Parkers Blessing

We blessed Parker on October 18th. He wore the same blessing outfit as Taylor did. Look how much these two look alike, its crazy. Parker is definitely bigger than Taylor was at this age.

We attempted a family picture but Ashley really didn't want to cooperate and Taylor, he's just a goof. I just laughed when I saw how our picture turned out. Now that I look at Taylor's face in the one below, it reminds me of a family picture we took and my brother Jake was making that same face....it became our Christmas card that year.





Parker loves to do this with his mouth as most babies do.

Proud Parents

I love that he is smiling now. I captured this picture and when I looked back at it I couldn't believe how much he looked like his uncle Dave.

Then with this smile he looks just like his daddy.

It was a beautiful day. Parker was happy and he was given a beautiful blessing.

I can't believe that Parker is 1 month old. It has really gone fast and he is changing so quickly. At his two week appointment he weighed 8 lbs 1 oz and was 20 in long. I was quite proud because all that weight came from me nursing him with only a few supplemental bottles. I did give up nursing though the day before his two week appointment. It was just to hard for me. I tried pumping but that just took too long. 4 days later Parker was weighed again and he weighed 8 lbs 7 oz! I could not believe he put on 6 oz in 4 days. He loves to eat and sometimes can't wait for 3 hours.

Parker is a pretty good baby. He sleeps a lot which gets frustrating when we try to feed him. He falls asleep all the time and it takes 30 minutes to feed him. I thought that bottle feeding was going to help with the long feedings but with Parker it doesn't. I'm happy if I'm back in bed 20 minutes after I started feeding him. With Ashley I remember it only being like 10 minutes.

He's been a little colic but not horrible. His tummy does bother him and he is quite gassy. I've tried different formula and gripe water to help but nothing seemed to work. Now I'm taking him to the chiropractor. He was out right at his bowel. He actually seems to be a little better. He doesn't scream out in pain as much as he used to.

He smiled at me last week. I was totally shocked when I looked down at him and smiled and cooed and he smiled back. I ran downstairs to show Doug but he wouldn't do it again. He's not smiling all the time but every now and then he lets out this big grin. I love this stage where they start to respond to you.

We still aren't getting much sleep at night. Sometimes he only sleeps 2 hours and other times he will sleep 4- but only if he's asleep on my chest or right next to me. I hope this changes soon. I can't seem to get over my sickness and its probably due to the lack of sleep. He's starting to be awake more during the day so I hope at night he'll start sleeping more.


Isn't he a cutie!

We wanted to take this picture because of his little hands. He looks so content

Taylor and Ashley love to have Parker laying on the floor so they can lay next to him and talk to him. Parker loves to watch his brother and sister. It helps me because it keeps him entertained while I try to get something accomplished.



This is his favorite sleeping position. For the first few weeks he and I ended up on the couch and I would have him sleep on my chest. I actually love that he cuddles up like this. I love to look down and his cute, peaceful face and watch him sleep. He's a very active sleeper. He makes lots of noises and grunts a lot! He reminds us a lot of how Taylor was as a baby.

Parker's 1st week home

The first week home from the hospital didn't start out so well for me. I was still trying to get over my cough. Whenever I would try to "catch up" on sleep i would end up coughing the whole time. Then, I woke up Monday feeling horrible. I had no appetite, in fact I felt like throwing up when I thought of food. I laid in bed that morning, Doug off to work (only because I told him to, having just started his new job the week before) and thought, how am I going to take care of my children. I called my mom to come take my kids and my mother in law to help with Parker. The whole day was yucky. I had hot flashes all day, couldn't eat, shaky and tingly because of no food. Later that night I called the doctor thinking something was wrong but he told me my hormones went from really high with pregnancy to really low and this is how my body was reacting. I needed to drink instead of eat. I was going to send Doug to Walmart but changed my mind and sent my mom. All day I told myself I was never doing this again. I felt horrible. I had Doug and his dad give me a blessing that night.

Things did get better as the week went on. After a few days I was able to eat some food, the hot flashes went away and my cough...well, it was still keeping me up. I finally got a prescription that helped. Despite how my body was feeling I was surprised at how easy a transition to three kids was for me. My kids absolutely love Parker and want to help all the time. Taylor will hold Parker while I make dinner or clean up. Its still an adjustment trying to figure out how to get ready and accomplish what needs to be done but it hasn't been as difficult as i thought. I really haven't experienced the baby blues as I thought I would. I've had a few days but nothing lingering.

Taylor's Soccer

Taylor was so excited that he could play on a soccer team this year. He's been looking forward to this day since he was two. He put his jersey on way before his game even started. All day he would ask, "is it my soccer game now?" Now he ask, "is my soccer game in the next morning time?" He can't wait for his games or practice. This Tuesday is his last game until spring. He's going to be so sad. Luckily he has a goal in the backyard so he and his daddy can play



Here are some pictures of him playing


I don't have one of him scoring any goals but he scores at least one goal each game, usually he gets 2-3. Its so fun to watch him play and when he does score a goal he turns and looks at us with this little grin on his face, kind of shy like, and then he'll run over and give us 5.

Sometimes when his teams scores goals they do somersaults. Its really fun to watch these little kids play. Some get really in to it, others cry because they don't get the ball and others don't even know they are playing soccer.

Oh yeah, they named their team Bees.

Ashley loves to watch her brother play and even likes to give him a good luck kiss


Here's a little video of him playing