2 and a half!

Look who's 2.5 years old!

He is signed up for preschool for the next school year, too!

Funny phrases

Parker is a chatty boy.  He talks and talks and sings and talks some more.  He seems to have a broad vocabulary and does well making fairly long sentences.  He hasn't grasped the correct use of the pronouns "me" and "you" and continues to refer to himself in the third person.  It's actually pretty confusing to teach those pronouns when you think about it.

We love gymnastics - especially the pit.

He recently started swinging on his own.

He has great balance.

He pronounces most words correctly but drops the S in sp, sch, etc. at the beginning of words.  For example, he pronounces the word spoon as "poon" and school as "cool."  He also says an S instead of an F for words starting with F like "sore and sive" for four and five.       

Painting is fun!  And messy

The phrase I hear the most is "Mommy, hold you Parker."  He ALWAYS wants to be held.

Napping with Jules on mommy

Some phrases that he says multiple times a day are:
What you doing?
What dat noise?
Where Daddy go?
What is going on?
Do it again!

The way he says them makes them so funny, especially the last one. Recently, Himal was talking, and Parker asked, "Daddy, why are you talking?"  It was hilarious and cracked us up.

Goofy boy loves being naked

Christmas!!

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Parker was really into it, and it was such fun to see his reactions!  The first thing he said to me on Christmas morning was, "Santa Claus come."  He woke up super early (5:20!!), so he must have been uber excited.  I had no idea he'd wake up early on Christmas at this young of an age.  What's it going to be like when he's in elementary school?!

Small family Christmas at home - just the 3 of us

Parker with some of his cousins during the annual Christmas carol sing-along

Opening Granddaddy's present on Christmas Eve

He loves this play mat from Granddaddy

Christmas morning

Merry Christmas - dark and early!

Matching Christmas jammies!

Parker had a blast with Titi and G pushing him in a box

Annual family tree photo

Parker can't wait until he's old enough to play Polyanne with his great-granddaddy

Strong

Christmas on a farm = fun on haystacks

Random farm dog crashed our pic and pushed my cousin off

I love that he's making memories in the same places I did when I was growing up

3 generations

Another goodbye and ready for Christmas

Today we said goodbye to our sweet Gidget, our 3rd kitty death this year.  So tough...  I had her for over 13 years.  Parker really liked giving her treats; he always made sure to take some directly to her wherever she was sitting.  He also liked to impersonate her moo sound she made when she meowed.  She will be missed.  We've told Parker that she's in heaven with Gilligan and Higgs.  However, I am prepared to hear one of his new favorite phrases, "Where (Gidget) go?" a million times over the next few weeks.

Pretty girl with a cute pink nose

Just last week she was feeling well enough to keep Parker company during his nap.

We started the year with 5 cats.  Now, we are left with the 2 black fluffballs.

In happier news, we are excited about our little family Christmas we are having tomorrow.  We'll exchange presents and decorate cupcakes.  Last week, Parker got to decorate cookies at a birthday party and loved it, so this should be a lot of fun.

What a mess!

Parker, Lily, and Savannah had a little Christmas dinner last week.  They are so cute together.

Poor little P got two boo-boos this week.  His lip has healed, and I'm hoping his chin looks better by Christmas.

 

We wish you a very merry Christmas!

 

Santa!

Parker saw Santa Claus today!  When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Parker said trains and buses.  My sweet boy.

 Parker and Lily had a blast dancing in the fake snow.

Best friends

Happy Halloween!

We had a blast!  Parker dressed as Marshall from Paw Patrol.

Fun at the zoo

My adorable little dalmatian

Parker enjoyed pumpkin carving

Marshall and the firemen

Trick or treat!

Annual loot pic

And then Parker burned off his sugar by running around in just a diaper

Pumpkin patch and visitors

It was a beautiful day for the pumpkin patch.  Parker loved it! 

He carried pumpkins around and then dropped them hard on the ground

Too heavy

 

The bees were "eating lunch" on the sunflowers

 

This is the prized pumpkin he chose to take home

Lots of fun stuff to do at the farm

Dried corn and some kitchen items... who needs toys?!

Hay ride

Parker is doing better in the nursery at church and the gym.  It is always a struggle getting there, but he's generally happy now when we pick him up.  He sings the alphabet all the time and is getting really good at it.  He likes to count and make numbers with his fingers.  He asks me to sing and then requests "more tiny" (softer) or "more loud."  He continues to enjoy gymnastics and is a good listener at gymnastics class.  He understands the days of the week and what activities we do on each day.  He's jealous when I pet Murray or when Murray sits on my lap.  He still loves his Little People and their zoo and farm.  He also enjoys trains and other vehicles.  There's nothing more exciting than spotting a bus, train, taxi, ambulance, fire truck, police car, or mail truck when we are driving.    

We had several outings to the fair this year, and Parker was tall enough to ride some of the bigger rides.  He tried the swings and, much to my excitement, the little caterpillar roller coaster.  He enjoyed the petting zoo, cows, pig race, and wolf show.  My mom and dad came for a quick visit, and then my sister and brother-in-law came.

Rolling this Superman monster truck off the couch and counting its flips is a favorite activity

Goofballs!

The petting zoo was a highlight of the fair

Parker always loves a carousel

Riding with Titi

HUGE ice cream cone