Sam turns the big "1"

Happy First Birthday Sam!

I can't believe my baby is one year old already!  He's growing up so fast and getting too big for Mamma! :)

 

This past year was quite an adventure for our family.  Starting with having a baby a month earlier then expected!  I think back to that time in the hospital, when we were so scared and stressed and thought we'd never be able to bring our baby home.

 

 

But we finally did, and the months began.  Realization set in that I wouldn't be returning to work (which I loved and missed) and my new days at home with a brand new baby were starting to overwhelm me.  I was used to stress in my life, (we had it everyday at work), but I enjoyed it then.  This new stress, of caring for a little one when I didn't know what he wanted or needed, was hard!  (And made me cry a lot)  :)

Thank goodness for sisters who had babies before me!  And Mom's and husbands who loved and encouraged me!  After the first couple months... it did get easier! 

 

 

I got used to being at home all day, (bored), and starting finding things to do with my time.  I started to recognize what Sam wanted and needed and the "new stress" became a little less stressful!  We'd go to the Library and WalMart with Jen and her kids!  Chels and I took Sam and Jackson on walks to get icecream!  We hung out all day at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We visited work and friends and the mall!  We looked forward the most to lunch time when Daddy came home!  The weeks were passing on... 

 

...and the months were passing on too.  It had been 2 1/2 months since the 2 interviews that Chase had for Dental School.  More letters of denial were coming in the mail, and our hopes of "good news" were starting to dwindle.  Where would we be in the next chapter of our lives?  Money got tight, tighter than we expected, and a "new stress" started to settle in.  We'll never forget that humbling day when we went to my parents to ask if we could move back home.  Or the smiles on my mom and dad's faces when they said of course, and encouraged us that everything would turn out alright!  We found ways to consolidate our bills, and looked for opportunities to make some extra money, including going back on my word and getting a paper route! :)  Chase's parents were a huge help also and we are forever indebted to them both.  Within weeks of planning to move back home, Chase got another interview to a dental school and within days of that, he was accepted to OHSU in Portland Oregon of all places.  Our number one choice from the very beginning!  We were so excited and I have never been more proud of my hubby!

The months living at home with mom and dad were great and will forever be a memory of gratitude and love.  Sam and I got used to hangin' with grandma!  My lonely days at home were suddenly filled with people!  Sam was getting so big and fun!  We put him in his jumper all the time and he loved it to no end! 

 

We started feeding him cereal at four months and he took to it soo well!  He was and still is the best little eater!  Chase and I were getting prepared and eager for our move to Portland.  We spent many days on craigslist looking for an apartment. In June, we took Sam on his first big real road trip and drove the 12 hours to Oregon. He was such a sport, and we've learned from then on that he is a very good boy in the car!

 

 

Our trip was successful!  We stayed with my Aunt Claire, who has been such a support since we've moved here.  We toured the city and school, and found an apartment that we loved and could afford!  The big move came in August which was bitter sweet.  We were excited to move ahead with our lives, but sad to leave all of our friends, family and "home".  Chase's parents, grandpa and Chessa helped move us out here and we can't thank them enough.  It was 104 degrees the day we moved in!  We got settled in and Chase started school.  Our ward is great!  Chase serves in the Young Men and I am the Gospel Doctrine teacher of all things!  Chase has been in school for 5 1/2 months now and things are going great!  No big crazy stressful events yet, besides downtown traffic!  Ha ha!  Sam took his first steps over christmas break in Montana and is still practicing!  He is a BIG, healthy, happy kid, and I know that we are truly blessed having him in our lives.  Our experiences in life make us who we are, and we would not be the same without this humbling year.