Shaking with excitement

Dear Parker,

We are having a lazy day. This week has been really busy and you have been kept up HOURS past your bed time twice. So, we are hanging out in our jammies. (Okay, this is mostly because you have nothing to wear - I'm doing laundry - and I can't shower until you take a nap, but it's fun nonetheless.) We watched ate breakfast, watched a movie, read some books, you pottied like a big girl, we made pictures for Aunt Stacy and Grandma, read some more books and now you are playing with your alphabet books and puzzles. The house is covered in toys! :)

We were playing "Boo" this morning (guess I forgot where in the sequence of things that happened) and I was taken back to when you were a little girl. You were sitting on the office chair and when I said we could play "Boo" on the bed your arms and legs started shaking with excitement. You did that all the time when you were a little baby. I think it's so wonderful that you still do it. It reminds me of the baby you once were.

I love you, bits.

Mommy

"s"

Dear Parker,

I just wanted to let you know that they way you say your "s's" is completely adorable. You don't have a lisp exactly, but you work really hard at pronouncing them. I am always asking you to say "moms" "bits" "toast!" That's my favorite, toast.....

Well, okay. I just wanted to tell you that.

I love you so much and am looking forward to spending the day with you tomorrow even if I have basketball tomorrow night.

Love you,

Mommy

Procrastination hello

Dear Parker,

I should be prepping for my classes, but I just can't get in the right mindset, so I thought I would write you a letter about the things you have been doing lately.

Aside from trying to use the potty (which has been moderately successful so far - you potty about twice a day), you currently love, Love, LOVE books. You have always been a fan of books. When you were 10 months old, we had to take all the books out of your sight when you were going to bed because you would be so distracted by them. Now, you will find a book, toddle over - hand it to me (saying tank you) and then say "lap." We will read the book and you will repeat the process - for hours. I love that you love to read.

As aforementioned, you say "thank you" regularly. You will say it when you hand us something (as in thank you for taking this) or when we hand you something (as in thank you for my milk.) I think that is awesome. You are saying so many new things - everyday. I tried to make a list for you but I keep forgetting things - butter, chew, later, morning. It seems like you repeat everything we say!

Okay baby girl, I have to actually go do work now. I hope you are having a good day with your Aunt Lauren. We have to go to a basketball game tonight that will keep you out past your bedtime; I hope you do well.

I love you,

Mommy

Potty Training?

Dear Parker,

On Thursday of last week you said, "Poop. Potty" and then walked to the bathroom. You had already gone by the time we got there, but we thought that maybe you were giving us some sort of sign that you were ready to at least begin getting ready to potty train. So, Friday night we went out and bought a potty.

Saturday, you peed in the potty. You didn't tell us you were ready to go, but you did tell us that you had pooped, so we just set you on there.

Today, you walked down the hall toward the bathroom saying "potty." Your mom put you on your potty and you peed again!

I really didn't think that we would be potty training you so early, but it looks like we are at least starting. We'll see. We can't really go hard core until summer since our lives are going to be so busy until then, but you may surprise us and adapt really well.

Here's hoping that we'll be saying goodbye to diapers in the next 6 months!

You are such a big girl.

I love you,

Mommy

Snow Day

Dear Parker,

Today it is snowing quite a bit for Indiana. We haven't yet ventured out to play today, but the snow has inspired me to post pictures of the last (and first) snow we got this year. You Aunts and Uncles were all here and were very excited to take you out to play.

This is you with your Aunt Stacy before heading out.
Here you are riding in the trash can lid (yes, we are very classy) being pulled by your Uncle Stu. We didn't think we would really get to take you sledding, so you don't have a sled.
This is you and your Uncle Stu laughing at your Uncle Steven! :)
You tried to walk, but fell down!
Uncle Stu was trying to get you to touch the snow.
I think you had a good time and we should try to take you out today. You Mom and I just have to get up the energy to do it! :)

I love you, Parker Alyse.

Love,

Mommy

So far

Dear Parker,

I know this is not a complete list because my memory is not that great, but I have just been struck lately with all the things you say! So, here is my feeble attempt at a list of your words at almost 16 months ( 4 more days). There are 107 of them. These are only the words that you say on your own. You can repeat just about anything we ask you to say. :) You are so smart.

I love you.

Love,

Mommy

Mom

Mommy

Grandpa

Grandma

Stacy (Tacy)

Sally

Lauren

Stu (Goo!)

Uncle

Maxx

Finn

Reece

Taylor (Tator)

Cat

Dog

Duck

Cow

Pig

Goose

Horse

Meow

Woof

Oink (well, a snort)

Nay

Whoo(what an owl says)

Frog (Tog)

Quack

Drum (Gum)

Holstein (as in Holly Holstein)

Pasta (as in Penny Pasta)

Moose

School (kool)

Play (Pay)

Kitchen

Apple

Orange

Noodle

Chair

Booster

Milk

Water

Cup

Cookie

Cracker

Puffs

Strip (sounds like chip)

Fork

Spoon

Plate

Pants

Shirt

Sock

Shoe

Hair

Head

Hand

Eye

Nose

Ear

Mouth

Toes

Teeth

Hi

Bye

No

Yes

Couch

Baby

Bottle

Uh-Oh

Wow

Movie

Hay

Tractor

Blue

Up

Down

Pillow

Blanket

Hot

Cold

Brr

Coat

Hat

Car

Go

Done

More

thank You

Please

Welcome

Help

Ball

Block

Boom

Booga (it's what Grandpa says)

Cloth

Phone (Tone)

Cook

Cake

Fish

Parker

Park

Key

Bath

Whoa!

Balloon

Missing You

Dear Parker,

I have tons of letters that I have started for you, but have never finished. One of my goals for the new year is to write you a letter at least once a week. So, I will start that now.

I miss you. I have gotten used to waking up with you and your Mom. Watching you toddle around the house and play, asking me to, "Pay? Pay!" I love you so much and I really hope that even though I am at work right now that you know that I love you and wish I was there with you.

This morning you were such a big girl eating your bananas and pancakes in your little pigtails. When I left you gave me a hug and said "love you," then went right back to playing. I can't believe that I'm missing all this with you.

I keep trying to tell myself that I'm doing it for you - so that you can go to college and sleep in a a room that isn't freezing cold, but right now I just want to be with you.

I love you so much, Parker Alyse. You are so amazing. I will see you in 7.5 hours. Don't grow up too much while I am gone.

Love,

Mommy