Shapes and Colors EVERYWHERE!

Samuel's birthday party was Sat. from 5:00 until..... 12:30 a.m.! He was asleep by 7:45 but we continued to have fun with family and a few friends. Our house was packed! The theme was shapes and colors and we had a great time!

The centerpiece for the food table

Each table had a different color theme with a picture of Samuel.

Samuel is sucking his toes in this picture :)

Everyone ate in our basement and then we moved outside to play games.

Samuel's cake.

We had a fun day hanging out with family before the party started. Creighton and Justin were glad to see each other.

Finley giving Samuel a birthday hug. She was so cute saying Meeeeeeeeeeee!

Uncle Stan and Samuel.

The boys getting ready to fry chicken. (Creighton, Stan, Samuel, Chris, Dad, and Justin)

The birthday boy with his cake.

Cousins (Creighton, Samuel and Finley)

My birthday baby and me.

Grandmother, Amanda, Donna, me, Samuel, Mom and Bo. I was so surprised and happy that they were all able to come!

These two are cousins born 3 weeks apart. (Samuel, Me, Olivia and Landon)

Uncle Ben and Samuel

Lauren getting ready to PARTY :)

Robin (the decorator)

Our family.

Love these girls! (Lisa, me, Samuel and Olivia)

Kaleigh and Chloe playing with the blocks.

Cake time :)

The children ready to eat cake.

Samuel became covered in blue icing. :)



Leslie and me.

Chloe enjoying the food.

Dad and Creighton

Robin even decorated the front porch.

Uncle Ralph was such a good sport and agreed to be the nose. The children threw water balloons at him and they had a blast. (The best part of the party :) ) We will definitely be dragging the clown out every year for Samuel's birthday. My camera battery died at this point so Robin is going to post a few more pictures tomorrow.

Birthday Boy

Justin and I had a fun afternoon celebrating with Samuel....

All he wanted to do was chew on the ribbon.

Here he is looking at one of his favorite books. He kisses himself in the mirror. I love getting to this page. :)

The birthday boy riding his car.

We went to eat Mexican.

He LOVES the rice.

Giving Daddy a high five!

Justin picked up some cupcakes for him and he tried hard to put a whole one in his mouth :)

His birthday party will be this weekend. I can't wait!

Happy Birthday

I know it was not by chance that these two SPECIAL people share the same special day. Their birthday is just one of the many pieces in God's master plan.

Dear Samuel,

Before I knew your name

Before I saw your eyes, your chin and your nose,

Before I counted your fingers and toes

I asked heaven for someone wonderful as you

And every prayer and wish came true,

I dreamed of you before I knew your name.

Chris Rodriguez

One year ago today you were still the dream that we were praying for. Daddy and I were not with you on you birthday but I know that God sent His angels to take care of you. In three days we would receive the phone call that would change our lives forever. We celebrate your life today and always and we will forever remember the special people who took great care of you for the first days of your precious life. Happy Birthday Samuel! We love you so much!

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!!!

:)