Samantha's 24th Birthday - and a Tattoo

December 12 is Samantha's birthday. December 12, 2008 was also a day of epiphany for Samantha. Ever since, she's been flirting with the idea of getting a tattoo to mark the day. So today, on her 24th birthday, she used Aunt Kathryn's birthday Visa to do it. Here she is - a little nervous - talking to Mike before she goes in to get it done.

She looks cool as a cucumber here.

In the chair. Wrist is bare...

The tattoo artist, Matt, uses a stencil to mark where the ink will go.

And he begins. OUCH!

Samantha doesn't do pain very well!

"Mommy hold my hand!!!"

Since the tattoo was white, he had to go over it a few times.

Here I am holding her hand. Jimmy was walking around taking picture after picture as Sam squirmed and, yes, even wept!

Samantha to Jimmy and Matt (both fairly covered in tattoos): "You people are crazy! Getting these things all over your body! What's the matter with you?!?"

She started doing some Lamaze type breathing, I think!

Finally (about 4-1/2 minutes later) it's done. White ink because that's what she wanted! The guys at the shop really tried to talk her out of that, but Samantha gets what Samantha wants.

Samantha and Matt after the deed is done. Thanks Matt! Thanks Jimmy, for coming along. Hey, that was fun!