FORRRE...months old.

Parks,
You're 4 months old! We sure do love you sweet boy. This month your personality has began to shine through and you're such a FLIRT! I love it. You're forever flirting with me. This month you went to the beach and enjoyed naps on the beach each morning. It was super hot so we only kept you out for a couple of hours under the canopy and with a battery powered fan blowing on you. You were not a fan of your hat and hated the walk back to the condo. But other than that you were such a trooper we had to keep your sister off your blanket and keep her from trying to steal your fan. Then while sister napped I snuggled with you. You went through a crazy sleep regression while we were at the beach and the week we got back. Momma had to join her baby bears during nap time. some nights it was every hour. It was roughft Speaking of your sister she's really coming around. She hasn't had to go to timeout for hitting you on the head or throwing something your way ALL WEEK. You on the other hand adore her. Whenever she comes over to you and says Parks so sweet you light up. It's the sweetest thing to watch. We can't wait to watch you grow together and form the sweetest bond. Their is nothing like the sibling bond and we certainly pray a precious one forms between you two.

4 Months Highlights:

• 12lbs 4oz--You're nursing every 2-3 hours and then taking a 3oz formula bottle after that 12oz of formula total each day. 
• 25 1/2 inches long--long and skinny
• Rolling over
• Enjoying sitting up in your bumbo seat some but your sister thinks that is hers and tries to get you out. A lot. 
• Napping from 9-11 in the mornings the 1:30-4 in the afternoons. 
• Slowly but surely transitioning you to your room. Momma wants to hold onto you in our room forever.
• You love kicking, blowing bubbles, fan watching, and being outside.--Unfortunately it's been the hottest summer I can remember ever having and we've spent too much time indoors for everyone's safety. Bring on the cool crisp fall days where we can stay outside. 
• You're a momma's boy. Sorry da-da. 
• You're great at tummy time! You love watching things from different perspectives.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

We love you so very much sweet boy! You're such a special little guy and we're grateful the Lord saw fit to add you to our family!

Love you, 

Mommy and Daddy. 

sister too. she just won't admit it yet. 

Parker 3 Months Old

Parker, 

Another month has gone by, what a fun month it has been! Your personality is starting to shine through and I have a feeling you're going to be a momma's boy (which is 100% fine with me). You FREAK out if I'm out of your sight and love holding my finger or being snuggled right up against me. You also love snuggling with daddy and love it when he talks to you, he always gets the best smiles. He's counting down the days until football season starts and you two can spend Sunday afternoons staring at the TV. You're sleeping through the night for the most part with random nights of waking to eat multiple times. I don't mind, yes I miss the sleep but I also enjoy this nursing time. It's just you and me buddy with a quiet house. I soak up those moments because they are so fleeting. Your sister has become more hands on with you this month and likes to "hold you" aka boppy on her lap with you laying across mommy on one side daddy on the other. She loves hugging and kissing. Also, helping you put your paci in your mouth. But then in turn has been known to throw various items at your head and then runs to the time out chair because she knows what's to come. 

You are the perfect addition to our family and we love you more than words can say!

Mommy and Daddy

3 Month Highlights:

• 12lbs 5oz maybe? Little peanut like your sister!
• Nursing throughout the day with 4 (2oz) formula bottles.
• Sleeping through the night most of the time 
• Taking a morning nap, an afternoon nap, and a quick power nap before our dream feed and bed. 
• Still swaddled and in the rock n play beside momma. You will be here until college. Sorry bud. 
• Found your hands and you love them always in your mouth.
• Smiling more and more you even giggled in your sleep. It was precious. 
• Still having your bewitching hour from 5:30 6-7ish woo.

Meeting Daddy's college friends

Attended your first wedding!

Parker 2 Months

You are now another month older. Why does time insist on speeding up no matter how much I pray it would slow down? A contradiction that all mommies experience as we love watching you grow and change and learn. But these newborn months no matter how stressful and exhausting they may be are SO fleeting. You're already trying to roll over, smiling every once in a while, and are changing so much. This month you gained 12 ounces in one week--mommy was so proud--pretty sure I told everyone we came across. You met your great-grandmother and great aunt. Celebrated your cousin's birthdays and loved on your daddy for your first Father's Day. You also went to mommy's favorite place, Ocean Isle Beach, out of utero. You were there about a month before your arrival you particularly enjoyed evenings on the back deck rocking with whoever claimed you that hour. Your sister is beginning to love you more and more which we are so grateful for. You haven't suffered a paci being thrown your way in a few weeks now.

 2 Months Stats:
--You are 10lbs 1oz--4%
--You are 23 inches long. You're going to be tall. I swear in one afternoon you grew length wise laying in my lap. --51%
--Eating every two-three hours. You either breastfeed, take a pumped bottle, or take one or two formula bottles a day.  I'm so grateful our breastfeeding journey is going differently than with your sister, a lot less stressful.

Likes:
--Being talked to, we have all sorts of conversations with you these days. You just take it all in like you can totally understand what we are saying.
--Swaddled
--Hair dryer
--Lights
--Ceiling Fan

Dislikes:
--Being hungry
--Dirty diapers
--Being changed
--The carseat is hit or miss. For the most part you're pretty good in the car but you can sense when we've got about 30 minutes of a journey left and well...

Looking forward to celebrating your first 4th of July this month, attending your first wedding, and two baby showers for your aunt Goof and baby Aubrey!

The days sometimes are long Parks. But I know too well that the years are so short. I'm treasuring every moment with you sweet boy, the good the bad, the easy the stressful. Babies don't keep. 

One Month Old--Parker Michael

You're one month old sweet boy! I can't believe it, this month has FLOWN by. We're settling into our new normal and it's be a fun month getting to know you and watching your sister like you more and more each day.

-We go for your one month old check up this afternoon so I'm anxious to see how much you've gained. You're kind of like your sister as you've been slow to gain your weight. You let me know when you're hungry though...boy do you get mad. You're a sleepy nurser so I've been pumping bottles and that seems to be going better. I nurse you a couple of times during the day and you get 1-2 bottles of formula and then the rest are pumped bottles. You wake me up normally around 2 and 4:30-5 to eat in the middle of the night I nurse you then. That 4 hour stretch is heavenly. Thank you. 

Family walks in the bus are necessary. We all need that vitamin D time. 

• You're such a snuggle bug and are most content being held or on my chest.
• You love being swaddled like your sister.
• Obsessed with the hair dryer, the moment you get fussy I click that thing on and all is right with the world.
• You love being outside.
• You HATE getting your diaper changed, yet you also hate having a dirty diaper. It's a catch 22 brother bear. 
• You also don't love bath time, but sister loves to help give you a bath. 

You may not get the elaborate chalkboard updates like your sister did BUT I'm going to try for a blog post and a picture with your bunny. Promise. 

Parker Michael Walters

After wicked contractions for 2 and 1/2 weeks you decided to join us in the early early morning of Saturday, April 30th, 2016.

On Friday, April 29th we headed to our weekly doctors appointment while Caroline played with Granna, Pop, and Aunt Pat. Appointments with a toddler in tow make my blood pressure rise so she spent the morning getting spoiled. It was a quick appointment I even ran into a friend from ECU! Dr. Grewal checked Parker's heartbeat, measured my belly, and then checked to see if those painful contractions had made any progress. Nope. None. Still 1.5cm dilated which I had been for two weeks at that point. Leaving a little frustrated and with a bladder infection but also with hope since she said my water bag was bulging we met everyone for lunch.

While at lunch mommy began having a couple more contractions. Not uncommon after a cervical check. Instead of shopping we said our goodbyes and headed home, mommy was ready for nap time and luckily so was sister. While laying down I had a few more contractions so I decided to move to the tub. I finally got some relief and decided that today was not the day a baby was coming. Once sister woke up we went for our afternoon walk and I had a hard time making it a few steps without having to stop, hold my belly, and squeal in pain. Convinced they were still no big deal I sent Derik to the store to get a few things for dinner and I started cooking our chicken fried rice. While Derik was away I noticed the contractions getting stronger. I called my wonderful mother in law and she said it could be spasms as a result of my bladder infection. She suggested timing them and then calling the hospital. When Derik got home they just kept getting stronger and stronger. I prayed that the Lord would give me a sign that it was go time. We had a false alarm already and I hated to get everyone excited again. About that time I had one more painful contraction and Derik strongly encouraged me to call the doctor. Done and done that was my sign. They of course told me to come on in and get checked out since my contractions were about 3 minutes apart and stronger. We barely clean up our uneaten/halfway cooked dinner, throw our bags in the car, finished feeding Caroline, and headed to meet my parents at the hospital. In so much pain we gave Caroline good night kisses and sent her with Pop Pop. Mom and I waddled into the waiting room to get checked in while Derik got Pop and Caroline situated. In so much pain mom had to speak for me. After waiting to be checked in to triage and trying to distract ourselves by watching Wheel of Fortune they finally called us back. All the routine stuff went down and they finally checked me. I had worked my way to a 4 almost 5 and one of our favorite doctors happened to be on call and he admitted us right away.

We got into our delivery room around 9:30pm and my husband immediately turned on the draft. We met our labor and delivery nurse who just happened to be named...Caroline. Yes, God's sovereign and I truly believe He sent us that precious woman specifically to us. She was amazing. I labored through a few more contractions and started my IV fluids for my epidural. I made it to a 6 before calling in the help. I'm all about owning it and I will own that my birth plan is healthy baby, healthy mommy, and epidural. I also had to get a round of antibiotics for Parker since I test positive for group b strep. Our anesthesiologist came about 10 minutes after I ordered the epidural and proceeded to watch the draft with Derik all the while administering a very large needle that was wonderful and allowed me to still feel for the most part. Just not the pain, check and check.

Our amazing nurse Caroline. Thank you thank you for your patience and support! In between contractions and post epidural. 

Again, the epidural was good but I could definitely still feel the pressure and pain from the contractions that were definitely getting worse and closer together. I asked Caroline to check me and I was at an 8. Almost there, this was a little after 11 and Dr. Lowe came in and informed us there were two other laboring mommas and we were in a competition. Again. This happened with Caroline. Friendly competition of course. He checked me and I was at a 9.5 so he instructed Caroline to refresh me on pushing and get a couple practice rounds in. At 11:55 he declared it was time to push for real. We pushed for about 40 minutes and Parker Michael made us a family of four at 12:37 am on Saturday, April 30th, 2016. 

After some skin on skin time with mommy you were weighed, measured, and all checked out and daddy got to hold you for the very first time. Nothing makes me fall in love with my husband more than watching him be the best daddy to our babies. Momma's y'all were right I love Caroline something fierce and couldn't imagine how in the world I could love another human being like I love her. They then placed Parker on my chest and I fell in love with him in a completely different way. I was completely euphoric despite the exhaustion. We finally got placed into our room for the rest of the weekend around 3am and tried to get some sleep despite Granna snoring, the nurses coming in, and the uncomfortable beds. While in the hospital we welcomed lots of family members, ate a TON of food seriously we had nutritional services hopping, watched so much HGTV, breastfed, and got used to changing boy diapers. 

We really really really missed each other. 

 As for Caroline, we are slowly. SLOWLY. slowly. warming up to baby brother. She loves him strongly so we're working on how to love him gently. A post on life with two under two to come later. This momma is tired and ready for bed before my little alarm clock wants to eat. :)