Scooter Surprise

Yesterday we received a huge birthday package from Parker's Uncle C.P. Parker couldn't wait until his party to open it (and yesterday was his birthday, after all), so he dug into the box and pulled out a cool new John Deere scooter, helmet, knee pads and elbow pads - and an awesome toy tractor that looks to be a collector's item. (We'll try to keep it out of the rain, C.P.!) He put on all his gear and took to the sidewalk immediately. He loves it! Thanks so much, C.P.!!! We love you.

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Four Years Ago Today...

Four years ago today we were in the hospital with a brand-new baby boy named Parker Scott Denton, who arrived 10 days early in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
I was a reporter at the time, and I worked that Friday. I had a pretty easy schedule just finishing up some stories. I even had time to go to lunch - a rare event. One of the editors took me and a coworker out to eat at Swett's, and I came back and finished up. I remember noticing contractions throughout the day, but they weren't painful. Subconsciously, I must have known what was happening, because I worked late to finish up stories that weren't even due until the next week. Then I actually organized my desk (which I never did) and sprayed and wiped it down with cleaner.

It was Friday night before Memorial Day, the start of a long weekend. Jerod had rented a movie (something with that guy known as The Rock in it), and we watched it while eating spaghetti. The contractions were stronger and closer together, and we started timing them like we had learned in our birthing classes. They never really became completely regular, so I just went to bed around 10:30, figuring that if this was the real thing I'd know it at some point. Thirty minutes later my water broke! We were at the hospital by 11:30 p.m. I was so nervous, my teeth were chattering on the drive in.

The contractions were starting to get painful, so I was trying to breathe through them. Pretty soon I asked for (demanded) the epidural, and I just remember how incredibly hard it was for me to hold still while the anesthesiologist inserted the needle in my spine between strong and painful contractions. But then everything was great (after I threw up the spaghetti), and Jerod and I watched the forceful contractions on the monitor. I kind of dozed on and off, and the nurse told me to try to get some rest, that it would probably be about eight hours before I would be ready to push. Wrong! Soon after that, I was fully dilated, and they called the doctor.

After 30 minutes of pushing, Parker wasn't coming out, and his heart rate started to drop. I remember people rushing in, a nurse putting an oxygen mask on me, and the doctor saying she was getting him out. So I had a major episiotomy, and he was born at 3:42 a.m. - fewer than five hours after my water broke. Parker was immediately whisked away to have his lungs suctioned (they were full of meconium), and I remember the doctor telling me not to worry if he didn't cry - that sometimes babies with this much meconium in their lungs didn't cry. But Parker started wailing with a big, healthy cry, and it was a wonderful sound (portending things to come...)

Jerod took lots of great pictures and videos, and he was so excited. We were both so excited - and kind of dazed, too. The whole thing was surreal and wonderful, the beginning of a journey that has profoundly changed our lives for the better.

Happy 4th birthday, baby boy. We love you so much.

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Where Did Our Baby Go?

Parker will be 4 years old in three days. It's become apparent recently - overnight? - that he is no longer the chubby toddler, the round munchkin that he used to be. I swear I can see a teenager in his face sometimes. And he has already been known to say, "Enough kisses, mommy."

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Poolside

We went to the pool for the first time yesterday, and it was packed! We went in the late afternoon because it was hot and sunny - too hot for Sawyer. I sat with Sawyer in the shade while Parker had a blast in the kids' pool. (I haven't bought a bathing suit yet, so

he was relegated to the wading pool, which was just fine with him.) Sawyer was mesmerized by the music and the people, and he soon fell asleep. Just look at those eyelashes! (He didn't get them from me.) Parker did a great job sharing toys and listening and generally just being a good kid. It was one of those days when you think, 'Yeah, maybe we're doing something right."

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After bathtime

Two naked, clean, sweet-smelling boys snuggling after bathtime.

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Spider Man

Parker's always creating some type of "machine" with blocks, tape, boxes - whatever he can tie or tape together. Here he used masking tape to create a giant spider web on the deck. It cracked me up (and impressed me a little, too) that he thought to stick a Hot Wheels car on the web.

It was, of course, a spider web that caught Hot Wheels cars.

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Chick Magnet

J couldn't resist buying a little something for Sawyer. I think it's fitting.

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And the Living is Easy...

Cameron came over yesterday to play in the sprinkler with Parker while Stasia and I relaxed and talked - and Sawyer slept, at least for a few minutes. After a while, a warm rainshower poured while the sun shined. It was beautiful, and we stayed under the umbrella for awhile to watch (except for Parker, who ran around in the rain). We ordered pizza (thanks, Stasia!) and just hung out.

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If I Could Stop Time...

If I could stop time, I might do it now. Sawyer is at such a wonderful age, and he makes us so happy. He is the sweetest baby, just a joy to be around. I can't believe he is almost five months old! He is already eating cereal, and he is getting two teeth!!! Where does the time go?? It seems like just last week that we brought him home. He is such a snuggly and smiley baby, with funny faces that make us all laugh. He coos and "talks" all the time now - such sweet sounds. We're so lucky to have him.

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Our Beautiful Back Yard

J has worked so hard on our big back yard, and it is awesome! I love this time of year, when the weather is not too hot, the grass is green and flowers are bursting into bloom. We spent a lot of time outside last weekend, just hanging out and enjoying the yard. J planted four hydrangeas, mowed the grass, dug all the grass and weeds out of the rose garden, added pine straw and generally made the place look gorgeous. I don't tell him enough how much we appreciate it. I love you, honey. Here are some pics.

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A Rough Few Days

Popsicles and ice didn't really help Parker's lip, after all. He bit it so severely when it was numb that his lip almost became infected - and it was so painful! For two nights I slept with him because he kept waking up crying all night long with pain, even with Tylenol and Motrin. He could barely eat, and he had to drink through a straw to keep liquids away from his lip. Poor boy! One night, after several crying bouts from lip pain, he fell out of bed and ended up with a big bump on his noggin. I took him to the doctor last Sunday - I just couldn't stand that he was in so much pain and it didn't seem to be getting better. Dr. M gave us penicillin to protect against infection, which made me feel a lot better. Parker had a really rough few days. Thankfully, it is almost completely healed now, more than a week later. And he's back to his rambunctious self. The real test? He ate pizza last night, no problem.

Here's what his lip looked like about four days after he chewed on it. :(

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No More Candy

Parker went to the dentist today for conscious sedation. The pediatric dentist expertly fixed the deep cavity (guilt, guilt!) while Parker watched Shrek on the overhead TV and generally felt OK after downing a sedative. He bit his lip on the way home because he couldn't feel it, and it was bleeding and swollen. It's still swollen, but a steady diet of popsicles, cartoons and couch time (and a little Motrin) is helping him recover ...

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Our Boys

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The View From Here

My apologies to my faint-of-heart friends and family who might be shocked by a boob. But really, what could be sweeter than this?

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Brylcreem, a Little Dab'll Do Ya!

"Mommy, my hair looks like Mr. Rogers'."

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Big Brother, Little Brother

One of the great, unexpected joys of having two children is watching them get to know one another. These two guys adore each other - for now, at least.

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Running in the Rain

Ahhh, to be a kid. Parker wanted to run amok during a warm spring rain the other night. It was dark. It was pouring. He had his jammies on. We let him run.

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Happy 4th, Connor!

Last weekend we went to Connor's 4th birthday party at a park. It was a gorgeous day, and there was plenty of room for all the kids to run, climb, jump and generally get all their energy out while the parents had a chance to talk. Sawyer was sick and stayed home with his Daddy. Parker had a blast. Here he is with his buddy Brayden - and incognito as a certain superhero. (Parker got a little tired of the camera after awhile ...)

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Hello, blog world. Here are my awesome boys, Parker and Sawyer. I'm going to try to document our days for our friends and family who live so far away and don't get to share in the (mostly) sweet moments that make up our lives.

I can't promise a post a day, because life gets in the way. After working, cooking, folding clothes, bathing little ones, reading stories, nursing, changing diapers, showering, sleeping (not much), trying to spend some time with husband, eating - the list goes on! - who has time to blog?? I was inspired by a few friends of mine who have dynamic and interesting blogs that make me laugh and think and try to be a better person. Don't expect that here, though. I just want to share some pictures and a musing or two. And perhaps bring some smiles to our faraway folks.

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