Here's What We've Been Up To...

Today we:

Took a walk to the Spudnut Shop to get breakfast.
Drayson and Parker both rode in the stroller on the way down while Caleb rollerbladed. It was a nice start to the morning.

On November 6th we:

Played in the backyard and hopped into the swing.

On October 31st we:

Celebrated Halloween.
Parker was Tom Cruise ("Maverick") from Top Gun. He was too cute in his pilot's jacket. We went and visited Aunt Lauri, Uncle Carl, and cousin Casey (plus their dogs that Parker had a blast playing with). He even got a Tootsie Pop and had pink drool all down his white shirt by the end of it. He also loved his orange Tootsie Pop that he got from our fabulous neighbors.

On October 30th we:

decided that we needed to wear Nonni's backpack around the house.

On October 28th we:

Played in our diaper, socks, and shoes in the living room.
This was obviously a Daddy-doing...not a Mommy-doing. Parker was having a blast though. I think that Trav had changed his diaper and was going to change him out of his jammies and into his clothes for the day when Parker decided that he would rather run around naked. Then he decided that he wanted his shoes on too. You have to admit he does look happy...not to mention SUPER CUTE!

Parker and Drays also played together in a basket while they were hanging out with Daddy/Uncle Trav. He got these hilarious pictures of the hilarious kiddos!

On October 27th we:

played/demolished Nonni and Papa Kev-O's closet.
This is the after...

this is the before...

On October 25th we:

had "Whole-Family Hat Night."
It was too funny. Parker loves to wear hats and had just gotten his new winter hat. Auntie Sara jumped right in and put on one of Papa Kev-O's old hats.

Parker's new winter hat:

My sister cracks me up! Only she could still look stylin' while wearing the Elmer Fudd hat!

Another one of Papa Kev-O's old hats. Parker thought he was so funny...and he was!

On October 24th we:

learned how to take off our own diaper! Yikes!!!
Obviously we can't let him run around without clothes anymore. He just loves it so much!!! I looked over at him and all of a sudden he was pulling at his tabs on his diaper. Next thing I knew he was (very quietly of course...every Mom knows that when their kiddo is being very quiet that they are up to no-good!) diaper-free!!! I immediately called my sister to see if Drayson had started that yet...they are lucky and he doesn't have an interest in yanking his diaper off.

Parks also thinks that he should put anything & everything on his head.

Here's to our fabulous kiddo! He cracks us up...and hopefully you get a kick out of him too. We are very blessed...& tired!

Happy 27th Sis!

Well...it is my big sister's birthday today. I couldn't wish a happy day for anyone better. She is the most amazing sister, friend, mom, wife, daughter...I could go on...but you get the idea. She has always been there for me and I know that I can call her with all of my ridiculous questions.

While we were growing up, we got along pretty well. Although we weren't really friends until we were both in high school. It is then that I realized how lucky I was to have Sara as a sister and friend. Then she left for college. I wasn't expecting to miss her as much as I did and was always excited for her to come home. Then she moved even farther away...to Arizona. Going to visit her and Chip (and Ellie...ahh I miss that stubborn little dog) for spring break was such a blast! Before I knew it, she was getting married. I have never seen a more beautiful bride.

Then it was time for me to head off to college. While I was there I got the phone call that she was pregnant. I couldn't wait to be an aunt. I knew that Sara would be the best Mom! That time flew by too and Caleb joined the family. Sara is one of those pregnant women and all other pregnant women wish they could look like! Always stunning, always thin, always lookin' good!

Anyways...enough babbling on about the past. Time for the here and now! Sara and I had always joked that it would be fun to be pregnant at the same time. (Both knowing that I would be bitter and huge...and she would be glowing and little). We never really thought that it would happen, but miracles really do come true. My prediction was right, but all the same, she was the best support system and getting to be there while she delivered Drayson was the best prep ever! After that I was ready to go and knew that I could do it too! If you could have seen how beautiful she looked the whole time at the hospital it would make you sick!

Sara--my sister and friend...you have taught me more than you know and I couldn't have a better role model. You have shown me how to be a good friend, mom, and person. I can't wait until we are finally living in the same town and we can watch our little boys grow up together. Have a wonderful birthday. I love you!

Parker James is 5 Days Old!

I can't believe that we have already had Parker with us for 5 days. Over the last couple days there have been lots of bottles, lots of diapers, lots of tears, lots of love, and lots of sleeping (Parker, not us)! Things are going just the way you would expect them to with a newborn in the family. It has been such a blessing for Travis and I to have such supportive families. We are thrilled that my sister was able to stay for a couple days to help out, and my mom has been able to stay the whole week. I am not sure what we would do without her here.

Parker is such a wonderful sleeper! I almost felt at first that he was sleeping too much. He loves to sleep with his hands up over his head...but his favorite is napping and snuggling with Mommy. Daddy is adjusting to having baby home too! Parker loves to just stare at Travis. I am surely out-numbered now! What will I do when my mom goes back home??? We had our first visit to the pediatrician yesterday. Parker's weight is good (7 lbs. 5 oz. now). He is still 21 in. long. The doctor said that his cord is drying very well and his color is great. He was actually surprised how wonderful he looked after just 4 days!

Well, enough writing...I'm sure everyone just wants to see the pictures anyway!

The End Is In Sight

Well...we saw our Doctor on Tuesday. There wasn't any real change from the last appointment. I am still at about 3-4 cm. dilated, 80% effaced. This is pretty much what we expected. I think it is a "McCue family tradition" to get to about 3 cm. and just stop! Baby Parker is just perfectly content to stay inside and hang out until he gets absolutely huge! We have a scheduled induction date for Saturday the 18th at 7:30 in the morning. We are so excited and relieved to have a plan now. Now Travis can get some homework done early before Parker gets here and we can really get everything ready and in order. We cannot wait to be parents, it seems like these last several weeks have just taken forever! It has been extremely frustrating to make it to my due date...well...past my due date when everyone I knew who was pregnant and had a due date after mine was delivering early. Travis and I felt like we were trying everything to get Parker to work his way out. I forced myself to go on these huge, long walks hoping that he would move on down...but no! I was starting to feel like I was doing so much and other people were just spontaneously going into labor. My sister told me that I was really becoming a "Bitter Betty." (I really felt like I had reached my emotional/hormonal breaking point.) She totally understands where I am coming from though--having just had a baby 4 months ago! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have a sister going through the same thing at about the same time. What a wonderful blessing! We had always wanted to have children at the same time, we just didn't really think it would work out...at least not yet! God really does work in mysterious ways. Hopefully the next update will include pictures of our son, we can't wait to see him!

...and the wait continues...

We are now closing in on the 38th week of pregnancy. I am so tired of being huge! We just had a Dr. appointment today...he said that I am 2 centimeters dilated. Not much progress from last week, but I guess it's something. Right now he thinks that Parker is about 7 1/2 pounds. Hopefully he doesn't grow too much more before he decides to come out! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who helps me out all the time and scratches my back whenever I ask (to those who really know me...this is the way to my heart). My sister just had a baby at the end of June, she has truly been a blessing through this whole pregnancy. It is nice to have someone that you can be completely open with and not feel embarrassed to ask a million invasive questions. My parents are so supportive and excited to welcome their 3rd grandson into the family! My in-laws are fantastic as well, doing whatever they can to be there for Travis and I from across the state.