Well Worth the Wait

Parker,
Today you are 2months old, I can't believe how incredibly fast time has gone by recently. You were born June 19th 2013 at 7:11pm. You have brought so much joy and blessings to our life already! Since the last blog I wrote you, I obviously gave birth to you, which was a very hard long labor. On 6/18/13 I saw my OB and she stripped my membranes, daddy and I went to watch the new Superman movie, I felt contractions off and on, but they weren't regular yet, we went walking at the park then I came home and bounced on a yoga ball ( I REAAAALLY wanted you out) I decided to go to bed about 9pm and sure enough as I was falling asleep I started getting contractions on the regular, I waited and waited for them to get closer, at about 8am the next morning they were finally about 5 mins apart and I decided to go in at 11am just to see if you were on your way. After arriving to the hospital they checked me out and said I was only dilated to a 2...a stinking 2, but my contractions were worsening so I asked for some medication to take the edge off so they decided to admit me. Around 3pm I was finally at 6.5cm and had been for about 2 hours, I couldn't take contractions anymore so I settled on getting an epidural; thank goodness. After the epidural everything until pushing was smooooothhh sailing. My water broke on its own and I didn't have to have any other intervention. About 6:15pm the nurse said I could do some practice pushing because I was fully dilated and the OB would be on her way, I pushed one time and your heart plummeted right along side my blood pressure,  they told me to STOP! I rested until the OB got there, she was letting me try to push out but you just were NOT coming out ( I believe you were stuck behind my pelvic bone) she had to get forceps and the vacuum to assist you out, after about 20 sets of 3 pushes she told me I had ONE more set and if you didn't come out I was going to have an emergency C-section, thankfully you came out on the LAST push of the LAST set. On your grand entrance I ended up with 3rd degree tearing and had to be stitched by the surgeon and the OB for 45 mins straight. The moment I held you was amazing, you were and are absolutely perfect you were so tiny 6lbs 7oz and 19in ,as of your last dr appt last week you were 9lbs 1 oz 22.25in long, you are small but so big to daddy and I. I love watching you grow. We brought you home from the hospital and had a rough first few nights being sleep deprived and all. Your dad is such a blessing to me, I was roughly recovering and he took amazing care of both of us for several weeks, he was completely natural with you and beyond amazing! You two are currently laying on the bed snoring away next to me. You have to undergo surgery soon to correct a penial torsion you have and to have your circumcisio, I am really not looking forward to it. Since you were born I had to also have a surgery to have my gallbladder removed, I guess it is very common for women to have gallstone attacks after pregnancy, the pain is VERY comparable to labor, I am glad I had the surgery done, that was another few days daddy really stepped up and took amazing care of use. You are a daddy's boy through and through, I wont be surprised when "Da.Da" ends up being your first words, you smile at him constantly and have been smiling at him for several week, Grandma Gray says she can't get over how interactive you are with us at such a young age.We can tell you love us, and we LOVE you! We are now awaiting the arrival of cousin Eli, he should be here anyday, we all think you two will be the same size when he comes out. I am all over the place on this post but I am tired,and not because you make me sleep deprived you are actually a really good sleeper, you know our routine 9pm you get a rice bottle and are out by 10:30 (most every night) and wake up around 4 am (some nights) eat a bottle and fall right back to sleep until 7ish then daddy gets up with you, you eat and fall right back to sleep with me in bed until about 10am, so not much complaint on the sleep end here. Well I guess I should go get you swaddled (which you love by the way) and tucked all in to your cradle so we all can be sleeping. I love you little man, you have changed my entire world and I wouldn't change that for anything.

Hey Park, Park

Hey little man, I am terrible at updating this blog for you. I wanted to pop in and let you know how life is going these days. I am 34weeks 5 days pregnant with you, and ready for you to be here!!! In the past few weeks I have had to visit the hospital, once at 28 weeks for dehydration AGAIN, but I had blood in my puke so I figured it was best I go in, and again at 31weeks because I am pretty dang clumsy and biffed it hard grandma and Papa's house on the concrete, I went in to just make sure you were okay. They monitored me for 4 hours and were about to let us go home, and then I started having contractions, so they kept me over night to watch and make sure I didn't go into labor and have you way too early. While I was there however they did an Ultrasound and you are a chunkers you weighed in at 4lbs15oz, I have to say I am kinda scared to have to go through labor with you. We have gotten to see you in HD again and I can't believe the cheeks on you, you are so stubborn we tried one day to see you and you had your hands over your head and your back to us and would NOT unroll we had to go back to see you a few days later, where your feet were over your face, finally you moved them so we could see your face. So far in the scans you look a lot like me, but have daddy's eyelids. We are really getting excited to meet you!! Auntie T and Gma threw a shower for us, it was a lot of fun, still have a lot of shopping ot do. This weekend we are getting new carpet in our house(one you will live in only for a short time hopefully) I am really excited to get your room put together and wash all your laundry, it is torture sitting in the living room looking at the boxes of furniture that we can't put together yet. You are a very squirmy guy, unless you're sleeping then I have to poke you to move a little if you don't move for hours you scare me. You are sitting breech right now, and have been for a long time, I am hoping you flip really soon because if not I have to go get you flipped and I am told it hurts. PLEASE FLIP! Well I think that is all for now. Until next time!

Boys, boys, boys

I know one day when (hopefully) you read this it means something to you, I know as a male, you don't really care about cheesey stuff like this, but I like doing it, so because I am your mother you're getting it 

:-P. The past few weeks have been kinda hectic, daddy's very good friend Bryan Starnes was violently murdered, so we attended his funeral services and such over the last few days. I had only met Bryan a handful of times, but he and daddy were very close friends in high school, and probably up until about 5 years ago or so, when Bryan moved away to Minn. then enlisted in the armed forces and lived in Alaska, then was deployed in Afghanistan, then moved back to Minn.

In good news though, which I know you'll know by the time you ever read any of this Auntie Tee and Uncle Jonathan are having a BOY too, you two are due 79 days apart!!! I am excited that you wont have just girl cousins, and you will have a boy to grow up to close with (and I am sure wreak havoc with)

Only 87 days until you're due to meet us, and we are getting very excited!!!   

How far along: 27 weeks 4 days

Maternity clothes:  I wear them everyday found some cute long shorts!

Stretch marks: Well I already had some, and yes I am already seeing some new red ones, I don't even care honestly I will never flaunt my tummy to the world so it doesn't matter to me.  

Sleep: Sleep isn't coming very easy at night, as soon as I am comfortable I have to roll to my other side, and I wake daddy  up so neither of us get very good sleep, just practice for when you arrive I guess. 

Best moment this week: This last week has been a very tough week, especially for Daddy, he lost a very dear friend Bryan Starnes in a horrific murder, so we had funeral services to attend and such.

Miss anything: Laying FLAT on my belly, it doesn't hurt me but you start kicking me and make my tummy have a funny pressure to let me know I am squishing you.

Morning sickness: On and off, feeling super nauseated still but only puking maybe 1-3 times a week. 

Movement: Yes, you love to play in the morning I can sneak a few times to feel your kicks with my hand, only first thing in the morning.

Symptoms: Nausea of course, some other pressure and pains, especially if I start walking around a lot.

Food cravings: You are killing me on this one, CHEESEBURGERS,w ith fry sauce, I HATE beef, but you want it appearently, even if you only let me eat half of the burger before alomst tossing it right back up.
Anything making you queasy or sick: ANYTHING IN A TO GO BOX. Especially in the car, and the smell of some food cooking, smell of brown sugar,eggs, and who knows what, sometimes just picking up laundry, or anything off the floor

Have you started to show yet: Definitely, but not enough for random people to ask about your due date, they might just be afraid to ask because I might just look FAT to them still unless they knew me, becuase my belly is soooo low and not super duper rounded (yet, I am sure it will pop out soon enough)

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: Off, I have a band on but I woke up one night with swollen fingers so I took them off, and I'm afraid to put them back on.

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been pretty normal I think

Looking forward to: Ordering your crib, and starting to get your room together.

25 weeks

26 weeks

26 almost 27 weeks

27 weeks

Hello, Parker

YES! We finally decided on your name! Parker Gray Saunders. Your name is perfect, Parker derives from your Great Gpa Saunders middle name "Park", Gray derives from PAPA Gray's last name, and of course you are stuck with Saunders naturally! The past few weeks have been amazing (aside from all my puking STILL) We got to see you in HD I was really worried that you would be gross looking, and you were a little creepy but it is AMAZING the technology, we can see exactly what you look like. At this point you still are developing features so it is hard to say whos side of the family you look exactly like, but I think you have daddy's mouth for sure BIG OL' LIPS I can't wait to meet your cute self in a few more months! Daddy and I started getting rooms moved around so we can start getting your stuff in place! You are growing so big, as I can tell by my belly growing I swear every day. Your movements are getting bigger too, I am lucky if I can feel you from the outside at this point, it is kind of disturbing to me, but I LOVE that it means you're healthy in there, daddy hasn't felt you yet ( I think he is scared to.) Well I am supposed to be cleaning my office to get it ready to move down the hall to make room for your stuff!

How far along: 6 months today!

Maternity clothes:  I can't WAIT for spring to start so the cuter clothes will be out!

Stretch marks: Well I already had some, and yes I am already seeing some new red ones, I don't even care honestly I will never flaunt my tummy to the world so it doesn't matter to me.  

Sleep: Sleep isn't coming very easy at night, as soon as I am comfortable I have to roll to my other side. 

Best moment this week: This week wasn't anything exceptional, but nothing to gripe about either

Miss anything: Not really.

Morning sickness: On and off, this past week has been particiularly bad, lots of vomiting, but not as many headaches. 

Movement: Yes, you LOVED daddy playing his trumpet, you started kicking the hardest you've kicked.

Symptoms: Nausea of course.

Food cravings: Nothing much really.
Anything making you queasy or sick: ANYTHING IN A TO GO BOX. Especially in the car, and the smell of some food cooking, smell of brown sugar, and who knows what, sometimes just picking up laundry, or anything off the floor

Have you started to show yet: Definitely, but not enough for random people to ask about your due date.

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been pretty normal I think

Looking forward to: Having the house organized, new carpet, sod and moving the wall in the living room!

Hello Baby

Hello Baby, ( I swear we are going to have a name for you before you come!)

I really am terrible at this blog stuff, I always get a chance at 3am to write to you though. Tonight I woke up about 1am stressed out because I usually feel your dance parties all day and I hadn't felt any movement from you for almost 2 days, I was worried, but sure enough as I woke up stressing and sat on the couch you started wiggling around (thank you!) If only I could go back to sleep now, seeing as we have church in 6 hours..

In the time that I haven't written Daddy and I have been on our cruise and back (it was horrible, but I wont gripe too much, you don't need to hear it :)) We got to see you the 29th of Jan, I still wait everytime for it to really sink in that you're in there, but we did our 20 check up and you are a big boy!!! You measured from head to toe 11in and weighed about 3/4lbs!!! I love seeing you (even though it hasn't sunk in entirely) I can't wait to start feeling your kicks with my hands on the outside of my tummy, I really am excited for Daddy to feel you too!! This coming Tuesday we get to see you, I think it's going to be a really good day; we see you then Daddy is taking me to dinner at Texas De Brasil *a "fancy" Brazilian steakhouse*. Not only do we get to see you in 2D but with awesome technology we get to see you "3D" and in HD I am excited, and nervous for the HD because lets face it, you're going to look kinda creepy at this stage, but I am sure we will think you're adorable!!! I really should try to get some sleep now, and I think you moved down to your normal spot because I REALLY have to pee!!!!

How far along: 22 weeks 2 daus

Maternity clothes:  Yes, I finally found some comfy jeans, and some cute shirts, and a swimsuit!

Stretch marks: Well I already had some, and yes I am already seeing some new red ones, I don't even care honestly I will never flaunt my tummy to the world so it doesn't matter to me.  

Sleep: I have been pretty drained this week, I had to nap almost everyday 

Best moment this week: I had a BBQ with some old friends from school because Carlee was here from Australia, it was fun to see everyone's families or meet their significant others, since its been several years that we all got to see eachother.

Miss anything: Not really, although it's starting to get very uncomfortable to lay on my tummy :(.

Morning sickness: On and off, this past week has been particiularly bad, lots of vomiting, but not as many headaches. 

Movement: Yes, but please don't scare me like you did for the past two days with none at all!

Symptoms: Sleepy, CRANKY, and nausea 

Food cravings: For once I actually really just want fruity candy, and randomly funfetti cake.
Anything making you queasy or sick: ANYTHING IN A TO GO BOX. Especially in the car, and the smell of some food cooking, smell of brown sugar, and who knows what, sometimes just picking up laundry.

Have you started to show yet: I can't deny it anymore haha, I still just feel bloated, but I do see a definite rounding belly

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have had a rough week with irritability.

Looking forward to: Seeing you on Tuesday, and meeting Aunt Ally's new baby Lylee!

Dance party

Hey there baby boy ( no, we still haven't figured out your name yet). I have been slacking a bit on here but I am here now. The past few weeks have been busy, Christmas and new year have come and gone. Daddy and I went to AZ to go to our cousin Chantel's wedding and spend sometime with the Saunders side of the family. Our trip was fun, and eventful to say the least, while we were there your Great Grandma Saunders (what a hoot she is!) got gallstones and had to spend sometime in the hospital, she had surgery and as far as we know as of today she is doing well; such a strong woman at 82 years old! We had fun seeing everyone, and I got to meet everyone for the first time really, at least got to know them all better.

Anyway I can feel you moving around, and throwing some dance parties in my belly now. It is truly a weird feeling, I am looking forward to the movements being much stronger and prominent (but not at the same time haha). I am still getting sick a bit, hopefully I don't have to go the rest of the 21 weeks being sick until you arrive.
.
I think I will try to add a few major headlining history facts in here the next blogs here on out.
* Our President Barak Obama is trying  (unfortunately succeeding) on banning high capacity magazines for rifles. *This does not sit well with our family's beliefs, and or our country's constitution.*
* Lance Armstrong *a bicyclist* has confessed to doping (this news is not important to me but it  is a very big headliner at the moment) even as much as doping is VERY wrong the man has has helped raise over 500million dollars for cancer.

How far along: 18 weeks 6 days

Maternity clothes:  Yes, I have to wear stretchy pants, I finally bought a pair of jeans!

Stretch marks: Well I already had some, and yes I am already seeing some new red ones, I don't even care honestly I will never flaunt my tummy to the world so it doesn't matter to me.  

Sleep: I have more energy, still not a ton but more than I did int he beginning. 

Best moment this week: Seeing and spending time with family

Miss anything: Not much, I kinda enjoy food making me sick because i don't want to gain too much weight.

Morning sickness: On and off, I made it a whole week with out vomiting (even if I litterally swallowed or choked on some) then the past 2 days I have puked 

Movement: Yup, surely have

Symptoms: Food aversions, lack of appetite

Food cravings: French frys and ketchup
Anything making you queasy or sick: ANYTHING IN A TO GO BOX. Especially in the car, and the smell of some food cooking, smell of brown sugar, thought of eating, rotten tomatos in the fridge, uhmmmm breathing sometimes haha

Have you started to show yet: I think so, not sure what others think, daddy says yes.

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have had a few moments where I am emotional/

Looking forward to: mine and Daddy's trip to FL and cruise to the Bahamas!!.

slugs, snails, and puppy dog tails

Oh BOY!!!!!

Baby Saunders,
Daddy and I were excited to find out who you were yesterday, and we are thrilled you are a little BOY. Mommy is a bit scared because I have NO IDEA what to do with little boys, you'll see one day there are girls, girls, girls everywhere on the Gray side of the family, including your 3 cousins who are so excited to meet you. Auntie T is really excited (and  bit bummed for herself) that you are boy, I have no doubt at all you will be incredibly spoiled, you are the first boy in the family on mommy's side, like EVER! Papa Gray is really stoked too, I even saw him hug daddy last night when we revealed your gender! You are a silly stubborn boy already, when we went to take a peak to see who you were you did NOT hide it, you flaunted it right from the get go and then showed us about 10 more times before yawning and rolling over so that the tech couldn't get a shot of your head or face. Grandpa Saunders called begging for me to tell him what you are, so I told him the Saunders name will carry on, I couldn't make them wait til Christmas. We told everyone on mommy's side of the family you were a boy by filling cupcakes with blue whip cream so that when everyone bit in they saw the color blue and knew you were a boy, Auntie Debra's reaction was by far my favorite (aside from papa hugging daddy), she squealed and stomped her feet in excitement.Auntie Tee didn't say much, I think she kinda wanted to cry (she said she might) , she wants a boy of her own, but is blessed with 3 beautiful girls. Grandma Gray said "WHATTT, what do we do with it?!?" I kind of feel the same way, but I know it will be fun and an adventure when you get here to figure out how to do the boy thing. I have your room picked out (hopefully we can find a new house before you're here) but I hope you like superheros (I am sure you will, your daddy does.) We are throwing names around, Daddy and I both like Odysseus, but because it means "angry, or wrath" I feel it is unfair to you to give you that name. Mommy REALLY likes Sawyer, daddy shes NO WAY. We also like Parker, Preston, and Orion. I have a feeling you will be named Parker. We were trying to figure out how to incorporate Papa's name since he is a 3rd so that his name can live on a little so I said Parker Semi...and realized when you say that out loud that it sounds like someone saying "park your semi" so that is NOT happening but maybe Parker Gray Saunders. I think that sounds okay, you will definitely learn how to write the letter "R" with that name. Well I am heading to bed now, hopefully I will get to sleep since its 1:15am

How far along: 15weeks

Maternity clothes:  Yes, I have to wear stretchy pants, I need maternity pants because my yoga pants are even getting snug.

Stretch marks: Well I already had some, and yes I am already seeing some new red ones, I don't even care honestly I will never flaunt my tummy to the world so it doesn't matter to me.  

Sleep: I am down to minimal naps but by 6pm I am burned out, but then go to bed around 9:30 and can't sleep hence the 1:15am blog.

Best moment this week: Definitely seeing you, and finding out you were a boy!

Miss anything: Not much, I kinda enjoy food making me sick because i don't want to gain too much weight.

Morning sickness: On and off, more on lately, I mean hello...I puked over a rotten tomato in the fridge today.

Movement: Not 100% but pretty sure I have felt a few little butterflies.

Symptoms: Food aversions, lack of appetite

Food cravings: French frys and ketchup
Anything making you queasy or sick: ANYTHING IN A TO GO BOX. Especially in the car, and the smell of some food cooking, smell of brown sugar, thought of eating, rotten tomatos in the fridge, uhmmmm breathing sometimes haha

Have you started to show yet: I think so, I can't tell if I just look bloated or if my tummy is getting rounder.

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have had a few moments where I am moody that I know of, but ask Grandma and she will tell you I have been cranky. I haven't felt cranky that much.

Looking forward to: Christmas.