The Fort Worth Stock Show

One of the days we decided to take a day and go to the stock show. I have not been since I was a little girl and we thought Anna, Michael, and Katie would enjoy it. We left Jonathan with my parents and took Parker. When we got there and started going in the barns we were surprised to find there were no animals. After walking in lots of empty barns we asked where we could find some animals and were told today was the day they clean all the barns and so they move all the animals out for the day, clean their stalls, and bring them all back the next day. Would have been nice to know when we paid for our ticket! Thankfully, since the kids had never been to a stock show they had no expectations. We saw the milking cow demonstration, got to sit on tractors, and even found a longhorn and a few horses around the back that had not been moved yet. At the end, we happened upon calf roping which made the whole day. I don't know who was more intrigued, the kids or Scott who has never seen a rodeo in his life. It was a fun day.

Where did the animals go?

The longhorn we finally found around the back of a building!

The kids loved climbing on the tractors!

Parker loved watching the horses run out of the chutes. He clapped his hands every time.

Parker's One Year Pictures

We actually took these two months ago but I am a little slow about posting them. Can't believe how fast our little man has grown!

Six Months of Jonathan

In some ways it is hard to believe we have had Jonathan in our family for half a year already, other ways it is hard to believe he is not older than six months! Jonathan has had a tough winter with ear infections, teething, bronchitis, beginning stages of asthma, and LOTS of interrupted nights of sleep. Thankfully he has remained pretty happy and has a smile that will melt your heart.

Some things about Jonathan:

• At his six month well check last week he was 18lbs which is in the 60th percentile. It is hard to remember that he is average weight for his age because Parker is so skinny so Jonathan seems so much bigger and heavier. He is in the 95th percentile for height.
• He is rolling over both ways although seems to have selective memory of this skill. During the day he fusses if he is on his stomach and wants to be on his back. At night he fusses when he turns him over on his back and only wants to be on his stomach which is how he sleeps best.
• Continues to be VERY social. Only wants to be where everyone else is and does not like being left in a room alone. He loves to talk to people, grab their faces, hair, etc.
• Takes two naps a day averaging 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
• Capable of sleeping through the night when not sick or teething.
• Sitting up on his own for longer periods of time unassisted
• Enjoys his jumparoo and anything he can put in his mouth
• Loves Parker and gets frustrated when he can not be where Parker is. I'm sure this will accelerate his ability to crawl at some point!
• Taken to eating solids like a champ. We have tried all the veggies and are on to fruit. He has yet to make a face or spit out any of the things we have given him. He enjoys eating!
• Affectionately called "Little J.," "J.," "Little Grandad," and "Johnny Happy" a name given by his cousin Brooke a.k.a "Holly Happy"
  

Fourteen Months of Parker

I never posted about thirteen months of Parker so this is a combination of the past two months with our little man. We love watching Parker grow and make connections on a daily basis. We love his laid back spirit and his happy disposition. One thing we are realizing more and more is he takes his time. It takes him awhile to warm up to new things but once he gets it there is no stopping him. So we are learning as we work on new milestones like eating, walking, talking, etc. not to be concerned with the when because we know he will do it when he is good and ready!

Some things about Parker

• He is definitely our "Little Man!" At his last doctor appointment he weighed 18lbs and had dropped in the 3rd percentile. The doctor was not concerned because he was still growing in height (75th%) and knew he was burning calories like crazy with all his crawling. So we were told to pack in as many calories as possible- a problem we all would love to have :)
• His favorite foods include: mac and cheese, pasta, hot dogs, grilled cheese, corn dogs, yogurt, carrots, & pancakes
• He LOVES fruit. This is a major accomplishment because he has always hated fruit. We have been trying to feed him fruit since he was six months old both pureed and in solid form. One day we gave him a grape to try and he has been consumed with fruit ever since. He loves peaches, grapes, mixed fruit cups, and mandarin oranges (his all time favorite). We now have to feed him fruit at the end of the meal or he won't eat anything else.
• He is a pro with the sippy cup. He was slow to take to it in the beginning but now enjoys lots of milk, some apple juice, and the carnation instant breakfast we have to give him for his weight.
• He is saying a few words: "DaDa", "MaMa," "Aiyah" (my mom), and is getting better at repeating words like Grandad, "J" for Jonathan, Bye-Bye, Pancake etc.
• He is still cruising the furniture and will let go and stand for long periods of time but has not taken any steps. However we know it will come when he is ready just like eating fruit and drinking milk.
• He favorite toys are balls and his push toys
• Gives High 5's with a huge smile. His Grammy taught him this skill when she came to visit in January.
  

Evening With the Girls

Well it has been a LONG time since I have had the time to sit down and post some pictures. We have been very busy since Christmas and have lots to blog about!

A week before Christmas Mark and I went out with some friends for an evening and had Melissa and Carrie come and baby sit the boys. The girls have spent a lot of time with Parker. He has spent the night at their house while I was in the hospital and the girls have spent the night at our house to help out while Mark was out of town. Melissa and Carrie are two of Parker's favorite people. They have been around Jonathan but never by themselves so this was a first for all. Everyone survived and we came home to two happy babies. I know this will be the first of many "evening with the girls." Thankfully Melissa documented their time together.

The girls bought Parker a ball for Christmas which is one of his favorite toys to play with.

Melissa had to take pictures for a history project of her reading her book different places over the holidays. Clearly Jonathan found the book to be just as entertaining as Melissa :)

Parker helping Carrie feed Jonathan

They even gave the boys a bath!

Jonathan LOVES to "talk" to Clifford on his change table.


One happy boy!

Parker's First Birthday

It is hard to believe we have had Parker for an entire year. Since his birthday falls the day after Christmas (poor guy) we kept the celebration small and simple. We had my family over as well as a couple of friends for snacks and cake. It was a sweet time to celebrate our little man.


Parker LOVED his balloons

His cousin Brooke helped Parker open his presents. He got a Little People bus, a tool bench that makes noises when you pound on it, and an activity table.

Melissa and Carrie, two of his favorite people, made his cake. He, along with the rest of the adults, thought it was quite tasty!

Christmas Day

After naps from both boys in the morning we opened presents amongst our family (well it more like between Mark and I). However, one of my favorites was a present Parker's birth mom sent for him to open. It was the Cat and the Hat in Spanish. She also sent a book of bedtime stories to both boys. We are so thankful to have communication with her and hope it will continue in the future.


Later in the afternoon we made gingerbread men. One of the traditions Parker's birth mom enjoys the most during Christmas is making a gingerbread house with her grandmother. I had told her before Parker was born I would have to work up to houses but we would for sure make some gingerbread men. Parker was not a lot of help but has enjoyed eating them!

Later that evening we had dinner at my parents. Mom and dad gave them a each a book to enjoy. It was a nice quite ending to a perfect first Christmas.