Parker's birthday party!

We did Parker's birthday party the day after his birthday. He had lots of friends and family come, it was so much fun! We went with a Monster theme for our little guy :)

Here's a bunch of random pics. Enjoy!

Parker's birthday!

So for birthdays for our kids, we have a tradition. Daddy takes a day off work, and we all go do something together that the birthday boy would like. We had big plans of waking up, going to get pancakes for breakfast, and then heading to the aquarium. Parker loves watching fish!

However, things don't always go as planned.

At 8 am, when Parker awoke, Daddy went to get him out of bed. He placed him on the changing table. Well, Parker hates getting his diaper changed! He always sits up (usually naked) and plays with the light switch. As he did this today though, he was too far away. He lunged and jumped for it, and instead fell off the changing table. He hit his head of the door frame and split his face open.

So instead of going to get breakfast, we got to make a detour to the local children's hospital. It was very ironic to be sitting in the hospital that he spent his first days in. I would much rather be in the E.R. getting a few stitches than visiting the Cardiac ICU to see my poor miserable newborn, though.

They gave him a drug that made him very loopy and carefree. I liken it to Baby Vicodin. As they had a needle right up on his eye, he kept giggling and smiling at the ladies holding him still. It was hilarious. But once it wore off, he was absolutely miserable. Hungry, in pain, and absolutely exhausted. So after a quick nap in the car, we finally made it to the Aquarium!

Once he saw fish, he perked right up, and loved every second of it!


These animals were so funny! They loved to swim back and forth right in front of Parker, they kept doing it over and over!


Although I'm thinking the shark thought Parker would make a yummy treat.

And he loved playing in the play area. He had the place to himself, and had a blast. Its fun to see him acting more like a kid instead of a baby!


Happy Birthday Parker!!!

Parker's the birthday boy!

My itty bitty Parker-bean turned one today! I must admit that its been an emotional time for me. I've been looking back on our year and it almost makes me cry. The past year has brought me more tears and more joy than I could possibly imagine. He has had surgeries, endured feeding tubes, been poked and prodded, and yet has come out of all of it an incredible, happy, healthy baby boy. I used to be so afraid for him, but I'm worrying less and less. He's super resilient and so strong. This little boy doesn't tolerate being pushed around. He sticks up for himself. But he's a lover, not a fighter. He offers the best snuggles I've ever had. He lights up a room just by being in it. He has the best giggles and the silliest expressions. Here's some of the biggest things I've witnessed over the past year.

1- he has HAIR! Not a lot, but he was so bald for so long!

2. I think he realizes that we're rooting for him to be a lefty, so he hasn't picked a hand yet. We watch so closely, but he does things completely evenly, once with his right hand and once with his left.

3- Although we weren't sure how things would play out, he is developmentally right on track. He's walking along furniture, saying a few words, loves to play pat-a-cake, points at everything... he's just absolutely perfect.

4- He is a people person. He loves to hang out with strangers and play with them.... until he sees Mommy. Then he races right to me and cuddles right up.

5. He's gone from the least picky eater in the world to the most picky eater. At 6 months he ate anything we gave him- green olives, salsa, lemons, all baby foods, fruits, veggies, anything we would give him. Now? He loves MEAT. And potatoes. And fruit. But nothing green shall ever enter his mouth. At all.

6. He loves liquid. Give him a full sippy cup and he'll drain it so quickly. But of course, he won't drink a full bottle.

7. We went to the dr today (post forthcoming) and got his weight. On his birthday, he weighs 17 lbs 6 oz fully dressed.

8. He hates stuffed animals. They are a waste of space. But give him Little People or cars and he's in heaven.

9. He's still not sleeping through the night. But he's only waking up once a night! This is huge, he's always been such a horrible sleeper.

10. He adores his big brother. They are often playing alone in Colby's room. When Parker wakes up, Colby runs in and talks and plays with him. They read, they pretend, they drive cars together... The cutest thing is when we go to get them out of the car and they're holding hands. Such awesome brothers!

11. He holds our hearts. He has our entire family wrapped around his little finger. There's always someone to hold him, kiss him, or play with him!

New piano

We inherited a piano from Grandma Mitchell as she was getting rid of some things, and my boys are in heaven! Colby knows when Middle C is... he loves it because his name starts with C. He asked me when Middle P was for Parker!

Chubby little fingers as he tickles the ivories? Love them.

Parker is baaaaaarely tall enough to reach, if he stretches and stands on his tiptoes. Usually he just hollers until I put him in my lap.

Thanksgiving Buddies

I'm not big into Thanksgiving, but since its "baby's first" and Colby's old enough to enjoy it, we had a little fun. I pulled together this turkey onesie for Parker real quick. (Old onesie+leftover felt from Halloween+glue gun). You can see how impressed Parker-bean is. And how much he's sick of another photo shoot.


Colby had Thanksgiving fun at pre-school and had this super cute Indian vest (he refused to put the feather back on his head.)

My cute little boys together. I'm loving the warm Thanksgiving weather, too!

Beginning to wonder

I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I had kids just so I could take pictures of them :)

Cars

There is a huge past-time in our house right now. I guess I should've expected it with two boys. But I just love it! My little guys are obsessed with playing cars with one another. Parker pushes his around rumbling "bbbbbbbbb".... because thats what cars say. Didn't you know?

And then Colby is just obsessed with these little guys. Mario and Luigi cars he got for his birthday. Those suckers drive all day long!

It really is so much fun that they can play together. I love having two little boys!

Today is a sick day...

I'm guessing Colby brought home something from church on Sunday. He was up insanely early Monday morning, spewing. So after having him stay home from preschool, I notice that Parker's acting a bit weird. Apparently he caught it as well. He can't stomach formula, and even most solid foods aren't sitting well either. He's so super needy and clingy. If I put him down, he turns into a puddle of grumpiness. So I've been holding him all day as he's asleep on my chest. After a lunch that he actually ate (!!!) I turned on Sesame street for my boys. I come back and this is what I run into:

This right here is the little boy who, for 9 months, we had to rock and shush and pat and jump and swaddle and bounce to sleep (all at the same time!). The one who, when I tried the 'cry it out' method at 6 months, screamed bloody murder for 2 hours before I lost it and picked him up. He must be really sick if he's resorting to sleeping.