Jeepers Creepers

Yesterday, I was having a conversation with my husband ...

Parker: (interrupting) No one wants to listen to you, mom.

Me: ?!?

In his defense, we may or may not have told him the exact same thing when he was whining/crying and carrying on for quite some time. Apparently, that is also what my voice sounds like!

Halloween was quite a magical time in the eyes of this toddler! He LOVED answering the door for trick or treaters and passing out candy. He stood on the front step singing a little made up song "Trick or treaters come today! Trick or treaters come today"

Daddy spent a really long time working on his costume and it was AMAZING! The boxes were constructed to fit over his wagon. We even had a friend put a clear coat of paint to seal it from the rain. A month later and Parker's digger is still intact (under a tarp) in the front yard!

Pumpkin carving was "yuck" and "gross stuff". It was really mommy & daddy carving the pumpkin, which was still fun!

A few other Parker stories from this month: 

Parker just asked to be rewarded with a "treat" & chocolate milk from Starbucks. What is it about this store that even toddlers crave it?!?

We've always had a rule in our houses, even growing up, that you eat the meal that was served - no separate meals will be made. Parker comes running to the dinner table, takes a look at his plate & says "aw, me wanted green beans". And then I broke those rules & made him a bowl of green beans! (He ate the corn on his plate, too!)

Apparently the lunar eclipse = one scared toddler. Who would have thought?!? He cried for about an hour trying to go to sleep, then spent the night in my bed, tossing & turning and crying on and off All.Night.Long.

By early November, we've also taken on potty training full time. We tried almost 2 months ago, and was met with some resistance. This time he is ready and happy to try. Yeah for no more diapers! 

Fall is here

Just chilling out!

Picked out Papa's birthday present - remote
control cars!

Some of Parker's academic skills are really starting to show. He can rote count to 10, 1:1 count to at least 6. He knows all shapes & colors and can even inconsistently do some patterning. Letters are slower to come - he sings abcs to g, and only knows the letters p, m, d, s. I can already tell he will be stronger in math than reading!!

Putting up ribbons for the fallen Fox Lake officer.

Apparently the lunar eclipse = one scared toddler! He cried for about an hour trying to go to sleep, then spent the night in my bed, tossing & turning and crying All.Night.Long. 

All packed up for the beach!

He loves to play "color tag", which is really just I-Spy. He will also frequently say "Pick your choose" (instead of your choice) when playing with toys.

Soccer with Coach Pickles

Me: "Come on Parker. We have to go. Put your shoes on. Let's go. Pick out your babies. It's time to go!"

Parker: "Mom, you have to have patience!"

Well played kid, well played. 

Parker learned our first names and likes to remind us that "your name is Caryn and Daddy is Jeremy". Once he even stood at the door and said "us waiting for Jerm". We are trying to teach him his last name, but he gets upset and says "me NOT Redman, me Parker".

Excited for swim lessons!

We visited the Milwaukee Zoo - our annual trip! Parker was most excited to see the giraffes. We were hoping to feed them, but a baby was born just 4 days earlier.

We went apple picking at Royal Oaks in Harvard. Once he saw the tractor ride to the far side of the orchard, he started skipping and said (for the first time), "me so excited!). It took a few trees before he got the hang of it, but he certainly enjoyed looking for good apples. He isn't the biggest fan of apples, I think because the skin is too hard for him to eat. But he found an apple he liked and kept it tucked under his arm for most of the day, taking a bite here and there.

He loves to give us kisses on our cheeks and says things like "you my best friend" and "me missed you at school". Makes my heart melt!

August Happenings

Playing camping

Parker continues to make us laugh every day. He's such a funny, goofy kid & his joy & amusement of everything makes us so happy to enjoy even the ordinary day to day things. One evening, Jeremy wanted to show me something on tv so he hit rewind so I could see it. Parker apparently wanted me to pay attention to him instead. So he came running over, straight to the remote. Apparently he knew the right button to push, and proceeded to turn the tv off! He then ran away, giggling, saying "Me so cool! Me joker!" Little stinker!!

His picks from the store - toothbrush & solo cup shot glasses! 

Ready to return to Ms. Ginny's!

He says "kanks" (thanks) so quickly & politely. And we worked on saying your welcome for so long. I kept telling him how it's polite to say your welcome & makes people feel good. I knew he understood when he said "kanks" and I said your welcome & he came running back to tell me "that's so nice you say your welcome"!

Parker continues to have such a fear of loud noises and it interferes with his ability to enjoy some festivals and events (fireworks and parades). So I ordered him a pair of sound blocking head phones and they are quite the hit. He has worn them to "work" with Daddy on his car (blocking the sound of the air tools). I also brought them with to the Renaissance Fair. He used them during the shows when the crowds would get too loud. They also have the additional benefit of blocking out the festival noise so he can fall asleep! 

Parkers favorite phrase is "you kiddin' me!" He uses it all the time & appropriately!

He is also telling everyone that I have a baby boy growing in my belly (no I do not) & watched Daniel Tigers big brother episodes over & over again. He is constantly making comments about making room for his baby in the shopping cart or saving a book for his baby. We are happy to know Parker is going to be a great big brother one day when the time is right.

He does have his own "babies" - a large collection of stuffed animals that line his bed every night. His favorites? A little 4 inch tan colored bear that wears a Russel Stovers ribbon around its neck, and a 7 inch brown bear with a tshirts from a local nursing home, which he got from a parade. These babies have been his favorites for quite some time now!

And finally, as we were snuggling up to sleep, Parker said, "mommy, you the best mommy." And now my heart is full.