Fashion Sense

Dear Parker,

This morning you had to go to the doctor with Mommy. I just needed to get some blood drawn, so it seemed easier to take you to that then for you to go with your Mom to the eye doctor. You were SUCH a good girl. You just sat on my lap in the waiting room and then sat in the chair quietly while they took my blood. For the rest of the afternoon though you kept saying, "They take Mommy's blood." It was pretty funny, but I'm sure if someone on the street heard it, they would think it was a little strange. :)

You have been full of funny things today. This afternoon, you ran up to your Mom screaming "Nononononononono!" She asked you what was wrong and you put your hand on her leg and said, "I no like these pants!" Bahahaha! That's pretty funny, baby girl.

We did a little pre-vacation shopping after your (late) nap and you were such a good girl in the Kohl's. You walked by yourself, but didn't run away. You looked at the stuffed animals and books by the check-out, but didn't touch. You started off being a very good girl in the Wal-Mart as well. But, when we got to the check-out, you were very disturbed that we changed lanes and you didn't want to put our things on the counter we had changed to. You had a meltdown, so I had to take you to have a time-out in the Wal-Mart. I think it was only the 4th time-out of your life, so I guess you doing pretty well, all things considered.

We went to dinner after (since we don't really have any food, but aren't planning on buying any because we leave the day after tomorrow!). You were so funny (again!) We walked out of the restaurant and you said, "It's too bright!" and covered your eyes with your hands. You then proceeded to walk all the way to the car like that!

You brighten my days, Bits. You always help me to put my life in perspective.

I love you,

Mommy

The Sparkler Incident

Dear Parker,

You had a very hard time sleeping last night. I think you must have been having bad dreams. You called out multiple times, but finally woke up screaming. When I went in to your room, you tried really hard to go back to sleep, but you just couldn't. You didn't want me to shut the door and every time I would leave, you would just cry out for me again. Finally, I left and just kept the door open. About 10 minutes later, you toddled in to our room, so I caved. I was too tired.

You 'slept' with us for the rest of the night, but no one really slept. You kept having nightmares even in our bed.

You were pretty cranky all day because you didn't get enough sleep. We hung out this morning and just watched some tv because you were so cranky and tired. We started watching the movie, "Annie." You seemed to like it!

You didn't nap for very long and after you ate lunch you just sort of ran around the house, playing the piano, playing with your baby and watching Mom play the Wii. You went outside to do "fireworks" with Mom. You wanted to help hold a sparkler like you did yesterday and in the process of you grabbing on, it got dropped and hit your leg. You got burned, but nothing too terrible. You cried and were very upset (understandably) so we just cuddled on the couch and watched the rest of "Annie." I felt bad for you because you would be fine and the you would just start whining and saying, "OW!" I don't normally let you watch that much tv in one day, but today was an exception.

After a little cuddling, you were better and started running around again. After dinner, we were playing upstairs and you just kept running between the guest room and the loft. You would get to one place, stop, then say, "Set! Go!" and take off again. It was hilarious. You must have done it at least 30 times.

I get very frustrated with you when you act your age. It is something I need to work on. I have to keep telling myself that you are 1 - not 3. You are so forgiving when I am not the best Mommy I can be. Thank you. I love you very much and I'm just trying to figure this whole parenting thing out as I go.

I hope you sleep better tonight so we can have a really good day tomorrow.

I love you,

Mommy

The rest of the weekend

Dear Parker,

We have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog daily about your time with your Aunt Stacy. Saturday, we got up early and went to the museum. You had a good time. Your Aunt Stacy even put on the dinosaur costume with you! What a good Aunt. You didn't take a good nap because you were so exhausted from the museum that you fell asleep before we even got out of the parking garage!

So, we hung around the house for the rest of the day. You played upstairs with Aunt Stacy. Then, Aunt Stacy did your hair in the french braid again (you are SO cute) and we went to Bucca's to Celebrate Mom and Mommy's belated birthdays. You were pretty tired, so it wasn't the easiest dinner we've had with you, but you weren't poorly behaved. You just wanted to keep moving so you wouldn't fall asleep.

Yesterday, we got up and went swimming. You had a really good time. The water was a little bit cold compared to what it has been since the weather HAD cooled down to normal temperatures. We still swam for about an hour. We got you a little life jacket floatie thing. You were a little unsure about it, but you wore it a couple times.

Then, Lauren and Stu came over and we went to the parade after lunch. It was ridiculously hot and we got there far too early, but you loved it! I was worried that the noise or characters would scare you, but they didn't! You also loved getting candy. You couldn't eat most of it, but that didn't keep you from clutching every.single.piece that came your way. (There was LOTS that came your way!)

You really love your Aunt Stacy and I'm sorry that I wasn't more on top of it to write down more of your time with her. Just know that you had a great time. We all did.

I love you!

Mommy

Day 1 with Aunt Stacy

Dear Parker,

Today was the first full day that you Aunt Stacy was here visiting with us. You had a blast. You only napped for 30 minutes, so you were pretty tired and cranky the whole day, but you still had fun. After lunch, we went to the Noblesville park. You went down the slide several times (and even once completely by yourself, even though that was an accident on your part!)
Aunt Stacy gave you a piggy back ride and you "hid" behind trees and then popped out to surprise us! You thought it was hilarious!
We came home and you played upstairs with Aunt Stacy for awhile and then she took you on a walk in the wagon. Stacy said that as you were walking, you asked to go to the park. She told you that she didn't know where the park was. You said, "You go round and round and then..." She repeated that she didn't know where the park was and you repeated your "directions." Finally, you got frustrated and told her to "just keep pulling!" You are so funny!

For dinner we had corn on the cob and you actually decided to eat yours off the cob this time!
While your Moms were cleaning up, you went upstairs to play with Aunt Stacy. She decided to braid your hair. It was really cute. I need to learn how to do it since your hair can get so crazy.

It made you look so old though! I'm not ready for you to be so grown up!!!!!

You continued to play with Aunt Stacy while we hung the pictures in our bedroom, then we all played together. You kept giving Stacy things to put in her pocket (even things that wouldn't fit!) It was funny. You found your echo mic and started singing and talking into it. At one point, you introduced yourself and "Mrs. Silly Baby." Too funny.
You're so amazing, kiddo. I love you and am looking forward to tomorrow.

Love you,

Mommy

Zoo and Somersaults!

Dear Parker,

Today, we decided to go to the zoo. Normally, we got to the zoo in the afternoon (after you nap) but now that we live farther away, it's a little harder. So, we thought we would try the morning. The animals are much more active in the morning, but apparently so are the people. It was very crowded. I'm always so proud of you in situations like that. We needed to renew our membership so we had to stand in a long line (behind some pretty rude people) and then we had to stand in a long line again to get in. You were very patient and didn't complain once. Additionally, since there were lots of people you often had to wait your turn, sometimes even when others didn't wait theirs and cut you off. I'm so proud that you aren't one of "those" kids. I'm not saying you are perfect and I'm sure it will get more difficult as you get older, but for now you are very polite and, generally, follow the directions we give you.

Anyway, you wanted to see the giraffes first, so we headed to the back. All the animals were very active and I think you had a good time. You were a little tired, so you weren't quite as into it as you were the last time, but I still think you were having fun. We took a break and had a special treat of lunch at the zoo. We sat right by the flamingos and you kept saying, "Hi Flamingos!" It was pretty cute.

You fell asleep on the way home, which is always disatrous. (It means you won't take a real nap!) So, when we got home we watched a little tv while Mom ran some errands. Then we played upstairs for a little while. After dinner, I was cleaning up and Mom took you upstairs. She helped you do somersaults and you LOVED it. It was pretty cute.

The cutest thing of the night, though, happened when Aunt Stacy called to say she was for sure coming tomorrow. I told you and you got all excited, ran to the door and said that you wanted to wait on the porch. When I told you, we couldn't wait tonight because she was coming tomorrow, you had a meltdown (because you were so tired I think). But you were okay in the end.

I'm very excited for you to get to spend some time with Aunt Stacy this weekend. She's really good for you and you love her so much.

Sleep well, baby. I love you.

Mommy

Not Ready for Bed

Dear Parker,

I had been planning to write a post about what a fun day you had, but right now you are frustrating me. Normally, I lay next to you for a few minutes while you fall asleep. Tonight, you were not cooperating and I always tell you that if you aren't laying still and trying to fall asleep, I will go in the other room. Tonight you were not cooperating. So, I left. You cried for about 30 seconds and then started to play. Now you are yelling for me to come read you a book. That is NOT sleeping, Parker Alyse.

So, as I sit here and listen to you read to yourself and ocassionally holler for Mommy, I will tell you about your day. This morning, you went to the neighborhood park with your Mom. She took some good pictures of your fun time. It looks like you played with stick and swung - both things you really love to do.

You came home and we colored for awhile, had a snack and you took your nap. I worked on painting the bedroom. After too short a nap, you got up and had lunch and then played the piano for awhile. You are hilarious when you play the piano because you 1) must have the light on and 2) insist on playing for a few seconds and then turning the page of whatever book is up there as if you were actually reading the music. It's also hysterical because you "sing" with your playing. This consist of you mostly yelling and asking where things are. It makes me smile.

After lunch, we went to get your hair cut - which you hated - but took all of 5 minutes. Then we got some ice cream. You have been doing this thing lately where you will tell us you are done and then when we get rid of your food, you ask for more. This happened with the ice cream. So, immediately after I had thrown the rest of your ice cream away, you start crying and asking to have more. Of course there are people everywhere thinking I am the world's worst mother. Oh well. You got over it.

We came home and bummed around the house for a bit and had dinner. While I cleaned up from dinner, you played upstairs with your Mom. When I was done, I came up and you wanted to play "tackle you" (a game in which you run and "push" us over). This turned in to full on wrestling and it was awesome - a bit painful - but really fun. You were laughing and having a great time. No one ever tells you before you are a parent that wrestling with a 1 year old will be more exhausting and taxing for the adult! :)

You finally settled down and did some puzzles. You started to figure out parts of the "real" puzzle. You aren't really close to doing it by yourself yet, but you could find the pieces with the sections of the dog or the bird or the fish. I think that's a start.

I suppose that brings us to now. You are still asking me to come and open your door. I guess I will go try to see if you are ready to go to sleep yet.

Although you frustrate me sometimes, you are still the most amazing thing and I am so lucky to be your Mommy.

Good night, baby. I love you.

Mommy

"What's That?"

Dear Parker,

Sorry this is a day late, but I didn't have much time last night to write. So, we'll just do it this morning. :) Yesterday, you were kind of sick, but not too horrible. You did however, keep running around saying, "I'm sick!" (I think that means you aren't too bad!) Your big kid friend, Maggie, came over to bring Mom her birthday present and hang out with you while Mommy started painting the bedroom. By that time, you had started to get kind of crabby (from being sick I think) and it wasn't so successful. I was still on the first wall, when you came in and wanted to watch. Maggie went home and you watched for a few minutes, but I could sense impending doom as you started to explore things near the paint! So, I stopped.

We played outside for awhile. You had been storing some rocks in the drawer of the table on the porch (which I didn't know) and you spent a great deal of time playing with them. You liked to drop them through an opening on your little chair and then pick them up again. I don't know why I buy you toys!

Lately, you have been saying "What's that?" quite a bit. The thing is, baby girl, that you most often know what you are pointing at, but we oblige you anyway. So, we were reading one of your bedtime stories last night ("Once Upon A Potty - not one of Mommy's favorites, but we are trying in vain to get you interested in the potty. You love the book, but don't want to sit on the potty. Sigh.) and you kept asking "What's that?" So, I would have to respond, "That's Prudence's pee, that's Prudence's poop etc." Your Mom and I were cracking up by the time it was done!

Alright, kiddo. I'll "talk" to you later.

I love you,

Mommy