Dogs Days of Summer....

Has it been hot, or what!?
I know half the country is feeling this way, so I won't belabor it....but goodness....it's just too hot!

Things continue to move right along here. It's been a busy few weeks having Mom in town, Anne/Mike/Hailey for the weekend, and then Pop for the weekend most recently.....plus really getting ready for Sutton.....
So busy in fact that time has literally started to fly. I have 3 weeks to go til my due date. THREE. wow.
and she's coming early :) that's my bet (and my beg to my doctor since she's probably on the upward side of 7 1/2 lbs according to him yesterday)
My stomach is HUGE. I look back at the pictures from the beginning and can't remember ever not having this belly...and I'm looking forward to someday not having this belly :) and instead, be holding a baby :)

Sutton gets the hiccups at least once a day, sometimes 3-4 times. My whole belly shakes with each hiccup. I have developed carpal tunnel (thanks to pregnancy) in my right hand/wrist & I definitely am waddling, bigtime. I'm finally "ready" (as ready as someone can be to go through labor & delivery for the 1st time) to meet her!

Eric's doing well too.....He's been trying to enjoy some of his early retirement by playing some golf during the week, but is still working hard to find his next job. He went to Myrtle Beach with Tim, his brother, for a long weekend too while my mom/sister/family were in town.

Maddie is not sure what to make of the baby stuff around the house. She tried to get into a Boppy lounger that Hailey napped in on her visit....was hilarious!

That's about it from here! More to come next week from our next Doctor's appt & ultrasound as we get closer & closer to Sutton's arrival :)
XOXO,
Megan

we played dress-up with Hailey with clothes my grandma made!

Hailey, Grandma, and Annie

37 weeks (well, 1 day short of)

Happy 4th!!

Hope everyone had a great 4th. Meg and I were up in Va to see my Dad and Patsy. Got to sneak in some golf, hit a winery with Al Eubank, and our friends Josh and Sarah Haggerty and family came up to enjoy an afternoon at the pool. It was a great trip with lots of laughs, good food, and relaxing.

Yesterday we had another ultrasound which we were looking forward to just a little:) It had been ordered because Sutton had been measuring a few weeks big at her last appointment........we didn't know just how big she was!!!! The ultrasund provided us with the news that Sutton is 6.8lbs at 34 weeks. That projects her at 9.8lbs at birth. Megan is slightly scared now:) Heartbeat and all signs were perfect....and big babies are supposed to eat and sleep SO much better. She better keep up her end of this bargain or we will not be happy parents!

Linda, Megan's mom, arrives Sunday afternoon and we are excited to have her. She stays for a week and Annie and family come in next Friday. My brother Tim arrives next Thursday and we head on to Myrtle Beach for a brother getaway...always fun. We will update all the activites soon.

Hope everyone is doing well -- Enjoy the pics below of the nursery and the 4th.

Shower...and the countdown begins!

So I am hogging the blog, and I'm sorry. I'll make sure Eric posts next time!

Last weekend was my last baby shower. It was a beautiful event and a lot of fun, but
tiring for someone whose belly is growing so fast :) I'll attach some pics, but I'm still
waiting on more from Laura, one of the hostesses, to send more.

Annie, Mike, Nicole, and baby Hailey came up for an evening and for the shower
too, which was really fun! Eric & I babysat the girls for an hour & a half so the new parents
could go out for dinner (I think for the 1st time since H's arrival) alone. They rewarded us
by bringing home delicious chocolate cake & ice cream from Firebirds -- "will work for food?" --
HA!

Things have been very busy with work & life over the last, I can't remember how long....and
I think (should I even say it?) we are finally getting into the summer lull...This is good & bad, b/c
surgeries = $$, but too busy = not enough time in the day to take care of everything = a stressed out
and exhausted Megan. With lots to do in the <8 weeks til Miss Sutton Claire arrives, I'm starting to
worry I won't get it done!

Oh yeah, for those who haven't heard, we've TOTALLY finalized the name -- Sutton Claire Parker.
Sutton is Eric's mom's maiden name which we've both loved forever and Claire is just a name we both
liked that keeps the name (in total) girly.

We have another appt and ultrasound (yes, b/c she is measuring ahead of schedule....no comments please!) on July 7th, and I continue to be hopeful that she'll come a few weeks early :) I'm not ready yet, but I will be very soon!!! ha! We are anxious to meet her :)

Until Eric's next post -- hope you all are doing well and staying happy & healthy & cool in this heat!
xoxoox,
Megan

quite the delicious spread of bbq sandwiches, sides, and cupcakes!

Baby Hailey getting so much bigger!

snuggly swaddled H

Eric looking more comfortable too!

She was zonked out! pacifier = man down!

9 weeks post baby -- Annie looks amazing & I look like I swallowed a watermelon!

so I thought I'd pose next to the watermelon!

32 weeks!!!

Wonderful Birthday/Shower weekend!!!

I have the most wonderful friends. period. I know I do.

I spent my birthday weekend with my wonderful friends from high school -- Jessica, Mary, Alisa, and Caroline (who was my surprise!)...at the beach!! Katey & Amanda, you two sure were missed!
It was a quick but amazing weekend.

They put together a shower for me as well at the condo, and the personal touches were SO thoughtful.
I'll attach a bunch of pictures. We made a dream catcher --each of us made our own beaded strand -- to hang on the window in the nursery. We had swaddle, diapering, and block spelling competitions (hilarious)...And they made a "Parker Baby Bible" with information & handwritten notes from them all to me and to Eric. So touching!!!

I wasn't looking too forward to turning 31 but they certainly helped me over that hump & I had a fantastic day!!

Eric spent the weekend "bach-ing" it up....golf/cards/cookout/sleeping :).....and the house was, once again, in remarkable shape when I got back. He's quite good to me :)
I'd say I'm lucky ALL the way around.

Today marks my last baby shower and then I know I need to get serious about putting the nursery together (it looks like an explosion of disarray, so I just shut the door). My sister got in town last night with her adorable family in tow (more pics of them & the shower @ next blog post) and presented me with the curtains she had made for the nursery. They are hung, look amazing, and they have given me the incentive to get to work on the nursery :) Thanks Annie!!

Have a wonderful weekend & enjoy the pics :)
Megan

dolls/diapers/swaddle blankets for competition to come!

The adorable spread!

babies!

Jessica, Alisa, Me, Mary

Me & Caroline

Blind-folded diapering competition got hilarious after dinner!

The patio - where we made dream catcher strands & went through all the thoughtful gifts!

Thanks Ladies!!! I LOVE YOU!

It's JUNE tomorrow!?

I cannot believe it's already June & we're definitely into summer in Charlotte. 97 degrees today - yuk! Way too hot for this pregnant lady :)

So, quick updates!!! Eric not only survived his 3 night Vegas trip w/ Judd, South, & Rob but came out AHEAD!!! Take that, Vegas & thank you to Preakness winner Shackelford, who had 12-1 odds....ha!

While he hit the blackjack tables, I hit the beach...Isle of Palms specifically, for Karmen's "girls weekend" (not allowed to call it a bachelorette party b/c we're in our 30s now she says...REALLY!?). We had a fabulous weekend -- great food, great laughs, great weather -- and it just went too quickly. I'll post a few pics below.

Memorial day weekend was event-filled with our first baby shower! Katie & Garrett threw us a "couples shower" that ranks at the top of any/all showers I will ever hope to attend. They pulled out all the stops with a full spread of Mexican grub & New Belgium kegs, that proved a little "heavy" for the beer pong table out back :) We probably all overstayed our welcome, but it was just too fun. We feel very lucky to have such wonderful friends in our lives!!

Friday we're off to slightly cooler VA for our niece, Meg's, graduation from high school & to celebrate Pop's birthday! We are really looking forward to seeing the fam -- been too long. Meg will be heading to App State next year & we're happy to have her in OUR state :)

As for our daughter, tomorrow is 29 weeks....into the 3rd trimester with 11 weeks to go! She is constantly on the move & Eric witnessed a little bit of the 'alien belly' tonight. He's felt plenty of kicks with his hand, but hasn't seen the contortionist act until tonight -- it is absolutely mind-blowing! I am to the point of counting down the days to meet her. I cannot wait!

That's it for here, for now! Enjoy the short week....& stay cool :)
Love, Megan (& Eric & Maddie)

Karmen's GIRL's Weekend :)

1 day shy of 29 weeks!

Baby shower @ Katie's

Kristin (pictured) made this AMAZING & ADORABLE cake!!! Super cute.

The beer pong tournament.....Joe & Eric beat his cousin, Kevin & Matt

Maddie's 15th Birthday & Beautiful Josephine!

Maddie had a wonderful 15th birthday. We celebrated by having our wonderful neighbors, who let Maddie out during the day, come over for ice cream sundaes....and Maddie enjoyed a plate of vanilla herself! It's amazing she doesn't get a brain freeze -- she eats it SO fast!

Our friends Amanda & Chris came in town this weekend....Amanda is pregnant again & due a few weeks before me, and we had a ball playing with their 19month old, Josephine. She is the happiest little girl ever!

Tonight I'm heading down to Charleston for Karmen's bachelorette party for the weekend -- I am so excited for more beach time & lots of girl time!!! Eric heads to Vegas tomorrow through Monday with the boys, and he's pretty happy himself. Send lots of good luck thoughts his way for the tables :) ha!

My Mom is in Raleigh for a week right now visiting baby Hailey and Andrea....I wish I could be in two places at once! Sounds like Hailey has already grown so much & they are having a blast!

More when we return.......until then, have a wonderful rest of the week & a great weekend!
Megan

Birthday Pup & her Dog Dad -- love this pic!

Plate o' Vanilla. Ready, set, GO!

Gone so fast :)

Josephine in the Rocket ship swing!

having fun!

Having some chill time on the bean bag chair

She fell asleep with Bubba in her mouth after our walk. TOO CUTE

Week 26-Trip to Charleston

Just about 2/3 of the way to the arrival of our daughter. Seems so hard to believe....time is flying all of a sudden. We spent 3 nights in Isle of Palms this past weekend and lots of it was parked on the beach reading books and soaking up sun. We also got to see my buddy Steve(Cbass) and his wife and son Sulli. Was great to finally meet the little man. Lots of good food and some rest was enjoyed by all.

Now back in Charlotte we are celebrating our current baby's birthday tomorrow......the funny thing is....this baby is turning 15. This of course is Maddie. She is being spoiled and appears to be enjoying her late years just fine!

Hope all is well and enjoy some pics:)
Eric

Seal Team 6!

pre-dinner (1st night) @ windjammer

sunday night dinner @ Poe's

week 26 belly