Bouncing baby boy

Literally

O Christmas tree

We can't trust P to not hurt himself with a big tree this year so we just put up this little one instead. P looks like he is hanging his head in shame!

Church shoes

I will buy him church shoes when he stops outgrowing his shoes every 2.5 months

At least he was comfortable

Parker pulled his toy box up next to his chair. He sat down and proceeded to pull out all the toys from the box and throw them across the room.

New shoes

Parker got his first ever pair of light up shoes. Here he is admiring them during lunch time.

I miss naps.

P used to spoil me with 2 long naps a day. Now I am lucky if I can get him to take 1 45-minute nap. He is still only sleeping 9-10 hours a night, so I have NO IDEA where he is getting all of his energy!

So, now I have almost 4 extra hours of awake time a day and I'm not quite sure what to do with it. He won't sit still at all or play on his own, and he gets bored at home. He is also doing stuff like jumping off the sofa, eating boxes of kleenex, etc so it is a lot of work!!

We upgraded our gym membership to include daycare, so that's been a huge help. He gets to play with other kids while I hide in the locker room and read magazines. (Haha!!)

Any ideas on what I could do? We already hit as many storytimes as humanly possible and go to the life and science museum almost weekly. We also hit the park a few times a week and have some playdates. Aaaah! I am tired and miss naps!!

Listen to your gut... NOT the pediatrician!!

Parker had his post-op the other day for his tubes. Everything came back normal and his hearing is perfect!

In the past TWO WEEKS he has learned how to say "hi, bye, thank you, what's that?, wow" and probably a few others that I can't remember. He still uses "ma, da, car, ball" consistantly.

This just proves to me the power of a mother's intuition. The pediatrician said he was fine. I knew he wasn't so I got him evaluated by a speech pathologist, who said that his verbal comprehension was well below his other developmental skills and she said it was probably due to his chronic ear infections. I am SO GLAD that I followed my gut and got his ears fixed.

PS- did you know that every state offers evaluations to parents at no cost? They look at verbal, gross and fine motor, and cognitive skills. If you are worried that your baby is behind in any of those departments, your pediatrician can provide you with the information you need to get your child evaluated. I am really thankful for those services, and now Parker is doing so much better!

Cute tummy

I love to tickle and kiss P's cute little tummy. I think he's figured out how fond I am of his tummy because whenever he's not wearing a shirt, he struts around with his tummy poked out while he pats his tummy. Funny kid!

Those teeth!!

Parker finally has some new teeth coming in! He's had these 4 teeth for the past several months so its going to be weird seeing him with more teeth. I'm excited for him to be able to eat his food better!

Snacks

I'm trying to give him less processed carbs at snack time... he was less than happy with the soybeans I presented this afternoon.

Peekaboo kisses

This is Parker's all time favorite book. Its a touch and feel book, and a lift the flap book, and he just can't get enough! My mom gave it to him for Valentines day and we have read it several times a day (every day) since then.

Mothers helper

Multi tasking

Maybe I should haven't taught Parker to wipe his nose the same week that I taught him to wipe down the kitchen table.

Im famous

I was on a walmart commercial. It was super last minute- I was called at 6am!! I had auditioned for the commerical but was the back up to the back up... and even then I still had a 50% chance they would use a different mom. It was a fun experience and I liked that someone did my makeup. I am glad I was picked!

www.walmart.com/rdu

Paper dolls

My sister Julia made Parker a beautiful paper doll set for his birthday. She used a Cricut and a lamanating machine and some velcro. It turned out awesome! Parker loves playing with the prince doll and the dragon. Parker is so lucky to have aunts that love him. We sure love all of his aunties! (And uncles!)

Tubes

Parker got tubes in his ears on Monday! He did great. He was a little groggy the rest of the day. He was so tired that he sat still long enough to eat a dum-dum...for the first time in his life.

Cute

Toddler logic

Old toys+new box=new toys

Big boy

Parker has decided he's too grown up for a high chair.

This kid is 14 months

...and a few days.

-4 teeth (still!!)
-he eats a toddler sized meal PLUS a giant bowl of rice/puree at most meals
-we are down to 2 bottles a day!! (First thing in the morning/bedtime)
-still 2 naps a day... praise be! He sleeps at night 8pm-6am.
- he is talking a little more consistantly. He says ball, car, momma, daddy. If he wants something, he will grab our hand and walk us to whatever he wants (ie, the door if he wants to go outside or the fridge if he wants milk)
-ear tubes go in NEXT MONDAY
-he loves to run, jump, and climb. A little too much. Yesterday I caught him MID FLIGHT after he launched himself off the top of the stairs.
-he is in constant motion... ask anyone at our storytime!

We aren't planning on making him a big brother anytime soon. I wish people would stop asking me when were having the next one. Its a really sore subject because id love another baby and a sibling for Parker. But now is not the time. So if you ask, I might just start crying and that's just awkward for everyone involved. Save us all the trouble and leave it alone ;-)

Cost of living

Nothing in this world is free. This is especially true for moms. If you want something, you're going to pay for it. For example, the current going rate for a hot shower is one dumped out sock drawer and pen ink on the comforter courtosey of the toddler you left unattended while you washed your face. The cost of loading the dishes while your toddler finishes breakfast? See for yourself!

Teach him to eat with a spoon, they said.

It will be good for his development, they said.
Why is it that things that are good for his development are generally things that are terrible for my sanity?