just like momma

Parker and I have a lot in common. Now we both have a love for coffee. (note: no child in the picture actually consumed coffee or was harmed by the consumption of said coffee)

Its been WAY too long

I should really be ashamed of myself! It has been a month since I have posted anything and even that post was a sad excuse of a post. Oh well. The family is doing well. Parker is Growing by leaps and bounds. He is army crawling ALL over the place and just got his 5th tooth. I can see the match to it just below the surface of his gums. I should have known that this kid would be advanced where food was concerned! Now with all his new teeth he wants to eat everything. He loves to get his teeth brushed and doesn't get this love from his father. Steven doesn't even like to brush his teeth on Saturday! He is such a gross boy. Parker still loves to listen to music and if Jay Z comes on the radio or TV he will stop whatever he is doing and listen. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing just because I really like Jay Z as well. P still loves going to ACA and especially likes it since he can kinda move around more. Well that is all that is going on right this moment. I will leave you with some pictures of the family....

parker and drew playing together. it looks like me and angela playing

Me and parker in our footie pj's

he scooted under the couch. i have a better picture of him under there but i showed how gross it was.

what in the world?

i was a stay at home mom that needed a very part time job that allowed me to take Parker...somehow now i have 1 part time job and 6 other odd jobs. this always happens though..i say i am only going to have 1 job but somehow i manage to get 10 others as well. its OK though...i take Parker with me everywhere and i schedule most of the odd jobs around his nap time so he doesn't care. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if i didn't live like this though. I think if I weren't a little busy I wouldn't do anything all day except watch my favorite trashy t.v. shows and lets face it I don't want Parker's role models to be the people on Maury and Judge mathis. =) No I think his role models should just stay who are now....Dwight Schrute, Michael Scott, Ron Burgandy, Ross Gellar, Chandler Bing, and Joey. He can't go wrong with these....Right?

hahahahahah

Going to see Grandad!

This past Saturday we loaded up after nap and headed to Atlanta to see my dad. We had so much fun. I got to see my little sister Abbie and Parker got to have his first pony ride!!! He was an expert and rode with NO hands!! My dad was holding him of course but still it was pretty impressive! We stayed and ate dinner which was wonderful!! We had such a great time.

I also realize that I have never given my results of p90x. Well it works great! It was a challenge but totally worth it. Here are the results:

weight before: 146 after: between 133 and 135!

waist before: 30.5 after: 27

hips: before:39 after: 36

There were more measurements but I can't remember where on my arms and legs I measured! But I can tell you that they have gotten smaller! I am back into all my old clothes which is awesome! I think that within the next month or so I am going to do it again but do the lean option. I would suggest anyone do this but be prepared for a serious butt kicking.

Here is why I really shouldn't ever be left in charge....

That's all I have to say about that.

6 months, or in math terms 1/2 year!

I cannot believe that Parker is 6 months old!! He has been such a joy to be around. Even when he is cranky he is still pretty happy. He weighs 19.5 lbs and 29.5 inches long. He is in the 99.5% for height. He is getting so big. He loves to eat food and wants to eat our food. I give him what I can and even though he has only 2 teeth he is pretty good at chewing. I recently blended frozen strawberries and lemonade for him and it was a big hit. I feel pretty good about giving that to him because its pretty much just fruit and not a lot of sugar. He can sit all by himself and balance pretty well. He only falls occasionally now. He can roll over both ways and he loves to 'talk'. He goes with me still to ACA and really enjoys that. We have started him on a sippy cup. That's going OK. He can hold his bottles by himself and he can drink from the cup but when I try to help him, he doesn't want the cup anymore. Go figure. We only have one problem....sleep. He was sleeping all through the night for a LONG time then a couple weeks ago he began waking. Now he is up every hour. Putting his paci seems to do the trick but as soon as it falls out we are up again putting it back in. So today I have begun not giving him a paci during sleep times and we are going to start a firm bedtime schedule. I got this from a book called the sleep sense program. A couple of friends of ours used it and they really liked it. I am really willing to try anything. It worked great for nap time. Parker cried for 10 minutes and then was out. He has been asleep for 45 minutes (which lately is wonderful) and is still going strong! I will keep everyone updated. Here are some recent pictures of our boy!





Cole and Parker playing at small group

My little ham

Carmen and Parker

Bright lights Big city

Parker at his first Rangers game. He had just finished helping me eat my strawberry chill. HE LOVED IT!

This weekend we went to Dallas and stayed with Steven's sister Jennifer. We had such a great time. We walked for the cure, went to see some friends, and went to see the Rangers. Parker did so good especially for being dragged around all day. He really enjoyed the game and didn't get really fussy. He cried a little but it was only because he was hungry. Once he helped me eat my chill he relaxed and went to sleep. It was really great. We also have fixed his sleeping problems. If you didn't know he has been waking up every hour at night which was strange since he has been sleeping all night. I know its because he is teething and he startles himself awake at night. Well I went and got a thin swaddle blanket and problem solved. I just wished I would have thought about it when he first started it. He might wake up once to get some Tylenol or put his pacifier back in but I can handle it. I put him in it for his nap today so we will see how good of a nap he takes. Well our weekend was awesome and I have posted some pics of the great time. ENJOY!

Parker eating his dad's glove. He already loves baseball.

Getting my face painted to look like Harry Potter. It was so funny. Steven didn't want to be seen with me and Parker wanted to take the glasses. And yes I was the oldest person to get their face painted. And yes I know I am an idiot.

Me showing Steven my pretty face. You can't see but I have a lightening bolt on my forehead.

Parker, Steven, and our friend Jaiden. She just had a liver transplant and she is so sweet. It was so good to see her.

Parker and Kanyon. Kanyon is in Dallas in eating camp. He is doing great and we can't wait till him and his mom get to come home.

Parker, Jennifer, and I at the diabetes walk.

here is parker in his swaddle blanket. he looks like an inch worm. It is so funny to see him in it. As soon as he gets in it he just becomes so calm. I also found that they make variations of these for ages up to 2 years. Looks like Parker is going to get swaddled for a long time.

5 Months

Ok so I should have done this post a couple of weeks ago, but when Parker turned 5 months we were in Galveston. Better late than never I always say. Parker is getting so stinking big. He has 2 teeth on the bottom and is acting like he is getting more. He is such a trooper. I didn't even realize he had cut his first tooth until Jackie said he thought he saw a tooth. He really wasn't very fussy. He is a little fussier with these but still not bad at all. He can sit on his own if he props himself up on his hands for a pretty good while. He loves to play with his toys and loves to roll over onto his tummy....but he HATES to roll back over. He can do it but just not all the time. Plus if you get too frustrated and mommy will come and roll you back over why would you want to roll yourself back? He loves to flirt with EVERYONE! This kid is so stinking happy. If he is fussy I know that something is wrong with him. He loves to play with his feet and eat them. I love to see his curious nature. I feel so blessed to have him and to be able to stay at home with him. I do work 2 days a week at ACA in the 12-18 month class and Parker gets to come with me. He does so well and loves it. He loves to see his friends Cole and Blaze. I know he just wishes he could just get down and romp and play with them. Well Parker is waking from a nap so I will just leave you with some pics.






i love this picture of drew! he just looks so comfortable.

there is nothing like the love of a boy and his beagle.

This is how he has started to nap sometimes. it makes me giggle.

chase looks so happy about his chocolate.

this is the funniest face. it looks like he wants to say "hey let me tell you whats going on here."

Running on empty

For the past week and a half I have felt like I have been running on empty. I have felt so exhausted. I just thought that I was tired because of Parker but then I started having problems breathing. I felt like it was impossible to take a deep enough breath. I was also having other problems but they don't really need to be broad casted its kind of gross. I finally decided to go to the dr and it turns out I'm just really anemic. I've been anemic before and I never knew it could cause me to seem out of breath. It also causes insomnia and I have not been sleeping well at all. When I heard the symptoms I thought I have most of those! I am so glad its just something simple and not my asthma flaring up.


Also I have the best husband EVER!! He watched Parker all weekend and let me get some much needed sleep and rest. He took him to church and let me have some alone time. He is so great. It makes me happy to see how attentive he is towards Parker. You would think that no father loved their child more than Steven loves Parker. He has also been very understanding for the past couple of weeks about my tiredness. Especially since I have a tendency to brush off my symptoms and just think that I am being lazy. He is actually the one who talked me into going to the Dr. I love my husband and I am so thankful that I have him.

This is how I found them on Saturday. Aren't they cute!

mystery of the cranky baby solved!!

So my after my post the other day, I thought things were getting better. Boy was I ever wrong. Parker cried ALL day. I felt so helpless and frustrated. Nothing I was doing was helping him. When I would stand and hold him it would get better most of the time but after a while my arms were jelly so I had to put him down. It was awful not being able to comfort him. Well Steven got home and helped me out but he had to go to his men's softball game. Luckily Susan and BJ came over to help. They were amazing! They brought me dinner and held Parker so I could have a break. I was so thankful I almost cried. (I think the frustrations of the day helped with the urge to cry.) When Steven got home, he put Parker to bed and I took a MUCH needed relaxing bath. The next day he was so much better. I even left him with my sister to go to the dentist. I felt better leaving him with her just in case he got really fussy. Around mid afternoon it all started all over again. He hadn't taken a good nap all day and I kinda knew it was coming. He cried and cried. I tried everything. I knew something was wrong with him because he is Never like this. I just couldn't put my finger on what it was. I ended up standing with him for over an hour and a half just so he would sleep peacefully. I finally had to put him down and ten minutes he woke up. He was better for a while but then when we put him to bed the fussiness was back. Steven said it was because he was fighting sleep. I knew that wasn't all it was. Well this morning I figured it out. He is constipated!! I never thought I would be so happy about that. At least now I know what it is and I can help him. WOOHOO!! I just want my little boy to feel better.

UGH!!!

I love my child so much but this morning was very rough for me. Last night Parker went down at 6:30 instead of 8:00. I knew this wouldn't be good for the morning but I didn't want to try to keep him up because if he needs to sleep he needs to sleep. Well he woke up at 3:45 this morning ready to eat. He usually will wake up around 7. So I dragged myself out of bed and gave him a bottle. He drank most of it and slept till about 6. Thankfully Steven went and got him and took him to the livingroom to play so I could get a little more sleep. I do not know what was wrong but something just wasn't suiting Parker. I could hear him fussing from the bedroom so I got up to help Steven. Between the two of us we could not figure out what was wrong. We both burped him and that didn't do anything to soothe him. If we put him down he would cry. If we even sat down with him he would cry. He wasn't hungry and so I thought his teeth might be hurting so I gave him a small dose of Tylenol. I hate just giving him Meds but I didn't know what else to do. Steven had already gone to work by this point and I was on my own. Well about 15 minutes after the meds and 15 more minutes of standing and walking with him, I decided to try some gripe water. When I gave him the gripe water he just about fell asleep as he drank. Then it dawned on me that he was still tired and was fighting sleep as hard as he could. I tried to put him in his crib earlier but he wasn't having any of that. I knew that wouldn't work so I tried the bouncy chair...no luck. I was running out of options. I said a small prayer, crossed my fingers, hoped the planets were all aligned and put him in his swing. He tried to fuss but i put his passy in his mouth (which he finally took) and 5 seconds later sweet quiet peace filled my house. I would go back to sleep but I have consumed so much coffee I probably couldn't go to sleep if someone knocked me over the head. So I will just sit and enjoy my quiet for as long as it will last.

For your viewing pleasure....

my boy Parker. Look at those eyes!! I hope they stay that color.

It looks like he is bullying his dad. haha

Yum Yum food

Drew is pounding bubbles with a bat. good times.

so precious!

Parker is 4 months old!

It is so hard ot believe that Parker is 4 months old!! Last week he got his shots and he was such a little trooper!! He cried of course when they gave them to him but then he was just fine the rest of the day. he is 27.5 inches long and 17 lbs! He is growing so fast. When we were at the doctor, she said that we could start trying to give him some baby food. Well there is NO going back now. He loves it. He can eat a whole size 1 jar at a time and would probably eat more if I let him. He smiles and talks all the time. Its too cute. One day I will try to post a video of it one here. I would post more pictures, but I have seemed to have lost our digital camera. That really stinks, but Steven's dad has two cameras and he is letting me borrow one of his. The Chief is the best ever. So when I get the camera this week the pictures will continue. Parker also rolls over from his back to his tummy. He doesn't do it very often but still he does it. He is also starting to accept that from time to time he must lay on his tummy. He tells me of his distaste for it often. Well not much new going on in our world. I am done with summer school and I am officially a stay at home mommy! I am so excited. Although I still have to find a part time job to make up a little difference, so if anyone has any ideas please let me know.

3 years of marriage, wow its been a while!!

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, and I totally forgot it until Steven called me and told me.
I am horrible! Oh well. Things are just so crazy and I don't really keep up with the days in the summer. Whoops. I love being married especially to a great guy like Steven. I hope for many more years of happy life together.

Happy Birthday Steven!!

Today is my husbands birthday! He turned 27 today. Wow, he is getting old just like me. I have a few things up my sleeve for him today. Suzanna and Molly Beth Neal are going with me to pick out his present. I am pretty pumped about that. I know that they will really help. They are a couple of awesome girls and I am glad thier mom is letting them come with me. They really love Steven.

I feel so blessed to have found Steven. He is a great man, husband and father. I think I love him more now than when I first met him. So with that, happy birthday baby!

Destin and Working Out

So I finally got some pictures from Destin to post. We had such a GREAT time when we went. Parker was such a great baby. He would just sleep and sleep while I laid out. He even got into the pool and in the lazy river. He absolutely loved it!!! One time he even fell asleep in his floaty in the pool. It was so cute. I also got to be with my dad on his birthday along with my sister and her family. It was so nice to have everyone together on his birthday. We haven't done that in a long time. I also got to have some of my FAVORITE grape soda. Its called Grapico. It is the best stuff, but you can only find it around Alabama. They had it in Florida so I got some. It is so good and it reminds me of going to Alabama for our family reunions. Then when we got back from Florida, I went to my moms and her husband Jackie bought me a case when they were in Alabama for our family reunion!!! I was so excited! He is such a great guy. We love him soooo much. He is thoughtful and sweet. He treats my mom so wonderfuly. I wouldn't trade him for the world. Anywho here are some pics the trip.



Kaylynn











this was the view from my dad's condo











Me and my boy










The lazy river












another view of the beach









Dad and my little sister










Deanna (Kaylynn's sister) and kaylynn









Parker (how cute is that smile!!)











Me and Meagan.






ok so now about my workout. For a week now Steven and I have been doing P90X. It is the best workout EVER!! It is kicking out butt. I want to stay with it so i think i will post on how I am doing each month. Its kind of embarassing but I'm going to post my weight and my measurements each month to keep me accountable. I am only doing this because I know they will only go down. Well thats the idea anyway. so here we go:
Day 1
Weight: 146
Chest: 36
Waist: 30.5 (ugh)
Hips: 39
Right thigh: 23
Left thigh: 23
Right arm: 12
Left arm: 11.5

Next update after day 30.

The 'beachin' days of summer

Just wanted to let the blogging nation know that I am sitting in Destin, Fl. on vacation. WOOHOO!! The only thing that would make it better would be if my husband could be here. Parker is the cutest waterbaby EVER!!

Wolverine underwear and Biker Chicks!

This weekend Parker had his first big road trip!! We went to Austin to my cousin Andy's wedding. This was a pretty big deal. My Aunt Teresa died this past October and one of the things she wanted was that her boys marry thier girlfriends. Well, Russell the youngest boy married in May and Andy married this weekend. I know that she would have been so proud. It does my heart good to see them happy and married. I love both of my cousins so much and wish them all the happiness in the world. Their new wives fit into the family so well and are absolutely perfect for their husbands. I couldn't have picked better people for them if i would have tried. I just wish my aunt could have been there, but I know she peeked down from Heaven to see them.
Well now to tell you about the Wolverine underwear. When we went to Austin on Friday, Parker and I road down with my mom, her husband Jackie, my granny, Angela (my sister), and my nephew Chase. Well about an hour into the trip my nephew told me about his new underwear. He was so proud! Let's face it, who wouldn't be if they had Wolverine undies!! All of the sudden he said he wanted to call Steven and tell him about them. I thought this would be so funny to listen to so I dialed the number and gave him the phone. I probably should have put the speaker on because when Chase told the person on the phone about his underwear I thought it was Steven. Um...It was not! Turns out it was the receptionist Valerie at Stevens work. I can only imagine what she thought when she answered the phone and the voice on the other end said, "I have Wolverine Underwear!" I do love my nephew!!!!
Biker chicks:
It turns out that the same weekend as Andy's wedding there was a HUGE biker rally!! Boy if you ever have the option to go to Austin for a wedding the same weekend as a biker rally I would suggest you go!! The profanities and motorcycle engines practically sang me to sleep at about 2 am Saturday morning. The smell of stale cigarettes and vomit on the way to a continental breakfast sure makes you hungry. Oh and there are some good looking biker chicks out there. If i haven't said it before, I will say it now....I love ladies in leather that is 4X's too small when it is 100 degrees outside. That is SEXY! I swear if they weren't so scary looking I would have knocked down every Harley in the La Quinta Inn's parking lot that next morning.

Ticks

I Hate Ticks!!!! They are horrid bloodsucking little creatures!! When I say I hate them I really mean it. Thursday our 8th grade when to the nature center in Tyler. I was in charge of the GPS activity. The activity was pretty fun but we had to go through the woods. Well when I got home that day I found 6 ticks on me feasting away!! You know sometimes I get anemic, and I need all the blood I can get! Do you think the devils really cared? No! They just latched on and sucked away. I was probably the equivalent of an all you can eat buffet. The worst part is early the next morning I scratched my head and what do you know, another one in my hair! YUCK! So when I got to school I had to get my head checked for any more ticks. It was 3rd grade all over again when I got lice from a softball helmet. All I need now is to sit on the front porch while my mom puts RidX on my head and pick away and the nightmare will be complete.

Parker's babysitter

This is an ode to Parker's babysitter, Tonya Irwin. Tonya takes such great care of Parker while I am at school. She puts my mind at ease. I would be going crazy with worry if she wasn't watching him. I know that if anything was wrong with him she wouldn't hesitate to call me. She also takes the most wonderful pictures and the other day she took some of Parker. He looks so cute.