3rd Birthday

Dear Parker,

Yesterday was your birthday!  I think you had a great day.  We got up and around and headed downstairs.  We had laid your presents the night before so they were just sitting on the fireplace when you came down.  The day before we had gone to Target to spend your giftcard and you really, really wanted this awful Dora wheelie backpack.  We said no and you chose something else.  But that night at dinner while Mom was away, you said, “Can we go to the store and get that backpack?  We don’t have to tell Mom!”  So, I asked your Mom to stop and pick it up on the way home.  You loved it and were SO excited to have gotten it.  We also got you some books, cds and workbooks that we got at the Borders going-out-of business sale.

You had said that you wanted to go out to breakfast, so we went to The Uptown Café in Noblesville.  We got to sit at the counter and you thought that was so cool because you could see the chef cooking all the food.  Then, we went to the pet store and got all the equipment for your fish tank.  You were VERY excited, but a little bummed that we couldn’t get the fish right away.  You chose hot pink gravel, a pink tree and a pink treasure chest to go in it.  It is VERY pink.

Then, we came home and you played for a bit, ate some lunch and took a nap.  After nap, we had cake and ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese.  You had so much fun riding the rides and playing the games.  They had one of those elevated playground things where you climb through the tunnels and go down the slide.  You really like them, but you are not aggressive in any way with other kids and you get incredibly intimidated when you are in the tunnel and a big kid comes charging through.  I felt so bad because you just kept trying and then getting freaked out.  You wanted so badly to play, but they just weren’t letting you do it your way.  So, we rode on lots of rides and played lots of little games.  You had a really great time.

You with your birthday cake

 On the way home, we went back to the pet store to choose your fish.  You chose two pink and once green.  You told us their names were Kiki, Gigi and Mariah.  Wow.  That made your Moms laugh.

We got the fish home and settled in the tank.  They were a little shy at first but were zipping all over by the end of the night.  I’m still really nervous that they aren’t going to make it, but I supposed we will cross that bridge when we come to it.  I’m going to test the water tonight to make sure it’s still ok.

You with Kiki, Gigi, Mariah and their new home.  It's PINK!

Kiki (the green-ish one), Gigi (the one swimming to the right) and Mariah (the blurry one underneath Gigi)

You were very sweet.  You were eating cake (round 2) with Grandma, who had stopped by on her way to Uncle Stu’s, and you just started saying thank you to us for all the things we had done and gotten for you.  It was amazing.

I’m so hopeful that this next year is your best yet.  I’m hoping for more time with you and overall better health.  I love you so much.  You have changed our lives in such amazing ways and I am so grateful that I will always be your Mommy.  

I love you.  Happy 3rd Birthday.

Love,

Mommy

You take the good, you take the bad...

Dear Parker,

The last couple of days have really been a struggle.  Yesterday, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, so to speak.  You started screaming and throwing fits from the moment you woke up and continued until the time you went to bed - which was, as usual, a struggle.  It was incredibly frustrating.  I'm not a patient person and I know I don't deal well with you when you get like this, so that's something I need to work on.  I hope you help me out and get better.  Today WAS better - until bedtime.  You just don't listen in the bath and then basically refuse to go to bed.  It's just a really trying experience.  I hope this all passes soon.

On the bright side, you have been doing well at school.  Today, you were the only one of the kids in your class to correctly identify your letter of the week (E).  And you brought home a paper where you were supposed to circle all the "E's."  You circled them all, but also caught a "J!" Tonight, when you weren't going to sleep you kept telling me all the things you were going to tell Miss Chelsea when you go back to school on Monday. Then, when you had to go potty (after you were in bed of course),  we had a great time talking about the letters on my shirt.  You identified them all.  You're getting really good at letters!  You kept asking me what letter your friends' and teachers' names started with.  You got confused when I said that both Cassy and Chelsea started with "C."

The rest of your birthday present from Aunt Stacy came - a cash register.  You love it SO much.  You make us push the shopping cart around and then bring you the items to "check out."  We never give you money, but we always get change!  I wish real shopping was like that!  You also like to run the credit card.  At the end we have to put our items in our bags.  It's pretty funny.

So, I guess this is the best of times and the worst of times.

But, even in the worst of times, I love you more than you will ever understand (well, at least until you have a kid yourself.)  You are the most amazing little girl and I'm so proud of how you are learning right now.  Hopefully soon, I can be extra proud of your behavior as well!

I love you,
Mommy

3rd Birthday Party and a sundry things

Dear Parker,

This past weekend we had your 3rd birthday party.  You birthday is not until this coming weekend, but it's always easier for everyone to travel over the long weekend.  Originally, we were going to have the party at Forest Park in Noblesville, but it rained.  So, we improvised and held the party at Mom's school. It ended up being fantastic.  We set up stations in the gym for you, Alex and Grace to play at - bowling, blocks, hula hoops, obstacle course with tunnel, tumbling mats and basketball.  You all had an amazing time.  You ran around, put on dance parties and made almost everyone do somersaults.  In fact, you were having so much fun that in the middle of opening your presents, you asked to stop and go play in the gym.  But we pushed through and you had a great time.  You loved the blanket that you Grandma Sharp made you and you were SO excited about the pajamas that your cousin Alex chose for you.  You got a fishing game from Uncle Stu and Aunt Lauren that you have played a million times and also really enjoy tracing letters and numbers in your books from Grandma and Grandpa Booga.

Enjoying your purple cupcake

Being so excited about the purple pjs that Alex chose for you

Telling everyone that they should come do a somersault

On another note, when we picked you up from school today we saw that you had traced "E's" that were hanging on the wall.  We went and checked them out and yours was TOTALLY the best.  It was 100% on the lines and not squiggly.  Many others were just colored or had added lines.  It's a silly little thing, but I was really proud.

Now, if only you would go to sleep.  You had such a big weekend that I think you are overtired.  Hopefully, you can get back on schedule this week.

I love you so much, kiddo.  Three more days until your birthday weekend.
Love,
Mommy