Easter

Dear Parker,

Today is Easter. We didn't go to church. You were very sick on Friday night, very cranky yesterday and haven't gotten much sleep in the last couple of days. So, we thought it would be okay if we let you sleep through church. I think God understands. You got up and we read an Easter book. You were absolutely covered in snot, so we thought we would get you dressed before letting you find your Easter basket. You, however, did not want to get dressed and were just crying so hard that we decided to let you run around in your diaper. We hardly ever do that, but you were pretty cute.

After you found and explored your easter basket, we headed to Uncle Stu and Aunt Lauren's house to have lunch/dinner with everyone. You slept all the way there and were pretty clingy and cranky still. You didn't really even want to hang out with your Aunt Stacy!

When we got home, you wanted to go to the park, so I obliged. When we were swinging, you started singing your "ABC's." You don't quite know all of them, but you asked me to sing with you and every time we finished, you would say "More Sing!" You can do A-G then you join in again around P-Y. You then get the lyrics at the end. It's cute! You are growing up and learning so fast!

I will try to post some pictures this week, but we are going to be so busy the next few weeks. I need to remember to not neglect the things that are actually important!

I love you, baby. I hope you are feeling better tomorrow.

Love,

Mommy

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