Friends say "welcome" to Sam

Have you ever looked around you and woken up to the fact that you are blessed with friends. God gave us amazing friends in Redding and has provided quality people to love here in Salem. Here are some pictures of our friends from all over who have come to welcome little Samaria to our family.

Sleep-Deprived Ramblings

Ok. I love sleep. No. I adore sleep. If sleep were a girl I was dating, I would show up 30 minutes early to our date. And I would bring her father a bouquet of flowers. That's how much I love sleep.

Last night, our little Samaria decided it was time to be awake from 11pm to 5am. So when most of you were dancing to the rhythm of the REM sleep band, my wife and I were trading off shifts with our newborn. Did I mention that I love sleep?

I don't condone shaking babies. In fact, I just want to go on record as saying that anyone who shakes or violently handles an infant should be slapped. But last night on my 1:30-3:30 shift, I found myself understanding why someone would resort to violence. You want to do anything to make your baby go to sleep or stop squirming or just lie there still and quiet for 5-6 hours. Sleep, little one.

Needless to say, we made it through the night withOUT (sorry for those who read this yesterday and thought I should be locked up) a shaken baby, and we now have two very tired parents who still need to tend to their 15 month old boy. We'll make it.

"Dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly far far away"

Surprise! MORE PICTURES

Our good friend, Dara (high school friend of Kara's) took some pictures of Sam & Caleb. We would like to show them off now.

Let the showing off begin.

Brown Reality TV

In case you weren't there (and none of you were), I wanted to share with you via video what it was like the morning of Oct. 21.

Enjoy.

We made it home...

The ladies from Kara's Hearts at Home group delivered an "Edible Arrangement". I love literalism in advertising.

One day at home (on his turf) and Caleb still can't get enough of Sam. I'm wondering when the day will come when we'll see Caleb set her out by the weekly garbage for pickup.

Day 2 pictures.

I think she got cuter overnight.

How does she do that?

I know it's only been 7 hours, but...

And introducing...

Samaria Rae Brown

Born 8:12 a.m.

Weighing in at 6lb 12oz & measuring 20 inches.

Status: Adorable.

Enough talk. More Pictures.

We're Back Online...

So, I'm trying to think of a way to explain to you what the last two weeks have been like. So here goes...

1. God has provided us with a place to rent that is everything we've been praying for. It is one floor, it has a washer/dryer hookup, it has a garage for extra storage, a huge back yard for Ally, and rent is exactly the amount that we knew we could afford. Apart from my wife, I've never had a prayer answered so specifically. Did I mention that the house is in a cul-de-sac, so there's no traffic and Caleb can play outside freely? Did I mention that there's no stairs? Did I mention no stairs? Oh yeah.

2. Kara is 7 days away from takeoff. Samaria Rae has been doing somersaults or pilates or something active in there. Apparently she gets hiccups quite often, or Kara has contracted a jumping goiter of some sort. Either way, "thundercats are go" in T-minus one week.

3. Oh, and did I mention that we also prayed that God would provide us with a car (since we no longer live 3 blocks from church) that I could use getting back and forth to work? Yeah, we prayed. Kara told me that when I told her I was praying for a car, she laughed inside (and out loud). Well, God decided to shut us up. A pastor at the church asked me if I wanted his car today (he's been letting me borrow it for a couple weeks). Yeah. I thought he meant TO BUY, but he meant TO GIVE TO YOU WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED. I was speechless. It's a '85 Buick White Boat that gets terrible gas mileage, but it's free. And I like her. And I've decided to name her Isaac. Weird for a "her" but I don't care. Isaac is mine.

4. Caleb is growing too fast. He walks around and says "Uh-oh". Even when he's pointing at Kara's belly, he still says it. Maybe he knows what's coming and his "uh-oh" is actually prophetic. Whatever. He's not a baby anymore. And he is ALL BOY.