Coming Home

We made it home yesterday and we happy to be back. Jack is such a great baby and so loved. He has been a very hungry eater and sleeping well, which I really appreciate. Thank you to all of you have helped out with Sam and wished us well, we have been so blessed to finally get him here and couldn't have done it without you!s

I love this picture because of Sam's big cheesy grin and Jack's sad cry - its like he knows what's in store . . .
Jack's Take Home Outfit - makes him look like a little old man!


Pretty Flowers from Sam and Shawn - what nice boys I have!

Our Birth Story(for those who want to know): I had gone in for a doctor appointment Friday morning and nothing seemed to be happening, so they scheduled me for an induction on Monday morning. The doctor stripped my membranes during the visit - but I still didn't think much would happen. We settled in for the night and I was feeling a little pressure and contraction like tightening, but nothing great so I didn't tell Shawn about anything until about 10:00 pm when they started to be consistent and more intense. I figured no matter what it would big a long labor process, so I suggested we go to bed and try to sleep. At about 11:30 my water broke!! Ahhh - but still I was delusional and thinking oh, this will be awhile. Shawn is frantically running around the house getting things in the car, etc. and I was mosying taking my time. By the time we got to the hospital the contractions were coming really hard and I dilated from a 3 to 10 in about 20 minutes. At 2:05 we had a beautiful baby boy and we in complete shock that it went so quickly. I just kept looking at Jack wondering if he was really ours - It was just so wierd not to have hours of labor to "prepare" for him. I guess 9 months just wasn't enough!

Jack Rick Summers

Jack was born at 2:05 am this morning after 4 hours of surprisingly quick labor. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 6 oz, but for some reason we still don't know how long he is, for some reason they haven't told us yet. Maybe we should ask, anyway here are some pics of the lil' stud.

Induction & Sam's Saturday Soup (early)

Obviously as the title indicates we have set a date to be induced unless by some chance Jack decides to steal the doctor's thunder and come early - Monday September 8th will be the day! Cross your fingers, say a prayer that he'll come on his own. For some reason I just don't like the idea of induction . . . but he'll be here and that's what counts.

As for little Sammy boy he's had a pretty eventful week:
1st - Preschool started on Thursday and he was SOOOO excited to go. He loves it and he sure looked handsome and very grown up with his backpack.
2nd - He learned two valuable lessons this week: 1) You don't shove playdough (or anything for that matter) up your nose! Yes he did that and then sneezed it out all over my white duvet cover, lovely! 2) You go potty in the toilet NOT the garbage can next to the toilet - totally gross!
3rd - He has taken a liking to being a puppy, specifically a Dalmation named Lucky or Jacque (Lady and the Tramp), and he now loves to eat and drink out of bowls. He barks and crawls around, the whole nine yards.
4th - He loves his buddies in the neighborhood and we love them. His friend Carter and him play this little game almost nightly where they climb the to the top of the fence and then jump off.

5th - Waukee is the greatest!! I love this little town, especially the library. They do a great Preschool story time, and make cool crafts afterwards and Sam made these awesome dinosaur feet(kleenex boxes and foam cut outs). He's been "Roaring" at me all week!!!



Next post we'll be introducing our sweet baby Jack - I can't wait!!!

Sam's Saturday Soup

Sam met his preschool teachers this week and will start next Thursday. He is so excited and will be in a class with three friends we know from church and school, so that will be it extra fun for him to have 2 1/2 hours twice a week of fun and learning.

Sam has taken on the role of doctor. Since he's been with me most of my doctor's visit (until recently - mind you) he watches them measure my belly and listen for Jack's heartbeat. Daily he pulls out the doctor's bag and checks the heart beat with the cloth stethascope, uses his measuring tape from his tool set to measure my belly, checks my muscles (blood pressure) and give me a shot in the hand; always reassuring me that its not going to hurt. It is the funniest thing in the world and so adorable. The other day he asked if he could get into my belly. As fun as that would be for him and me, I'm so glad we don't deliver 35 lb. babies.

Finally - we are heading over to the Parks house to watch the opening game of BYU Football!!!! Yea! I'm hoping to jinx the night of fun that Shawn has been dreaming of since December of last year by going into labor. Shawn says if this happens then he'd have to really think about what is more important getting me to the hospital or seeing the end of the game - women used to have babies at home all the time right? Wish us luck - 9 days before the due date!!!


As a side dish - I added this picture that Shawn drew for a geriatric podiatry club. I was loving it and they had it made up into a t-shirt. He is so good, quite the artist!

Bag Tag

I got a tag from Cortney where I had to dump out the contents of my purse. Well first my purse is more of a bag, and I've never been a purse/bag carrying girl until about two years ago - so my contents are still rather lame. I guess you could say that I'm extremely low maintainance. Here's what was there:
1. A gum wrapper
2. Sam's sticker's from the doctor
3. Sam's pack of Juicy Fruit
4. A bag of M&M's (also Sam's)
5. Cell phone
6. Pen - courtesy of Aunt Judy
7. My wallet
8. Handsanitizer
9. Sunglasses
10. A reciept from Great American Cookies (Yum!)

Thanks Cort for the tag and I tag Andrea, Emily, Erica, Jilene, Kristan, Mic, Nathalie, & Steff. Can't wait to see what exciting things you have in you bags!

Sam's Saturday Soup

When we last left you, you could see that Sam was in major need of a haircut. I hesitated because all of the experiences with cutting Sam's hair have been unpleasant to say the least. Luckily our friend Kristan did a great job and with a little help of M&M's and fast cutting skills we successfully trimmed Sam's hair. He looks so handsome - thanks Kristan you are the best.



Sam's lastest exciting news came as a result of Craigslist. We found a John Deere Pedal tractor for a great price and couldn't turn it down. We picked it up today and Sam has had a blast dump rocks from our landscaping onto the drive way and "checking out the farm" as he puts it.


We also hit Raccoon River this week and enjoyed the sandy beach and the spray park. Really if you haven't been there you have to go, minus the really nasty looking water which is questionably warm the kids had a ball digging in the sand and running back and forth in the water. Not to mention that they can spray off just before you leave so you don't have to bring the beach with you.Finally - we are 2 weeks and counting down Baby Jack's arrival. As of my doctor's appointment on Friday there is not anything signficant or hopeful to think it will be earlier, so we've dusted off the running shoes and started walking every chance we get. Here's a picture (courtesy of Jennilyn) of a GREAT profile shot. Wow my belly is out there!!!

Sam's Saturday Soup - Reflections

I took this picture of Sam after he'd been outside playing - his hair is so thick and he sweats profusely, so the combo created a great hairdo. I called and made an appointment to get his haircut the next day. This week I'd thought I'd share some of Sam's latest reasoning techniques. When he doesn't want me to do something or wants to do something by himself he tells me its either:

A: "too dangerous for you"
B: "only boys can do it"
C: "too easy for you"

Isn't he a smart little guy, he's already coming up for reasons to get rid of me. Today we set up the pool and got out the squirt guns and buckets. I got the bright idea to squirt Shawn in the face, and needless to say he declared war on me. The bad thing is, now that I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant I can't run away very well, and if I laugh too hard I'll wet my pants. Shawn used this to his advantage and would chase me while doing this crazy trot/dance (see the video) that made me laugh - so I had to sit down in order to control my bladder. I got completely soaked thanks to Sam who while I was sitting trying to get my bladder under control came up with a bucket full of water and dumped all over me. Now I know not to mess with my boys unless I'm fully able to run and don't have a baby pressing down on my bladder.

Yeah the post gets longer! My friend Jennilyn took me to get a pedicure yesterday for my birthday!!! It was great, thanks Jenni for thinking of such a needed and relaxing activity, (my toes were shocked they were getting attention, I usually just wait for the old polish to chip off or grow out). I'm so impressed with the little flowers they put on my toes, very detailed and oh-so cute.
Finally - the Summers' family has completely become obsessed with the Olympics, staying up into the wee hours of the night to watch. I just love to see these athletes defy odds. The two things that Shawn and I keep loving is the way the Chinese give high fives, very sharp and precise - makes us Americans look way lazy, and how Chinese girl gymnasts seem to not have ever hit puberty, they claim they are all at least 15, but compared to those good home-grown American gymnists they are missing some pretty anatomically correct curves. What's your favorite thing about the Olympics??

Oh, Shawn just made a funny joke - Our nieces and nephews call him Slap Jack Shawn (b/c he'd play the card game with them all time). He says that after Baby Jack is born they can't call him that anymore! HAHAHAHAAA! I know, I know . . we'll be here all week!