10 Things I Love About You

I am trying to take in every moment, every breath, every grunt, every sigh. There are so many things about Parker that just make my heart melt...so many things I never want to forget.

1. Like everyone else, I love your hair. You had a full head of hair when you were born and today, at a month old, it continues to style in a little fohawk.



2. I love your sweet cheeks. You are getting so big - weighing in at 8lbs., 6 oz. at a month - and your cheeks are getting chubby!



3. Your sweet lips. I was excited that you got my sweetheart lips. I love the way you pucker them when you are getting ready to poop!



4. Your sweet hands and little knuckle dimples. Enough said.



5. The sweet smell of your baby breath and the way you sigh when you are content (thanks to Holly for that find).
   


6. To watch you sleep...you are so peaceful and I can tell you feel so safe, hands above your head or next to your fact as you were in the womb. I know that baby look will not last forever so I soak it up.
   


7. You know the voices of your mommy and daddy and will turn to look at us if we talk.



8. That you try so hard to get your hand or thumb in your mouth, but just can't quite get it to stay in.



9. The way you watch your hand in front of your face and then get very confused as to where it went when you move it away.



10. The amount of joy that you bring to our lives...Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa, Mamma Vicky, and Grandma Suzie.

Where's Parker?

October 24, 2009. Parker is one month (and a day) old and we decided to take him to his first pumpkin patch. Now, I mentioned in earlier posts that it took us six years to get Parker here, so you will have to bare with us - the silly new parents.

My mother knitted Parker a fabulous pumpkin hat (which he was very unsure of) and we just knew the pumpkin patch would be the perfect photo opportunity for our little pumpkin. We even snapped our first non-hospital family photo!

Traditions

In 2001, we moved Downtown to be within walking distance of restaurants, the river, shopping, and a number of parks. On Sunday mornings we walk to Noah's Bagels and Pismo joins us on our weekly tradition (he even gets a bite or two of bagel). Now, we keep Parker in his jammy's and the four of us head out on Sunday mornings.

We decided to walk a little further this past Sunday. After our bagel we walked to Sutter's Fort - about 11 blocks from our house. On the way back, Pismo looked a little pooped out. We talked about carrying him for a few blocks to give him a little break when we both noticed the foot rest area on the stroller. Parker is not using the foot rest and it just happens to be just the right size for Pismo. So what do two parents do with a pooped puppy? Give him a ride in the stroller! He loved his new ride - at least until we hit Capitol Park and he saw the squirrels.

What a fun Sunday morning!

Off to the cabin we go...

We had our first weekend away at our family cabin in Arnold, California. In the past, going to the cabin consisted of watching movies, playing golf, cooking dinner and let's not forget the Bob Thomas nightly cocktail hour. The cabin with Parker was a different experience, but still wonderful.

I started the day at 4:30 a.m. I was up after a feeding so I thought, might as well get packing. I had two of us to pack. I started gathering Parker's things - warm clothes, lots of blankets, pacifiers, bouncy seat, play gym, stroller, car seat - and stepped back an hour later in awe of what I needed to take for the baby. It then took me another five hours to shower, pack my stuff and of course feed and love the baby throughout the process.

My mom arrived at 12:30 in the afternoon. I began to load the car...and we officially ran out of room. The two of us, Parker, Bella the puppy, and all of our stuff just would not all fit. It was quite comical. We were going away for three days. I wish I had a picture of the car.

We made it to the cabin nine hours after I started packing. We had a lovely time doing many of our normal activities and dreaming of the day when Parker would go fishing, enroll as a Junior Ranger at Big Trees State Park, and of course play golf with Daddy and Grandpa!

Everything is just a little bit sweeter with Parker in our lives.

Caution, slippery when wet

For the remainder of 2009 and the greater part of 2010, this blog will be filled with Parker's firsts...and as first time parents we are documenting absolutely EVERYTHING!

I am happy to report that we gave Parker his first bath in our kitchen sink. Both Chris and I love the water, so it is our hope that Parker will want to swim, play water polo or participate in crew. Parker survived his first bath with some uncertainty, but did not melt down! And it gave me the opportunity to sing one of my favorite Sesame Street tunes - Rubber Ducky your the one...you make bathtime so much fun!

P is for Parker (or Pismo or P Street)

We chose a vintage transportation theme...complete with his own Mini Cooper (thanks GranDiva) for Parker's room. Chris did a fantastic job of putting his room together and creating a one of a kind art piece for above his crib!

Our First Days Home

Saturday, September 26, 2009...our first day home.

The grandparents helped us the first day home, assemblying bouncy chairs, finishing laundry, grabbing us dinner.

The grandmas, Parker and I climed into bed to rest a little and chatted over a round of popsicles (so wish it was a Blue Moon with an orange slice, but an Astropop hit the spot too).

The new mommy and daddy (a.k.a. Keri and Chris) did not get much sleep...but having a sleeping baby near us was the best feeling in the world!

We have survived the first week!

Meeting his Family and Friends

We are so blessed to have so many people who love us and in turn love Parker! So many people visited us in the hospital and could not wait to get their hands on our little guy!

The grandparents were just giddy at meeting their grandson. It was such a special time...they continue to call and stop by to see the little guy.

Mama and Grandpa with Parker.

"Grandiva" meeting Parker.

Aunt Ally with Parker. Ally had a cold so could not meet Parker in the hospital. You know she was smitten with him because she rocked him for an hour in a room without a TV. Now that is love.

Kelly Bennett Wofford and Parker. We have been friends for more than 10 years...

Gerrina and Michelle...friends from work. I can't believe I posed for a picture!