I'm sorry.

Dear Parker,

I have not had the best day and I was not the most patient with you.  I'm sorry for that.  I'm also sorry that I STILL haven't figured out how to get the the things that I want for our family.  I'm sorry that we are just muddling through.  But, I do love you more than anything and I recognize how lucky we are to have such a funny, smart, healthy, amazing little girl.

I will be better tomorrow.
I love you,
Mommy

Almost Summer

Dear Parker,

I meant to write you a letter Friday night because there were so many cute things that you did, but I got so busy packing and getting ready for our weekend that I ran out of time.  I’ll see if I can remember the things I wanted to tell you about.  My birthday was Sunday and on Thursday night, you and your Mom went and bought me a present.  On Friday morning, you were so excited that you blurted out , “Mommy!  We got you pink flip-flops!”  Then, you started crying and said, “Oh. It was a surprise.”  It took me quite a while to get you calmed down because you were so upset.  

After school, Mom and I met with Ms. Doreen for your end-of-year conference.  She said you are doing great and are ready do to move to the Pre-School room.  I can’t believe that you are old enough to go to Pre-School!  But, I’m so proud of you for doing so well in school.  The only thing Ms. Doreen said that she would say you could work on was just interacting with other kids – not that you are behind or abnormal in that area, but that it is your weakest – if that makes sense.  She recommended lots of play dates this summer.  Sounds good.  J

After your conference, Mom had to go to a meeting and we went to get the oil in my car changed.  You were very interested in the process.  You watched through the window the whole time.  After that, we went to dinner, played on the playground for a few minutes, got ice cream and then went to Old Navy because they had flip-flops on sale and you Love shoes.  I let you get 2 pair.  You are now officially spoiled.

You knew we were going to meet your cousin Tyler this weekend and were ready to go right then.  We couldn’t leave until the morning, but you wanted to GO.  You kept asking when we were leaving.  I told you we couldn’t leave until Mom got home and that you had to go to bed.  The next morning, I attempted to sneak in your room to get a couple things to pack without waking you yet, but you popped right up and asked, “Is Mom home yet?  Can we go to Tyler’s?” 

Once we arrived, you were pretty patient.  Tyler needed to eat and then we had to go to Steven’s baseball game. When we got back you were really tired, so you took a nap  and THEN you got to hold Tyler.  You loved, loved, loved holding him.  You held him, in various positions, for probably about an hour.  You are pretty good with babies for being only 2 ½.    

Sunday, we went to your Grandma’s house and you jumped on the trampoline.  You are so much different than you were last year.  Last year you didn’t know how to jump so you relied on others to make you bounce.  This year, you just started jumping away.  You thought it was awesome.

I’m very much looking forward to summer and this weekend (Summer is not officially this weekend, but I’m pretending it is.)  We are going to visit your friend Sadie.  I hope that you two will hit it off and play nicely.

I love you so much Parker Alyse.

Happy Almost Summer,

Mommy

Trying harder

Dear Parker,
As I was bored at work today, I went back and read some of your letters and I realized that I have become a bit of a slacker mommy in regard to writing you letters.  So, this is me trying harder.  We have about one more week of school and we are both anxiously waiting.  Tonight as you were going to sleep you asked how long until summer and I said one week.  You started clapping because you were so excited.  Also as we were laying in bed, you asked, "Mommy? Do you like pink and blue?"  I told you I did and then you said, "Mommy?  Do you like brown too?"  I again told you that I did.  Apparently, the birthday shopping that you did tonight involved these colors.  I think it's so sweet that you wanted to make sure I would like it. :)  We have your end of year conference at school tomorrow.  I'm a little nervous, which is silly because you are amazing and regardless of what anyone says, I will always love you more than anything.

This weekend we are going to meet your cousin Tyler.  You are very excited to meet him.  (I am too!)  You are so good with babies and you love them so much.

On a not as positive note, you have been screaming lately.  I'm sure it's my fault because I know that I raise my voice sometimes and I'm sure that's where you picked it up, but you have been yelling at me and thinking you are in charge lately.  I think it's getting better, but we do need to keep working on it.

Okay, well that's it for now, but I will write more - at least over the summer.

I love you SO much.  You are such a big girl and you amaze me every day.
Love,
Mommy

Delinquent Mommy

Dear Parker,

I have been a bad mommy lately.  I haven’t been writing down the amazing things that you do or say.  It’s just been recently that I’ve even been able to spend time with you – and you know it.  You get upset if I leave the room and anytime someone comes over, you ask if we are going to stay with you.  You think everyone is a babysitter.  Drop-offs at school have not been fabulous, but have been getting better.  Today, Miss Jackie wasn’t there so I had to bribe you with going to the park after school to get you to not cry when I left.  I’m not sure it was my finest parenting moment, but I didn’t want you to be upset.  I think you do better when you aren’t.  I REALLY hope that the rain stays away so that we can go to the park this afternoon.  I had so much fun with you over the weekend – even though you can throw quite the tantrum lately – playing on the deck with you.  We were both laughing so hard.  You were trying to use a bubble pipe.  I filled it with bubbles for you, but you accidentally sucked instead of blowing.  You pulled it out of your mouth and looked like you were foaming!  We both started laughing.   I went in to get you a drink of water and when I handed it to you, you accidentally dropped it and spilled it everywhere.  Then, we were REALLY laughing.  It was so fun.  Grandma came over in the afternoon and we drew with chalk and your “rode” your bike and we went for a walk.  You love going for walks.  I think maybe, this summer, after your bath we could take you for a walk in your wagon.  I think you would like that.  Okay, well, now I’m rambling.  

I love you so much Parker.  I will try to write more soon.

Love,

Mommy

Again.

Dear Parker,

Again, I am tragically behind. So much so that I don't even know where to start.  I'm just going to jot down things that are going on with you right now.

*Today at Wal-Mart, Mom and I were looking and something and I glanced over at you to make sure you were staying out of trouble.  You were standing by a rack of hula-hoops wearing this hilarious pouty face.  Of course, you got the hula-hoop.  You didn't even have to ask.  We are suckers.

*You love being outside.  We completely exhausted you this weekend.  Yesterday, you had Parker and Mom day.  You asked to go to both the museum and the zoo.  So, you did.  You were wiped.  Today, you played outside all day.  Then you fell asleep on the couch at 5pm.

*Your favorite songs right now are "My Favorite Things" and "King of New York."  You're pretty hilarious.  If you miss a lyric, you make us go back and start the song over.  You just wander around singing various verses to "My Favorite Things."

*You are VERY bossy.  We are working on it, but man.  Baby.  It's killer.

3 more weeks kiddo.  We'll get our lives back.  I love you.

Hard Times

Dear Parker,

Last week was really rough.  I started musical rehearsal in addition to the pep band games.  I didn't get home until 7:30 two nights and 10:00 or after the other two.  It's really taking it's toll on you.  I feel horrible about it.  On top of that, your ears still aren't better and you got the flu on Tuesday night.  Luckily, your Aunt Lauren came to stay with you since neither of your Moms can really afford to take another day off of work.

This week isn't shaping up to be much better.  Mom and I are going on a date tomorrow night (which we really need to do, but isn't going to help you any.)  Tuesday, I have rehearsal.  Wednesday, you are getting your tubes, Mom is leaving for her conference in Chicago and I have rehearsal, so Nancy is coming over.  Thursday, I have rehearsal, so Aunt Lauren is going to watch you and then Friday we have to go to Michigan for Aunt Kimber and Uncle Steven's baby shower.  It's just going to be busy and hard since your Mom will be gone for half of it.  I am praying that these tubes help you feel better and that the procedure and recovery is easy for you.

Yesterday, you had an extremely hard day.  It started off by you kicking and hitting me over cheese and crackers and it was just all downhill from there.  It was the worst you have ever behaved in your life.  Luckily, it was (relatively) short lived in that it last only for the day.  After dinner, I got brave and took you out (again - the first trip was a DISASTER) and you were wonderful.  Now, it could be because you were tired or because I promised you 30 minutes of tv if you were good since you had lost tv previously in the day.  But, whatever it was, you figured out how to be a good little girl again.  I think you mostly don't feel good and miss me and just don't know how to deal with that.

We had a much better day today.  I'm glad that the "terrible twos" we experienced yesterday don't appear to be a permanent thing.  Tonight you wanted to listen to "Annie" and spent quite some time running around the loft singing with the cd and attempting the dance moves to "Hard Knock Life."  It was hilarious.  You've also been very into reading your own books lately.  The books we read frequently, you can pretty much say verbatim.  If you forget, all you need is a couple of words and you get the whole page.  Books that you aren't as familiar with, you just make something up based on the pictures.  I think it's so cute.

You are still taking good care of your babies.  I can't wait until you have babies in your life to actually help take care of.  You will be such a good cousin and, someday, big sister.

I love you Parker.  Let's get through this week together.
Love,
Mommy

Snow Day (Part 1)

Dear Parker,

We are currently in the middle of an ice storm, so we all had a snow day today. Although you can't tell from these pictures, you were driving us a little crazy today.  You were not always listening and had one really good tantrum over a pair of clean socks.  "2" is proving to be rather challenging.  On the bright side, we did have some great times.  You played for a long time this morning with your babies and your animals.  With a quick glance, it's hard to find you in the photo! :)  You love to take good care of your babies.

 After you got dressed a BEAR showed up, so you got on your horse to chase it down and squish it.  Below is your "There's the BEAR!" face.

 This is just you bein' cute.

At your request, we were looking at "baby" pictures and movies of you today and I can't believe how little you were even a year ago.  You are growing up so fast.  You say the funniest things and are getting to be so smart.  (Too smart for your own good, often.)  Monday night you began proposing compromises. "Let's compromise!"  You generally come up with good compromises so it's hard for me to say no.  You are so creative and have such a vivid imagination.

We visited Grandma and Grandpa over the weekend and you loved playing Super Capes with Uncle Steven and Grandpa.  It makes me laugh because you are just completely happy running around with your cape and chasing the villain "Super Scary."

Alright, well this was such a mish-mash post.  Out of order, not making much sense...yeah well.

Regardless of my writing skills or your trying nature lately, I love you more than you know.

Love,
Mommy