Christmas baking is under way!!!!!

Whoa...is it really time for me to fire up the oven again?!?!?

I am gearing up for my holiday baking marathon by starting with my Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies. The oven is on and the ingredients prepared....just have to wait for the butter to soften. Why is it that I always get the urge to bake but am then stopped in my tracks by having to wait for butter to soften?????

Once Shooter gets back from his errands, he'll have the ingredients for me to make some Angel Whispers, which are lightly lemon sandwich cookies with a lemon curd filling. I'm making two batches, one in lemon and one in lime. I'll definitely post pictures and the recipe!

I'm also going to bake my favorite spritz cookie and make all kinds of great shapes using my cookie press. Once they're cool I use royal icing to decorate them. I will share this recipe as well for you.

Candies will be made too, so don't despair!! I have chocolate peppermint truffles on the menu and also peppermint bark. Also hanging out in the freezer are several pounds of pecans just waiting to be made into cinnamon spiced nuts!

I promise to keep you guys updated on my adventures and make sure you get the recipes and pictures so that you can add them to your holiday baking menu if you desire! Or...make them all year round!

Dear Parker - Month 4

Dear Parker,

You have to know that Mommy has tears in her eyes as she types this. I have a hard time figuring out how you got so big so fast! This month has been one of a lot of changes for us.

During the last month Mommy went back to work. It was hard for me to imagine leaving you every day and letting someone else feed you and play with you. I cried a lot in those few days leading up to my return to the office. But, you know what? We have done okay! You love your day care and you have such a good time there. They take care of you and call me whenever they're concerned about you. I have also enjoyed being back at the office. It has helped me be a better Mom to you. One day you'll understand, I hope. It's hard to explain, but when I spend the days away from you, I cherish our time at night and on the weekends. I am more patient and easy going with you.

You learned to love the jumperoo at day care and started playing in the one we have for you at home. You laugh and play in it and just have a blast. Mommy and Daddy even video taped you in it and sent it to Grandma and Grandpa so they could see you playing. We have also discovered that you like to watch football while in your jumperoo - you watched the Tennessee vs. Alabama game with Mommy in your jumperoo.

Mommy has watched your fine motor skills develop this month too. You went from just staring at the rings hanging from your carrier to seeing them and grabbing them. One week later you went from just grabbing them to being able to grab with both hands and move them toward you. One week later you were grabbing them and putting them in your mouth. This was so amazing to watch. Mommy can't believe how much you're developing and how much you can do on your own!

Speaking of putting things in your mouth, you are full on teething now and the drool is flowing! You have to wear bibs a lot of the time because of the water works. Your two little bottom teeth are slowly working their way through and you're chewing on anything you can get your hands on...including your hands! You love to grab your blankets and try to chew on those, although you are starting to learn that they aren't as good as your rings or your froggie.

You started taking some cereal in your last bottle of the day this month too. At first it really upset your belly, so we're trying again but taking it slowly - adding a little at a time until you're used to it. At our 4 month check up we'll talk to the pediatrician about adding in more cereal and when to start you on baby food. That should be fun!

You're really trying to roll over from your tummy to your back. Mommy was playing with you last weekend and you pushed off of her hand and just about rolled over. I think you'll be able to roll over in about a week or two - I can't wait!!! You really enjoy your tummy time when we put you on your Boppy pillow. I'm trying anything I can to get you to like tummy time, because you really don't like no being able to see things around you.

You really started laughing this last month. Mommy can make faces at you and you laugh! Daddy tickles your sides and you laugh! You can say something funny and you laugh! It's so cute and you usually send Mommy into fits of laughter too. You really started "talking" this month too. I call it chattering because I can't understand a word you're saying but apparently you're really telling me a story. You will "talk" to Mommy for a long time and then I'll "talk" back to you. Apparently you understand because we will have a big conversation!

This last month was Halloween! Your very first!! You dressed up like a Tootsie Roll and you were so cute. We went to your school to go to their "Trunk n Treat" but the weather turned so cold and rainy that we only got out long enough to take a few pictures of you. You also went to a pumpkin patch with Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa. We had such a fun time and tried to take pictures of you propped up with some pumpkins. They didn't turn out so great but we got a lot of other good pictures to remember the trip.

This has been a month where you've grown and developed so much. Mommy is so proud of you and how much you're changing. I love going to your nursery in the mornings and seeing you grinning at me from your crib. When you reach out to grab my hand, you grab my heart and don't let go. You are my heart, Parker. You are the best thing I've done and my legacy in this world.

I love you,
Mommy

Where was I this time last year?

I woke up yesterday morning to the chattering sounds of my sweet little boy in his crib. I thought about how awesome life is now and wondered how we filled our days before him. As I lay there in a drowsy state kinda wishing Parker would settle back off to sleep, it hit me I was doing on that morning one year earlier.

On November 5th, 2008 - I woke up very early....around 5am-ish I think....unable to sleep because I had something very important to do that morning and I was a little worried. I tiptoed into the bathroom, closed the door and quietly went about my business. I had prepped everything the night before so all was ready for me.

By 5:15am I had taken two pregnancy tests and both read "PREGNANT". I remember being flabbergasted. Shocked. I sat down on the bathroom floor and couldn't believe it.

One year ago, yesterday morning, I found out Parker was on his way. It was surreal to realize that and hear my little boy chattering in his crib on the other side of our house. Surreal and awesome at the same time.

November 5th was a day that my life changed forever...in the best way possible!

L.

Sleep Disorder Central

Oh lord help us! Our house was once a place of quiet nights and peaceful sleep....about 4 weeks ago anyway. Right before I went back to work Parker decided he wanted to stop sleeping through the night and start waking up repeatedly. Sometimes it would be to eat...sometimes simply to play. That got old REALLY fast!

Yesterday, I had to take Parker to the pediatrician because the day care called to say they were concerned because he hadn't been taking his bottles well. I added it up and he'd only taken 9 ounces of formula in a 12 hour period....very unlike him! I called the pediatrician's office and the nurse said that sometimes they'll quit taking a bottle when their ears are hurting them and he could be getting an ear infection without running a fever. So of course I immediately make an appointment for that afternoon because I'm not going to get caught with a little one and an ear infection over the weekend!

Turns our Parker's as healthy as a horse. Ears? Clear. Nose? Clear. Chest? Clear. Throat? Fine. He was playing on the examination table, chattering and laughing and squealing. Oh well...call me the neurotic first time Mom. As I was talking to the doctor...I mention how his sleep habits had changed and we discussed how I was putting him to bed. As it turns out I had changed up his routine at night and this probably changed how he was sleeping. Before I went to work I had established a good evening routine and put him down before he was fully asleep so he would work to pacify and soothe himself to sleep. Once I started working our nighttime routine started changing and I, wanting to spend more time with him, would rock him until he was fully asleep and then put him down. The doctor said this wasn't a good routine to be in and that I needed to get back into putting him down when he was drowsy but not fully asleep so that he could put himself to sleep. He said we'd be better off down the road if I did this now.

So last night I did as he said...went back to our routine before I went to work and what do you know....he went to bed around 8:30pm and slept until 4am and then took a bottle and slept until 7:40am. Pretty darn good for a 4 month old. Now...if I can work on him taking his bottle a little later and hold him off until about 5:30pm or so...we'll be cooking with Crisco! :-)

I'm pretty glad that he and I both have managed to deal with this disruption in our schedule/sleep routine and not gotten sick. **knock on wood** Here's to hoping that the next few days get us back in a good sleeping routine....and we'll add some cereal into his nighttime bottle in a few days to see if that helps too. :-)

L.

Halloween Fun!!

Well, Halloween at our house wasn't exactly what I'd planned for my lil munchkin. The weather turned for the worse and we ended up not being able to do the Trunk or Treat at Parker's school like we'd hoped. It was just too drizzly and cold.

We did get there and took some pictures of him in his costume. Isn't he the sweetest lil Tootsie Roll you've ever seen???

After our morning excursions we went home and took some pictures of him in the Halloween outfit that his Grandma got him. Okay...he's too stinking cute for words.

And look at those chubber thighs....I can't stand it....I have to give 'em kisses every chance I get.

Oh...and this hat...it slays me....everyone at his day care loved it and his outfit.

The socks....geez...I can't stand this cuteness anymore....

L.

Teething sucks....

Okay...so my boy is not quite 4 months old yet...we have a week to go....and he's teething like a maniac. He's actually had these two teeth since he was about 12 weeks old but now they're really working their way through. He's drooling like a madman and a cranky-potamous. Don't get me wrong, he's an incredibly happy boy but his nighttime sleep habits are killing us. I think what's happening is that he's drooling so much that he's causing himself to gag a little when he lays on his back - therefore he wakes up about every 20 min or so. He sleeps well when he is laying on our chest or in his swing....so swing sleeping it will be until these teeth come in.

Pray for us....sleep deprivation is setting in....we're walking zombies....I'm not sure I'm safe to operate heavy machinery....

L.

New Vlog from Parker

Hey all!! We recently found out that Parker loves playing in his jumperoo at day care so we decided to put him in the one we have here at home. To say he loves it is an understatement! Here is a little clip of him playing in it today.




Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Laura

Recipe time!!! Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was online looking for a good cookie recipe and this seemed to fit the bill. I modified the original recipe a little bit and it resulted in a chewy yet crispy cookie that is just perfect!!!

Here is your cast of characters, ultimately I did end up using 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening :

Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened (or you can use 1/2 C butter and 1/2 C shortening)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (8 ounce) package heath bar chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Mix sugars, margarine and shortening until light and fluffy.


Mix in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir in chocolate chips and heath bar chips.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Make 9-10 minutes until lightly brown.

These are some of the best cookies I've ever tasted. I hope that you make them soon and enjoy them with an ice cold glass of milk!

Laura

Dear Parker - Month 3

Dear Parker,

This last month has been filled with great changes! You now enjoy spending time on your belly and can push up on your arms and look around some. Your movements are so much more intentional now and not as jerky as they had been. You've discovered your hands and love to chew on your fists. You probably chew on your fists a lot because you're cutting two teeth!!! Mommy couldn't believe it when she first felt them, but sure enough - there they were! Grandma asked if it was normal to cut them so early and I told her that whether it was normal or not, they were coming in! ha! Parker, you now look at Mommy so focused and intent - we laugh together now and you smile when Mommy blows raspberries on your belly. You wake up so happy and talkative. You usually spending 10 minutes stretching out on your changing pad in the morning - stretching and talking to us.

We have spent lots of time with family over the last month - we spent two different weeks with Grandma and Grandpa in Tennessee. They enjoy spending time with you so much. We also made lots of trips to see Nana and Pop and they love seeing you grow and change.

We took you to a pumpkin patch on your three month birthday and took some pictures of you with the pumpkins. Unfortunately you're not sitting up so well yet and they looked kinda funny. But we had several other pictures that looked great and we'll cherish them always.

You are Mommy's sweet boy and I love you so much. Everyday you do something that amazes me and makes me so proud to be your Mommy. Just don't grow so fast!! :-)

Love you always!

Mommy

The best moment of being a Mommy....so far!

The last three months have been filled with momentous times in my life. So many firsts that I cannot count them all. However, yesterday there was a moment that caused me to stop in my tracks. Caused me to lose my breath. Caused me to cry. Caused me to completely understand why I became a Mother.

I was rocking Parker to sleep in his nursery yesterday afternoon. I had neglected to turn on his lullabies so I started humming a lullaby - only it was more like a La La La lullaby. Anyway, La is one of the sounds he makes a lot these days. He stopped sucking on the paci, looked up at me, grinned so hugely and said "LA!" I couldn't catch my breath. He recognized the sound and spontaneously interacted with me! It was a huge first in his development and a huge step in our bonding. For the first time I really understood that he knows me, knows my voice, and remembers our interactions.

I go back to work in two weeks and I really wish I had another 12 weeks off with him. Honestly, I wish I could have gone back to work and worked for the first 10 weeks and then started my leave - he's reaching such a cute stage that I'm relishing every moment with him!

Also, here are a few new pictures of the precious puddin' cup!

This motherhood thing is pretty darned awesome!

:0)

L.

Vlog - Parker's first video!!

Well, here is my very first video blog. I decided to video Parker doing his famous high stepping routine. This isn't his very best routine but we get a good look at his potential as well as some of his talking.

Enjoy!

Dear Parker - Month 2

Dear Parker,

It's incredible to me how things have changed since I wrote your last letter. You've grown in weight and length and filled out and are just an amazing little boy.

At 5 weeks you started sleeping through the night. This is mostly because we went to the pediatrician for your check up and Mommy found out that she could feed you more formula because you were HUNGRY!! Once you started eating more you started sleeping better. Also, we put you in your crib to sleep and swaddled you and you LOVED IT! We were so proud of you after that first night and to our amazement you kept sleeping like that.

We had your photo taken for your birth annoucements around 5 weeks as well. You were the sweetest little subject and posed beautifully. Your announcement was the most talked about topic among the family over Labor Day weekend!

Around 6 weeks you found your tongue. Grandma and I have had a ball laughing at your funny faces and sticking our tongues out with you. You grin and stick your tongue our and smack your lips and you can even curl your tongue! You are certainly your Mommy's boy!

Around 7 weeks you started cooing and talking a lot to Mommy and Daddy. You'd laugh and smile and talk to us every morning when you'd wake up. Mommy loves that time with you and talks back to you.

We spent the week before Labor Day in Tennessee visiting family, you were so great and charmed everyone we met. Everyone loved meeting you and they couldn't get enough of your sweet smiles or your cute belly. Mommy and Daddy spent their first night away from you when we went to a bed and breakfast in the mountains. You were pretty fussy on Grandma and Grandpa and we think it's because you missed Mommy. I came back to you the next day and we were all happier!

You have made so many changes over the last 4 weeks, I can hardly believe how you're growing and changing. You are Mommy's handsome boy and the bestest boy in the whole world - never forget that my special son.

I love you with all my heart,
Mommy

Dear Parker - Month 1

Dear Parker,

Today marks exactly one month since you were born. On one hand it feels like time has creeped by and you've been around forever. On the other hand time has flown and I feel like I can hardly catch my breath.

Our time in the hospital was like a fairy tale. All our needs were quickly taken care of and our wishes were granted. Once we arrived home, the fairy tale continued as your Grandma stayed with us for 4 weeks - as I couldn't drive due to my surgery. She helped me clean and cook and take care of you. Mostly she loved you and hugged you and fed you and couldn't get enough of you.

I will tell you that we had a very interesting first night home. You didn't feel good at all and cried most all of the night. We had no idea that there existed a magical cure and me, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa all took turns staying up with you and rocking you and trying to comfort you. The next day the doctor told us of the magical cure and we've relied on it often during your first month. Since that first night you've been a complete angel. You hardly cry and you sleep so well.

Parker, there have been so many times when I have just watched you sleep in my arms and cried until the tears wouldn't flow any longer. I find it terribly hard to put into words just how much you mean to me. My mind has a hard time fathoming just how I can love you so much in such a short period of time. From the moment I held you I would have done anything for you. You are an answered prayer and an angel sent from above - a true blessing to your father and I. You have helped me open my heart to a size I never knew possible.

You are making me a better person, Parker. I never could quite grasp the concept of "don't sweat the small stuff". Now I understand. I hope that as long as we are on this Earth together that we make each other better people.

I promise to you now, I will do everything I can to help you be a man of good character, high integrity and much compassion.

Oh....and I don't think I'll ever be able to get the songs from your swing or Pack N Play out of my head....it's a blessing and a curse....

Parker, my boy, Happy (1 month) Birthday!

Hypo What?!?!?

Well, Parker is growing like a weed folks! I know this because my arm falls asleep when I feed him, he's grown out of his newborn onesies and he's almost grown out of his newborn diapers.

I also know this because we had a doctor's appointment last week and he was weighed for the first time since we got home from the hospital...he weighed 10 pounds 2 ounces!!!! He's just remarkable! He's trying to be as big as his Daddy as quickly as he can!

We had to go to a specialist last week...a pediatric urologist...in regards to a small birth defect that Parker has which is call hypospadias. It basically means that his urethra doesn't exit his guy part at the very end like it should. His urethra exits just a little bit south of where it should and it's incredibly minor as far as that kind of defect goes. Apparently it's caused by the mother taking progesterone early in the pregnancy which I did. Our urologist basically gave us two options: 1 - Don't circumsize Parker and leave the minor hypospadias as it is or; 2 - Wait until he's 6 months old and have the surgery to correct the hypospadias and circumsize him. We feel strongly about circumscision so we'll be electing to have the surgery done to correct his defect and circumsize him once he's six months old.

Anyway...at least I have a while to prepare myself for his procedure....

We also go in on Monday for our one month checkup with the pediatrician! I can't believe he'll be four weeks old on Friday! I am already compiling my list of questions for the pediatrician. One of them is if I can start giving Parker some Pedialyte. A good friend of mine said that her pediatrician said she could give her son Pedialyte during the day to keep him full without extra calories. I am worried because Parker is already taking 4 ounce bottles every three hours and sometimes wakes up at 2 or 2.5 hours between feedings so hungry. If I could give him an ounce or two of Pedialyte then that could satiate him until feeding time. We'll see what our pediatrician says. Also, I'm going to ask him about the possibility of giving Parker some cereal before bedtime. My same friend said her pediatrician allowed her to give her son a bit of cereal at the 9/10pm feeding when he was one month old. We'll see...I'd love to get the boy sleeping a little longer than 3 hours at a time.

We're hoping to get our pictures made soon for our announcements...I promise to post them soon!

Gratuitious Cuteness!

Okay....I'm warning you now...there's more cuteness on this page than most people can handle in one day. It's overwhelming and could cause adverse effects on your fallopian tubes if you're a woman. Scroll at your own risk, that's all I'm saying. :-)



Okay...Here's baby Parker dressed to impress on the day we left the hospital.



Isn't the cuteness just jumping off the page at you? Those fingers...those cheeks...ugh, it's more than I can handle for sure. How I'm ever going to say no to this boy is beyond me.

Also, this cute bundle doesn't even come close to revealing the not so cute behavior that plagued us the night he came home. We were insulated in our nice warm hospital room. We were lulled into a false sense of security. We weren't exactly prepared for our first night home with this 8 pound munchkin. The night this boy came home with us was a night from hell. I won't sugar coat it, it was one of the hardest nights of my entire life. He had been through so much change that he was all out of sorts....and gassy....and just didn't feel good. Did I know how to soothe him, heck no! Did Grandma or Grandpa? No way....well, Grandma finally did get him hugged up to her so that his belly was up against hers and he seemed to like that....but mostly he just cried, and cried, and cried and couldn't be soothed. I cried and fought back the desire to drive back to the hospital and return him. No...I wouldn't have done that....well, maybe....no seriously, I wouldn't have ever done that. I was thinking irrationally from lack of sleep, we all were. Luckily we went to see the pediatrician the next day and he was all like, "Give him some infant Mylicon drops and he'll be fine." Well thanks doc...where were you like 12 hours ago? :-) Anyway, Mylicon is the next best thing since sliced bread and Parker's cheeks. If you're a new Mom or about-to-be Mom, stock up. Trust me!


And now....for my little ducky....




Now those cheeks...they slay me....those blue eyes, oh Lordy be I'm in trouble. What else is there to say? He's just too cute for words. Of course, he's mine so I can be that blatantly biased. :-)

Hugs to you all!
L.

My sweetest boy!

Here are the first pictures of me, Shooter and Parker from the OR delivery room. As you can see in the first pic, I have an ice pack on my chest. Apparently most women end up vomiting during a cesearean delivery, I lasted longer than most....I didn't get sick until the surgeons were sewing me up. That made spending time with Parker a little difficult, but we managed some first family pictures thanks to the wonderful anesthesia nurse, Barbara.

Here is the first picture of Mommy and Parker:

Here's the first picture of Daddy and Parker:

Here's our first family picture:

Here's Parker after his first bath while he was being worked on in the transition nursery. He inhaled some meconium during delivery and had to spend 4 hours in the transitional nursery being monitored. He was born at 5:11pm and I didn't get to hold him until a little after 9pm.

But once I got to hold him, I didn't let go for a while. This munchkin grabbed my heart and hasn't let go. Methinks it'll be that way for a long, long, long, long time. :0)

He's a little yellow here...we fought off jaundice and we won, but he looks a little like he's been in a tanning bed. :-)

Look at those cheeks will you? They slay me. I kiss and smooch and snuggle to them daily. I can't help it. They're addictive....like Cheetos only better for you!

Labor....wherefore art thou labor?

Well....now it's time to talk a little about my delivery of Baby Parker. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I was on Pitocin for several hours with no progression of my labor. As you can see by the picture below, I was in so much pain.... ;-)

Since I knew the day before that I was being induced, my parents had time to make it down from Tennessee. Here are me and my Dad in the labor room.

We were really hoping that Parker (and I) had progressed so that we could get the delivery show on the road. Here is Shooter giving Parker the what's what on how he needed to come on out and greet us. Unfortunately it didn't work!

Once the doctor came in and evaluated me, it was determined that we were off to surgery. Here I am prepped and ready to go!

I also had to give Shooter's head a good rub for luck....here we both are dressed, prepped and ready to head off to surgery so that we could meet our precious Parker.

Here is a picture of me with my L&D nurse DeAnna. She was the sweetest nurse and really made the time I spent in L&D a good experience. She accompanied me to the OR and then was there through my surgery as well.

More to come......

Baby Parker has arrived!!!

Well, as I posted Wednesday a week ago, I had been having issues with my blood pressure. After being observed on Tuesday I went back on Thursday just to be checked out and found out that my blood pressure was still as high and my doctor was very nervous about things.

She sent me back over to the hospital to be observed and see what happened after a few hours of rest. Well, the OB on call came to see me after an hour and said, "Well, I think we need to get you ready for a delivery. I'm ordering Cervadil for the night and then we'll start Pitocin in the morning to get your labor going." I nearly freaked out! Shooter comes to the hospital to stay with me and then I get on the phone with my parents so they can begin the drive from Tennessee to Hotlanta for the birth of their grandson.

On Friday morning they pulled the Cervadil and then started the Pitocin at 9am. At about 2:30pm I started having these horribly strong contractions that had me crying and writhing in bed. I then found out that they were so strong because I had a full bladder. Once I went to the bathroom they subsided to the non-existent point they were before. At 4pm the OB on call came in and checked me and I was barely, and I mean BARELY, 1 cm dilated after 7 hours on Pitocin. Also, Parker's heartbeat was starting to drop with each of my contractions so the OB on call was justifiably concerned. She decided at 4pm to do a c-section and Parker was born at 5:11pm on Friday, July 10th. He weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. I found out later that I wouldn't have been able to deliver him anyway due to a huge kink in his cord, about the size of Shooter's fist. He had somehow somersaulted and knotted his cord in a big way!

I owe a huge debt of thanks to the OB who delivered Parker because she made a decision that saved me a lot of pain and saved Parker pain as well. I have recovered remarkably from my c-section and we're all doing amazingly well.

My parents have been here all week with me and have been a godsend. I do not know what I would have done had they not been here...especially Mom...whew....she's an angel for sure, peeps!

Anyway. I'm slowly working on getting photos in order and such and I'll be posting them soon!

Hugs to all of you!
L.

I would SO not make a good bedrest patient

Yesterday I had a bit of a scare during my doctor's visit. I went in, a little earlier than my scheduled appointment because I'd been having contractions, and discovered that my blood pressure was pretty high. Higher than it's been all through my pregnancy. I've been kinda worried that this day might come but had figured I was past the point where I'd really have to worry about it.

Well, after resting, my blood pressure still didn't go down far enough to please the doctor so she sent me over to the hospital for observation and blood work. Well, it took about an hour to just get in there, get settled, answer their questions, get hooked to monitors and have my blood drawn. Ugh! Then they said it would take another hour to get the results from my blood work. I hadn't had breakfast and it was lunch time...I was about to die! Luckily my nurse took pity on me and brought me a lunch menu so I ordered some lunch. Lunch came about 1pm, I'd arrived around 11:40am, and I didn't get the results from my blood work until between 3 and 3:30pm. I was so freakin' bored out of my mind that I thought I was going to go batty! The only thing on TV was the Michael Jackson memorial and I am so oversaturated with MJ coverage that I couldn't stand watching it. Also, I discovered that watching "A Baby Story" on TLC really isn't as entertaining when you're in the hospital hooked to monitors in a labor and delivery room! Thankfully my blood work results were all good and my observation went well so nothing further was needed to be done.

The doctor did send me home with strict instructions - no more work, rest, stay off my feet as much as possible and stay out of the heat. Not too hard...I can handle that!

I have to say that not having to worry about work has been one of the greatest gifts. I slept really well last night have abided by her orders to the letter!

I will keep everyone updated for when Parker arrives...he's being stubborn and slow so we might be waiting for a while. :-D

Recipe Time!! Mediterranean Couscous Salad

One Sunday evening I got really industrious and worked away in the kitchen making three salads/salsas for the week's dinners and lunches. One was a brand new one for me and one I completely made up on the fly. I have since worked with the dressing element of the salad and feel that it's now perfecto! I hope you enjoy trying this out!


Mediterranean Couscous Salad

1 cup dried couscous prepared according to package directions and cooled
3 Roma/plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 medium red onion, diced
2 english cucumbers, quartered, seeds removed and diced
1 bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped well
1 8oz container feta cheese crumbles

In a large mixing bowl stir all of the ingredients above together until mixed well.

Dressing:
Juice of three lemons
Zest of one lemon
1 tsp minced garlic (I use the jarred kind)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Whisk all these ingredients until thoroughly combined and then pour over the couscous mixture. Stir well until the vinaigrette is well incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for an hour before serving.

No news - the waiting game continues

Well....we're one week away from my due date. 7 measley days. I'm actually hoping that tonight or tomorrow will be the magical time. It's a full moon tomorrow and we all know that full moons bring out the crazy people and cause preggos to go into labor. I don't wanna jinx myself, but I just haven't felt right today. My tummy is really tight, my lower back hurts and the baby is really, really low!

I've been having some stern conversations with my son this weekend about how his father and I are very ready for him to come and that we can't wait to see his little face. His father has had conversations with him urging him to come out of the womb and into the room! This weekend didn't see much activity - only random Braxton Hicks contractions. Today....today feels different somehow. We'll see if it means anything. I have an OB appt tomorrow late in the day so we'll see what she says and see if I've made any progress.

In other news....can I tell you how oversaturated I am with all this Michael Jackson stuff? I mean, seriously....I've had enough of it. Shooter and I pulled into our local pharmacy yesterday and discovered that the sign out front was rigged to stay on the message, "We'll miss you, Michael J!!!!!!!" I nearly gagged. I've contemplated going to the pharmacy website and emailing them a complaint. Eh, it's probably my grouchy pregnancy hormones taking over my otherwise easy going self.

Okay....since I've been writing this....I'm feeling more and more uncomfortable and weird. Maybe it was my sandwich for lunch....then again, maybe it's labor. Let's all pray that it's the latter!

Hopefully the next time I return it'll be with pictures of baby Parker!

I'm not exactly surprised....

So I'm sitting here watching the Jon and Kate "Annoucement" episode.

I can't say that I'm surprised, but I am sad for them.

They're apparently going to keep filming the show. Kate sat there crying and looking like the martyr and I could only keep thinking that she made her bed and now she's having to lie in it. Jon just seemed so darned ambivalent about it all.

I would have had much more respect for them had they said that they were going to take a break from filming and that they were going to work on their marriage and take themselves and the children out of the limelight.

I don't know how I would have handled it if I were in their shoes, but above all I would like to think that I'd put my marriage first. My faith has taught me that God comes first and then our spouse and then our children. Something tells me that their faith isn't what they have portrayed to the media or they'd be coming to a different conclusion.

I am sad for the children. As Kate said, they're now another statistic. It didn't have to be that way.

July 7th??????

I just looked up the next full moon and it happens to be on July 7th....Could that be the day??!!??!

Personally, I don't care. I'm not one of those hyper pregnant women who've planned out their birthing experience to the letter. I figure things will go awry and we'll have bumps along the way. I only have three things I'm particular about -
1 - GIVE ME DRUGS!
2 - I really don't want to be induced.
3 - I really don't want a C-section.

Other than those three - I'm flexible and willing to go with what the doctor says.

Oh....this weekend we did get the car seat installed...I think. It was a painful process. One that caused many tears and gnashing of teeth. We have a compact car, even though it's a sedan, and the seat barely fits in the backseat and barely allows room for the adult passengers up front. I think Shooter finally figured it out but I think we'll have to be shopping for a bigger replacement car here soon. I vote for a Honda CRV! :-)

I am 37 weeks along today - Parker is considered full-term and can come any day! I'm ready for him to come on the personal, emotional and physical front however not so ready on the professional/work front. I need this week to get things in order and ready to go. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I have another sonogram to confirm that he has migrated heads down (I really think he has) and see how big he is. After that I go see my OB and my guess is we'll create our battle plan depending on where he is and his size.

Whew! Let's get this show on the road!!!

Still waiting....

Ha!

Have I ever mentioned that I'm not a really patient person? During the 10 months that it took Shooter and I to get pregnant with Parker I was one of the most impatient people ever. Every month I was filled with "whys" and "why nots". Questioning and wondering.

Once we finally got pregnant I was so super excited but impatient for each new milestone in my pregnancy. Now I'm impatient for the arrival of my little boy. I'm anxious to see his face and nibble his little baby toes and kiss on his round baby belly.

Apparently he's not as impatient to see me. Ha!

I'll be 37 weeks on Monday and finally considered full term. He, according to my doctor today, seems to have turned head down and is in position. So now he holds all the cards! It's in God's timing and Parker's need to come visit us.

I'm actually thinking it might be next weekend. Not sure why but I have that in my head for some reason. We'll see, my mother's intuition so far has been pretty spot on.

I'll have to get some photos taken because this baby belly is OUT OF CONTROL!

Also, I owe you more pics of the jungle that my tomato plants have become. It's crazy! I've started harvesting them and oh they're so tasty!!!!!!

Later!
L.

Starting the waiting game!

I know I've been a bad blogger....almost another two weeks has passed without a post from me. I do apologize...it just seems to me like I don't really have anything new to post. The heartburn remains....the thank yous remain unwritten...the doctors appointments keep coming...work is winding down...I'm still tired...blah blah blah. See nothing interesting to write!

BUT...today...we went and purchased our infant car seat carrier and stroller. We, as in Shooter and I, have been debating the merits of full sized strollers, lightweight strollers, travel systems and such until we just can't take it anymore. Finally we just decided that we'd get a nice lightweight stroller and a separate infant carrier rather than a bulky travel system. We ended up with this:


We decided on getting the Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat and the Maxi-Cosi Perle stroller. I have a coworker who has this and she just LOVES it...I can see why...the thing turns on a dime and is lightweight and folds up into nothing. The carrier is not the lightest on the market but it's also way lighter than some others out there.

We have it put together and sitting in Parker's room...no we're just waiting. We need to install the base into my car and then we're all systems go.

I have felt like he's turned and settled down a lot in the last few days. I'm feeling him all out in front of me and his movements are more rolling than the punches and kicks from a few days ago. I feel the little swirls down low and the kick like feelings up high, which leads me to believe that he has decided to head south. I hope so...I DO NOT want a cesearean delivery.

I am having to eat super small meals about 2-3 hours apart because I just have no room in my stomach anymore. Part of it is that I am fighting morning sickness again which is a pain in the butt. I woke up the other night, nauseaous, couldn't go back to sleep and went to the nursery to just sit and sip on a Coke until it passed. I figured it won't be long until I'm doing that but nursing the baby instead of a Coke. :-)

I hope everyone is doing well...I know we're hanging out and just waiting for the "I think it's time" go signal. :-)

Later!
L.

Doctors, jury duty and heartburn....

Okay...so I'm going to address three things that are conspiring against me these days.

#1 - Heartburn!!!!

I have never in my life experienced such horrific, terrible, noxious, unbelievable heartburn as I have been experiencing over the last week. One day it'll be fine and then then next it'll be so bad I feel like I'm about to vomit all the time. Last night it was so bad that after downing about 9 tums in a 3 hour period, I had to prop myself up in bed in order to get 4.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If this is preparation for sleep deprivation...I'd rather it wait another few weeks until I can get my work life situated, please! It's always nice when your boss comes in, takes a look at you, and says, "Boy, you look tired today." *sigh*

#2 - Jury Duty

I got called in for jury duty in the Superior Court of the county I live in. Can I just say that they are pretty unorganized as far as courts go. I have always been called to serve where you just call a number the night before and find out if you need to go in or if you're dismissed, etc. Well not in my county! They call in all 300 or so of us and then choose 40-50 to go to jury selection then release us - but we have to be back the next day. The next day they call in 40-50 more folks...same process over again. I think anyway....I had been pestering the poor ladies at the court because I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and another one today and would have to be let go early to get to them. They finally took pity on me yesterday and made the executive decision to excuse me for the week. Woo Hoo!

#3 - Doctors
Okay...so I completely freaked out about my regular OB calling me and her being concerned about my amniotic fluid level. Well....turns out that my Perinatologist wasn't concerned at all about my original level number and it was even higher today. Both readings well in the normal range although on the high end. She was not concerned....so therefore I am not concerned. My perinatologist is amazing and I love her to death. She could say the world was flat and I think I'd believe her. Ha! Anyway, all looks great with Baby Parker. He's about 5 pounds 11 ounces and has peach fuzz on his round little head! He was also breech today, but that could change at any time as he has so much room to wiggle around in. I think my placenta decided to give him a suite. We have a follow up with my perinatologist in three weeks to do another set of measurements and get a fluid level measurement and also check and see where the boy has decided to orient himself in his cozy little home. I do not want to go through the process of trying to turn him so if he's still breech at 37 weeks we'll likely be scheduling a C section delivery of the bubs. Amazing!!!

L.

Did a green thumb come along with my pregnancy???

Okay...several weeks ago I wrote THIS BLOG POST talking about mine and Shooter's weekend of gardening. Well, let me show you what's been happening to our tomatoes, basil and petunias since the end of April.

This is one of the window boxes. If you remember, this had three scrawny little plants in it and didn't look like it would ever amount to much. Well, it's proven me wrong. :-)




This is the silver bucket planter that had 6 scrawny plants in it about a month ago. It didn't take this planter long to get full to the max. It's so packed in there with blooms, I can hardly get in there to dead-head the petunias so they keep blooming!!



This planter had two SAD little red cherry tomato plants in it a few weeks ago. We already had to put one cage around them and now we're trying to figure out what to do with the stragglers who are blooming and will likely break off when the tomatoes start coming on if we don't do something about them.



This planter is in the same shape as the other one...it's going BANANAS!!!!!




Here's a close up of just a few of the tomatoes growing on the plants. We're going to be overrun here in about 4-6 weeks.




I just thought a picture of the blooms was pretty....




Oh...and here is the basil....it may not look like much now...but this is AFTER it got a pruning....




Here's the first harvest of basil for the year. Now...I just have to find some takers for it.... :-) Actually, I may make a batch of pesto and freeze it. I'll have to do some investigating on uses for basil. :-)


Later!
L.

I didn't even realize I was stinky!

:-)

Over the Memorial Day weekend my family in Tennessee threw me and Parker a baby shower. It was so fun to be with everyone...and also a good friend of mine from childhood.

The food was spectacular! My Granny's pimento cheese is to die for!!!!





Here I am posing with the plate from the baby shower.




Here is the obscene display of gifts.





My cousin Amanda is so crafty. She made this cute as pie diaper cake for us!




This is my Aunt Jane. She's my Mom's oldest sister and hosted the shower at her house. I cannot thank her enough for all the hard work she put into the event. It was so perfect!





The faces you can see are my Aunt Mary, my Mom's youngest sister, and my Cousin Lori, she's married to one of my cousins. The face you can't see is my, hmmm, well it's my Mom's cousin Jenny, I suppose that makes her my second cousin?




In this shot from left to right is my Aunt Carol, my cousin Paula, Jenny, Mary and Lori.




Here's the other side of the room - my friend Kelly, my cousin Kate, my Aunt Dana, my Mom, and my Granny.




Here's me with the baby bedding.




My cousin Amanda had this cute outfit made for baby Parker. I can't wait to see him in it!!!




Amanda also had this gorgeous diaper bag monogrammed for him too. It's perfect and I can't wait to use it either.




Cousin Lori got Parker this snuggly little bear and the basket that matches the baby bedding. Her son Nick got Parker the piggy bank, it's positively adorable!!




After I had wrecked havoc on the gifts, my cousin Amanda brings out these huge bags for my Mom to open, so Mom will be "the coolest grandma on the block". Amanda is a garage sale queen and picked up all kinds of toys and books for Mom to keep at her house for when Parker comes to visit!


A good time was had by all and I have to thank all my aunts, cousins and my sister-in-law for all the hard work they put into making the shower perfect!

Later!
L.