Random thoughts

Dear Parker,

This is going to be completely disjunct, but I have a couple random thoughts about you right now. So, here goes...

Last night we had pep band. Before the game, you wanted to sit on the throne of the drum set. So, we let you and gave you some sticks. You had WAY too much fun! It was super cute. I got a pretty grainy, blurry phone picture. I wish I had my actual camera. Your friend, Nancy, wasn't able to watch you last night, so you were on your own with your moms. It was way past your bedtime, so you were really tired and clingy. I often had to resort to conducting while holding you. You were so funny. You would imitate my conducting and try to conduct yourself. It was adorable.

Today, you were playing with your blocks and I noticed that you have started building towers with your square alphabet blocks as well as building things with with your lego-type blocks. You filled up an entire platform with the lego-type blocks and then started getting creative and adding other things on the top. Where did my little baby go? You are such a big girl.

I just don't remember when it happened. I don't remember when you became a real little person. I think you are truly the most amazing thing. I love you so much.

Love,

Mommy

Missing Me?

Dear Parker,

I just got a text from your Aunt Lauren that said you are really missing me today. :( That makes me sad. I miss you too, but I feel especially horrible when you miss me as well. I feel like it's my job as a mommy to stay home and take care of you, but I can't do that all the time. I'm sorry, baby. It will be okay and I will see you in a few hours (after my lesson with Abby) but please know that I love you so much and I miss you too.

I hope you have a better day after your nap.

I love you,

Mommy

Ridiculous Reading

Dear Parker,

You are taking this reading thing a little too far (well, maybe not, but it's pretty funny.) This morning, you were crying "Mommy! Mommy!" from your bed. I went in to get you up thinking that you wanted some snuggles. Boy, was I wrong!

I walked in and the first thing you said was, "Book!" while pointing to the pile of books leftover on the floor from last night. I asked if you wanted to get out of bed and read some books. You said, "No!" You wanted me to give you some books so you could read them in bed by yourself.

You wouldn't put the book down during your diaper change, while getting dressed or when I was doing your hair. You almost had a tantrum because I wanted you to eat breakfast instead of read a book. We had to compromise by keeping the book open on the table!

You are so funny. I have a feeling that you are going to be the little girl that reads under her covers with a flashlight!

I love you,

Mommy

Reading

Dear Parker,

You have always loved books. When you were little you chewed on them, you got a little bigger and you would look at the pictures. Now, you are reading them to yourself. Yesterday, you picked up "Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You?" and while flipping the pages, started saying some of the sounds in the book.

Today, after reading "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" for the bazillionth time with me, you took the book to the other room and started going over every page. When there was a funny picture, you laughed, when the beach page came, you said, "beach." Along came the second sprinkle page, you said, "sprinkle!" I think it's pretty cool.

We are going this afternoon to look at "schools" for you for next year. I'm nervous because I want you to be able to stay home, but I know it can't last forever. So, off looking we will go.

I love you. Keep reading!

Love,

Mommy

Proud

Dear Parker,

There are many things for which I am proud of you; here is the most recent. Before you were a year old, we took most of your bottles away. We did it slowly and one at a time. The week before your birthday we were left with your bedtime bottle. Then you got sick. We didn't want to try to take away what we thought would be the hardest bottle (for both you and us) when you already didn't feel good and were cranky. Then, you just didn't get better until right before Christmas. We were doing lots of traveling and you were on a strange schedule. We didn't feel that would be the right time either.

At the beginning of January, we started giving you less and less in the bottle, thinking we would wean you off slowly. When we got down to 2 oz, you had a fit. I was very nervous for what no bottle would look like. But, it had to be done. You are a big girl. So, we didn't give you a bottle last night. You asked for it. We said there was no bottle. You pouted and looked like you were going to cry - real sad tears, not tantrum tears. We told you that you were a big girl and that big girls went to sleep without bottles. You stopped pouting, said, "ok" and laid your head down. I was shocked. You didn't even ask tonight.

You are such an amazing little girl. I'm so proud of you- and I'm kind of sad that my baby is gone.

I love you,

Mommy

Dear Parker,

It's always really hard for me to return to week after a break (even a little one, like a day!) I think of all the fun times we had together and how much I love being with you. I'm glad that we don't have much going on this week so that we can spend every night together. I think it will be the last laid back week in awhile.

I know I say this all the time, but I just can't get over how big you are getting. Even in the middle of the night when you wake up scared, you tell me what you want. I'm so proud of you for being able to communicate so well at such a young age.

Okay, little (Big!) girl. I know this is very short and I didn't really say anything, but I have to go to work. I love you and I hope you have a good day with your Aunt Lauren.

Love you,

Mommy

Shaking with excitement

Dear Parker,

We are having a lazy day. This week has been really busy and you have been kept up HOURS past your bed time twice. So, we are hanging out in our jammies. (Okay, this is mostly because you have nothing to wear - I'm doing laundry - and I can't shower until you take a nap, but it's fun nonetheless.) We watched ate breakfast, watched a movie, read some books, you pottied like a big girl, we made pictures for Aunt Stacy and Grandma, read some more books and now you are playing with your alphabet books and puzzles. The house is covered in toys! :)

We were playing "Boo" this morning (guess I forgot where in the sequence of things that happened) and I was taken back to when you were a little girl. You were sitting on the office chair and when I said we could play "Boo" on the bed your arms and legs started shaking with excitement. You did that all the time when you were a little baby. I think it's so wonderful that you still do it. It reminds me of the baby you once were.

I love you, bits.

Mommy