My Australian Adventure

Want to see more?

2010-05-30T17:20:00.002-06:00

Since our Australian adventure is over, this blog is on the move. The blog's new home is p-parker-patrick.tumblr.com.

Montana!

2010-05-29T12:02:00.000-06:00

Well... we have been home for a little over a week and can not get of enough of Montana! WE LOVE IT HERE! Parker has been loving all the attention he gets from all of his family and friends.

it ends...

2010-05-18T22:18:00.000-06:00

Our adventure started with a few suitcases and ended with a bub. We are better people because of it. The flights went well... Parker would not sleep in the bassinet but we were thankful for the extra legroom. On the 14 hour flight from Sydney to LA, Parker probably slept 10 hours. Tyler and I only managed around 2 hours. I have high hopes that Parker will move into his US sleeping schedule smoothly. I love America more than I can put in words, my heart sparkles thinking of all the wonderful things I will get to re-experience with new insight. So happy to be home!

waiting for our flight out of Sydney on a rainy day

a sign greeting us upon arrival in Los Angeles

at the airport

2010-05-17T17:59:00.000-06:00

It's raining cats and dogs here today, but we made it to the airport. Best news of the day so far... is that the one of the bassinet seats is officially confirmed ours! Let's hope it is as leg-roomy as we think it might be. Now it is just a matter of waiting a few more ours to board and then we will be in Montana in no time at all.

Parker is sacked out right now. We ended up taking a taxi instead of the train. The concierge at the hotel recommended a taxi service that has infant car seats available, so we went with that. Much easier than hauling luggage through train stations and the rain. Parker really enjoyed his first car ride too. Signs of things to come? Let's hope.

moving out and heading home...

2010-05-17T06:00:00.001-06:00

What a day, what a day! I woke up at 3:30 and could not fall back asleep. Tyler set an alarm for 5:00, so that he could do one last load of laundry. And Parker slept in until 6:00. Despite Tyler's worry that we could not get everything cleaned, we finished with time to spare. At 10:30 I headed to campus one last time... Parker had a bump on his eyelid that I wanted looked at by the doctor. Turns out he did have a small infection, so it was good I played it safe. While Parker and I were at the doctors, Tyler took a taxi with all of our bags and checked into a hotel in the city. We are staying the night at the Travelodge (the same hotel we first stayed at when we moved to Sydney). We both met back at the apartment around noon. Our checkout was scheduled for 12:30, but the property manager did not show up until 2:00. While we sat waiting, a huge storm started brewing with lightning, thunder and lots of rain. The checkout went very well, one of the real estate agents commented "did you guys even use the kitchen". It also helped that Parker was quite the charmer, shooting cheeky smiles for everyone to see. It is safe to say that we will be receiving our bond (deposit) in full!

After they took our keys, we hung around in the apartment waiting for the rain to calm a bit, just as we decided to cut our loses and make a dash for the bus stop... it stopped raining! We made it to the hotel around 3:30. Neither of us had eaten anything all day, so Tyler made a mad dash out to his favorite kebab shop for some much needed grub. He also stopped at a corner shop for some TimTams. Even being in the hotel seems like a whole new world. For one, I am sitting in a chair at a proper table instead of balancing the computer on the arm of the couch. We have heat, and carpet and a real bed (two actually, his and hers... Brady Bunch style)! Not long now until we head to the airport and begin our journey... we leave Sydney on Tuesday at 1pm and arrive in Billings on Tuesday at 6pm. That's 21 hours of travel but only 5 hours on the clock.

packing, cleaning and coffee with mates

2010-05-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

We spent most of our day today packing and cleaning. We each have one bag plus the pack n play... and that is it. I am still amazed at how we managed to live so minimally this year. Later in the afternoon we walked down into Randwick and had coffee with our mates. I wanted to get a picture of Erwin holding Parker, but he was too nervous. Hopefully when Erwin moves to the Bozeman in July, Parker will be big enough for him to hold.

a walk, a nap and sardines

2010-05-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

We had a big adventure today when we took a walk to some shops... We were out of the house walking around for almost 5 hours. When we got home, Parker and I took a much needed nap!

Now let me tell you... Tyler has been a picky eater for as long as I have known him. He has made so many brave food moves over the year including eating refried beans, cooked onion, and shark. To top it off, he would gladly eat all of those things again (a very big improvement)! I have been so proud of him. So when Erwin (our friend from Malaysia) insisted on not only taking Tyler out to a Malaysian restaurant, but ordering for him as well... Tyler figured he could handle one more new challenge. Turns out the challenge included sardines, yes sardines. When Tyler came home and told me that he ate sardines for lunch, I was floored. He managed to choke them down - bones, scales, eyes and all. It made me gag hearing about it. I am sure he will never eat them again... but I do not blame him. We are both looking forward to eating good old American food in less than a week!

a morning chat

2010-05-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

Here's a little video...

at the coffee shop

2010-05-13T06:00:00.002-06:00

Parker and I went on a long walk today and ended up in a little coffee shop. I was the only one there, so all the workers flocked over to me when they saw I had a baby. They all oohed and ahhed over how adorable Parker is. They were amazed when I told them that he is only six weeks... saying that he is so alert and has impeccable head control. I agreed with all their statements and enjoyed the warm glow I was feeling as a proud mother. I am most looking forward to introducing Parker to all of you. My heart will shine with so much joy as all my friends and family swoon over my little bundle of joy. He really is the best, you will see.

6 weeks!

2010-05-12T06:00:00.005-06:00

Our little mister is six weeks old today. I took him for his last appointment with Dr. Salmon, and he was such a trouper despite having to get his immunizations. He is very healthy and average on all the growth charts. His soft spot is still on the small side, but she said that it is one of those "wait and see" kind of things. As long as his head continues to grow at a good pace, he should be fine.

Tuesday week

2010-05-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

Instead of saying "next week", in Australia they would say "Tuesday week" for example. So I would like to announce that we are coming home Tuesday week!!! Parker is oh so excited to meet everyone and give lots of smiles.

On another note... Tyler took me out to my favorite ice cream shop on Mother's day. It was not until I looked at these pictures that I realized this ice cream was "South American style"... no wonder I loved it! Australian ice cream is very fluffy, more like whipped cream than the ice cream we are use to.

Happy Birthday Clare!

2010-05-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

Clare is the best because:

She is effortlessly cool
She loves animals just as much as I do
She has some really sweet dance moves
She is talented in so many incredible ways (gymnastics, art, animal whispering, the game of life)
She is very empathetic
She wrote us the best email that we have ever received
She takes Parker's pictures to school with her because she is so proud of him
She has the climbing skills of a monkey
She is a fearless skier
She has crazy morning hair, almost as crazy as mine

showing off our wild morning hair

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T05:30:00.000-06:00

Well, it was my first mother's day. We went to the beach for one last time before we head home. We thought it would be really fun, but Parker had other plans. As soon as we stepped onto the sand he was crying, but he was cooperative enough for us to take a couple photos. We were hoping to get some family photos, but this was the best one we got.

As for the two best mums that we know (Mary and Kathy), happy mother's day! We love you both so much and will treat you to something special when we get home.

in the city

2010-05-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

We had a cracker of a day in the city today! We took the bus to Paddy's Market, then we walked through Chinatown on our way to Darling Harbour, and from there we walked through the city to Hyde Park before catching a bus back home. Parker was a champ, such a gentleman all day long!

a mover and a shaker

2010-05-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Parker is a mover and a shaker that is for sure. We adore him!

why so sad?

2010-05-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, like everyday, Parker gets so worn out from fighting his nap that he cries really hard. He makes the cutest cooing sound when he pauses to look at me with his pouty lips. After an hour of this tonight, he finally fell asleep with a big tear still in his eye.

5 weeks!

2010-05-05T06:00:00.003-06:00

It really felt like fall today. The air was brisk, the wind was ripping, and it rained all morning long. After Parker's morning feed, we snuggled on the couch together and he soon fell asleep in my arms. At this point I would usually try and put him into his bed, but today I just snuggled him. I told myself that he needed the sleep and would be more likely to stay asleep if I just held him... but the truth was that I just wanted to spend the morning snuggling and loving on my beautiful little boy... I mean, come on, look at that face!

... in a fortnight

2010-05-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

We will see you in a fortnight! Today my day included: no napping, a 2-hour walk, a stranger telling me I was too young to have a baby, cereal for dinner, and lots of daydreaming of our life to come. Parker can be difficult as he inherited two kinds of stubborn from his parents... but we love him and would not change who he is for anything. He is perfect and we love being parents!

big tears and children's books

2010-05-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Parker had such a hard day today. It is 10pm and he has only had one nap the whole day. This morning he was so upset... crying big tears. He was well fed. I checked his diaper, that was not the problem. He was not hot or cold. I could tell that he was very tired but there was no settling him, he would not stop crying. He was crying so hard and nothing could console him. So I put him in the carrier and we went on a walk.

As soon as I stepped outside the door, he was fine. He still did not sleep, but he was so happy to be looking around as we walked. Tyler tells me that Parker is just a very enthusiastic personal trainer. He keeps me motivated to continue my daily walking by shouting and demanding I bust a move.

We headed to the uni where I stopped by a coffee shop for a treat and then I wondered into one of the many campus bookstores. After I perused through the parenting section, Parker and I headed over to the children's section. There were so many great books. It had been so long since I have been able to look through children's books. I forgot how great it feels to thumb threw a fantastic new find. I saw so many that I wanted to buy. I cannot wait to get home so that I can dig into all my great books and more importantly read them to Parker!

a lovely Sunday

2010-05-02T06:00:00.002-06:00

We had a lovely Sunday. We slept in, we went to church, we ate lunch out, shopped around a bit, and to top it off... it was the perfect temperature for walking!

Yay for May!

2010-05-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

Yay, May is here! This is going to be a great month for sure. We get to come home, it will be my very first Mother's Day, three very important people in my life have birthdays to celebrate, and to top it off I might even get a new little niece at the end of the month. Can't you tell by the look on Parker's face that he is so excited for the events ahead?

registry

2010-04-30T06:00:00.012-06:00

Tyler and I have battled back and forth with the idea of doing a baby registry. I never want people to feel obligated to buy us gifts. On top of that, it is hard to do a registry when you can't go to the store and look at all the items. Plus, most of the stuff on the Target website is available online only and that is a whole other issue. However, we have had lots of people asking how they can help us out when we get back and we understand that having a registry makes that easier. We are a bit daunted by the fact that we will have nothing when we arrive. Long story short, we have created a registry at Target with some basics for people who were curious for ideas.

For all the mothers out there... what are/were your favorite baby items? Is there anything you think we can't live without?

good nights

2010-04-29T06:00:00.040-06:00

The last few nights Parker has sleep wonderfully! He goes to bed around 12:30 am and wakes up around 6:30 am. I am so thankful for a good night of rest. During the day however, he is quite the little sook. He does not want to sleep and if he is somehow tricked into it... putting him in his bed wakes him immediately. Today he sleep for 2 hours intermittently... 10 minutes at a time. His awake hours include me getting a total body workout of bouncing, dancing, rocking my body, swaying, and let's not forget juggling a very wiggly and strong baby. Papa Tyler came home for a two hour lunch. I ate lunch and hopped in the shower only to find the two of them just relaxing on the couch when I emerged from the bathroom.

4 weeks!

2010-04-28T06:24:00.000-06:00

Parker is four weeks old today! It really seems like he has been around for a lot longer than that, but it also seems like he was born just yesterday.

coming soon...

2010-04-27T06:21:00.000-06:00

Montana here we come... see you in three weeks!

long nights and warm baths

2010-04-26T06:30:00.001-06:00

We have had a few really long nights because Parker has not been sleeping... most likely because of the antibiotics (it was one of the listed side effects). So tonight, we tried giving Parker a nice, long bath to soothe him to sleep. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it is working. As we speak, Tyler is typing the post, I am telling him what to say, and Parker is an unhappy camper. Let's all hope he gets some shut eye, so that I can get some much needed rest.

hugs and skullets

2010-04-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

First off, Tyler has been doing such a superb job at keeping Parker at bay while I get some rest. Second, Parker has been losing some of his brown hair on the top of his head. He still has hair up there but it is blond and hard to see in photos. Basically, he has a skullet. Tyler and I always said that if our kids had a skullet we would shave the whole head and make it match... easier said than done, now that I am in that position. But come on people... something has to be done, the poor little dude can not go around looking like an old man for goodness sake.

yep...

2010-04-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

Yep... I have mastitis and let me tell you it is not fun, not fun at all. I cannot remember ever feeling this sick in my entire life. I have had a temperature between 99-102 for over 24 hours now. One minute I am freezing cold, shaking and the next I am burning up. When I hold Parker he gets too hot from my body heat. I was so worried I was up half the night. This morning I called a hotline and they helped me find a medical center that I could get checked out at. No surprise, it was in our shopping center. The 30 minute walk there seemed to take forever... but I made it. I have started my antibiotics so hopefully my fever will start to ease a bit and recovery will be around the corner.

Sorry I do not have pictures of Parker for you... we had kind of a hectic day.

Early Childhood Health Center

2010-04-23T06:00:00.004-06:00

Today we went to the Early Childhood Health Center at our local shopping center. These centers are a free service to all children born in Australia and are the point of primary care for young children. They are staffed by nurses and some midwives as well.

We took Parker in for his 1-4 week check-up appointment and were surprised to find out that Parker has gained 1lb 10oz since he was born but he's only gotten 0.5 inches longer. The nurse said he is gaining more than he needs to be and we should be sure to not feed him when he isn't really hungry (such as when he is unsettled). The tricky part is he acts hungry all the time. We also talked to her about his recent difficulties falling to sleep. She said that it is pretty common for babies at this stage, but she was also confident she could settle him. So when he got fussy while we were there, she took over. Ten minutes later she said she had never had a baby so stubbornly resist sleeping. It made us feel good that we were trying all the right things, but we partly wished we would have been missing something obvious.

I was also feeling a bit concerned about the small size of Parker's soft spot, it is pretty hard to even find. I asked the nurse about this also and she said it is quite small (smaller than average), but that his head has grown a good amount since birth. She recommended that we follow up with Dr. Salmon to make sure everything is okay on that front.

Afterwards, we had a look in the baby store just downstairs in the shopping center and got a new swaddling blanket that the nurse recommended to us. It is really pretty cool. It has a double zipper so you can change a diaper without completely unswaddling him. He seemed to really like it too.

Parker Day 22

2010-04-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Sometimes when he finally falls asleep after a long day of not napping... I look at his cute little face and I have the urge to pick him up.

3 weeks!

2010-04-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

Parker is not only 3 weeks old today, but an official American citizen as well! He is no longer a man without a country. You see... he was never Australian. It was a bit foolish of us to assume that just because he was born here he would be an Aussie. Australia is much more strict than the US about citizenship - they require at least one parent to be an Australian or a permanent resident. We got his passport and his US consular report of birth abroad paperwork in the mail today (it only took 8 days) and giggled with joy... everything is ready and we can all happily come home in 4 weeks!!! Parker celebrated by not sleeping all day long. After a nice warm bath, rub down, and feed he is now sleeping soundly, thank goodness!

chubby cheeks

2010-04-20T06:00:00.002-06:00

Parker has been packing on the pounds... but at the moment they only seem to be landing on his cheeks!

lazy days

2010-04-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

We have been enjoying some lazy days at home. Tyler has been working in the mornings at school and then spending the afternoons with us at home. We love it when Papa comes home!

the haircut

2010-04-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

I have been kind of busy the last few weeks... so I have not been able to cut Tyler's hair in quite some time (6 weeks). We finally made it happen!

before

after

I did not get a sweet haircut... but Tyler took some pics of me and Parker today that I thought were post worthy.

Thanks Rosie and Family!

2010-04-17T06:00:00.002-06:00

My mom's best friend Rosie, an all around lovely lady, sent Parker some wonderful prizes in the mail. She sent 4 blankets, a pair of pajamas and a sleeping bag! Thank you Rosie so much for the thoughtful gifts, you are the best!

Parker in his sleeping bag!

little toes

2010-04-16T06:48:00.000-06:00

I am not sure how... but Parker always manages to sneak his little toes out of his wrap. I am also sad to announce that I think he inherited my silly toes. Maybe as he gets older they will elongate...

Parker and Papa

2010-04-15T06:00:00.002-06:00

Parker loves hanging out with his pop!

2 weeks!

2010-04-14T06:00:00.002-06:00

Parker is two weeks old today! He lost his umbilical cord to celebrate. We walked him to the uni for his first appointment with Dr. Salmon. She said that he is so cute and very healthy. He is up to 4 kilos now (about 8lb 13oz), so we know that he is getting plenty to eat! We were a bit surprised that she was not more impressed with my stellar delivery... she was, however, very impressed with Parker's high Apgar scores. We will go back and see her the week before we leave to check in and get Parker's first round of immunizations. On another note, we have not quite figured out the art of diapering a boy...

Parker Day 13

2010-04-13T06:00:00.003-06:00

Today, we went to the US Consulate to register Parker as an American citizen and get his passport rolling! It was another huge and long trip to the city... luckily Parker stayed tucked up nicely in his bjorn sleeping the entire time! Thankfully the day was a success! We should be getting Parker's passport in the mail in a few weeks... and then he will be all ready to come home in 5 weeks!!!

Parker Day 12

2010-04-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

Parker had a rough day today. He only took one nap all day. He was so tired, but just could not sleep more than 5 minutes at a time. He does not cry so much... he just grunts a lot or he makes a crying face with only a few coughing sounds that make their way out. When he is like this, he will not stay still and does not want to be held... but at the same time, if you put him down he will scream. I hate feeling so helpless and just wish I knew how to help him feel better and get some sleep.

Parker Day 11

2010-04-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

Last week a midwife suggested that we let him tell us his schedule... so we gave it a try. It only took a day and a half for us to feel uncomfortable with the choices he was making. He would sleep for 6 hours, wake himself up and then eat non-stop for 2 hours, then be awake for 6 hours but unhappy almost the entire time, and repeat. It made me feel exhausted and worried about all sorts of things. How would my milk supply be affected, was he making himself sick by eating so much at once, was he eating enough, why was he so unsettled and unhappy while awake???

So, we are back to a routine of feedings every 3 hours... which means waking him up. We have a plan in place (parent directed feeding: a middle ground method between the extremes of scheduled feeding and demand feeding) for when he gets a bit older. All the books and experts say to feed a newborn whenever they are hungry. They talk about the importance of frequent meals to build milk supply and keep baby happy with a full tummy. They assume that all newborns will want frequent meals... we have not found any research or articles supporting letting a newborn sleep as much as they want.

So I pose a few questions: When can you start letting your baby sleep through the night? What were your newborns like? How often did you feed your newborn?

Parker Day 10

2010-04-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

We went into the city today to get Parker's passport photo taken. A task that is a bit harder than it sounds since US passport photo requirements are different than Australia's, so we had to go to a special shop that does them. Parker took his first bus ride, was very patient and well behaved while we walked, and was even shown where Great Falls, Montana is on a map.

When we got home, Tyler caught a glimpse of my feet. I have no idea how they got so dirty... I had my shoes on the whole time and we walked on sidewalks the entire time. Long story short, the city is dirty.

While I was washing my feet, Tyler took this video of Parker while he was getting his cool-down. Enjoy!

Parker Day 9

2010-04-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

Parker had a rough day today, he had trouble settling last night and then this morning he was so tired that he was in a fit of rage. We tried to go to a class at the hospital, but there was a sign on the door saying that it had been canceled. However, Tyler was able to join us for an afternoon class called "Bath and Settle Your Bub". It was pretty much a bust. The midwife did a bathing demonstration, it was no different than what we had learned in our pregnancy class. I asked if she was going to go over settling techniques and she told me that she didn't really have time to talk about that during this class. I have to wonder, why she named her class bath and settle if she only intended on talking about the bath. When we got home, we experienced our first "number three"... this is where the video comes into play... Sorry about the color, just imagine you are watching it in the Longfellow Elementary gym.

Parker Day 8

2010-04-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Parker and I went on a little adventure today... we took a walk to the hospital and attended a class presented by Dr. Howard Chilton, author of Baby on Board: the complete guide to babies. Parker was so well behaved and got lots of comments from strangers on his cuteness! All in all, life is good!

Parker Day 7

2010-04-07T06:00:00.003-06:00

Here's a video... it is kind of long but it's real cute. Enjoy!

Parker Day 6

2010-04-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today was a very big day for all three of us. Tyler went to the city and got Parker's birth certificate under way, got lots of errands started, and even went to a work for a bit. Parker and I went on our first big outing all by ourselves. We went on a walk to the hospital to attend a class about the emotional development of a newborn. The funny thing was that we were the only ones who went! It was nice because we got to spend the hour with a midwife talking all about my first week with bub, going over any concerns that I had, and then we talked about the emotional needs/development of a newborn. The midwife kept on commenting on how beautiful Parker is. She said that he is very healthy looking and just perfect! It was so nice getting reassurance that everything is going well. Parker did so well going on our adventure, I was so proud of him!

Happy Birthday Tyler!

2010-04-05T06:00:00.002-06:00

Happy 26th Birthday Tyler... I could write a list that goes on forever of your best qualities... but I will try and keep it brief!

Tyler is the best because:

he has always loved me for exactly who I am
he takes care of me and always tries to give me the very best... he makes me feel safe
he has the most amazing sense of humor
he is my best friend... I can never get enough of him!
he only says something if he really has something to say... I really admire that about him
he gave me a beautiful son, and is already the best papa ever!
I fall more and more in love with him every day...
he makes me feel so good about myself and always pushes me to be my very best
he always makes me feel like I am the smart one even though he is the one getting his PhD
he never lets anyone talk him out of what he believes in

Parker Day 5

2010-04-05T01:21:00.000-06:00

Parker still loves to sleep through all of his meals, so we wake him up every 3 hours. During a feed he falls asleep several times, but a good burp always gets him going again. He is a sweetheart and we love him!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-04-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Mom! We wish we could be there to celebrate the big day with you!

My mom is the best because:

she is an amazing educator and life long learner
she never allowed me to give up or belittle myself
she taught me that everyone should have equal rights and deserves respect because diversity is grand!
she understood how much animals impacted my life and never left me pet-less
she loves her family so much, her children mean the world to her
she is an amazing grandmother
she taught me what an adventure really is...
she has many hidden talents
she was able to see each of her children as complete individuals and raised them accordingly
she will never be able to pass up the opportunity to buy a dancing or singing novelty item... no matter how annoying they are... they always make her laugh!

Parker Day 4

2010-04-04T00:50:00.000-06:00

I know Parker is only 4 days old, but I feel like I have known him forever. He is such a funny little dude, he makes all sorts of silly faces, sleeps a lot, eats well, and hardly ever cries. We love him to pieces, he is the best!

best Easter basket EVER!

2010-04-04T00:43:00.000-06:00

We had a very lovely Easter this year... who can complain when the Easter Bunny brings a bundle of joy like this?! We spent the day counting our blessings and eating lots of chocolate goodies!

Parker Day 3

2010-04-03T01:09:00.000-06:00

What can I say... my boys are just the cutest! Things are going well, Parker has been having big feeds followed by long naps. If only I could turn my brain off and nap when he is napping. We gave him his first bath today. It was a lot more challenging than we expected because he was not a fan. We will have to get pics of that next time. It broke our hearts to see him so upset over the whole experience. Afterwards we got him snuggled up in his bobcat gear and he had a good cuddle with his papa!

the water birth...

2010-04-02T06:55:00.000-06:00

I know a lot of you have questions about the water birth... so, I hope this clears things up.

The concept: Hot water is a pain reliever... just like a hot pack. They say that during a delivery hot water can decrease the pain by 4 points on a 10 point pain scale. Being in a bath can also speed a delivery along because the buoyancy of the water decreases the pressure on the tail bone creating a more conducive passageway. Some people also believe that a water birth is the most peaceful way for a baby to transition into the world... from amniotic fluid, to water, to mothers arms. If allowed a new born baby could swim under water and it is technically not "born" until it takes its first breath of air.

The tub: It was the size of a bathtub but was deeper (so that your body would have room to float and be completely submerged), it was brought into the delivery suite bathroom upon my request and Tyler filled it up with a hand shower. I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE TUB! It had very pillowy sides and bottom... and was very comfortable.

Monitoring: I had 2 waterproof/wireless monitors strapped to my belly. One measured Parker's heat beats and the other my contractions.

The birth: When it was time to deliver Parker, two midwives came into the bathroom to assist. One was positioned on my left, Tyler was on my right and the head midwife (Liss) was near my feet. Liss simply told me to do what my body wanted to do... during a contraction let your body push. I tried to aim for three pushes per contraction. I felt his head come out half way... Liss told me she could see his head. At the next contraction I felt his head pop out completely and again Liss told me that his head was out. At this point she put her hands in the water to support his head and neck. Then I gave one more push and out he came. Liss reached down, and pulled him up onto my chest. He did not cry at first (which is normal for water births), but instead took a few deep breaths... then he let out his first cry. They put a warm towel on top of him and he soon became very content. They clamped the cord, and let Tyler cut it. Then I handed Parker over to Tyler so that I could hop out of the tub and onto the bed to deliver the placenta. Once I was on the bed, Tyler put Parker back on my chest and he had his first feed.

The recovery: One of the nice things about having a natural birth is the recovery. As soon as Parker was born, I felt great and without pain. I was a little shaky but was walking around by myself 30 minutes after the birth.

The funniest moment: Right before my last contraction Liss told me that once I felt his body come out, I could reach down and pull him onto my chest (basically performing my own delivery). I responded, "no thanks, can't someone just hand him to me". In retrospect, I guess it would have been cool to say that I delivered my baby... but I also love the candid response I gave in that moment and did not want to have to think about anything but pushing, let alone pulling Parker out of the water myself. Tyler and I will never forget that moment!

The scariest moment: I knew that as soon as I let myself panic and succumb to the pain, I would be done for. Unfortunately, I panicked right away. I was very surprised how painful the contractions got so fast. The pain shot down my legs, up my back and wrapped around my entire middle. I felt like throwing up... I tried to make it to the bathroom but collapsed to the floor. Liss came in, and asked if I needed anything. It was at this point that I requested the tub. It was not until I got into the tub that I felt like I could control my emotions. I closed my eyes, and kept telling myself that this was good, my body was supposed to be in pain. I stopped fighting the contractions.

Overall: I still cannot get over the whole thing. It was the scariest, most painful experience of my life. At the same time it was the most amazing, joyful, and beautiful experience of my life. I have never felt so proud of myself and so accomplished.

the 48-hr weigh-in...

2010-04-02T01:06:00.000-06:00

Since I went home early, we had to go back to the hospital so that Parker could have all the checks that they like to do at 48-hrs done. It was also a good chance to get a few more tips on how to do things more efficiently. We met with Rochelle, the good postnatal midwife that I had before. Parker weighed in at 3.255 kg (down 230 grams from birth), but weight loss of anything less than 10% is considered good. We were very pleased to know that he was at least getting enough to eat to not get us in trouble... She was happy with his color and told us we were doing a good job and that she was very pleased overall. Rochelle also watched me giving Parker a feed and gave us both a few more pointers on what to look for, what to do differently, and how to keep him awake. She also told us her working schedule for the next week in case we ever needed anything. Here are a few pictures from the adventure - Parker's second trip outdoors...

(getting ready for the scales)

(we got the Baby Bjorn to kind of work - much easier than just carrying him)

(we almost made it home without an eruption)

wakey wakey

2010-04-01T18:25:00.000-06:00

Bringing Parker Home

2010-03-31T22:49:00.000-06:00

As predicted, one night in the postnatal ward was more than enough. Kelly and Parker were both checked out this morning by the doctors and were given the okay to head home.

(getting Parker ready for a hearing test - he passed)

(a glimpse into the majesty that was the postnatal ward)

(walking home - he is too small for the carrier)

(snuggled up in his bed)

hold on, what?

2010-03-31T06:00:00.002-06:00

Well in a bit of a surprising turn of events, I was sent home at 9 pm tonight and can't come back until 10 am tomorrow; then I get sent away from 1 pm - 4 pm, too. We thought that I could spend over (for a fee of course), but that is only for those who pay for a private room. Since our insurance is not the best, I am sitting at home wondering what to do.

Prior to today, Kelly was thinking that she wanted to stay in the hospital for three days (the most the insurance will pay for), but after about 5 hours in the postnatal ward she is feeling like she might want to go home tomorrow. It is not very nice - the nurses have been good though. The biggest problem is that it seems like everyone assumes we know where to go and what to do... like where to get ice, water, meals (for Kelly). It is all very self-serve but little direction. I think we have it figured out now, but it was a bit tiring to have to chase down answers for all these little tasks.

Parker had another blood sugar test just before I left that was "beautiful" - a favorite word in Australia. We are starting to get a feel for what he likes and what he really hates. He likes to be held upright not on his back. He does not like his hands wrapped up tight, but maybe he is getting used to that. He hates, hates, hates having his diaper changed. He has been feeding well so far. It isn't taking too many tries before he is on and eating - fingers crossed he only gets better at this.

It's been a long day, but a lot shorter than I think either of us had anticipated really. Kelly was very nervous this morning and could not have done a better job. Maybe we'll have some more pictures to post tomorrow. Thanks for all the comments, Kelly loved them - they "made her heart shine".

More pictures and details...

2010-03-31T00:34:00.001-06:00

Parker weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz and 20.5 inches long. He just had his blood sugar checked to make sure it was not too low - it was very good. He just had his first poo, too. He is doing well so far, and he really loves to suck on his hands... he screams like mad if you try to take them away and that has led to a few scratches. Other than that he is doing just dandy. We have moved up to the recovery ward... it is not nearly as nice. We have a tiny shared room, but we'll make it work.

how fast was that?

2010-03-30T21:33:00.000-06:00

At 12:30 Kelly said that she wanted an internal exam because she was feeling like she had to push with each contraction. Our midwife suggested waiting to avoid disappointment, but Kelly was persistent. So she climbed out of the tub and to everyone's surprise she had gone from 2cm dilated at 9am to fully dilated at 12:30. So back to the tub we went, and at 1:05pm, Parker Patrick Smith was born. Thirty-five minutes of pushing, no drugs at all (absolutely nothing), and a happy little baby with blue eyes and brown hair. More pictures to follow, but here were some right after he came out.

we're getting there...

2010-03-30T18:42:00.000-06:00

It's about 11:45 am and Kelly has been having strong contractions for about an hour or an hour and a half. She was in pretty intense pain for a bit, so they brought her the big tub to sit in. It is now filled up with some nice warm water and she is doing swimmingly, so to speak. She is back in control of her pain, and doing a good job of relaxing even through the contractions.

the room...

2010-03-30T16:59:00.000-06:00

Let's have a baby today...

2010-03-30T16:16:00.000-06:00

We're now in the hospital. Kelly is about to have her water broken. Then we will wait a bit to see if the labor starts up on its own. If not, then they will start the hormones. I'll update again once something has happened.

progress!

2010-03-29T18:53:00.000-06:00

We had a doctor appointment at the hospital today, and thank goodness we got the head doctor in charge! She looked over my chart and even did an internal exam! She said that I am partially effaced and dilated 3 centimeters, so that is good! She started to talk about scheduling an induction for next week, but Tyler spoke up and reminded her that I have gestational diabetes. She quickly changed her mind and suggested we get him out asap... so she called the delivery suite and scheduled me in for tomorrow morning (March 31)... unless it is "chockers" then I will have to wait until a room is available. Before I left they swept my membranes and also monitored Parkers movements for 20 minutes to make sure he was still a happy camper and he was, so that is good. In the morning, they will break my "waters" and if that does not start things up... they will use a synthetic hormone to get things rolling. We are still aiming for a water birth because everyone agrees that will be best for my joints. So... we are making progress and that is a very good thing.

another movie...

2010-03-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

On Saturday, Tyler took me to another movie to get me out of the house and thinking of something other than giving birth. I was reluctant to go... the walk is long and the weather was hot. How To Train Your Dragon just came out and looked like the best option... so we made the journey and went. I LOVED IT! We both did, it was such a good movie! We agreed that it was the best movie we have seen all year... I would highly recommend it... enough said, just watch the trailer.

want or need?

2010-03-27T18:42:00.000-06:00

I do not like to pray for things I want... only things I need. I want Parker to be born but do I need him to be born? I know for sure that I need to pray for strength and patience while I wait in anticipation... to have courage during the delivery. I want Parker to be born because I love him and want to start my life with him, to snuggle him, to see him, to hold him, to see the look on Tyler’s face as he takes his son into his arms for the first time.

Then I have a list of practical reasons why I want him to be born... it can take around 4 weeks to get an Australian birth certificate processed. And we need to have his birth certificate before we can apply for his consular report of birth abroad and passport so that he can come home with us on May 18th. We also cannot get him a plane ticket or apply for a bassinet seat until after he is born. So, we are really cutting it close... and the longer he stays in, the less time we have and the more uneasy it makes me feel.

Then of course there are the logistical reasons why I want him to be born. We are not sure how my hyper joint mobility syndrome will effect the birthing process... it was decided that a water birth would be the least painful method for me and reduce impact on my hips/leg joints. When I dislocate underwater it is not painful or even uncomfortable because the buoyancy of the water reduces pressure on nerves/bones. BUT, if I need to be induced, then I will not be able to participate in a water birth. Induction also increases the risk of other interventions needing to take place. And with the concern that Parker is a large baby because of my gestational diabetes and continues to get bigger everyday he decides to stay inside me... the chances that I will need an emergency c-section increases. Which brings us back to the time restraint of leaving on May 18th. If I need to have an emergency c-section this late in the game... will I have enough time to recover and get the go ahead by a doctor to fly for 24 hours in a plane.

But again... these are all wants. I want everything to work out easily. I do not need things to work out easily... so I will continue to pray for the things I need... strength, patience, courage and trust.

nope...

2010-03-26T06:00:00.001-06:00

Nope, no bub yet.

more wooden toys!

2010-03-25T06:00:00.002-06:00

40 weeks!

2010-03-24T06:00:00.002-06:00

Finally, I am 40 weeks pregnant! To celebrate, I did a dance for you... enjoy!

going stir crazy

2010-03-23T06:01:00.002-06:00

I am going a bit stir crazy. It would be different if I were home and had a car. I could go around town doing fun things to occupy my time while waiting for Parker to be born, but that is not the case for me here. I really do not want to wonder too far away from home... especially since the closest "shopping center" is a 45 minute walk for a 9 month pregnant lady. So, I sit at home and try to occupy myself. This weekend Tyler must have seen the crazy starting to creep into my eyes... because he planned a fun day of walking to "the spot" to do some window shopping and to see a movie! We went to Alice in Wonderland (in 3D of course) because it looked like it was the best movie playing. We both thought it would be entertaining, but not the best. About 10 minutes into the movie, I realized that I was really enjoying myself. The entire movie ended up being a winner in my book. It had some really good messages, and was not nearly as obnoxious as the preview made it out to be. All in all, it was a wonderful outing... if only all my days were filled with something to do... soon enough I am sure I will be laughing at that statement. Until then... who knows.

a dead bat...

2010-03-23T06:00:00.002-06:00

While on a walk the other day, we spotted a bat that apparently died mid-flight when it snagged both of its wings on the power lines. Poor guy....

Tyler said he saw another one last week that was hanging upside down dead. It looked like it decided to hang from the power line, but its head was touching a different one...

random things we love...

2010-03-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love this room!

I love simple tees

simple and homemade looking!

I want to make something like this!

cool pillows!

everyone loves jersey blankets!

so cute!

so cool!

every MT boy needs buffalo shoes!

this mini loft would be SO much fun!

how much fun would it be to have your own mail box in your room?!

or this cool hanging fort!

simple, colorful, and fun...

I love homemade looking animals!

it is made of wood and it's a camera! love it!

a life-sized, beautiful memory game!

so cute and simple!

simple and orange!

now this would be a cool fort!

LOVE these... but Tyler thinks they look like a hazard waiting to happen.

sorry about that...

2010-03-19T16:12:00.000-06:00

Sorry.... I forgot to do a post last night before I fell asleep. I did nothing yesterday. As I mentioned on Wednesday, I have not been feeling well. I was instructed to call my uni doctor on Friday morning to get some test results and talk about how things are going. So, around 10:30 am I called, but she was with a patient. She is usually very good about calling me... even calling me while she was on Christmas vacation to let me know I had gestational diabetes... BUT yesterday she never called me back. I called her office 3 times, each time I left a message with the front desk (they do not let you leave voice mail). Apparently she was stuck with an emergency patient in the morning that threw off her day. When I called around 2:30 they told me that she still had not taken a lunch... so I understand that she was having a busy day.

The annoying thing for me was all the waiting around. I did not want to shower, in case she called... so I just sat around all day waiting. It was a long day. Tyler's friends took him out to lunch... so it seemed like an extra long day!

I have a hard time telling if I am sick because I am 9 months pregnant and my body is tired... or if I am just plain old sick and need medical attention. If we call the hospital and they have us come in... it is around 1,000 bucks if they admit you. So I was really looking forward to talking with Dr. Salmon so that she could advise me. Tyler and I decided that we would monitor things... make sure that Parker was moving lots and if things got worse we would go call the hospital. Tyler rubbed my back and kept an eye on Parker and I feel asleep early.

sheepy

2010-03-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today, I made a sheepy! If you remember, my mother sent me a felting kit for my birthday. I love little projects like this, but always have a hard time getting them started. I worry that I am going to mess it up... but today, I was brave and gave it a go! It turned out fairly good. It got easier as I went along and learned some tricks... so next time it should be even better! And now that I know how to do it, I can make all sorts of little critters!

39 weeks!

2010-03-17T06:01:00.004-06:00

We went to see Dr. Salmon today. She seemed just as disappointed as we are that we have not had Parker yet. The little dude is still facing down, but does not appear to be engaged. I have not been feeling very well... sick to my stomach along with persistent headaches are making the weeks go by way too slowly. All will be forgotten when Parker is snuggled in my arms, I am sure. Until then... I will do my best to wait patiently.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T06:00:00.001-06:00

Here is a picture of us on St. Patrick's Day last year. We had given up meat for lent, but planned a wonderful Irish meal... minus the corned beef. From what I remember, it was a very splendid day!

This year, we are obviously laying low... mostly hoping to welcome our little boy into the world... but it looks like that is not going to happen. We did spot some corned beef at the grocery store, but it did not look the same and cost a pretty penny... so we passed. They are having some Irish celebrations in the city today, tonight, and this weekend, but I am really not feeling up to making the long trek.

Next year we promise to have a grand celebration! I am sure every holiday we celebrate once we get home will be celebrated with more enthusiasm and American spirit than any of you could imagine!

wooden toys!

2010-03-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

We love wooden toys, especially blocks and hope that Parker does as well! Some of my favorite childhood memories were made playing blocks with my brother Sean. Here are some fun sets...

still waiting...

2010-03-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

We had a fairly uneventful weekend of waiting. I am starting to feel really pregnant... everything I do takes so much energy. We went grocery shopping on Saturday and to the uni library on Sunday to work on homework. I wish I had more to say, but I don't. Let's all hope that this week is VERY eventful!

our parenting philosophy

2010-03-12T06:00:00.002-07:00

Tyler and I have done a lot of talking about what kind of parents we want to be. Of course this has been a topic on the table since before we got married... but now it is for real! We know that adjustments will need to be made with the age and the amount of children we have... but one thing will remain as the foundation of our parenting philosophy, we want to always remain best friends (me and Tyler that is)! We believe that if we can make our marriage as strong as possible and work together as a team... our children will benefit in so many ways!

Our first step is to remain the people we are after Parker is born. We do not want to become mom and papa... we want to be momma Kelly and Papa Tyler... people have told us that we should make sure to still go on dates and do the things we love as a couple. One of our favorite date nights include picking out a new recipe, going to Rosauers (the nicest grocery store in Bozeman), shopping for the ingredients together, getting something fancy or different to drink, and then coming home, pumping the tunes and cooking together! We also love going on walks, especially in the Fall when the weather is so crisp and the leaves are just right for crunching! We love that our favorite things to do as a couple can easily be done as a family.

Just as we have always had equal roles as husband and wife as far as cooking, cleaning, etc., we will continue to have equal roles as parents. I do not want to feel like I am babysitting nor should Tyler feel like he is babysitting... we will each have Parker half days! He will grow to rely on both of us as strong supports in his life. We are both so excited to start this new adventure...

a nice walk...

2010-03-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

The weather the last few days has been so lovely, although the locals think winter has come early! Tonight we took advantage by going on a nice long walk. We took our camera and captured a few shots...

38 weeks!

2010-03-10T06:00:00.003-07:00

still pregnant... just waiting for our little buddy to arrive!

Tyler had me get up to show off the belly...

thanks mom!

2010-03-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

My mom sent me two beautiful hospital gowns! She also sent a little irish outfit for our little irish dude. Maybe he will be around to wear it on St. Patrick's day! You're the best, thanks!

a date...

2010-03-08T06:00:00.002-07:00

Tyler took me on a date friday night! We got all dressed up and walked to the movie theater! We did not eat dinner because I wanted to have a little cheat and treat myself to some popcorn! We saw Dear John, which just opened here this weekend. We got to sit in the balcony which made it seem extra special. It was a good move, I was surprised that I did not cry since my emotions are on high alert. The only downside to the evening was the weather. It was pouring rain on our way... so by the time we made the 30 minute walk, we had very soggy feet.

Happy Birthday (tomorrow) Ryan!

2010-03-05T06:00:00.001-07:00

Ryan is the best because:

When I was little he always told me I was an amazing artist and encouraged me whenever he had a chance!
He loves the outdoors
I canNOT think of a time in my life when I felt hurt by him
He always bragged to his friends and was so proud of me when I became a vegetarian... and he never once gave me a hard time when I started eating meat 10 years later.
When I was 6 or maybe 8, he bought us matching shirts
He has the best grin
He use to collect rocks... I am not sure if he still does...
He loves being an uncle and is very excited for his first nephew to be born!
He taught me how to flare my nostrils
He inspired me to take woods class in high school... and it ended up being my favorite class!

fun find!

2010-03-04T06:00:00.001-07:00

We found these plates... and think they would be so much fun! Yes, we know that Parker will not need them for at least a year... and yes, we know that you should not teach playing with your food... but come on they look like so much fun!

37 weeks!

2010-03-03T06:00:00.005-07:00

The time is finally here! Parker is full term and ready to come out whenever he feels like it! Everything is looking good... they said "my blood work is by-the-book perfect", "bub is as healthy and average as anyone could have hoped" and "they will see us back at the hospital on Parker's birthday"! So now it is just a waiting game...

We have had quite a few people asking us how his birthday will work... with the time change. His birthday will be the day he is born. If he is born on March 17th at 2:20 pm in Australia, then that will be what is on his birth certificate and will remain his birthday. If you are still confused, think of it this way: if a baby is born in California at 11:00 pm on March 1st.... that is the baby's birthday (March 1st) even if he has grandparents who live in New York where the time is 2:00 am on March 2nd.

Welcome Fall!

2010-03-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

Tyler and I were confused towards the end of February because people kept talking about the last weekend of summer and the beginning of fall. Now, we know that the vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring (and fall in the southern hemisphere) and that does not happen until March 20th this year. Well, it turns out Australia does not care about trivial things like synchronizing the seasons the earth's tilt... they just mark the season whenever they feel like it. So, March 1st was the official beginning of fall. It did cool down and has been raining a bit... so we have to give them that. Really, we could care less about the season or the weather... we are just so thankful that it is finally March! March is here and now we can have our baby!!!

accent chairs...

2010-03-01T15:30:00.002-07:00

One thing I am really wishing I had was a chair. Yes, these chairs are super cute... but I would settle for any chair to rock my newborn in. When we get home I will be welcomed with the loving squeak of Edna... our favorite family chair.

Edna!

sometimes we just cannot help ourselves!

2010-02-26T06:01:00.001-07:00

We got Parker some goodies...

This is Roopert and Joey!

this is another bonds outfit...

this was on sale...

and this was the perfect find... a soft green, orange, and gray blanket with ROBOTS!

spiders

2010-02-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Here it is... it was the size of a mouse and it was outside our door. It must be spider season because we have seen human-sized spider webs all over the place the last few weeks. I hate to say it but this was not the first mouse-sized spider we have seen...

While walking to church last weekend we saw this one... white body and striped legs... It is huge! I can confidently say that its body is the size of a mouse... including the legs it is as big as a hamster!

and a month ago we saw a bunch of ants dragging a huge dead spider down the side walk. The thing we do not understand is... how can people not have window screens!

Thank you Caleigh and Grandpa

2010-02-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

My mom and dad sent us a package in the mail this week! It was such a nice surprise and we are so thankful!

And, a little something for me! Two nursing tanks that fit perfectly and look oh so cute!

Thanks again, you are the best!

36 weeks!

2010-02-24T06:01:00.006-07:00

We had an appointment at the hospital on Tuesday and it was a bit unusual... let's just say it involved me standing in a bathroom stall with a pee stick in one hand... a swab in the other and an unhappy/confused look on my face!

The good news... Parker is very good sized, right where he needs to be and is very healthy! The bad news... the wait is killing us, we just want to have him and soon! The fact that it could be anytime in March is so exciting... but so daunting at the same time, my heart tells me it will be in the beginning of March and my brain tells me it will most likely be at the end of March... and who knows what Parker is thinking!

Happy Birthday Josh!

2010-02-24T06:00:00.005-07:00

Josh is the best because:

he is a Doctor
he really loves Lindsay
he is an only child.... and can't wait to have loads of kids
he only eats when he is truly hungry
he told Tyler to go to Dairy Queen to meet me when I had a crush on him... if Tyler would not have come, I would have had to try harder
he keeps things interesting
he reads more than any other person I know... or will ever know
he is super excited about becoming a dad in June and an uncle in March!
he can make a mean loaf of zucchini bread

Parker Patrick Smith

2010-02-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

So we had our last ultrasound with Dr. Meriki and got some good images and a couple of videos! Hope you enjoy them... Also, he is still right around the 50th percentile for weight, he was 5lbs 11oz. Looks like we are right on track for a natural water birth!

(giving a couple good smiles)

(trying to reach a finger to suck on)

(long day at the office)

(starting to smile)

(big smile)

(he has a perfect little pout)

(you gotta love his little face)

(he is so cute)

Happy Birthday Lily!

2010-02-22T06:00:00.006-07:00

Lily is the best because:

she has the most amazing belly laugh!
she has the funniest things to say and uses the funniest voices to tell them to me
she loves to wear fancy dresses
she thinks her uncle Tyler is one interesting and intriguing dude
she loves a good adventure
she has the same birthday as George Washington
she is only 7, but she loves bacon! or if she doesn't she should... this is her year for loving it!
she loves to let go and dance, dance, dance with all the joy in the world
she has perfected the "stink eye" and knows how to use it
her favorite weekend activity includes hanging out with her Caleigh all day with the hopes of a sleepover

Thank you Katie Stukey!

2010-02-19T06:00:00.004-07:00

#1: Katie Stukey has been one of my all time best friends for at least the last 10 years. In high school, we could have easily hated each other because we were always competing for the same parts in all the plays. Instead we decided to turn (what could have been negative energy) into one of the most positive friendships of all time! One of the most valuable things Katie has taught me is to not have regrets. She is much better at this than I am, but I strive to live in the moment and let go of the past as she does. Katie is beautiful and positive, but is never afraid to wear her emotions on her sleeve. She is funny and playful, but conducts herself with great professionalism. Best of all, she introduced me to Tyler and has always been a big fan of our relationship! Thank you Katie for changing my life... and also for sending me this very cute shirt! It was so much fun getting a little random prize in the mail and the note you sent put tears in my eyes! You are the best and I love you!

#2: I think that Parker engaged last night... He seems like he is sitting much lower today! Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe?

chocolate cake...

2010-02-18T20:42:00.003-07:00

All I can think about is eating chocolate cake. I want it so bad. When I go to the store I stare at all the cakes and dream of which one I would buy. It all started when we were watching a cooking show a few weeks ago... I dream about making it... and eating the entire thing! Would it be too much to ask for a chocolate cake to be placed right in front of me as soon as Parker is born?

Thank you Windmuellers!

2010-02-18T06:00:00.002-07:00

Sarah, Jeff and Caderyn Windmuller sent us these great books! We are so thankful and have learned so much already! Sarah has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember... her joy for life is contagious and I love that about her! She has an incredibly adorable little boy (Caderyn) who will be turing one this March, so I am sure that I will be looking to her for advice throughout the years. Thanks again... it was so nice of you guys to think of us!

35 weeks!

2010-02-17T06:00:00.004-07:00

This is the last week in my 8th month of pregnancy and I am so ready to have this little dude... enough said!

you gotta love trees!

2010-02-16T06:00:00.001-07:00

we got wet...

2010-02-15T06:01:00.002-07:00

We were walking home from church when it started pouring cats and dogs (we still had 30 minutes of walking left before we were home)! We had one little umbrella with us and took turns... but we both got soaked! We have another big umbrella... but the wind turned it inside out and snapped the bits that hold it up a few weeks ago....