What a difference a year makes! 

April 2011 - Parker loved his first taste of "solid" food.  (I'm looking beat...)

 April 2012 - Parker insists on eating everything by himself... and he's pretty good at it!  Notice he also wants to sit at the table like a big boy.

This kid only takes one nap a day for about an hour.  Maybe an hour and twenty minutes if I'm really lucky.  It's usually lunchtime, so I eat and relax on the couch.  My time is precious and I just don't have the time or energy to post much... but here's some pics to enjoy.

Parker has been one busy little boy. In the past month he has been all over the state of California visiting friends, family, amusement parks, toy stores, beaches and parks.

We met our friends Mike and Jessica at the Oakland Zoo. It was great! Parker's favorite part was the large grass area where we had a picnic lunch.

One weekday after meeting Jake for lunch, Parker and I stopped at Happy Hollow. They have a small petting zoo, a few animal exhibits, and a couple rides. We showed up during a puppet show (I think) so the petting zoo and animal areas were empty. We were the only ones there! It was pretty neat. Parker got up close and personal with a meerkat. He loved going in and out of this tunnel a hundred times. Stopped hitting his head after the second try...

Parker showed me where the wallabies were sleeping.

We had a lot of rainy days in March so I had to get creative about things to do with a boy that always wants to be outside. We decided to go play at Toys R Us. Parker loved looking at all the toys and pushing a toy shopping car up and down each aisle. Then he spotted the balls and he ran over chanting "ball, ball, ball" pointing the whole way. I'd hand him a ball and he'd play with it and then throw it back in. This went on for twenty minutes. Then he found the big cars. He'd open the door (they have doors that open?!?!) and get in and out a bunch of times and then shake the steering wheel. This was another twenty or so minutes. He slept really well on the car ride home.

He really liked a hot pink Barbie car, but I chose this picture instead.

By the end of the month we packed up for our Spring Break trip to San Diego. We had planned on driving during the middle of the night so Parker would sleep the whole way. At the last minute we decided to leave in the afternoon. He did a great job in the car, but we planned lots of stops for some fun. At the grapevine we stopped for frozen yogurt and played in the grass.

Once in San Diego we made lots of trips to the beach and various parks.

Parker also met up with his best friend, Beau. It was very difficult to get a good shot of these two wiggle worms.


Parker also met a new friend while playing some chess.


And then it was Easter! Parker loved looking for the eggs and he loved discovering what was inside. His favorite might have been the slinky.



And that's it. Now we're all trying to get back to normal here.

14

14 things I love about my 14 month old

1. He loves to dance.
2. He helps throw trash in the trash can and put the laundry away.
3. He still only has two bottom teeth - it makes for a cute smile.
4. He'll feed himself (squirt pouches of baby food and his sippy cup of smoothie) with no mess. Still lots of mess with spoons.
5. He tries to jump! Very cute!

6. He is trying to talk a lot more - dog, duck, ball, balloon, bubbles, mama, dada, octopus (says ah, ah, ah - it's from a song about an octopus), tries to say "uh-oh" (just a high pitch "uh")
7. He is sleeping much better - 7:30 - 6:00 most nights.
8. He is better at getting changed and getting in his car seat.
9. He tries to talk on the phone.
10. Sometimes he crawls on top of me just to give kisses... they're sloppy.

Parker attacking me
11. He will cuddle with me - at least for a few minutes.
12. He likes his nighttime routine with dad. I can tell I don't read books or play games the same way. He looks upset and annoyed when I don't do things the w ay Jake does. I love that they have that special relationship.
13. He's getting so smart! I'm always amazed when he can point to something or do something I've asked for the first time. It proves how he is listening to everything! Jake and I really need to start that swear jar.... Anyways, we have a book about gorillas thumping their chests, so Parker learned how to thump his chest. The book had a cartoon looking gorilla, so I was shocked when Parker saw a photograph of a gorilla and started thumping his chest. It was cool that the idea of a gorilla transferred from weird looking cartoon to other images. I have other examples of how Parker is destined for Harvard, but I'll spare you all.... Just kidding. I'm just excited he's getting smarter than Roxy.... although that may still be up for debate. Roxy is pretty smart.


Parker thumping his chest like a gorilla

14. He's such a social kid; he's always waving and saying hi to strangers. It gets a little tricky when he tries to reach out and grab hands as people walk by... but cute nonetheless.


Parker at the Children's Discovery Museum

13 Months Old

This little guy is growing up way too fast. He has been so much fun, but a ton of work! We call him our little tornado because he leaves a trail of destruction wherever he goes. I clean up during every nap just for him to wreak havoc when he wakes up. He really wants to feed himself so that gets extremely messy. He'll be content just holding a spoon or toy, but soon it's flinging food in the air.

Although he's not much a talker (he's babbling a lot more), this kid understands A LOT! We are able to communicate with each other and this has helped a ton with his crankiness and changing him. He'll nod, point, or give the "more" sign. Most of the time he's not really asking for more of anything, but a change of scenery or something new. It also means he's hungry. He'll make the more sign as he walks into the kitchen and then points at the pantry. I ask if he wants something to eat and he nods his little head frantically. His favorite thing to eat these days is smoothies. I introduced him to smoothies when I got frustrated that he wouldn't eat any of the fruit I cut up for him. He LOVED it! Now he cries and points to the blender constantly. He also loved that I snuggled with him on the couch and shared the smoothie with an adult cup and straw. Now that's how he'd prefer to take his smoothie. I give him a toddler straw cup that's spill proof and he's always very disappointed he's not getting the big cup. Jake couldn't stand that I fed him on the couch, but I just love sitting with him. He even points to the couch and tries to pull himself up.

He's not able to pull himself up on the couch yet, but it's coming. And that means climbing out the crib is coming... Uh this kid keeps me on my toes. Just yesterday he walks into the kitchen and opens the door to the pantry! When did that happen?!?! Aye aye aye. This morning I desperately needed a shower, so I Parker-proofed my bedroom and left him with Sesame Street and some toys. He did fine (and I could see him from the shower the whole time), but as I'm drying my hair I see him open the freaking door! Good thing the gate at the top of the stairs was closed. Needless to say, Babies R Us (or somewhere) will be getting more of my money for baby proofing products.

He's been such a funny and happy little toddler. He likes to play chase and be tickled. He wags his little finger when we read "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" He loves splashing and playing in bathtub. He likes to brush his teeth. He waves hello and bye-bye. He gives me kisses when I ask (they are very slobbery). He loves his mom and dad and we love him!


Trying to get Roxy out from under the bed.

Birthday Cake

First Birthday 1/1/12

birthday boy on January 1, 2012

birthday boy on January 1, 2011



I can't believe it! Where did my little peanut go? This year really has flown by. It's scary that life can be so mundane and repetitive (I have referenced the movie "Groundhog Day" numerous times this past year) yet it can be over in a blink. There were times it felt like the days were going to last forever... now I look back at those days when Parker slept more on me than anywhere else and all I could accomplish was eating and showering and I want those days back... well sometimes... I love this kid more than he'll ever know. I look forward to the years to come watching him grow.

tons of presents!

Parker's whale cake. I made the whale of out of a rice krispy treat... his mouth started to melt a little. Oh well. Parker got his own mini cake to destroy.



At 1 year Parker is:
- 21 pounds
- 30 inches
- walking all over the place
- done with crawling
- LOVES Roxy
- likes to play with cars, trucks, things with wheels - even makes a "vroom" noise
- likes horses - smiles and points if one comes on tv
- likes Elmo - smiles and points if he sees Elmo in a store or on tv
- can point to my nose and bellybutton - working on ear, mouth, eyes
- understands A LOT (he'll walk and get a ball, truck, or other object when asked), but still no talking
- eats almost everything; loves goldfish and saltine crackers among other things
- starting to use his practice fork, spoon, and cup - really wants to eat and drink like us
- still hates being changed - screams and rolls around in protest
- has a devilish smile when he knows he's doing something wrong
- still takes two short naps a day
- still wakes up between 4:30 - 5:30 each morning.... uuuuhhhhhhh

Parker's First Christmas

We had such a great Christmas with our little guy. We traveled to Jake's hometown to see all of his family. Forget having a child, it's not being with my parents on Christmas morning that really makes me feel like an adult. Luckily, I have wonderful in-laws who make me feel comfortable and very loved. Thanks to all of our family for great Christmas memories.

Parker and his cousins

Of course Parker was incredibly spoiled the entire weekend. He got a ton of presents! I thought Parker would be more interested in the ribbons and wrapping paper than the actual toy. He did love tearing off the paper, but was very intrigued to see what was inside. Usually something was making noise or flashing lights so he wanted to get to it. We'd help him rip the paper off and then fight to get the toy out of the packaging (those toys are really secured in there!) so he could play with his new toy.

love this kid