HE'S HERE!!!!

No pictures just yet, but our handsome little Samuel is here! He was born right around noon today, 7 lbs., 10 oz., around 18 inches long. Thanks so much for all of your prayers...his delivery was easy schmeasy, much faster than expected, and the epidural...wow...I love the epidural!
Kate seems to have taken really well to the big sis role. We're working on "gentle hands," but we can already see that she genuinely loves her baby brother.
Pictures are on the way, so stay tuned!

still waiting...

No breaking news just yet. We're still waiting, somewhat patiently, for Samuel's grand entrance into the world. You'll notice that the ticker at the top of the blog says I'm not due for four more days. True, true. But I am so ready to have this baby! I had an ultrasound on Wednesday because the doctor thought Sam was measuring a little small. Well, no worries there. He's estimated to weigh 8 lbs., 11 oz. Hello! No wonder I'm feeling "done."
So, to help things move along a little bit, Stephen, Kate and I had dinner had a restaurant whose eggplant parmesean is famed to send women into labor. I ate as much as I could. When we got home, we went for a long walk, also rumored to induce labor. We'll see!

prince charming...where are you????

I never thought I'd be the kind of mom to deck out her little girl in the whole princess get-up. Where I messed up was in thinking that I would actually have much say. Despite wanting to dress Kate in an adorable lady bug or pumpkin costume, I had to give in. And I have to admit that she makes for a pretty cute princess. I wish you could see her glittery pink shoes...they were adorable!

there he is!

Despite it's not-so-great quality, I love this picture...Kate and her Daddy dancing in the driveway. I have to take just a minute to brag on my husband. He is such a great daddy! He shows Kate everyday what it means to be a godly husband and father. And I pray she'll find a man to love her with the same love her dad shows us. But, until then, there's room for just one main man in her busy little life. For now, Daddy is the only Prince Charming she's got eyes for!

I'm a giver, not a taker

The cutest part of the whole evening was watching Kate pass out candy to her neighbors. She didn't really care for the door-to-door trick or treating for herself (she only lasted about 5 houses), but she loved all the visitors who showed up at our door. When there happened to be a lull, she took candy to the sidewalk, waved it about, and yelled "C'mon kids!" And each time someone walked up to her with a bag, she would enthusiastically say "Here you go!" as she passed out her treats. She's too funny.

"pumpin!"

We're loving Georgia these days. Palm trees are nice, but the reds and oranges and yellows we see outside our windows lately feel much more like home to these two N. Carolinians. And Kate has really enjoyed the season. In the weeks leading up to Halloween, she would point out just about every single pumpkin she saw. And if we happened to pass a pumpkin patch like this one..."There's another one! There's another one!" The excitement was almost too much for her to bear.