just thank him for being so kind

God has been good, so good

I have been blessed.

My little man








When Samuel is not riding with Justin he is holding on to the rails watching Justin work. All he wants to do is ride the heavy equipment with his daddy. He HATES to shop. I told my sister that I think when I take him shopping he decides to do something in every store in order to be able to leave. The other day I came home and told Justin and his brother how much trouble I had shopping with him and Ben said, "What do you expect? He is a boy!" Ha....



Seriously....he would ride with him ALL day if it were possible. He always leans back and sucks his thumb. :)

Check out the thumb.

Relaxed! I thought this was so cute.... Justin was reading to him and he crossed his legs.

Happy baby!

He loves glasses and if anyone is wearing them he immediately grabs them. This was a couple of months ago... trying on Gam's glasses.

Happy Labor Day!

Finally....

we are in our new house!!! :) I am VERY excited. I will post pictures of the house when the landscaping is complete. Justin is outside working on the yard now. We are able to see the sunrise from our back porch and the sunset from our front. Justin and I have been watching the sunset every night... (there are benefits to living in the country)

Samuel's 1st birthday is one week from today! Justin and I were reminiscing last night on what we were doing one year ago this week. We had NO idea our miracle would be born in one week. This year has been the best year of my life and it has passed so quickly it is hard to believe. We are getting excited about celebrating his birthday with our families. My dad is also going to be the big 60. Dad and Samuel share the same birthday which I believe was just an "extra" sent from heaven to make us smile. We are going to party all week! (and the week after that since he came home with us 10 days after he was born)

I learned to laugh and squeal, then sit and stand,

and I can walk now if you hold my hand.

But the fun has only just begun, lookout world, I'm turning ONE!!!

:)

Our Little Fish

Samuel and I are spending the week with my family in Lbg. Here are a few pictures from Leslie's house. She had a several water toys and Samuel LOVED them! He makes me nervous around water because he has NO fear.

He was trying to "catch" the water.

Wet baby :)

Yesterday Samuel started waving and saying "bye bye" He also started dancing when his music box comes on. So cute! I can't wait for Justin to see him Friday. Hope everyone is having a great week!

July 4th trip to the NC mountains

Last Thursday our little family of three went to meet my family in Todd, NC. I fell in love with the mountains. The weather was PERFECT! We went to Blowing Rock for their July 4th celebrations and Justin and I are trying to figure out how we can retire there :) Creighton, Finley and Samuel are all so precious. Finley is really into calling names. Every morning when she would see me she would say "Ju" and "Meeee" (her names for Justin and Samuel) Creighton provided sweet entertainment and Samuel gave many smiles showing off his two teeth. His third tooth started coming in on Friday so Justin and I changed our share of dirty diapers over the weekend. I loved being with my family and I miss them so much.

Samuel and Finley. Finley always wanted to hold Samuel which was pretty hilarious considering he is almost as big as she is. One time he was crawling so she just fell on top of him. :)

The boys with Finley on the golf cart. Creighton and Samuel love to drive.

Our little fish playing in the river. He LOVES water. The river was very cold and he wanted his whole body to be in. Justin and I took turns trying to hold him because he is splashing everywhere.

The family missing one (Leslie was taking the picture)

Aunt Ra with Samuel and Finley. Samuel likes to smile for the camera and Finley does not.

Happy on the 4th!


Samuel is now 10 months old. He is a very busy and curious little boy. He can crawl faster than we can catch him :) He pulls up on everything and can walk holding on to our fingers. He recently has started eating more table food and drinking less of his bottle. He loves my mom's banana bread and chicken. He still takes two good naps everyday and he is going to bed at 7:00 every night. He is too big for his car seat but I am having a hard time transferring him to a bigger one. My baby is getting so big and although I am so thankful that he is healthy and growing sometimes I wish I could hold onto the "baby stage" forever.
Our house is coming along...slowly. Justin has had other jobs so we will be in later than we had planned. They are working on the floors today. I am hoping we will be in by August 1st. Hope everyone is having a great summer. Thanks Leslie for posting the pictures for me.

"The Shepherd's Point of View"

Robin sent me the new McKameys CD and told me to listen to song #2 and then to look at who wrote the song. As most of you know, right before my surgery in 2007 the McKameys released the CD with the song "He's still God." Sandy Blythe ( a girl I have known since a child) wrote that song and I listen to the song ALL THE TIME for a couple of years. Seriously.... the words were so comforting during the trial of infertility. With every negative pregnancy test, every trip to Duke, every failed fertility treatment, and every baby shower that song would bring comfort to my aching heart. Now, 31/2 years later the McKameys released another new CD. The song "The Shepherd's Point of View" is song #2 and again Sandy is the author. Read these words....

"The Shepherd's Point of View"

You are standing on the mountain holding to the Shepherd's hand,

the valley you just came through, was hard to understand.

Then the Shepherd draws you closer, there's something He wants you to see,

and He points back to the valley and unfolds its mysteries.

As the eagles soar around you and you look back on where you've been

one by one He answers questions, that He did not answer then.

He now shows you the danger, of going your own way,

all the roads you thought were better, would have led your soul astray.

He reminds you of that moment, when you could not make it through,

now you see one set of footprints, where He reached down and carried you.

As your tears fall on His shoulder, and you thank Him for His love,

He says "Child, I knew that one day, you'd see the valley from above."

Things look different on the mountain, from the Shepherd's point of view.

Standing high above the trial, that He brought you safely through.

All the valley's disappointments, will never look the same to you,

for things look different on the mountain, from the Shepherd's point of view.

As soon as I heard the first verse I began to cry. Seeing the valley from above is sometimes overwhelming. I let my tears fall on His shoulder and I began to thank Him for His love. His presence filled my heart and I realized again that I could never thank Him enough for Samuel and all that He has done. I have watched God heal my broken heart in so many ways. As I have held my precious baby boy all the disappointments in the past do not look the same. "Things look different on the mountain, from the Shepherd's point of view."

Blogs

For all of you out there that like to read blogs- I found a new one-

Check this out http://thelifeofsuz.blogspot.com

She had a lot of the same fertility problems that I did and took the same meds. that I started with and she ended up with quads....SCARY! After reading a little about them you can tell that they are the perfect couple for quadruplets and I know that Justin and I are the perfect couple for Samuel. It has just been another reminder that God is ALWAYS in control and I am so glad that He is. I remember during the 2 years of fertility treatments Justin and I would always pray together and say "Please help us get pregnant but if it is not your will- please do not let it happen" Same treatments-Different outcomes-God knows best :)