Summer 2016

I created this paper chain with pictures of how big the baby was growing each week. Parker loved to take down a chain and he would collect it in his "baby book". It was a great visual to help him figure out when the baby would be here. 

First day of "school"! We signed up for camp with Parker's BFF Peyton to help ease the transition to preschool in the fall. First day was a total success!! He was singing on the way there. Pulled my hand to drag me into the classroom as the teacher was trying to speak to me and took off for the toys! The second picture is when I told him it was time for me to go. I thought he was scared and started to talk to him about it ... and he replied, "Just go, mom." Apparently it was a look of surprise that I was still there! AND one of his teachers taught him in swim class last year and she totally remembers him & how he sticks his tongue out when he concentrates! 😛#bigboy #allgrownup

 

Enjoyed one last holiday day with my boys! Someone is enjoying sitting by himself while the boat is in motion. I may actually tan that big white belly this year, since I don't have a little one sitting on my lap!

Need to find us this summer? This is where we will be - at the beach! (And please excuse the blue mouth - ice cream truck just made an appearance too!) 
#summertime #beachboy #28weeks #rumpunchwouldmakethisperfect

This is how we watched our first fireworks show of the summer! Guess I'll bring his sunglasses to add to the ear muffs! And Parker learned to ask "Are we there yet?" every 30 seconds! #arewehavingfunyet

Parker: Mom! Can you ... Mom! I want ... Mom! Watch this! ... Mom! (All day long)
Me: I think I'm changing my name. 
(Short pause)
Parker: Ok, Caryn! Come here!
#toosmartforhisowngood #littlestinker

We added Alex & Lava to our family after a carnival in August. Friends of ours won the goldfish. When she asked if we wanted to take it home ... Parker's face just lit up with a huge smile & eyes open so wide! In all honesty, I did tell Parker he could have a fish tank in his big boy room. I just wasn't ready to purchase the tank & put it all together that night! But his fish are cute together & he loves to feed & take care of them. 

This big boy can finally reach the light switches. He has also used a stool to fill up his water & even made toast once! So proud of himself to do it all on his own. 

 

Parker's official first day of school was at the end of August. He started preschool in Mrs. Mark's class. We had to drive him the first week of school as part of his orientation. He was quite and shy, definitely nervous - but LOVED every moment of school!

Me: What did you do at school today?
Parker: I made a school bus!
Me: Did you make anything else?
Parker: I made new friends!

An annual visit to the Milwaukee Zoo - this tired boy slept through the entire dinner!!

Spring 2016

Me: couple more minutes & we're going to bed. We're not going to cry & whine but go nicely ....

P: I know mom! Calm down! Just take a big breath!

#socialworkerschild

While looking at the banisters on the front stoop, noticed one was bigger than the rest. 

P: see mom, this one is stronger because it has more mass

Thank you Blaze! (One of his favorite cartoons) #futureengineer

He is slowly adapting to moving his bed upstairs & making room for the baby. I've learned over the years that Parker is a very routine oriented kid & likes things to remain the same. It's been nice having time & flexibility so he can eventually move upstairs on his terms & be ok with it. He prefers to nap upstairs right now. He has requested to sleep overnight there too, but I don't yet have a baby monitor to keep an eye on him. 

I told Parker that the baby can hear him now. He proceeded to follow me around & whisper to my belly!

Speaking of routine oriented, we had a very rough transition into big kid swim classes. He said he was afraid of the instructor & still wanted to swim with mommy. The second week was a private lesson with his teacher that lasted nearly twice as long. By the third week, he was swimming with the other kids without any problem!

For the longest time he was saying "Gab-cat" instead of bobcat. I was quite sad when he started saying bobcat! We had some road construction in the neighborhood and what could be more exciting than exploring the vehicles!

One of his favorite activities is the monthly "hammer class" at Home Depot. This last month he brought his own (play) tools. Pulling out his tape measure, he accurately measured the pieces "this one is 6 units". I bought him a small hammer so he can use his own tools next month. "

Happy Birthday to Daddy!! Parker decided to make him a "golden hammer" for his birthday present!

Parker has been waiting all winter for the ice cream truck & finally the day is here!! Apparently he's going to need to save up a lot more money because the Ninja Turtle ice cream bar was $4!! Then the gum ball eyeballs fell out and he cried and never finished it! 

The squirrels are going to love our yard!! Ha! Parker has been asking to make these bird feeders for weeks now, after seeing them on Nature Cats on PBS. See, tv is sometimes good for kids!!

You know how you lay in bed, trying to sleep, and all these random thoughts pop in your head? Apparently it happens even when you are 3 years old ...
"12345678910-are those letters?
Bad guys can't get in the house, right?
Does poop make your butt itchy?"

Monster truck show with daddy .... Parker proceeded to put on a truck show at home for us for weeks! He would even turn the lights down low and make a grand entrance!