6 months....already....grrrrrr

I would love to have the ability to freeze time, not always, just every now and again.  This is one of those times, I am in denial that our youngest is already 6 months old.  Is it even possible that 6 months ago we were meeting our precious Parker Bear for the very first time?

Your big bro LOVES to hold you and thankfully is pretty good about asking permission first!

Parker had his 6 month appointment last week and everything checked out just great!  He weighed in at 17 lbs 13 oz (50%), 28 1/4 in for length (95%) and 18 in for his darling head (95%)! 

Parker, you rollover but not too often and only from your tummy to your back because you are still not too fond of being on your tummy.  You make a lot of different noises, particularly when you're not being held.  You have recently decided you prefer to be held and are as quiet as a mouse when you're in someone's arms!

You love your o-ball, your rattle, and looking at your hands and at yourself in the mirror.  You enjoy standing up with assistance too.  Grant can still make you giggle like crazy, we all love watching you two monkeys just giggle at each other.  You can sit up but require a little stabilization from us, still a little wobbly!  You continue to be extremely tickelish, particularly on your back and we adore it!

Just in the past week you have taken a serious liking to your oatmeal cereal with cinnamon sprinkled on it.  We have even cut you off after having 3 bowls full in case your belly decided later you shouldn't have eaten so much in one sitting!

I love you Parker Bear and if the next 6 months fly by as quickly as these have I'm in some serious trouble!  Stay little just for your Mommy, okay little bud?

Love,
Mommy

filling the tank

Parker started on solids two weeks ago, took a break from them last week when he was sick, and is back at it this week, his 6 month birthday week!  As we all guessed he would, he eats like a champ thus far, yea!  It is such a different experience feeding a baby that actually cares and, dare I say, even likes food :)  Grant, we love you little buddy, but it is really no fun feeding you, you just can't be bothered with eating, always more fun and exciting things for you to be doing!

Parker all bellied up for his first feeding

Most of it ended up down his chin and on his bib but he has become much, much better at the spoon thing and eats until I finally cut him off....I'm afraid he's going to get a belly ache!

Pajama brothers!

hair fall down

Grant got up from his nap this afternoon and took one look at me and said, "Mommy, hair fall down.  Hair fall down, Mommy."  "Tie it up, tie it up Mommy."

Okay, my secret is out.  I wear my hair in a ponytail about 99% of the day and Grant had noticed me today with freshly blow dried hair, not in a ponytail! I had showered during their naps and my little guy wanted me to tie it back up, ha!

home

We had our own little Christmas at home before traveling for the actual Holiday.

Grant got this scooter from Grandpa and Grandma O and it was love at first sight!

A few spills but he's gotten pretty good at it, I can't wait for it to warm up so we can take it outside everyday!

 

Our little drummer boy!  The drum sticks were the highlight of this gift!

The cousins riding the alligator see-saw from Uncle Bruce & Aunt Lynne at our Christmas in Washington, what fun!

Grant was in heaven opening all of his gifts with the couins helping!



wrapping up our trip

Our family and the reason we travel so far each year!

I adore this photo, they are both sooo happy!

My friend, Jen, and her family came to visit for a day, so great to catch-up!

 Grant can't seem to take a trip to Iowa without getting to ride on at least one tractor, he was in heaven!

 I love this photo too, Parker after his bath being snuggled dry by Grandma 

Grandpa O's tv ears, Grant thought they were sooo cool

 Happy Birthday to me :)

 Can we go outside already?!!

the present

As I continue catching-up with our photos from the Holidays I thought I'd stop to make a quick note of happenings around here right now.  We have the flu in our home, various forms, Parker started on Sunday night and as of today I think we're turning the corner with him.  Frank has become the next victim and started in the middle of the night last night, UGH!  I'm praying quite hard that Grant and I are spared.  Today's outing for me, the first time I've left the house in the last 3 days, included a quick trip to buy Gatorade and more diapers, we really needed both to survive another day!

winter wonderland

There were a couple of crisp and frozen mornings where all of the trees were flocked and I had to stop for a few photos, just so beautiful and peaceful.  "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas," came to mind.

SIX

Six little boys, seriously?!!!  My two dearest friends and I have added six little boys to this world.  When the most recent addition, Joshua, was born I just laughed, it is comical to see us all together and there is NO pink to be seen, ha!!

L to R: Grant, Jake, Caleb & Jonathan

L to R: Grant, Parker, Caleb, Jake, Joshua & Jonathan

Moms with their boys!

We love and miss you all dearly!
xoxo

Sledding Fun!

We had some beautiful snowfalls while in Iowa and were able to go sledding three different times!  Grant had a ball and so did the rest of us!  Everyone should go sledding every year, I've decided it is good for the soul and keeps you young!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

On Christmas morning, Parker was his usual happy self...even in a pink buzzy chair, ha!  Thanks to the neighbors for letting us borrow some baby gear during our stay!

 Grant opening his stocking with Grandpa's assistance

 Grant showing off his new spatula and reversible apron, go Panthers and Chicago Bears on the other side!

Grant and Great-Grandma Sophia playing "prayers" at the table waiting to eat!  They cracked me up with all of their giggling and playing most of the afternoon!

Grant blew out the birthday candle after singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus

Grandpa caught us snuggling

More to come....sweet dreams for tonight!

Airplanes!

Parker is definitely the second child, we didn't get a picture of him on his first airplane ride, sorry little buddy, we promise to do better! I still can't believe it, it makes me so sad to realize we missed this! We didn't travel with our camera, deciding to spare us the extra weight & just use Grandpa's once we arrived, but we still should've taken at least one quick shot with our phone, no excuses! Grant was invited into the cockpit on one leg of our trip and the pilot took both of our pictures, with Frank's phone, sitting in the pilot's seat. Grant was in heaven! He still prays for airplanes nearly every night.  If you look closely at his shirt you'll see an airplane and it says "little pilot!"

I'm way, way behind on posts so I'm going to start here...Christmas Eve

Uncle Mark & the boys

Happy 5 months!

Happy 5 months Parker!

 To think...you were only as big as a sheet of paper 5 months ago!

 Brotherly Love!

Happy Snooze Year!

HAPPY 2011!

Happy New Year! 

Changing time zones with little ones is not fun, we've been up since 5:05 AM with Grant.  Parker made it as late as 6:15 AM, ugh!  It's like Daylight Savings all over again :(

Cheers to 2011!