Sammy's newest cousin

Otis Harrison Krigsvold

Born on Friday, November 25...8 lbs 11oz

Samantha and Erick with their new little guy

Family Portrait

Samantha and I found out on the same day in April that we were pregnant...we were both surprised and a little freaked out.  She has completed her pregnancy journey with the birth of this beautiful little boy.  Finn is due on December 3rd and then my oldest brother, Kevin, and his wife are expecting a boy in January.  Three little boys...I hope they are the best of friends.  I am so sad that I am not there to meet little Otis...and don't know when I will be able to as I have a little guy on the way myself...hopefully in January...fingers crossed.  


Finn, it is your turn now buddy.  I cannot wait to hold you and see your sweet face.  I cannot wait to have you out of my belly!  Please, don't be like your Mommy and procrastinate...please be early or on time...again, unlike your mother.  We are ready and waiting for your arrival...December 3rd...that's 5 days, buddy...I hope you are ready.

Portraits

About a month ago, Sammy and I took advantage of my company's free portraits for the year.  Sammy just turned 4 and I thought it would be nice to document my growing belly.  Here's a sample from the day.




This is the best picture we got of the 2 of us...Sammy insisted on being goofy the whole time...but it is fine, I love this picture anyway.

Yep, this is about how it went the entire session....

I felt super goofy taking maternity pictures, but I didn't do this with Sam so I took a shot

This is my favorite, and we were lucky to get it, Sammy kissed and ran!

Halloween 2011

Sammy was a pumpkin this year...that is what he wanted to be...and I have to say he was super cute!  He is a pro at treat or treating now, although, he thinks it is ok to just walk into folks houses and start exploring!  It was a little embarrassing!  He is a social little guy...I said I hoped he wasn't shy like I was as a kid...and boy did I get my wish!

                       Sammy and the sad faced jack-o-lantern that he and his daddy made together.

                                        His Grandma gave him a special treat that lights up.

                                                                       Double Pops

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I thought I would include my eyeball belly in the Halloween post.  I wasn't about to paint directly on my belly...I don't think that would be appropriate for work, although a woman actually dressed up as a turd, complete with toliet seat and gross stuff smeared on her face...yeah, that was appropriate!  I thought I was going to barf just looking at her...it was disgusting!!!

Sammy's 4th Birthday!

Sammy turned 4 on Oct 17th...I can't believe it.  He had a blast at his birthday party and finally got himself a bike.  I didn't take the best pictures, but at least I documented this beautiful day.

Sammy's Emergency Vehicles Birthday cake...he loved it, although he did not eat a bite.

Let the present opening begin!

The loot

Licking the emergency vehicles

Getting the hang of his new bike

Making silly faces

Not to sure about the braking part of biking!

But he eventually got the hang of it

Not long now

Finn will arrive in about 7 weeks!  Where has the time gone?  I feel like I just found out I was pregnant!  I can't wait to meet him and begin our new crazy life with 2 kids.  I am excited and scared at the same time as I am going to try a VBAC.  With Sam, I was induced which resulted in a c-section...I really don't want that again.  I always felt like I missed out on something, although I am so grateful that it resulted in a healthy baby...the recovery for me was brutal.  So, I will try to endure labor in all it's glory and maybe actually feel good after he is born.  Wish me luck!

Sammy Hill, the next great jazz drummer!

Normalcy is not over-rated

Today, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I am feeling very blessed.  My family has gone through so much in the past years, but we still hold on to one another and know that we can get through anything.  We have a beautiful, healthy child and another on the way.  We have jobs and a place to call home.  Yes, we still struggle, but life is good.  Our home is full of love and as cliche as it may sound, that is really all we need.

So here we are, back in Tennessee, and honestly, it doesn't feel like we ever left.  We have fallen back into a routine.  We love our new house.  It is only 2 minutes from Sammy's grandma's house, where he goes during the day, until we can find a pre-school that we can afford.  We bought a "mommy van" and continue to add to the furnishings in our home, as we sold or gave away just about everything we owned before we moved to VA.  The neighbors that we have met so far are very cool.  We discovered that most of the folks that live on this dead end street are musicians.  Jim feels like we were meant to be here.  I miss my family, I miss seeing them on a weekly basis.  I missed the marriage of my cousin, my Dad's birthday and will miss my parents anniversary and my Mom's birthday.  We will most likely miss Christmas, as I don't think we can travel 10-12 hours with a newborn.  But, I do feel like I am home here, we all are happier since we moved back, so I agree with Jim, it was meant to be.

Sammy is adjusting well.  He gets a little scared to go into rooms by himself, but everyday his fears subside a little.  His allergies have calmed down and he hasn't been sick since we arrived.  Sammy stayed sick in VA, partly due to pre-school, but I think living in close proximity to swamp land had a huge impact on his health.  He misses his cousins, grandparents and fishing in the river, but hopefully we can get him in a pre-school soon so he can be around children again.  He is highly social, Sammy has never met a stranger, so he needs the interaction with folks.  My parents house could get nuts on the weekends with all of the visitors...sometimes I'd want to get out of there...but it never phased Sammy, he loved every minute of it!

So, so long Virginia...we will return soon, but not soon enough.