Singing

Dear Parker,

You have been going to Kindermusik since September. You were pretty little when you started, but lately you have really been enjoying class and the activities that we do in there. You love to sing and dance. You make up your own verses to "Wheels on the Bus" and request to dance to "Walk. Stop." You were the only kid in music class to actually sing some of the songs. I love it.

You aren't always so excited to participate in class because there are lots of kids who are about a year older than you (mostly rambunctious boys) and you like to watch them, but the last two classes you sang the songs you liked and did the activities.

At home, you request to sing songs. Your favorites are "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah," "Wheels on the Bus," and "Bits Eats Toast" (which is a made up rap that your Mom sings with you.)

You are growing up so fast, baby. I love you so much and am looking forward to a great summer with you.

Love always,

Mommy

Sprinkler and Long sentences!

Dear Parker,

I feel like you are growing up so fast. Too fast for my liking. Yesterday, our friends Micah, Carter and their daughter Campbell were over. You were playing in your room with Carter and Campbell. When you all came back down, Carter said that you said, "Baby Campbell sit next to giraffe." That's a SIX word sentence, baby! Don't you know that you shouldn't be able to do that yet? I won't tell if you won't! You don't often speak in 6 word sentences, but you are using sentences more often and they generally have 4 or 5 words. I'm so proud of you.

We were walking down the road a little last night and one of the neighboring houses had the sprinkler on. It was hitting the sidewalk and we had to walk through. When you first got a little wet you paused and looked surprised. You kept walking. We got to the end of the sidewalk and had to turn around. When we got to the water again you went through a little slower. Then you just stopped and started saying "again!" Then you started trying to walk into the neighbor's grass. (No one lives in the house yet, the builders were just watering the sod.) So, I let you get closer. You thought it was hilarious. I was bummed because I didn't have my camera outside.

I convinced you to come back to our yard if I set up our sprinkler. Mom had just mowed the grass (and it had been LONG!) so there were grass clippings all over the yard. You didn't care. We both took off our shoes and got wet (and covered in grass!) I tried really hard to get good pictures of you, but you kept running away from me. Hopefully, this post will help me remember. :)

You are an amazing little girl and I love you so much. Only a couple more days until it's SUMMER!

I love you Parker Alyse,

Mommy

New room Part 2

Dear Parker,

We were able to finish your room this past weekend. I think it turned out pretty well. I wish, however, that you would sleep like you did in your old room. I'm not sure what the issue is; it is probably a combination of issues. You refuse to sleep in your bed. You want to sleep on the floor. You don't want me to rock you, which is fine, but you also want to lay around and not go to sleep for hours at a time. In the old house, I would say goodnight and leave. You will have none of that in your new room. You insist on me lying with you until you fall asleep. I feel guilty because I haven't been able to spend much time with you lately and I know that when I go back to work full time next year, it's only going to get worse. I feel like you deserve every second of time that you want. But, it's really hard for me to devote 2 hours a night to lying on your floor. That doesn't allow me any time with your Mom or any time to get other things done. It leaves me feeling very empty and because I get so frustrated, I become someone I don't like. I really need to work on my patience.

I will be out of school soon. I hope that we can work on all of this during the summer so that we are in a good routine by the time you go to school in a couple months.

I hope we are making the right choices for you, baby. We are doing the very best that we can. We love you so much.

Here are some pictures of your new room.



Love you,

Mommy

New room

Dear Parker,

We have been living in our new house for about a week now. We aren't really settled in, but we are trying to get your room done first. It's hard because we know you won't be using your baby furniture much longer and we would like to switch your room over to being more of a toddler room, but the baby stuff is still in there for now!

Anyway, we went to Target last night and got you a new curtain, lamp, toy bins and stickers for your wall. Your mom is inside right now putting up the curtain and shade. (We are sitting in the car in the driveway because you fell asleep!) I'm hoping that it turns out well and that we will be able to move the changing table and crib out in the next few months. (Perhaps even buy you new bedroom furniture all together.)

After our Target adventure last night, we went to get ice cream. We asked you what you wanted (because we always do) and this time you actually gave us an answer! You said you wanted, "pink cream." I wasn't sure if you had ever eaten strawberry ice cream, but it was what you requested, so you got it. You seemed to like it just fine!

So, I guess that's really it for the last couple of day. Nothing too exciting for you, but I think that's a nice change of pace!

Love you baby girl!

Mommy

The Big Move

Dear Parker,

Well, it's almost over. We moved last weekend. You did pretty well. We didn't pack your toys until the last minute. (Okay, there were lots of things that we didn't pack until the last minute!) I tried to get you to help pack your books Thursday morning, but you just kept crying "NO!" whenever I would put one in. Finally, I was able to pacify you with a movie while I did it. You were okay then.

Friday was moving day and you weren't feeling well. You appeared a little confused, but were hanging in there. Part way through the day you exclaimed, "Boomer's Big Day!" This is the title of one of the books we borrowed from the library several weeks ago to prep you for moving. It was like a lightbulb went off and you realized what was happening. You did a very good job. You were quite tired because you didn't really get to nap, but you were awesome.

Sleeping in the new house, has been another issue however. So far, you have gone to sleep in your own bed 2 of the 3 nights. However, whenever you wake up in the middle of the night, you do not go back to sleep and then you refuse to sleep in your own bed. I don't know if it's the new house or your cold or all the time away from your mommies or just a combination of those things, but you are struggling with sleeping. I hope that once we get a little more settled, things will return to normal.

I can't wait for summer, baby. You are so fun to be with. :)

I love you,

Mommy

NEW HOUSE and three words

Dear Parker,

Well, baby girl, the musical is over! I am both happy and sad. I'm so happy that I get to spend more time with you, but also sad because I will miss working with those kids. We move this week. This afternoon we closed on our house. So, technically, right now, we own no houses! We have been trying to prep you for the move. We will ask you what we are doing this week and you will yell, "NEW HOUSE!" You know that your new house has stairs and a basement and a big room for you and your toys. You don't understand that we have to say goodbye to this house. Every time we mention it you say, "NO!" We are sad to say goodbye too. We have so many memories here. It is a good house and we like it a lot. We just need more space! :)

In other news, you are routinely speaking in three word sentences. You will say, "Mommy, are you?" (Mommy, where are you?) or things like "Mom sleep too!" "Maxx! Get Down!" You are funny and such a little person with attitude. You have also been really into throwing and catching lately. You will catch about half of the balls we throw to you, so I think that's pretty good!

Some funny Parker stories from the past week or so: You, me and your Mom were driving in the car the other day and you asked us to sing the "ABC's" so we all started. Then you would say, "Mom sing!" Then you would say, "Mommy, sing!" Then, "Both sing" You were creating your own little arrangement of the alphabet song in the car. It made me laugh.

When we were coming home from the musical the other night, you wanted to sing. I asked you what you wanted to sing and you said, "Downtown." (Skid Row) from the musical. Oi! I guess you pick up much more than I think you do! :)

You went with your friend Nancy to a party the other day and she said on the way home, you were hiding your milk by wrapping it in your cloth and saying "Milk is?" Then you would pretend to be sad by pouting out your lip. Nancy thought it was great and claimed that you were 'acting!' Then you would pull the cloth off and say "HA! Milk here!" I love that when you find something now, you say, "HA!"

You have been dealing with all of this craziness so well and I'm so proud of you for being so flexible. You are an amazing little girl who is so loved. Especially by me.

Love you little girl,

Mommy