I had a great birthday. Thank you to all of you that made it to the party. Check out a few pictures.

MSR and Alison

Shane and Ernie

Keith KMO Kathy and Justin

Billie, Carrie Kathy

Grandpa and Sammie

Karin and Billie

Kristy, Elaine, Angie and Laura

Carrie, Justin and Shane

Jim and Carrie

Keith and Roger

Becky and Carrie

Carrie and her Goose

Sammie's first Halloween.

It looks like Sam is pushing Ruby, but it was a love push.

Sam was a ghost and Ruby was a cat.

Well the big day isn’t far away, but I don’t feel like anything big is going to happen. If you believe that you are only as old as you feel I am 18. Looking back on the last 30 years I realize how lucky I am. Let’s recap….
I don’t remember much before 5 but I do remember falling down the stairs while my brother and neighbor Tim were watching me. To stop me from crying they gave me my old binky. (Please note that my brother didn’t push I just fell). I remember eating Charles Chips out of the can (remember they came in bags inside the can). I have a few memories of my babysitter Queeny and her black hair and 70s style décor.
I went to a good elementary. I think my Grandma came and fixed bread with the class once. I sailed a lot and played with my cousins and my parent’s friend’s children. Now knowing how hard life can be I consider myself lucky that I didn’t have any worries has a child. So many kids today don’t have two parents or any parents at home and they have to worry about where their food is going to come from. My biggest problem was I had to clean up my room before the clean lady came and my mom and dad didn’t take me to Hawaii when they went. How lucky was I?
Being a teenager wasn’t as easy (ask my mom) but I didn’t drop out of school or become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Also, I think that I had fun a few times. I made friends that I am proud to say are still my friends today some thirteen years later (Seckman Bs).
High school was FUN. Still again I was lucky to go to a good school, make wonderful friends that I still hang out with and live in a safe neighborhood. I had anything and everything I needed. Sure they were a few high school stresses but looking back I had it GREAT.
College wasn’t always easy but some where along the line my parents taught me about hard work and what it takes to get something you want. I made so many great friends that are still my friends today. This is also the time in my life when I met Shane. I still remember the exact moment I realized he liked me. I remember how comfortable I was with him and how we just seemed to fit together on our very first date. I couldn’t tell you the exact moment I fell in love but I don’t ever remember not loving Shane.
Then all of the sudden I put on a cap and gown and POOF I am an adult. Luckily I found a job that I loved and spent 5 wonderful years there making friendships that will last a life time. We bought our first home and then got married. I still think of October 23, 2004 as one of my best days. Having all of our friends and family together to celebrate our love was so much fun, plus my dress was killer. We bought our current house only a few years later and surprise, about two weeks after we moved in we found out I was pregnant. (I knew there was a reason that I didn’t feel like unpacking besides just being lazy). Most of you followed my pregnancy right here, pretending like you saw a baby in the ultrasounds I posted. I am tempted to say that the last 8 months have been the most exciting of all my 30 years but that isn’t to say that great things didn’t happen to me before Sam was born.
Samantha is 8 months old now and I am just now starting to feel like MAYBE I am not a complete idiot. One of the many things I have learned in the last 8 months is that you can never truly understand how much your parents love you until you have your own child. Don’t get me wrong before Sam was born I knew how great my parents were it is just more powerful now.
When you watch TV you see just how many crazy people there are in this world and I realize that could be any of us. I just so happened to be lucky to have great parents, a wonderful husband, a loving extended family, a amazing group of friends and pretty fanatic child. You may not believe in God but if you think about someone like me and my life you have to say I am truly blessed. Because the people that normally read this blog are my friends and family I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you have ever done for me. Each of you has taught me something that has shaped the person I am today. Please know that I am truly grateful to have you all in my life. Also, I hope that I have positively affected your life. I realized not to long ago (and I am not scared to admit) that I love to laugh and make other people laugh. Their isn’t much that makes me more happy than seeing my friends and family smile or laugh, so I hope that at some point in our relationship you have had a good laugh!!!!

Sam sitting up with one of her new favorite toys from Great Uncle Terry and Great Aunt Sally.

Sam's 8 month picture with her friend the hippo. She is so big now that they don't fit on the chair together.

Shane and Sam at Elephant Rock, 2007

Sam and Tuesday

Samanthan and her cousin Jayden at their first wedding.

The coldest weekend in September at Bunker Hill with the Allens. Sammie's first swing. Everyone had a great time.

Check out Melody and Jeff's blog.

http://babykesstwo.blogspot.com/

The new job is going well. My first day out to a school they had a lice scare!!!! Don’t worry it was a negative on the lice. I really do miss my friends/coworkers from Food Outreach, but since I have been gone I have seen everyone two times and I am going back Friday to do a little reporting!!!
We finally have our hardwood floors in and it is about time. After Shane, Ernie and my dad worked like crazy to pull up the old (NASTY DIRTY ASS) carpet we wanted for 3 weeks for the wood to come in. Then after if finally arrived we had to wait another week for the wood to get comfortable in our house (adjust to the humidity). Then we had to live with my parents and Matt and Becky’s house while we waited for the smell to go away. We ended up waiting twice as long because there were a few spots that Shane didn’t like. Luckily my parents and Matt and Becky still like us. I do have to admit that the floors look beautiful. Now I just have to get everything clean again.
Sorry I don’t have any new pictures to share. I will have some next week.

Sam

Sam

Happy Baby

Sam is watching me dance. (Look at Shane's smile)

Girls Weekend 2007

I think that everyone had a great time. I know that I did.

Happy Baby.

I am done. I just don’t think I can breastfeed anymore. It is so much work and I am not even producing that much. So much for nature and all that crap I had nothing but formula and I think you will all agree that I turned out just fine.

First food.

Samantha had her first taste of vegetables last Saturday. She tried carrots and next she will have sweet potatoes. I don’t know who had more fun her or me.

The other night I found Shane and Sammie watching the baseball game together.

I did it! I exercised!!!!!
I have the Weatherholt treadmill on loan so I can walk in the morning or evening while Samantha sleeps. Last night I walked for 50 minutes and today I got up at 5 and walked for 33 minutes. I don't think I have exercised once since I came back to work, so that would be 3.5 months of no exercise.

Her fist time sitting up all by herself. She is starting to ready enjoy her bath.

tennis dress

Date 7/15/07

Orange is her color.

These are her 5 month hippo pictures. She will be 5 months on Wednesday.

Thursday July 5th Samantha tried Rice Cereal for the first time. She didn't really care for it very much and I don't think she got much in her mouth. We'll try again later.

Pool time

Samantha's first dip in the pool.

Giggles

Sam's Blocks

It was too cold to get in the water but Sam was ready to swim.














She had her first visit to the ZOO this weekend.

Introducing Ruby June!
Born 6/27/07 around 6:15 (not sure on exact time)
She weights 6 pounds 5 ounces and is 20 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great. I think that Becky was only in labor for about 6-7 hours.
Ruby has a ton of dark brown hair. I think it is about an inch long.

Getting old really sucks and watching your loved ones go through it is horrible.
For those of you reading this, if you are having a good day, feeling young and chipper enjoy it to the fullest. Even if you aren't feeling as chipper as you used to still get out and enjoy the ability to walk. (Sorry if this is too sad, it is a sad day)

Check out this link.

http://www.laduenews.com/june15_07/p6_sm.htm

Today Samantha is 4 months old. It seems like over night she started to really reach out and grab stuff. We got this picture yesterday after a long day out for Father's Day. She is loven' those rings that hang down from the car seat.

I don't know how in the world I got so lucky but I am thankful.

A MUST HAVE that you don't really need. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa A. Sam lover her chair.

Count Down to Ruby June.
My best friend has less than 5 weeks before she has her baby. So as many of you know it could be any day now. I am so excited for her, I can't wait. I will post a picture ASAP.

On another note......
I am so tired all of the time. I know that every one says it is because of the baby but I didn't think it would make me this tired. For instance yesterday when I left work I was so fatigued that I didn't feel like driving. Then when I got home I wanted to call my bf but my arms felt too heavy to lift and pick up the phone. I feel bad complaining to Shane because he works hard all day and then he comes home and cuts the grass for four hours. (he does sit for most of it, but it is still work). I am getting good sleep. I get 6-6.5 hours a night (I use to get 8 pre baby) but I just don't think the loss of two hours a night would make me feel this way. Also, I am freaking out because it is like my breast milk is going away. I am trying not to stress about it, I know that makes it worse. I added another pump at work and I have been pumping after her 10 meal at night. I have been eating enough. But, listen I could go on and on about this and it would change a thing. I just need an extra 4 hours in each day.

Four generations of Weatherholts.

How cute is Great-Grandma Weatherholt

Look at my mad pineapple cutting skills.

Now I am ready to have a Baby Shower.

This is Sam having fun with Grandma.

Well it is the second week and I haven't cried yet so that is something. We had the BEST weekend. On Saturday we stayed at home all day and ate, played and slept. Before I use to look forward to the weekend and the evening but now it means so much more to be at home it is hard to put into words. Sam came to work with me this morning and went home with Grandma so I got to spend more time with her this morning.

So, I am back at work now! It is hard to be here I can't imagine what it is like for people that don't like their job or the people they work with. I love it here but I want nothing more than to be at home. I hope this gets easier. If not I am not sure how long I can take this. It isn't just that I don't get to spend time with Samantha it is everything. When am I supposed to clean the house, fix diner or go to the store. If I do any of that it takes away from what little time I have with her. It didn't help that my car broke down this week and we had to spend time dealing with that. PS I got a new car. Anyway to be completely honest it is like why do people even have kids if they can't spend any time with them. IT SUCKS. Before I had her I never thought I wanted to stay at home but now I wish I could and hate that I can't. It is so weird because everything people tell you about having a kid is true but you can't really know what it means until you have one. I love her more than anything and I just want to hang out with her. I wish I could go back to February 18th knowing what I know now. Okay I will stop bitching about this.

Here is the Hippo picture for 12 weeks.

I tried sitting Sam up with the hippo but....

It didn't work out like I wanted.

Okay I know I just had a baby 8 weeks ago but I feel fat and disgusting. I am trying to exercise but the weather has not been cooperating so I can walk with the baby. (I do have to say my parents have been great about watching her at their house) I have tried running but my knees HURT!!!! I can’t believe the pain. I tried warming up for 10 minutes the other day and the first two steps I took (running) were painful. It feels like I just finished running 26 miles. I tried resting and running less distance but nothing helped. I am trying to watch what I am eating but it is hard for several reasons.
For most of the day and night (Shane has been working a lot) I am alone with the food.
I am hungry, very hungry. I was never this hungry while I was pregnant.
If I don’t eat enough I don’t make enough milk and little missy is crabby and hungry.
I think the worst thing is I am only 5 pounds heavier than I was at my first doctor’s appointment in June but none of my old clothes fit! I am so much wider than I was before. I don’t think this clothes will ever fit. Even my tops don’t fit. They are too tight and short.
I only have 4 weeks until I have to go back to work and I don’t have anything to wear!!!! I don’t want to go out and buy clothes. Who wants to buy a bigger size when they know they have been a smaller size for almost all of their adult life.

Living large in Pevely.

Bath time fun and my first boom box.

My daughter's first running shoes.

I saw my doctor last Tuesday for the post delivery follow up and he cleared me to resume normal activities. So, on Thursday I went out with my brother and we went for a run at my parent’s house. It was splendid. We ran for about 30 minutes and walked for a while too. I was a little sore but it was a good sore. Then the next day Shane watched Samantha and I ran for 50 minutes around Pevely. It was marvelous. I forgot how much I love running. I stopped running when I was about 5 months pregnant so it has been at least 6 months since I ran last. On Saturday I was sore in places I haven’t been sore in forever. My stomach muscle hurt! I ran again today (Sunday) for 55 minutes the weather was wonderful. Go Cards!

Boys don’t read past here…..


For all of my girlfriends that run and have babies you will know what I am talking about.
I am happy to report no pee leaks.