The pics above are all pics of Parker taken at home! For some reason lately I can't seem to quit thinking about all of the great memories that we have together and how lucky I have been to be able to be home daily to enjoy the simple things. We constantly come up with things to do: playing in mud puddles, cooking together, taking endless stroller rides, flying kites, swinging, looking for pecans, playing in the woods...this list is endless as is Parker's imagination at this point! Play has def. evolved from stroller rides and just crawling in the grass to magic tree house adventures and endless other things that we seem to find ourselves getting into. I wish that this time would never end, that Parker would never have to grow up and that we could stay in our magic tree house forever! Parker will sometimes tell me that he doesn't want to get big because then he won't fit in my lap or that he wants to be my baby forever...I always tell him that he has to get big and it will be fun getting big too not forgetting to throw in that he will always be my baby no matter how big/old he gets! I feel like we only have until he begins school (unless I choose to home school: and even if I choose that avenue, Parker is still going to grow up and things won't be the same.) I know that at each stage in a child's life their are wonderful memories made and experiences to try together but none as simple or as precious as what we have now. Sleeping in until Parker decides to wake up which is usually 7:15. Cartoons in mommy's bed. Breakfast together with conversation about our plans for the day. Clean up time, then learning and craft time...This is followed by outside fun until lunch, again making lunch together and then sitting down to enjoy our creation. Playing again until rest time which is always followed by a "mommy movie" (1 episode of Little House on the Prairie). Playtime again until it is time to come in for supper preparation. Parker usually helps with that as well or colors at his little table in the kitchen. Then Daddy gets home! When Parker was a newborn that time couldn't get here fast enough because those days were much harder and longer with a "refluxy, non sleeper" but now (on most days) Daddy is pulling up in the drive before we know it! I love my family and our precious time together, I love being a mom, and I love the Lord the most for giving me all of these wonderful gifts and people in my life! (I know that I need to be better about my walk with Christ as well so I am not proclaiming to be some great soul!) Our time here is short, our memories will fade or be erased by time or age but all I can do is live in the moment and have faith that one day on the new Earth which God promises those who make it to Heaven I can bask in wonderful memories and simpler times again!

7 Things that make me smile...All about Parker!

1. Even though it is not appropriate, I can't help but smile when Parker says, "I tooted...just like my dad" after passing gas! Anyone who knows Chris would say he deserves this one!

2. Hearing Parker talk about "mommy movies" like they are real places and people. "Mommy movies" are episodes of Little House on the Prairie which we watch one of everyday right after rest time. Parker talks about Ma, Pa, and Nellie Olsen like they live right down the street...he always says that Nellie is a mean girl!

3. Picking up Parker from preschool and hearing the first thing out of his mouth EVERY time be, "Did you bring me something sweet and sugary?" He thinks just being away from me even if he cried at drop off warrants something special...I must admit I usually do give him a little something...the boy loves sweets...like his Dad again!

4. Even though it is tough to handle at times, Parker's little temper makes me smile...(on the inside only of course) because again this is something he gets from his Dad and I love his Dad so much and seeing the good/bad/or ugly that Parker displays naturally because of the fact that he is "a little Chris G." or a "little me" reminds me how wonderful it is to have been able to have a baby!

5. Seeing kids in general experiencing new things, getting excited, and the funny things that they think to say!

6. Hearing Parker say his prayers at the table which are..."Dear God thank you for my Father...Amen" Not sure how he got that from our normal suppertime prayer but it is so cute!

7. Parker directs me to tell him his "Rocky Story" after our prayers at night when we are together in the rocking chair. Amazingly he and Rocky never do anything wrong but Anna (who is our cute little neighbor at the lake) always gets into something and Rocky and Parker come to her rescue!

I love being a mom and of course other things in life make me smile too, but not as often as my little Park Bean! Thanks to God for my little man!

The hourglass feels amost empty today...

Today I feel like my special time at home with Parker is running out...I think that it is because he returned to preschool this morning from our summer break, but it could also be the constant internal battle I am having with whether I would like to have baby no. 2 or not. You know you try to have a timeline, which I am sure that God laughs at, in your life of when you want things to happen or when you want to make a change... Mine concerning baby no. 2 was always well I would see how I felt about it when Parker turned 3...well in the wake of his third birthday, I am UNDECIDED... We didn't follow the timeline anyway when we decided to start trying for Parker but because it took so long for me to get pregnant, it ended up falling right on schedule with what I had originally planned. (I bet God is really laughing now! I know that Parker was given to us at just the right time that God had in mind but it is crazy how things like that happen!) Be married for 5 years and have that time for just "us" then try for baby no. 1. Once he was here I def. knew that I didn't want little stairsteps or if I even wanted another step so that it where..."well when Parker turns 3 I might think about another baby again", came from. Not that I don't love being a mom...anyone who knows me knows that I do...but nothing is wrong with being a mom to only 1 child either. It isn't selfish, it isn't unfair, it is whatever you make it! Soo...I am trying to figure that part of my future out and praying for God to let me know what he has in store for us! Ok so with that being said one of my friends who is a mother of two just stopped by and when I look at her youngest, it does make my heart yearn...also my best friend is pregnant and I love just looking at her belly grow and I feel a little bit jealous because I absolutly loved being pregnant...BUT it just isn't enough right now for me to say for 100% sure...

Now...Parker is at preschool and I think about our special time together. I think about how much fun we have had at home together, the wonderful bond that we share, and the special connection that we have that no one else is a part of. I love it. It makes me so sad to know that as he grows and I return to work and he goes to school, that this will all be precious memories. Ughhh...I don't want to take away anything from him, but secretly I would love to keep him all to myself at home forever. Hard realization that my baby boy is growing up!

Thursday 5~

1. Don't cheat on your diet when you have a head cold...you are wasting precious calories! Oh Well...blew that one!

2. You know that your child is a shopper when they find a pair of jeans at the Polo outlet and beg to try them on immediately...He def. didn't get that from Chris nor me!

3. Teach your children how to pray...Parker has prayed every night for me and asked for me to get rid of my cold! I know that God listens to them b/c they don't disappoint him like adults do...I am so guilty of that!

4. Enjoy your parents...my mom bought me all my favorite gossip mags. and favorite foods just so that Chris and I would be comfy during our visit...no matter how old you are they still spoil you because you are their baby!

5. Take time to listen to your child because much of the things good/bad that they say and do when they are little reflect what they see around them! This really makes you think!

Bring on the Tears #2

1. Don't watch Twilight before bed if romantic tension affects you like a double shot of caffeine! WOO HOO!!!

2. Remember that going through your deceased Grandmother's things is hard, but she wouldn't want YOU to throw away something impt. b/c SHE definitely didn't. I am so much like her it is unreal...I save everything! Old bills, letters, cards, notes, childhood writings. I can only imagine the amt. of time that it will take to sort through my things when I am gone! Today I found my Papa's birth certificate, the matching key to her safety deposit box, a fake book report that I wrote while playing school at her house tucked inside an old calculator, and I have so much more to sort through. It was hard but comforting! Even seeing her handwriting on the outside of old bills made me feel close to her at that very instant! I miss her sooooo much! Watching Parker run around in her empty house (not empty with material things, but empty b/c everyone is gone now and no one is living there any longer) made me feel close to her too instead of sad...I knew that she would have loved him so much just like she did Ginger and I if only she were there and healthy. Watching him make himself at home just like we always did so many times before just brought a smile to my face and I can't count the amt. of times I told the boy that Mamascoot would have loved to be there with him so bad! She was with me today, I know because she gave me some healing time that I felt like I had missed!

3. Don't write a #2 like I did and expect to have a meaning #3,#4, or #5!

4. Keep a box of Kleenex next to your computer when you blog! You never know what might pop into your mind to write and who knows you might end of crying like a baby and have to change your shirt before bed because you used the bottom of it as a tear wiper and it is soaked!

5. Always tell and show those you choose to surround yourself with that you love them whenever the urge hits you, even if it is a two year old, excuse me three year old, who decides to take his pants off just because he felt like it while playing! I just looked at him and said, "You silly boy, I just love you and your imaginary tag that is bothering you!" I will never doubt the love my Grandmother had for me and it is because she constantly surrounded me with it!

5 for Friday...cleaning!

1. When cleaning, avoid wearing a strapless bra...needless to say it will drive you crazy and end up as a belt!

2. Toilets are just nasty anyway you look at them, YUCK. I think that whoever invented the disposable toilet wand was very intelligent!

3. Don't feed your 3 year old leftover birthday cake for breakfast, illness will follow especially if they stayed up past their bedtime the night before eating birthday cake!

4. Realize that after you clean, people will come right behind you and dirty things up again...just smile and be glad that you got the old germs out of the way for new ones.

5. Enjoy your weekend, it will go by way too fast. Especially for me (whose mom is coming into town to visit :)), or those on vacation, pretty much for everyone who isn't working!

On the Brink of 3!

On the brink of Parker's third birthday I can't help but look back at how much my baby boy has grown and changed...it seems so long ago that he was so small and couldn't talk, or walk...nursing and pumping seems like just a distant memory except when I look down in the shower (lol), and they seemed to consume my whole existence not long ago. I have loved motherhood...the smiles, sweet kisses, laughter, stories, memories,outside adventures, and of course all the firsts of everything. But I can't say that I will ever forget the hard times...severe reflux, sleepless nights, emotional roller coasters of hormones, and just adjusting to life all over again.
In the beginning our days were filled with cuddling, snoozing, nursing, nursing, and did I say nursing? Lots of little tiny dirty diapers, and endless clothing changes from the millions of times that Parker would spew b/c of that mean ol' reflux. I remember being so worried that he was going to get choked in the night and I wasn't going to hear him. The first night home I remember that Chris and I put him in the bassinet next to the bed and we both tried to stay awake all night just to keep and eye on him. Whew. I am not quick to ever say that I am tired or sleepy because I found out back then what tired and sleepy really meant. :) During my prayers each night even now I still thank God for SLEEP!
With this little face I couldn't have ever known a greater love! I found dedication that I didn't even know I had within me. I also found a greater appreciation for all moms out there!
The tongue phase was so funny!
It didn't matter how cold, hot, or windy it was; Parker and I strolled down the dirt road everyday at least 10 times. He never would ride in the stroller on a smooth surface like in a mall, it had to be bumpy and outdoors! Also, I spent many days, weeks, months in pj's all day just trying to find a way to get it all together alone while Chris was at work. It is so funny/challenging that adjustment period!

Photo shoots are still going on because this time is so precious and fleeting. I love looking back at pics like this now when I would try to get him doing something, and then he wouldn't cooperate. Now I am glad that he didn't because I love seeing him in action!


Ok...so even though I wish I could record every single memory, moment, sweet conversation I will end here with a top ten of the things that I have learned as a mom in 3 years.

1. I am beginning to sense that a 3 year old is more determined than a 2 year old.

2. You will sleep again, even though you never think you will!

3. Whoever said that a potty trained child is easier than one in diapers has never ridden to the beach with Parker.

4. It really is harder to discipline your child than you thought BUT you have to no matter what! I remember saying, "If that was my child I would ....". I have eaten those words one to many times.

5. Enjoy all the little moments that you tend to rush through just to get it done ie. bath time, rocking your baby to sleep. I treasure all of our sweet little moments just before bedtime when we are snuggled up praying and talking.

6. Don't try to be supermom, and don't assume that the way you do/did things is the only way because all children are different and what works for one does not always work for the other. Plus people WILL get tired of your advice! :)

7. Read all the books you can before your child gets to certain stages in life just to give you a heads up on what to prepare for and train for...but don't forget to trust your motherly instincts in the process.

8. Don't forget to plan time without the little one. Date nights and just time apart is good for everyone and doesn't make you a bad mom.

9. You don't have to spend a lot of money on expensive toys...they won't care how much they cost and you will just spend hours picking them up so that you can go outside and play with a stick that is much more fun.

10. Take your child to church, talk about God at home, pray together, eat together, go camping, fishing, grocery shopping, get them out. Even though it is harder on you, it teaches them so much about the world around them!

Happy Birthday to my Parker! I love you with all my heart and hope that you teach me many more things in the many years to come!

1st Birthday!

2nd Birthday!

On the Brink of 3!