A Christmas to remember

First we'll start with Christmas Eve- where we went to an awesome Christmas Eve service at church. There was no nursery so the boys were in the service with us. Such a special night....

Afterward we came home and got in our PJ's so we could go look at Christmas lights!! Doesn't Parker look excited?!?! :) We ran through Wendy's for some yummy dinner and went a lookin'! Once we got into the neighborhood I brought Parker up with me in the front seat so he could really see the lights! SO fun!!!

6:30am came along this morning and my little Parkerman arose...I went and got him and we came in and began jumping on the bed excitedly waking daddy up so that we could start the Christmas day process.

So we got up (Beckham was still in bed...I figured he wouldn't mind us starting the presents since he is only 2.5 months old!) and ran into the living room. Parker opened his first two presents- a tent with a tunnel attached and a puppy dog pillow pet.

At about this point, little Beckham made his appearance!!! We opened a present that Grammy and Poppy gave him and he was thrilled as you can tell! :)



We then at our pancake breakfast that Blake made for us...YUMMY!!! He made my pancakes say I love you....SO sweet!!!


NOW...time for the fun...as I was cleaning up Parkerman of his syrup this was awaiting him in the garage!! A gift that Gigi/Poepoe, Grammy/Poppy and Mommy & Daddy all got him!!!


So we got Parkerman all dressed for the cold and went out to get his new Powerwheel!!!

Once mommy got in it and showed him how it drives- he got the hang of it and LOVED IT!!!! All he wanted to do all day long was drive his new "TRUCK"!!! His best friend Wesley came over and got to have a ride too. SOOO precious! Parker wasn't the best at steering, but he could drive in one heck of a circle!!!!! :)

After a nice morning nap and a visit from Grammy and Poppy- we loaded up the car and went over to Gigi and Poepoe's house for the remainder of the day where we got to spend time with Mimi and Papa and Aunt Autumn and Uncle Jimi too.

We ended the night with putting my sweet precious Beckham to bed and then going into Parker's
room and turning the lights off and getting into his tent with a flash light. It was the greatest ending to the greatest day getting to play just a little bit more!!

What a WONDERFUL day it was. The joy I get to experience of making Christmas morning fun for my child (soon to be children) is unending! The joy I get from creating new traditions with my own family is the BEST!!! I get to be a kid again and it is SOOO fulfilling! I can't express the excitement of having children and I am loving every minute of it. Today, I was standing out in the freezing cold watching Parker drive in a circle on his powerwheel...it made me so happy- so happy to watch him enjoy such a fun gift- so happy that I could stand out there and allow him to have plenty of time to just drive. How awesome today was...how awesome how awesome! I know it will only get better...I know the excitement, as Parker and Beckham get older and understand more about Christmas, will grow to be even better! Praise God....thank you, Father, for my little family...thank you that I get to enjoy these holidays. I look forward to incorporating Jesus into our holidays and having time in God's word amongst all of the presents and excitement!!!!!

Today...was such a Christmas to remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick laugh

Today- while I was wrapping presents for Christmas, Parker brought me his police truck (not a Christmas present) for me to wrap, just for fun. So, I wrapped it and handed it back to him. I asked him "well, are you going to open it?" and he began to unwrap it. With my assistance we got it open and once it was open he said "WHOOOOOOAAA!!!!!". haha...he has already learned the art of "acting" surprised! :)

He makes me smile

When he sees me after being apart and yells "HIIIIII" with a big huge cheesy grin

When he holds his hand out towards something and says with passion "It's HOT"

When he says goofy things like "Whoooo WEEEE.....It's hot!!!!"

When he walks around the house with his hands held out palms facing upward and saying "Where de go"???? Mouth open and genuinely looking for where "it" went.

When I say "ready set go" and he squats down getting ready.

When he takes his shoe off and sniffs it, then says "puuuu WEEE!"

When he asks for something and I say "what do you say?" and he says "Pwhee!!!"

He makes me smile so much during the day....he is such a funny goofy child and everyday I love watching him grow and learn news ways to make me smile!!

The blessing of grass between my toes...

Today, Parker, Beckham and I spent much needed quality time out on our driveway. Parker was "mowing" with his little lawn mower and I was holding Beckham. Parker went out into the grass and was having so much fun that I decided to go join him and let Beckham experience grass on his little tender feet. From there- we laid Beckham in the grass and then Parker laid next to him...and then I laid in the grass next to Parker then we collected leaves and I would throw them at Parker who would then laugh and squeal with joy. It is the BEST feeling in the world that God has blessed me with a body that is physically able to sit in the grass and roll around and play with my little boy (soon to be boys :) ). Father, thank you for your kindness, grace and mercy towards me- that I can enjoy life with my boys and FEEL and ENJOY the blessing of grass between my toes!!!!!

Save that dance...

Last night, as I was getting ready for my girls night- I had the ottoman moved out of the way and Christmas music was playing on the TV....it was just Parker, Beckham and I home and we were all three in our PJ's (my girls night was a PJ party). I looked at Parker and said..."Parkerman, dance with Beckham and I!!". Parker got so excited and did his run around crazyman dance while squealing; then he would run into the kitchen and run around the island while I chased him squealing just as much! Oh, how I will cherish these nights of dancing in the living room....oh how I will cherish his sweet little innocent smiles and excitement over spending time with his mommy being silly and goofy. Parker- please always save a dance for your mommy as you grow up into the man that God intended you to be.

Sweet times...

Sweet times include:

Sitting on the couch with my arm around my Parker snuggling close while he watches movies of garbage trucks on my itouch.

Laying my sweet Beckham on the changing table (or smile table as I have named it) and then seeing him give me the biggest cheesiest grins and coo's!!!

Watching Parker stack all of the couch cushions up- then looking so proud once he's done.

Going in to pick up Beckham out of his crib when he wakes up in the morning....so sweet.

Marching around the island with Parker in the kitchen with cooking utensils singing as if we are in a marching band

Sitting on the floor with my arms open WIDE saying "one...two...THREE" and then having Parker run and JUMP into my arms with his arms squeezing my neck as tight as he can

Playing in the back yard with Parker teaching him what "ready, set, GO!" means and then racing him across the yard.

Seeing Parker turn and look at me over his shoulder begging me to come chase him and then seeing him giggle and run when I jump up after him.

Laughing at my sweet Parker when he is being silly and goofy and then watching him start laughing because I am laughing so hard!

Hearing Beckham cry over the baby monitor and then looking at Parker and saying..."uh-oh (mouth open wide) Beckham's up...let's go get him!!!" and then watching him RUN into Beckham's room.

When I would kick the ball in the back yard, Parker would yell "Whoooooooooaaaaa!!!!!!!". Thinking I just kicked the ball the furthest out of anyone on this earth!

When Blake and I go pick him up from the nursery at church...we peak our heads in and see him playing and then yell "PARKERMAN!!!" and he looks up, realizes it's us and then his mouth drops wide open in excitement and he RUNS to the door soooo happy to see us!!!!

When he wakes up in the morning- he is standing at the door, sometimes with his monkey blanket, sometimes not, waiting for me to open the door...then reaches up for me to hold and cuddle with him.

I love how he calls milk "doke"!

I love that he is so comforted when I am around him or holding him when he is in a new place or uncomfortable place. (See "perfected in my love" blog)

I love love looooooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee being a mommy...I love my boys more than my heart can handle and I am so grateful to the Lord that He has entrusted them to me. It's the best job anyone could have ever given me!!!

One of those moments...

Today, I had "one of those moments" where I was thinking about all of the parents who have lost their children. When I put myself in their shoes it made me so so so so soooooooo incredibly grateful that I have my children on this earth with me. It made me want to go into their rooms and wake them up and hug and kiss them a million times. It made me realize that even on my worst day as a parent....that would be a parent's who lost their child best day because it meant that they HAD their child. It made me realize that the frustrations that I feel throughout the day are so small and so WORTH IT because my children are with me.

Beckham Cole

My sweet little Beckham Cole. He is 2 months or 9 weeks old! What is he like????

Well, for a while, if Beckham wasn't eating or sleeping he typically was crying or fussing. He spits up a LOT and seemed to be struggling with a little case of reflux. However, it seemed like overnight, he began to come alive! He is smiling and coo'ing like crazy and he is starting to be a happier baby when awake. Here is a video of the little smiles and "coo's" that I get that absolutely steal my heart. You will have to excuse the "owl" noises that I make- that is the way I get him to smile and it is almost like he tries to imitate my mouth and my voice when I do it.


Beckham goes to bed around 7:30-8 and sleeps anywhere from 5-9 hour stretches- then wakes up to eat and will sleep some more...typically sleeping an accumulative of 11-12 hours. Accumulative is the word, though...he is not sleeping that straight through! :) However, my 5-9 hour stretches are wonderful!!!! He takes anywhere from 2-3 naps a day lasting anywhere from 1hour to 3 hours.

He is currently participating in pacifier training as he is a baby that needs to suck...so I am working on him to take one. He is not nuts about it, but in crucial moments like nap-time, bedtime or eating dinner at a restaurant...he will take one!

So- that is what is going on with my sweet little Beckham. I love him more than words can describe and as he is becoming alive life with him is getting more and more exciting!

TRUCK!!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite things about being a mommy is figuring out what my child's passion is and then making it my own. Parker LOOOOOOOOOVES trucks...therefore, I had to learn all of the trucks' names. Excavator, Skid Steer, backhoe, fire truck, auto carrier, cement mixer, tow truck, dump truck, tanker, box truck, crane, bull dozer, tractor, and last but not least GARBAGE TRUCK!!! I love getting so excited when we see trucks, because I know he gets so excited! At home, our favorite thing to do on garbage day is to RUN outside when we hear the garbage truck and go watch it. Parker will hear it and then open his mouth as if he is gasping and say 'TRUCK!' and then literally we run to the door and go outside to watch the garbage truck lift up our trashcan and empty it. Usually we get to wave at the garbage man too. Occasionally, Parker will go to the window and say 'truck' and point as if he hears the garbage truck...it is so cute and yet so sad to have to tell him there is no truck outside. Goodness....how fulfilling it is to have a little boy in this stage. Life is SO exciting for him and I love making it exciting for him. I love watching him be goofy and silly and I love encouraging that. I love that he has an imagination already growing and I love watching him use it. It's so much fun to be his mommy....I am going to miss these early years where he is so innocent and so excited about life. However, I look forward to continuing to figure out what his passions are and making them my own, so that I can help make moments, that could be bland and boring like the trash getting picked up, EXCITING and fun!!!!

Bath-time...

One of my favorite things to do is take a bath with Parker in my big bath tub. We sit in the tub and I turn cartoons on my TV that I have in my closet and we sit in our hot bath, playing with toys and watching cartoons. I know, that this is a short time period that I will be able to do this and I am truly enjoying it while it lasts and will miss it terribly when Parker gets too old. We have so much fun and I am quickly turning my little boy into a lover of baths as he wants to take one anytime I even hint at turning the water on! Now that Beckham is in this world he gets to join us in our bath-time and there is nothing better than having my two baby boys in the bath tub with me!

Parker recently started to think me pouring water over his head to wash the soap out of his hair is actually kind of funny! Parker used to SCREAM when I would do that...however, now that he is older I warn him..."Parker, mommy is about to pour water over your head....one....twooooooo....THREEEEEE!!!!"....and when I start counting he starts squealing and giggling with delight! It's the BEST! Then, he takes the bowl and fills it up with water and starts pouring the water over his head himself!

Another favorite about bath-time is when I am getting out of the bath, Parker will go grab my towel and bring it to me. He is already such a sweet little gentleman, and I absolutely love him with all of my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The big brother...

I realized today when Parker bumped his head on a table that he could clearly run under just a few weeks ago, that he is growing and getting older quickly. Just a reminder that I must cherish every moment...every little memory that would normally pass me by. So today...I loved several things about my Parkerman....

1. Watching him figure out how to pick up his lawnmower and get it to roll down his slide in the backyard.

2. How he figured out if he looks through the cracks in the fence he can see into the neighbor's yard.

3. How he loves to rough house and play with me on my bed. He yearns for me to throw him on the bed and jump on there and play play play. I love that so much! I love that he WANTS me to play with him and be with him!!!! So today as we were playing on the bed, I yelled "Pillow fight!!!" and then whopped him with my pillow...he laughed and then grabbed a pillow and threw it at me...I fell over and he just laughed and laughed!!! We did that over and over again, until it was time to play ring around the rosy!! So I stand up on the bed and he excitedly jumps up and grabs my hands and we jump around the bed singing and then FALL DOWN!!! LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH!!! Oh....tickle tickle tickle and hug hug hug!!!!!!!!!!! Those bed moments are some of my favorites!!!

4. How Parker will get on one of his riding toys and then pat the seat of his other riding toy wanting me to ride it and chase him around the house!

5. The past couple of nights he has let me rock him...like a baby... with his head in the crook of my arm. I sing "I love you forever" while staring into his eyes...until he drifts off. Heaven...on...Earth!

6. I love holding him. Even though he is almost two- I love that he reaches up and wants me to hold him. I don't care if I am spoiling him...eventually he is going to be too cool to be around me and I am going to hold him every minute I can and snuggle with him every moment I can, because I only get these moments once in my life...I only get to be a mommy to him once!

Parker, "I'll love you forever...I'll like you for always....as long as I'm living...my baby you'll be!!!"

My sweet little Beckham

Today I realized that my sweet little Beckham is becoming alive. As I was breastfeeding him, I happened to look down at him and see his beautiful blue eyes staring at me. Oh, how I looooove this stage. So of course I get a huge smile on my face and stare right back into his eyes. Then, unexpectedly he SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OHHHHHHH big and cheesy too!! That was IT! I went nutso! It wasn't the first smile, but it was the first smile I received without begging or talking! :) Tonight, as I was getting him ready for bed, he was staring at me again...and I just starting talking to him and singing to him, with our eyes locked, and I relished in watching him get so excited to have me talking to him. It's unconditional love...on both ends...it's beautiful, and I know this is just the beginning of a love that will overwhelm me on a daily basis!