Delia's Newborn Pics

Our sweet girl at 4 days old... enjoy!

Delia Neve Parker

Here is the story of how sweet Delia Neve entered our lives.

A few months prior to Delia's due date, which was a controversy in its self... according to the Dr. she was due September 14, according to her daddy it was September 17... anyway, a few months prior David and I started attending a Lamaze class because we had decided to go as natural as possible. Why? I didn't like the disconnected feeling I had with Stella's birth, a sense of not being in control and I hated being strapped to a bed for 14+ hours, unable to move. So I wanted to go in with an open mind this time, so we decided to take a class to prepare ourselves and I HIGHLY recommend this class to everyone... going natural or not.

So feeling a little more prepared we entered the last month of pregnancy with our weekly appointments. Each time barely being dilated to a 1, after the 4th week (week 40) of hearing this, I was getting a bit bummed. Due date came and went, as did the 17th (David's birthday). I even went on a bike ride to try to start something, but I wouldn't recommend that to anyone, ever. We tried everything. And that's as much detail as I'll go into. I went to yet another appointment at week 41 mentally preparing myself to go another week without delivering. I was still no more than a 1 but my midwife refused to let me go any longer (she had a bad weekend with horror stories of natural births at 41 & 42 weeks and didn't want to add us to the list). After hearing the awful stories I agreed to be induced the next morning. She did a sweeping at this appointment to hopefully get me going on my own, and did it again 3 hours later. These did cause some awesome contractions that were spaced 5 minutes apart. Gran-apple came to pick Stella up and my mom was on her way from Idaho Falls. I was so emotional when Stella left, kept trying to tell her things would be different when we all came home again but that I'd love her even more... but it all came out in tears, not words. About 9 or 10 o'clock that night we decided to drive to the hospital. I was sure all the contractions had done something... nope, still a 1... well, maybe a 2... nope definately a tight 1. They gave us the option to stay or go labor at home. I decided to come home, I fell asleep around 2 or 3 which meant it was all false labor. The next morning I went to be induced. Except now I was a 2... but no contractions. The kind nurse started me on pitocin around 9 a.m., and so began the walking, the bathing, the movies, the soothing music, the wonderful smell of essential oils and oh yeah, the contractions!

Before we left that morning, me at 41 weeks.

I liked the idea of a natural birth so I wouldn't be hooked up to anything. Unfortunately I was toting around an IV pole and monitors all day. They came to check my progression every few hours and I finally made it to a 3. Time seemed to be moving quickly until they changed the nurses around 5. I loved both my nurses, they were both quiet, subtle energy ladies and I had full confidence in them both. Contractions were getting stronger and I was excited to be checked because I just NEW I'd be dilating now. I was checked again around 7 and I was at a whopping 3. I was at a 3 all day. I had been at a 1 for over a month. And after this long day, I was still at a 3. Are you sensing I was discouraged? Because I very much was. I had been hoping all day the pitocin would start my labor, then they could take me off and my body could take it from there. It was hard to swallow that I'd have to be on the stuff in the first place after preparing for 10 months to go naturally. So I was given 2 choices, up the pit or get my water broken. Around 7:30 my midwife came in a broke my water. I went from having some moderate contractions to severe not able to stay on top of and no break in between contractions.

Now let me take a break here, because I want to recognize some very special people in my life and the role they played in this. First, my loving husband. Who from the very beginning supported my decision. It was so fun going to those classes, learning together, practicing what we learned together and being able to apply what we learned that day. He was constantly massaging, moving and walking with me, taking my focus off the pain and on to funny things. He had been writing letters months prior and gave them to me before we left so that I could have a stack of letters to read through out the day to help me stay distracted. That is true love. He had the most calming voice through out the whole experience and I am truely grateful I had him by my side. I could not have done this with out my Davey.

Also, my wonderful mom. We knew from the beginning we wanted her in there with us. She kept me breathing, literally. The pain, as some of you know, was unbearable and my mom was right there holding my hand reminding me to breathe and how to breathe. She too kept me focused and kept reminding me what it was all about. She was so positive the whole day, I could not have done this with out my mom.

So after about 20 minutes of the intensity that was brought on by breaking my waters, the nurse checked to see how far dilated I was. Can you guess? :) I was a 4. I caved. I decided the pain was too much and if that's all I had progressed then I was done. Little did I know you can start the transition period at a 4... I thought you had to work up to it, and I thought I'd be in agony for hours still, so I cried and pleaded for the epidural. Moments later I was checked again and I was an 8. I was standing at the bedside hanging on to David when I doubled over and grabbed the nurse in a hugging position. She asked, "are you pushing?" Me, "YES!!" She got me on the bed, and ran out to get everyone. Somewhere in the midst of this my loving family shoed the anesthesiologist away. For some reason I was stuck in this attitude cycle of no progression and this pain isn't getting me anywhere. That's when the midwife grabbed my hand and put it on my baby's crowning head. That gave me all the adrenalin I needed and a few moments later she was finally here!

My midwife Karen, David, lady in yellow and my nurse Andrea.

And my beautiful Delia....

My body was shaking uncontrollably after she was born, and the only thing that stopped it was when they laid her on me and we were skin to skin. So calming.

Proud daddy and best coach ever.

This is how I saw him the rest of the night...

In one hour I went from a 3 to pushing her out. She was born at 8:30 pm, 7lbs 5oz & 20 1/2 inches long of perfectness.

Saying hi to grandma for the first time

She was so chill after her birth. She didn't cry through her bath, and this is her getting her little foot print stamp, again just chill and checking things out. She was very alert.

Sisters reunited:)

Nothing like baby snuggles, it's almost been 4 weeks and I haven't moved from this position!

And here are some fun pics of our little Delia to enjoy....

So maybe going on pit and having my water broken for me wasn't a part of my plan of going all natural, but by the end of it all and looking at my beautiful healthy baby... does it really matter? Maybe next time I will be able to go into labor on my own, and maybe not, but I definately don't regret not having the epidural. I felt so good after, I felt it all.

Stella is doing great with Delia. And Delia responds to Stella with smiles. I plan special times throughout the day that I can just be with Stella and we do activities. So far I think she's been a rock star of a sister. We'll be upstairs getting ready to go down stairs and she says every time, "bring my baby!" Our neighbor had a baby just a few months ago and brought her over along with some other goodies, as she was leaving and holding her baby, Stella started freaking out... "that's my baby! hey, bring her back... don't take my baby!" Randomly she'll tell me, "I like her, i like her a lot". And she's very protective if other little kids are around, they are barely allowed to even look at her without Stella warning them that they're getting too close. I think she's doing great, and we're all learning to adjust together.

And Delia is a great baby. It trips me out how much she looks like Stella. We are still having long nights and trying to find a schedule that works, but I am loving the new baby phase more than ever. I don't let many people hold her, I hog her most the time. She's very alert and she has already been alertly smiling. There is no doubt she was meant for our family, sometimes it feels as though I've known her forever. I just love our little family, I feel so blessed, I just love being us.

Castles and Tea Parties

I feel bad I haven't been able to post in a while. Our computer has been going back and forth from working and breaking. But for the moment it's working so I'm going to post about Stella's birthday and hopefully our new addition:)

This summer if you would have asked Stella what her "favorites" were, she would have replied, "I like castles and teas"

So for her birthday... A Castle and tea party:)

David won this bouncy castle through a charity auction at work and I don't know who was more excited about it, him or Stella. It took up most of our backyard as you can see, and it had to of been 100 degrees inside, but it was definately the highlight of the party.

My birthday girl turned 3

My attempt at her tea party birthday cake. I made the tea set out of fondant, gum paste and pearls...and a little bit of super glue. I'm no professional, and I made sure no one ate them:)

David did the writing on the cake... it's no coincidence the 3 looks like the one from 311.

A few tea party treats, scones, banana bread and tea pot cookies.

We had such a good turn out. We had so many family members that took time to come and many many neighbor friends that came and shared Stella's day with her.

I just can't believe this little angel has been in our lives for 3 years. I don't know what I did without her. She has been such a good sport and was wonderful during my pregnancy. She was so patient with me when i'd take an extra morning nap, she'd come pat my head, cover me with blankets and give me a kiss goodnight. Then she'd watch a movie and play quietly while never getting into trouble. She's so smart and understands so much and tries her hardest to listen to us. I love hearing her sing primary songs and I love watching her play as she's using her imagination with "butterflies, bee's and flowers".

Naturally every 3 year old has there moments, as does mine. But I also see a loving compassionate little person blooming before me. She has the sweetest spirit. We went on several "day dates" to Barnes and Noble before the baby came, just mommy and Stella. I'd get a chai tea and she'd get a sugar cookie. I'd look at her across the table and just wonder when she grew up. My heart ached a little, it's just been her and I at home for a long time and I've loved devoting my attention to her. I just hope the bond we have will grow even stronger, I just love my little Stella bug too much. Happy Birthday little love.

Just Checking In

Hello friends and family, I haven't written anything for a while and wanted to share a few photo's and happenings.

First off, still pregnant... getting very large, and hot... which makes me larger...:) Nah I really don't have anything to complain about. I haven't had any of the worries we had with our first pregnancy and I just try to stay cool and comfortable which as many of you moms out there know... can be challenging in the last trimester.

Me at 31-32 weeks

I have such an awesome husband and let me just tell you why. A few weekends ago he drove down to Eagle Mountain and Highland to help out family as I stayed home and relaxed (going back to the staying cool and comfortable statement) And when he came home, he kept telling me he had a present for me. I thought it was lip gloss or a heath candy bar... nope, guess again....
A SCOOTER!

He bought it for only $75! It needed some repares, but only about $60 to get it up and running. I'm sure my neighbors just laugh watching this pregnant mama cruise by. It's a blast to ride, I just need to get my endorsment and get it registered. So far I just ride it around our neighborhood to get use to it, it's so much fun!
(A note to my parents, David doesn't ever let me leave without my helmet on, so don't worry too much)

Stella at bathtime

Isn't she beautiful? Just a few things she's been doing recently. She loves to tell stories, long ones, sometimes we don't know if she's telling us a dream or her interpretation of the day, either way it's adorable. She loves to sing, we always sing songs at night before bed but she has just started singing in the shower, in the car, while picking "flowers" and so on. Pants are slowly working their way out of her ward robe, she'll rarely wear them, she always wants to wear dresses and skirts, she's all girl. On a few occasions she'll put her hands on my belly and talk and sing to her baby sister. But on more occasions she'll put her hands on my belly and say, "woah, you got a baby in there? That's a big baby."

The two girls will be sharing a room, so I've been doing a bit of rearranging, redecorating and organizing. This is a picture of their room as you walk in.

the crib

I can't take full credit for this, but when we were in Florida we went into a kids store that had a mini fake tree with fake leaves just as a decoration. I wanted one so bad because I thought it would go so nice with the owl/nature theme in their room. So, I came home and made one myself! We actually had a bad wind storm one night that knocked down a big branch in our front yard, so I used it to make my tree! I also saw these mini picture frames and thought they'd be cute on there with pictures of family and friends.

Stella's bed

I've been doing a lot of projects, I think I'm scared I won't have any time for a long time after the baby comes, so I am craming them all in now.

David has been so busy this summer with soccer and basketball games, 5k's (which Stella ran half of one with him!) Rock climbing and now he is in Alaska for the week. In fact I'll have him post pictures and tell you the stories, they'd be better coming from him anyway.

Florida!!!

I've been so excited to write about our trip to Florida!

We've had planned for quite some time now, a little get away to visit our best friends in Florida. This little get away came complete with a baby sitter for Stella, she stayed half the time at my mom's house and the other half at David's dad's house. (Thank You, Thank You!) Yes, this has been a vacation long awaited! The next best part about this vacation was seeing our awesome, very missed friends from BYU-I, Chris and Erin, we had not seen them in 3 years! They moved to Panama City Beach after David and Chris graduated, I was 5 months pregnant then too when we had to say good-bye and I was a blubbery mess. I have to brag about our friends for just a minute (I hope I don't make them blush just so you all understand, These guys are the friends that you stay up late with to talk about everything and have to discipline yourselves to go to bed... or you'd talk through till morning. These friends are the type of friends you pick up right where you left off at from the last time you saw them. They remember important details about your life you don't remember telling them, and respect those details. They had David in a constant giggle from the time we got off the plane until... well, he's still giggling because we still talk about the trip a lot. They are that compatible couple we can be silent with or be crazy with and it just doesn't matter... cuz they are just cool like that. SOOOO... you can imagine our excitement to see them. When we got there, they had a huge list of things to do typed up on the computer, we played and played and played while we were there, I had to sleep for a few days when we got back!

We just love them!

We brought back these tiny turtles for Stella, she looked at them and said, "Where's my present?" :) We carried them on our laps on the plane, TSA didn't quite know what to do... so they just let us carry them on.

It was great for David and I to escape and spend time together, every couple needs to do this for their relationship.

Awe, aren't they cute?

We went parasailing, it was amazing! They let you up about 1200 feet and then lower you down a couple times so your feet drag in the water. We saw something in the water, shark? Manitee? Who knows!

This is us I promise.

Me and my 25 week preggy belly. Next time we go I won't be pregnant. My feet were swollen for a lot of the trip and there were just too many cute Boutique shops with cute clothes that I wanted to try on but couldn't:)

We saw alligators too! In fact you can see how close we got in this next picture from where Erin and the boys are standing and where two little beety eyes were looking up through the water.

I think I was more afraid of these guys than the sharks.

A four headed palm tree

David, Zander and Jonah in the hurricane simulator!

My hansome man took me to Florida, what a good guy!

Zander and Jonah! It was awesome spending time with them and getting to know their personalities. We have decided one of them will marry one of our girls :)

We did a lot of things that I didn't have the camera for. We went kayaking, snorkeling, boogy boarding, David and Chris surfed while Erin and I shopped, we saw amazing houses and ate at amazing restaurants, we chased and caught white crabs at night, roasted hotdogs and marshmallows on the beach, swam and basked on the white sandy beaches... we had an amazing time. Sometimes though, it's not the activities you do, it's the friends you do them with :)

Thanks for the memories guys.