Reading-n-stuff

Dear Parker,

For the last several months (maybe close to a year) you have liked playing word games - rhyming games particularly.  Then, started becoming interested in spelling.  You frequently spell something out and ask what it spells or ask how to spell certain words.  Then, you started playing this "game" with us where we will write down an ending like "at" on a piece of paper and then add beginning sounds to make words.  Surprisingly to us, you could sound out words like, "bat, cat" etc.  I was excited!  Then, last night at dinner, we were playing a game on your pre-made placemat and Mom asked if you knew one of the words that was on it.  To our surprise, you correctly responded, "cat."  Then you did the same for "dog."  You have some sight words!  I was very excited.  Sometimes, I get pretty sad about you growing up, but other times I'm so excited about all the things you are learning that I can barely stand it!

And - a random story about your perception of where babies come from.  We were driving home from school one day and you mentioned that you had lots of kids.  Then you said that you and Allie's dad adopted them because they didn't have any parents to take care of them.  You continued with "So, we just did lots of doctor stuff and paid lots of money and adopted them.  Now we have no money.  But, Allie's dad is at the store getting money."  HA!  You crack me up.  What a mixed idea of how people become a family.

I love you very much.  I have fall break coming up soon and I am excited to spend a little more time with you and at your school.

I love you, Bits!
Mommy

The best I can do

Dear Parker,

Since I've sort of failed at your baby book, I'm going to post these stats here so that I can look them up in the future, should the need arise.  I've actually already used this method and it's pretty effective.  So, you are now four and your stats are as follows:

Height 42.5" (95th percentile)

Weight 40lbs - with clothes on (90th percentile)

BMI - don't know the number  but 50th percentile.

You've grown more than last time - I think you were in the 80-something percentiles last time, but your BMI was in the 75th or something like that.  I suppose it doesn't really matter.

There you have it.  The doctor said you were good and developing as you should be.  :-)  I didn't take you, but Mom said you were a big girl and only got a little teary during your shots.  And - no more vaccinations until you are 11!  Woot!

Tomorrow is a normal day, but then Wednesday I get to come visit you for a little bit in the morning.  I'm excited (and oddly, a little nervous.)

I hope you are having fun at ballet with your Mom.

Love you,

Mommy

Seriously, You're 4?

Dear Parker,

Well.  You are officially older than I can handle.  Three and under was alright.  You were still a baby.  Nobody can say that a 4 year old is a baby.  I can't believe it has been 4 years since you came into our lives.  It feels like both forever and yesterday.  I think you had a pretty good birthday.  We had your party a couple of weekends before.  You chose a Super Why theme.  It was pretty fun.  Your Mom made an episode for you, Alex and Grace to be characters in.  Grandma Sharp made you super capes so you could transform.  I had a good time.  I think you did as well.

On your actual birthday, we opened one gift in the morning (the Annie Soundtrack) and then headed off to school.  You had a great day at school.  You got to wear a birthday crown and got a special Oreo cookie at lunch.  We went to dinner after school, came home opened presents and had cake.  You were a little cranky at dinner, but then perked up after you got some food in you.  It was a good day.

Today, we got your 4 year photos taken.  You had such a meltdown this morning.  You have these mosquito bites (which for you are horrible - they swell up to the size of your fist and appear to be painful) and you didn't sleep long enough.  I thought things were going to go horribly.  I'm not sure they were fabulous, but not horrible.  I hope we were able to get a couple cute ones from the bunch.  Anyway, you were going to wear a jean skirt, but your legs are disgusting right now (see above comment about mosquito bites) so we decided to wear jeans instead.  Holy Cow. You put on the jeans and suddenly you looked 13 years old.  It was crazy.  Stop growing up.  (Well, I'd be fine if you could grow out of the whining phase you are in, but beside that...)

Anyway, we have a pretty big week.  You have your 4 year well child visit Monday (lost of shots - sorry) as well as ballet.  Wednesday, I get to come to school with you for a bit in the morning and Friday is the Orchard Family Festival.  Then, Saturday, Mommy and Mom have to go to some swanky Orchard thing and you get to go hang with your current crush, Keegan, and your big kid friend Bailey.  I think you are going to be wiped out!

Here are some pics from your party and your birthday.  I love you, Parker.

Love,

Mommy

Very excited about your presents!

Transforming into a Super Reader

Check out this fan!

The Big "0-4"

Cupcake.  Nom. Nom. Nom.

Mommy and Parker at birthday dinner

You, Mom and your silly faces

Posing with some presents

Getting ready to sing and blow out the candles!

A Whole New Outlook

Dear Parker,

I am so incredibly happy.  We have found the perfect place for you.  You don't cry or get upset in the morning, you don't want to leave in the afternoon (even after being at school for nearly 9 hours), you have made friends (even if you can't remember all their names yet.)  At the end of the day you are happy - not exhausted and cranky.  You have an entirely different relationship with school than you did in June.  Maybe it's because you are 2 months older.  Maybe it's because The Orchard School is absolutely wonderful and it's the perfect fit for you.  I don't know entirely, but I know that on your 3rd day of school - after a weekend - you gladly hopped out the car on the curb to walk inside the building with a woman you had never met.  You weren't sad.  You didn't do it because I asked you.  (I was going to trek you in in the pouring rain even though I would have been late for school.)  You volunteered.  You gave me a quick hug and said, "Have a good day, Momma."  Then you were off.  Today, I walked in to pick you up.  You gave me a hug, but then said, "Can we stay? I want to sit on the circle rug."  Primrose gave you a great foundation for loving school, but this place is perfect.  I'm sure it won't always be smooth sailing, but right now, I could not be happier with the way things are going.  I'm SO proud of you for being such a big girl and adjusting so quickly and so well to your new school.

Here are some pics from the beginning of your year.

Proudly showing off your bag of pink rice for the sensory table

1st Day of School at Orchard!

You and Mrs. Foley on the first day

In a World of Pure Imagination

Dear Parker,

You have always had a good imagination, but lately it just seems out of control.  You spend all day pretending to be Allie's Mom (well, usually.  Sometimes, one of us has to be her Mom so that you can be someone else.)  You take her to the zoo, buy food there, go to see fireworks, change her diapers, take her to the doctor, to school - the possibilities are just endless.  Sometimes, you are the teacher or your own classroom.  I believe your children are: Cruter, Holly, Jolly, Polluter, Papooter, Allie and Leah.  Your children are never well behaved.  They fight and hit all day long.  (This concerns me a little.)  You stay in your persona all day long.

In the past couple of days, you have added in performing. You have been huge into making up your own songs lately, but since your recital, you are all about performing.  Tonight you put on a recital for us (complete with ballet shoes and one tap shoe since the other one was FAR too small).  You sang your own made up songs to go with your "dances."

Also, you have turned the Santa's Elves are watching thing against us.  Every time you do something good, you stop, get very serious and say, "I think I just saw an elf!  I bet he is going to go tell Santa I did _____."  Interestingly enough, the elves never show up when you aren't making the best choices.  Too smart, little girl.  Too smart.

Although, it can often get a little irritating when we are forced to participate in these elaborate worlds for hours on end, they are pretty hilarious.  You are pretty hilarious.  You are such a funny kid and I love spending this summer time with you.

3 more weeks. :-(

Love you so much,
Mommy

The Dance

Dear Parker,

When you moved to the Primrose School in February, you were very sad that they didn't offer a dance class at school.  So, I called up the dance studio that came to your old school and inquired about classes.  I was very hesitant, but we signed you up.  It has been a roller coaster ride.  The class meets at 7pm on a Monday night.  During the school year, this significantly cuts into your time at home as well as your bedtime.  So, you are often pretty tired by the time class comes around.  You always are very excited to go, but don't often present your best self in class.  You aren't (usually) poorly behaved, you just sometimes prefer to stand and stare at other kids, parents or yourself in the mirror rather than dance.  This, of course, made me very nervous about your performing in a big recital, but the time came and you were PUMPED!  You had a dress rehearsal and you could not wait to get going.

Silly Faces in the dressing room

Your first dance, a tap number, was to Sesame Street.  You did really well.  You watched Miss April and did your best.  I was really proud and relieved that you actually did kind of know what was going on! ;-)  You also had a second tap number to the Oscar Mayer commercial.

"Sweepin' the Clouds Away"

Your ballet number was to the song in Beauty and the Beast where Belle is walking through the village saying good morning to everyone.

Looking all demure

I was most nervous about this number because you have to hold hands with the other girls in your class and occasionally you have to hold the hand of the youngest girl who is not always as concerned about order as you are.  You really struggle with that.  But it all worked out just fine and you, again, did your very best.  I was really proud of you.

I NEED 6 eggs

During the actual performance, the girl who came out first stopped on the wrong "x" and this confused you, so you sort of wandered around looking for your spot, but then just settled at the end since someone else was standing on your "x."  It was pretty funny.  You still did a great job and after you had finished your tap numbers you came off stage and said, "Let's go change and do it again!"  You had such a fun time performing.

Waiting to leave stage at rehearsal

Shockingly, you love being on stage.  I think that this is just one of many performance that we will attend of yours - whether it's dance, music or theater.  I think you will be on the stage again.

Backstage at the performance before the "Electric Parade" finale

I love you so much, Parker and your Mom and I were incredibly proud of the way you behaved during a very long rehearsal and performance.  Many of the other girls were just running around and not listening.  You did a great job keeping quiet backstage, waiting your turn and watching the other performances.

You did a great job.  I love you so much.
Love,
Mommy

Dear Parker,

I've been very bad about writing during the last couple of months.  Things have been so busy.  That's never a good excuse, but that is the reason.  So, here is my attempt at a catch up.  

I feel like you have grown up so much in the last couple of months.  You have started doing a better job of going to sleep without us in the room.  We are still working on it, but you are getting so much better. You don't cry when we leave you with babysitters or other people.  You venture off to play by yourself - even in new situations.  

You act out "Pinkalicious" all the time.  You have the funniest facial expressions while you sing.  You are developing the ability to exaggerate.  You were telling me a story about a girl at school doing something you didn't want her to.  I asked if you asked her to stop.  You responded, "Like, 17 times, Mommy!"  

Speaking of school.  Yesterday was your last day at the Primrose School.  That has been such an amazing place for you.  You have come out of your shell and become more independent.  You love school again.  I'm so grateful for everything they have done for you.  You are really going to miss your teacher, Mrs. Fredericks.  She was awesome!

You and Mrs. Fredericks on your last day

I was very proud of you yesterday.  You were able to tell me that you were feeling happy that it was summer, sad that it was your last day at Primrose, excited about going to Orchard in the fall, but also nervous about a new school at the same time.  That's some self-awareness, baby!

And, tonight!  You started to learn to read.  I think you are mostly "reading" from memory right now, but it's a good place to start and you are excited and proud.  Me too, honey.  Me, too.

Happy Summer!
Love,
Mommy

Spring Break 2012 - Chicago: Day Two

Dear Parker,

Well, you certainly started this day off bright and early.  At 5:45, you called for me and immediately asked if we could go eat breakfast.  I tried dragging you into our bed, but it soon became clear that you were not going back to sleep.  So, we got up and around and down to breakfast early.  (You were very excited about breakfast.)  We came back to the room for a little bit and then headed to the aquarium.

We had to take the subway and you were SO excited. You were also a little nervous I think.  We got on the train and you wanted to know all about the different stops.  I told you what stop we were getting off at and every time they announced a stop you would tell me that this wasn't our stop and we needed to stay on the train.  Apparently, you were a pro already.

We got off at our stop and you rode in your stroller as we made the walk to the aquarium.  We stopped to look at the art installation of "feet" and you had tons of fun running and hiding.

The time at the aquarium was, at times, a bit harder.  We had to wait a decent amount of time to get in and you were clearly getting tired.  You perked up a bit when we got inside and you never had a meltdown or a tantrum and were very clearly having fun, but we often had to convince you to keep going.  You kept asking to go back to the hotel.  I'm glad we just powered through.  After seeing lots of river fish and the sharks and other fish downstairs, we saw the 4-D movie which you thought was amazing.  You kept reaching out to grab the things, it was pretty cute.  We were going to try to cram seeing some other animals in before the Aquatic Show, but decided you could use the rest.  During our down time waiting, you insisted on taking pictures of us and Allie and even took Allie down to the water to show her the whales.  It was hilarious and cute.  We had lunch and you perked up.  We went downstairs and you had fun playing in the water.  You had fun watching the penguins for a little bit before we had to move so the man could do his talk.  We went upstairs to see the jellyfish - which you LOVED and then decided that if was finally time to go.  We let you pick out a souvenir (this is vacation after all).  And you chose a pink, sparkly turtle that looks just like the baby turtle (well, minus the pink sparkliness) in "Finding Nemo."  Apparently, marketing is not lost on you.  You love it though - and named it Squirt, just like the turtle in the movie.

We intended to run to the Target (as I forgot to bring socks and neither your Mom nor I remembered toothpaste!) and head back to the hotel.  As we were walking, you passed out.  I have no idea how you slept in that tiny little stroller, but you did and that nap pushed you through.  We ended up going to get a snack and then coming back to the hotel to take a quick swim and head to dinner.  We went to Millenium Park first.  You loved the bean.  You kept running and running and running.  You started to tank a little during dinner, but held in there.  We came back and you asked to watch a little tv.  It was only 6:30, so we said you could watch 30 minutes.  At almost exactly 7:00, you just started crying because you were so tired and just didn't know what else to do.  We did a speed bath (I mean, you were already crying, so why not?) and you were asleep before 7:30.

You did such a good job today.  I know you were tired, but you didn't throw any fits or have any meltdowns.    I'm proud of you.  I had so much fun and I know that tomorrow will be just as much fun.

I love you, little girl.  Sleep well and long!
Love,
Mommy

Spring Break 2012 - Chicago: Day One

Dear Parker,

Today we drove to Chicago for the first day of our vacation.  You were so adorable all day long.  You woke up and were ready to go right away.  Once we finally got on the road, you made us take turns yelling out the fun things we were going to do and then everyone had to cheer.  It was hilarious.  You kept asking how many more miles we had to go.  You love looking at everything in the city.  You are like the crosswalk police - commenting on everyone who walks when there is no walking man and people who cut the corner off the end of the crosswalk to start heading the direction they need to go.  You are fascinated by the idea of the subway.  It will be really fun to take you on tomorrow.

Tonight, we arrived and went swimming.  The pool is a little bit jank, but you didn't seem to care.  We then went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.  You were quite unsure of the animatronic animals.  You would tell me to get away from them at first, but then you warmed up.  You never did want to get close to the crocodile again, but you liked the Cheetah and totally loved the Elephants at dinner.  You had a really good time, but were so tired.  You asked us to skip dessert and come home so you can go to bed.  I can't even imagine how tired you are going to be the rest of the week, but I think the fun will override.

You were really well behaved today and I'm hopeful that will continue.

I love you so much.  You were so amazing today.  I love you more than anything and can't wait for tomorrow!

Love,
Mommy

What goes Bump in the night?

Dear Parker,

You had a fabulous day yesterday.  You didn’t cry when I dropped you off for school, you didn’t ask to get Allie or your cloth out of your bag, we had a completely pleasant dinner and bath and then you did well at ballet.

This is a total turn-around from where we have been.  Drop-offs have been slowly getting better, but ballet last week was a nightmare.  You simply refused to leave my lap and participate.  It was horrible.  The whole thing.  I was so disappointed in you.  But, you did much better last night.

I do wonder what’s going on with you.  Lately, you have just been very afraid.  Of the Dinosphere at the Museum.  Of the whooshing noise the vents make when the heat kicks on.  Of shadows.  Of the smoke detector.  Of anything in the night.  You have been waking up multiple times a night and not going back to sleep well.  Last night was better, but the night before was awful.  You were up at least 4 times and didn’t go back to sleep until I brought you into our bed.  It’s exhausting.  I’m not sure if you are just thinking too much or what, but I will be happy when you are through it.

I don’t want you to be afraid.

Love,

Mommy

Rough times

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dear Parker,

Yesterday was a rough day.  Your fish, Mariah, had been sick for quite some time and she finally passed away overnight.  We told you that Mariah had gone to fishy heaven and you started crying and ran to your tank.  You saw her laying there and you said that she wasn’t in heaven.  She was in the tank.  We tried really hard to explain the difference between Mariah’s body and her soul, but I think that was lost on you.  We dug her a little hole in the backyard gave her a little funeral.

I think you are still confused because if we mention Mariah being in heaven, you will almost always say that she isn’t in heaven, that she’s in a hole under the deck. 

In other terrible news, Stuart and Lauren had to put Roxy down yesterday.  She had been suddenly sick in the last week and she just wasn’t going to make it.  You were very sweet and said that maybe Roxy would be friends with Mariah in heaven.

I know you don’t truly understand, but I’m glad you seem to be doing ok.

I love you so much,

Mommy

What to do?

February 13^th, 2012

Dear Parker,

Baby, you are kind of killing me.  I don’t know what to do about your screaming and crying and reaching and trying-to-escape from your teacher’s arms in the morning thing.  I know you aren’t unhappy at school.  You never want to leave.  You tell me that you have fun during the day.  Your teacher says you calm down relatively quickly (but that it helps if she lets you get your cloth.)  And, it’s not just school.  You did the same thing when Mom took you home form the basketball game the other day.  You started to throw a giant fit when I said I was going to drive the car and Nancy was going to sit in the backseat with you instead of me.  It’s all the same fit.  I just don’t know how to fix it.  Everyone says that we need to talk about what’s going to happen during the day and when I will pick you up and what fun things you are going to do at school – but we already do that.  You know exactly why and when you go to school.  You are just having horrible separation anxiety from me right now and it’s pretty horrible.  I don’t know what to do.  This is our busiest time of year, but I am doing my very best to spend tons of time with you.  I don’t even have any rehearsal this year and you are even more of a mess than you have been in the past.  I just feel so lost and don’t know what to do. 

I love you more than anything and I’m so sorry that you get so sad whenever we aren’t together.  I miss you, too, but I know that I will always see you soon.

We will get through this, little girl.

I love you.

Mommy

Some awfulness

Friday, February 10^th, 2012

Dear Parker,

Today I am feeling like a terrible Mommy.  It all started last night.  We had pep band, so we were at University.  The games were running behind because of some overtime, so the Varsity game didn’t start until around 8:00, already 30 minutes past your bedtime.  We hemmed and hawed about when/if to send you home.  You started to get quite tired during the 2^nd quarter and by halftime you were toast, so we sent you home with Mom.  You were not leaving without a fight though.  You cried all the way out, reaching out to me with your scrunched up crying face begging for “one more hug.”  I hate that.  SO much.  It makes me feel like I am sending you away forever.  Apparently you screamed and cried almost the entire way home.  I called on my way home and you had calmed down, but were not yet asleep.  You were holding out until I got home.  So, I rushed in to see you and you fell asleep almost instantly.  But, that was still 10:00 at night.

You were so tired this morning and, of course, we were running late because I needed to get gas and it was trash day and I had to get extra things around for you and a myriad of other reasons.  Plus, tonight Mom and I had scheduled time with friends.  You are supposed to go with Nancy to the game and then we will meet you at home.  I’m feeling horrible about it. You had a terrible drop-off at school (more screaming and “one more hug”-ing)  I want to give you all the time you need with me, but I also need time out as a grown-up.  It’s terrible timing.   I didn’t know a week ago that it would be so terrible.  I just hope you know when I leave you at school (or anywhere) that I love you more than anything else in the entire world and that I will always, always, always come back.  I will spend every second with you this weekend.

You are the most amazing little girl in the entire world.  I love you so much.

Love,

Mommy

Ballet

Dear Parker,

Last night  I, begrudgingly, took you to your first dance class.  You were pretty excited (and also very cute.)  I had no idea what to expect, but I think you did reasonably well.  You’ve only ever had dance in the lobby of your old school, so I don’t even think that really counts.  You didn’t have any idea what some of the stuff was and were pretty distracted by all the things and people (including me) in the room.  I think you may do better if Mom takes you, but I’m sure we will take turns.  I’m proud of you for doing part of the class by yourself.  The other girls have been taking dance for over a year and you tend to be really clingy so I was glad that even though I had to be with you during the ballet part, you ventured out on your own to do the tap part.  I hope that next week you can do more/all of it by yourself.  I mean, I am in the room – just not right next to you! J 

I love you more than anything.  This is a rough week, we have many things to do and I know that leaves you with not enough sleep and pretty cranky, but I’m proud of you for pushing through.  Keep pushing.  Only 3 more days to go!

I love you,

Mommy

Mish-Mash

Monday, February 6^th

Dear Parker,

This is a mish mash post because there are some random things I want to get down before I forget them.  First (and then working backwards) is that I felt so terrible this morning.  You have always had tearful drop-offs.  But this morning was awful.  You started crying before we even left the house.  You were just so sad and kept asking to stay home with me.

Then when we got in the car you kept crying and asked to go back to your old school.  That about ripped my heart out.  I know that it was not the best place for you, and that you really don’t want to go back, but hearing you beg me for it did not do good things for me emotionally.  I am praying that you calmed down and had a good day.  We have ballet tonight for the first time.  I’m nervous that you are going to be really shy, but I’m hopeful that you will have a fabulous time.  You were so excited when we got the tap and ballet shoes this weekend.  (To tell the truth, I’m a little nervous because I don’t know what to expect and I want you to have a really fun time!)

(Here’s the mish-mash part).  Last night we went to a Super Bowl party at Baby Avery’s house.  You love her so much.  You really just love babies so much.  You wanted to hold her and play with her.  You also really loved playing with the 7 year old boy.  A little too much for my liking.  You do NOT need to be flirty at 3 years old, little girl.  I’m just laying down the line right here and now.  For the record.

Before we went to Baby Avery’s I was trying to update our photo albums and you wanted to look at the pictures of you when you were little.  We were all looking and Mom said, “OH!  You were so little!” To which you responded, “that’s how we grow, Mom.”  Ah, yes.

We went shopping Saturday (for your dance shoes) as well as to get some clothes for Mommy and Mom.  At your request, we went into your section.  You loved looking at the clothes.  You kept saying that we should get a baby so that we could buy some of them.  (If only it were that simple, love.  And, by the way, I’m sorry.)  You also loved pulling the off the rack, holding them up to my leg and saying “too small” then putting them back on the rack.

You have moments when you are so grown up and then there are moments when you are crying and your little face looks just like it did 3 years ago.  I’m sorry that you feel sad sometimes, baby.  I really wish I could take away all your sadness, but I think that is part of growing up and becoming a good person.  You have to feel sad sometimes and that will make the good times feel even better.  But, for the record, you don’t have to be sad about going to school. 

I love you so much, Parker.  Let’s have fun at ballet tonight, okay?

Love,

Mommy

Big Changes

Wednesday, February 1st

Dear Parker,

Well, the past couple of weeks surely have been interesting.  You have had a rough time at school for most of the year.  In the beginning, you had issues with your teacher.  Then you got a new teacher and things were better. Then, things started to change in the building.  Things got more chaotic feeling, there were often more kids than there should be at any given time (or I suppose fewer adults than there should be).  The kids weren’t being monitored as well during unstructured school time.  And, non-school time was unstructured.  You are a girl who needs her structure. 

We have applied to Orchard for next year, but we don’t know that you will get in or that we will get the money we need to send you there.  So, we knew we had to be looking at other options.  I did some calling around and your Mom and I went to take a tour at a school down the road early last week.  We were pretty happy with what we saw, so we decided to take you in for a visit on Friday.  Thursday when I picked you up, you were so unhappy that you started to cry the minute I walked in the door.  No one could really explain this, so we talked some on the way home.  I asked if you were happy at school, to which you replied, “no.”  I asked if you wanted to look at a different school, to which you asked if you would have to go back to your old school.  I answered your question with a question, “Do you want to?”  And, your telling answer was, “No.”  I stopped feeling guilty about even thinking about moving you in the middle of the year.

You and I went on Friday.  I stayed for about 90 minutes.  You were having such a good time and asked to stay through nap.  That clinched the deal.  So, we signed up and you started you started Monday.  Although we have had some tears in the morning, you seemed to have a really good time during the day.  I think that it is a much better atmosphere than you were in before.

I hope that you get into Orchard (and that we get enough money to afford it) but if not, I think you will be okay here for a little while.

Love,

Mommy

Before I forget (although it's already going)

Dear Parker,

I think that Christmas Eve may have been my favorite day of 2011.  I know that we are well into 2012 at this point, but I wanted to take a couple of minutes and write about what an amazing day we had.

We spent a good part of our day in jammies.  We made cookies, had Christmas music dance parties and played.  We also ate a yummy dinner that Mom made!

Decorating cookies

Enjoying your hard work

We finally got dressed and ready for church.  You were so excited to wear your red dress with your “fancy” coat (which unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of).  We left for church pretty early because we didn’t know how crowded it would be.  This left us sitting in the sanctuary for about 30 minutes beforethe service started.  You were so well behaved. 

 You loved the music (and there was lots of music.)  I will never forget you singing along to all the hymns – even if you didn’t know all the words.  You kept asking when we were going to sing again.  You also kept asking when we were going to get bananas.  Turns out, you thought that communion wafers were bananas!  Too cute.  You were even interested in the readings and when the reader read something about Jesus being wrapped in cloths, you got all excited because you and the baby Jesus have that in common – cloths!  I was trying not to laugh.  You were so intent on being a good girl that when a boy (older than you, I should add) was making a bunch of noise and being taken out, you started to shhh him. 

I think my favorite part of church was when we lit the candles and sang Silent Night.  You are such a big girl.  You held your own candle and sang the song.  I was barely holding back tears.  I’m so grateful for you and our life.  You are a miracle, baby and I’m so proud of you and the big girl you are growing into.

On the way out, a woman commented that we had such a beautiful, well behaved young lady.  (You actually didn’t like that.  You kept saying that you were a little girl. Lol)

Before Church

You and me before Church

At home, you and Mom went upstairs and changed into special, surprise pajamas and then gave me a gift – special surprise pajamas for me!  You opened one present (books to read before bed.)  We set out the cookies and milk (and broccoli for Rudolph – you were insistent that Rudolph wanted broccoli and not carrots.) and called it a night.  You were so excited and ready to go to sleep. 

Right before bed.  You were so tired!

It was an awesome day.  I love you so much, Parker Alyse.  I can’t believe how big and mature you are becoming.
Love,
Mommy