My Baby is 8 Years Old!

I can't believe I became a mommy for the first time EIGHT years ago! My sweet Sam made us a family on February 25, 2000. That was the year of Y2K if you'll remember, and everyone was freaked out that the world as we knew it was going to come crashing down on Jan 1st 2000. The new millenium. People were storing up extra canned goods and water even if they didn't openly admit it. I was freaked out enough with the labor experience looming overhead. It didn't help to watch people go all "chicken little"- our neighbor built some sort of special shelter and stored food rations "just in case". I mean we mocked him but also kept in the back of our minds that it doesn't hurt to be on the inside with one local nut job in case of emergency.

Well, the new year came and went without incident. The hospital was ready and waiting for me on the cold morning of February 25th, 2000. I had to be induced because of my pregnancy induced pre-ecclampsia (high blood pressure). So I checked my swollen ankles and bloated face into the hospital and pensively settled into the hospital bed awaiting the pitosin to kick in and start what I can only explain as the most terrifying unknown I have ever experienced. How long will it take? How much will it hurt? Will the baby be ok? Will I be ok? What if I scream? What if I cuss? What if I POOP?!

Slowly the reality of labor pains started mounting and it was creepy yet interesting to watch them peak and valley on the monitor. I could hear the baby's heartbeat the whole time whooshing away. I was feeling so many things beyond the pain and anxiety- like a deep compassion for this little person who was about to go through his first of many difficult experiences in this life. What a strange entrance into this world.

After some crazy pain I cannot describe, miraculous relief from the spinal, several awkward but apparently "text book" pushes (that must be a standard nurse cheer). I experienced a joy, euphoria, adrenaline rush that I never knew you could experience here on earth. This slimy, wriggly, beautiful boy entered our lives and would change us forever.

I marvel at how much has happened in his short little lifetime. Good times and yucky times- our Sammy and his sisters always bring us back to what is most important. We hope we are teaching him all he needs to know to be good person but most importantly a man of God. Sam has taught me as much as I have taught him. I love you sweet Sam. I'm so glad Jesus allowed me to be your mommy!

Gracie's First Year

It hardly seems possible that we just celebrated Gracie's first birthday. She is our joy and delight as my Grandma Sue used to say. She has gone from this tiny fragile little bundle that we all fought to hold and would fall asleep on our chests for hours- to this sturdy little toddler that has walked so long that she can actually run to chase Sam and Faith. She has a bunch of teeth which is weird for our kids- Sam and Faith just started teething a few weeks ago at 6 and 7 years old. :) She just seems to love life- Daddy is her absolute favorite thing in all the world and lights up every time she sees him. Da Da is the only thing she will actually say and if he asks for hugs and kisses she flies over to him to dole out the lovin. She ignores the rest of us most of the time when we ask. She has discovered the dog and cat and thinks they are so fun to pet and sometimes pat a bit too hard. If you say hello? she'll put her hand up to her ear like she's answering a telephone. If you say "Where's Gracie?" she puts just one hand over her eye to hide from you. I told her to "shhhh" the other day and all of a sudden this chubby little index finger went up to her mouth and she started saying "s s s s" to me. She loves her baby dolls and walks around holding and hugging them until something else grabs her attention and then she drops or throws them with conviction. This is going too fast but I'm trying to soak in as much as possible and enjoy the ride. We love you Grace Elizabeth!

Ode to Soo Loo

I stumbled across this ad for an outdoor playpen thing on babycenter and I had to zoom in for a closer look to see what the HECK this was keeping OUT? Apparently besides bugs and other vermin- your baby is also protected from creepy Himalayan cats! Sick. Look at that thing just perched on top of the baby's playpen. If it talked you know it would have a snotty voice or an accent and is jealous of the baby.

You might wonder how I know this kitty cat might be a Himalayan? Ask me about our old friend from high school days named"Soo Loo" sometime, or as Tom Kilgore called it in a whispered tone "sooooo leeeeee". That stinkin cat loved to chew ribbon and bows, anwered the phone by knocking it off the hook all the time, knocked on Teresa's door- like a boxer going after the bag- to get in her room. Stupid thing scared me by running up and down the piano keys in the middle of the night one time and it sounded like a horror movie sountrack just before the clown jumped out of the closet to murder someone. Active imagination? You bet. I was lying in my bed paralyzed with fear and started chanting Psalm 23 until I realized it was that stupid cat up to his tricks again. My favorite memory of the dearly departed puff ball was one time when we were backing out of the garage we saw as the garage door was coming down that Soo Loo had gotten into the garage so we honked the horn (not sure what that was supposed to do?) which sent him into full out Fred Flinstone mode running as fast as his four paws would go but he wasn't going anywhere. Just sitting there spinning his tires, scared to death and going nowhere fast. It was just too funny so we stopped the garage door and honked a few more times to watch the show. I'm pretty sure one of us wet our pants from laughing so hard. Good times. Random memory.