Parker Noel Bedard

Well she is here. For those of you who haven't seen pics or know the specifics...
She was born at 7:44 am, weighs 7 lbs 3 oz and was 18.75 inches long. She is beautiful like her mom!! Mindy is doing great and has been resting comfortably all day. Our family was here and that was awesome!! Here is a link to an album I have publised with some pics if you would like to see them: http://gallery.me.com/twobedards2#100016

The adventure continues!!

3 Becomes 4

I wanted to write tonight or today about a couple things. My mind is racing today and I am so overwhelmed with emotions and excitement it is hard to think straight so this may wander a bit. My classes are going great and I am already learning a lot. Today, though, I found myself wandering in and out of the discussion we were having. Naturally I was thinking about things more important than General Systems theory. I just wanted to brag about someone that I think has become my hero, my wife. Mindy has been a trooper over the past 2 years. She has been pregnant for the past 18 out 24 months. That is a long time!! The past 2 months have been especially hard on her and she has weathered through like a champ!! I have been falling in love with Mindy for a long time now but the past few years have brought us to a deeper level of love and admiration and friendship and devotion. She is amazing to me and I wish everyone could see her as she interacts with Cade and talks to Parker and loves me and supports me and my craziness. I was telling someone today that one of the things that initially attracted me to her (besides her hotness) was her ability to see through my crap and tell me I was full of it. She has never judged me, only loved me for who I am warts and all. And believe me I got a lot of warts. I can not imagine my life without her.

As you can tell, my emotions are bubbling today. Our lives are changing for the better. Yes stress levels will rise and we will be living through things we were just living through a year ago, but we will be doing it as a family. Or as I like to say, we are Team. I love that concept. As we sat there waiting for Cade to be born, we just looked at each other knowing things were changing now. All I could think about was that we would have to work hard together to make things happen. We would have to encourage each other and support each other and keep each other accountable. We would have to function as a unit or Team. So we have become and are becoming. We are going from 3 to 4 in 8 short hours. Our Team is expanding and I can't wait for it to be here.

Cade Is Walking

Well, it took a bit of time but little man is even more mobile!! He is a little shaky still but he took his first true steps tonight!! The great part is there were several people here to see him. You might recognize some of our Fairfax friends in the video. Enjoy the video. Sorry its short but I just wanted to get something up tonight!!

2 Days To Go! Long post ahead...

So, everyone wants an update on how we're doing. Here it is!

Chris- overwhelmed and overloaded with reading and new vocabulary to learn, BUT loving every minute of it!Every student has to work in the MFI clinic each week which means they have to dress appropriately for clients coming in to the office. I have enjoyed this because he has to dress up more than he ever did during youth ministry! He is really looking sharp this week!

Mindy- never been more uncomfortable in my life and not loving every minute of it! No, she hasn't dropped or turned, but it doesn't matter with a c-section. I have no idea if I've dilated, or how much, b/c it doesn't matter with a c-section, so the Dr hasn't even checked. I just know that I'm uncomfortable when I'm walking, standing, sitting and laying down! I'm sore from head to toe. I could go on complaining, but it really won't help anything! I feel sorry for the women who deliver after their due date. This c-section is already 5 days early and I'm counting every hour that goes by. Need I say more? 2 more days, 2 more days...

Cade- having a rough week. He has 4 teeth coming in at once, and they aren't small teeth. This time the teething is giving him major stomach problems. It started Sunday night when he didn't want to eat dinner and he had 4 (or was it 5, I lost count) stinky diapers in a row. We were trying to watch the closing ceremonies, but kept running to his room to change him. It's been so bad that this morning he had poop coming out of his diaper and all down his leg, and all over his sheets. Between the 2 of us, Chris and I have changed 6 poopy diapers since that one this morning. He is also trying to walk. Every day gets better and better, but this is such a slow process for him. He is almost too cautious. He takes 2 very small steps and then falls. We're waiting on that 3rd step before we video tape him. If he sees the camera he won't do anything. He's too fascinated with the camera and wants to push all the buttons! Lastly, his little sister will be entering HIS world on Friday. I know he doesn't understand this yet, but I believe he knows there is something new going on. He spends time with me in her room, and plays with her dolls. He mainly just throws them around the room! This next week will be interesting to see how he reacts to her being around 24/7. Pray for our little man! He's got more going on than the rest of us, and he's just so darn sweet about it! I don't know how I got such a sweet child. Quick example: I was getting some wet clothes out of the washer and, by accident, I dropped some of them on the floor right in front of the dryer. Being as big as I am it's so hard for me to bend over, but my little man came to my rescue! I didn't even have to ask him, he crawled up to the dryer and threw the clothes right in perfectly! I was so proud of my little helper! He just thought it was a game and giggled at his accomplishment, but I'd like to think he saw my frustrated face and came to my rescue! He is truly so sweet!

Parker- I'm pretty sure she already knows how to crawl! She moves ALL the time. I did not experience this with Cade. He was swimming in all the extra fluid I had(which some believe was caused by the IVF, but we'll never know). I felt him move, of course, but not like this little gymnast! This is good news to the Dr, but it gets annoying when it's happening to you! Today she was laying in a weird position which made my right leg and my left arm and hand numb for hours. Right now she is moving up and down, up and down. I can see what I think is her head moving up and down and pushing all over my insides! She gets the hiccups a lot too, but not as much as Cade did. Hers are different. They aren't as violent as his where, but they happen more often and last longer. Other than that, heartbeat is fine, measurements are fine. The Dr thinks she will weigh more than Cade, but that's a no brainer b/c he came 3 weeks early and didn't have those last days to fatten up! She is plenty fat! My guess weight is 7.8; my mom says 7.2, and Chris says 7.5 We'll know in 2 days!

That's it for our family update. All of our parents come in Thursday night for the exciting festivities happening at 7:30 am the next morning. I won't blog any more until she's here, so check back for pictures of her this coming weekend. Coming soon!
Love to all,
mindy

Back To School!!

For everyone not keeping up with our life we are about to have 2 pretty significant things happen to us this week. The first one is tomorrow. I (Chris) am going back to school. I did not think I would ever say that again 8 1/2 years ago but tonight as I type this, I am so very excited. I can't wait actually. I know that may sound weird but I have been looking forward to this day since early March. I know it will be different and it will take some time to get used to it, but I look forward to the challenge. As a family, we are ready to take on a new kind of being busy (after 7 plus years of full time ministry). It will be a 2 year crazy journey, but it will be one we do together as a family.

And speaking of family, the second big event this week happens on Friday. Our little girl, Parker, comes into the world around 7:30 am Friday morning. And as excited as I am about starting school, it pales in comparison to the birth of our second child. But more on this later this week.

Me and Jana @ church last Sunday. We have our ACU Wildcat spirit going! Jana was one of my roomies during my incarceration (ha ha) at ACU! Her husband, Brandon, (one of Chris' former roomies) is teaching in the Graphic Design Dept at ACU. We are so happy to hang out with them again, and especially their kids! It's so fun to watch your friends as parents. We all grow up too fast!

We tried to get Cade and Jana's little girl together for a photo shoot for the ACU magazine, ACU Today. As you can see... Cade is afraid of girls! He loves Jana's little boy who is 4. He follows him around and tries to imitate him, but Skylar is a different story! For some reason EVERY time we got her near him he would FREAK out! I just kept telling him to get used to little girls, Buddy! There's one coming to our house very soon!!!

One week to go!

I didn't want to publish pictures of me, but many of you have asked! Don't laugh! I'm very sensitive and emotional right now!!!!!

Little Man

We took this picture a few days ago. It is one of the rare times Cade was actually asleep in the car. As you can see, he was really asleep!! It is hard to believe that he is getting so big. And even harder to believe he will soon be a big brother. We are very excited about that!! Lately Cade has been attempting to stand on his own. He does it more and more so we are hopeful he will start walking soon.

Who likes change?

And I'm not talking quarters, dimes or nickles! I have come to love change. In fact, I might be addicted. My friend, Erin, makes fun of me b/c I'm always getting a new haircut. I say, WHO CARES, it's just hair. It will grow back, right? You've heard the phrase "Change or die"? I'm not sure about the die part, but change can certainly liven up your life. Keep you on your toes. We have had so much change in our lives since 2008 began that I can't imagine another life. I can't imagine staying in one place and doing the same routine over and over for the rest of my life. Some people love that kind of life, but I have to say... I'm not one of you!
I just think life is too short to do the same ole thing over and over again. There are some people who are inspiring with their change in life: First, Chris' brother, Tony, has moved to Colorado for a year to work and live just because he can right now. I think getting a new perspective in another city or state is an awesome way to grow and learn more about yourself. Don't get me wrong, it is a challenge. I should know from previous experience, but SO worth it. When we first moved to VA I didn't want to drive on Highway 66 b/c of all the crazy traffic. I was so scared! Chris drove me almost every where for a few months! Then, I realized i had to do it on my own eventually. I also remembered the words of my Mom when we moved to Dallas (from Memphis, TN) when I was in high school, "If we keep driving and start seeing signs that we are leaving Texas then we are lost! Otherwise, we're not lost we'll just keep driving until we find our destination"! Believe it or not, that came in handy. We drove around so much discovering new places that when I was finally able to drive around Dallas/Ft Worth with friends I knew exactly where were going and didn't need a map! And I always found my way home. It was her attitude towards the change of scenery that I learned about during that time.

Other people who have inspired me- military families. WOW! They move a lot!! Besides all the packing and unpacking they have to learn new streets, new places to discover, new churches, new kinds of food specific to the area of the world they are living. The list goes on and on! I came to appreciate this way of life living so close to D.C. The spouses and children deserve medals to wear on their shoulders as well. The government might tell them where to live, but it's mom and dad who teach the kids about changing and growing to make life interesting.

So, from changing your hairstyle or moving to a new state I hope you have been inspired by this blog to get out of the same 'ol routine and do something new. Go crazy!

35 years...

Today (August 6) is my birthday (this is Mindy btw). I want to say thank you to all who sent cards and emails and phone calls. It really made my day. I've been having contractions and feeling blah since this past weekend. Nothing to worry about. It's just annoying. So, today was so special to get all the greetings. It truly did make my day special. Thank you!

I must brag on 2 very special people who really made this day wonderful. Chris and my sister, Missy. First, b/c I wasn't feeling up to mom duties today Chris did EVERYTHING around the house. He's done laundry, dishes, and all the household chores. He's also done EVERYTHING for Cade. He gets him up in the morning, gets him dressed, feeds him every meal, bathes him at night and puts him to bed. Besides playing with him, helping him to learn how to walk and talk, reading him books and so on and so on! Chris is seriously a great husband and father. I must embarrass him right now and tell all of you how awesome he is. I am really going to hate it when he starts school! I am spoiled rotten right now!!!
Missy was going to babysit for us so we could go to dinner, but since I wasn't feeling up to it she came over for dinner and ate with us. AND... she brought over a homemade Paula Dean 6 layer cake!!!!! Oh my goodness! It is yummy! She also played and played with Cade. He enjoyed that so much! He was "dancing" with her while they palyed on one of his musical toys. It was so adorable. I hate that I didn't get that on video for all of you to see; we'll have to have a reinactment. Missy also tried to get Cade back to sleep after we put him to bed and an hour later he woke up crying. He's still having trouble with that, but we think it's just one of those developmental phases again (we've been working hard on trying to get him to walk before P arrives). She was unable to get him back to sleep, but we appreciate her trying after we were exhausted from trying everything we know. Thanks Miss!
Today was a great day! Thank you to all who made this day wonderful and special for me! You guys ROCK!
Love to everyone! I'll keep you posted on any Parker news...
Mindy

Final Countdown

Well we are about 3 and half weeks from Parker's arrival. I am very excited but not nearly as excited as Mindy!!! (understatement of the year) We are putting the finishing touches on Parker's room this week. Also, we are getting a bag ready to head the hospital just in case she decides to pull a Cade and come early. Right now she is scheduled to arrive sometime the morning of August 29th. We actually have some ultra-sound pics from a couple of weeks ago but it is hard to tell from the scanned version what you are looking at so I didn't put them up. But believe me she is there and she is very active. We can only hope she looks like her mother!!!

This past weekend we went to church with my sister and her husband in Keller. I had been before but it was Mindy's first time. We put Cade in the nursery and he did pretty well. It was a great service and was the first time that Mindy and I were able to worship together without having to be in charge of something in some time. It was very nice. Most of the songs were unfamiliar but easy to pick up. We really enjoyed he worship time (I think Mindy enjoyed it most). It go me to thinking. I know, I know I won't go to deep here. I know I have another blog for that. But I guess I just was sitting there thinking of several things as we sang and prayed and listened. I have not thought much about what type of church I would like for our family to be a part of until recently. I know that sounds weird but its true. I know that Mindy has spent several weeks thinking about it and we have talked about it but I didn't really think much about it until the past couple of days. Even as we drove from Grapevine to Abilene this afternoon we discussed the need to find somewhere here that we feel comfortable and somewhere we can feel safe taking our kids. We had grand plans to visit several places and look around a lot but I am not sure that will happen in the end. I am not sure we have that kind of time or want to put that kind of time into it. Still don't know where we will end up but we will end up somewhere. This may sound very strange to some of you that have always gone to church the same place or have either grown up going the same kind of church all your life. But I haven't and up until recently we went to the place I was employed (which is not necessarily a bad thing). I guess what I am saying is we have more of a choice now and that is good sometimes. Lastly, I found myself seeing the importance of church as a PART of our children's development. But you can read more about that at b-chris.blogspot.com if you would like. I will be blogging about it tomorrow.

I will be putting up some pics and video from our summer travels in the next few days. Have a great week!!