I started to write this a week ago and just never got enough time to sit and write all of my thoughts down, so it is a little late. Sorry, better late than never, right?
One day,a very warm day in April, Brent and I were at my parents home fixing their fence that had blown down, again. I was so excited to be "out" not because of the cold winter but because I had been on bed rest for 10 weeks and I was finally able to get up and move. I was jumping on the trap, playing with my little siblings and frankly being tired of having contractions for 18 weeks. Yes, I wrote that right, 18 weeks having actual contractions. I was so excited to GET OUT!! I was also so excited to get to do my sisters hair for prom, and I was excited to see her in her beautiful prom dress. I was big and pregnant and miserable, but I was happy to be out.
As the day progressed my contractions that I had been having steady for about two days, turned hard and pushing. I was NOT going beck to the hospital, I had been there 15 times in a week and they kept doping me up and sending me home. Not what you want to do. So I sat on the floor, I took a bath, I even ignored them all together. Soon I could not ignore them any more. They hurt, I was crying, I was upset, but I was not afraid, I knew I could go through labor....if they ever let me! My mom told Brent "just take her in and get her checked out, maybe they can give her something to take the edge off." He chose wisely and brought me to the hospital, were they found I was 5 centimeters dilated and they were going to keep me! I have NEVER been so happy in my life.
Brent was happy because the Jazz were playing the Lakers and so he was content in front of the T.V. I remember thinking "I am having OUR baby let me watch something besides basketball!" I have now learned that basketball is a "need" not a "want". And in actuality the first four boys were all born after the jazz played the lakers!
Everything was going well until I was at a ten and my doctor was still at the Jazz game. He told them to hold me off until he got there, which in turned made the babies heart beat slow way down. Parker was born 15 minutes after the Jazz WON the Lakers, as I looked at the Capital wondering how my sister looked for prom. He was cute and little, and a BOY! We did not find out what we were having and Brent and I were literally fighting over what to name "her" until they said it is a BOY! 
Parker was a great baby, he loved to just be. He was happy just chillin by himself or hanging out with the family, he could be passed around or left alone. He was a great baby. He was a great toddler, a great kid and now he is turning into a great young man. He turned 12 on April 17, a Sunday and received the priesthood that same day. He got to pass the sacrament this last Sunday for the first time. It was like seeing him go off to kindergarten all over again. I was so proud of him for being such a "big" kid, but a little sad because my baby is 12!
He loves to point out that he WILL be taller than me (not a little bit surprised). That in 4 years he will get to drive, and wear a nice tux to prom (most likely on his 16th birthday). And that in 6 years he will be graduated from high school. But the one that scares me the most is when he says to me "mom in 6 1/2 years I get to turn in my mission papers, I hope I go to Africa!" Were has the time gone, I swear it was just yesterday that I was in labor with him, and now he is talking about a mission!
Maybe that is why it is so hard to be a mom, you only get them for so long, you hope you do your best and in the end love them anyway. I am so happy to be Parker's Mom, he has taught me so much. He loves me so much! He is a great big brother, a wonderful help and most of all a GREAT kid! I could not ask for anything more!
Happy late Birthday Parker! We love you!
Quinten John VanDerMeide,
One year old and as crazy as ever! 
This is how Quinten was on his 2nd birthday morning (at 10 am)!
Quinten's first birthday Cake!
