Game Day

Sorry for all of the posts, but little Parker is just so much fun. Park already loves watching football with his daddy. Today was the big Chargers game, and my cousin Brandon overnighted an outfit for Parker to wear during the game. He looks so cute in it. Chad was so cute explaining all of the plays during the game and giving Parker all of the players' stats. I love my boys.

Emily's version of the Story:

Hi everyone! Little Parker has arrived and we are both so in love with him! Here's how it all happened:
We went to the hospital Tuesday night when my contractions were 5 minutes apart for 2 hours. I was only dilated to a 2, so they made us walk around the hospital for an hour and a half... I was still a 2, so they sent us home with a sleeping pill for me. The contractions weren't that painful, so we were disappointed, but not in too much pain. Wednesday morning I woke up and my contractions were about 3 minutes apart, we waited until noon, and went back to the hospital, hoping we would get to stay this time. I was a "3+", so they admitted us!!! We got into our room around 2:00. They broke my water and I wanted to endure for a while with some contractions to make the most of the experience... not too much fun, but in between was great. I got my epidural at around 3:30, I was dilated to a 5. Then Chad and I just hung out. It was so fun and exciting, anticipating the new arrival. An hour and a half later I was a 10. We were totally shocked that this was all sneaking up on us so quickly. I ended up pushing for about an hour and a half because the baby was posterior (face up). My doctor seemed pretty impressed that I got him out facing that way in only 90 minutes. Who knows? Anyways, Parker is absolutely beautiful and perfect. I love being a mom, and I feel totally great! Park eats well, and is the most content little guy ever. He never cries and loves to stretch his arms and legs straight out and look all around at everyone all the time. We came home on Friday at noon, and its great to be here with him. This whole thing is so much fun. I have seriously loved every second of the whole process. My favorite moments so far have been after a late night feeding, when Park is wide awake and just staring at me with his big eyes. I cry every night when Parker and I just stare at eachother and I wonder how I could have ever lived without this beautiful little miracle in my life. Sorry this blog is so long. Here are a few more pictures from the hospital.

Parker Anthony Burnham!

Hey everyone. This is Chad, and I'm sorry but I got to make this quick cause I only have a few minutes at home before picking up Grandma Zwick from the airport... So here goes:

Who: Parker Anthony Burnham

What: Baby boy. 6 pounds 11 ounces. 20 inches.

When: Wednesday January 16th, 2008 at 7:30pm. They sent us home on Tuesday night, but we went back at noon on Wednesday at had him 7 1/2 hours later. Emily did great!!!

Where: GBMC hospital, Towson Maryland.

Why: Because we love him SOOOO MUCH!!! He's so good!

How: Hmm. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Doctor Update:

So, I went back to the doctor today. I am now dilated to a 2 and 75-80% effaced. My due date is the 23rd, and my doctor said he would induce me on the 18th if I wanted him to, or wait until after my due date on the 25th... tempting. We will see in the next couple of days.

Getting ready for Parker

Baby update:

1. Yes, we have decided to name our baby Parker

2. We finished the nursery.... here are some photos.

3. We can not wait for the little guy to get here!!! Last week I was dilated to a 1 and I go back to the doc tomorrow.

Johns Hopkins Holiday Party

We went to a great Holiday party for my work at the Ravens Stadium. It was in this really cool suite that wraps around the stadium. It was all decked out, complete with tons of servers (great food), open bars (obviously we didn't take part in this), and a big dance floor (I was the only prego one out there). Everyone got dressed up and it was fun to spend a night with Chad and some of my fellow PICU nurses and doctors.... And, yes, I am getting very big.

A Baltimore Christmas

Since we weren't able to fly anywhere due to my impending due date, we celebrated our first Baltimore Christmas, here. I worked on Christmas day, so we did most of our celebrating on the 24th. We woke up in new Christmas pj's, ate a big breakfast of pull-aparts, eggs, bacon, and OJ, and then opened up everything under the tree as we listened to Christmas music. We received so much stuff... I think our families felt bad for us that we had to stay out here. Thanks mom and dad, and all our sibs for so many great gifts. It was fun to celebrate our own little Christmas together. Later on we took a nap, went out to see the movie "Enchanted" (it's great) and then went out to dinner.

On the real Christmas morning, I went to work, expecting to be there for my full 12+ hours, but came to find out that I won the "lottery" and got to go home early! Yay! I stayed at work till about 2pm. The Pediatric ICU is always a special place, but it was actually kind of cool to be there on Christmas. It is sometimes hard for me to know that most of the children there don't have much longer to live, and really have no idea that it is Christmas. But I still opened up a stocking for my tiny little patient, and read him his new book, and wrapped him in his new Christmas blanket. As he stared at me with his huge dark eyes, I could feel that there was a special spirit there that made me grateful that I was able to serve these children on Christmas.

Chad picked me up from Johns Hopkins and we got to spend the rest of the day together. We went to visit our friends the Hales who just had their little boy a few days ago. It made us so excited for our much anticipated holiday package... our little baby who should be here in just a few weeks. We can't wait. I think Chad has been "nesting" even more than I have as he has cleaned out and organized all of our storage, and every single square inch of our house from baseboards to ceiling fans to drawer compartments in preparation for this little guy to come. What a great husband!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Mary and Joseph

Chad and I were asked to be Mary and Joseph in the live nativity outside the Washington D.C. temple. They dressed us up in the full costumes complete with a beard and mustache for Chad. We had to practice a couple of times to get our parts right, and then we were on. It was such a great experience for us, we loved every minute of it... what a way to put us in the Christmas Spirit. My friend Katie and I (who are both pregnant right now) were talking today about how neat it is to be pregnant with a little boy at this time of year. It brings a special spirit to the season. Merry Christmas everyone.

Washington D.C.

On Monday night we went with our friends the Skinners and the Austins to D.C. and had a lot of fun. First we stopped by the Smithsonian and visited the National Air and Space museum, and part of the American History Museum. It was great to see everything and the boys even got to ride in the flight simulator. Then we headed over to our FAVORITE restaurant Chili's on our way to the Washington D.C. temple. The temple was beautiful with all the lights. The visitor's center was all decked out as well with nativity scenes from around the world.... so cute. Here are a few pictures from the night.



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The "FIRST" Tree

No, this isn't the first year that we have put up a tree, but a few years ago when we did put this tree up as our first Christmas tree, we decided that we would always put it up and decorate it the same way that we have since our first Christmas together. One day I would love to have a different themed Christmas tree in every room of the house, and the First tree will be there somewhere. Besides being our first actual tree, all of the ornaments are a "First" milestone too. We have 1st Christmas together, 1st jobs, 1st house, etc. and this is the new first that was added this year.... First pregnancy. (thanks mom). Tonight we put on Christmas music and decorated the tree together, then sipped hot chocolate and ate cinnamon crumb cake in our fluffy white robes as we admired our work. I love this time of year!