10 Weeks

The weeks have flown by.  I'm sure the holidays had some part in that.  Parker turned 10 weeks yesterday.  He has grown so much in the last week.  He now smiles, coos, holds his head up, and imitates faces.  We are starting to realize how much fun we are going to have when he learns to do more. 

Parker has Brandon's hairline, eye shape and we think nose.  Parker has my mouth, chin shape, and closes his right eye more than his left just like me. 

Baby's First Christmas

Having a baby right before the holidays is not something I recommend.  Don't do it.  New baby plus holidays equals total chaos.  I don't think I remember listening to Christmas music this year - one of my favorite things about the holidays.  The days leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas are a blur.  I'm thinking since people leave their Christmas lights up on the house all year, why can't I leave Christmas lights up if they are on a tree, in the house?  Is there really a difference?

Parker's first Christmas was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Hines'.  It was also Parker's first road trip.  Santa was very kind to Parker.  I guess he was a good boy this year.  I think it had something to do with the fact he only had 2 months to be good instead of the entire year like the rest of us.  That comments may have just put me on the naughty list for 2013....

Brandon posed Parker, not realizing he grew ears.

Grandma and Grandpa Hignite came to Newport the week after Christmas for Parker's blessing.  They came bearing gifts.  We had a blast with them.  Parker was blessed to have Grandma watch him at night, giving Mama and Papa a break (which was great since the three of us came home from Christmas with colds).  Hopefully Grandpa will share his photos :)

Some photos of Parks

Brandon and I are not photo taking people.  We have been told we need more photos of Parker, so we are learning to take more photos.  Here are some of our Cutie.  Enjoy.

 

I love this photo of Parker....

And is from his first day of church. 

Sunny Sunday

Today we blessed Parker.  I will have to get photos from Grandpa Hignite and post later.  But, we also took Parker to the ocean for the first time.  It was just gorgeous outside.  You wouldn't believe it was a winter day on the Oregon Coast.  Here is a photo of Parks at the beach, with his grandmas on the beach behind him. 

 I am sure this is the first of MANY trips to the beach.  

Total Cuteness

Parker doesn't really know how to smile yet - it comes randomly.  I think he's done it on purpose maybe twice.  Yesterday Parker had quite the sad pout on his face.  It was really cute - bottom lip sticking out and everything.  In a low funny voice I started singing "If you chance to meet a frown..."  That kid - he's been holding out on us because when I got to "turn that smile upside down and smile that frown away" he starts smiling!  Now I have a funny story to share at his wedding.

If you don't know the Smiles song - here's a link to the music.  For some reason the vocals aren't there, but there are lyrics.  Smiles

That's How He Rolls

Brandon is known for saying, "That's how I roll."  Well, Parker is now rolling from his tummy to his back.  This was taken November 26th - when Parker was 4 weeks old.  We are in trouble if he's already rolling over...

Too bad Parker wasn't wearing this shirt when he rolled over for the first time.  (Kinda hard to see but is says This is how I roll)

Oh - he's so cute!

Baby Parker is here!!

We keep getting asked for more photos of Parker.  I thought I would share Parker's birth story along with some photos.

Brandon looking sexy in his scrubs

Parker showed up 2 weeks early.  It wasn't planned and I didn't go into labor.  It started around 1am October 28th.  I woke up thinking I was maybe peeing a little, or that my water broke.  I ran to the bathroom and found that I was actually bleeding.  We hurried to the hospital to find out what was happening.  The baby was not in distress, but I was having regular contractions every 2 minutes.  I couldn't feel the contractions, though.  After a while the bleeding stopped, but they still weren't 100% sure what caused it.  An ultrasound confirmed a small separation of the placenta from the uterus.  I was told they wanted me to stay until the morning of October 29th to make sure things were ok. 

The morning of October 29th I was getting ready to head home.  Brandon went to work and would come pick me up when I knew when they would release me.  I just had my breakfast delivered and I was getting ready to take my first bite when the dr come in with a bunch of other people.  The nurse took away my breakfast, and I knew something was up.  The dr explained that after talking with other drs and doing some research, he felt it was best to deliver the baby.  Apparently only 50% of babies are born alive after having a placenta separation and waiting to deliver.  I thought those odds made it important to make sure the baby stayed healthy and alive.  The dr went on to explain that since I wasn't dilated, inducing labor could mean up to 2 days of hard labor.  Or, we could have a c-section.  I knew right away I needed to have a c-section, even though I didn't want one.  Because the hospital here in Newport is small, it will mean I have to have a c-section on future pregnancies, and I can't have a tone of kids because they only like to give around 4 c-sections.  There went my plans for 6 kids (actually, getting married at 28 and having my first at 32 blew those plans!)

You can tell Brandon is smiling under the mask!

Things went really fast from there.  I called Brandon and told him what was going on.  He finished up some work and headed over.  I was so nervous.  We weren't ready for a baby - I had plans to finish up all the last minute shopping and sewing, and everything else, that week.  I didn't want surgery, or the spinal that goes along with it.  Plus, I still don't know what to do with a baby.  Anyway, drs, nurses, the surgery team, and anesthetists came in and out of the room.  It only made things worse.  The good thing was that Brandon would be there, and the anesthetist was a member of our ward who I work with in my calling.  I knew I was in good hands - and if anything went wrong, there where 2 worthy priesthood holders there to give me a blessing.  I was shaking as I walked into the delivery room.  I really didn't want to go through this but obviously had to.
  
Things went well and baby Parker arrive at 1pm on October 29th.  He didn't want to come out.  The dr had to use the vacuum because Parker was so big the dr couldn't fit his hands around him to pull him out.  That's right - 7lbs 14oz is apparently big.  And Parker's first thing right out of the womb?  He peed in his own face.  Ha! 

I found out later that the separation was much larger than they thought.  I probably would have had major complications if I had induced labor.  The dr said it was possible we would have lost the baby, and possibly me too.  Plus, he thought the baby would have been too big and we would have ended up with a c-section anyway.  Thank goodness I was inspired to have a c-section!!  I feel like everything that happened - from me waking up at the right time on the 28th to deciding to have the c-section - was all inspired.  I know someone was watching out for me and Parker.  It still hits me from time to time that things could have been really, really bad.  I don't know what I would have done if we lost Parker - and I can't think of what Brandon would do if he lost me too.  I feel completely blessed.  And my recovery has gone very well - I'm walking around in no pain after a week. 

Ahhh....  Parker is so cute!

I ended up at the hospital thru November 1st because Parker was jaundice.  It was bad - the first week we had to make daily hospital visits to check his levels.  He is doing fine now - still a little yellow but levels are ok.  Because Parker was a little early, he has had some troubles eating.  That didn't help his jaundice.  I have to wake up Parker to eat. Yes, my newborn would sleep through the night if I didn't wake him to eat.  Jealous??  Parker surprises us.  He is very strong.  He is already lifting up his head and rolls over to his side.  I think we are in trouble if this keeps up!  I joke that instead of 2 weeks early, Parker was really 2 weeks late.

Brandon said we needed a family photo - with the cat. *sigh*