Sunday, January 27, 2013

Breakthrough

Parker has always been bad with bottles.  It makes it hard for me to be apart from him, and it makes outings challenging because I always need a place to nurse him.  Himal would love to be able to help with feedings but hasn't been able to successfully give him a bottle.  This past week, I went to a mom's night out for dinner and left Parker with Himal.  I got called home before the evening was over because Parker was screaming non-stop for 25 minutes and wouldn't take a bottle.  When I walked in, he had stopped screaming but was a sniveling little ball on Himal's chest.  He was so pitiful, it was amusing.
I decided that maybe it was time to introduce a sippy cup in place of a bottle and tried it last week with no success.  Well, check this out from today...
There are 3 amazing things in this picture: 1. Parker is drinking from a sippy cup, 2. Parker is holding his own cup, and 3. Himal is the one "feeding" him!  Now, Parker did not finish all of his milk and needed to nurse afterwards, but it was a major breakthrough that he downed an ounce on his own with no fussing.  This is eventually going to open up a whole new world of freedom!

On the subject of feeding, I'm waiting until Parker is 6 months old to introduce solid foods.  A lot of moms start solids from 4 months on and seem very excited about it, but I'm really not in a rush to start him.  I'm not sure why.  I've bought the gear and read up on how to introduce foods, but I'm not pumped about it yet.  I guess I'll know when we are ready and feel more excited then.

This baby is getting sweeter by the day!  He's such a happy little fellow.  Here's a video of him playing with a new toy from his aunt and uncle.  His laugh is truly the most amazing thing I've ever heard.  In addition to his sweet little giggle, he throws in a couple of his signature raptor sounds in the video.
Here are some pictures of his awesome smile:
 
I haven't posted chalkboard pics in a while, but we still do them monthly.  Now, he plays with the chalkboard, so it's more challenging to get a still shot.
Parker really wants to sit up and is getting stronger each day.  He'll be sitting in no time.  I've been trying to teach him the word "cat" for the past couple of weeks by saying it whenever one comes into the room.  He seems to recognize the word and looks around when I say it like he's looking for a kitty.
Himal was jealous that Parker and I had been to the zoo, so we all went as a family last weekend.  Parker likes the fish the most since they are easier to spot up close.  Here are my 2 favorite guys on safari:
We are going to put his baby tub into our regular tub tomorrow because he is splashing way too much to stay in the sink now.  Himal had to get out a large beach towel to mop up the kitchen after Parker's bath tonight, and my clothes were soaked.
I've been reading to Parker almost every day since he was a few weeks old, and he recently started helping me turn the pages of his board books.  Here is my adorable early reader.  Doesn't he look so engrossed in the story?!
Little P loves to touch our faces and take off daddy's glasses:
I love my little guy soooo much.  He is still quite the snuggler, and I wouldn't want it any other way!
Pure sweetness

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

What we've been up to in 2013

Parker gets more fun every day.  He's doing a lot of jumping in his Jumperoo (he realized within the last week that he can jump on his own), rolling around on the floor, and screeching like a raptor.  He's such a funny little guy.

What I thought was a tooth coming through seems to have disappeared, so I'm not sure what was going on there.  His bathroom habits have changed dramatically; instead of changing 6+ dirty diapers a day, I'm doing 0-2 really nasty ones.  Not sure which is worse.

Here is what we've been up to lately:
We visited the zoo:
Parker and the elephants
 We cheered Bama on to its second straight football national championship!
 Parker spends a lot of time and energy being cute:
He's a jumping fool!  I wish I could figure out how to upload videos of him jumping.
We had fun at Chuck-E-Cheese:
Parker had a date with his gal pal Lily:
Aren't they sweet holding hands?
Auntie M and Uncle Shane came to visit!!  YAY!
Parker helped Uncle Shane with his work
A stomach bug didn't stop Auntie M from playing hard
Auntie and Uncle are fun!!
They brought this awesome Bama tailgate chair.  A gift from Uncle's mom
We went on walks:
Walks in the park are EXHAUSTING.  Silly baby
Parker watched Wheel of Fortune.  He guessed the puzzle immediately.
And he had a professional photo shoot:
Handsome baby boy
He was mad until I started taking off his clothes.  Guess he was hot!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Parker's first Christmas

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.  Our first Christmas with Parker was everything we hoped it would be.  It was so awesome to have him around for our family's annual traditions.

He was fantastic during our trip to see the extended family and was content with all of the strangers holding him.  He also enjoyed playing on the floor while everyone watched and played with him.

Shortly before the holidays, I stopped feeding Parker right before I went to bed, and to my surprise, he didn't miss a beat.  Now, he sleeps straight from about 8:30 until 7:45 or so.  Amazing!  Then, he eats, stays up for about an hour, and then sleeps again for another hour or two.  Since I am not a morning person, this is more than I could have hoped for.  This morning, the whole family slept in until 11:15.  What a great start to New Year's Day.

Parker is fond of putting his bib over his face and having someone lift it off in a peek-a-boo game.  So silly.  He's really into petting the cats now and can rip out a clump of fur.  Poor kitties, but they are good sports and come up to him for a pat.  If I place him just right, Parker can sort of balance in a sitting position for a few seconds, and he seems to be sprouting a bottom tooth!  He's growing so fast.  I just can't stand it!
D Family Christmas
Hanging with great-granddaddy
The center of attention.
My close cousins and our babies
Playing with Mr. Big
Sleigh ride with cousins!
The center of our universe
Family of 3!
Hanging stockings on Christmas Eve
Annual tradition - my mom reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Christmas morning!
Parker and his Santa presents
The fam
Sitting up like a big boy!

Petting patient Gidget
We put together his high chair on New Year's Day