Introducing Parker James Guion

Parker James arrived via C-section at 9:14pm on Saturday, October 18th. He weighs 7lbs 12oz and is 21in. long. Baby, Mommy and Daddy are doing awesome! Here are some of the first pics.

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!

Tick...Tick...Tick..._ _ _ _! (No BOOM Yet)

Well...I continue to be a "ticking time-bomb" according to Travis! We had another appointment today. Our CNM Sara had good news for us this time! Our Dr. is still out of town on his hunting trip, but she will be around and could deliver for us if he is not back when Parker is finally ready to come out of the "hot tub" that is my belly. She is still amazed at the size of my water pocket. So if my water breaks I am in for a big/unpleasant surprise! I am now 3 cm. dilated, 75% effaced, and Parker is sitting at a wonderful -2 station. Basically, he is locked and loaded and pretty much ready to go. Sara also told us that my water is "bulging," apparently this means that it is about to break. She scraped the membranes anyway to try to help things along. You've gotta' love a sympathetic woman who really knows what you are going through! We will keep everyone posted about Parker's arrival...whenever that may be!

I AM TRULY BLESSED!

There are those times when you are feeling pretty down when you really realize how blessed and lucky you really are!

For those of you who I talk to on a regular basis--you know that I have been getting more and more skeptical about Parker's arrival date as time goes on. At the beginning, I was thinking that he would make his appearance early (sometime at the very end of September or beginning of October). The more uncomfortable I get, the more I think that he is going to show his face a week or so after his due date!!! Ugh!!! On top of all of that--I just found out that my DR. is on a hunting trip until October 13th...ummm...I'm pretty sure my due date is the 14th, but okay! Poor Travis has had to bare the brunt of my whining and moping and for this I feel so terrible.

Even with all of my whining, my amazing husband made my 24th birthday (which I was actually not looking forward to at all) so wonderful. He took me to get my hair cut...I have been wanting it done for months now! After sitting there patiently and waiting for me to get done (for anyone who knows Trav...this was a miracle!!!) he took me out to dinner at my favorite place--Tomato Street. Not only did he take me to dinner, but he surprised me by making sure that our friends Gabe & Krystal were there to share my special day with me. On top of a wonderful husband and a wonderful surprise of friends at dinner, my best friend Ashley sent me flowers...I can't remember the last time a delivery person showed up at the door with flowers...and not baby furniture!

Last, but certainly not least, my family knows the best ways to cheer me up! My sister Sara, who is totally blog obsessed, gave me a little birthday tribute on her blog with pictures that really brought back memories. My parents, sister, and nephews are coming up tomorrow to take me to dinner, too! I can't wait!

My birthday was so amazing and I don't remember having the "Ugh...I'm still pregnant" feeling all day! That is a blessing in itself. I thank the Lord everyday for the blessings in my life and all the people around me that make it truly worth living. Thanks to all--for everything!