December Antics

"Where it is?" - This is one of my favorite Parker-isms! He is really expanding his language & putting 2-3-sometimes 4 words together and is talking (and understandable) all day long. I feel like I've been able to have a conversation with him! He is also playing very independently as he plays with cars or little people for 15-20 minutes, all on his own.  I've even been able to take a shower while he was awake, playing on his own! What a relief that has been - I can see more and more independence in my future!

Parker has always been such a great shopper. He loves being out & about and is always so well behaved (but I always stick to regular nap & meal schedules, which I know really helps with that!). People are always telling me how cute he is & are giving him things like stickers & snacks. He loves to check out with me - he enjoys swiping the card (just like he loves to swipe at the arcades!) and sign for my debit card. While shopping, he'll ask to get down & check things out, but doesn't try to take everything home. At the Disney store he would look at something, walk around, then put it down when something else caught his eye. Until he found the Micky straw cup, which he immediately put in the bottom of the stroller! I knew we couldn't leave without it, but a $5 purchase from the Disney store was something I could handle! I also saw a child size snow shovel at another store. I picked it up & showed it to him, which he responded with "Taper home" (in other words Parker wants it for home!). Other times, some random things have gone immediately into the shopping cart, including a set of monster truck ornaments & a superman tshirt! But all things that I don't mind buying for him. 

Since trains are the latest interest, we had quite a few activities this month involving trains. We visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens Thanksgiving weekend. It was my first time there and we walked the grounds as it was fairly decent outside. We had such a great time and I could definitely see myself returning a few times in the nicer weather - so we upgraded and became members for the year. Parker enjoyed the train exhibit and knowing they had an outdoor train exhibit was what really motivated us to purchase the membership.

Another holiday train activity was watching the Canadian Pacific Holiday train come in to the Gurnee station. It was all lit up and they stopped, a stage opened up and played holiday music for a good half an hour. It was cold but fun to snuggle with this little guy. He was really getting into the spirit and enjoyed singing with the crowd - specifically Grandma got ran over by a reindeer. I could hear his little voice saying "deer" and "santa" and (believe)"eee".

We then took the train down to Chicago for the holiday festivities. Parker was a little unsure of the train at first, but quickly settled in and enjoyed himself. We were happy to see how easy going he was during the entire day (including just a 40 minute nap) despite the crowds and activities - I think he will do well when we travel by plane to Texas.

 

We visited with Santa in Chicago but Parker was pretty worn out from the busy day. So I took him to see Santa again at Bass Pro. He didn't say a word to him but agreed to a hug & sat on his lap. We had coached him on how to ask Santa for trucks & cars but he wasn't able to say anything. Now when I ask what does Santa bring, we get a few different answers, ranging from candy canes (because Santa gave them out when we visited), chairs (because once I said we need new chairs & maybe Santa will bring them!), to cars, trucks & trains.

 

Christmas had a whole new meaning to it, now that I am playing Santa & hoping to create a magical day for my child. We slept until 8:30am (who is this kid?!?) but he must have been exhausted from entertaining everyone at Nana's the night before. Parker was definitely excited to see presents, including a big Tonka truck under the tree. He opened maybe 2-3, and then ran off to play. He wanted every single gift to be opened and out of the box so he could play with them all. Needless to say, we were still opening presents at dinner time! But it was nice to stay home & enjoy the gifts & take all the time he needed. Parker did pretty well ripping wrapping paper on his own. As he ripped paper, he would ask "choo-choo? Trucks?" (Good thing he received both!!). He finally napped at 4pm. I tried to wake him up around 6, but he was cranky & literally kicked me out of his room so he could go back to sleep!

Finally, we checked out the train show at the fairgrounds, where Parker & I rode these antique train cars. He also came home with a few new train toys so hopefully we have satisfied his train fetish for now! 

So much to be thankful for

Parker turned 22 months old at the beginning of this month. He continues to love to dance, and when he hears music on tv, he will stop what he is doing and start bouncing and swaying to the music! He also started singing on his own. He was sitting in the high chair waiting for me to clean him up and just starts singing. After a few minutes I thought I recognized his tune and started singing "Happy Birthday" along with him. When he started smiling I knew I had the right song! (The sitter's birthday was a few days prior). We practiced that song for a few days so he could sing it for his cousin Mia at her second birthday party! He also sings ABC's and Wheels on the Bus. He mostly just does the motions for the various versus, but finishes it up with me by singing "towwwwn".

All of a sudden we are tolerating dress up clothes. This started when he asked to wear Daddy's sweatshirt, and a few days later, my vest. I bought a ton of costumes after Halloween so we have a bin full of dress of clothes. Now he mostly plays with the (broken) fireman hat, green star sunglasses, and his trick or treat bag...which he walks around the house saying "trick or treat" and asks us to place things in his bag!

The words are continuing to come and each day there is more and more. I am better able to identify his sound errors and I think that helps so I am able to understand more of his words. He loves to use his name when we talk about things (who's is this? or who wants a bite?). Since his sounds are a bit mixed up, his name comes out as "TI-per". But it's so adorable we make him say it all the time!! His favorite color is blue and he can correctly identify when something is blue. But he also tries to call every color blue, and even seems to get mad when I tell him it's not blue or we don't have one in blue! His favorite number is also two, which will be great when he turns two in just over a month!

We spent another weekend at the Dells and again, had a wonderful time. This time we visited with Mike, Missy and the girls, Joel & Jenna and Kasey and a friend came down as well.

Parker is 100% boy and lately he prefers to play with his trucks and tractors and the play food is finally taking a back seat to the cars. He also loves trains and we occasionally go out for breakfast at a restaurant in McHenry, where the food is delivered by train. He is so entertained by the train, and will even stand up in his high chair shouting "All aboard!" as the train starts its route. I kept looking for a small train to put around our Christmas tree and Nana found one that wasn't too expensive. Parker played choo-choo all night long! We weren't allowed to turn the train off and he would just sit there and watch the train for 10-15 minutes at a time! He even went to bed cradling the remote!

Season of Change

We took our family portraits in the fall this year. We met Aunt Missy and the girls at the park and she helped to take some pictures. Parker was not interested at all in sitting still. He would have rather climbed around with the girls. We may or may not have motivated him with some mini M&M's! Parker was 21 1/2 months old in this pictures. Definitely no longer a baby and is such a little man!

Trick or Treat!

Halloween was so much fun as a parent! Parker dressed up as an old man, with Batman suspenders, a bow tie and gray hair. I tried to find a hat for him, but he refused to wear them. Apparently they weren't cool enough, as he loves to wear baseball hats! Parker loved going from house to house getting candy! It was freezing outside today so we went trick or treating for a half an hour at home, and then another half an hour with his cousins at Nana's house. 

Getting his costume ready

Getting the hang of this

He had to walk holding both of our hands!

Got it all figured out!

He liked to put his bag down at the door!

Added gloves and a flashlight as the night got colder

Mckayla tired out quickly, but Mia and Parker kept going!

Belly full of candy!