Noah's First Christmas

Our Christmas plans have required a little flexibility.   But it has been beautiful nonetheless.

Last night, we had Christmas Eve dinner with out neighbors Nan and Ted and their daughter Kiran.   Ted's Mom was unable to make it up...and we were unable to make to Eddyville...Jay and Paula were coming later after celebrating with Zach, Ashton and Louisa.   Jay and Paula arrived around 7:45.    We shared a very quiet Christmas Eve together over Port and Tea.

This morning we made it to Christmas Day mass.   Jay and Paula joined us at mass and our family friend Jody came too.  Noah was Father Bob's prop.    He was such a little angel.   We were scrambling a bit before he needed him - but alas after a quick meal top off and a diaper change, he was ready to go.    Father Bob gave a very insightful sermon about God giving us a child, trusting and loving us so much to give us baby Jesus.    What can I say that he is so gifted at what he does and had us all near tears.      

Getting back into our neighborhood was even more challenging.    It is like driving through quicksand.   No snow plows can get up here and it is a combination of ice, slush and snow.   Now that we are home, we are planning on staying.    

We are sitting in front of a warm fire relaxing and believe it or not, the sun just came out.  God's way of smiling down on us today!   Merry Christmas everyone!!

Time on our hands

We have time on our hands so we figure out things to do.

Today we ventured out of the neighborhood to NW Portland.    The poor retail shops are suffering with these storms....hardly anyone was out.   The main roads are fairly well cleared - and having chains gives the added security you need.   Besides we wouldn't make it back to our house without the chains.    Noah got one more Christmas present today.   He is going to love his new Lucky jeans with the skull and cross bones on the back pockets....he is our resident "Bad *&$".   

Jesse has been feverishly shoveling around the house to make a spot for Jay and Paula when they come up tomorrow.   It actually seems to be warming up a little and melting some.   Just not a lot yet....and they are forecasting more snow tomorrow.   Oh brother....

So Christmas plans are as follows...our trip to Eddyville has been aborted.   Jay and Paula will celebrate with Zach, Louisa and Ashton in the afternoon and then drive up here to celebrate with us.    They will arrive sometime in the evening.    In the meantime, we are having Christmas Eve dinner with our neighbors.    Christmas Day, we will celebrate 9:30 mass with Noah as our homily prop.    And for the remainder of the week, pray for it to warm up.    

In the meantime, we are dreaming up where we will go to dinner.   Sounds like McMenamins will be the choice.   

And it continues....

Just when we thought it would stop snowing and warm up a little....we got four more inches overnight.   We literally have probably a foot of snow on the ground at our house.    When we look out the back door, there used to be two steps down, now it goes straight out.   Dugan doesn't even know where the yard is anymore....this makes for interesting deposits of certain dog land mines.   

I am beginning to feel a little crazy since I have been trapped here for some time.   I was talking to a friend this morning who mentioned loving the show Little House on the Prairie....when they had to trek their groceries home last night, she said she felt like she was living the show.   The afternoon plan is to get the snowshoes out and head out for a walk.   I need to get out and do something.    

Right now we are even evaluating whether we are going to make it out for Christmas Eve festivities in Eddyville.   Fortunately, we have some backup plans in the neighborhood if that all fails.   

Jesse is in the process of heading out to test things out.   We think he will make it down the hill, we are not sure he will make it back up.   Fingers crossed.   

But we feel blessed to be a family to support each other....life is good.

Pics:  Yesterday I managed to stay in my pj's until 5pm (I've had some really hot looks lately) and some pics of the snow.    

More Snow and Cold Weather

Well, today I got out of the house - even if it was only for 30 minutes.   We have not given the dog a bath in well (since the last time Paula did about 6 weeks ago)....so he went to the Groomer.   So my big outing for the day was to go pick him up.    This was a bit of an outing for me though since the roads in our neighborhood have been snow-covered and treacherous.   I took Jesse's Jeep and it handled like a champ.    Dugan looks so pretty - Jesse thinks he smells like a girl.   I think he looks wonderful and smells good.   

Noah is feeling better today....thank God.  We felt so bad for him not being able to breathe.   He also slept better last night.   We went for a walk up on the Fairmount Loop.   Lots of kids sledding, throwing snow balls, etc. up on Council Crest.    The High School kids seemed to have too much time on their hands as they would barrage cars coming by with snowballs and then taunt the single drivers to do something about it.   Noah and I walked WAY around that situation.   

Now we are holing up for the night as the temperature drops - it is downright frigid here.   I don't like it....I'm ready for 45 and rainy again!!   

But here are some new pics:   Pics from our walk on the hill, Noah watching Ellen with Mommy and Dugan hanging out with us (looking so pretty).   

Snow Day

For those of you that live in Portland, you know that when the weather people start talking up a snowstorm that it is usually a bust.  But every so often, we actually get something worthwhile....and today was one of those days.   

It is somewhere in the mid-20's which is very cold for this area.  And we have about four inches of snow on the ground near our house.   Granted, we are at about 700 ft. elevation - but still, there is some snow.

This morning we ventured out to try and make it to church - only to turn around when we got halfway down the hill to Capitol Hwy.   Too many cars in the ditch on the way down the hill - it was not only snowy but icy!!  So we have holed up for the day - cleaning, finishing Christmas cards, staying warm, watching movies.    

Noah is suffering from his first cold - poor little guy, breaks our heart.   But we are working to get him healthy.   So it is probably good that we are stuck inside away from people!!

Pictures:  Yesterday, Sampson family friends Dick and Nancy got to meet Noah.   Nancy, famous for her knitting - gave Noah a stocking cap.   He looks stylish we think.   Sam and Marketa also provided Noah with his "Milking It" onesie - nice.   Jesse chilling on a snowy day with the family.   Everyone trying to stay a little warm.

Happy Snow everyone:)

Smiling with Noah

Noah has been sharing lots of smiles with us.    We just love it.   It makes it so worth while.  

And how can you pass up on cool hair just after bath time.   We think he will likely love the mohawk!!

Night Time with Daddy

Most evenings in the Sampson household are family time.   Noah spends a lot of time with his Daddy.   This also tends to be his fussy time if he is going to have it.   His fussy time looks a little different than it did two weeks ago.   Two weeks ago, he would have cried for two hours.   Now, he is fairly content if you keep him busy for the period of time before he goes to bed.   But we believe he is doing everything he can to tire himself out for the night.  

Tomorrow is Christmas decorating day - stockings, lights and tree.  We hope to have more to post then!

Six Weeks and Counting

Everyone kept telling us that things really start to change around the six week mark....we had so been anticipating that date.   Wow - it is unbelievable.

It is almost overnight that Noah has become so much more aware of everything that is around him.    Each morning when he wakes up - he has this really sweet, happy smile and loves to connect with you.   It is the definition of love.    He loves to smile so much more.   When he is sitting in a chair or on the floor looking at things - rather than cry out, he makes animated noises that he is trying to figure out what he is looking at or frustration that he can't yet reach out and grab it.   

Noah has also moved into his crib through the night from the bassinet.  Last night we had a stretch of six hours for sleep.   Mommy woke up just out of habit to make sure she hadn't missed the call....no call missed!   

Today, Noah got to meet a bunch of his Mommy's co-workers at Nike.   All the ladies gathered round to take a look at the little man.   Jeanne and Jenni so graciously had lunch with me.   It was good catching up with the team!   

We are gearing up for a weekend of holiday decorating.   It will be fun celebrating our family's first Christmas together - in the new house.

More Thanksgiving Pictures

Hanging with the Grandparents

We have so enjoyed having the Stronczek Grandparents visiting.   Each day, the laundry gets done the kitchen is in tip-top cleanly shape, the floors are clean and I have someone to chat with me at each of my feedings with Noah.   Wow - now that is living!   

Pictures for today are with Grandpa settling fussy Noah down as he was fighting his nap.   He is going to be an energetic one as he likes to fight sleeping a lot of the time.   Although, we have him (knock on wood) sleeping one 6 hour stretch through the night right now.   Mommy is very happy about this 6 hour stretch.   She feels like a new woman.   

Today, Grandma and Mommy got out for some pampering while the boys stayed home and watched football.   It is a big day in Oregon with the Civil War game.   The girls enjoyed our pedicures while sipping on Starbuck's....can't ask for much more.   

Our late afternoon trip was back to the old neighborhood to check out some of the shops.   Somehow, we didn't buy a thing.   Now that looks a little different than yesterday where I'm certain we might have broken the bank.    But it sure was fun shopping!   

Hope everyone is enjoying their nice long weekend....with love, the Sampson's

Noah meets the Stronczek's and celebrates his first Thanksgiving

Grandma and Grandpa Stronczek arrived on Monday - late from Ft. Wayne.   They have been getting to know Noah this week....although he has been a little cranky.   That might be related to Mommy getting a little infection that is now on the mend.   

It has been great to have them around.   I really appreciate just having my Mom around to spend hours talking to while I'm nursing, resting or whatever.   And they keep the house so nice and clean....happiness.

Today, we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Sampson Family (Jay, Paula, Zach, Ashton and Louisa) and the Stronczek's (Leo and Geri).   We had a wonderful meal prepared primarily by Jesse - everything tasted excellent and was delivered with such perfection.   Paula brought some desserts.   Leo made one of his famous Polish snacks - sour kraut and peas (not my favorite).   

Noah grows by the day.   He has been smiling so much more this week.   He seems to recognize people more.    He has enjoyed his vibrating chair with the bright toys.   He has been trying to bat at them although we think it is more by accident then by design.   But we love every bit of his 11 lbs.    We really love him when he only wakes up once a night for a feeding too!   

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Noah and Daddy

Not much new to report - but did want to share smiley Noah with Daddy.   Aren't they handsome!!

Noah and the Moby

Noah loves the Moby - mostly because it feels like he is warm and cozy like he was in Mommy's belly.

We also love the Moby.   It gives us the ability to move around hands free with the baby attached to us.   So we tend to take it on walks and out and about.   

Below you will see Noah's second outing to a cyclocross race.   Also, we had a beautiful fall day today in Portland as noted by the great colors!!

Each day we see changes in the little guy.   We just looked at some newborn pictures today and he looks so different as he puts on some weight.    We had a great night of sleep last night.  He woke up just once to be fed.   He is definitely starting to learn nighttime.   I'm knocking on wood as we speak because I am trying not to jinx us for tonight.   

Congrats to Joel and Rhi who gave birth to Maya on Thursday!!   We are thrilled to have friends to share in our childbirth experience!!

Noah and his best friend Dugan

The little man continues to put on the weight which we are very excited about.  The more he puts on the more he will want to sleep through the night.   He is mostly eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours with an occasional 4 hour stretch through the night.   That is my favorite!!  

Today is a big day for us - we have some of Jesse's cousins coming to visit (Jennifer, Erin and Jason).  We are excited for them to meet Noah.   And then Sara is getting her haircut.    Brilliant!!  It has been like 5 months and she feels a little haggy right now.

Here are some new photos of Noah cuddling up with Dugan.   Dugan is such a little gentleman around Noah.   He does get his tail going a little quickly now and again, but mostly he means well.

Happy Weekend!

OK...we have pictures

Mostly, I just wanted to update the post with some pictures.   We finally got some really good ones.   A couple of the pictures are from our friend Andrea Lorimor...couple weeks old.   The other ones are from today (he looks chubbier)....we wanted to share his Kramer hair with you.

We ventured out to the mall today for a walk.   The weather has been so crazy rainy here - we needed to walk and gave in for the mall.   Secretly, I was very pleased.   Jesse was trying to find out if there were trout in the fountain.   Just kidding...but I don't doubt he was thinking about it.   We did talk about the Mickey Mouse fishing pole that we could get at Dick's Sporting Goods for Noah.   He will be using it shortly you know.

Happy Wednesday!!

The Noah Update - without Pictures

For whatever reason, we seem to be having problems taking pictures these last few days.   When we were ready to take pictures, the battery was dead.   So we do promise to get some updates out here really soon.   The little guy is putting on some serious weight - so we are certain you will think he looks different.   He is building his biking and volleyball muscles.

Each day, Noah seems to grow in some way.    Whether it be through his height, weight, his engaging eye contact, to sleeping - each day is something new for him.    After diaper changes, he has become fond of focusing on a very colorful rattle that we have for him.   It isn't for long - but he still thinks it is pretty cool.

On Sunday, Noah went to his first cyclocross race.   We think he was the youngest fan there.   But he got to meet many of Jesse's teammates and experience the NW racing scene.   He was happily asleep in the moby on my chest.   But he did endure the cowbells and drumline...go figure.   

He has also been going through a bit of a growth spurt the last few days.    It is supposedly a two week growth spurt - basically, he wanted to eat about every 1 1/2 hours.    Needless to say, we are all a little tired from that experience.   He seems to have slowed down a bit today - but had one voracious eating fit late in the afternoon.    It is also followed up by an evening fussy time which we have tried everything to get him settled down - and have resorted to him finally crying himself out.   So hard to do....but when you have exhausted all other measures, that is what is left.  

Thankfully, Paula visited today and helped clean up the house.   She provided some much needed order in the house and of course some food too.   We so appreciated the help that she has given us both physically and emotionally!!

The Sampson family is doing well and promises to post some pictures here really soon!

Coping with Sleep Deprivation

Noah turned two weeks old yesterday - Happy Birthday little guy.   It is so hard to believe that he is already two weeks old.    Time really does fly by.

We are coping with Sleep Deprivation at the Sampson household.    We have had a couple of nights of very little sleep.  Noah has decided that he would rather be awake in the evening rather than the day.   Thankfully, armed with advice from friends and some CD's, we may have had a breakthrough last night.   We have changed the nursing room to be very low lighting for the evening feedings (thanks for the suggestion Beth).   We were fortunate to receive a white noise maker as a gift - also yesterday from Patty (thanks Patty).   So along with low lighting, Noah enjoyed Ocean waves throughout the night.   And to top things off, I learned some very valuable lessons from the Happiest Baby on the Block cd that Teresa gave me (thanks Teresa).   In any case, some of the techniques that guy uses absolutely put Noah into a mellow state - and eventually asleep.   All said and done, I think I slept 5 hours...whoohoo, way better than 3 hours.  

Jesse is continuing to work with a fairly decent workload.  The sleep deprivation has been tough on him too.    He doesn't have the luxury of laying down for a nap when the baby sleeps.   For you Mom's to be, I highly recommend getting used to sleeping when your baby does.   That extra 20 minutes or an hour makes all the difference in the world.   It can mean the difference between stable and emotional breakdown day.

But we are all doing well.  Noah has gained 10 ounces in a week.   He is back to his birth weight.  We are looking forward to creating a fat Michelin Man baby.   He seems to love eating.   I'm doing well and starting to heal much more quickly.  I'm so looking forward to getting out and walking soon!   

Venturing out into the Real World

Yesterday, about halfway through my morning feeding, I decided we needed to get out of the house.   So Jesse and I packed up Noah and headed down to the local coffee shop...unfortunately, it was too busy, so we ended up at Starbuck's.   In any case, I think Noah really enjoyed his time out in the public.   Mostly, I think he liked the sounds of everything going on around him.    And Mom and Dad really appreciated getting out into things again and spending some good quality time together.   

We did all need a nap afterwards...but it was worth it.

Today, Noah made his first trip to church today.   He was announced as the youngest parishioner of Holy Family.  Fortunately for us, he was well behaved(mostly because he was asleep the entire time).   But everybody loves a newborn baby!!   Father Bob gave Noah and our family a blessing.   We felt nourished in the soul.

 Picture #1: Jesse, Noah (just after bath time) and Dugan spending some family time together on the couch.   Picture #2:  Courtesy of our friend Andrea Lorimor.   Everyone feels happy.