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!

Small little memories...

Today had some fun small little memories I just want to jot down to remember...

While I was putting on my makeup this morning- Parker wanted to sit on my lap. To me it was such a sweet moment that my little boy wanted to share with me...so up on my lap he went! It was so precious to see him ask me what everything was and to have him stare at me while I put my makeup on. I know he will lose interest in something like that soon- so I cherished the moment!!

I love love love how when Parker wakes up from his nap- he just wants to be held in my arms till he is fully awake.

We went to the park today and had a blast! At one point, Parker took a break from running around like a crazy man- and sat on the stairs leading up to the slides. He sat down with his sippy cup and then patted the spot next to him for me to sit. Once I sat down he put his hands in his lap and we just sat next to each other staring out into park...quiet and sweet! Ohhhhhh......

I loved sitting on the ground at the park throwing leaves into the air with Parker.

I loved playing ring around the rosy and falling down into the grass together.

I loved how, when I was working out today, I would lay on the floor to do sit-ups or push-ups and Parker would come sit on top of me!

On our way home in the car, Parker was upset about something and when I reached my hand back to calm him down- he held my hand so tight and didn't want to let it go.

I love how when I sit on the ground and say "one...two...THREE!!!!!" with my arms open wide, he comes running and LEAPS into my arms hugging my neck so tight I may have to go to the chiropractor!!

I just love when he reaches up longing for me to pick him up...

I love watching him play......

I just love being his mommy!!!!!!

You never know when it could be the last time...the next day he could "grow out" of wanting to hug me or wanting to play with me...I have got to cherish every single small little memory!!!!

Some more of my favorite things....

This morning Parker did some of my favorite things....

1. We eat breakfast on the couch and watch cartoons every morning- when I was done, and my plate was empty- he came over and picked up my plate saying "all gone" and then walked off with it...he set the plate on the floor, waved at me saying "bye" and then picked up the plate and put it (or should I say dropped it into) the sink. SOOO precious to me!!!

2. When Beckham woke up I was in his room nursing him. Parker came in and began bringing his matchbox cars and trucks into the room one at a time...showing me one saying "car" or "truck" and then setting them on the floor in a perfect line.

3. I love how he walks over to Beckham's trashcan that has his diapers in them and then says "dirty" or "trash".

4. I love how when Parker wants you to chase him, he walks slowly away from you, looking over his shoulder giving you such a sweet little playful grin...then when I jump up to go chase him he runs runs runs giggling sooo playfully!!!

5. Parker has been waking up too early the past week...like around 5:30ish. However, I go in and get him and bring him to bed with me...getting to snuggle with him!!! I haven't gotten to snuggle like that since he was Beckham's age! Ohhh...feels SOOO wonderful! It makes having him up that early worth it.


What a great morning it has already been and it's only 8:30!! ha!!

Perfected in my love...

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love".

When I was in college I attended a Bible study that my mom was teaching and this verse came up. That there should be no fear in God's love. My mom related perfect love to a mother and a child. Yesterday I experience this- seeing that Parker was perfected in my love...

I went to a birthday party at the Little Gym. I was out in the waiting room getting Beckham wrapped up in my sling and I ushered Parker into the gym part so he could start playing. Well, he stood by the door and wouldn't touch any of the beloved gym accessories that he so dearly loved to play on. While I was wrapping Beckham up I could see him...just standing there...I thought..."that's weird, he LOVES this place- I wonder why he is just standing there, looking so scared and shy". Well, I realized the minute I walked into the room with him all fear was gone...he immediately ran away and began to play hard on anything and everything he could touch and was running around dancing and falling on the floor having the time of his life. Parker was perfected in my love...when mommy was gone- fear came in- when mommy was there everything was ok, because he knew mommy would keep him safe and mommy loved him.

This was just one example of the many times I get to live seeing Parker perfected in my love...it makes my heart so filled with joy, because I know right now he finds safety and comfort in my love for him. I am a source of security for him and it thrills me.

It also is amazing that God gives us earthly examples of how we should feel in HIS love! HE loves us more that anyone on this earth and we, being perfected in his love, should not fear anything because our "daddy" is here and with us no matter what!

Beautiful picture....