Using the Force...with a little help from Mother Nature & Pitocin:)

First of all, only a mother of boys would nest like this & I seriously finished assembly with hours to spare; also managed to clean carpets & weed front entrance to subdivision 'cuz I'm OCD like that (not a good combo with nesting!): Secondly, couldn't help the Star Wars reference to announce that Luke Houston Parker is here!:)Sorry for the delay-Induced on Fri. 10/10 @ 12:45P so missed my target time by half hour:) I wanted to have him @ 1:10P 'cuz Cole arrived @ 3:30-granted it was AM-but he was followed by Dane @ 2:20P, so ya gotta love a good pattern:) oh well! Here's the re-cap:
Since I'm not a morning person, I was thrilled with extra hour the hospital gave us before we checked in & we took a lil' more time 'cuz I thought a Jamba juice would calm my nerves:) & be the "light breakfast" per their recomm. Dr. Nickel was @ hospital for another delivery, so broke my water first (about 9:30A). I was given pitocin an hour later & told that he had a surgical procedure @ noon. This was very much a mental labor for me third time around & I was determined to wait for him, but sure enough felt like I needed to push right as the clock struck that hour! ugh! I made 'em turn down the level in hopes to slow it enough for him to make it! I was more than ready to push @ 12:30P right when he ran through the door & out came the baby! My mom and dear husband were fabulous doulas and photographers:)

"Luke, I Am Your Father!"

Notice Chris conceded on the name, but don't be surprised if he still calls him Houston or even Huey:). His big bros could hardly wait to be done with Primary activity and preschool respectively before Grandpa Gar brought 'em down to the hospital! Don't worry if Dane's shirt was a bit snug 'cuz Cole wore it a year sooner:)Cole acted like it was Christmas morning:) He was very chatty & observant, asking about everything including why his hands were foggy?! Since I know you'll miss the weekly BabyCenter update, he was referring to one more interesting part o' fetal development that I learned: In addition to the fact that it takes a while for the blood to flow out to extremities and pink him up naturally, he was covered in vernix, a Desitin-looking substance 'cuz he made his appearance sooner than later-You could tell Dane, on the other hand, was proud although he didn't say much besides being kind enough to offer his baby brother some chocolate from the celebratory Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the delivery room:) Luke surprised us all even after recent ultrasounds by weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. I thought he'd be smaller considering he was two weeks early! We were a little concerned about his activity level in the womb & he didn't disappoint us on his first night by only sleeping about an hour before 5A:( with an occasional cat-nap in meantime?! Thankfully he's caught up on some zzz's so we could too in last 24 hrs. We think he looks most like Cole, but a pound less @ birth. Little did we know that Chris' features were so dominant but I think they're all pretty handsome Parker boys myself!!














Here we are before we got to leave with traditional photo shoot...We hurried a bit 'cuz the power was out @ hospital all Sat. So much for recovering leisurely with a.m. o' college football and a shower not to mention blow-drying my hair before concluding my luxurious stay:)

















Contemplating whether or not we should keep him 'cuz it was so comfy with just 2 & they're already buddies plus mom is outta baby mode! Too late now, eh?:)
















Thanks to all well-wishers & chefs via phone, e-mail & in person! We feel so blessed to have such great family & friends as well as our third healthy boy safe & sound @ home! My mom said her biggest challenge during my labor was keeping up with my sisters' text msgs. so they could track the progress long-distance & greet their newest nephew!:) Our porch was even decorated when we brought him home yesterday afternoon:) by a mystery fairy! Please let me know if you can help me solve the case & thank her myself!?! Luke was pleased to meet his WA grandparents, my friend Melissa (Williams) Oswald from high school and good Puyallup friends Kanekoas @ the hospital (sorry that had to be part of your date Kasey:)). Then his 2nd cousin Cru who is 6 mos. older & other good Puyallup friends Hills & Paivi Flannery were part of his homecoming on Sat. afternoon. I'm kicking myself that we didn't get pics. with his first guests-ugh! But you can rest assured we have enough other pics. so far that we won't feel left out as third child:)
We truly have been showered with gifts, food (thanks to my parents, Chris's cousin Chad & wife Kyla & Chris' sis Amy), flowers (from Chris' parents who have to wait until after Thanksgiving to meet him up close & personal), visits & care from all of you not to mention the many offers to help in coming adjustment...We want you to know you are loved in return & we are grateful for your support even though we were kind of hermits this weekend.
The real test will be braving the weekdays ahead that have a lil' more of a routine! If tonight is any indication, my Gymbucks were redeemed online @ last possible minute, all 3 boys are finally asleep in bed, Chris is satisfied with his computer time re: fantasy football but of course, now that I have a minute to myself instead of happily catching up on the blog I just want to go to sleep while I can 'cuz I skipped a nap this afternoon...Guess the night-owl mind is willing but the flesh is weak; thus multi-tasking is proving to be a bit tough with my eyes half-closed?!
Enjoy these pics & I guess I'll have to add more later when the thought of a slide show doesn't overwhelm me:) Plus now, my newborn is calling my name:) 'cuz as I mentioned, he's nocturnal!