Dreaming of summer

I think we finally have a toddler we can describe as sleeping through the night! For the past month or two Parker has been sleeping 6 hour stretches. But this month it has stretched out to 8 hours, with an additional 2 hours snuggled up between mom & dad. He is also capable of sleeping 9 & 10 hour stretches on occasion. It's been quite the long journey to get us here, but I try not to complain too much. I'll trade the lack of sleep baby with a crying colicky baby any day! Parker has such a relaxed, easy going personality that it's hard to be frustrated with him for very long!

He is also continuing to progress in his ability to communicate. Not too many solid words but he has quite the distinct way of getting your attention. He shouts to find out what room we are in, or to get us to come back outside. When he wants help he will come to me, point at me, and then curl his fingers inward to say "come here"... and then will hold my finger and drag me to wherever he wants me to go!

Parker loves his dad lately and is constantly asking for and looking for Jeremy when he is not home. He loves to put his arms out toward his sides as if to say "I don't know" or "Where did he go?". The other day he leaned his head inside the door way, yelled "Hello? Dada?" then looked at me and threw his hands out to the sides, as though asking, where did Dad go? When I told him to go look, he ran inside the house toward the front door. Or after Dad left for work, he stood at the door and said "Dada? All gone?" then looked down at his own shoes and said "shoe," as though he wanted to go outside to check to see if dad had left.

Kitchen toys are still some of his favorites and he could spend hours playing with only the kitchen and food. He knows to take the play cups, pour from the coffee pitcher while saying "shhh" (pouring sound) ... and then we cheers before drinking (with the "fw" and "ah" sound when we are finished drinking!). He even brings me my cup and then we sit on the floor and have our little tea party!

Parker also had his first "real" sickness, meaning the first fever he has ever had in his 16 months of life. The fever came with a croupy cough. The cough only lasted about 36 hours, but the fever for a little bit longer. We had a long break at home, just Parker and mommy, until he was cleared to return to the sitter.

The boat has made its maiden voyage and was a successful first trip out. Parker still wasn't feeling the greatest so it was a little bit harder for him as he was rather clingy. But the life jacket seems to help him feel secure because - he fusses when I put it on, but don't you dare touch it after that! He fusses if you try to adjust it or loosen it up. He is still in the infant jacket and has over 5 pounds to go before moving up to the next size.

We enjoyed our first fireworks show of the summer season. Parker wasn't so sure about the show and halfway through actually asked to sit in his stroller. Something about being strapped in makes him feel secure!

Parker stayed with his first baby sitter (other than Nana). His daytime sitter's grand daughter came over to baby sit while we went to my cousin's wedding. Always nice to enjoy a night out with the kiddo, but super sweet to receive his "I missed you" hug in the morning!