Post-Christmas letter

Dear Parker,

I haven't been very good about keeping up with writing you letters over our break. We have all just been so busy spending time with family, that it's been hard to squeeze in computer time.

I had a GREAT Christmas with you. We were so excited to watch you open your gifts. When you finally got up Christmas morning, we brought you into the living room to see what Santa had brought. You looked and then your entire face lit up. You walked over to the kitchen set and said "hep pease," picked up a spoon and began stirring your imaginary creation in the pot. It was amazing. We played with all your toys from Santa. Then, your Mom made us breakfast and we opened up the rest of your gifts.

Your Mom and I found this hooded duck towel on sale. You have been struggling a little with the bath lately, so we thought it might make it more fun. We thought that you would like it at bathtime, but wouldn't really care otherwise. Boy, were we wrong! You thought it was the greatest thing ever. You ran all over the house with that silly towel on your head crying, "Quack! Quack!" It was hilarious and adorable and it completely made my morning!

We finished opening presents around 10:30. You were so tired that you just laid down on the floor as if you were begging to take a nap. So, we obliged. You were just so happy and content. Your Mommy's family came that evening, but we got in a great day of playing and just being with each other before that. I loved it. I wish more days could just be like that. No computers, no reason to go out. The world finally stopped for just a little bit so that I could spend some great time with my family.

I love you and I know that it's late now, but Merry Christmas, Parker Alyse.

Love,

Mommy

Merry Christmas

Dear Parker,

We have been very busy the last week and I haven't had a chance to write you a letter. I also know that I promised to post some pictures from your adventures and I haven't done that yet, but I will do that too. We have just been so busy celebrating Christmas with your family.

It is Christmas morning. You started to wake up, so your Mom and I got up - and then you went back to sleep! Little stinker! :) We are very excited for you to get up.

We went to church last night, as we always will. I have been feeling guilty for not taking you to church regularly, but I suppose that's a different post. Anyway, you did a pretty good job. You ate an entire bag of yogurt melts and a fruit strip, but you were reasonably quiet. When the choirs sang, you conducted them. :) That always makes me happy.

We were singing "Silent Night" at the end and I was holding you. I just started to cry because I'm so happy with my life and so grateful that God has blessed us with the most perfect, little girl. I remember when you were only a dream and now you are here - and that is the most amazing thing. Christmas is about a baby and it certainly reminds me of how grateful I am for mine.

Merry 2nd Christmas Parker Alyse.

Love,

Mommy

Visiting Santa and other things

Dear Parker,

Yesterday afternoon, we took you to visit Santa (for the 2nd time.) The first time was sort of spur of the moment and we thought that maybe you would do better with a practice run. The first time, I tried to set you on Santa's lap and you screamed and screamed. I ran back into the picture and you calmed down a little but were still pretty unhappy. The second time we didn't even attempt for Mommy to leave the picture or to put you on Santa's lap. But, you still weren't very happy. You just looked like you wanted to get out of there. That's okay.

The funny part about this is that in the morning before we went, I told you that we were going to go see Santa when Mom got home from work. So, as you were eating your breakfast, you randomly asked "Tanta?" I reminded you that we had to wait for Mom to get home. To which you knowingly replied, "Mom." For the rest of the meal, at random intervals, you would tell me, "Tanta. Mom." It was so adorable. You were actually pretty excited in the morning. He might just be kind of scary in person.

After we visited Santa, we let you play in the museum. Your Mom took you on the Yule Slide, which looked pretty fun. She tells me that you said "Whee!" once you got to the bottom. The rest of the Jolly Days area seemed more for bigger kids. You could have had some fun, but there were lots of bigger kids there so we opted to go to the playscape.

This is the fist time we have been to the museum since you have been independently walking. It was so fun to follow you around trying to figure out what you were thinking. There are a couple of ramps in the Playscape area. You were very funny because the first time you lost your balance coming down and reached for your Mom's hand. Then, you decided you wanted to practice walking on the ramps, so you just went up and down several times. The first few times you used the fence on the side to help you down and then as you got better you let go. It was like you were thinking - well, I need to learn how to do this, so I'll just do it now! Every time you got to the bottom without holding on, you would clap for yourself!

Since we were there later in the afternoon, it wasn't as crowded, so instead of riding the carousel, we went downstairs to the glass exhibit. You enjoyed playing with the glass pieces, but were quite nervous about walking on the shiny tile floor. There is both carpet and tile and every time you got to a tile section you would stop, try again, stop and then finally decided to cross near the bench in case you should need to grab on to something. It was hilarious. You also explored the train exhibit. You got upset when you crawled underneath one exhibit to see something, but then discovered that you couldn't stand up. You wanted out!!!!! You even got to play with an old fashioned "tone" (phone).

Overall, I think it was a really good afternoon. I have pictures of all these things and will try to upload them to the computer and post them really soon. We are going to your Grandma and Grandpa LaMagdeleine's this afternoon and I hope to be able to get some picture and blog updating done while we are there.

In the meantime, I love you so much. We are so blessed to have been given you as our daughter - you are everything we wished for and more. I'm grateful everyday.

Love,

Mommy

frustration

Dear Parker,

Lately, I have been very frustrated. Sometimes it's about little things - like the fact that I have absolutely no idea what you should get your Mom for Christmas. I'm totally stuck. Sometimes it's about my inabilities as a parent- I don't know why you are waking up screaming lately. I can't figure it out and it just keeps happening. I don't know what "dee dee" is. I'm guessing that it's candy, but am not sure. I don't know how to get you to eat things other than pasta, cheese, bread and sweets. Sometimes it's about how stuck I feel in life and how I don't know how to get from where I am to where I want to be.

Here's what I do know baby girl. I love you in a way that I never knew was possible. I want to remember every single funny thing you do, every single mispronunciation, every giggle and every, "uh...no." It makes me sad that no matter how much I blog or how many pictures I take, I'm going to forget some things. I am so looking forward to Christmas with you. I know that you will be excited to open presents (perhaps not as excited as I am to give them to you, but that will come.) I hope that you are able to get in the spirit of giving and be excited about giving presents to other people as well.

I know I'm not a perfect Mommy Parker Alyse, but I love you so much and I'm doing the very best I can.

Love you. Happy Christmas Break!

Love,

Mommy

PS - Please don't wake up screaming tonight. Your Mom and I need to sleep!

'Tis the Season

Dear Parker,

I'm sorry I haven't written you a letter in a while. Things have been so busy. In the spirit of giving, we wanted to have you make gifts for your family. So, we bought some ornaments and some paint and thought you would like to decorate them. You were hilarious. We would ask you if you wanted to paint and you would say, "Uh....no!" and then run away. Finally, we got you to "dip" the brush and then smear it on the ornament. It took us 3 different times of painting to get the 9 ornaments done. Some of them are pretty hysterical. Just a green smear - you were being very minimalist.

In other funny news, a few days ago, you got up and sat cross-legged in front of the tree. And then asked for "hep, pease." We tried to have a discussion about how some presents were for you and some were for other people. I thought you understood, but then a few minutes later, I caught you shaking a present. As soon as you saw it, you dropped it and looked sheepishly at me. It was pretty cute.

My favorite memory of this past week though is when your mom and I were just chillin', laying on the floor and you were toddling around, playing. You randomly came up to us, one at a time, and gave us snuggles. Then, you kept going back and forth. Snuggling, me, then your mom, then me, then your mom. You are so cuddly!

I love you so much and can't wait to spend all of break with you and your Mom.

Love,

Mommy

Too cute

Dear Parker,

You have been doing so many things lately that I keep thinking I should write down because they are so cute and will make adorable stories when you get older. I can't remember many of them right now, but I will try. Here goes.

The other night, we were walking back to the car from dinner. It was dark and you pointed out a tree. "Tee!" you said. Then you said, "Tee! On!" You didn't seem to understand that not all trees could be turned "on" like the Christmas trees in our house!

Last night, you and your Mom were playing Peek-a-boo in the bedroom. She would pop her head up over the mattress, say, "Boo" and you would giggle hysterically. Then she would do the same around the footboard. Again, hysterical giggling. You are so smart. You knew what was going to happen next and started to peek your little head around looking for her. It was the most fun I have had in a really long time. I love seeing you so happy!

You have also gotten very good as saying please, or really "pease!" Now you will come up to one of us and say, "Hep" (help). We won't know what it is you would like help with so we will ask, "Help what?" You then respond, "Hep Pease!" We still don't know what you need help with, but you are asking so politely!

You are an amazing little girl. I can't wait until Christmas with you. It's going to be wonderful. I love you, baby girl.

Love,

Mommy

In Love

Dear Parker,

The last couple of days I have been overwhelmingly in love with you. I Always love you, but sometimes the amount of work that it takes to take care of you can take its toll on me. Lately, however, you have been so amazing. You are adorable and friendly. You are smart and funny. Your mommy and I have a weekend getaway planned this weekend and I'm actually a little sad about leaving you. I know I will have a great time with your Mom and I know that you will have a good time with your friend, Nancy. I also know that it's important for your Mom and I to have time to ourselves, but I'm still going to miss you.

I love you more than you will ever know.

Love,

Mommy

Walking - the final installment

Dear Parker,

About a week and a half ago, you stood up and declared that you were "all done" and were going to "walk." Although you have been doing small amounts of walking since then, I think I can finally say that you walk. Saturday night you did a good deal of walking around the house. Sunday afternoon and evening you walked the entire time. You walked all day today!

You are so quick! I turn around for just a few seconds and you are GONE! It both drives me nuts and amazes me. While I miss you being a little baby, I am so excited to watch you grow as a person and develop your own interests. You already have so much personality! You love to "cheese" for the camera (if you slow down long enough!) You are still such a snuggle bug. I love that you still will give me random hugs. I hope that you never stop doing that. I know there will come a day when I am uncool and that you will not love me as openly as you do now, but today I will relish in the fact that you love your Moms more than anything else and that when you are sad, I can make you happy again.

I love you baby girl. I am very much looking to this Christmas season with you.

Love,

Mommy

Decorating

Dear Parker

Well, your second Thanksgiving has come and gone. On Thanksgiving night, we set up our large artificial tree and it was love at first sight for you. You kept saying, "tree!" and then "cat!" As if to make sure we knew the difference between the tree and Kitty Maxx! Friday afternoon we went to cut down our real tree. You loved the hay ride out to the field. You weren't feeling super great, but you wanted us to carry you around and touch all of the trees!

We started decorating the trees on Saturday morning and you wanted to help! Even before we had gotten the decorations out, you crawled up to the box they were in and said "help." So, we got out your ornaments. You carefully inspected each one and then nicely laid them on the ground. When I asked if you wanted to help put them on the tree, you got so excited. You helped me hang each of your ornaments.

Later, we put the small tree up in your room as a surprise. When we were done, I called you in. You sat in the doorway for a second, then your eyes got really big and you said, "TREE!" and crawled over to it to inspect it.

When Grandma and Grandpa Sharp came over you helped Grandma put more balls on the tree. At first you just set the ball on the branches! :) Then you got the hang of it. Sometimes you would stop for awhile but then you would go back, choose an ornament, say "hook" (someone would get you a hook) and then you would help to hang it on the tree.

Ever since then, whenever you enter a room with a tree, you have to tell us that it's a tree. Tonight you were inspecting the ornaments on the live tree and naming each one, "Santa, boot, sock, bear." You also like the lights on the mantel. I turned off all the house lights, just leaving the Christmas lights on and you said, "lights" and pointed at the mantel.

I love that you love decorating for the Christmas season as much as I do. I love it more than I didn't even teach you to love it - it was just intuitive for you.

You are so amazing and I love you very much.

Here are just a few photos from you decorating the tree with Grandma.

Love,

Mommy

Here you are making your "cheesy smile" face.

Inspecting the ornament to make sure it's ready
Choosing a green ornament
Watching Grandma show you how it's done.

Thankful

Dear Parker,

On this day before Thanksgiving, although I am overwhelmed with the many tasks and events of today, I am eternally grateful. I am grateful for you - for your smiles, your giggles, your "all done," the joy you bring to so many people, your intelligence, your beauty, your health, our ability to give you the things you want and need, your flexibility, your stubborn personality, your head snuggles, your "Pahr-kehr," and your "pease!"

There are a million more ways in which you bring me joy. I'm so thankful that we were blessed with you.

Happy 2nd Thanksgiving Baby Girl.

I love you.

Mommy

Walkng Part 2

Dear Parker,

You have been toying with walking for about a week now. Last night, you stood up and said "All Done. Walk." And then you did - for the rest of the night. I should say that it was almost bedtime so that was only about 10 minutes. I'm not convinced that you are committed; we will see what tomorrow brings. I'm excited, but at the same time, it's the last little bit of baby you have left in you and I'm going to miss that.

You are so big! I love you, "baby" girl!

Love,

Mommy

THAT mom

Dear Parker,

I really think I have become THAT mom. You know, the one who just brags on her kid constantly? How can I not though? You are beautiful. You are funny. And, you are so smart! You just amaze me sometimes!

Last night, you came up to me, gave me snuggles and said "Happy." Happy is such an abstract concept! How did you figure it out? Later, you came up, gave me snuggles and said "Awwww!"

You also were able to choose the 2 cards that matched of of 3 and even 4 card groups. You are either a baby genius or I am just amazed by the way you are growing.

Either way - you're pretty amazing baby!

I love you,

Mommy

New Hair-Do

Dear Parker,

Your hair has been getting so long. Your bangs get in your eyes and it just looks very unkept! I don't want to cut your bangs because I would like your hair to grow out. This weekend, I tried to put your hair in pig-tails. It turned out pretty cute. Saturday, it was a little too much on the top of your head, and you looked like a 'Who.' You were still pretty stinkin' cute though.

You are such a cute little girl. I'm so proud! Cute and smart!

I love you,

Mommy

sleeping

Dear Parker,

Ever since you were little, I have rocked you to sleep. I really like that time with you. I know that "everyone" says that I shouldn't do it. They say you will never go to sleep on your own, but I think it's so comforting for both of us for me to hold you as you fall asleep.

Lately, however, you haven't been staying asleep when I lay you down. You will sit up and begin crying. After about 45 minutes of trying to lay you down, I just can't take it anymore. It's no longer comforting to either of us and I know that you will sleep better and more comfortably in your bed. So, for the last two nights I have kissed you and laid you down. You have begun to scream. I still left. It rips my heart out.

Last night, you cried for about 3 minutes. Tonight it was about 1.5. I know that's not a long time, but I agonize over you falling asleep thinking that I don't love you. In my head, I know that isn't what is happening, but my heart hurts listening to you cry.

So, please know Parker Alyse, that Mommy loves you more than you will ever understand. Sometimes, mommies have to make hard decisions. I'm sorry. I hope this phase passes quickly.

I love you,

Mommy

Adoption Anniversary

Dear Parker,

Today is a very special day. It is the 1 year anniversary of when your Mom got to adopt you. She has always been your Mom - even before you were born, but it was special because we finally had papers saying that no one could take you away from her. I remember that we were so nervous.....and you screamed through a good part of the hearing because you were hungry. I also remember that a woman in the waiting room told your Mom that you looked just like her - which is so funny because you can't! :) I love it when people do that! This is always going to be a very special day for your Mom and me. I hope that someday it will be for you too.

I love you.

Mommy

Dear Parker,

Since I have been terrible about writing in you baby book, I thought I would start to post some videos and pictures here. That way we both can have sort of a virtual baby book.

This video is from last night. You are constantly telling us that you can't walk. Well, now I have proof that you can! I like how you start to chase the cat instead of walking to me and then proceed to just stand there and yell at him! You are so funny!

I love you, little girl!

Mommy

Walking?

Dear Parker,

I never know when we can officially count things like this. You started walking around on our fingers when you were 9 months old. You took your first steps alone at your first birthday party. Since then, you have occasionally walked between me and your Mom, but have been really uninterested. You generally would cry or say, "no,no, no!"

Tonight, you willingly walked around the room if we asked you to. You always headed straight for a piece of furniture or a wall even though you were completely stable. I'm hoping that in the next couple of days you decide that walking is a much better form of transportation than crawling!

You are growing up so fast! I love you.

Mommy

Good baby Part 2

Dear Parker,

Last night some of Mommy's former students were participating in a marching band competition in Lucas Oil Stadium and asked her to go. So, off we went. You haven't been feeling well lately, so I was pretty worried about taking you. But, once again, you were amazing!

When we finally got seated, you saw the band and your eyes got HUGE! You kept saying "band" and pointing! At one point you even started conducting and dancing! It was adorable and wonderful.

You had a very hard time sleeping last night. You were so snotty and just couldn't stop coughing. So, I took you to the doctor this morning. It appears that the ear infection you had a couple of weeks ago never went away. So, you are now on stronger medicine and I really hope it helps you feel better. You just aren't yourself when you don't feel well.

I love you and I'm so proud of you for being able to "go with the flow." Our lives are never going to be slow, so I'm glad you are up for it.

I love you.

Mommy

Good baby

Dear Parker,

I'm so proud of you. The last couple of days you haven't been feeling well. You are either getting in teeth or you are getting sick (again!) Last night, your moms had to go to pep band. We knew it was going to be a long night for all of us. You hung out with your friend Nancy. Even though you were so tired, you were so good. You watched the whole game and didn't get upset. Nancy said that if you ever started to get fussy, she would just ask you to find the ball. You would snap your head around to find it and say, "ball." You are such an amazing little person. I'm so proud to be your Mommy.

I love you, Bits!

Mommy

Morning Routine

Dear Parker,

I am having a hard time this morning. Usually, I get you up or you wake up in time for me to get you dressed and feed you breakfast before I leave for work. This morning, you do not want to wake up. I opened your door. I even went in and tried to wake you. You are OUT. So, I'm letting you sleep. It makes me really sad though because now I am thinking of all the cuteness in the morning that I am going to miss.

I love going in to get you up. Usually, you are standing in your crib and will say, "Hi!" as soon as I walk in. I'll pick you up and you'll give me snuggles. We'll get you dressed and then come out to the kitchen to eat. You are so adorable when you are in you high chair and I start warming up your waffle. You get so excited. You start kicking and saying "wah, wah, wah." (I guess I forgot to add waffle to the list of things that you say or partially say!) You are generally so happy in the morning. I'm going to miss that this morning.

I'm sorry that Mommy has to go to work some days. I know you love your Aunt Lauren and that she takes good care of you, but I wish I could be here with you everyday and not just Thursday and Friday.

You are an amazing little person and I don't want to miss any of it.

Have a good day, baby. Mommy has to go to work now.

I love you.

Mommy

Smart Baby

Dear Parker,

I have been trying to think lately of all the words that you say. There are so many! I'm so proud of you for being such a verbal little girl and learning things so quickly. I'm going to try to make a list. Here goes:

Ball

Book

Cup

Milk

Moo

Cow

Duck

Quack

Neigh

Dog

Woof

Cat

Kitty

Meow

Maxx

Down

Done

Bad

More

Hot

Cook

Mom

Mommy(mama)

Moo(vie)

Parker

Pumpkin

Cookie

Cake

Fish (sh)

Off

Baby

Uh-Oh

No!

Park

Key

Car

Go

Coat

Hat

Play

Pea

Bath

Cold

I think that's everything. Wow! That's 43 words. At 13 months! You are a force to be reckoned with, baby.

I love you. Keep learning always!

Love,

Mommy

Trip to the Museum

Dear Parker,

This morning we went to the Children's Museum. You had so much fun. You loved playing with the water table. One of your favorite things to do right now is to take everything out of something and then put it all back in. You took all the magnet letters off the board. You tried to take all the water toys out of the water, but your Mom and I said, "No." You compromised by handing them to us and having us put them back in the water. You unplanted all the flowers and took all the gardening gloves out of the box.

You wanted very badly to walk with the lawnmower, but it wasn't balanced so that you could lean on it and walk. You were doing fine, but then you got scared and sat down. You also liked "having tea" with the bears in the mirror maze. You kept getting upset when the lid to the teapot would fall in the pot itself! Oh - and you waved at me every time the carousel came around! I loved it!

Now, you are napping and your Mom and I are thinking about what we are going to get you for Christmas. Later this evening, we will all be going to Bryn Pfanschmidt's 4th birthday party. I remember when Bryn was just a little girl like you. Time goes by so fast. Hopefully, these letters will help both of us remember the times that go by far to quickly.

Love you Baby,

Mommy

Stolen

Dear Parker,

A friend of mine started a blog writing letters to her baby. I thought it was a fabulous idea and have stolen it. I hope she doesn't mind. I'm just terrible at writing in your baby book and I want you to know how much I love you and to be able to look back and read about all the funny things you did when you were little.

I can't believe how big of a girl you are. You have started saying your name - although I think you may be confusing it with "pumpkin!" Either way, you are so smart. You talk all the time and steal hearts everywhere by saying, "hi!" to everyone you meet.

I love you very much, baby girl!

Love,

Mommy