Kids Gone Wild....

The kids could not get enough running in front of the museum so I took this chance to take a few pictures. Here they are enjoy! On a side note Shannon and I found the Elijah and Ryleigh like each other much more when they can run like crazy!!!

An Adventure....

After being stuck in the house for days since Samuel's birthday party we decided to pack the kids up and head in town to the Boston Children's Museum. We met Julie and half of the Cluett (Ian, Amelia, Sophia) kids which was fantastic since at the point Ryleigh and Elijah had had about enough of each other & William and Ian had become fast friends over the weekend. I was very impressed by the museum and all that it had to offer. I was really happy that each exhibit had it's own room with only one way in and one way out which made it much easier to watch all the children. We were not able to see everything but what we did see was a big hit with everyone. After the day was over Auntie Shannon treated everyone to astronaut ice cream (gross) and we sat outside to enjoy it.

This is the exhibit on how it would be to live with a disablity (my favorite)





A few other things at the museum






The space exhibit (William's favorite)

Samuel's 1st Birthday Party!!!!

I am still in shock that it has been a year since Samuel was born. I never really truly understood what everyone meant when they kept saying time flies until this past year. Anyways it has been a year of tremendous growth and joy in the Popotte house and I would not change it for anything in the world! So, in celebrating of Samuel's first year of life, Elijah's 1st year as a big brother, & for Cookie and I surviving the year fairly well as parents to two EXTREMELY busy boys we had a birthday bash. The weather was perfect, the food was fantastic, and being surrounded by friends and family was wonderful. We were so lucky that Auntie Shannon & the kids came for Indiana & Kiki came up from Florida to celebrate and spend some quality time with us. Sadly Grammie & Papa were not able to make the trip and were very missed.

Samuel had a great day! He really enjoys hanging out with the kids, bouncing in the bounce house, & listening the Pete sing. Most of all I think he loved his cake. He is just like his momma and could not get enough of the frosting and after finishing his cake went straight to the tub. All and all I would have to say it was a hit! Thank you for everyone who was able to make the celebrating and we hope that you had a good time! Enjoy a few photos from the party.....

30 years old FINALLY!!!!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY SHANNON!!!!!!
I can not believe that my sister is finally 30 years old. I feel like it has taken her a long long time to get here but I am glad she made it in one piece. I love my sister more than she even knows. I look up to her as mother, a person, and as a women who stands by her beliefs. She is in fact one of the strongest women I know and amazes me on a daily basis with the amount of struggles and obstacles she is able to over come and handle. Hell, it is not easy raising a seven year old who knows more than you do or a four year old who needs to eat every 22 minutes (at least). So, Happy Birthday Shannie I know that this new decade is going to be the best yet!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Samuel!!!

Wow, I can not believe how quickly the past year has flown by. It feels like just last week that Cookie and I were sitting outside labor and delivery debating baby names. Now, a year later I have quit my job of over a decade, given up dairy for the past ten months, slept sitting up for almost six months straight while holding a baby, breastfeed for 365 days at least three times a day, switched to cloth diapering, & taken over 3000 pictures all because of Samuel! It seems almost impossible to imagine our family without him. I could not have been happier with the transition that Elijah made becoming a big brother & everyday I am so proud of how much he loves his little brother and how gentle he is with him!

At a year Samuel is still the happiest baby I have ever met! He has a wonderful & easy going personality similar to that of his daddy and is still the spitting imagine of his momma. He is really into music right now and loves to bounce with any beat and every morning he finds his way right to the music corner in the playroom. He is officially walking and has one and a half teeth both of which make me very proud because I really thought he would turn a year and still be the toothless crawler. He is finally starting to enjoy table food and has a great love for chicken nuggets just like Elijah, God help me if my microwave ever busts! He loves bananas, crackers, popsicles, and has become very proficient with his cup & the stealing of his brothers. He is trying to say more and more words everyday but so far has mastered; dada, elijah (lijah), momma, ball, uncle jay (hey), ugs (pugsley), and or (more).

So, here it is a year later my life as a mom of two beautiful boys! I would not change it for anything in the world! Here are a few picture of then and now, enjoy!

Off to the Hospital


Samuel only a few minutes old screaming is head off...


Elijah & Samuel meet for the first time

A few pics from the hospital please notice all the hair




Some recent pictures of Samuel and his crazy hair!!!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMUEL!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE!!!!

A week of reflection...

I find that the week leading up to both the boys birthdays I find myself reliving the week that they were born and what I was doing and what was going on etc... Well a year ago I was walking like I was Forest Gump, squatting constantly, bouncing on my yoga ball & when not doing either walking or squatting, chatting on the phone with my support (my mom, michelle, & my sisters), & just simply praying that I would go into labor to avoid being cut open for another c section. Well, it ended up ending a bit different than I was training for but it did end perfect! I was looking at pictures today of Elijah last year during this week and he was such a baby & now he is such a big boy! Take a look at for yourself.....