Parker's First Birthday Party!

Let me just start by saying I "SURVIVED" well barely! I really don't like to be the host and the one responsible for entertaining a crowd of people. I get so stressed and for get to eat, and think. I always make way to much food or forget to do something. This time I made cafe rio sweet pork burritos and I totally forgot to pull out the lettuce and tomatoes. I worked so hard at getting it all ready too...ugh.

Other than me going a little crazy the party surprisingly turned out very well. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time! Thank you everyone who could be a part of this special day! and those who couldn't be there you were missed.

The first hour pretty much we just let the kids play. My dear friend Amanda let me borrow her bounce house again! I so need to buy my own! The big kids pretty much stayed outside and the little ones played inside. Everyone looked so cute in their Halloween costumes!

Parker was a little skeptical at first to eat his cupcake but in the end really enjoyed it! I made gluten free cupcakes with sugar substitutes, but I couldn't bring myself to make anyone eat the sugar free cream cheese icing...gross. So he didn't get away with no sugar but a lot less than he would have if I would of bought him one. The things I do to make myself feel like a good mom...its so much work!

He loves all his new gifts! He has unwrapped a present before and had a blast so I am really surprised he didn't enjoy it more on his birthday. He doesn't do well with crowds like his momma! Thanks again for everything everyone!

After the party we headed over to our church for trunk or treat. We had a good time and enjoying spending more time with the cousins! The night ended pretty quickly after Niko feel and busted his chin open...I feel horrible. This is why I will NOT be playing with the kids anymore :(. I was the one chasing him when he tripped over his feet and fell. He had to get bonded back together because he wouldn't stay still for his stitches. I feel horrible, but now he will have a "cool" scar...i guess.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PARKER HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

On Friday, October 21st I took Parker to the Japanese Gardens to take his pictures. Let me just start by saying I have the cutest kid ever! He has such a silly personality and I love it!

I was running around like a crazy person trying to get the few good pictures I got. I don't know how I worked as a photographer for 5 years and kept up with all those kids. Parker is worth the chasing!

yesterday I was thinking about how a year ago I was running around like crazy trying to get everything ready for you since you surprised me and decided to join us TWO AND A HALF WEEKS EARLY! I was in denial for the whole morning until my midwife confirmed I was in labor.

This past year has been absolutely wonderful!

Dear Parker,

I can't believe today your turn 1. It still seems like just yesterday I got to hold you for the first time, you were so little! This time last year I was working very hard to bring you into this world. I was tired, scared, and anxious all at the same time. I could be upset with you for taking forever to be born but I'm not. After getting to know you this year I now know that's just part of your special personality. You arrived 2.5 weeks early, just like you chose to crawl early, and do so many other things ahead of schedule. You put me through 12 HOURS of active labor ( so worth it) just like it took you 6 weeks to sleep longer than 3 hours and in your own bed, and how you do things only when your ready...like walking...still patiently waiting for those cute baby steps by the way!

I want you to know that your mommy and daddy love you so much. You mean the world to us! You are so smart and I am amazed everyday by the things you do. I know you will grow up to be a very successful young man and we look forward to watching and helping you grow! I can't wait to see what the future holds for our sweet little family! WE LOVE YOU PARKER!

 

This past month you have enjoyed walking while holding onto our fingers and kicking the ball! you love playing with all your cars and your little friends, even though your play to rough and make them cry. We are working on that! You managed to swallow a battery that I never found. you will always be battery boy! I can't take my eyes off you because you get into everything, your so curious. You figured out one day that you could crawl behind the couch, thankfully you forgot about that or I would have one more place to clean. On October 9th you took two steps and mommy and daddy thought you would be a walking fool by now. you tricked us!You likes to stand and then fall forward and have us catch you.

you are trying to talk so bad, you loves the park where we go walking/running at. you points and yell duck at the ducks and birds! you can say duck, ball, hungry, water, and whats that. and so what if we are the only ones who know your saying that stuff!

you just got your 5th tooth. It's your top right middle tooth. you look like a jack-o-lantern! perfect for your Halloween. 

Today you actually may have a stomach bug :( Mommy had a fun play date planned but had to cancel when you showed signs of being sick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER!

Welcome Parker Kenneth Jenkins

IT''S A BOY! Parker Kenneth Jenkins born Monday October 25, 2010 at 4:36 pm. He weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces and is 19 1/2 inches long. Chest and head both 13 inches. Heart rate 120, great muscle tone, strong reflexes,very alert and active after birth.

My Labor: I woke up Sunday morning at around 8 am to get ready for church and lost my mucus plug. At or around 11:15 my water broke. I wasn't 100 % sure if it had broken because it was just a small leak. My friend Amanda was the one who convinced me that it had broken. Once I decided to believe her she came home with me and helped me pack a bag to take to birthing center since I never did that. At this point I was still having a hard time believing I was in labor 2 1/2 weeks before my due date. I didn't call my midwife to tell her my water had broken until about 1:00 and she did confirm that yes my water had broken. At that point she advised me to buy hipicleanse to keep myself clean to avoid infection and to get rest. Getting rest was the last thing I could do knowing that I was in the early stages of labor. I ended up going to Walmart and picking up a few last minute things I needed before the baby arrived. At this point only my friend Amanda and Alycia knew my water had broken. We had a family dinner planned that day and decided since I wasn't in active labor that we not tell anyone. Sorry everyone for not telling. We went to the family dinner and enjoyed some lasagna and than I left to come home to get some rest. I was extremely tired at that point so I laid down to get some rest. I only slept for an hour and woke up wide awake. I even took 2 Tylenol pm and it did nothing. When I woke up my contractions were very mild and felt like a light stomach ache. They picked up as the night progressed and were all over the place varying from 5-15 minutes apart lasting from 20-40 seconds. At around 2:30 they really picked up and were 5 minutes apart lasting about 35 seconds for 1 1/2 hrs.. I was trying to wait to call Donnellynn (my midwife) until they were a minute long lasting 5 minutes. I was feeling cold, shaky and nauseous so sent her a text to let her know and I got in the shower. She called and spoke to Blake and reassured him everything I was going through was normal. Since I was feeling that way she felt it was about time to go to the birthing center. Once she passed Watauga she called us to let us know we could head out. We arrived at the birthing center at 4:30 am Monday morning. She checked me and I was dilated to a 4 and two hours later I was a 6. My labor progressed very quickly in the beginning. I did the best I could to sleep between contractions until about lunch time when they started in my back. I got in the jacuzzi tub around 1 or so and stayed in for about 2 hours. I got out to take a break and get adjusted and got back in and I couldn't really relax anymore. I was dilated a that point to a 9 and stayed at a 9 for a few hours. I tried to push through contractions to help me go from 9 to 10, but for some reason I wasn't able to make myself push. Donnellynn said that she thinks I was just scared. I got out of the water for the last time and she asked if I wanted to try to get some sleep or just push our way to 10 cm. I was so tired at that point I just wanted to hurry and have my baby boy. I got in bed and we waited for a contraction so I could push. My first one came and they coached me through on how to push. They told me take a deep breath and hold it in and push and when I was done take another deep breath and push my heart out. I didn't feel like anything had changed but Donnellynn was there reassuring me the baby had moved we made progress. I got a 5 minute break in between contractions which was really nice since I was so tired. Next two sets of contractions I had pushed the baby almost to crowning position. Next push the baby was officially crowning...I know understand the ring of fire. I was trying my best not to scream but it was the worst pain ever...sorry to scare anyone. I was having a hard time relaxing with the pain and to help me get more oxygen to Parker they had to give me oxygen. I may of only pushed one or two more time and his head was born then the final push...whoosh out came Parker. That was the best feeling ever. I was still in shock that I had actually just had a baby naturally and survived! Blake and I were both crying we were so happy! Well Blake was actually crying from earlier but he thought I didn't know. Later he said he was crying because it hurt him to see me in so much pain. The pain was worth the reward! I love Parker so much I can't explain it, any mom out there can agree.

After the umbilical cord stopped pulsating and I delivered my placenta, Blake cut the umbilical cord. I was then officially not pregnant anymore! My pregnancy was super easy and it was fun at times to have a big belly, but I am happy not to have to carry the extra weight around.

I may have left out somethings about my delivery but its hard to remember every little detail. It has taken me three days to finish writing this post. I don't have any free time anymore, changing diapers and feeding him alone make up most of my day.