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.