**I know these are on Facebook too, I just can't get enough...which is why I am in the process of writing to the city of Cordele, Georgia to see if they'd be interested in using one of these pictures for their bilboard on Interstate 75...Hey, they are the Watermelon capital...why wouldn't they??
**Sidenote: Here I sit...Millie next to me swinging away in her swing...(not-so)patiently awaiting the phone call that tell me weather my sister Katy is having a baby boy or a baby girl. So...I decided to blog to pass the time...you know, because I have nothing else to do! ;)
This past Sunday evening we met my mom, Larry and Aunt Dani at Cracker Barrell for a quick bite to eat before whisking Aunt Dani back to T'ville to spend 3 whole days with us. She lives in Colorado, so these trips are few and far, far, far between! This would be her first time meeting Millie after waiting so long! Needless to say, she was hooked from the first moment!
After eating, burping and changing Millie, we took off for T'ville. Mom and Larry made their way back to Warner Robins with promises to see us again next weekend...(tomorrow actually!)
After arriving in Thomasville, it was apparent that Aunt Dani is by far the coolest Aunt ever! At about 10:30, she looked at Clint and I and said, "Go to bed, I got this!" After a slight hesitation of "are you sure, you don't have to, blah blah blah," we were off to sleepy time! Aunt Dani even promised to get up with her in the middle of the night...which came at 5:00...and then again at 8:30!!! I slept for NINE hours my people and it was glorious! 
Monday followed with a suprise visit from Dani's friend Colleen who lives about 2 1/2 hours from us. Dani was so surprised and excited to see her! They've been friends since 2nd grade...it was so neat to get to catch up! Colleen of course loved Millie too!
Tuesday came and went with a quick trip to Target and a nap for mommy. PJs were the purpose of the trip to Target. Millie has outgrown ALL of her newborn PJs and was down to two pair of the footie pajamas. (I am not a fan of the gown PJs like everyone told me I'd be..just me though) We found a few pair at Target that we got...2 were even on clearance...woohoo!
Wednesday I had to go to my school's open house. I felt like I "should" show up to meet the parents and students that are in my class this year! My sub was there too, which I am INCREDIBLY thankful for! She is a...wait for it...Degreed, experienced TEACHER that taught 3rd grade for 6 years!!!! She is now a SAHM with her cute daughter EllaGrace and was willing to help out for the first week! I am SO greatful for that super news! Anyway...Open House went great...kids seem lovely and parents do too! Everyone loved the pictures of Millie and were very excited for me! I am glad I went. Millie and Aunt Dani got to hang for a few hours, which they both really enjoyed!
Wednesday afternoon brought the arrival of my other two sisters, Elizabeth (Germany) and Katy! This was the first time we'd all 4 been together in 2 years! It was a VERY quick trip...I'm talking...18 hours...but very much worth it! We all vegged out, talked alot, watched some TV, had a photo shoot and ate pizza! SO FUN!
All 3 of them left at 8:00 this morning to be at Katy's Dr. Appt by 12:30. And...as of now...that's where they are. Still no news on the baby front, so I'll put some pictures to go along with this post...while I wait!
I always knew I loved my sisters...but seeing them with my girl, puts them all in a whole new light! It is SO neat to see people love the very thing that I love with all my heart! And...cue the tears!
Thanks for coming to visit girls! We love you and miss you already! 
Until next time,
Sam
BTW...Katy is having a BOY!
Well...it's official...Millie is one month old today!
Everyone...and I mean everyone...tells you that it goes fast. I believed them, really I did, but, apparently it's one of those things you just have to experience youself to really understand the truth to it all!
It really does feel like yesterday.
This last month has been great! I am not gonna lie...I miss my sleep! I miss watching a tv show, uninterrupted. I miss the freedom of being able to run to the store. I miss being able to eat at the same time as Clint. But all of that pales in comparison to what I adore. Seriously the list could go on and on and on forever of the wonderfulness that is mommyhood!
Millie eats like a champ. Now that we are on soy, the hiccups and gas are pretty much gone. She is downing 4 oz. at a time, and eating every 3-4 hours. She goes down for the night about 11ish and wakes again at 3am then again at 6ish..sometimes 7. She does really well at the 3 am feeding to eat, burp, get changed and go straight back to sleep...I get so proud of her...I am sure I look rediculous walking around at 3 am with a smile on my face!
We are officially out of newborn diapers. I learned this the hard way last night actually. All she had in her diaper bag was newborn size diapers...we've had her in size 1s at home for a couple of days now. As I put the newborn size on last night, it was quite the struggle...and quite snug! We managed to use all the newborn diapers that were given to us with the exception of 5 diapers...not too bad!
She is already out of most of her newborn sized clothes. Some of our favorite pjs are too small...it really hurts my heart actually!
She has a stuffed giraffe named Tip Top that her uncle Wesley brought her from Dollywood. She loves it. She will stare at it for long periods of time and even is starting to coo at it. I have a feeling we will be hanging with Tip Top quite a bit in the future!
I think that is about it for now! Time to go wash bottles for the evening...who knew that would take a solid 30 minutes????
My official one month picture!
Talking to Tip Top!
Until next time,
Sam
**This post is not intended to be judgemental or negative.
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a mom. Growing up, I babysat from the age of 12...children of all ages. I have been fortunate to be the kind of girl that can easily sooth fussy babies...(could be that I am quite squishy and comfy) :). I have always loved kids.
From the time I was in 4th grade, I wanted to be a teacher. I LOVE school supplies, kids, books and schedules. I love summers off, 2 weeks at Christmas, and teacher gifts. I love being the boss and I love to talk. Thankfully, what I wanted and what God planned for me have been in sync for 6 years now. I am about to start year 7 of teaching...and...wait for it...I couldn't be more excited!
Does that make me a bad mom? No...I already know the answer...it does not. Will I have times that I would rather stay home with my girl?...absolutely. Will I miss her so so much?...of course.
BUT...I have learned over the last month (1 month tomorrow!!) that I was not created to be a stay-at-home-mom. Don't get me wrong...I wasn't nieve enough to think that SAHM's sit on the couch and eat bon-bons all day, or are able to watch all the good day-time shows while they surfed the internet. I knew all of that...but...I had NO CLUE what would be expected of me as a SAHM for over a month. NO CLUE!
The sad part is that it isn't expectations that are put there by anyone but myself. I cannot be settled unless EVERYTHING is done. Laundry, bottles, clean kitchen, clean bathrooms...etc. I can honestly say that I don't notice most of this while working full time...somehow though it always got done. Now though, I am a mad woman throughout the day...(typing this blog is starting to make me feel guilty for sitting down so long...I am thinking of all the stuff that MUST be done...my definition of MUST).
I admire SAHM'S for sure. But as much as I admire them...I am thankful that God has called me to something different. I am curious to see what my posts will say after I go back to work on the 30th. Stay tuned!
Until next time,
Sam
**Honest Post Ahead
Right before the end of the last school year, I was "let go" from my duties as the Children's Director of the church. Being honest...I was bummed. I enjoyed having that job and the responsibilities that came with it. I KNEW that our budget was drasticly changing by adding a baby in July and now knowing that we were out $1,000 a month, panic started to set it! However, along with being bummed, I was relieved! I was thankful for the anticipation my Pastor had of the things that lay ahead for me and for the fact that he knew my plate would be too full. I recently emailed him, post Millie, thanking him for being sensitive to my situation. At this point, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the right decisions were made for everyone involved! The thought of having that responsibility hanging over my head as I transition into mommyhood and soon working mommyhood, makes me kind of cringe. I am over-the-moon greatful for the break from that and the break from being the "go-to-girl" and "Samantha will do it" person!
I remember the day I found out I was done with that job was a Tuesday. I remember being nervous to tell Clint that we are officially going to be broke again! When I told him, I could tell he was nervous about the financial situation that lay ahead! BUT...together...we knew it was all going to be fine.
THEN...on that Wednesday we found out that our rent was going up $60 a month. For some reason that $60 figure threw us into a tailspin. So much of a tail spin that we contemplated giving up our 3 bedroom apartment and moving to a 2 bedroom. Clint started calling all the complexes and figuring out a plan. Mind you...it was May, Millie was due in July and we would have been moving the first part of August. Also...we had JUST finished putting together Millie's nursery. I was SO upset. Eventually, after trying to figure it out on our own, we prayed (duh!) about it. Together and separately. Seriously after dinner that very night, I had peace. I talked to Clint and we decided to once again, step out on faith and stay put. We knew that God would provide that money...who cares that insurance just went up, who cares that we now have to pay for daycare, who cares about the cost of diapers and formula...God would provide.
Throughout the summer months, we were extremely fortunate to pay off one of our cars and pay off a loan that we had hanging over us. Those two bills being paid off will definitely help with the extras for sure! I also was fortunate to get a little bit of a raise...which is unheard of these days...especially at Private Christian Schools!
I got my first paycheck with that little bit of a raise added in...and I want you to know, the raise added...$61 to my paychecks! WOW!
His Grace is Sufficient!
Can I get an amen?
Until next time,
Sam
It's Wednesday night, 9:30 p.m. and my sweet baby girl is sound asleep on her blanket on the floor...she fell asleep all by her self while having a well meaning conversation with her favorite giraffe "Tiptop." She had a bath right before she conked out so her hair is all fuzzy and messed up...it is just too cute! Not to mention she is rockin her "Puma" brand pjs! They were from a student, Amorii. Ahhh!
Great grandma and Great grandpa came to visit on Monday and Tuesday. We really did have a great time...Walmart, Belks, Publix and finished it off with a great meal at Ruby Tuesdays! Millie did great through it all! (well except for a little bit of the drive to Belks!)
We are ANXIOUSLY awaiting the arrival of my GREAT friend Amber who will be her on Saturday for a little bit! I haven't seen her since her wedding last July...over a year now...hard to believe how much has happened in that year! We just can't wait for her to get her and love on our girl!
Sunday we are headed to Tifton once again to celebrate Papa T.'s birthday! That evening we plan to meet my mom and stepdad for dinner and they will be dropping off....AUNT DANI!!!! I don't know that excited quite explains how I am feeling!
With all the excitement abounding with visits...one thing looms in the back of my mind and I try not to think about it too much...going back to work!
I went to school today to kind of get my barings and get some stuff moved to my new room. I am so thankful that I am not overwhelmed! I have prayed all summer that the Lord would just go before me and allow it to be a calm and smooth transition. So far, that is exactly what is happening and I am so glad!
I think that is all for now...contemplating a post on my thoughts on stay at home moms (totally positive I promise).
Gonna try to catch some zzzzzs while Millie-Mil-Mil sleeps!
Until next time,
Sam
Samantha Thompson is...
...relieved
...thankful
...rested (does midnight-5 am count as sleeping through the night?)
...so thankful for Jesus! I KNOW the answers came because of Him!
Finally got over my cry fest yesterday! Between a text conversation with my mom, wooing my man with a love letter of appreciation and heartfelt thoughts, and much prayer and communication with my Jesus...I had peace!
There is absolutely nothing like the peace that comes from Him and Him alone. Nothing like it!
I basically summed it up...2 pay checks...that is what I am out. I am not going back early...I will start 8/30 (unless dr. wants me out longer). We have $ saved that will pay most of the bills and we have learned in the past that God will take care of our needs...period.
Then morning came...checked email after rocking, feeding, loving on and changing my sweet baby.
Basically it was all a "misunderstanding." No, we aren't back to me going back 9/20, but we are better than we were yesterday. I will be paid the 60% the entire month of August and Aflac will (eventually) pay the 40%. Whew!
I am just so thankful! Thankful for the financial mess to have worked itself out, but even more thankful that the threat of me going back WEDNESDAY is gone! I can wait it out a little longer!
Thank you for your prayers!
Sam
I have so many possible facebook statuses swirling in my brain right now that it is unreal! The problem is, I cannot put ANY of them on there. Why? Because of who my "friends" are. Crazy I know.
I don't want to freak close friends out by posting something vague. I can't offend the few work people I have on there, so I can't say what I really want to.
So...here they are...to make me feel a little better...
Samantha Thompson is...
...on the verge of losing it
...so full of questions
...having a hard time understanding the "whys"
...about to go post-partum on someone
...really wants to sleep 8 straight hours...I really really do!
...TICKED
So there they are! Concerned? Don't be! Just venting.
In a nutshell...this is the dealio...
Rewind to MARCH...asked all the right "maternity leave" questions to be prepared for after Millie's birth. Understood the answers to be something to the effect of...take off the time you need, school pays 60% of usual pay. No biggie since I have Aflac...they will pay 40%. The plan was to take off until 9/20 (my 28th b-day).
Fastforward to YESTERDAY...(13 DAYS before school starts)(nothing like waiting until the last minute) I got a phone call from Personell...MUST have a letter from my doctor stating my NEED to be out of work(maternity leave doesn't suffice)...that is the only way the school will pay 60%. Call the Doctor...they will only say 6 weeks which puts us at Aug 24th...I MUST read the letter before they fax...it has to say that I am NOT ALLOWED to go to work. Not what we had planned, or hoped for, but somewhat doable. I would miss inservice and 3 days of students. Big whoop! I shed a few tears, put on my big girl panties and resolved to just deal with it!
TODAY...get an email...NO PAY...ZERO MONIES...NADA for 8/1-8/27...HUH? I have no idea what in the world/why in the world this is the case. MORE tears, upset husband, even MORE tears and LOTS of phone calls...still no answers!
Of course this doesn't take place until around 3:00, making it very difficult to get in touch with people at the end of the day. So, we wait...and wait...and wait until tomorrow.
Let me pause a moment...no matter what the outcome...we will be fine. We may go into a little debt to help pay bills, but we will be fine. My goal is to not be bitter towards the MINISTRY I work for. My goal is to spend every waking moment with my baby girl. My goal is to know that God is NOT surprised and that He IS in CONTROL of it all!
Positive notes:
-Contacted babysitter...she is ready anytime to start watching Millie!
-learning patience and communication skills
-my husband is the best listener and my biggest fan...I love that he hates to see me upset...(does that make sense...he cares!)
-They are building a new chickfila on the way to work...on the right side of the road...easy access!
Thanks for letting me vent! Please pray with me tonight that this will be resolved tomorrow. I hate things like this hanging over my head. Pray that I wont let it ruin the little time I have left with my girl. Pray that I will stop crying.
Thanks and much love,
check back tomorrow for updates,
Sam
Well hello!
**Please hang with me as my blog under-goes some changes...I have no idea what the deal is. I am working on getting a new background, but with only 5 min here and there...it is taking a while!
The last few days our Millie girl has been having some tummy issues. Of course being new parents, we had no idea what the problem could be. Possibly formula, possibly bottles, etc. While at Nana and Papa T's house this past weekend, we (along with Nana) decided to change bottles. We have been using Avent bottles, which have good ratings and we know people personally that use them and like them. I was starting to have my doubts when formula would leak and Millie would get frustrated with the nipple and play with it...strange for a 2 week old!
So...today we bit the bullet and made the switch to Dr. Browns. We are 2 feedings in and already have a different baby on our hands. She is SO much calmer while eating and actually took a late afternoon nap today. She usually is SO sleepy at this time, but has tummy problems which keep her from sleeping. Also, so far, (knock on wood) NO HICCUPS! With the other bottles, she had hiccups after EVERY feeding!
**Side Note: I STILL have a hard time believing I am typing posts about BOTTLES and baby stuff! UNREAL! Ahhh love!
Anyway...I would just like to add the at Clint and I feel like Parents of the Year for making the switch and figuring out the problem! (we think)
Millie's pictures are up and ready for your viewing pleasure!
Enjoy...let me know what you think!
http://sidneycromer.zenfolio.com/p1009543724/h95e1791#h2f8437d9
Until next time,
Sam
