Christmas at the Zoo

Dear Parker,

I think the good thing about this break is that the days have been feeling really long.  I think that will change once we start visiting with family, but right now, I feel like I'm getting my vacation's worth out of the days.  I'm guessing this is mostly because you are getting up really early and not napping for very long!

Today, we made sugar cookies and you helped frost them.  You mostly liked to stick your fingers in the frosting and put sprinkles on the cookies (by the handful!)  For awhile this afternoon, you were absolutely crazy just running around like a psycho.  It was so hilarious.

Tonight, we went to Christmas at the Zoo with Uncle Stu and Aunt Lauren.  It was fun, but much busier and colder than last year, so we didn't stay very long.  You peeked at Santa, but didn't want to sit on his lap.  You did make (and eat) a cookie and you liked looking at the lights, but you were mostly hungry and wanted to go to dinner.  So, we did. :)  You were good and pretty cute throughout the whole thing!

Potty training is still going well - we still haven't really had any accidents since the first day.  It's harder when we go out - you did go in your pull-up while we were gone, but you also went in a public bathroom at the restaurant.  I think that in a week or two, you will be good to go!

I can't believe what a big girl you are becoming.  As we were driving home tonight, you said, "I will get bigger and bigger and then mow and shovel."  It's so cute that you understand that you will grow and that you want to help us out by doing chores.  (I have mostly documented this so when you are 14 and I want you to do these things, I can quote you!)

Anyway, hopefully tomorrow we can go to the Children's Museum and I can con you into sitting on Santa's lap.  (Fingers crossed!)

I love you so much.  I can't wait for Christmas!!!!!!!
Mommy

Christmas Break!

Dear Parker,

I think I start all posts this way, but there have been so many times in the past few weeks when I thought - I should really write Parker a blog about this - but I just haven't.  So, I'm going to try to catch up.

It's Christmas Break!  Finally.  It felt like it would never come.  We decided to kick off the vacation with potty training.  All of your teachers at school have been telling us you are ready, so we decided to try.  Yesterday was pretty much a disaster.  You peed through about 6 outfits.  And only once did you tell us that you had to go.  Sigh.  I thought it would go much better.  To top all of this off, you were extremely whiny and clingy and, in general, driving me nuts.  Then, after you went to bed, you started crying that your ears hurt.  Apparently, that was the issue.

So far, today has gone better.  We haven't (yet) had any accidents, but you also haven't asked to sit on the potty.  You have (mostly) been listening better and have been peeing when we asked you to.  So, I guess that's a start.  You love wearing your underpants.  Right now, you are napping in your shirt, pull-up, underwear (OVER the pull-up), socks and shoes.  That's right - socks and shoes, but not pants.  I'm not going to fight over silly things like that.

You have been in a hilarious mood today.  You do this little thing with your hands when you are talking very emphatically - you sort of cross your middle two fingers and then move your hand up and down.  It's funny because you are saying things like, "I no take a bath.  It's too late!"  or, "I already told you!  I called the doctor."  This morning, you kept calling the doctor and telling her that you weren't wearing any pants!

You got a Candyland game for early Christmas and you love playing it.  You understand how to move, but you don't really get the competition part - plus you only really ever want to draw the cards with the pictures - the gumdrop specifically!

You are VERY into your babies lately.  I don't know if I have written about this, but in the past few weeks we have had to start letting the babies go potty, changing their clothes, doing their (non-existent) hair and feeding them meals.  Your only request of Santa was "babies."  Hopefully, he will be able to oblige.

I know there must be a million things that I'm forgetting to write.  It's one of my goals to actually write a post a day for you over break, so we will see if I can do that!

I love you, Parker.
Mommy

Holiday Blur

Dear Parker,

Well, we survived.  We hosted our first Thanksgiving for both sides of our family and we made it through. Actually, it wasn't so bad.  The food was good - you had an amazing time with all of your relatives and it wasn't nearly as awkward as it could have been.  Since I haven't been good about writing things immediately, I have to sort of bullet my memories - so here goes.

Things (some good and some not-so-good) from Thanksgiving Break 2010
*You being the head of a train that went throughout our house - the things we will do!
*Saying that you are going to take a train to Russia!
*You carefully going through each of your ornaments
*You helping me put up the family tree
*You getting (another) ear infection and screaming all night Thanksgiving night
*Your motivation in relation to Santa increased significantly
*Telling us that you wanted Santa to bring you 2 babies
*Your bizarre love of a plastic M&M ornament on our tree

That's all I've got for now, Bits.  It's going to be a very busy couple of weeks.  I hope you hang in there. I love you very much.  I'm going to do my very best to not get stressed out and enjoy ever second of the Christmas season.

Sleep well tonight, baby.
Love you
Mommy

Shy

Dear Parker,

A week or so ago, you watched "Once Upon a Mattress."  We have watched it several times since then.  This morning, in a very packed pre-Thanksgiving Meijer, you were singing quietly to yourself. "Hey nanee, nanee, nanee."  Then suddenly (just as in the movie) you lifted your head up really high and sang, "I'm SHY!!!!!!!!" at the top of your lungs.  I laughed so hard!  You are too funny, little girl.

I'm excited because we bought you a couple of Christmas presents today!

Only two days of school for you and Mom before break - three for me - but I'm still excited!

I love you so much, ParkerAlyse.

Love,
Mommy

Things I love about you

Dear Parker,

Lately, you have been very "2" and I have not been handling it as well as I should or could.  I come home from school; my patience is gone and I have very little left for you.  Today, I promised myself that I would NOT lose my patience with you.  I made it, but you certainly tested me with a couple of tantrums and then not listening and bed time, which resulted in you going to bed without a story, which is apparently the worst punishment ever.  Anyway.  In between tantrums, we had a great time.  Here are the things I love about you and the way you are right now.

* The way you pump your little arms when you run
* The fact that you have to run everywhere because everything is urgent!
* That you are getting much better at pretend
* That you take ALL your babies to "Meijer" to get "groceries" but end up having a picnic instead
* That you made your Mom and I rush to the back door to look at the sun setting
* That you ask to watch musicals
* That you got a sticker at school last week for wearing your listening ears when no one else was! (Too bad you don't employ them at home!)
* The way you talk with your hands
* That you ask us how our days were
* That you hold on tight around my neck when you give me a hug
* That before anyone leaves you insist on a hug, kiss and high five (from both hands) from the departing person to everyone in the room

I love you so much little bits.  I'm getting really excited about Christmas with you!
Love you,
Mommy

Whiny McWhinester

Dear Parker,

I took you to the doctor on Monday and she said you are just fine.  Yea.  But, also what the heck?  You are in such a funk.  You are whiny and clingy and tantrum-y.  It's all pretty horrible.  I love you so much, but I don't handle this kind of behavior very well.  I think part of it is that I deal with behavior like that all day at school and I just have nothing left when I get home.  I feel horrible about it.  I just don't know what to do.

You have incredible stamina and will scream FOREVER.  I feel bad because most often you are screaming because you want me to hold you.  Part of me thinks that you are two and need to be more self-reliant than you are.  The other part of me thinks that you will only be little once and if you are asking for affection, who am I to deny you that?

I dunno, baby.  It's a quandry.  I love you so much.  No matter what.  We'll get through this.

Love,
Mommy

What's up?

Dear Parker,

I'm not sure what is going on with you, but something isn't right.  It has me worried.  Maybe it's your ears. I don't know.  What I do know is that ever since Saturday you have been super clingy, super tired and just in general wanting to sit around and watch tv.  Sunday morning, you feel asleep on the bath mat waiting for me to be finished in the shower and then you fell asleep again in the middle of pep band rehearsal.  We decided that I would stay home today to take you to the doctor and you again, fell asleep on the bath mat and have now fallen asleep in our bed while watching Sesame Street.  It's only 9:30.  Something is definitely wrong.  I'm worried.  I'm scared that it will be your ears again.  I'm scared that it won't be your ears and we won't know what's wrong with you.  I'm just in general, nervous and worried about everything surrounding you lately.  I just want you to be your normal, happy, funny self.

I miss you and I hope you get better soon.  We will leave soon to go to the doctor.

I love you so much baby girl.
Love,
Mommy