Some time at the Park

Dear Parker,

Today was our first full day at Grandma and Grandpa Booga's. We planned to lay low since we had a pretty big day yesterday and are planning on going to the zoo tomorrow. So, you just hung out and played with Grandma this morning. After your nap, we had lunch and then decided to go to the park.

Normally, when we go to the park at home, there are lots of kids and you aren't as adventurous as I would like you to be. There weren't any kids at the park today! (I do want you to get better at playing with and around other kids, but I also want you to get better at trying new things!) Anyway, you had a great time! We were there for at least an hour and a half.

You played in the mulch.
You were very nervous about the suspension bridge and the slides, but after practicing with Grandma and Mom, you eventually did both by yourself! You wore Grandma out asking her to help you start going down the slide "AGAIN!" You went on the monkey bars for the first time. Obviously, you couldn't do it by yourself, but you had a great time pretending to do it on Mom's shoulders.

You've been having a really good time at Grandma and Grandpa's house. You love playing with Dinks and all of Mom and Uncle Eric's old toys.

On a completely different subject, I have been very sad lately about you going to school. Not about you going to school, exactly but about me not being able to spend the days or at least some days with you. I'm not sure that I'm making the right decision by doing the things at University that will keep me away from you at night. I know that, right now, I have to work full time, but I don't HAVE to do the side jobs. I love you so much and just always want to make the right choices for you and our little family.

You are the most amazing baby. You are growing up so fast and I want to enjoy every minute.

I love you so much,

Mommy

Fun with (second) cousins

Dear Parker,

Yesterday we drove to Forreston to your Great-Aunt Doris's house to visit with your Grandma's family and to have a shower for your Mom's cousin's girlfriend, Erin. You were pretty cranky because you didn't really nap in the car, but you had a really good time playing with your second cousins.

Here you are playing ball with Taylor, who is 4.
You and Reese, who is about a month younger than you.
These are all the second cousins. It's not a great photo (except of Madison), but it's the only one where all 4 of you are looking at the camera! So, from L to R...Taylor Tornow, Reese Tornow, you, Madison Aldrich.
After Taylor and Reese left, you and Madison played together for a long time. Maddy had brought her toys in a giant purple tub and you both thought it was super fun to sit in the tub and play with toys. Here you are reading a book.
Right before bed, you and Maddy both got in the tub and were talking and playing with your balloons. It was pretty cute.

You went to sleep really easily and slept really well. (And woke up in a much better mood, thank goodness!)

This morning, we visited the cemetery where your Great-Grandparents are buried. You were very sweet and concerned about Grandma and Mom. You also picked some "flowers" and laid them on the grave.

We just got back to Grandma and Grandpa's house and you are playing with the 'old school' Little People.

Hopefully, tomorrow won't be very exciting, but we are planning to go to the Brookfield Zoo on Tuesday, so that will be a big day for you!

I love you, Parker

Mommy

A two-fer

Dear Parker,

I didn't get to write last night because we were so busy packing for our "vacation." So, I'll do a quick re-cap of yesterday. The most important thing that happened was that we visited your school again. We tried to let you play in your classroom while we talked to the director, and you did for a few minutes, but then you got so upset that they brought you back. This did not make me feel better about the whole situation. You kept asking to go play, but you wanted us to come with you, so we did and stayed in your classroom with you for awhile. You did okay, but kept coming back to us to "check in." I'm really nervous about you going to school for so many hours a day, but it will be okay (I hope!).

Okay, on to today! We left for Grandma and Grandpa Booga's and on the way stopped at Fair Oak Farms. We tried to eat lunch first because we were all hungry, but there were so many people there and you were so excited to see the cows that you didn't eat very well. So, after we forced you to eat a couple bites of a grilled cheese, we headed over to the "attractions." We signed up for a bus tour and let you play on the indoor playground. Here you are waving at your Mom through a slice of swiss cheese.

We didn't have much time to play before the bus left (which was fine by us!) You were very excited to see the cows. This is an "artistic" photo of your family on the bus.
You really liked seeing the cows up close. The bus drives right through the barn and the cows are VERY close. After the tour, we played on the outdoor equipment for a few minutes. You tried the bouncy pillow thing, but you are still a little young and didn't like it very much. The tractor playground piece was much more your speed.
We went through the birthing barn. There was a cow currently giving birth and a mother and baby who had just been born. We didn't stay very long because you wanted "ice cream and see Grandpa Booga!" So, that is what we did.

When we made it to Grandma and Grandpa's house, you were very excited to see Grandpa. You walked all the way around the yard with him, checking out the rocks and all of Grandma's pretend animals. You also like to walk around the bricks.
When we came inside, you kept saying "Toys are?" I kept showing you the bag of toys we brought with us, but that is not what you wanted. Finally, we figured out that you wanted the toys that Grandma cleaned off for you at Christmas! I have no idea how you remembered these toys as you haven't played with them in 6 month, but you did. You had a really great time playing with the 'old school' Little People.
Since Grandma and Grandpa's house is on Central Time, you stayed up later than you are used to. You got so tired that you started running laps around the island in the kitchen singing your "ABC's" at the top of your lungs.

I always get nervous when you have to sleep away from home because you aren't normally very good at it, but *fingers crossed* you went down really easily and hopefully won't get disoriented if you wake up in the middle of the night.

We had a really good day with you, Bits. I hope tomorrow is just as good.

I love you.

Mommy

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