Happy 5th Birthday Samantha!!

WARNING: Birth story below!!

Nothing you can't handle...
but for those who HATE birth stories you have been warned!

July 20, 2005 at 6:30pm in Okinawa my water broke. I was in the middle of a meal which was good because you know they don't let you eat at the hospital while you are in labor... So we called the babysitter to come watch Jessica, 30 minutes (7 pm) later we were on the road to the hospital to 'get the baby' as Jessica would have said. From our house to the hospital was maybe ten miles... 45 minutes later (7:45 pm) we were pulling up to the hospital. I walked all the way up to labor and delivery (no one offered a wheelchair, but I didn't ask either...). 30 minutes later (8:15 pm) I was laying in a bed and the dr said I was dilated to 8 cm. Beau forgot the cameras in the car so he ran to get them, knowing how long this took the first time. 20 minutes later (8:35 pm) Beau got back and I was in a delivery room telling myself to calm down and not push. Thenurse said she had never seen anyone coach themselves as good as I did! 10 minutes later (8:45 pm) I kept telling them I couldn't not push. I wasn't doing it. My muscles were acting separate from my brain!! 5 minutes later (8:50 pm) I was SCREAMING, and I would find out that a tour was coming through at that exact moment and all the husbands put their hands over their pregnant wives ears and redirected them AWAY from labor and delivery. Apparently 2 of my friends who were also pregnant were touring the hospital that night and they told the story of this woman who was bringing down the house, and when we put the time together with the date they knew it was me. Thank you, thank you very much! At 8:58 pm I was the proud owner of a 10 lb 1 oz beautiful baby girl. What a joy it was to have her flopped up on my tummy, she wasn't very gross because she was 4 weeks over due.. She was PERFECT.

(Are you still reading? The birth story is over. *smile*)

And now, my huge baby is 5! And she is still perfect!

Samantha has a kind heart and a gentle spirit and a very loud personality. She loves pizza. In fact, she wanted a pizza party for her birthday. Even though we are in Okinawa and we can't really go out for pizza, unless it is Anthony's at $3 a slice, I was bound and determined to give her a great day! So, we began with breakfast and a gift from Jessica. We went to Toys-R-Us in Mihama the weekend before and picked up a few gifts. Jessica gave Samantha a baby doll with Minnie Mouse clothes on. Her name on the box was Suki, but Samantha said her name was Bella. Then she changed it to Melody, then she changed it to Suki-bell, and now her name is Strawberry. In any case, she loved it!

We continued our day of fun with preparing the birthday cake. Samantha wanted a triple chocolate fudge cake with pink icing. So we got a triple chocolate fudge cake mix with strawberry icing and Samantha also wanted to help make the cake, so she helped make the cake. Actually, she helping with the cleaning up!

Samantha didn't clear the whole bowl. In fact, she took three 'licks' and then declared "I'm done". When you are done with something and you leave it out inevitably scavengers will show up...

Next we had to bake the cake. It was not easy to be patient. Then the cake had to cool. And yes you guessed it, it was not easy to be patient. But when the cake was ready for the icing I had a very willing participant! Jessica took the photos.

When Beau got home we had the pizza which Samantha was very excited about...

Then she got to have her birthday cake...



And some more presents...

You must hear the dialogue for these last two photos:
Samantha: 'Mom, I know this toy. I was with you at the store when we bought it.'
Mom: 'Yes, you were. Good memory.'
Samantha: Shy and hiding behind the box after her declaration of NOT being surprised!

After our dinner and presents we took the girls out to have ice cream at the Blue Seal ice cream shop. It was Big Dip day which means you get two scoops for the price of one! Beau had Chocolate, Jessica had Okinawan Brown Sugar and Samantha and I had Mango. Mango was the best, hands down! It was a really great day! My baby is growing up so fast! She wanted to tell everyone who facebooked me for her Thank you and also everyone who sent birthday cards. It was a wonderful birthday. One she will not soon forget!