The Miracle in the form of a car... and a new friend!

Okay, so it as taken me awhile to put this up here. The last few weeks have been really hard. I mean, things where already a real struggle, but when Brandon has to go back up to Ketchum, and leave me and Bubby without a car for the second time, I was finding it really difficult to hold it together. I'm usually pretty strong, but I was starting to lose it.
I found myself praying more. I was hoping that Brandon would be safe up there. That we would be safe down here. I was just hoping that HIS car wouldn't break down, etc. We were just on our VERY last leg.
Something told me to put an ad on Craigslist saying that I needed a car. It was a total long shot and in no way did I expect a response. Then, last Saturday night, my prayers were answered... I mean, I think. Now, I am a spiritual person, and I believe that prayers can be answered, but this was pretty extraordinary. Never have my prayers been answered so directly, and at a time when we really, REALLY needed help. It's pretty hard to deny that God was watching over us... I mean it was almost strange and it gave me chills.
A woman by the name of Jena called me up and told me that she wanted to help me. She told me that she had a car she wanted to give a needy mom and she came across my ad on Craigslist, and thought I might be the right person. At first I couldn't believe it. I mean was this a joke? But it wasn't. She and her family came and picked me up the next day (Sunday) and I went to church with them. Church was actually really fun, and I plan to go again. After church we went to her house and she gave me this car!!! It is a 1990 Ford Probe, and I just couldn't be more grateful. Never has a stranger done anything so nice for me! I mean we REALLY needed it. Now I don't have to walk to the grocery store with a backpack just to bring home milk. Now, I can go to the YMCA in the morning to workout and get a much needed mommy break. Now, I can get a night job. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jena. Thank you God! I have a car and hopefully a new friend. They are such nice people too! I'm sure there are more reasons than one that we have met.
Now... I need to pay it forward....
So, here we are with our new donated car (By the way, this is not our neighborhood. I'm in front of Shelly's house... just FYI) I washed inside and out a few days ago. We couldn't be more happy. What a weight off our heavy shoulders:)

Happy Father's Day... a week late

Brandon comes back from Ketchum today. He has been up there working for 12 days now and he missed his first Father's Day with us. That was kind of hard, but it's good that he's working.

I wanted to do something special to show that we love and appreciate him on Father's Day. I was trying to be artsey fartsey, so I made him this collage. I hope he likes it. Happy Father's Day Bubba. You are an extraordinary daddy and Sam and I are so blessed to have you in our lives! :-D

Bethy Comes to visit...yeah!

My friend Beth came to visit me and Sammy a few weeks ago. We had a TOTAL blast! She came from Ketchum down to Boise to buy herself a digital SLR camera... which she did... awesome! Then, we walked around Boise and had lunch (and way too much) coffee. It was SO MUCH fun.It was such a beautiful, happy day. Bethy totally saved us because we had been home all week without a car and all by ourselves. Brandon was camping in Ketchum and finding some work.
Sammy just loves her dog "Tucker" (which is Sammy's middle name aswell). He was so cute... Tucker had his head resting on Sammy while we were driving. He is really the most gentle dog... way more than Maggie, I hate to admit.
By the way, Beth is an insanely good photographer (I'm a little jealous). She took the cutest pics of me and Sam, which I am so grateful for... Thanks girl friend!
P.S. These pics were taken about 3 weeks ago, when Sammy was about 5 1/2 months old. It is shoking to me how much he has grown since then. He's now 6 months and 1 week old. He is growing so fast... it almost makes me sad. My baby is growing up:(

Thank you God for anotherbeautiful day with my healthy baby boy!

Meridian Dairy Days!

Last night me and Sammy went to The Meridian Dairy Days Parade with Shelly and her kids. I had no idea it would be such a blast! We had so much fun, even though it was raining. It's too bad Brandon had to miss it. He's been up in Ketchum working for about a week now and we really, REALLY miss him. I am so blessed to have family near by to do fun activities like this with:)

I gave a baby sammy a lick of my sucker, and he wanted more!

Our first picnic

I'm very behind on my posts, so this was almost a month ago. Daddy took us on our first picnic to Swan Falls (I hope that's the right name). It was great. A magical, beautiful day. We had lunch and Daddy and Chad did a little fishing. Sammy is now 5 months old and weighs 18 lbs! It's hard to type one handed... more later:)

Bubby is really filling out! He loves to stick his tounge out.

We had a wonderful Easter day. We went to Grammy and Poppy's house and had a great ham dinner. Sammy was so cute. Gigi and Pop (my parents) sent us this adorable little outfit with little shoes for Easter. It was size 6 months, but it already fit him. I can't believe how big little Sammy is getting. He is such a little miracle and I am so blessed!

Look at our happy little boy!

Sammy is 13 weeks old today. Wow! It's going by so fast. He went to the doctor last weeks and got his shots... he didn't even cry! He's such a trooper. He weighs 15 pounds now and grew 2 inches. He's starting to laugh and play. He's wonderful!

Around the first of April Sammy started to grab at rattles and toys and stuff. He seems like he was JUST STARTING to get the idea that his hands belong to him and that he can use them. So, we finally got him this little bouncer and in only ONE WEEK he's grabbing his toys. It's amazing how fast he learns! Now he loves to sit in his little bouncer and touch his toys!

Mommy and baby go to work

Daddy and Bubby

More pics of Sammy...

First of all, I hope you guys like the new look (and sounds) of the blog. Shelly helped me make it even better! Thank you Shelly! You can pick the song that you would like to listen to while you view the page! Just see the play list at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
I haven't written in here in a while... so here goes. I was super busy last week. I took Sammy with me while I cleaned this house in Caldwell. It was a good job, while it lasted, but I just CANNOT do it anymore. Sam is getting older and finally sleeping through the night- thank God, but as a result he just doesn't sleep much during the day. He really wants me to hold him all the time, so it makes it impossible to bring him to work. Plus it's just not fair to him! I also worry about him smelling Pine Sol all day. Needless to say, finishing that house was extremely difficult and I have vowed not to bring him to work again. I actually felt a lot of guilt over that. Shelly really helped me out. She takes care of him sometimes and I am so grateful! Sam just loves going over there too! She and the kids are great with him, and he just smiles:)
I'd like to find a way to make some money that actually works with the baby. I know it's important to make a living, but I'm a mom first. I can't get so overwhelmed that I have difficulty taking good care of Sam. He comes first. It's been a difficult learning experience. I'm going to try to get some jobs photographing a weddings again. I've done this before. It's only takes one day and Brandon can watch the baby.
So, now the house is done and I am really enjoying my time at home taking care of Sam. Wow! Being a mommy really is a full time job. I've also been making a real effort to increase the quality of my breast milk... weird topic, I know, but I'm just sharing. I never realized how important that is. I can't drink much coffee and I need to make sure I am eating enough calcium and fruits & vegis. I started taking DHA supplements too. DHA is the essential fatty acid responsible for building grey matter in a baby's brain and for the development of vision and the eyes. It's suppost to be REALLY good for the baby... I wish I had started taking it sooner, but at least he's getting it now.
Sammy is just so amazing! I hardly remember how little he was. I saw a newborn in the store the other day and I was shocked at how big he has gotten. He's eleven weeks today and he has SUCH a little personality already! He so smiley and he holds his head up on his own! I just adore him and my little family. I can't wait to get him some new little toys, because he is getting sick of his play gym- go figure. I can't wait for his grandparents to see him again. They will just love seeing him smile and laugh.
Kristy (a friend of mine from Ketchum) came to visit a few days ago and brought her son Lennox. It was great to see them. Lennox is a little more than a year older than Sammy and the last time I saw him, he was about Sammy's age. I CANNOT BELIEVE how fast they grow! Lennox was running through the house and talking and smiling. It's hard to believe that's the same little boy. It's even harder to believe that Sammy will be like that in a year. I just makes me want to cherish every moment with him as a baby because they grow so fast. I just want to be the best I can be so that I can be a great mommy for my son.
I started going to the gym again this week. Sammy goes into the child watch and he usually sleeps the whole hour. Today when I got home, I fit into some pants that haven't fit me since I was 8 months pregnant. I must admit that they ARE still maternity pants. Then I tried on this vest I purchased at Old Navy last winter, and it fit! I can't believe it. I'm not bragging, I'm just super proud of myself. I couldn't get that vest over my chest last month, so I guess I'm making progress. Yeah!
Well that's all for now. Just thought I would share. Ta ta... enjoy the beautiful weather! Love and laughs to you all!

Happy St. Patrick's Day (a little late) from a beautiful baby boy!

9 weeks and cuter than EVER!

Sammy is 9 weeks old tomorrow and cuter than ever! He is growing so fast and his little personality is really developing. Brandon & I are doing well too. We LOVE being parents.

By the way, I'm going to the gym at least 4 times a week... when I'm not sick. Working this weight off is harder than I thought!

I love this little hat that Aunt Vicki and Uncle Jim sent us. He looks SO CUTE!

It was such a beautiful day today that Sammy came outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air with us. When we came back in, I layed him in his crib and he just started grinning at me! He is smiling more and more lately. It is so fun to watch him grow up... and we have so much more to come!

Sammy Smiles!

He is SOOOOO- cute!

Sammy is 6 weeks and 1 day old! He is holding his neck up more and more. He can hold himself up when he's on his tummy.