Christmas Day

Can you believe we had to wake Samuel up Christmas morning?!

From Mommy and Daddy

We gave Christmas day a new tradition. Since most of the Metcalfes live on the same land, we decided to have a Progressive Christmas Dinner. Appetizers and presents at our home. Main course and presents were at Papa and Grandmothers house. Dessert, presents, and games at Mommer and Rays'. (great grandparents) It was a whirlwind day spent with good company and laughter abundant. Here are a few snapshots!

Cousin Liam and Samuel

Christmas Eve

At almost 6 months of age, it came at no surprise that Samuel enjoyed the wrapping paper, tissue paper, and shiny bows over the exciting toys. Christmas Eve was spent with the Hardys. We enjoyed food, fellowship and Guitar Hero w/Heather's family.

Bows!!

I love mommy

Uncle Caleb

2nd in command after dad

Uncle Jamie

Good Morning!

I love mornings like these. In fact, I wish we all woke up each day with bright eyes, big smiles and a 10 pound diaper (oops), maybe not that last part! Our day doesn't always start so full of cheer, but when it does...

Samuel will be 5 months old tomorrow. He is such a sweet tempered fellow, with smiles to pass on to anyone! As most of you know, we are still going to PT for his Torticollis. Because he favors turning to the left, his head is flatter on that side. We will be heading to Birmingham for a Second Opinion. Often if this condition is not caught early enough then a baby's head can become very misshapen. One option is for a specialty helmet to be worn so that the skull can grow correctly. I really hope we don't have to take that road. Our pediatrician doesn't seem to worried at this point! On a happier note, Samuel is starting to roll some. He sits with a bit of help AND we are taste testing "grown-up" food. I will post a picture of his eating frenzy. Most goes up the nose, around the mouth, and down the bib.

Ouch!

I've decided that immunization shots are not for mother participation. Yesterday I carted Samuel off to the doctor for his 4 month shots. Since Tim was at work, it was left to me to hold our sweet baby while he got poked and pricked. (boohoo) He put on a good show for the nurses and pediatrician, smiling and cooing, right up until the moment of doom. We survived and Samuel and I cuddled the evening away. :)
On another note, my Aunt, Uncle and cousin Ginny came to visit this week. They met Samuel for the first time! We had a lovely visit and I think Samuel put on a good show for everyone! He is now enjoying an "early Christmas" with his new Larry and Bob from Veggie Tales. Thanks Aunt Nana!

Lots of Firsts

Wow! Has it really been a month since I lasted posted?! Time flies when you are engrossed in watching your son grow and change. I fall in love over and over again. As Autumn kicks in full gear we have had several opportunities for "FIRSTS" for Samuel. Last weekend we enjoyed friends and fellowship at the Butler's Fellowship Field Day. Mr. Butler took us on a turbulent, yet scenic adventure, better known as a hayride, through the wild fields of Keel Mtn. Samuel slept through the whole thing! He also got to experience his first bonfire and stargazing was squeezed in among our evenings agenda. I'd love to post a picture or 2, but sadly the camera managed to stay in the car. Oops!

Today, we were drawn outside to more brilliant autumn zeal and crisp clean air. The trees are dressed in their finest colors and the bright blue skies and brilliant sun only increases the beauty of it all. We did REMEMBER the camera this time and Samuel went on his first hiking adventure on Green Mountain in Huntsville, Al. He enjoyed at least 10 minutes of geese and wind and leaves raining down, until again, sleep won over his droopy eyelids.

Say Cheese!

Has he changed any? Well under that Handmade by Kim hat, he has lost his hair. Now a peach fuzz of brown and blonde keep us waiting for what may grown in. Those big gorgeous eyes are turning green but still encircled with blue. Oh! Lets not forget the giggles. This child can let out a string of giggles in response to a smile from Mommy, a toss by Daddy, or a funny Donald Duck by Papa. Well I'm off to clean while the house is quiet. Sometimes football season is a good distraction for "the boys."

P.S. We don't have cable, but the grandparents up the hill do :)

3 months and counting

It seems to have flown by! My chubby-cheeked darling little man continues to capture my heart more and more each day. After spending 2 weeks in vacation land (Destin, FL) we have returned to life in Alabama. I've been told to treasure each breath, because "before I know it, he will be grown!" Except for maybe the 2:00 am feedings and the runny diapers, I'm listening to such advice seriously! Here is Samuel's first swimming experience.

Destin

Samuel is enjoying his first visit to the white sands of the Gulf. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family! :) I'll post more of our toasty buns later!

3 out of 4 Generations

This is my Granddaddy. This is where Samuel's middle name came from, Lavon. This is my mother's dad. He is an incredible man who has loved me dearly and been a wonderful testament of Christ in my life. Samuel got to meet his GREAT granddaddy today. I was just along for the ride! :)

Sponges

Kids really do say what is on their mind, often repeating what they have learned from mom and dad. You hope and pray they pick up the "good" and not the frustration or ill words that slip out of a grownup. Samuel obviously has not reached the "age of repeating" ...yet(no matter how many funny faces AND noises Tim makes at Samuel) . That said, our bright-eyed "Surfer" nephew is full of 7 year old reasoning and this story must be told!
Liam was caught drawing on something that he had been told was off limits. It was such a huge offense that Dad was called in for the disciplining. Dad sat down with him and very sternly asked "Why Liam why? " Liam looked down, let out a long sigh, looked his Dad square in the eye and said "A long time ago Dad, sin entered the world"

Sounds like somebody has been listening in church!

Smells like summer

As a child we always marked the end of summer when school was in session again. You had to start wearing shoes and taking baths more often and lets not forget the change in bedtime( sometimes before dark heaven forbid!). Our summer flew by this year. I spent the first half waddling around very pregnant and the second half confined to the inside of our home enjoying the first weeks of motherhood. Now this is Alabama and we are known for occasional humid and sticky days, highs in the 90s, and summer like temperatures that stretch into October. Therefore summer is not over yet! We have now acquired a baby back pack that Samuel snuggles contently into for our daily observation walks... Observation for Samuel, calorie reduction for mommy!! We also live a "stone's throw" from grandparents and great grandparents. Today I decided to trek up to Grandmother's house for a little diversion in our daily routine. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the senses of summer. A quiet breeze slipped through the tall pines, a blue streaked lizard scurried out of our way, and the distant purr of the lawn mower guided us up the hill. Now as lovely as that seems you must also picture a baby strapped to my chest gurgling and cooing up at the trees and our Husky mix, Dakota, darting back and forth willing us to move as fast as he can. My attention was drawn in several directions!!
Now no one can claim that grandparents adore their grandchildren... I'm just kidding!! My visit with my mother in law was pleasant and short. Upon receiving the prize (Samuel), I was promptly kicked out the door. Would you believe that? Me neither. She did however volunteer to watch Samuel and let me return home to clean. I didn't reveal the fact that for once my house is clean and sparkling and not due any immediate attention. So I leisurely strolled home and breathed in fresh cut grass and wild onions. I stopped to pat all 3 furry heads that found me walking home and admire the lizard that has taken up residents in my flower pot. However, I am choosing to ignore the dirty dishes in the sink and rock away my free time in the white wicker rocking chair on our porch. Praise be to a God who has created brilliant blue skies and white puffy clouds, cool breezes to refresh us, tiny toes and fingers, and an innocent toothless smile to remind us of His great love!!

Church

It's hard enough to be on time anywhere these days. If I'm ready then Samuel isn't. If he IS ready then he is also hungry and we're not leaving just yet... For someone who prides herself on promptness I have suddenly become quite fluid with the phrase "on time!" Not to worry, one day we will get the hang of it only to throw another baby in the mix and start all over! :) I write all this to say that Tim and I are seeking where God wants us to serve in a Church body. As we sneak in the back row each Sunday, (always after the service has started of course) its frustrating as we weigh in our options, including driving distance, to discover where God will place us. So we set our mind on things above and a plethora of options in and around us. We begin searching (again) shortly after Samuel's birth.
Now Samuel is only (almost) 8 weeks old and yet I have discovered he has a keen since of timing. He is still to young to stay in the nursery on Sunday morning so he accompanies us to service nestled in his car seat fast asleep. For the past 4 weeks, he has managed to sleep through worship time and wake up starving when the teaching begins. It has to be somewhat humorous to see me tripping over a carrier, diaper bag, Bibles, and a husband as I make my escape with a demanding yet adorable little boy. How does this child know?!?

The Porch

Though it may reach 90-95 degrees throughout our Alabama August, it doesn't seem to phase our little man. In fact, if ever a tear begins to show, a yelp, an overtired cry, or just a pleasant evening breeze beckons, we can expect Samuel to calm down and almost certainly drift into dreamland on our front porch. We have a wonderfully spacious "social gathering" that holds 4 rocking chairs, room for 4+, and almost always we can expect 2 dogs to worm their way under an unsuspecting hand. Poppi and Nana came for a visit yesterday and as soon as they arrived Samuel decided to exercise his lungs so you guessed it...we migrated to the white wicker rockers. I haven't been able to talk my Dad(Poppi) into changing a dirty diaper yet, but he certainly didn't mind cuddling with his grandson and rocking him to sleep!

Burnt Smiles

As I was reading the words of a seasoned parent I began to feel more at peace seeing her anxieties... She wrote: When we were given the parenting manual that comes with all new babies, which chapter was it that covered being as wise as Solomon? I think those pages were lost out of my book. Wouldn’t life be hugely less stressful if we could make a decision, stick with it, and never second-guess ourselves? I spend an enormous amount of time and energy thinking, “Is this the right decision? Could I have handled that better?" Samuel is only 5 weeks old yet I see many more deliberations down the rode! :) Of course I wouldn't trade sleepless nights, dirty diapers, first smiles, and the sweet sounds of cooing for anything, but just what AM I supposed to do with ceaseless crying and a spreading rash.


On a side note, Tim and I did burn the biscuits for a noble cause. Samuel gave us 5 minutes of genuine smiles this past week that left us in awe and the house in smoke! :)

The Beginning

My phone bill has been "slightly" higher than usual. As I began to piece things together, the realization that newborn babies are quite a hit among family and friends, and therefore are worthy of an extra long phone conversation. I find myself repeating...joyfully repeating... the walk through pregnancy and the tiny steps of motherhood that I get to experience on a daily basis has caused quite a stir on my 450 "allowed" minutes. So hear I am finally giving way to the blogging community at large so that we can save on the cell phone bill and more importantly so I can share the wonderful and frustrating and tearful and joyous occasions that grace the lives of the Metcalfe Family.