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

So... Do you like green beans or not?

11 months

My baby is 11 months old! I'm kind of freaking out at how fast this whole motherhood thing goes.

Parker Walking!!

(with Aunt Allie, Roxy, and Grandma Fairchild)
Thanks Uncle Rick for the video

November was a HUGE month for Parker. He took his first steps on Thanksgiving Day! He had been wanting to walk for a couple of weeks and would take one step/lunge towards me, but he wasn't balanced enough. Then, on Thanksgiving, tempted by some chips and dip, he went for it. I can't give you much more information than that because Jake and I weren't even there! Can you believe that!? I have been with this kid every day of his life and the one afternoon Jake and I decide to get out alone he walks. The nerve. He will still get down and crawl for things because he's much faster at that, but he's definitely interested in walking. Last night, he turned and saw a hat laying on the other side of the room and started walking for it. He didn't get all the way there... still only four or five steps then he just plops down and crawls or loses balance.

Other than the walking there's no other huge milestones. He might be saying "dog" (he says "daaaa") but I'm not 100% sure.

Parker still LOVES Roxy... she loves the food he drops...

Parker saw horses and mules over Thanksgiving weekend...

...and he learned how to drive...

He has been a pain to change or put in the car seat and he'll throw major temper tantrums! Other than that he is a very happy baby!! He just needs to learn how to cuddle more and I will be in heaven.

October 2011

October was a very busy month.  It started with Parker turning 9 months and taking his first airplane ride.  Aunt Allie came up for a visit and we went to the pumpkin patch.  Parker had his 9 month check-up where he was very squirmy and nervous about the nurse and doctor.  We could barely lay him down to get measured.  Needless to say, he's going through his clingy phase.  Later in the month we met some old LA friends for dinner in Carmel... well, we tried to have dinner.  We spent too much time getting drinks before dinner and it got too close to Parker's bedtime.  Oops.  The following weekends were spent with Jake's parents visiting (step-mom the first weekend and then mom and step-dad the second weekend).  We love the grandparents visiting because it means date night!  Aaah...  dinner at a nice restaurant where you don't have to worry about highchairs, food falling on the floor, bibs, keeping glasses and utensils out of reach, feeding someone else in between each bite you take...glorious.  Now it's November and my baby is ten months old.  Eek!  Where has the time gone?!?  We'll be yelling "Happy New Year/Birthday" to Parker in no time. 

Parker was a cow for Halloween.  No trick-or-treating this year, but there was a potluck celebration in our neighborhood.   Parker was a huge hit with the little girls.

 He loves the new blocks grandma got him.  His latest entertainment is taking everything out of toy basket and throwing it behind him.  I clean up during his nap so we can repeat later. 

Boring summary that is probably only interesting to me and the grandparents... 

At 10 months old Parker:  

- can crawl very fast!

- pulls up on anything

- climbs up on certain furniture

- loves Roxy's bed

- goes up the stairs, but not down

- will stand alone for seconds at a time

- still loves to push his walker around the house

- takes 2 naps a day (but never for consistent amounts of time)

- goes to sleep around 7:30 and wakes up between 5 or 6 (no more night feedings! woo hoo!)

- plays chase/hide and seek (and the most adorable thing is that he initiates the game) 

- can be impossible to change 

- now screams in protest (usually about being changed, but also if you take things away or won't let him play with the window blinds)

- will eat almost anything, but he loves shredded cheese, yogurt, and breads.  his favorite is anything i am eating and he loves being fed off of my spoon or fork.  he still eats jarred baby food with whatever finger foods i give him.

- we think he understands mama, dada, ball, roxy, up, no.... but who the heck knows.  he only babbles "mama" and "baba"

his 9 month appointment (he was 9.5 months) stats:

weight:  19 pounds 3 ounces (32nd percentile)

height: 29.5 inches (82nd percentile)

head circumference: 47 cm (90th percentile)

so, he's tall and skinny with a giant head. 

The many faces of Parker...

 

We considered Charlie Brown as a potential Halloween costume because of his giant head.  Parker's head circumference is in the 90th percentile.  Doesn't sound that crazy except that his weight is close to the 30th percentile.   Only v-necks for this kid.

He also has some crazy hair days.  We couldn't get a good shot of the back, but trust of us... it's full Nick Nolte.  

 

OK, now for the cute pictures....

Just a day in the life of Parker...


Please excuse the clutter, the music, and our annoying voices... but this what our evenings usually look like.

The past few weeks have been crazy! So much has happened:

Parker got his first tooth!
We celebrated my birthday.
We celebrated Parker turning 9 months old.
Parker went on his first airplane ride to San Diego.
I vowed to never fly alone with a baby ever again.
Parker started to get his second tooth while in San Diego.

Parker can crawl and pull himself up on anything. He'll walk along the couch and can even stand on his own for a few seconds. He also has a "push-cart" toy that he can use to walk with and he'll push it all over the house. I think he'll be walking soon! We go to his 9 month appointment next week (he'll be 9.5 months) and we'll find out how big he is.

For my birthday we went to Carmel

Parker loves the sand and doesn't try to eat it... but he did try to eat a piece of bark.

He bangs on the table demanding more Cheerios!

Loves snacking on Cheerios all day.

8 months

Our little guy is eight months old. Here's a glimpse into his life:

He'll wear any hat I put on him.

He loves the swing at the park!

He loved his first trip to the aquarium and was mesmerized by all of the fish.

He is obsessed with Roxy and her toys. He'll crawl back and forth down the hallway as I throw Roxy the ball. (Great way to tire this kid out for a nap)
Finally, he has started babbling! He says ma-ma-ma and ba-ba-ba. After months of silence it is so nice to hear him talk to me.

We are loving our baby Parker! This is such a neat stage!