Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

By the sweat of his brow...

We love banana oatmeal cookies around here. Parker helped mash the bananas, measure the oatmeal, stir in the chocolate, and shape the cookies on the sheet. Here he is enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Ps- he also helped sweep up all the oatmeal that was dumped on the floor.

Parkers oatmeal banana cookies:
2 bananas, mashed
1 cup quick oats
1 packet hot chocolate mix

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Stir ingredients together and drop on the cookie sheet using a spoon. Bake 15 min at 350*.

17 months

Parker is 17 months old! 1 more month till Nursery! He actually started going to Nursery a few weeks ago because the Primary Presidency took pity on us and let us go with him. He likes it a lot and it has been a huge blessing. It will be weird leaving him there.

I have no idea what he weighs. I think he's around 33 lbs. He is a monster. He is wearing 2T clothes.

He's getting better at following simple directions, like "please bring me your shoes" and "can you find the ball? It's behind the chair." He's pretty good at cleaning up his toys and he likes to help around the house (sweeping, unloading the dishwasher, etc.)

We are still having trouble with him staying with an adult in public. He is a RUNNER. I always have eyes on him, but if I take my hands off him, he runs away as fast as he can and usually  right out the door. He runs out of the museum when I go to give them my membership card. He runs out of the library when I check out books. I have resigned to putting him on a baby leash while we're out because he runs straight into the parking lot and it's not safe.

I'm working on adding more structure to his day. Most of the time we have free play either at home or when he's at the Kids Club at the gym. We have started going to toddler time at the library because it's more structured than baby storytime. We also started going to Music Makers. It has been fun, but it's been hard! I want him to be ready to follow directions when he is in Nursery by himself.

He has quite a few words. His favorites are animal sounds. No sentences yet. He can't articulate what he wants yet... I'm looking forward to him being able to tell me what he wants.

He's off the bottle, except for one at night. I think that one will go within the next month.

His favorite activity is playing with his train set. Or running around in circles with other kids. He also loves to dance.

That's about all I can think of for now...

Winter Happenings

Most of my photos come from my phone... Here are some photos from our actual camera.

Playing Drums

Christmas Fun

 

New Years Eve

Family Day at the Museum 

Goofy Boys

Sleepy Boy

Play-Doh

Playing Doctor

He sure loves yogurt...

Parker's First "Real" NC Snow

Chores

Out of order..but we went to the Triangle Tree Challenge in downtown Durham. Different non-profit organizations decorate trees to try and win money for their organization. We go every year!

I tried to teach him how to use a computer today. It was a little beyond him.

Whyyyyy

This is the face of someone who was essentially awake from 1:30-6am last night (with a brief snooze from 2:30-3) and then he woke up at 8am this morning, hyper as ever. Aaaaaarrrrghhhhhh

XOXO

Goodnight kisses from my sweet boy

Maybe....

Maybe if I stopped taking so many pics of me and Parker, he wouldn't steal my phone to take selfies all the time.

Parker the vet

Awesome vet kit from the $1 spot at target!

Always the charmer

Charming the snakes AND the ladies at the museum

Parkers first selfie

Presented without comment

Race horse

If it has wheels, it goes on the (masking tapre) race track.

Car wash

Earlier today, I reached in to get a wipe, and pulled out a handful of matchbox cars.

Bff

Love these two

Curious George

My younger brother, Eric, sent Parker a plush Curious George. It was so sweet. Eric has only met Parker twice so I was touched he remembered that Parker is obsessed with CG.

Tracks

Parker discovered train tracks at a friends house and fell in love. Sadly this was after Christmas. It is taking every ounce of my will power to not run out and buy him a train set. I used to buy him whatever I wanted all the time, but I'm trying to be more financially responsible. Plus I don't want to spoil him. Sooo construction paper race track it is.

Until his birthday.

Or maybe Valentines day. (I need a toy buying intervention.)