Happy New Year!  I figured it would be a good thing for me to actually add a picture of Shepard to the blog to prove his existence!  Seeing as how a year ago, I had REALLY good intentions to put some pics up ;)  So, here he is, a year later!  I could seriously just eat him up!!!  He has been an absolute joy!

I cannot believe that it has been a year since I blogged last!  What has happened to me??  I really love it, but I have to make it a habit, or I just cannot get around to it.  So, this year, hopefully, will be a more productive blogging time for me!  Hopefully.

So, let's catch up a little.  I am enjoying being a mommy of 4.  I am perfectly content with the number of children we have, but I don't know if I will ever be that person who can insistently say "I'm done".  I love a newborn baby.  We are not seeking to have any more, but I think the Lord just gave me a heart for babies :)  

Paige

She is in the 3rd grade now and doing very well in school.  She is my rule follower :)  She is a servant and a helper.  She became a believer about 3 years ago, and it has been so sweet to watch the Lord grow her up in Him.  We started a mother/daughter daily devotional, and it has been the sweetest most satisfying time together.  I love the questions she asks, and alot of times she challenges me more than I expect!  She is a fabulous big sister and being the oldest suits her motherly instincts :)

Annalee

She is in 1st grade this year.  She loves school and is so very bright!  She soaks up information like sponge!  She loves life.  She is able to just let go of things so easily.  For example, if I correct her about something, she typically immediately responds with "yes ma'am, mommy!",  and stops what she's doing and goes on just as happily!  What?!?!  She didn't get that from me! Meanwhile, if I correct my other children over the same thing in the same manner, tears or pouting immediately ensue!  The Lord teaches me alot through this little girl :)

Davis

He started preschool two days a week in a 4k program.  He really loves it!  I had a hard time letting him go to school!  He was my baby for a while, and I felt like life was passing me by way too quickly!  Which, it is!  He loves all thing superhero right now.  He loves his daddy!  He is content playing superheroes and legos with Scott.  That is fulfilling for him :)  He still gives me kisses on command and is not embarrassed yet!  I'll milk that until the very end :)  He is a great big brother!  There has really been no big jealousy to speak of.  Aside from being a little too rough with Shepard from time to time, he LOVES that little brother!

Shepard

He is my baby, of course.  He is snuggly, and gives lots of hugs and kisses!  He is learning to walk, but crawling still seems to be a quicker mode of transportation, so he typically chooses that for the time being.  He is repeating most everything we say.  I am always amazed at how quickly their little brains develop and what he can understand and is now learning to express!!  He is also, really funny.  Not kidding.  I think he's gonna be the life of the party.  He's always doing something to purposefully make us laugh :)

Scott

He took a new position this year and is the Help Desk for the high school that he works for.  It has been  a good change-up and little break, not to mention a pay increase, which we desperately needed!  His heart is still for children with special needs, and he still works closely within the high school and sponsors a club connecting typical students with students who have special needs.  The bummer of the position is that it is a 12 month position, so he doesn't have summers off :(  I really miss that.     

Me

I am working still, sparingly, in the evenings some.  I spend a large portion of time in carpool :)  I am always a little OCD.  I like to have things as simple as possible.  I have been decluttering for forever, it feels like, to try to simplify life and keep things a little more manageable :)  I struggle with getting caught up in getting things just right, and sometimes find myself missing the really important things in life because it interrupts what I'm trying to accomplish.  I'm thankful that the Lord is faithful to draw that to my attention when I get like that, so that I can repent, and choose what's important :)  

Well, that is just a little update!  I hope that you and your families are well and I will do my best to get back into the blogoshpere!

Shep's Birth Story

So....a month and a half ago, I said I was gonna post some pics and tell you the story. Yeah. It's taken me a little while to get back around to the old blog:) But lo and behold, I am back! I will be able to post some pics in a few days, but until then, I will at least tell the story, so as not to put this off any longer!!
On Monday, November 14, the day after Scott's birthday :), I went in for my appointment and I was 5 cm dilated. He gave me the option to go home and wait it out, but that I would certainly not make it more than another day. So, the other option was to just start some pitocin and break my water and go ahead and have this baby! I wanted to try to go natural, so I ideally didn't want to do pitocin, and I thought about it for about 5 seconds....then, I remembered that I hadn't slept for about two weeks and was EXHAUSTED! I opted for going over and getting things started:)
We got over to the hospital and I got hooked up to the monitor and IV in place, and we were on our way to meeting baby Shepard in a few hours. My mom and Scott's mom were there of course:). My friend Morgan was my stand-in birthing coach in the end, for when it was time to deliver, because our awesome doctor was gonna let Scott deliver the baby again! Also, props to LaJuan and Shay for taking pics and videoing so that I have documentation of this special day.
Anyhow, back to the birth!
I was moving right along and breathing thru my contractions. Scott was a great coach, because he kept silent, and turns out, that is exactly what I needed! Someone to be silent and not touch me! The doctor broke my water when I was still about 5-6 cm. Thankfully there wasn't a drastic change in the way my labor went. My nurse was a friend of mine who I worked with, and she was great! She let me go back and forth to the bathroom when I needed to , and get up on the side of the bed so that I wasn't confined to the bed the whole labor. I was worried about how that was gonna play out, because when you are on pitocin, you have to be on the monitor the whole time. So, getting out of bed was a great relief!
Around 2:30ish, my nurse checked me and I was 8cm. She walked out of the room and didn't even make it to the nurse's station, because with the next contraction I had to push!! She came running back in, and I was completely dilated. The next several minutes were a whirlwind. I went from making it thru and breathing thru contractions, to taking a sharp 90 degree turn of having to uncontrollably push out a baby!!!! Scott and the nurse were prepared and the doctor was literally running as he was making his way to the room. Scott was definitely able to deliver Shepard, because he came so quickly! My doctor walked in as Scott was delivering his head, and thankfully everything went smoothly and we welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world!
He weighed 6lbs 4oz and was 20 in long.
He is the most precious little angel, and it's hard to believe we ever lived without him:) He has been such a gift. We were surprised when we found out we were expecting him, but obviously the Lord knows what He's doing:) It has made me trust Him more throughout this pregnancy and birth. We are simply blessed :)

He's here:)

Shepard Jonathan Parks made his way into the world on November 14, 2011 at 3:54 pm. He weighed in at 6lbs 4 oz and was 20 in. long. He's the littlest of all of my children. We are in love with him! I will take some time in the next few days to give the birth story and upload some pics!

11/3: Baby Shepard Update

We went to the doctor again today. There was only a slight change. I am not quite 3 cm. We have another appointment for Monday morning. We have arrangements made, just in case he decides to show up this weekend, but we are hoping to at least make it until Monday!! Shep looks good and we are just waiting for the day that we are supposed to meet him!

10/31 Update on Shepard

I am 34 weeks now! I went to the doctor yesterday, and the latest news is that I have not dilated much more. Still in the arena of 2 cm. So that's good! Shep is unfortunately alot lower than he was last week:/ My doctor wanted to see me again first thing Thursday morning to see if I've progressed anymore. He's unsure if we will make it thru the week. I honestly have no idea. My goal from here, is just to try to rest as much as I can, and see how long he decides to stay put. The good news is that I can trust wholly in the fact that the Lord knows exactly what day and time our new baby boy will be born and worrying over it, will not change that! So, if we happen to have a baby before Thursday, I will certainly let you know! If not, then I will update again after my next visit:)

Baby Shepard Update

I am 33 weeks now and had an appointment with my doctor yesterday. I am 2 cm dilated now. We looked back on my history with Davis, and I am progressing about a week sooner than I did with him. If things went like last time that would put me delivering some time next week at 34-35 weeks. I am really hoping to make it at least to 35 weeks. I just feel better about that milestone. I've had my round of steroids for his lungs, so that is good news. It's so crazy for me to think that he is so close to being here! Please pray with me for the day that God has appointed for Shep to arrive. Pray that he would be healthy and strong. That, being early, he would have no breathing difficulties and would be able to come home when I go home with no health problems. I have worried more with him than any other baby. Probably because I've worked in labor and delivery for the last 5 years and have seen lots and lots of happy stories, but have also faced the reality that sometimes it doesn't turn out that way. I trust the Lord and know He is sovereign over all, so I am choosing to trust Him, even when it is very difficult to take my thoughts captive! So, please pray with us, as we await our sweet new boy's arrival! I will keep you updated:)

Daddy/Daughter

I actually stole this from a friends' blog:/ It was just way too cute though and I had to share it!

50 Rules For Dads of Daugthers
1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.

3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.

7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”

12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.

14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.

17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.

18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.

20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.

21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.

25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.

28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.

29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.

32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.

34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.

39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.

41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.

42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.

47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.

50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.