Thought we might need to zoom in a little bit on Big Brother's face when he first walked into the hospital room. He screamed and then ran out the door and then ran back in.
We are all doing well, Thomson is feeling much better and Gus and I are starting to get better. Brooks weighed in today at the doctors office and he is back up to 8 lbs 0 oz, a good gain since Monday. Everyone is sleeping well and Brooks and I are having bonding sessions 3 times a night.

Brooks made the gossip column in the Marietta Daily Journal yesterday. My grandfather Brooks Smith was the editor of the MDJ after his time with the United Press. Thomson has been enjoying all of his attention and special treats! DeeDee took him to storytime at the library yesterday and then to Kroger where she let him ride in the big car shopping cart! I always avoid those large obnoxious carts so it sure was a treat for Thomson to finally get to drive one.

Coming Home

Yesterday we came home from the hospital. Thomson is still sick and so we waited until the last minute to bring him up for a visit. Initially he was so excited to finally see his mama, after 3 whole days! The hardest part of the whole experience was aching for Thomson and wanting to take care of my sick child. We have been talking about "bebe" for months - now he is really here!

Thomson was a little overwhelmed and shy at first, he stayed as close to Gus as possible

Thankfully we had a blanket for Brooks becuase the temperature had dropped to 98 degrees.

We were all very ready to get home, Gus especially who is now sick himself. Ready to get home and get everyone feeling better!!!

Baby Brooks

Brooks Whitaker Sams

July 21, 2011

8 lbs 4 oz

Baby Sams is here! Two weeks early, he was born on his Aunt Evie's birthday!! I somehow managed to keep myself calm this time around and the entire experience has been great. We came home from the hospital yesterday after a visit from Thomson. Thomson is still sick and so we are being very careful to keep his germs away from his new baby. Brooks is my dream baby not only because of his georgous hair but also because he sleeps 23 hours a day. I am actually not sure what color his eyes are becuase I have hardly seen them open. I have been waking him every 2-3 hours to eat and then it is off again for more sleep!

Brooks Whitaker is named for my grandfather and my brother - two very important and special people. He is sure to do great things in life if he is anything like his namesakes. More later . . .

Mothers Morning In

Today was supposed to be Thomson's last Mother's Morning Out for the summer but we were up all night with a high fever and very sick baby. I have been looking for an incentive to slow myself down and this is it - nothing will stop you in your tracks like a sick baby. Nothing else is important except for making him feel better. I am so glad that this is now and not next week. So today is Mother's Morning In!

New baby is still hanging in there even after a few hiccups along the way. We spent a few hours in the hospital last week but he was looking strong and so we left him there to finish growing. The c-section is scheduled a week from tomorrow. The stockings are hung, bags are packed and we are ready. Ready at least to meet him, not sure if we are ready for the storm after that.

Thomson is adorable as ever. He is into everything and learning new things every day. His new word is amen - "aah-me" and he helps us finish our blessings and prayers, then he claps and laughs. He is running everywhere. He loves books, especially new ones, and he loves to point out things that he knows in every book. We took away his pacifier last week - bad timing but it has gone pretty well so far. I thought we would try it one night and we have stayed strong since then. I figure it is going to be difficult whenever we take it away so we might as well do it while we don't have a newborn. I am sure he will find Baby's pacifiers so we might have a little fight on our hands.

Thomson loves to play on the baby things - the bouncer especially. He runs to the nursery yelling "bebe bebe bebe" and likes to talk about all of "bebe's" things. I think it will be fun for him to have a baby here and I think the transition will be pretty smooth. He loves stuffed animals and real animals so he will probably think the new baby is a cross between the two.

I will try to get some pictures together for one more post before baby is born . . .

At 19 months I guess it was time for Thomson's first haircut. I loved his little soft curls so much but after much badgering from a few nameless relatives, I gave in and made an appointment with William Hamby, a local favorite. I did cry a little and we definitely had a pre-cut photo session.

Thomson did great, not a peep. William was kind even after I threatened to tackle him if he got out any kind of electrical razor on my child. He cut the old-fashioned way, with scissors only - and he only cut a very little bit off the back, just as I requested. One day Thomson will make me wait in the car while he goes in for a haircut, especially if I don't get my act together soon!!

Haircut: check. Checking things off my list these days!

We had a fun time at the beach. After a little hesitation, Thomson loved the ocean, especially the waves. He liked to hold onto my bathing suit and jump jump jump. I think jumping is his most favorite thing. We also went to the pool where he jumped some more. I wish we had taken some pictures at sunset but sleep was much more important!

Thomson loves Uncle Derek!

Five weeks and counting!

Easter

Christ the Lord is risen today, ALLELUIAH!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, ALLELUIAH!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, ALLELUIAH!

Sing, ye heavens, and Earth reply, ALLELUIAH!

We had a happy Easter! Simple and happy. Church was crowded and the message was short and clear. Thomson and I have been singing "Christ the Lord is risen today . . . " all week, preparing for this joyous day. How blessed we are to have a Savior! I love what the angels said to the women at the tomb: "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?" I wonder how they must have felt, in the middle of their grief, to hear those words. This morning our pastor prayed a simple prayer "May we have a faith that is worthy of Easter". Amen.

Shiner

Thomson got his first black eye this weekend, just in time for Easter! He is obsessed with stuffed animals these days and he fell on one of Gus' deer heads and the antler caught him in the eye. Luckily his Ophthalmologist was 18" away, ready for an immediate eye examination. I think he thought the deer head was a soft stuffed animal (well I guess it really is a stuffed animal, right?) Hopefully he won't be embarrassed at his first Easter Egg hunt this afternoon! My first and only black eye came at the worst possible time (besides maybe your wedding or when you are competing on the Bachelor on national television). For me it was the weekend before my first day of middle school. We were school supplies shopping and the bracket flung off the shelf and poked me right in the eye. It was the most horrifying thing ever to have to go to Marietta Middle School with a black eye. And Pod 6-C had the cutest boys!!! Luckily I overcame it.