Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Weekend and Savannah :)



We had a fabulous weekend in Savannah with my family! We celebrated Jac's 2nd birthday! I CANNOT believe that sweet little baby boy is already 2. Before I know it, it will be Parker... which totally freaks me out! It's so amazing to see how Jac is really becomming a person now. He is talking and communicating and suprising everyone with his new words and phrases he pops out with!

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Our New and Improved Family!





Traveling has taken an entire new meaning now that our little family of 2 + 2 dogs has turned into a family of 3 + 2 dogs :)

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(Doggies aren't welcome at my sister's house so they stayed behind with their Aunt Diane and Uncle Craig and cousin Gunner who they LOVE. Thank you so much Diane and Craig! We love y'all and are so thankful you could take care of our "other" children this weekend :) ))

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Anyway - our easy trips that normally take 3-4 hours - are now 5-6 hour trips due to the several stops we have to make on the way to change and feed our little man who is growing like a weed lately! I just had no idea what traveling does to a family when a baby is added into the mix. It's completely exhausting and if I hadn't had a 4 day weekend last weekend, I don't think it would have been possible. Now that I am back at work full time and still only getting about 3-4 hours of sleep of very interrupted sleep at night, it just doesn't seem possible to do it all anymore. I guess I am still feeling overwhelmed with the huge change that is my life lately... hopefully the overwhelming-ness will turn into a way of life soon and will feel normal! When does that happen, mommies?! :)

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Here are some pix of us from our fun trip to Savannah! I suprisingly didn't get ANY pictures from Jac's actual birthday party! I think I was too consumed with feeding Parker who has decided lately that he is going to increase his eating amount from 3 ounces to 5 and a half ounces - and from every 3 hours to every 2 and a half hours... this is supposedly what Dr. Furr calls a growth spurt... but to me it's seeming like it's more of a way of life for him. He's going to be 6'4" like his daddy in the next few years if he keeps this up!Absolutely amazing - I have no idea where he puts it all... actually I take that back. I see EXACTLY where it all goes every hour or two that he has a FULL diaper :)

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Parker held onto my finger and nana's finger on the way home! It was so cute - he wouldn't let go! :) He's just enjoying the time of life that he is the youngest grandchild... only a few more months of baby enjoyment, little guy, til your cousin, Miller, is born :)




Jac wasn't too sure of all the loud noises the ferry boat made...


He would say "Whoa" every time the boat made a sudden move - very cute!




Kayley Lane loved seeing Savannah!


Chris and Doug - I'm thinking about submitting this photo for a Baby Bjorn commercial :)



We had to take a few stops during our day of hanging out in Savannah for diaper changes and bottle feedings. You wouldn't believe the entire suitcase we have to walk around with when we have Parker now! (THANK GOODNESS for my sweet, sweet best friend Jessica who got me the most awesome-est diaper bag that is just the perfect size :) The bag normally consists of...... a change of clothes for Parker cause he's guaranteed to either pee or spit up on his original set of clothes, a few bottles and a little cooler to put them in, a bottle warmer, an extra shirt for me because it's guaranteed he'll spit up on me :), a few differnet blankets, several burp cloths, an aspirator because I can't stand it when he gets boogies in his nose, a snack for me because breast feeding = super calorie burner = mommy gets tired!!, about 10 diapers and a zip loc filled with "wet ones" for the many diaper changes, Aveeno baby lotion for his sweet sensative skin, hand sanitizer, about 5 pacifiers since mommy or Parker normally drops several on the ground, an empty zip lock bag to put any soiled clothes in and last but not least a box of Infant's Mylicon - because my baby likes to pass gas like it's nobody's business..... and if we are going to be somewhere for too long and I can't feed Parker myself, I have to bring along my breast pump bag which is a COMPLETELY different bag - about 10 lbs - and I wont' even go into what is in that! :)



Chris and I on the trolley in Savannah... Parker slept through it :)



The Appenfelder Family on the ferry boat.


Jac, Chris, Hoppy and Nana on the ferry boat.


Parker was SUPER tired after his busy day of sleeping and being carried around by his mom and dad!


Me and Parker after a long day of walking around Savannah!
Chris and Parker hanging out at home last week.


When Parker is hungry he tries to latch on to anything in plain sight.... hence.... Chris' nose being sucked on...


Just a random Savannah picture I took while we were waiting in line to get on the ferry boat.



More Savannah

All in all - our first trip out of town with the Parkster was pretty fun! Pretty tiring - but pretty fun, too! :) Not sure when we'll try to venture out again... I am still recovering from last weekend!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I think I'm ready....

for a date with my sweet husband :) Yes - we've left Parkster with my parents to go out a few times - but not for more than an hour or so. Chris literally only gets a few minutes with Parker most nights after class so the thought of taking him away one night to be with me seems selfish, but I think I'm ready and in need of some "mommy/daddy without Parker" time.

I think one of the best pieces of advice I received and read about during pregnancy was to always keep your spouse first no matter what after baby arrives. I always thought to myself - well DUH - OF COURSE I WILL! But that has proven to be more difficult than I ever could imagine.

We are super low on funds so an actual date with my hubby may just consist of a walk and picnic at a park - maybe even with the pups!!! - but I think right now - anywhere alone with my hubby would be incredible!

We never REALLY got to celebrate our annivesary. We went out for one of the quickest dinners I've ever had with him when Park was just a few weeks old, but I was still in a little bit of pain, wasn't feeling 100% and as it was one of my first times away from Parker I just don't think I totally enjoyed it! Here are the pictures of us on our annivesary - April 14 the past 3 years. Check out the differences :)

CHRIS AND HILLARY - APRI L 14, 2007 - Total bliss :)


APRIL 14, 2008 - Still looking good :) Little did I know I would have the ABSOLUTE craziest day of my life in 365 days!

If you would have told me on April 14, 2008 that on April 14, 2009, I'd be 60 pounds overweight, would have all sorts of needles stuck in my body, and being prepped to go into have SURGERY I would have told you, you were CRAZY!




Anyone up for babysitting for us sometime in the next few weeks? I don't pay very well - I pay with hugs, a 'dessert-like treat' and a thank you card mailed to your home address a few days later :)
Oh - and for those of you who are curious - I am no longer 60 pounds overweight, THANK GOD - literally :) That was miserable. I have lost 35 pounds - still have 25 to lose. Hopefully it will progress when I start to work out in 2 weeks after I get the OK from my doc!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Lunch with friends/Graduation/Great Great Aunt/First Band Aid

Last week, Parker and I ventured out on our first lunch date with friends! We met up with my VL church girls for a yummy lunch at Doc Greens :) And mommy even got a break from bottle time! Thanks Kristin :) Park was great - he pretty much slept through the whole thing...

Tamara came just for a few minutes JUST to see Park! He felt very special! Again- he slept through the whole thing...

Last Thursday night, Chris and I went to Nicki's apartment to celebrate her graduation! Here is our family photo ;) Parker pretty much slept through the whole thing...

Me, Parker and his Aunt Nicki! Still sleeping...

On Wednesday, Parker and I went to see his Great Great Aunt Judy :) He pretty much slept through the whole thing...


Yesterday - Monday - Parker had his 1 month doctor's visit! He did GREAT! He slept through the whole thing EXCEPT for when they STUCK my poor child with a NEEDLE! Chris and I fought over who would be the one to hold him during his shot... neither of us wanted to be near him during his awful pain and be the one he associated with his boo boo. Bless his heart. He only cried for a few minutes - but THEN he got a REALLY cool Charlie Brown Band-Aid and he stopped crying immediately :) Here he is resting when we got home... it was a very traumatic day for him! OH - And Parker got weighed - and he has gained....... 2 POUNDS in 3 weeks - which is A LOT!!!!! I think we can officially call him Porker now instead of Parker! Poor kid! He weighed 9 pounds even! It's nice to know that - ME literally feeling like a cow - feeding him non stop these past few weeks during his growth spurt has paid off!

His battle scar...

Poor baby...

I think it bothered me more than it did him!

As soon as daddy got home from class last night, Parker had to tell him all about his day :) ere they are bonding. By the way - isnt' my husband the hottest thing ever! :) Love you honey!
Now - if only we could get him to sleep through the whole night! I would be the happiest mommy ever! :)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Back to life... Back to reality...

It's back to reality today... first day back at work! Keep me and Parker in your prayers today! Pray that Parker will be a good baby for the nanny and that he won't be too overwhelming for the nannies now taking care of cousin Kayley and Parker together. Also -pray that I can make it to 2 o'clock without crying too much for missing my sweet boy today :)

Back to life... Back to reality...

It's back to reality today... first day back at work! Keep me and Parker in your prayers today! Pray that Parker will be a good baby for the nanny and that he won't be too overwhelming for the nannies now taking care of cousin Kayley and Parker together. Also -pray that I can make it to 2 o'clock without crying too much for missing my sweet boy today :)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

See Baby Blog...

Hey guys! Obviously, my life pretty much revolves around Parker now so every post I do pretty much goes to his blog :) Go to http://www.hullbaby.blogspot.com for updates on the Whole Hull :) XO-Hillary

Monday, May 11, 2009

Daddy singing to Parker

While I was updating my blog tonight, Daddy came in from cleaning up our car from Buddie's accident yesterday and he came and scooped up Parker to have some daddy/son time. I just couldn't pass this moment up... Chris is always singing to Park and Park LOVES it! It just melts my heart every time I hear them together. Here is a short video... it's pretty hard to hear Chris... but if you listen closely you can catch it. How sweet is my sweet family :)

Happy First Mother's Day To Me.....

I had a very eventful Mother's Day yesterday! After starting my day at the normal 4:30 AM to feed Parker is morning meal, I went back to bed then I woke up to a sweet bouquet of roses in a beautiful vase on my kitchen table and an even sweeter card from my 3 and a half week son :) The rest of my day consisted of....
  • Feeding Parker his 2nd meal.
  • Going to church.
  • Feeding Parker his 3rd meal.
  • Driving to McDonough to see my Nano and Poppy.
  • Buddie PEEING all over Chris on the way to McDonough.
  • Stopping at Wal Mart so Chris could buy a new pair of underwear, a new pair of shorts and a new shirt since he had pee all over him.
  • Getting to McDonough a LONG time later - and feeding Parkerhis 4th meal.
  • Eating my nano's awesome food.
  • Feeding Parker his 5th meal.
  • Hanging out with Nano and Poppy.
  • Feeding Parker his 6th meal.
  • Hanging out with Nano and Poppy.
  • Feeding Parker his 7th meal.
  • Driving home - much less eventful on the way home.
  • Feeding myself dinner at 9:00.
  • Feeding Parker his 8th meal.
  • Feeding Parker his 9th meal.
  • And FINALLY bed at midnight.
  • And yes - now I'm up at 3:30 AM feeding him again his first morning meal for today.
Welcome to Motherhood - Hillary :)

And I love every minute of it!

Here are some photos of my 1st Mother's Day!

We got a picture to go above our mantle! Chris helped me pick it out at HomeGoods and I LOVE IT! However, I have no clue where or what this picture is of - so if anyone has any idea, let me know!

The message Parker wrote to me in my first Mother's Day card!






The roses I woke up to on my kitchen table on Mother's Day morning!
Parker LOVED hanging out with his great grandpa, Poppy!
He was a boring baby - again - and slept pretty much the whole time!
Priceless Picture :)
Poppy has such a sweet touch :)
Nano LOVED spending the day with Parker!
When he tries to stare at something for too long, he starts to get cross eyed!
Parker and his Great Great Aunt, Vera.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Week 3 Update!

Last week, the 3 of us who have had our babies got our kiddos together for their first play date! They did fabulous and you can just tell they will all become GREAT friends :) Here is me with Parker, Kim with Aislynn and Kaci with Emma - all the big bellies are gone - yippee!!

Emma, Aislynn and Parker


Parker thinks girls are yucky, I guess...



And stinky, too!

Chris and I took Parker out to Ruth's Chris last week! He was an awesome baby and slept the entire time! My boss and other great friends at work love seeing him for the first time :)


Last week, I also took Parker over to the Testanis! Here is Abby with him... I think Abby has more missing teeth every time I see her!



Luke was so sweet with him :) He's going to be a great uncle to Park :)


Just some random pix I've taken of Parker this week.