Thank you.

Thank you to all of you who sent congrats. We really appreciate all of the support & prayers.

(I typed this post with one hand as i was holding a sleeping baby with the other...one of my newly developed skills.)

Introducing...Elijah Steven Parker

If you hadn't heard the wonderful news, Ben and I had a beautiful baby boy on Sunday. He came 2 weeks early. My labor was a whopping 3 and 1/2 hours long. Somewhere some women are plotting my murder. My water broke at home at 7:00 a.m. and I didn't start having contractions until I got to the hospital. I did not get an epidural, which I'm really proud of. At 10:00 a.m. I had the urge to push and a half hour later he came screaming into this world at 7 pounds 4 ounces. He's wonderful.

I was just staring at him last night and started crying. I'm pretty sure it was due in great deal to the insane amount of hormones coursing through me right now; but, I'm just amazed at this little blessing. I can't believe we have him.

Right now he's sleeping a lot because he's jaundiced. So you'll see in these pictures he has a bit of a tan. If you want more details feel free to email. And in case you didn't read the title of this post, his name is Elijah Steven Parker; we're calling him Eli.

Here are some pics...


Leaving the hospital (please pay no attention to the puffy, no sleep, non-make-up face on mom)


Eli and grandpa (my dad)


Eli and his great-grandpa


Loving his swing


Wrapped up like a burrito


Eli and his grandma (Ben's mom)


Trying to soothe an upset tummy


Eli and his proud parents


Sporting an outfit from Aunt Sara


Eli with his brand new hat from Aunt Lacey






I love this


A visit from Ben's RAs


Eli and proud papa

36ish Weeks

Fact: I can't see my puffy feet (unless I prop them up in the recliner)

Fact: I'm wearing my husband's shirt (barely)

Fact: I weigh as much as my husband

Fact: I have parts of my dinner spilled down the front of my shirt (even though you can't see it)

Fact: I finished the last book in the Twilight series