JT and SM

Pictures

Sarah Marlene Shoff

Family/Friends,
As many of you know we had our baby this morning at 8:02 am she was 7 pounds 6 ounces and as you can see has a big head of black hair...mom and baby are fine even though our boys seem to have that deer in the headlights look about them...we are happy to have this new sweet baby added to our family.

The education of a phantom

Man, what a night! The Halloween Phantom stopped by our house the other night and the note said we had 2 days to spread the Halloween Cheer to two other families within 2 nights or a horrible curse would come upon us. Wanting to avoid the curse, we set out to deliver our "cheer" to others. We found out that things work differently in Tennessee once again.

First, Ben and I got in a fight about how much cheer to spread and how anonymously to do it. I am sure that the fight was spurred on by A LOT of pregnancy induced hormones. Anyway, we finally agreed to even go, and went to our first victim. We passed the house ever so inconspicuously to case the joint and drove up the street to turn around so as to be in a position to make a quick getaway, and by the time we pulled up to the house, we were being greeted by a very aware man prepared to protect his family.....with a loaded pistol! Ben couldn't believe that this man somehow knew that we were headed to his house and was so quickly prepared to protect his loved ones. Once he saw who it was, he admitted his preparations and even showed Ben! Don't mess with a Tennessean and his family after 7:30pm. Lesson learned.

Second, if you ever want to rob a bank or be inconspicuous in ANY way.....don't let Ben drive. The second house we went to, Ben pulled into their driveway with the lights on to prepare to turn around. By the time we made it back out of their long, steep driveway, the man of the house was standing on his front porch, making sure his family was okay. I am seriously re-thinking my upcoming bank heist and the accomplises I hire. Lesson learned.

Third, sometimes even breathing can bother a overly emotional/irratable pregnant woman. Ben even got to the point that he had to ask me if it was okay for him to even exist! I had to seriously consider the question, and don't worry, I authorized him to exist for at least a little longer. Lesson learned for Ben.

This Halloween Phantom has learned a lot tonight, and is glad that her phantom days are over for now.

Birthday pix

DB

Oh, how I love my DB. We sure have come a long way since he was born, and are happy to go a whole lot further with that amazing kid.

DB really has been quite an easy child. As a baby he was laid back, patient and could always remember to "take a deep breath." (I told him that a lot when he was in the hospital) He was quite obedient and never drew on the walls. I of course appreciate that last one a lot more now......He has to work on his patience now a little more, but just with himself. It is easy for him to be patient with others, including his little brother, but he forgets to take it easy on himself sometimes, which will hopefully push him to greater things someday.

He has never really been too crazy attached to anything, but we have gone through our Thomas the tank Engine and Superman phases, and are currently enduring a Batman/Transformers fascination, and I am desperately trying to fend off an X Box hobby. He will really eat almost anything put in front of him except for potatoes. (french fries excluded) Oh, that and fried zucchini--found that out last night!

One thing I love about DB is that even though he gives a talk in primary every month and enjoys doing so, everytime they call his name to come up to the front, his face turns BRIGHT red and he gets this look on his face. It is one of anticipation, terror, pride and excitement all mixed into one I love that cute little face, yet hope that as he becomes more confident that terror part will disappear.

As every parent, I hope so many things for my first born son, but at this exact point in his life, I pray for him to believe in himself more. I want him to be able to know he is awesome, just because he is, not because someone else has to tell him so....I tell him every day, but as a kid grows, it is not enough that your mom tells you something, so I hope for him to be able to tell himself that.

She could.....Go.....All.....The....Way!

So, I feel like I am being drawn and quartered. I have outgrown my maternity clothes. I seriously waddle. I have trouble getting in and out of my car. But ironically, those seem to be the only real troubles I am having, much to the surprise of the doctor who delivered DB. I have had 2 babies before this one, yet I have never been THIS pregnant before. And we just keep on going.....could it even be possible? Am I really going to have to go the full 15 months of pregnancy? I never realized that pregnancies lasted this long. I always thought it was only like nine months or something! Okay, so I may be exaggerating just a bit about how long I have been preggo, but even Ben has forgotten what life was like to have a "normal" Amanda around. But at least he has AN Amanda around....if things turned out like DB, I would definitely be MIA and at the hospital. Don't get me wrong--it is "a bizillion" (to use DB's favorite number these days) times better for ME to be uncomfortable instead of watching a tiny baby uncomfortable in the hospital. Look at me go, now I will have understanding for the whole spectrum of moms--ones with early babies and no stretch marks, and those with big babies and stretch marks that could rival a topographical map!!!

I have never been known to be patient, but this last 18 days just might kill me! I just don't know how we are going to handle having a baby that doesn't have an IV in their head, tubes coming out of their nose/mouth and all sorts of blood tests and Xrays. Seriously? How do they know these full term babies are okay without all those tests? Do they at least measure their oxygen? How do I know she will be breathing without a machine to tell me so? This is going to be wierd!! What a blessing and what a miracle. I know that all babies are miracles, but when your doctor can't exactly explain why this one is going so much better than the first two, you know you are looking in the face of a miracle.....at least I will look her in the face in 18 days.