Eating Pears in San Diego

Not too much time to write, but I think the title of the blog says it all. Please ignore the obnoxious "eating" noise I was making, but he would smile each time I did it so... whatever works! You may notice the little guy is in a walker which was a present from my mom. He doesn't really walk around in it yet but he is very close. Actually, when he gets excited he kicks his legs and pushes himself backwards a step.

5 Months

I've been getting some heat for not posting anything in a while. Well, it's been a lot to juggle work, guests, and a baby. I must say it has not been as hard as I thought it would be. First, I'm insanely busy at work, so I don't have time to miss little P. Second, I have the most wonderful family members who have come to stay with Parker while I finish the school year. Parker has been able to bond with so many of his relatives and I'm thankful for that. Now, I have just five more days of school to finish (3 full days and 2 half days... but who's counting....) then I am free!!!

Look who turned 5 months today!

Parker James (6/1/11)

I can't believe my little guy is five months old today! He's getting so much bigger and it seems like he's doing new things each week. He has discovered the joys of the "exer-saucer." He loves grabbing at all the animals and is getting so good at standing up in it. He has become so much more active and can't get enough of new things to look at. We get tons of smiles out of him, but most of the day he looks very inquisitive and acts like a little sponge, soaking everything up.

Parker playing in his "exer-saucer"

He also tries to put everything in his mouth. He has also discovered his feet and will suck on his toes. Yum. Changing his diaper has become more difficult because he'll grab his feet and not let go. I have to wrestle his foot away just to take the diaper off.

Putting various things in his mouth.

We feel so blessed to have such wonderful baby! We love him so much!

This is what Jake came home to after spending a week in Oregon for work.

I can't believe how big this kid is getting. He loves to wear his hats when he goes out for walks with his grandma. It has been great getting out of the house with the little guy now that the weather is warmer.

I've been so happy to have my mom and dad here this week to help with Parker (especially because Jake was out of town!). Thank you mom and dad!


I'm also very happy to have Jake back from his trip. Now we're all back together... one happy, little family.

Who the heck is this??

Who the heck is this baby?

We thought he was going to be bigger than his 15 lb 8 oz after seeing this picture...

Four Months!

How busy we've been! Not only did I survive the first week back at work, but Parker turned four months old! I can't believe how he has grown up. He has really developed into a more easy-going baby (oh gosh, knock on wood) and his sweet little personality is coming out more and more.

At four months Parker can:

- go four hours between feedings
- sleep for six hours at night (but has gone longer on some occasions)
- smile a ton (but he's mostly very serious... our little thinker)
- laugh
- eat rice cereal like a pro
- hold his head up
- roll from his belly to his back (but not regularly)

weight: 15 pounds 8 ounces (51st percentile)
length: 26 inches (63rd percentile)

Working Mom

I went back to work on Monday. After all the stress and tears in the weeks leading up to Monday, I'm actually very surprised at how well I handled it. There were no tears.... until Tuesday. Ha. I RUSHED home on Tuesday to see him and he barely looked at me. Then he gave my mom (the one watching him all day) a huge smile and giggle. Jake gets home a few hours later and Parker does the same smile and giggles for him. Oh, I did not handle that well. All the emotions/hormones/stress/lack of sleep got to me and I just started bawling and thinking I won't be able to bond with him. (My mom reassures me that I've already bonded with him and I know she is right, but at the time I was very upset.) It has been hard to adjust to not seeing my little guy all day long, but I keep reminding myself that it is not permanent. Summer will be here is six weeks and I'll be back to seeing him all the time!!!

Here is Parker eating some rice cereal for the first time. We tried and he loved it!!

Parker is Rolling

So, Parker has rolled over only a few times (three to be exact), but I was able to capture one on video! We just happened to be in my classroom getting ready for my return to work next week (yes, gasp, I go back on Monday to finish the school year - 6.5 weeks - and I'm extremely sad to leave the little guy) when he did this. I put a blanket down and put him on his belly for a little exercise. I looked at some graded student work and then looked down at Parker and he was on his back! I ran and got my iPhone and put him on his belly to see if he'd be able to do it again. Success!

I'm so proud of my little guy. It is so neat to see him reach these mini milestones!

We came home and he was rolling some more!

Parker Laughing

I was able to capture a little giggling from Parker. It might make you nauseous to watch... that's because I'm whipping my ponytail back and forth and trying to hold the camera. Parker seems to love to it... I had to sit down after. hahaha whatever works!

Lazy Weekend

Just channel surfing with dad...

Projects Around the House

We've been busy the past few months... not just with a newborn, but with moving into a new house. Jake (with help from his step-dad and my mom) built a cabinet/bookcase in our living room. There was a small alcove that we had no idea what to do with. The built-in turned out great and I'm so proud of Jake's hard work!

Here are before, during, and after photos:

Now I get to go shopping and look for a few more things to fill it with!

Three Months Old!

Our little boy is growing up so fast! It has been such an amazing week for little Parker. He finally giggled on Thursday (at his mom whipping her ponytail around and singing Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair"), but he hasn't giggled since... at least we know he can do it! He has been smiling a ton and that provides us with hours of entertainment. Here's the little guy while I'm trying to burp him:

Oh, that lil' Popeye...

Saturday morning we went to an Easter activity for the "mommy group" I'm part of. Jake, Parker, and I got to meet after other families and see what we'll get to look forward to as Parker gets older. The Easter activity was definitely geared towards older toddlers/kids, but we met families with babies that were Parker's age. There was an Easter egg hunt, small petting zoo, and the Easter Bunny!

Dad and Parker

Me, Parker, and local teenager dressed in Easter Bunny costume...

We also were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather! We tried putting Parker in his "big boy" stroller (versus using the car seat attachment we have) and went on a walk along the creek. There is a really nice path for strollers/bikers/runners.



So, at 3 Months here is what Parker is like:

- weight (as estimated using the Wii Fit): 14 lbs 6 oz
- babbles a lot
- is starting to smile more
- makes a serious/quizzical face more than anything (we think he ponders the problems of the world)
- still needs to be rocked to sleep (oh, my aching back)
- only takes 20/30 minute cat naps during the day (all the hard work rocking him for nothing, ha)
- a good night sleeper (usually a 5 or 6 hour stretch combined with another 2 or 3 hours)
- starting to hold his head up better, but not quite there yet
- has taken a bottle twice (very hit or miss... need to get better at that before I go back to work!)
- loves rattles
- has discovered his hands and loves to chew/suck on them
- we think his eyes are staying blue!

- he already has us wrapped around his little finger... oh, we're in trouble

Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks

I saw this on another blog and it cracks me up. Gotta love Tom Hanks!

Sister ESP

While growing up my sister and I fought like, well, sisters... We've become closer as the years have gone by and I'm so happy about that. She is a wonderful aunt and just a fun person to spend time with.

Throughout the years (even when we weren't getting along) I've always thought that we had a special sister connection... like ESP. We'd always be thinking the exact same thing or have these weird coincidences. Well yesterday confirmed it! We have some spooky sister connection.

It all started this past weekend when I had an intense urge to make these yummy treats:


(Image and recipe from Bakerella)

They turned out very tasty, but not as pretty as on the website. They are a a little too easy to eat (*picture me holding a baby with one hand and eating a cake pop with the other...) Also, with a normal cake you have the whole fifteen seconds while you cut a piece to rethink your decision and think of those calories. Not with a cake pop! I have found them to be delicious but very dangerous to keep in the house. So, I decided to call someone I knew would appreciate my warning against making these: my sister. I called her and guess what she was doing at that exact moment... getting chocolate to cover her very own batch of cake pops! We either have extreme Sister ESP or we're both just fatties who love a good dessert. Hmm... leave your opinions to yourselves.

Side note: I really didn't have intense cravings while pregnant, but have had a crazy sweet tooth since Parker was born. That happen to any other moms?

Rainy Days

We're stuck inside lately with horrible, rainy weather. Boo!

Those Eyelashes!

He didn't get them from me!

Parker's Favorite Things

Move over Oprah. At eleven weeks old, Parker James already has a few favorite things.

#1. the blinds on our windows - he will stare at them for hours... no pictures because, well, it's window blinds...

#2. his interactive bouncer/vibrating seat - wow! this is also one of my favorite thing because it has allowed me to put him down and actually get stuff done around the house. It's portable so I can move it into any room and Parker freakin' loves it! There is a waterfall that lights up, monkeys, birds, and frogs that move up and down, and music that plays. You can turn it on... or you can make it so Parker has to hit the bird or monkey and that turns on the music, lights, and waterfall.


He is so excited when he makes it go.

Here's his excited face when he makes all the lights and music come on.

#3. his dad - Parker's face lights up when Jake walks in the door. It is the cutest thing to see him smile and "talk" to Jake each night. He watches Jake walk across the room and won't take his eyes off him. It melts me heart.

I can't seem to ever capture the huge smile, but here he is telling dad all about his day.

For My Sister

Aren't they cute together? You're a natural, Allie!

I'm so happy my sister could meet me at our grandma's house for a little road trip last week. I drove the three hours with P and Roxy without any trouble. It did take a little longer than normal with a baby and dog, but they both did great! While there Parker got to spend time with his great-grandma and finally meet my cousin, Jake, and my aunt and uncle.