Blessed

Dear Parker,

I couldn't sleep, so I thought I would take a minute to write you a quick letter. Your mom and I have been feeling so blessed lately to have you in our lives. When I was pregnant (and even before), we would talk about what we thought our child would be like. And, you are it! You aren't perfect (no one is), but you are definitely the perfect child for us. We are constantly amazed by you; your cute faces, the funny things you do. It's just awesome to watch you grow.

The other day we were driving around and I sang the "ABC's" for you. You loved it and asked me to sing it over and over. We ran inside a store an on the way out, I heard you singing the alphabet! Then, yesterday, you asked to get your Brightlings toy out. You haven't played with it in a really long time. In addition to the alphabet, it sings many things including several tunes on different syllables (ba, ma etc). You have started singing with it - both the alphabet and the silly syllables.

Today, you met baby Liam. You were fascinated. He was in his swing and you just kept getting your little face as close to his as you possibly could and making your cheesy smile at him. It was very cute. You also did a good job of playing with your friend Shay. I was proud of you because you don't normally play, you normally just watch - and although you weren't really playing with her, you were definitely playing along side her which is a start.

Your friends, Bryn and Shay have a playset in their backyard and you loved swinging on it. I think your Mom and I will be getting one for the new house sooner rather than later. You just had so much fun - and you did a great job of getting off when it was time. It was so late and you were so tired that I thought you might have a little meltdown, but you didn't. You were great.

You ARE great. We love you so much and are so lucky to have such an amazing little girl for our daughter.

Love,

Mommy

Counting

Dear Parker,

For the last couple of weeks, there have been "rumors" going around that you could count. Your Uncle Stu claimed that you counted to 10 when climbing the stairs. I didn't really believe him. I had heard you say things that sounded like counting, but wasn't quite sure. Tonight, when we were putting your pajamas on, you very clearly counted the frogs on your changing table - up to 8. I don't know if that's normal or what, but I am very proud of you!

Way to go, baby girl!

I love you,

Mommy

Laughing

Dear Parker,

Our bedtime routine ends with me rocking you for 15 minutes before I lay you down. Usually, I pass the time by goofing around on the internet. So, last night as we were rocking, I saw that your mom had posted pictures of our new house. She labeled each picture, but she accidentally labeled the pantry as the "panty." I thought it was really funny and began chuckling to myself. I was trying to stay quiet as this time is supposed to be quiet, but I was not doing a good job. Pretty soon, you looked up and said, "tunny!" (Funny). Then you leaned yourself up on your arms on my chest, looked right at me and started laughing yourself. Pretty soon we were both laughing because the other one was laughing! Then you told me that Abby and Toggy (Froggy) and Baby and Graffe (Giraffe) were laughing too because it was "tunny."

Finally, we both calmed down and you laid down, but then every couple of minutes you were chuckling to yourself. You are such a special little girl. I love sharing these moments with you.

Happy Spring Break.

Love,

Mommy

School

Dear Parker,

This morning we went up by our new house to look at a school for you. I think you really liked it. You played with the kids and went with the teachers without Mom or Mommy having to go with you. I don't like the idea of not being with you during the day, but I think you will have fun and will like playing with other kids.

I do worry a little that you are so smart. I hate being THAT parent, because I know every parent thinks their kid is smart and maybe you aren't really as ahead as I think/fear you might be. However, we were talking to the teacher of the 2's class (which is where you will be in the fall) and she was describing some of the activities that she does for language development and you can already do most of that stuff, baby girl. And, you won't be in that class for another 6 months. My thoughts were confirmed when we left you in the room for a little while and when we came back the teacher said that you were already on par or ahead of the kids she has (and you're still 6 months younger!) I just want you to always be challenged. It's not that I think you are better than the other kids (well, maybe a little bit because of parental bias, but not more than other parents I don't think), it's that I want to make sure you aren't bored.

But, you seemed happy there and that's what is most important to me. So, we're going to try it. I'm nervous, but excited at the same time. I want you to love school. I love you.

Now, wake up from your nap! You're going to never go to sleep tonight!!!!!

Love,

Mommy

Lazy Day

Dear Parker,

Today is a rare day for us. Mommy has nothing scheduled! We woke up this morning and cuddled on the couch while watching "Abbies" (aka Sesame Street). Then we went to the Children's Museum and out to lunch. Now you're puttering around playing. It's kind of weird for me to not have something that I absolutely have to be doing. I've kind of forgotten what it's like.

I didn't take the camera to the museum this morning because it's hard to interact with you and get pictures in places like that. It was very busy - probably a combination of Spring Breaks and school field trips. We saw the dinosaurs. It's hard for you to play sometimes in places where there are lots of kids because 1) you get caught up watching them play and 2) they are usually bigger kids who are much quicker and less polite than you are so you rarely actually get a toy. I think you like watching though. We went upstairs to the playscape and you played in the sand and in the pretend house, but we didn't stay there very long because you wanted to ride the "horsies." So we went upstairs to ride the carousel. You love that thing so much and it makes Mommy a little nauseous. :) You have started to say "yee-haw" and "whoa!" without being prompted. After the carousel, we wandered around the playhouses and things in that area, but you were pretty tired, so we didn't stay long. I thought about coming home and having lunch, but wasn't really feeling it, so we went out to eat. It's nice to just spend time with you.

I thought you would take a nap when we got home, but no such luck. So, I let you play. A few minutes ago, you wanted to watch "Parkers" (aka pictures of yourself) on my computer. So we snuggled down on the couch. I looked down and you and you were sound asleep. I'm sure this is going to mess up your bedtime, but it's kind of nice to be reminded of when you were younger and would sleep on me all the time. I miss those days a little; you are growing up TOO fast!

One last random thing that I've been meaning to write about for weeks...

"Parker do it!" That has been your favorite phrase for the last several weeks. You want to do everything yourself - even things you don't know how to do yet, like tie your shoes. So, we let you try and then wait for you to ask for help! :)

You are such a big girl. It's so much fun to play with you. I'm very much looking forward to summer.

Love,

Mommy

New Pics

Dear Parker,

This past week has been really busy and I will write about it, but I don't have much time now. I just wanted to post a couple of pictures of you in the past couple of weeks. So, here are the "Parkers."

I love you.

Mommy

Busy-ness

Dear Parker,

I know that I have written you many apology letters lately, but I want to tell you how much I love you. I know that it is hard for you right now. (It's hard for me too!) I know you don't understand why Mommy isn't home at night and can't put you to bed. I'm hoping that you will begin to adjust and that you will learn to love this special time that you have with your Mom. It will all be over (sort of) soon, baby. We have to get through 2 weeks and then we will have Spring Break and you will have your Moms all day for a whole week! Then, we will have 4 weeks of things being kind of crazy, but you are always a good girl and I know you will do fine.

We sold the house (well, contingent on a pre-approval for the buyers), but it's pretty much done. I'm kind of sad right now about leaving this house. I have so many memories of you here. I remember the day we brought you home and just sat you in the middle of the living room floor because we didn't really know what to do with you. You just slept in your car seat while your Moms ate Jimmy John's. :) I have so many more to share and I'm sure I will as moving day draws nearer. For now, though, I should go to bed.

I love you very much, Parker and am very much looking forward to Wednesday afternoon when I will at least get to spend time with you in the car as we look at houses.

I continue to be amazed by you. I love you.

Mommy

18 months (a little late)

Dear Parker,

On Thursday, you turned 18 months old. Where has the time gone? I can't believe that just 2 years ago, you were not fully part of our lives. I can't really remember life without you. :) Anyway, you had your 18 month check-up. You still hate going to the doctor. You screamed through the entire weighing and measuring process. You weigh 26 lbs, 2oz and are 331/2 inches long. You were pretty good for Dr. Hughes though. She said that you spoke really well and are doing fine. You had to get one shot, which you didn't like, but I think you were more traumatized by having to lay on the table than by the actual shot. :)

Yesterday, you got to go to the "zeum" with your friend Nancy and your mom. I had to go to musical rehearsal We also got an offer on our house yesterday. It was okay, but we made a counter offer and are hoping to hear good news today. We will see. As much as I want to move, I will be a little sad if/when we sell this house. I have lots of good memories here.

In a few hours, we will be going to the big library downtown to get your 18 month pictures taken. I'm excited but very nervous. You are hard to photograph these days! I'm sure Micah will do a great job, but I always want you to be well behaved!

When I'm playing with you, I always think, "I should write that on Parker's blog," but then I forget what it was when it comes time to write!

Cute story of the day: This morning you were watching Abby on tv and your mom was making breakfast. She sneezed and you said, "Bless You, Mom!" How funny! I didn't know that you knew when people sneezed you were supposed to say, "Bless You!" You continue to amaze me.

I need to go do homework, before we have to get you up to take a bath for your pictures!

I love you, big girl.

Mommy

More time outside

Dear Parker,

Today, we had about an hour to spend together before I had to go to rehearsal. It was such a nice day that I thought our time would best be spent outside. So, out we went! This time, we played in the front. We walked up and down the street. You pointed out the cars, a truck that drove by and our neighbors' stone goose (which you wanted to pat find eyes on!) We came home and played on the porch. You liked playing with the leaves that had fallen off the bushes this past fall. You would take them out of the flower bed and put them on the porch. Then, you would put them all back. You kept saying, "leaf. back." It was pretty cute.

You have been wanting to do lots of things yourself lately. You will say, "Parker walk" or "Parker down" or "Parker tork (fork)." It's pretty cute. I can't believe how many things you say. You sat at the computer tonight and said, "Computer. Parker type." Where did you learn type? I guess it doesn't matter.

Tomorrow you go to the doctor for you 18 month check-up. I hope you don't need any vaccines. I hate that.

I love you baby girl.

Mommy

Bad Mommy Day

Dear Parker,

On days like today, I feel like a terrible mommy. I had to wake you in the morning, tear you from your books so you could get dressed and then pass you off to your Aunt Lauren without so much as breakfast. I have a hard time with this because I know that you are only going to be little and want Mommy to play for a short period of time and I feel like I am wasting this time by not spending ever second with you. I know that it's ridiculous for me to think I should be spending every waking moment with you, but on days like today - when I will only get to see you for an hour this afternoon - it's really all I want to do.

I'm hoping that you understand and that I can make the most of the time I do get with you. But, I'm still sorry that you are getting a raw deal. I love you more than anything, little girl. I just don't know how to do things differently.

I hope you had fun at the park this morning with Aunt Lauren and Uncle Stu and that you are taking a good nap right now. I will see you in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

I love you.

Mommy

Pics from Today

Dear Parker,

Here are the pictures from today that I talked about in the last post. You are such a big girl. I love you very much!

Love,

Mommy

Outside

Dear Parker,

I had almost forgotten how much you love being outside. It has been getting nicer the last couple of days and when I take you to the car to leave, you get upset that we can't stay outside. Yesterday, we went to the zoo and the gardens. You liked that. Today wasn't quite as nice, but we had a couple hours to kill before I had to start cleaning the house for (yet another) showing.

So, we went outside for awhile. You spent an hour and half in the backyard just walking in the grass, swinging (on our pretty jank bench swing), playing with your toys from the bin and on your slide. I'm not sure you are quite sold on sliding yet, but you liked to climb up and down with help. You are a cautious little girl and, although you are completely capable of doing it yourself, you wanted my help getting up and down. Even when you were walking in the grass, you wanted to hold my hand. So, we walked around and played with the toys and swung. It was fun.

It made me dream of spring and summer and a new house and getting you a playset. Now, you are pretty tired, but I can't let you take a nap because we have a showing really soon and I have to clean and you can't be napping for the showing.

I tried to take some pictures of you outside, but the camera died. I will look at the pictures tonight to see if any of them turned out. If so, I will try to post them. I love you very much.

Love,

Mommy

Getting Out

Dear Parker,

I'm sorry it's been awhile since I have written. We've been very busy and you've been a very good girl when we drag you along to all of our things. So, today we took the morning and had some family time. It was relatively nice outside, so we went to the zoo!

Here you are making a funny face at me before we leave.
I didn't get many good pictures at the zoo, but afterward we went to the White River Gardens. Here you are "reading" about the flowers.
Lately, you have been a little obsessed with the color pink. It's not that you have to have everything pink - I think it's just a color you recognize. Here you are getting a closer look at a pink flower.
We all had a good time and it was nice to get out of the house and spend some time in the sun. I'm looking forward to spring and summer with you!

Love you,

Mommy