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!

Its all fun and games

Kasey had a school field trip for band and choir and the kids spent the weekend in the Chicago area. We were quite happy to meet up with her and spend the day at Great America. Parker is a little bit young so I don't think it's quite worth the expense for his sake. But it was fun and he rode a few rides, made some friends and stayed awake all day long!

Look mom, no hands! 

Making friends

Easter and more

Jeremy's cousin Kelly's wedding

April was such a busy month for us!! Parker reached many milestones in his 15th month...

22lbs 14oz (50th percentile) 

30in (10th percentile)

Started holding on to the railing & walking up the stairs. Never really learned how to crawl down the steps but is quite the expert and walking down them!

Loves to be outside & throws tantrums to come in. Even thinks he can sneak in some play time in the mornings as we walk out to the car. 

Has to take off his socks when he takes his shoes off-and carefully places them inside his shoes. 

Has successfully (and efficiently) mastered the spoon.

Has at least 12 solid words-mom, da, tat (cat), og (dog), dat (that) and the occasional wat dat (want that), here, what (which he shouts very loudly across the room), hot (and blows to cool it down), yes, no-no, not to be confused with nu nu nu nu (maybe num num but clearly indicates food) and (ba) nana. I may have also heard a ni-ni (night night) and lots of other words he mimics and repeats them after me.

Parker participated in two Easter egg hunts and thoroughly enjoyed them. He continued to play Easter when we got home. He would carry around his basket and only eat his goldfish after they were placed inside a plastic egg!
  

Parker did such a great job with the Easter bunny photo! Mia - not so much!

We took our first mini vacation by spending the weekend at the Wilderness in the Wisconsin Dells. Parker had a great time with his friend Ethan and participated in all the weekend's festivities. 

Hanging out with Ethan on his bunk bed.

One of his favorite "toys" the entire weekend!

Such a big boy climbing through the jungle gym with the big kids.

Parker's first Easter basket!

Watching the Ken-ducy Derby!

There's that "toy" again!

His second egg hunt - definitely knew what to do this time around!

Parker loved this game at the arcade.

After watching the big kids play, he knew what to do!

We also celebrated his cousin Mckayla's 4th Birthday at a gymnastics place. He loves bouncing on the trampoline and we will be buying a mini tramp for the yard very soon!

Playing on the trampoline with cousin Mia.