Preston Enjoys the Fall Weather

Preston Gets a Haircut

Tower Grove Park

We discovered the Tower Grove Park wading pool this weekend. There is a farmer's market with fresh fruits and vegetables and a live band on Saturdays (note "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" in the background). After we went to the farmers market, we stopped by the pool and fountains. Preston really liked it. We went back Sunday as well.

I had to put together these two pictures from google earth. The one on the left is where Preston's cousin Lily lives....our house is on the right. Made me think of the story about the Country mouse and the City mouse.

Preston Goes Swimming

14 Months

Cousin Lily Visits STL

I'm on vacation this week and Lee, Kristy, and Lily came to visit. It was amazing to see how much Lily has learned since we saw her last. She can sing her ABC's, B-I-B-L-E song, and Old Mcdonald. We asked Lee to take a video of Lily and me singing the songs while I played the xylophone...needless to say the camera was already recording and he hit the button a la Preston's birthday video so that didn't quite get recorded.

She can repeat any word you ask her to say....with the exception of Preston. Everytime we asked her to say "hey Preston" she said "hey Tacki." This persisted throughout the visit...it was too cute.

We went to the zoo, Grant's farm, and Ted Drewes. Preston is still a little young to get much out of the trips to the Zoo/Grant's farm, but Lily really enjoyed feeding the goats at Grant's farm. Of course, we all enjoyed Ted Drewes.

Visiting Mamaw Mary

Preston took his second plane ride to see Mamaw Mary and Eldon in Dayton, OH. He did very well on the plane and was a good baby throughout the trip. We went antiquing in a nearby town and went to Olive Garden for Mother's Day.

Icecream

Preston had icecream for the first time...and we did it up right with the best icecream around...Ted Drewes.

Bedtime

Trip to the Zoo with Mamaw

Mamaw came to keep Preston for a week while Chad was in Memphis. We went to the zoo one day. Preston is getting closer to appreciating the animals. He did look at the fish in the Hippo pool and seemed to like the penguins. Here are some picks of the Hippo tank.

Walking!

Easter Pictures

1st Birthday

Preston had a great first birthday. We actually had a little party with Chad's family when we returned from Europe. He enjoyed the cake but didn't eat a lot of it. It was a cute little party of which I would love to share some video, however, Chad left Lee in charge of the camera and he managed to hit the record button while the camera was pointing the floor. Therefore, just as we started to sing Happy Birthday, Lee hit the record button again, at that point turning the camera off and we missed the song, the cake, etc. I grieved a little for this, but I think I'll make it.

My parents came up to St. Louis for Preston's (and my dad's) birthday weekend. We went out to eat for my Dad's birthday. We got preston an Elmo cell phone, his first set of toy golf clubs, and a xylophone toy. He also got a slide for the backyard (from Lee, Kristy, Donna and Skipper see video below), a set of real kiddy golfclubs (mimi), a swimming pool (mamaw and papaw), a Breyer horse (Uncle Will), money from Pop and Mamaw Mary (which I've started putting away in piggy bank for when he's older) and lots of cute clothes. Enjoy the pics and some limited video below.

A Baby Story.

I wanted to post this around Preston's first birthday. I often think about the day he was born and although the details are still clear now, I know that with time they will fade. So, I better write it down... here goes.

I was 36.5 weeks pregnant and thinking "if this baby doesn't come soon, its just not fair that Kristy had Lily early and I'm going to have to go full term." Ha. I was really setting myself up to go 41 weeks. It was a Tuesday and I went to work that morning and gave my one hour physics talk for the year (on tomotherapy). I was relieved to get this out of the way and finished up my day in the clinic as usual. Chad and I had dinner and I did thirty minutes of step aerobics in front of the TV. I talked to Tonya on the phone saying "just a few more weeks left." Chad and I went to bed as usual at around 10:30.

At 1:30 I woke up with contractions. I had been having Braxton-Hicks contractions for a few weeks so I figured it was these again. After about 30minutes I realized they weren't going away and were probably getting worse. Since I was uncomfortable, I got up and started packing the baby bag (camera, Preston's going home outfit, blanket, cell phone charger, house shoes, clothes for me, facewash, make-up etc.) By 2:30, packing was complete and the contractions were getting pretty bad. No longer was I able to just walk around, I had to pause during them. This was the real deal. I woke Chad up and he got dressed, let Bean out, and we were on our way to hospital.

Barnes-Jewish hospital is only 6miles from the house. Chad drove normally (so no tickets for us). I was really starting to hurt by that point and was very nauseous with contractions. We got to the hospital around 3:00 AM. A security guard tried to stop us in the lobby and when I turned around with my big belly he just smiled and waved us on the elevator. I got checked in to triage and then got my ticket to Labor & Delivery.

Now lets not paint the rosiest picture here. This was the part of the journey that was not cool. I was getting so nauseous with every contraction...it was pretty miserable in combination with the pain. But it was the wierdest thing....as soon as the contraction subsided I felt like a million bucks. Completely normal, talkative, pain free and then boom, misery. In other words, I requested an epidural stat.

Chad and I settled in the room (he was in the recliner watching the Golf Channel). I was expecting a long day, so I decided I would take a nap. A few minutes later my doctor came and informed me "it's time to push." After 15 minutes of pushing, Preston Everett Perkins arrived at 9:43 a.m. Even though I had seen several ultrasounds the first thing I did was check that he was a boy. It all went to fast....I think we were both in shock. The doctor asked if Chad wanted to cut the cord and we both immediately said "No!" It was a wonderful day and I hope I never forget the details.

10 months

Can you believe Preston's first birthday is just around the corner? I think he is finally getting a little taller. He can take a few steps with his walker toy. He is starting the throw fits if you take something away that he wants (i.e. remote control (which he loves)). I need to take "professional" pictures, but I really want to take some outdoors and it has been so cold.

Christmas Video Part II

Christmas Video Part I

The video was too big to post in one part....so here is the beginning.

Baby's First Christmas

Preston had a great first Christmas. We went to Memphis the weekend before Christmas and spent some time with Pop. Lee, Kristy and Lily came over and we had lasagna. We got Pop a steering wheel cover for the truck and a photo album. Lee and Kristy got him a book on how to rebuild John Deere tractors and some major wrenches to complete the work. Pop got us all some spending money and Lily and Preston got savings bonds. Good times.

On Monday we headed to Lexington. Tuesday morning we went to exit 143 and met Billy, Rachel and Hayden for lunch at the Log Cabin restaurant. It was good to see them and finally get to meet Ms. Hayden in person. Tuesday night we had Christmas with Mimi. Preston got a rocking horse (which Lee named Wildfire), a leather chair (pretty swanky), a toy guitar, toy crane, a moo-ing bowling ball set, PJs and lots of other goodies. Mimi made 4 derby pies (we made it easily through 3). Wednesday we headed to Jackson and hung out with Mamaw and Papaw before going to my grandparents for Christmas Eve. Mamaw Joyce made bisquits and country ham, Momma made cheese straws and sausage balls. Preston "opened" his gifts and was very cordial to all. We headed back to Lexington later that night.

Christmas day we went to Ma-ma Estelee's and had a yummy lunch. The next few days were more eating and sitting around. While at my parents he pulled up to standing for the first time. Saturday we went to Brek and Allison's and opened Preston's last gifts. Allison cooked an awesome dinner and banana pudding and momma brought another derby pie (can't get enough of that stuff). Preston got lots of clothes, toy trains, and nice set of reading books, flashcards and videos from momma and daddy which we've already started teaching him.


We made it back to STL by Sunday and we were all super worn out. It took Preston a few days to get back on a normal sleep schedule. I needed a vacation after my "vacation."