Chillin on a Saturday

From Parker....

So yesterday I got to chill at home with mom and dad...we played, we slept, we ate, mom and dad did stuff around the house like hang pictures, clean up, laundry (ya know...all that boring adult stuff)...they didn't drag me out of the house to go shopping like most weekends of late....we did go out around 5 and drive around the mountain and then headed to Zaxby's and Lowes (had to do a bit of shopping of course).  Here are two pictures from the weekend....I am really trying to turn over...hoping I can accomplish this feat this week (I did it when I was 2 weeks old for goodness sakes, what happened?)

And here is Dad and I, ya know, chillin on the sofa...

 

Autism Speaks

Go to:

http://www.networkforgood.org/pca/PersonalCharityBadge.aspx?pcaid=102379

and donate for a worthy cause.  Ali is a scrapbooker whose story of her son's autism is inspiring.  She is a really cool mama....read more on her blog

Defending Parker's Honor

It has already begun...defending Parker's honor to a 4 year old boy.  This morning when Michael dropped Parker off at school, he had an exchange with a 4 year old that went like this

Little Boy (LB): What is HIS name?

Michael: It is a SHE and HER name is Parker

LB: Parker sounds like a boys name

Michael: What is your name?

LB: Robbie

Michael: I know some girls with the name of Robbie

LB: no response, walks away

Music to a Mom's ears

So today when I went to pick up Parker from school, I was chatting with one of the other moms.  This was the first time I had met her as usually her husband comes to pick their daughter up.  I said I was Parker's mom (since we have no identity there other than association by our children), and she said "Oh, you're Parker's Mom, I was just saying what a beautiful baby Parker is".  (Insert proud mama smile)  She truly is....we are so not sure where the good looks came from but are ever so grateful. 

Life is good.

Making me happy today

Here is another picture of our adorable, nephew, Wrenn

And, some Gerber daisies to brighten your day.   Spring is almost here...it was like 78 degrees here today with a great breeze.  Parker and I play hooky as I had to take her to the doctor again....she has a cold but it was a great day to skip the afternoon of work and daycare.

Wrenn Michael

7 lbs 5 oz 20 inches

Welcome Wrenn Michael Gardner to the Family

Kelly delivered Wrenn in the wee hours this morning around 4:38.  We are very excited to have a new baby in the family.  When I have pics I will post them along with the details as I am not sure that I remember them all correctly. 

We give our love to Kelly and Greg during this special time.

Welcome Wrenn...Parker is ready to play!

First Day of School

Parker has now entered the big girl world of school.  She started at UTC's learning center this past Thursday when I went back to work.  She seemed to enjoy it but was definitely tuckered out from the change in routine.  She has now slept 5 nights in a row through the night (or at least we did not have to get up with her....she was somewhat talkative through the evening hours but did not fuss so we did not go get her). 

I am holding up OK after going back to work. It has been an adjustment and I am fortunate that I really enjoy my job and my boss which made it somewhat easier to go back. It was hard to leave Parker but it makes the time we spend together now more important.

Hope everyone is doing well....in other news, Michael, Parker and I are anxiously awaiting the news of our niece/nephew's arrival. Kelly is in labor so we are about to be an aunt and an uncle and Parker will have a cousin.  Hopefully we will have pictures soon to share.

Here is a picture from Parker's first day of school...

Peek A Boo

Hey there....been a bad blogger lately.  Not too much to report lately.  Parker has been visiting this week...we went to my office to show her off and she went to the mall with me to buy some much needed new clothes (since I go back to work this week-3/1).  Today, Parker and I took a nice stroll through the new neighborhood.  Here is a picture of her bundled up in her stroller (was not as cold outside as her clothes would suggest). 

New Developments

Parker has just now (finally) noticed the rainforest animals abover her head when she is in her swing.  This obviously has added to her enjoyment of the swing (much to her mother's happiness, the bouncy seat was getting old).  Here is a picture of her enjoying the animals. 

Also, she is really holding her head up in "tummy time".  See picture below.  I also put my hands against her feet today and she "scooted" forward.  Now if I can get her to use her arms too she will be crawling all over the place (note to self: vaccuum the floors really really good and put up all the junk still out from the move before crawling begins).  She got really frustrated being on her stomach and not being able to roll over and crawl.  It was sooooo cute.

House news:

We have shutters up (yippie).  I am certain the neighbors are excited as now they are not subjected to seeing us walk around the house (ya know, post baby figure and all).  Michael jumped in and got the pantry started this weekend.  We just have to finish staining the boards and securing them to the metal brackets.  It is a HUGE space...sigh, I am sure I will find a way to cram it full of stuff :)

We also rearranged the living room and it feels much better in there.  Got our photos out and our Willow Tree figurines so it is starting to feel like home. 

Next on the list is to finish the pantry, hang our pictures/artwork, and paint the foyer and hall. 

Got Snow?

We do!  Parker's first snow and she is to small and sick to enjoy it.  I am going to put some in a bowl for her so she can feel it and experience her first snow.  The neighbor kids are already out and about sledding down the street and I am sure a snowman or two will soon follow.  See the pics below....

Thank You Grammy

Thank you for the very pretty flowers and neat balloons.  I am feeling better already (Parker has RSV, a bronchial infection).  I am entranced by the shiny balloons and the flowers smell really good so these are things that are very neat to a developing brain.....thanks grammy.  I send hugs and kisses your way.

Love,

Parker

Meeting the Family

Saturday Parker had the pleasure of meeting most of my side of the family.  She was able to meet my grandparents (see the 4 generation photo...don't get this very often).  She also met Granny, Grandma Pat , Glenn, Debra, Uncle Steve, Kim, Alex and Tyler.  She had a great time and was very well behaved.  After visiting with my Dad and his family we went to meet my Aunt Bobbie.  She was thrilled to also meet Parker.  After her big day we were very hungry so we were lucky enough to also get to meet up with Emily and Greg (who we were meeting for the first time...we REALLY liked him Em!) for dinner.  It was good to catch up and Parker again was the perfect child and let us (and all the other restaurant guests) eat in peace. 

See the photo album on the left side called "Parker meets her great grandparents" for more pictures.

Drumroll please

Here are the pictures of the kitchen and dining room.  I LOVE it all.  I love knowing where everything is and that it all has a home...except the food as we have yet to put the pantry shelves up but that is next.  It was weird to shop for real food yesterday versus frozen meals.  I got test drive the kitchen last night as I cooked dinner and everything was perfect.  We even ate dinner at our new dining room table and it was so nice to feel at home again.  Look at the photo album called "Home" on the left side for more pictures. 

Ahh....Pancakes

We had pancakes for breakfast today!  Which means we have a (drumroll please.....) a working KITCHEN!  I will take pictures tomorrow and upload them as our tables (dining and kitchen) are arriving tomorrow so I can take pictures of 2 completed rooms (for the most part....just a couple of odds and ends to complete).   The pancakes were great and I look forward to cooking lots more stuff.  I got most of the kitchen items unpacked, washed and put away so I feel much better.   The house is starting to come together. I even got some scrapbooking completed this weekend as I went to scrapbook night with the Newcomers group.  Parker's book is coming along.  Lynn, I was able to work on the "All About Me" album you got me for Christmas and I finished putting together the album we started at CKC in Donna Downey's class...the "My Life Then...My Life Now" flip album.  All I have to do is add some pictures and the journaling.

I will upload pictures tomorrow of the kitchen, dining room and will post about Parker's big day this past Saturday where she met lots more family.   

Parker Life Lesson for Mom #1

Disclaimer: not for those with weak stomachs

OK, I should have known....since Parker had her shots this week and was taking tylenol her BM's were not all that regular...in fact, they were non-existent.   So, one would think that I would know by now that it is the calm before the storm.  Oh man, was it ever the calm before the STORM.  Go figure.....she let loose this morning and exploded.  So, next time, I have fair warning...don't put her in my favorite outft, don't be far from the changing table, AND make sure there are wipes loaded in the wipe dispenser AND pick her up carefully when she appears to be crying for no reason....as there was definitely a reason.  At least we were home when it happened. 

Just one of many life lessons Parker will  bestow on her parents (Kelly, take note as your day is coming).

Hope everyone is having a great day (and of course I just made it immensly better by sharing the above entry about my child's potty habits). 

Countertops are being installed NOW!  Yippie! 

Kitchen Update

By Saturday afternoon we will have a fully functioning kitchen again...yippie.  The m-wave and downdraft were installed today as was the under cabinet lighting.  The handles are going up on the doors and drawers and tomorrow we will have countertops!  It will then look like a real kitchen.  Saturday the sink, dwashwer and cooktop will be hooked up and we will be in business.  I plan on cooking pancakes Sunday morning on the new cooktop with the bridge griddle plan I received for Christmas.  Yummy.  Guess next week will be spent finally unpacking the rest of the boxes out in the garage and getting the kitchen in order.  I will teach Parker about organizing :) 

By the way, I did bake cookies in the new oven and they were yummy. 

So, the next time anyone visits, we will have a wonderful home cooked meal (for at least one meal while you are here...we would not want the area restaurants to go out of business now that we have a kitchen).

Also, in other remodeling news, the hinges arrived for the shutters and Michael got one pair hung last night....they look great.  One window down...7 more to go. 

Once we get the countertops installed tomorrow I will send some pics.   

2 month check up

Parker had an excellent report at the doctor today.  She weighed 9.5 lbs (wow, she is growing fast) and is 21 inches long.  She is in the 40th percentile for her weight and the 25th for her height.  The doctor said she is doing well and is well proportioned.  She had her first set of shots (was worse for me than for Parker).  She cried when they stuck her but when I picked her up she calmed right down and is now sleeping peacefully....they said she would sleep a lot today....yippie!  I have a cold and can use the extra down time to nap myself.  Next check up at 4 months. 

5 hours

Wow!  Parker slept from 12 am to 5:15 am this morning.   I made Michael go and check on her around 5 as I realized I had not heard her in a while and got worried and I could not be the one to peek in.  She was starting to wake up and had slid down in the bassinet to get extra cozy.  They technically say that sleeping from 12-5 is considered sleeping through the night :)  My body did not know what to think of 5 hours of sleep at a time so I woke feeling like I had a hangover (does not help that I have a cold).  However, I am very glad to have gotten 5 whole hours of sleep.  I hope this is a trend.  She also slept from 5-8:30 pm earlier in the evening so I was actually able to get a decent dinner together and Michael and I were able to eat in peace (She usually senses when Mama is eating and wakes up and is fussy as she thinks she should be eating too).

On another note, we go for her 2 month check up today and she will get some shots so the rest of my day is probably going to be spent consoling a fussy baby.   I will post an update of her appt when I get a minute. 

Wonder