First Friends

Today we had our first visitors.  My wonderful friend Kim and her three blessings came up to meet Naomi.  The kids were so excited to be able to hold a new baby.

First up was Michael,

then Kayden,

and finally, Lilly.  She was just enthralled with Naomi. 

And let's not forget mom!

We also received a visit from David's childhood friend, Stephanie, who is stationed at the Embassy in Seoul with her husband.  I apparently wasn't quite with it at the time and didn't get any pictures of her holding Naomi.  Sorry Steph!

The Big Day

We arrived at the hospital at about 5:30 AM yesterday morning in a downpour.  When I was in the reovery room they announced that one of the parking lots was flooding and suggested that the staff move their cars.

Just after we arrived - ready to meet the little person who's been kicking me  for so long!

The spinal is working (too well, thus the oxygen)!  Let's get this show on the road!

Its hard to see, but you can see the head on either side of the doctors' arms.

It took them forever to say whether it was a boy or a girl!  David was looking over the screen when they pulled her out, but they pulled her in such a way and then held between her legs so that no one knew.  David looked at the anesthesiologist, the anesthesiologist looked at the assistant, and no one could see!  Then after what seemed like an eternity, they finally announced "It's a GIRL!"

Getting our little angel cleaned off and warmed up.

Introducing Miss Naomi Mae Samuelson

Not only did it take forever to find out that we had a little girl, but it took an absolute eternity for them to bring her to me!!!

Meeting my newest angel for the first time

They kept saying she was a big baby!

I guess I just don't think she looked that big - considering I'm used to looking at a couple of 50 pound kids.

But here she is all 8 pounds 14.5 ounces and 21 inches of her.

Grace and Tristan watching the nurse check their little sister out.

I think they're pretty happy about her.

Getting all cleaned up

Getting to hold my baby for the first time since she was born.

I must've still been pretty drowsy judging by the look on my face.  They brought Naomi back to the unit while they finished up with me and then I spent a good hour in the recovery room.  I was so not happy about that!  I just wanted to be near my baby!

Big sister Grace holding her baby sister for the first time.

Big brother Tristan - smitten already!

Grandma Dawn admiring her latest grandchild

David asked Tristan if he wanted  to hold his sister, to which he said "yes".  So David brought him his big sister!

David and his babies.

Everything went very well and I was up and walking around by mid afternoon.  Everyone thought I was crazy, but I do not do well sitting and doing nothing.  I don't do it at home, why should I do it here??  We are just very thankful that we have another healthy baby to love.

Welcome to our family Naomi Mae!  We love you and are so glad to finally be able to meet you!

From Days Past

Some time last summer, we were invited into the home of one of the Korean Warrant Offiers that David works with.  He and his wife served up a delicious meal of kimchi, bibimbap, and the best bulgogi I have ever eaten.

The kids sitting at a traditional Korean table.

They really liked the food too.

But what they really liked was their pet rabbit.

After supper they took us to their farm.  He plans on farming after he retires from the Korean Army.

I was totally not prepared to be hiking around a muddy farm (in my high heeled sandals), but we made the best of it!

Even though we had just had our fill of delicious food, we got to pick and eat all the peaches we wanted to.

Before leaving their home, they gave us a gift of a huge jar of honey - I wasn't sure just how we were could possibly use all of it. And then I tasted it.  He has his own bees, and has the best honey we have ever eaten!  David has offered to help him harvest his honey this year, and we've already requested a couple more jars of this honey so we have plenty to take back to the States with us when it comes time for us to leave. 

We did have them over a few months later and I served them up some good ol' Mexican food.  I toned down my pico de gallo a tad worried that they might think it was too hot, forgetting that as Koreans they ate their share of really spicy food too!

Tristan's Birthday Celebration - part 2

Last night after David got home, we celebrated Tristan's actual birthday.  He requested hamburgers and cheesy french fries for supper -  its a good thing we have an indoor grill since monsoon season has started and was coupled with Tropical Storm Meari, so it was a little wet and windy outside!

We had a few gifts stashed away for his special day too.

A Buzz Lightyear Lego spaceship from David and I

Gifts from Grandma Judi 

And a new bridge for his train set from Mommy and Daddy 

And topped it off with leftover cupcakes slathered with frosting and covered with ice cream 

And then he chose to play a game of Yahtzee.

I think he had  a pretty good day - the kids got to make all the decisions that day, I didn't tell them no, and we just had a great family day together.  

Happy Birthday Tristan!

Happy Birthday Cowboy!

Five years ago we were blessed with our amazing Tristan.  He certainly gave us a run for our money the first year, and David wasn't sure he'd ever get to hold his son without being screamed at the entire time.  Mommy was the only one that would do.  But, when David came back from Iraq, he found a different child.  And that child has continued to grow into a wonderful little boy. 

He is one of the sweetest, most loving boys I know. 

• He spoils his sister greatly, and will make it difficult for her to ever find a boyfriend worthy of her time (do you think David or I have a problem with that?).  He carries her backback at almost every opportunity, opens doors for her (and me too), and looks out for her.  There have been a couple of circumstances that he hasn't liked happen to Grace, and he quickly speaks up and says "Hey, you don't talk to my sister like that, that's not nice!"
• He loves to snuggle - even though he is nearly 50 pounds!
• He loves his mommy "google"
• He loves his baby brother or sister and hugs and kisses my belly regularly, especially before bed.  He has finally decided that even though he wants a brother, we don't have to put the baby back if it is a girl.  WHEW!
• He thinks his daddy is the coolest guy around, and he wants to be just like him when he grows up (not a bad choice in my book).
• He loves God.
• He loves sports of all kinds and hasn't found one that he's not good at yet.
• If you ask him where he was born he'll tell you "The Chihuahua Desert".  And that's also why he "likes spicy food".
• You can't get him out of his boots and his cowboy hat (thankfully he got a straw hat for his birthday and doesn't have to wear the felt one year round!). 
• He is 3' 11" of pure boy, and a true joy in our lives!

We love you, little man, and are so thankful that God blessed us with you!

Tristan's 5th Birthday Party

We celebrated Tristan's 5th birthday with some of his friends from preschool today.  He decided that he wanted to have a party at the bowling alley, so that's what we did.  This is the first party that we've had for either child that wasn't at our house.  But the fact that I'm due to give birth to our third child at any time, I figured that the extra stress of coming up with food and activities, and getting the house ready, wasn't really worth it. 

You know you're in Asia when...

We did a cowboy theme this year.

He really wanted Woody, but finding things with just Woody on it was difficult, so we compromised, and settled on cowboy stuff.

After all, Tristan is known for wearing his boots and his hat everywhere.

The bowling alley at Osan Air Base has a really cool kid-friendly area with lightweight balls and shorter lanes.  Not to mention the jungle play area situated right behind the lanes.

After bowling, the kids sat down to some hot dogs and french fries.

And then it was time for presents.  Legos were the gifts of the day - perfect for him as he is really getting into building with his Legos these days.

A bucket o' animals from his sister

And to go with the theme of the day, a Woody's Roundup Lego set from Mommy and Daddy

"Happy Birthday to you..."

Did you know it is impossible to get 9 kids to look at the camera at the same time?

Well, it is.

And then it was time to come home and rest... or put Legos together...

We had a great time today and Tristan was so happy to have his friends with him to help him celebrate.  It's hard to believe that our baby boy is going to be 5 years old in 5 days... Where did the time go?