Today's Fun Day!

Today was a dream day. I got to spend my day having fun with my little boy. After his morning nap, we loaded up the car and went to the Children's Museum. They have a toddler room and he LOVED it. When we first got there- I had to sit on the floor with him and just hug him and put my arms around him to assure him that it was ok and that this really was a fun place. He then realized I was right and TOOK OFF! However, that little time we had at the beginning filled my heart to the brim and I cherished it!!! Anyways, he got to run around and play with light switches, nobs, doors, door bells, slides, stairs made of foam, mirrors, a red truck...everything...it was so fun to watch him light up and play hard.


After wearing him out there- we loaded up and drove down the street to Hermann Park where we found the best little spot for a fun picnic!
I had forgotten how easy it is to travel and do fun things when you have the Lord helping you! Before we left I prayed that God would help us find this place, parking, Hermann Park, a lunch spot, etc. Well- did He ever deliver, or what? Not only did he help me find the museum, but a FREE parking spot! Praise God! Okay- so once we were on to Hermann Park- he helped me find the park and then a parking spot RIGHT in front of a PERFECT picnic spot! Here is a picture of our car so that you can see how close we were to the car from our picnic!

I was able to leave Parker in the car while I set up the picnic and then go get him. It was ideal! Here is a picture of us having a wonderful picnic!



Once we got home- we were sitting out on the drive way waiting patiently for daddy to arrive as he was only a few minutes away and he was pushing his toy lawn mower around. He stopped at one point and came over to me and hugged me....PAUSE....please PAUSE my life for a moment so I can SOAK THIS IN!!! It was a little piece of heaven! He is growing up so fast and right now he needs me for those little hugs and reassurances, but I know they won't last for long!

What a day! Now he is napping and daddy is napping and I am having some quiet time to remember all of the fun this day held! Thank you Father that you have allowed me to stay home to share these precious moments with the baby boy you have entrusted into our hands!

His Little Words

So that I won't forget, I thought it would be fun to right down his little "words" he says right now at 14 months.

1. When he wakes up from sleeping and is standing in his crib- I walk in and turn the light on- he immediately starts pointing to things and saying "da?"
2. He walks around the house saying "oh...oh...OH...OH...OHHHHH!!!"
3. When he has something in his hand or just exploring, he excitedly says "Oby, Oby, Oby!!".
4. Not knowing if he is really calling daddy he says "da da?" "da da?"
5. Ah-ee, Ah-ee, Ah-ee
6. "Wha-duh?" as he points at anything and everything.

Right now a lot of what he says- he says with an inquisitive voice- making it sound as though he is asking us questions. It's the cutest thing on this Earth.

From what people tell me- their little "word" phases come and go so quickly and before you know it your little babbler is speaking in full sentences. I never want to forget these cute little babble stages!!

If it would only last forever...

A few things that I cherish everyday with Parker that I wish would last forever:

How he goes and gets a book and then walks over to me with it and as I open it, he crawls into my lap and waits anxiously for me to begin reading.

How at night when I rock him- he wraps his legs around my waist, his arms around my arms and lays his head on my chest as I sing to him.

How when he is outside walking around and he gets to what I call "BIG step, Parker"- he looks up at me and extends his hand to mine so that I can help him up and down the big steps of his little world.

How when he is upset, for whatever reason, he comes up to me and holds onto my legs and longs for me to pick him up.

I know that one day, my little man will grow up and no longer need me the way he does now. I know that he will one day fall in love with another woman and she will take the spot of #1 in his heart- but right now- I will cherish being his mommy- and I will cherish everyday I get with my little man, and I will cherish being needed for the "big steps" of his life.

A Much Needed Day

Well, today was a much needed day in every form of the phrase, and here is why:

First, I began my day with a door bell ring at 7:45am and my sweet mother-in-law had sent her house cleaning lady who was standing at my door ready to clean my house from top to bottom; EVERY-SQUARE-INCH! Oh what a sight for sore eyes.

Second, Parker and I left this beautiful cleaning lady to go over to see my grandparents for a crab legs and shrimp lunch. Now, as much as I LOVED the food, it was the date with my grandparents that I loved more. They will be 88 this May- and even though their mind is still in their 60's, their bodies are showing their age. I don't know how long I am going to have my grandparents in my life, but I never once want to regret not spending time or showing/telling them how much I love them, when my Lord decides to bring them home.

On the way home, Parker and I stopped off at the neighborhood park by our house. We stayed and played and Parker roamed around exploring every little square inch of that park. We went up the play gym and then slid down the slide...Parker squealing and laughing; grinning ear-to-ear as we slid down that slide. I hope I can brand that image into my mind.

After dinner it was off to bath time. I do love bath time, but there is a part in his bath book where I hold my hand up and then SPLASH it into the water to go along with the book. Well, tonight, he expected it!! He got really excited and closed his eyes and then after the splash, he stuck his hands up in the air and SPLASHED!!! The most fun part, is that we would get into splashing wars- and after the walls, toilet, floor and mirror were all splashed with water- bath time was over.

Once Parker had his PJ's on- we went into the living room where I usually watch TV and he walks around and plays for the little bit of time before bed- but tonight he was SO GRUMPY. I thought "Hmm...Parker, are you going to make it to 7 or will this be a 6:30 bedtime night?". We went in his room and that is where I realized that all he wanted was for me to sit down with him and let him play while I watched. I would then grab him and lay on my back and fly him through the air...he laughed so hard, he got the hick-ups...then we tickled and played and flew and tickled. It was so fun. As the night wound down and his eyes began to get droopy I sat him in my lap and put his head on my chest and sang...it was all history from there.

The point of the blog- is to remind me that the beautiful things in life are still there. It is so easy to forget while I am going through this first trimester of pregnancy and I am SO exhausted and I don't feel good and my motivation for anything in life is gone...today reminded me that life is still so so good and even though this short period of time, my physical energy does not match my mental/emotional energy, this will pass, but I can't let these little joys in life such as today pass me by.

TODAY, was a much needed day!!!

I found his giggle spot

Tonight- before it was time for Parker to go to bed- we were sitting on the couch- Parkerman on my lap facing me. I would say "upside down" and he would bend backwards and look at the TV upside down- then bring his head back up and smile at me...we did this a few times and when he bent his head back to look at the TV I found his tickle spot! Now, my son is ticklish ALL OVER- and will laugh anywhere he is tickled- but under his chin on his neck is the prem-o of tickle spots! I started to tickle his exposed neck when he was looking upside down and he laughed like I haven't seen him laugh before! In return- I laughed- then he laughed, then I laughed.....oh my goodness...what a fun never-ending cycle!!!

A Year in Review

Wow- tomorrow morning at 8:58am it will be one year since our little love bug entered this world. I think back where I was this time last year and it's amazing what has gone on...

February 2, 2009 Blake and I were spending our "last night" as "just us" together. I was panic stricken as I could NOT imagine that life with a baby would be blissful and fun- and I just KNEW that Blake and I would no longer have the love we had for each other because everyone said that once you have a baby, your life (and marriage for that matter) would be "over"...by over I meant no excitement, no fun, etc.

February 3, 2009- 8:58am I hear the first cry of my baby boy entering the world- what a beautiful sound! (at least to us it was :) )


One month: Falling more in love every day...thinking how could I love any other stage more than this one:

Two Months: He smiled for the first time, and got to go to the church nursery for the first time! Also- got his first cold! Yuk!
Three Months: Really smiling now!! We are having SO much fun! He also laughed out loud this month, rolled over and went swimming for the first time!

Four Months: Starting to become a REALLY happy baby...his little personality is starting to come alive! His hands are ALWAYS in his mouth during this stage!

Five Months: Can life get any better than this stage? Barely starting to sit up...

Six Months: We had a six month birthday party where he got to try rice cereal for the first time!!! Sitting up on his own

Seven Months: He got his 1st two teeth!!!

Eight Months: Got to experience his first Halloween...he was a sock monkey!

Nine Months: Watch out...he is crawling!!!! He got his top two teeth and first hair cut...as you can see, he needed one!


Ten Months: He is starting to eat table food..i.e. not just baby food or mashed up table food...now that he has good teeth he can chew a lot!!He is also starting to learn how to walk! He also got to experience his first Christmas!

Eleven Months: Got his first molar! Whew! He is now a walking man!!


Twelve Months: Coming Soon.....


This baby boy changed my world and by change I mean for the better! My heart opened up to love another human being in a way that I NEVER imagined. I fell in love with my husband in a way that I never imagined and I began a life playing a new role that would be more fulfilling than anything I have ever done. The fear of my new life I had the night before Parker entered this world was all a myth...I can't imagine my life without Parker in it and I would never want to imagine it.

I love you, baby boy! Happy Birthday!

I wouldn't trade it for the world...cha cha cha

(Sung to the tune of La Cucaracha)
For a big, huge house,
Or for a super nice car...
I wouldn't trade it for the world,
For a lot of cash,
Or lots of nice clothes...
I wouldn't trade it for the world,
For nice jewelry,
or for nice restaurants...
I wouldn't trade it for the world,
For a high rise,
or a high paid job....
I wouldn't trade pulling my baby boy in his red wagon for the world. cha cha cha...(this line didn't quite go with the song tune...but hey, you can make it work)

Yes- I sung this to Parker yesterday as I am pulling him in his new red wagon. I am pulling him and he is saying his only true word that he knows...."uh-oh" and then I would repeat "uh-oh" and he would repeat "uh-oh" and we went on and on. It was such a moment....I am so grateful that I can be the one to talk to him as he learns new words- I am so glad that these little moments that would seam boring to someone else are moments that fill my heart with joy. I am so glad that we get the opportunity to experience life together....just mommy and Parker...and of course our favorite daddy when he gets home from conquering the world for us. :)

I wouldn't trade it for the world...