Samuel Born

So now or why I haven't updated in a long time... We had a baby!
Samuel was born a little past his due date of July 4th. I think its because he wanted his grandma to be here when he came. Okay, now for pictures and I'll end with the labor story.

Me two days before delivery

Sam

He is a cuddle-bug

Now for the labor story for those, like me, who find that interesting.
So for like a month before Samuel was born, I had really strong false labor and I was pretty miserable. Luckily, I had the same kind-of thing with Claire so I knew not to go to the hospital until I was contracting at regular intervals for an hour.
Anyways, I started contracting regularly, enough that I couldn't sleep, so we went to the hospital with me second guessing myself the whole drive. Then when we got there, my contractions stayed going, but they didn't hurt as bad. Of course, I worried that I would be sent home and feel like an idiot, but when they checked me I had dilated to a 6 and was still having regular contractions. They kept asking to break my water but I didn't want to because I learned that breaking the water makes the pushing more painful and likely to tare. Then after an hour or so of my contractions not getting any stronger and them telling me I had almost fully dilated but the water looked like it was keeping the head from dropping, I agreed to break it.
They were right, as soon as the water was out of the way, his head dropped and everything got really painful. I was crying and screaming, but luckily the nurse knew this magic hip squeeze thing that made everything a lot better.  Then everything went so fast once I started pushing that the nurse basically delivered Sam and the OB got there in time to catch the baby and stitch me up.
I couldn't believe how close I felt to him when they handed him to me. I instantly felt that he was a loving sweet boy and knew he belonged with me. He had junky sounding lungs, but nothing serious.
I asked for meds as soon as he was out, because I can handle labor, but the after pains... nope.
Then that first night I discovered he makes little chicken noises when he sleeps and I couldn't be happier.

Summer Highlights

The new great game: Have dad wrap you up like burritos in a blanket then drag you around the house.

We have had wonderful friends invited us over for swimming

My pregnancy craving was shaved ice, but I couldn't get it anywhere, so my wonderful husband made me wonderful frozen lemonade drinks. :-) with fish shaped ice and mint.

Jonathan has discovered he can take in the trash bin and now volunteers to do it. Again I am so lucky.

The Granny bugs at Happy Hallow

Claire's favorite ride, the cars. She like cars more then Jacob.

I was reading and made the mistake of telling Jonathan he would find the book boring if I read it out loud. Now, he will grab a chapter book, sit down and say "I am just reading a boring book" his boring book of choice Ender's Game.

Claire has started to enjoy playing with friends

We got rid of our play kitchen in exchange for a play food chopping set.

Building the tallest tower

T-ball

Jonathan is seriously an outstanding big brother. here he is coaching Claire

Jonathan drawling

Ring around the rose with their friend after kids outdoor music concert

Our shoes now apparently belong to them

Claire's Birthday

So I am going to start my barrage of posts with Claire's Birthday in June and i figure I'll mainly let the pictures do the talking.

First the cake. She asked for chocolate (probably due to her brother's persuasion)  and she got it in the shape of a fish for two reasons. One, she loves fish, and two there is a running joke between her, Jonathan and Jonathan's friends that whenever they say "Claire, what's your name?" She responds "FISH!"

For dinner we had cheesy rice with peas, fish and cake. Her favorites

Grandma sent her a hooded cat towel and star sunglasses, She of course put the sunglasses on right away and wears the cat towel whenever she can.

We got her Dora books and a fish puzzle (she loves puzzles and can do pretty advance ones or her age)

We had a kinda birthday party at the park for her. Jacob painted faces and we had bubbles. We tried the big bubbles, but it didn't work.