Hamer Grandparents

As you know from our last posting, we do not have all of our most recent pictures available, so pictures of "Mum and Pops" Newton are forthcoming. For the time being here are some memories with the proud Hamer grandparents...







This is Grandpa and Nana on the 16th at the birth center. They were in awe of the whole process and immediately in love with their first grandchild.

Grandpa Vic said that his name can be altered to be "whatever Samuel wants it to be"!

"Nana" comes from one of Lindsey's very favorite books as a child, "Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs."

It was great having my parents here... they distracted me from the waiting game and got a TON of stuff done before Samuel arrived (stuff like organizing all his clothes, pointing out that we needed crib sheets and burp cloths, putting up the tub surround so that I could use the downstairs bathroom...). Then, when the big day came, things would have been scarier had they not been here to offer four more hands. After Sam arrived they, of course, had no objections to holding him whenever we needed a break - even in the middle of the night!

The week following

We are already acting like scatterbrained parents... We left our digital camera (with all our Thanksgiving pictures on it) at Ben's aunt's house in Schwennksville, PA.
Sorry folks, more pictures will come later this week.

Both sets of grandparents and one uncle (Peter) have already been here to visit their favorite grandson and nephew.

We already think Samuel is much bigger than when he was born... At his five-day check up he had gained 5 ounces!

Tomorrow is Sam's big day at church--pray the kid doesn't get sick!

The birth of Samuel Benjamin Newton

On Thursday, November 16th, a cold, rainy day in eastern Pennsylvania at 6:52 pm we welcomed Samuel into the world...



Official Stats: 8.4 pds, 21.5 inches and did we mention, definately a boy!


Family Shot


Grandpa and Nana were there too



Our precious baby boy leaving the birthing center in his onesie of many colors!

Thursday's Child?

My parents arrived from Illinois on the due date and have now been here for 6 days... we're all just waiting for this little guy to make his debut. It has been good for me to keep busy with them (yesterday we went to Chocolate World in Hershey!)... and much easier for Ben to get to work without me being so needy!

Well, Ben left early this morning for a conference in Harrisburg (one hour from here), and I've been having some "different" and somewhat painful contractions. Doesn't it figure that he would have to leave town today?! I told him to go, but to keep his cell phone on! This could be a very long day. Mom is doing a little dance as she moves around the house... I think we're going to work on the curtains for the baby's room while dad finishes renovations on the bathroom. Distraction is the name of this game!

More news to [hopefully] follow!

The BIG Belly

My belly feels SO HUGE! We had some pictures taken the other day that I'm really excited about. I waited so long to schedule this that they won't be developed until after the baby has arrived (I hope he's here by then!), but we'll put some on the blog when we can.

The baby is due to arrive any time now... Knowledge of this fact motivates us in different ways. My parents are going to go ahead and hit the road this evening to arrive here tomorrow. The plan was for them to "wait for the call" but with a 17 hour drive, that thought was unnerving. Ben is working a lot at the church and finding a substitute teacher for each event "just in case". Some days I cry (it happens easily these days!), and some days I'm just a flurry of energy because I want everything to be ready for the big day. Yesterday and today I am painting trim in the livingroom and hallways so that we can have that completely done.
Last night I had a doctor's appointment after which we went out to eat. We did this becuase we don't expect to be able to as much with a baby and we used coupons and a gift card at Panera so that we didn't have to pay at all! Then we had money to go share a cup of ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery (my favorite!). After eating we browsed the outlet malls for a rug for the baby's room... By the time we got home I was tired but BEN got the "nesting" bug! At 11PM he started installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a new doorbell, and a front porch light. And I thought I was crazy! :-)
Well, I'm not sure if we're ready for our life to change so drastically, but we're tired of waiting, so BRING IT ON!!

POLL OF THE DAY:
Give us your favorite boy names - we are still open for suggestions! :-)