Family Exercise Time

In order to curb my cabin fever and help me get control on these hormones, we have started walking around the block together as a family every afternoon.  Day 1, Sam cried the whole time and Michael and I talked loudly over him and pretended we didn't hear it.  By Day 3, Sam is getting the hang of this daily walk thing and looking around, taking in new sights.  No crying.  Instead, we sing to him and he really seems to like it.  It also seems that this daily walk regimen is becoming a WHOLE family thing.  Abby has started joining us.  The first time she "walked" with us, Michael actually carried her, and she let him!  Then, she found a new spot to hitch a ride...

Sam Comes Home

After two days in the hospital, we loaded up all our belongings (and we had a lot of belongings) and our new bundle of joy and headed home.  Sam's "homecoming" outfit was a sweater jumper given to us by Aunt Amanda and a hand-crocheted hat made by Kimmie.  She also made him the striped blanket too.  Doesn't he just look precious?

The day was sunny and perfect.  The drive home was a dream.  Nani had dinner cooking when we arrived.  The tired new Mommy and Daddy were so ready to be home.  Sam's bassinet was waiting and he quickly showed us his favorite sleep position...Sam's not happy being swaddled tightly like all the books say.  He wants those arms spread wide and over his head.  Too funny! 

Hopper Gets a Name

As many may know, Michael and I had a bit of trouble deciding on a name for our new baby boy.  Every time we tried to have a serious conversation about naming our baby, Michael would want to name him “Hopper” and that ended the conversation.  Although, Hopper did stick as a nickname.  However, throughout the entire pregnancy Michael and I would pray that God would give us the right name for our son...and he certainly did.

Right after our boy was born, I told Michael I thought he looked like a Jake or a Luke because he was already so big and strong at birth.  He needed a strong name.  Michael thought he was more of a Samuel or Jeremiah.  Again, we could not agree on even one name we both liked, so our baby entered the nursery on day 1 as “Baby Boy Burtram.”  The next morning, the birth certificate representative came to our hospital room, and we had to tell her to come back tomorrow; we still did not have a name.

It was not until we were visited by Susan and Lori from our church that God revealed what our child was to be named.  When we asked them for suggestions, Lori asked, “What do you want for your son?  What is your prayer for him?”  Our response was that God would bless our son and use him to do great things for His kingdom...

She began tellings the stories of various biblical characters, straight from her memory.  She told the stories of Peter, Josiah, Jacob, Jeremiah, Luke, Titus, Bartholomew, Paul, the “big 12” and so on.  But, when she got to the story of Samuel, Michael and I looked at each other and knew God was speaking to us through Lori.

Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was barren but she pleaded with God to give her a child.  She promised that if God would hear her prayer and bless her with a child, she would return that child to God to be used for his purposes.  Hannah became pregnant and entered motherhood prepared to do what all parents must do, let their children go.  At a young age, Samuel became a prophet and later a judge.  He was faithful to the Lord even from early childhood.  He led a godly life and helped to lead a fallen generation of people back to the Lord.  He was a powerful character in the Bible with a name that means “God hears.”  Our prayer for our baby Samuel is the same as Hannah’s prayer.  We are thankful for the miracle of this perfect little boy, for he too is an answered prayer.  We fully dedicate him to the Lord to do his work here on Earth, and we ask God to help us be godly parents to this special boy named Samuel Elliott Burtram.   

I look forward to our Samuel getting a bit older and asking me, “How did you pick my name?”  I will tell him we didn’t choose his name, God did.  Let me tell you the story..

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." 1 Samuel 1:26

Off to the hospital

I really wanted to go into labor naturally.  I wanted the whole, "My water just broke" moment and the mad dash to the hospital.  So, I walked, and I walked, and I walked.  Miles out at CedarRock.  Up and down the tractor trail with my mother by my side.  And still, nothing...

We woke up Sunday morning (10/10/10) knowing that one way or another, this would be my last day to be pregnant. I was scheduled to be induced Monday morning.  We went to church as usual then had lunch at Sam's.  Afterward, we came home for an uneventful afternoon before checking in to the newly opened hospital at 7:45 that evening.  Before we left, I took one last picture of my pregnant self...

Oh, and as I walked out the door with the last of our hospital stuff, I received cheers and applause from the neighbors next door...glad that I was FINALLY going to have a baby!  Thanks guys.

Our church family rocks!

What an amazing God we serve, and what an amazing church we attend!  Our morning started by listening to guest speaker, Bruce Wilkenson author of The Prayer of Jabez, speak to our church and deliver a powerful message on forgiving ourselves and becoming all that God has called us to be, in spite of our mistakes.  Wow, just wow!  He is definitely an anointed speaker.  

Then, we go to Momentum (4th-6th grade) to serve with the best team of “shepherds” there is!  At the end of service, Mary Leigh says, “Come out here, we all want to pray for you and Baby Hopper.”  Accompanied by a thoughtful prayer, Michael and I received a surprise stash of nothing but diapers and wipes!  Again, wow!  Thank you to the best church family we could ever ask for.  

A note to my son...

My dearest “Hopper,”

While I anxiously await your arrival, I find I must share some family secrets with you about your mother and your father.  We are ordinary people at first sight, but there is a hidden secret you must know...

We both have double identities.  We are actually secret hometown heroes greeted on a regular basis by cheers and applause from children and adults alike.  While our alternative identities only call on us for a short time once a year, we are in high demand by the public.  Why, just today, we were both called to duty by a church group welcoming in the traditions of the fall season at CedarRock Fall Fest.  And, because we are committed to the cause, we graciously embraced our double identity one last time before your approaching arrival.  Below are the photos of your infamous mother and father.

Your mother... the original “dancing scarecrow” 9 months pregnant and waiting for you...

And, your father, the original “tall scarecrow”...

While you are certainly not required to follow in your parents’ footsteps, the likelihood is great that you too will have a double identity and be called to become a scarecrow when the leaves begin to change and Autumn comes knocking.  Embrace your destiny, my son...

And, know that you are already unconditionally loved.

-Mom

Mission Accomplished

The clothes are washed and put away.  

The sheets are clean, and the crib is made.  

The walls are painted, the pictures hung.

A long time coming, but the nursery is DONE!

We are anxiously awaiting baby Hopper’s arrival, which is only a few weeks away now.  Here are some pictures of our completed nursery and the baby bump at 37 weeks.  Enjoy!