Fall Creek Falls

Samantha and I capped off our whirlwind tour of Tennessee with a stop at Fall Creek Falls. The Nolands go every year and horn in on the Morello's family weekend. We always have a great time catching up with everyone. It was absolutely beautiful this year. Because we've had some cold weather, the trees were already starting to turn. Gorgeous!

We had a great week in West Tennessee, and a wonderful weekend at FCF, but we are happy to be home!

Checking out the wa-ta with Papaw.

Jerry eyeing the chocolate cake.

Samantha "mining" for gem stones.

Seeing everything through rose-colored glasses, literally.

Feeding the ducks some of Big Guy's famous chex mix.

She loved of the cookies. That was her new word for the weekend. "Cookies!"

In front of the Inn.

Meeting John Mason, the newest addition to the Morello family.

With Mike, Samantha's new BFF. She wanted to know where Mike was at all times!

Our annual family photo.

Good Country Livin'

We had a great day yesterday with my Gran's family in Lexington. This was Samantha's second visit to the "shanty", the 4 room shack my Uncle Joe and Aunt Peggy built by hand. It's sort of like their playhouse. It was the first time Samantha could enjoy the great outdoors and run around. And, boy did she take advantage of it. Her favorite spot was by the chicken coop. She is completely fascinated with farm animals. Dad says its in her blood. She even let the chickens peck some grain out of her hand, though she wasn't overly fond of that.

After we left our big day at the shanty, we stopped by Aunt Teddie's to get acquainted with her new dog, Precious. Precious was just the right size for Samantha. We had a wonderful day!

Hi chickens!

Caroline shows Samantha how to feed them.

Dancing to Jailhouse Rock in Aunt Peggy's Elvis room. True story - when she saw the life-sized cut out of young Elvis, she pointed and said "Da-da!"

Thank you very much.

Having a chat with Gran over animal crackers and juice.

Caroline and Precious.

Worn out!

I don't think she would've slept so long if she'd known there was a "goggie" there.

Arkansas, Memphis, and Pandas, Oh My!

Tuesday was a whirlwind day for us, but a good one. Caroline, Samantha and I went to visit and have lunch with Memaw in the morning. Then, while Samantha napped, we drove to Memphis to meet my college friend Tara and her kids at the Memphis Zoo. Samantha was napping so great that Caroline and I decided to drive the 10 extra miles into Arkansas just to say we did it. Caroline can now mark Arkansas off her list of states visited. Mind you, we turned around at the first available exit, but I'm pretty sure she saw all of Arkansas she really needed to. (With all apologies to my Arkansas friends.)

Samantha liked the zoo. She enjoyed looking at the animals, but between her and Charlie, we were on the move a lot. You can't tarry to long at one exhibit with an 18 month old and a 2 year old! I would have to say that her favorite part of the zoo was pushing around her stroller. It was so good to spend time with Tara, Charlie and Lydia.

Rollin' with Memaw, with an assist from Caroline. Samantha loved riding around with Memaw.

Giving the wheelchair a little push. Memaw's room may never be the same!

Proof that we did, in fact, drive to Arkansas.

Charlie and Samantha checking out the Pandas.

Cuties!

Trying to talk to baby Lydia.

Charlie showing Samantha where the giraffe poop is.

What a big girl!

West Tennessee, so far ...

Greetings from Humboldt! Our week in West Tennessee is off to a great start. We have already eaten at Los Portales, shopped at Simmons and City Gift, and been to a Fall Festival in Collierville. Samantha has had a ball! On Saturday, we went to the pumpkin patch, and then to the Hostess Princess review. Sunday, after church, we went to Collierville to meet Russ, Amy, Anna Grace and Garner at the Fall Festival put on by their church. It was fun! Samantha got to see lots of live animals, including a duck, rabbits, a turkey, goats, a cow, a sheep, a donkey and a llama. We could have left her at that smelly trailer all day and she would have been happy! She was even brave enough - with some assistance from Big Guy - to ride a pony. Then we went to Russ and Amy's for playtime, barbeque, and ice cream cake for Russ's birthday.

We took a little siesta today and stayed around Humboldt. We did a little shopping this morning, then Gran and Grandaddy came over to play after her nap. We've got another whirlwind day tomorrow, as we are going to Brownsville to see Memaw, then hopefully to the Memphis Zoo. We'll put up more pictures when we can.

Napping with Big Guy.

Not so sure about the wagon.

With Big Guy and Grammy at the pumpkin patch.

She picked out a pumpkin all by herself!

Excited about her wagon ride.

Showing off all of our pumpkins.

A freezing cold family.

Samantha getting pretty for the Hostess Princess review.

Admiring the tiara of outgoing princess Jordan.

Watching Ming Ming take a ride on Big Guy's choo-choo.

In the bouncy at the Fall Festival at Russ and Amy's church.

She loved, loved, loved the live animals!! She kept telling the cow "Hi, cow!"

Feeding a sheep.

First ride on a pony ... with a little help from Big Guy.

Having "tea" with Anna Grace and Garner.

Playing outside today in the sunshine.

Playing with her Gran. There is no telling what they were doing!

Rally the Troops

Hi everyone! I've got a serious post today. As serious as I can get anyway. I know a lot of people check our blog to watch the adventures of our sweet baby girl. Well, Steve and I are hoping to take Samantha on an exciting new adventure soon ... being a big sister! If you've followed the blog since the beginning, you know that Samantha came to us through the miracles of an amazing God and modern medicine. Unfortunately, my body is just not equipped to make babies on its own. For all those well intentioned people who told me the second one would "just happen", I can now boldly say what I've thought all along ... Not for me. I'm just different, and that's okay!

So here is my disclaimer: Steve and I are open books about this stuff. We know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that one of the key factors of Samantha's life is prayer. She would not be here without it. And our next one(s?) will not be here without it either. So, we cordially invite you, our friends, to take this new journey with us. You don't have to. It's not all pleasant. On the days you see only writing ... just skip. But, if you are willing to take the ride, we would welcome it. We need it. And we desperately need your prayers.

I went to see Dr. Keenan yesterday. Nothing has really changed with my health. At this point, Steve and I have 2 options that we will be praying diligently about: (1) Start shots again. This time around, we would do a very low dose over the course of 2-3 weeks with the goal of producing only 1-2 follicles. (For those who don't know, follicles have the potential to turn into eggs.) Last time, I had 5. And after viewing my ovaries via ultrasound, Dr. Keenan told us I am in "the highest risk category for multiples." Going slow would reduce the chances of an octo-mom situation. (2) I can have a new surgery - Laparoscopic Ovarian Diathermy. Or, ovarian drilling. Doesn't that sound fun? It significantly increases chances of ovulation without having to do shots (though its not a given) and reduces the risk of multiples. It would also help me return to a "normal" status for the remainder of my child-bearing years, if you catch my drift.

That's all for now. Samantha and I are heading to West Tennessee for a week tomorrow, so we'll take that time to think and pray about our options. Thanks for sticking with us. I'll post pictures throughout next week of our adventures. Love to you all!

Ta-da!

Samantha is always finding new things to play with, and its usually not one of her hundreds of toys. Lately it has been pillows. Pillows from the couch, pillows from the bed - doesn't matter. She likes to move, stack and organize them over and over again. This task is apparently quite entertaining, as she does it for a looooong time. I wondered what she would do if I stacked the pillows on top of her. Take a wild guess --- she loved it, of course!!

Where's Samantha?

Oh my goodness, I can't find her!

There she is!

Ta-da!

A few more photos ...

I wanted to post a few more pictures of our last couple of days at the beach before we put IOP 2009 on the books. I don't have as many pictures, for good reason. Samantha got braver and braver as the week went on. By the end of the week, she would sit in tide pools with water up to her neck. I was pretty dang nervous, but I didn't want to make her scared of the water. So, I watched her like a hawk. I didn't have my camera with me because I was in the water with her the whole time. She did go under a few times, and it really didn't bother her. I'm already thinking about where my little fish can take swim lessons next summer!

She even does this in the bathtub now!

Trying to get some pretty shots.

Playing ball with Daddy.

Samantha and Eli polishing off some ranch "dip dip". Best thing about eating on the beach - you just haul them down to the water to wash 'em off!

The kids ready for a little football - Harper, Charlie, Lane, Kate and Samantha.