Messy Marker

I have a problem. Not a huge problem, but I would say it’s definitely an issue.
When Parker is old enough to start daycare I really don’t want to write his name on everything with a marker. For some strange reason I've been thinking about this a lot lately. In fact during lunch today I searched online for cute washable labels.

I had never even thought about labeling until earlier this week when Chris and I went to visit daycares. One of the ladies who gave us a tour told us about these plastic bottle labels that slide on the baby bottles.
Does anyone know where I can find these?
Chris' mom is also very crafty so when she returns from Italy I might also ask her to help me sew or embroider Parker’s name on his diaper bags and toys.

Of course I am not naïve and I know that we are having a little boy! I know that when Parker is a toddler smeared marker will be nothing compared to the booger graveyard he will more than likely leave on his bedroom wall. But for now marker labeling is out.

This morning my friend Molly had a baby girl. She was 7lbs 2oz and so very precious :-) I am so excited for her and cannot believe she is already a mommy.

This was us last year in June. We were throwing a baby shower for Missy. I cannot believe very soon we’ll all three have kids!

Good Dogs

After dinner last night Chris and I decided to take Copper and Duke for a 15-20 minute walk around our neighborhood. During our walk I started to wonder how they feel about the new baby situation.

They know something is very different.
Oddly enough neither one of them seems to be stressed out by Parker’s arrival, or at least they don’t have any of the warning signs.
They haven’t misbehaved or destroyed anything inside our house.
They haven’t gone to the bathroom where they shouldn’t.
Neither one of them have avoided or ignored us.
They’ve been good dogs.

I must give most of the credit to Copper. I have never been around such a calm dog and because of his larger size I forget that he is still a puppy. I haven’t always shown it during my pregnancy but I am glad he is part of our family.

To be honest...I don’t have too many fears when it comes to either of our dogs and Parker. At the same time I know it will be quite an adjustment to have a newborn around so it’s important that we plan ahead and set our rules now.

Yesterday I found a great article with a lot of tips on familiarizing your dog with baby.
It recommends that we get Duke and Copper used to baby things before Parker arrives. It suggests that we even rub diaper cream on our hands and let them smell.
Do you know of any other things we should try?

Lost Control

After our drop in visits yesterday I feel much better about daycare. Both centers we visited were nice, clean and felt safe. After visiting the second daycare Chris and I just knew it was our place.
It was also nice to see that one of Chris’ co-workers was there to pick up her baby during our visit. After our tour of the baby room Chris and I had Parker’s name put on the waiting list for January.
We really like the different activities that the teachers do with the babies. They read, have belly time, and go outside for fresh air when we have nice weather. We also like that they will give us a chart of Parker’s activities, general mood, as well as his changing and feeding schedule at the end of everyday.
Chris and I are very excited for Parker’s daycare!

I only wish that I had an exciting story to share about my doctor's appointment yesterday. My blood pressure isn’t any lower. My doctor now wants to determine if it’s just high blood pressure or if it’s a condition that has been brought on by pregnancy. On Sunday I have to collect a 24 hour urine specimen and on Monday more blood work. If they find it’s a condition that has been brought on by pregnancy we have been told the only treatment would be delivering Parker early.
I feel overwhelmed. I feel upset. I feel like I’ve lost control of my pregnancy.
I know that having a healthy baby and a healthy mommy is more important than anything so I will continue pray for the best.

Daycare Search

After my doctor’s appointment this afternoon Chris and I are going to visit two daycare centers. Now this might sound strange...I am excited, but also dreading our visits.

Chris and I are very fortunate that we don’t have to worry with childcare outside of our home until January, maybe even February. Once our families found out that we were having a baby everyone pretty much cleared vacation time and volunteered to stay at our house with Parker.
I don’t think I would be this calm if we had to enroll our tiny baby in daycare after my maternity leave.

I have heard from our friends who have kids that the best daycare centers fill up fast so we want to find one now so we won’t have to worry during the holidays. I just need to know where our baby will be when I am at work, and that he’ll be safe.

I’ve spent a lot of time researching and asking around about different daycare centers. As of now I have narrowed our search down to two places.
One daycare I like has several different activities for toddlers such as paint class, theater, and sports. If we still live here when Parker is a toddler I would breathe easy knowing that he was learning different activities. I also like how close it is to our house.
The other daycare I like only hires teachers with degrees. In some strange way that I cannot explain this calms my fears. This daycare is also very close to our house.

I have very high hopes for our afternoon visits. I hope that we have two very positive experiences and that we have the hardest time choosing our daycare because they were both great.
I am also sure Parker will love his daycare.

The Best Teacher

I’ve had the biggest smile on my face for the past hour.
It is strange how one phone call can make your day and lift your spirits. I had to share this story since my post yesterday made me sound like a complaining child.

I had only been at work for about an hour this morning when I received a phone call from a woman who is participating in a lock-up fundraiser for us this fall.
I had spoken with this woman yesterday and she didn’t seem too excited about the fundraising part of the event. After we hung up I thought to myself...she’ll cancel.

Our conversation this morning was completely different. She seemed excited and I could tell that I was on speaker phone.
She said: “I am calling you this morning because last night my 8-year old son said he was proud that I was going to help send your kids to camp. He wants to help.”

Then I heard her son: “Can I fundraise too? I will send all of these kids to camp! I promise!”

The woman then explained how her son doesn’t have any friends with disabilities so she was amazed that he feels so strongly about helping. She then got a little emotional and said her son makes her a better person and if he could he would make the world a better place.

I know that Parker will make me a better person. He already has. I think about the simple things that we have already shared like hiccups and kicks. I also think about my strong feelings for this tiny little person who Chris and I haven’t met yet. I would do anything to protect him and turn my life upside down for him. I love him. I am looking forward to the moments we’ll share and all the lessons that I’ll learn.

Hot & Ready

I was not planning on writing so many posts this week but lately it has been the best way to relax.

I am ready for my maternity leave! I know that sounds horrible.
Now that the summer weather is in full force I dread coming to my HOT office. I work inside a tall building that has 31 floors. When you are on the 19th floor you don’t have control of the thermostat. Today I finally broke down and begged for a personal fan!
I strongly dislike the elevator rides. At the very minimum I’ll ride two different sets of elevators at least twice a day...three to five times a day if I take a lunch or go to a meeting. I am never the only person inside the elevator either. Normally it’s packed and I am in the front hoping the doors don’t close on my belly bump.
I hate the smoke filled parking garage. Our parking garage is the only place where you can smoke in the building. This never bothered me too much before, but as a pregnant lady I try to hold my breath until I am inside my car and the air conditioner is running.
I am just a pregnant woman and my office situation is tough for me so I cannot imagine how difficult it can be for the families who attempt to visit us. We might have a great view, but our office isn’t accessible.
I’ve also grown tired of irritating email kudos, silly themes, meetings about nothing, and a supervisor who spends her day playing computer games.
I love the people we help, and they are why I continue to push myself...but I am looking forward to a break.

Above all, I cannot wait to spend time with Parker. After my maternity leave is over and I return to work I am sure those elevator rides and the smoke filled parking garage will be no big deal. I’ll just be excited to go home and spend time with our sweet baby boy.

Chris Sturgess

One of my favorite things about being pregnant has been watching my husband become a dad. I know to some people this may sound strange since Parker hasn't made his entrance in the world yet. But in my heart being a great dad isn't just about changing diapers or holding a baby. Being a good dad starts with being a good husband. It starts with getting involved in the prenatal process.

I have been very fortunate. Chris has never missed a doctor’s appointment. He has never missed one of our childbirth classes. He reminds me to eat my proteins, exercise and get to bed early even if that means he is stuck cleaning the kitchen. He skips lunches or goes to work early so he can take time off to search for the perfect pediatrician and daycare center. He does all of this not because I’ve nagged him…but because he wants to.
He calms my fears, rubs my aching muscles, and above all he makes me a better person.

Dear Chris,
I look forward to the bedtime stories you read to Parker, every hug and kiss you two share, the times you let him have too much soda at a baseball game, and the times he sees you show compassion to someone less fortunate.
Your generosity, your wisdom, and even your jokes will make me proud to say Parker is just like his daddy!
Happy early Father's Day - I love you!

Baby Bump Pictures

It feels like it has been forever since we've shared pictures of my ever growing belly.


So do I look HUGE or not so big yet?
So far my only complaints about the third trimester are the heartburn and my swollen ankles. I know that during these next few weeks Parker will double in size leaving less space for my stomach. That is why pretty much everything I eat gives me heartburn.
As for those ankles...oh my! It depends which shoes I wear and how long I stand on my feet. When I got home from Summer Camp last week my legs and my ankles looked like one large tree stump. Seriously. I completely understand now why pregnant women always buy new shoes, and sometimes in the middle of the afternoon. My shoes feel smaller and tighter everyday. In the end when we are holding a healthy Parker I doubt I'll be complaining about my ankles or heartburn. Until then I'll be counting down the weeks!

Parker Bailey...We Love U

As promised our ultrasound pictures from yesterday. I simply cannot wait!
Somebody pinch me please...is this really happening?

Registry & Stomach Bug

I ate something that strongly disagreed with my stomach, or I have some sort of stomach bug. So Parker and I took a sick day and we are relaxing on the couch watching Birth Day and A Baby Story.
Our ultrasound this morning was wonderful! Parker is already 3 pounds and growing at a healthy pace. I cannot believe in the next 9-10 weeks Chris and I will be cuddling with our baby boy!
Chris usually scans Parker's pictures at work so I'll have to post those pictures tomorrow. When you see the pictures you'll agree that Parker has a lot of Chris' facial features. Although he has my round face shape and puffy cheeks!

My stomach might feel yucky because I had too many sweets yesterday. My cousin's little baby Jacob turned two this past weekend and Chris and I went to his party.
Before the party we rushed to Walmart searching for a present. I was told he wanted Elmo or anything sports related.
So we agreed on an Elmo toy and a soccer jersey. Chris was checking out the singing Elmo baby when Parker kicked. So Chris put Elmo right up against my belly and sure enough Parker moved again. So we know Parker either loves or strongly dislikes Elmo.

Speaking of Walmart...Chris and I finished our baby registry this past weekend. We registered at Babies R Us, Walmart & Baby Depot inside Burlington Coat Factory. I've put the links to our registries on our blog just above our blog buddies so feel free to check them out. If you notice we are missing something on our registry that you would highly recommend please let us know.

Our Plan

I had a mommy moment during our child birth class this week. Before we started the actual class we had to watch a short DVD of a woman during her labor. After her birth she breastfed her baby girl for the first time. I watched as the infant opened her beautiful brown eyes and gazed deep into her mommy’s eyes. As I watched the mom and baby look at each other I felt a strong tug at my heart.
It was a simple moment.
It was a special moment.
I cannot wait until Parker and I share that moment.

The entire month of June Chris and I will learn more about the first, second, and third stages of labor. In fact before next weeks class Chris and I are to come up with our birth plan.

A natural childbirth is something that I have always felt very strongly about...I only feel bad that I haven’t taken the time to write more blogs about why.
I guess part of me fears the scrutiny I could possibly face. Another part of me fears that my opinion will offend my readers.
When I say natural childbirth I mean no medication; this includes an epidural.
Have I lost my mind? Aren’t I scared to death of the pain and the exhausting work?

With only a few weeks remaining in my pregnancy the only things I fear are... failure, having to have a medically recommended c-section, and having to justify or clarify why my labor ended up being a delivery after Parker arrives.

I am not in anyway saying that women who have epidurals or medication are failures, I respect all moms. However, Chris and I have worked hard and prepared for Parker’s birth day.

My heart goes out to women who must have a Cesarean Section due to complications. I pray that this doesn’t happen to me.
My friend Katie had a c-section with her son and it took her a while to recover. During that time she felt like she missed out on a lot of time with a growing Caleb. With that said, opting for this type of surgery doesn’t sound good to me. There is no level of pain or exhaustion that would have me volunteering for an unnecessary Cesarean Section.

When I mention a natural childbirth I will either hear horror stories about labor or I’ll hear random babble about how I must have a high pain tolerance.
My decision for this type of birthing plan has nothing to do with pain tolerance.
My decision is this simple...I want to give birth to Parker.
I want to listen to my body. I want to listen to Parker and help push him out when he is in need.
If I have an epidural or medication a doctor will tell me when and how hard to push, Chris will warn me of a contraction by watching a monitor, and then the doctor will deliver Parker.
I would then spend the first week or so of our son’s life justifying my need for an epidural instead of sharing sweet stories about my strong baby boy.

CAMP!

I was up bright and early this morning excited for an eventful day at MDA Summer Camp.
My purpose in life is clear...
1) to be Parker's mommy
2) to work with children

I could write a long blog about our day, but the pictures below tell a much better story. Enjoy!

My Yoga Class

My yoga class was short one person last night. A lady who was in my class lost her baby at 16 weeks, we were told that her baby’s heart stopped beating sometime between her last check up and the ultrasound she had on Monday. Although I only met her once my heart goes out to her and her family.
Last night I couldn’t help but wonder why horrible things such as losing a baby happen to people. Chris says bad things happen so when good things come around we know just how fortunate we are.
I pray that I never lose sight of just how fortunate we have been during our pregnancy.

Yoga this week was more difficult but I know that it is good for my high blood pressure and for Parker.
Last night we did the downward dog and some painful squats for about 40 minutes. At first those stretches felt wonderful! I was stretching muscles that I didn’t even remember having, but that didn’t last long. I grew tired quickly.
Lately I’ve been having charlie horse leg cramps in the middle of the night. Some are so painful that I wake up and yell. Saturday during my prenatal massage I was told that my calf muscles were tense and that I need to do plenty of stretching and drink more water. Gatorade was also recommended before a workout or yoga.
Between that massage, buying Gatorade, and last nights squats my legs felt great last night!
So maybe those painful squats are good for more than just preparing for an easier delivery.

Another neat thing about my yoga class...a girl who works with my mom is my class. She is quickly becoming my pregnancy buddy and is due one week before me. There is another girl in our class who is due in 7 weeks... us three are the furthest along, everyone else is due in October or November and we are all having our first child.
I look forward to Monday nights every week because I enjoy getting to know other pregnant woman and of course I look forward to talking about sweet baby Parker and my pregnancy.
Chris and I have another ultrasound on Monday morning so I am sure that I’ll be showing off Parker’s pictures during class next week.

Pac’ter Baywee

My mind and body are completely exhausted from our weekend.
Want to hear something sad? Besides making a baby in my tummy, buying groceries, and searching for the perfect crib I didn’t do any of the work.
Chris on the other hand was busy mowing, moving furniture, cleaning our carpet, and painting. Did I mention I also went for a prenatal massage? I don’t know how I would handle this pregnancy without Chris. I am spoiled and very fortunate!

Before I tell you more about my crib search let me first start with Friday.
On Friday afternoon Chris and I had our first visit with a Pediatrician. We both really like Dr. Young and feel comfortable with his office staff as well as his facility. Before we make our final decision we still have a meeting scheduled with another Pediatrician in July.

On Friday night Tarpley’s Music held an event/fundraiser for some of my kids. Chris and I met one of my client families at the event because I was asked to speak with one of their kids. This event couldn’t have happened at a better time. I’ve been frustrated with my job lately so spending that time with a client family helped to motivate me.

After my prenatal massage on Saturday (which was WONDERFUL) I went crib searching with my mom. My parents had offered to buy Parker’s crib. Since Chris and I already have a dresser for all of Parker’s stuff I wanted to make sure to find a crib that matches his dresser. Baby Depot inside Burlington Coat Factory hands down has the cutest cribs! Once Chris puts the crib together in the next weekend or so I will be posting pictures! Since you guys are reading this blog...thank you mom & dad!

After buying the crib Saturday night I had dinner with my parents and my 3-year old cousin Colby. I told Colby all about Parker Bailey then we played with his toy cars. After dinner I was relaxing on the sofa while my mom was rubbing my feet when Colby decided to drive his car up my belly. Then in his cute little voice he said... “Pac’ter Baywee.” I laughed and then told myself it will be cute when some of the kids in Parker’s toddler class call him Pac’ter!

Daydreamer

I spend every free second I have daydreaming about Parker Bailey.
I see myself kissing his sweet tiny feet.
I see him wearing his precious baseball caps.
I see mommy and Parker cuddle time.
I see his smile after a belly laugh.
I see his heavy eyes as his daddy rocks him back to sleep.
I see myself tickling his tiny face with the inside of my finger.
I see Parker playing with Duke’s tail and Copper’s floppy ears.
I see Parker throwing my Tupperware bowls across the kitchen floor.
I see him doing a little dance in the living room after his daddy yells “touchdown!”
I see him doing a little dance in the living room after his daddy yells “homerun!”
I see him clapping his hands when he enjoys the baby foods we feed him.

I think my daydreams help me to avoid stress, prepare for motherhood, and slow down my anxiety. I have a feeling these next three months are going to move *very* slowly! Hey mommys: besides yoga and daydreaming what else should I try to keep me relaxed during my nesting time?

Tummy Honey

Since I’ve gone a few days without writing I have a lot to say.

Chris felt Parker move this past weekend! It was about 11ish on Sunday night. I was rolling around in bed trying to find a comfortable position when I felt a constant movement in my belly. I think baby Parker had the hiccups.
I immediately pushed my boppy to the floor and crawled out of bed, I ran (okay I waddled) down the hallway… through the living room… past the kitchen and laundry room into the garage where Chris was working out.
I looked at him and said “Come here! Come here!” I then placed his hand on my belly and sure enough Parker decided to let his daddy feel. It was truly a magical moment! I wished that I would have had a camera to take a picture of the priceless look Chris had on his face. I loved that moment!

I had a doctor’s appointment this morning. In fact Chris and I will be seeing a lot more of Dr. May during these next three months. It looks like I’ll be visiting every three weeks maybe even more. We are told that this is normal for someone in their third trimester. I do, however, have high blood pressure. If this is my only problem then I consider myself lucky because this is something I am told that I can control. I need to get plenty of exercise, eat proteins, and back out of stressful situations. If I don’t get my blood pressure lower I have been told that I might go into early labor. I plan on making an exercise and food chart for myself tonight. I want more than anything to make sure that Parker is healthy. I want Parker to pick the day he arrives...not my high blood pressure.

This morning I had my test for gestational diabetes. I have been worried about this testing because for the last three weeks I have been told how horrible it can be. I was told that I should plan on taking a sick day because I would feel bad after the blood work. I was also told that I would more than likely be sick at my stomach and have a headache.
But I didn’t feel sick, have a headache, or miss work. They asked me to drink 4 oz of a sugary drink that tasted like Sunkist and then after an hour they took a small amount of blood. Why do people always try and freak out the pregnant gals?

I also started my prenatal yoga class this week! I have a feeling that yoga will help me to lower my high blood pressure. It is also nice to meet other pregnant girls who live in my area. It’s a small class... I think there are 8 of us. After yoga last night I took a bubble bath only to notice STRETCH MARKS! There are only a few but I really want to avoid several more.

After the bath I busted out my sample of Tummy Honey Butter that I had received from my doctor’s office.
Tummy Honey Butter is this amazing product that unfortunetly is hard to get.

Unlike other stretch mark prevention lotions and creams Tummy Honey smells heavenly. It's thick like honey and also prevents itching. It left my belly feeling smooth and elastic. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is pregnant! It is definitely worth the $20! From what I find you can only order it online. Thankfully Target Online has this butter and it should arrive at our door step on Saturday or early next week!