Simply Sara

It's Halloween. I tried to wait as long as possible before buying any candy. You see, I'm a sucker for sweets, so candy in our house doesn't last very long. Tonight, Matt, Lucas and I are passing out Milk Duds, mini Snickers, lollipops, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Or what's left of the peanut butter cups. haha Lucas continually amazes us every day. He is so laid back and happy. We love making him laugh and smile at our silly faces and funny voices. He is routinely sleeping 8-10 hours straight at night and eating about 7 times a day. Matt and I made the official decision last week for me to permanetly stay home with him. I am thrilled to be joining the ranks of the stay-at- home moms. In fact, I'm quite honored. I am looking into opportunities to watch another child or two in my home which will make my day fuller, but fun. I like to think of it as further training for days ahead. (We definately hope to have more than one child in the future.) I stil...

I think we'll take this little pumpkin home with us!  

Lucas and Matt enjoying the pumpkins 

"My very own little pumpkin" 

Look at me!! I'm sittin' with the pumpkins!  

Welcome Fall! 10.26.05 

10.26.05 

Happy Boy! 10.26.05 

Nichole Nordeman, Brave The gate is wide/ The road is paved in moderation/ The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in/ Welcome to the middle ground/ You're safe and sound and / Until now, it's where I've been // Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything/ But it's been love, your love, that cuts the strings// So long status quo/ I think I just let go/ You make me want to be brave/ The way it always was/ Is no longer good enough/ You make me want to be brave/ Brave, brave // I am small/ And I speak when I'm spoken to/ But I am willing to risk it all/ I say your name/ Just your name and I'm ready to jump/ Even ready to fall....// Why did I take this vow of compromise?/ Why did I try to keep it all inside?// I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame/ Every storm will start with just a drop of rain/ But if you believe in me, that changes eveything// I had lunch with a special friend of mine today, Paula. As we discussed the lessons...

Daddy and Lucas 10-19 

10-17-05 

Lucas woke me up this morning around 5:15. I stumbled out of bed and found him crying in his crib. This is very unusual for Lucas, as he has not woken up during the night in a couple weeks. I fed him and put him back to bed. Thankfully he slept until 10 this morning. And that's when I received a very special gift. I heard him stirring in his crib as he often does, stretching and yawning, making coos and grunts as he tries to start his day. I tiptoed in so not to disturb him and just admired his tiny form. Then I said "hello". His eyes traveled to mine, and seeing me for the first time this morning, his whole face broke out into a smile. And my heart melted. We continued to smile at each other for several minutes until my arms couldn't take it anymore and I picked him up. What a beautiful way to start my day.

Guess what? I'm going to be an Auntie! That's right. My dear oldest sister Amy is expecting her first child in March! Matt and I are so thrilled for Brock and Amy! And they are having a girl! Yay! Shopping for a girl, I'm sure, is going to be so different then shopping for a boy. I love Lucas's clothes. I think he dresses great! But I always notice the adorable and colorful little dresses hanging on a nearby rack as I puruse the classic blue, green, and red outfits made for infant boys. Why can't manufactorers get more creative? I'd like to see more khaki and sage, or even orange and brown. It's moments like these that I wish God had gifted me more in the creative department, so I could stop complaining and make my own clothes. Oh, how "Susie Homemaker" that would be! ha ha I got a great report at my 6 week check up today. Again, I have to give props to Dr. Duniho who has the best bedside manner of any doctor I've ever met. Laid bac...

It's true. Vitamin D is disgusting. Lucas spit most of it out this morning. He even spit on Matt. ha ha Tomorrow we'll try mixing it in his bottle. I'm seeing future visions of green vegetables strewn across the highchair...... and a defiante look of disgust..... oh the joys of toddlerhood...

I've started my day with an expectation in mind, hence the title. This morning, we began our day rather early (Lucas was hungry around 6:30am) and went to see one of our favorite people, Dr. Treash, Lucas's pediatrition for his one month checkup. A quick trip to the scales determined that Lucas now weighs 9 pounds and 10 ounces, an appropriate jump from the last weigh-in at 8 lbs, 13 oz. And he is 21.5 inches long! Just a side note -- It makes me laugh how detailed and excited I am about every ounce Lucas gains -- and I have a similar emotion for every ounce of weight I lose! We were instructed to begin administering the infamous Vitamin D drops to Lucas once a day, since Vitamin D is the one nutrient that does not infiltrate breastmilk. I say infamouse because supposedly the vitamin tastes terrible and Lucas will hate it! I'll let you know how that goes! Overall it was a great visit. Lucas cried most the the time (you would too if you had to sit in just a diaper in ...

We arrived at the new Women's and Children's Hospital around 3:00 Friday morning. Excited and anxious, we walked thru the revolving doors pausing as a contraction raced through my body. A security guard, noticing my discomfort, asked if a wheel chair was needed. I knodded my response, eyes and mouth closed in anguish. Moments later, relaxed and settled into the chair, Matt wheeled me into the elevator. Having previously toured the new facility, Matt knew to push the button marked "2" as the doors closed. The second floor-- the maternity floor. To the right, women from all walks of life were lying in hosptial beds, moniters strapped to their giant bellys as they focus on getting through the next contraction that would bring them one step closer to meeting their children - to the left, a more relaxed environment where mommies and babies were beginning their new lives together. The doors opened and we turned right. We made a quick stop at the front desk where a nu...

Woohoo! October 2 -- what a special day! One month ago, a very special little boy entered our lives. After numerous hours of contractions and 48 minutes of pushing, Lucas Danner came into our world with a heart-wrenching cry and a tender heart. Right now, Lucas is fast asleep enjoying time in his swing, while Matt and I are enjoying a Sunday night movie. I can't help but feel sentimental today. I was reminded tonight after watching a family of adopted children on Extreme Makeover Home Edition just how blessed we really are. I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I will be posting my birth story soon. Well, I think I'm finally ready to share my story. Look for it to begin tomorrow.

It's hard to believe that Lucas will be one month old tomorrow. A month! So much has happened in the past month, and our sweet little boy is growing. Lucas can now focus his eyes on our faces and on objects around 12-18 inches from him. He has even began showing an interest in a little stuffed lamb that sits on his changing table. Matt and I are fascinated by the way Lucas swings his arms about trying to hit the animals hanging above him in his bouncy seat. We've even caught a few smiles! That's right -- Lucas is now starting to smile intentionally at us. And it is beautiful! He is beautiful! Lucas had his first official photo shoot this week. A friend from work came to our home and snapped her camera as we posed inside and outside. I'll try to get some pictures up soon. A dear friend of mine, Kathryn, has been staying with us during her trip to SC. Kat and I were suitemates in college and close friends. She is currently working for Kingdom Building Minisit...