Parker 1.0

Wow - what progress in Parker's ability to communicate! It's amazing the little things he has said/done since turning one! Parker waves his hand while saying "buh buh" ... although we aren't always  going "bye bye"! He has used the word "hat" appropriately twice. Once we were walking to the kitchen for a snack & he repeated after me (ba)"nana".

His new favorite is "ot"... He pulled my (empty) coffee cup out of my bag, and with a big smile on his face - so proud of himself - handed it to me, saying "(h)ot". The other night at dinner, I asked him if he wanted some noodles. He proceeded to say "ot" and blew (as though to cool them off)! Later, as he was playing with the spoon, he dipped it in the bowl of noodles, blew on it, then put it directly in his mouth....too bad there weren't any noodles on the spoon, but great progress!!

Parker loves to put things in containers. He will move his toys from one container to the next, or his pots and pans from the shopping cart to the cabinet. We are using this to our advantage as he is a great helping in cleaning up! He loves to shred paper, and has recently begun going back and picking up all the pieces he dropped around the floor. He will then place it in some sort of container, although it's not always the garbage! Still makes clean up a cinch! He will help "stir" things, including his play spoon inside my coffee. Parker recently leaned that the toilet is also a container, and has thrown things in as Jeremy was using it! He threw in a piece of paper and a clean pair of socks! (Jeremy had to fish both of them out of the toilet!)

We spent some of his birthday money on a play phone, music set, and his favorite-a little boy sized chair. He loves his chair! He sits down to read, eat his snack, watch tv. He even sat down while we were playing with his little people, then motioned for me to keep playing for him!

He can push himself on his ride on car (although it's only backwards for now!). He is also interested in stacking his stackable toys-and has enough fine motor control that the pieces actually stack. 

And I never thought I would hear myself say "Get that toothbrush out of your butt!"

Having Fun Being One

Parker's first birthday was a memorable day for many people, as it was a record breaking day in Chicago. Also known as Chi-Beria, the actual air temperature was -16 at 8am, and wind chills were in the -40's. It was actually (slightly) warmer at the South Pole! 

I have found that some traditions are just downright cruel to kids! The way we unwrap gifts, hope they are excited for the toy inside...but then don't let them play with it but expect them to unwrap another. That's just kind of mean! Then the birthday cake and candle...Parker was excited for his cupcake, but we won't let him touch it. Not only do we put a hot candle on top, but then we drag it on even longer by singing happy birthday!! Needless to say, Parker couldn't handle the anticipation and he touched the candle while it was still hot. He cried (but wasn't burned) and then was so scared of the cupcake he wanted nothing to do with it anymore! We felt like such mean parents!! Parker did go back & eat the cupcake about a half hour later. 

Parker's birthday party was on Saturday at the Grant Township building. He wasn't feeling very well and wasn't his usual outgoing self. He was snugly & slept through half the party.

His favorite gifts? Pots & pans and a broom & dust pan!

Mommy's favorite gift is this handmade baby super heroes growth chart from Parker's godmother Aunt Missy.  

It's so hard to believe our little baby is already a toddler...and yet it's hard to remember our life without him!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

This has been the longest winter break ever! With a snow day in December (due to icy road conditions) and two snow days in January (due to record breaking cold temps), winter break was two and a half weeks long. It has been very cold and very snowy so we had to get creative to avoid cabin fever. 

Talking on the phone - he holds it up to his ear and will say "ello?" and nods his head as though he is listening!

We had a play date at Monkey Joes with Aunt Missy and cousins Mckayla and Mia. Parker wasn't too sure at first. But we had a lunch break and then he took off on his own to climb back in! He also enjoyed the bouncies for the bigger kids, walking around among them, trying to get the balls they were throwing. 

We have also spent time at the indoor play places at the mall. Parker runs around like crazy and has just started to feel brave enough to climb into (and over) the structures.

While Kasey was still here with us, we went snow tubing at Wilmot mountain. I know Kasey thought it sounded pretty boring - but she was having a blast when we got there. The runs go so fast I don't know how we stay on the tubes. Parker isn't old enough for the big tubes, but he enjoyed being pulled around in the little tube.

Finally, before dropping Kasey off at the train station in Milwaukee, we spent that morning at the art museum (per her request). I personally found the museum to be rather boring with only three artists that I recognized. Parker was certainly entertained as he wanted to check his echo in each of the galleries! We would walk around the corner and he would start shouting "hey!". There was also a children's room with tons of art supplies. He made a party shaker (it was New Year's Eve themed crafts) and that shaker is still something he plays with in his stroller.

Getting my ears lowered

It was definitely time for a hair cut. Parker's hair was about three inches long and he would have some crazy bed head and curls sticking straight out!! We took him to the Kids Snips in Vernon Hills and he did pretty good...until the trimmers. He wasn't the biggest fan of those! But he looks like such a handsome little boy now ... where did the baby go?!?

We haven't attempted playing in the snow again, but Nana got us a full set of winter gear for Christmas. We need to plan a day sledding!! Here is Parker watching daddy shoveling the snow.

Parker has been obsessed with the stairs lately so we finally broke down and bought a gate. There is a window in the middle of our steps so the gate is just leaning between the banisters. Parker is loving having one step available to him. He is constantly bringing his toys over and leaving them on the step. He is climbing up and standing on the step. Sometimes he can scoot back down on his belly; other times he asks for help and hold my hand as he jumps/falls back down to the floor. 

It's the most wonderful time...

We had a calendar full of Christmas events this year! We had four parties but thankfully they were all on separate days. I think we might keep that our limit for the future - one party per day. I don't want to exhaust Parker (or ourselves!) and make sure everyone stays in good spirits. Parker did amazing - he spent just a few minutes acting shy at each party. But then had no problem walking around and playing with anyone and everyone!

Saturday night was Jeremy's extended family party. Sunday was brunch with my immediate family. Monday, Parker's big sister Kasey came in on the train from Minnesota. Tuesday was dinner with my extended family, and then Wednesday was brunch with Jeremy's immediate family. Phew! All of these parties and Parker has been quite the rockstar. He is so social and doesn't want to miss out on anything. Sunday and Monday he basically did not nap at all. Thankfully he was still the happy, cheerful little guy he always is.

We didn't do a whole lot for Parker for Christmas this year. We figured he would never know the difference and so we relied on our families to provide the Christmas gifts - and they did not let us down! We haven't even opened all of the new Christmas toys yet. Although Parker doesn't seem to understand - his favorite toy continues to be a kitchen pan, lid and wooden spoon!