Updated Stats

Jacob Aaron Parrish

• 18 1/2 inches  (hospital measured him at 19 1/4 inches...kicking and screaming) 
• 5lbs 11 ozs in the nursery and 5lbs 15 ozs in L&D.  
• 5lbs 15ozs is the official birth weight.  
• I'm still confused on the whole weight thing because at the doctor on Monday they used the unofficial birth weight to do his comparisons.

Doctor appointment weight check on Monday he was 95% of his birth weight.  They say thats wonderful and even better for a baby his size.  I guess small babies have a hard time breastfeeding, but baby J is doing just fine in the eating department!

By Tuesday when we went to the lactation clinic he had gained 4 ozs.  4ozs in 24 hours is pretty awesome!

A few pictures

There is only so much u can do with one hand and no time!  LOL  So here are some pictures for now.  I hope and want to add our birth story soon.

First time we got to see him.  He had to be taken away right after birth due to meconium!  But every thing was just fine!  We were so happy that worked out.

Sweet kisses for the baby.

Sad face already

First family picture.  Thank you low blood pressure and a million gallons of fluids for making me look fat!

First trip to the dr for Jacob.  He wasn't that excited but LOVED the car ride.

Me and Jacob....and paci

Don't I look comfy???

Full and happy.

Thats all for now.  More to come :)

Love,
Dan, Jessica and Jacob

Jacob Aaron Parrish

Here he is Memaw!  Love you :)

(More to come when I get out of the hospital!)

More Belly Pictures

Here are more belly pictures.  I hope I don't have many more!!!!

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

39 Weeks

My hormones have some comments:  Please keep all mean comments to yourself!  Stating the obvious really bothers me.  I have heard enough to last a lifetime.

~Jessica

Swimming

Me, Papa and Taggie went to the park this morning.  The weather was beautiful!  And since Dan was with us, Taggie got to go SWIMMING!  He was so excited.  We haven't had rain in awhile so the water was a little gross but that didn't seem to bother Tag.  He chased that stick like a pro.

Taggie ran ahead to check out the water.

Ready to chase the stick...waiting patiently

Splish Splash into the water he goes with no fear.  All for the stick :)

"I got it!"

Bringing it back for another throw.

This time he brought it to me to throw.

Papa's turn for a throw.  He had to speak for this throw.  Look how excited he is!

What a good boy!  We are still working on trying to get him to pick the stick up in the middle.  He really likes to pick it up on one side.  And then we laugh at him for getting it stuck a million times trying to bring it back!

A gross and wet puppy!  He had a wonderful time so thats all that matters :)

Aren't they cute????

Waiting for momma to climb the hill.  Thanks for the help guys!

We love it when Dan can join us at the park.  Now we are headed home for a nap :)

Have a wonderful day!
Dan, Jessica and Taggie

Forest Hill Park

Here is our walk in the park every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  We usually go on Saturday with Dan (if he is off) and Tag also get to go swimming on Saturdays at the park.  I would take him swimming every time but the hill to get to the swimming hole is a little steep for a 38 week preggo!  Hope you enjoy our walk :)

Stone House where the grounds keeper used to live back in the day.

This is right across from where we park the car.  He always has to check it out and mark his plant :)

Taggie's Tree

Big beautiful tree at the park.  A class of kids was taking a picture in front of it one day and the teacher told them they are going to take a picture every couple of weeks and watch how it changes through the year.  Very cool!

And we are walking

Around the bin we go

Not sure what he is looking at but there is a huge drop off and a stream on the other side of the wall.

A better view of the stream and swimming hole.

Taggie really wants to go swimming.

The big pond/lake at the park.  There is catch and release fishing :)

Another picture of the water.

This is the very steep hill we have to walk up after each walk.  The picture does not do the steepness justice!

Had to stop to look at something.  Again, this is a very steep drop off.

We finished the hill!!!!

Taggie takes a drink in his own personal water bowl.  Full submersion is the only way to go!

This is one tired puppy!

Fish & Veggies and Razorbacks

Last night me and Dan made a yummy dinner to eat while the Hogs were playing.  One of the perks of living outside of Arkansas is that we can watch the Razorback games live online!

Here are a few pictures of our yummy Fish and Veggies dinner:

Before being cooked.

Another angle before being cooked

All wrapped up and ready to be cooked (One serving)

Cooked and ready to be enjoyed!

This is a little dinner I came up with.  The reason it was created is because I felt we needed something healthy and more veggies.  We just love it.

If you're interested in some kinda recipe, here is what I put in it:

Fish and Veggie

-One chopped red pepper
-One chopped bell pepper
-Two finely chopped red new potatoes
-Carrots chopped up (I'm not sure exactly how many I use, I just add whatever looks rights...sorry not the best measurement for a recipe)

Mix the veggies with olive oil, salt and fresh cracked pepper to your liking.  Place the veggies on wax paper.  This makes enough for two servings so split the veggies between two pieces of wax paper.  I cook each serving separately.

-Tilapia (we just buy the frozen bag from Wal-mart)
-Thinly sliced lemon
-Lemon juice (optional)

Thaw the fish, place them over the veggies.  I season/sprinkle the fish with salt, pepper, dry parsley, red pepper for a little spice and onion powder.  Drizzle in olive oil.  Then place the lemon slices over the fish.  I like to also squeeze some lemon juice over the whole thing before I close it up.

Place a piece of wax paper over each of the servings and join them together.  This part is a little tricky.  I start at one corner and twist the wax paper pieces together as I go around and then I end up back where I started.  Be careful because the paper tears very easily.  You maybe could use foil instead of wax paper but I have not tried that yet.

Cook for about 40 minutes at 350.  This length of time is mainly for the veggies to get good and cooked.  Since the fish is all wrapped up it has never been dry for us.  Again, I am not a chef or a recipe writer, we just love this dinner so I wanted to share :)

If you have any questions just send me an email or leave a comment.  I hope you like it :)

Go Hogs!!!
Jessica

Delivery Location

This is for all the hundreds of people that plan to come visit me and baby Jacob at the hospital.  LOL!  Okay, so this post is mainly for my mom and Cheryl and anyone that is just interested!

Here is the video of where I will deliver baby Jacob:




Dan and I went on a tour of the Labor and Delivery floor on Sunday and we had a great time.  It was a relief to know where to go and what to do.  They have a wonderful jetted tub to relax in.  I can't wait to use that!  They also have very nice rooms.  We met some doctors and nurses that were there and they were very nice.

Another wonderful plus is that this area is very secure which made me feel great!  The nurses wear a certain color of scrubs that only they can wear.  And you have to be buzzed back and state who you are coming to see, then they verify with me, then they let you in if you pass the test!  No one can just come and go as they please.

Also, if anyone wants to fund our hospital stay, we would like to stay here:
http://www.vcuhealth.org/gumenick/

LOL!  This area is VERY nice and ONLY $400 dollars more a night to stay in these rooms verse the regular rooms.  OUCH!  I was like, you know how many expensive strollers I could get with that!!  (Look at who I have become, it has gone from clothes and shoes to strollers!)  But I must say, the three course meals for every meal, your own personal chef and steak and lobster all sounded very very nice.  After hearing all that Dan wasn't interested UNTIL they said they serve warm cookies at 4 every afternoon!  LOL.  I was like really?  The warm cookies did it for you?  He is such a goober.

In other good news, I am 1 cm dilated!  Yippy!  Who knows if this will change but at least I have started the process.  Lets hope and pray I don't stay at 1 cm forever.  I'm ready to get this show on the road!!!

Have a wonderful day!
Jessica

Belly Pictures

Here I am in all my glory :)  These are the only side pictures I have as of now.  I plan to take one picture a week from now until Jacob gets here.  It took me awhile, but I have finally embraced by new (and temporary) body.  I hope you enjoy!!!

27 Weeks

30 Weeks

35 Weeks

36 Weeks

~Jessica

Stay at Home Wife - Day 2 and 3

I feel like all I have done this week is errands!  Can I please just stay home and work on Jacobs room?  Please?

Tuesday, I went to get my car inspected because they didn't have enough time to do it on Monday.  (Virginia requires you to get your car inspected to make sure its quality or something...who knows.  I thinks its another way to get my $$$)  The inspection was at 10 and it took about an hour and a half.  It was then lunch and me and baby were hungry so we delayed our visit to the DMV and headed home for a yummy turkey sandwich.  After lunch I headed to a fabric store I found in town called FabU.  Super cute fabric.  All I need now is that sewing machine!!!!

After browsing for about an hour the fabric...I really don't know how I can spend so long somewhere and not buy a thing!  I headed to the DMV.  I was hoping the wait would be down after lunch but I was very wrong.  I first waited in line to get my number.  Which was about 10 minutes.  But they then told me I need my pass port or a birth certificate to get a license!  Okay, fine.  At least I didn't wait 30+ minutes just to get to the main counter and find this out.  I'll be back tomorrow then.

Wednesday I headed to the DMV first thing in the morning.  Got up, got pretty for my picture and was happy that I would not be visiting the DMV anymore after today.  WRONG AGAIN.  I got to the number getting counter and found out I need Dan to sign the license plate paper work in order to get VA plates.  Grrrrr.  Well, at least I can get my license today!  Since I went first thing in the morning I only waited about 10 minutes.  I should be getting my license in 7-10 business days.  ****Side note-They asked for my weight on the form I filled out!  What an unfair question to ask a 36 week pregnant lady!  I for sure lied and wrote my goal for after baby arrives!  LOL****

I also went shopping after my DMV adventure.  I got some baby stuff.  I think all I got was baby stuff.  Thats about how its has been lately and I'm guessing how its going to be in the future.  All baby and no stuff for me!

Here are some fun things I got:
-Pottery Barn Kids Farm Play Mat
-Swaddling blankets
-Changing pad and cover
-Bath towels, wash cloths and soap
-Vaseline to prevent "turtle" from sticking to the diaper...I really am in fear of this one!
--"Turtle" is what our OB called "it" when she told us Jacob was a boy.
-Baby on board signs
-And a breast pump

I think thats it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!