we're free!!!

I feel like I really should start every post with a picture...just to start things off right! So it is something new I am going to try to remember to do.

Parker has a new love of fresh bananas! He gets so excited when I bring it over to him.

Last week was a fun week. Parker and Mommy actually broke free from the apartment a few times!!!

On Friday, Parker and I went to lunch with my friend Krystal. Parker was totally in love with Krystal and pretty much gazed at her the whole time. We went to Subway and Parker thought the empty chip bag was the best new toy. He also enjoyed dropping it on the floor for one of us to pick up...such a fun game!

After lunch Parker and I headed to Pediatric Associates of Spokane for Parker's 6-month check. I am really going to miss their entire office when we move. All the doctors and nurses are so nice and wonderful with Parker. His check went great and he was such a trooper with his shots too! The doc. didn't have any new advice about the sleeping other than what we have already tried...it all comes back to teething and there isn't really much we can do besides try to make Parks as comfortable as possible. He was such a riot on the table with the paper that they drape across...I wish I could have taken some pictures but Trav had to work and I had to stay right next to the table at all times because he was rolling everywhere! He quickly moved from one side to the other, then figured out that the paper was super-fun to rip and wrap around himself! The nurse was cracking up. The second she put her clipboard down he went for that too. (My sister warned me about that...I guess Drays does the same exact thing!) So, all-in-all a wonderful check.

Here are his new stats:

• Height: 28 3/4 in. (100th percentile...our tall kiddo is off the chart now)
  
• Weight: 18 lbs. 6.5 oz. (65th percentile...not as much of a chunker as we thought)

Yesterday I had to get some laundry done while Trav was at work. When I put it in Parks was asleep, which makes it so much easier. But when it was ready to come out of the dryer...he was up. I lugged him down to the laundry room with me and while I was trying to get clothes out decided that the middle hamper was an excellent spot for him to hang out while I finished getting clothes out. He was so content to just sit in there and watch Mommy get the rest of the clothes. It was pretty funny. I rolled the cart back to the apartment...baby and all!


After I folded all the clothes and was putting them away, I layed Parks down on the bed to "help-out" he quickly pulled my pile of tank-tops over and threw them around...next he found a hanger!

Before one of his naps yesterday he was watching his "rainforest" and I think he was trying to cuddle with it or something...it was hilarious! (You can really see his adorable little birthmark on his back in this video...right above his left booty-cheek!)

Ahhh...I love nice weather!

These last couple days have been such a blast. Aside from Parker still waking up at random times during the night to play...things are going wonderfully! Parker has a doctor appointment this coming Friday. It is his 6 month check...so new stats will be on the way this week. I can't wait to see how much he has grown in terms of weight and height in the last couple months. Growing is one thing we never worry about with our little "chunker" as we like to call him. Anyone who holds him always comes to the same conclusion..."he is thick!" It has been great to have the warm weather and to be able to play outside. We have also been blessed with some extra "daddy time" in the last couple days. I feel like we have gotten much more time with Travis and it has been great.

Travis and Parker were playing on the couch. It was so funny and I love how you don't even have to see Parker's mouth to know that he has a huge grin on his face. His eyes are smiling so brightly and you can tell how much he loves his daddy! It melts my heart!


The other morning Parker and I were playing in the living room. Actually, Parker was playing and I brought my mirror out into the living room to do my make-up. Parks has been going through a little bit of separation anxiety or something lately...the "only Mommy will do" and "don't leave my sight" stage has kicked in a little bit. (He does surprisingly well with "strangers" though.) Any-who...he was playing on the couch next to me and "found himself" in the mirror. He was being so funny. He even decided to lay his head down next to "the baby in the mirror."



The video below is hilarious. Parker was so funny looking at himself in the mirror. I don't think he quite knows that it is him yet...6 months is around when they start to figure it out. I constantly catch myself laughing out loud at all of the hilarious things he does.

That night, he found a cord from Trav's X-BOX controller on the floor. It was still connected and the controller was sitting on the chair. Parker spotted it from across the room and apparently HAD TO HAVE IT! He rolled himself over there to get it. When I rolled the controller cord up and slid it under the X-BOX he rolled his way over there to play with it too. It was too funny! He is into everything now and has totally figured out how to get what he wants. He has even started trying to get up on his knees. Hopefully he won't start crawling too soon! I would like him to wait to start crawling until we are out of this apartment...but our son is on his own agenda and if he really wants to crawl I'm sure he will!


The sun has been wonderful and the weather has been so warm. We took full advantage and even took Parker's Jumperoo outside. He enjoyed the grass under his bare feet and some playtime with Deacon. He thinks playing fetch with Deacon is so funny. He had so much fun playing outside. I'm sure it was a nice change from being inside the apartment.






We have been slowly introducing Parker to more "table-type foods" lately. He has tried fresh bananas, fresh apples, and today he tried a biter biscuit for the first time. It is a kind of a cracker/cookie type thing. He was actually able to hold it by himself and chew/suck on it. He is getting to be such a big boy! He got it all over his face, hands, and dropped it in his lap too.




Today Parker spent most of the day in just a onesie. That's what happens when Daddy changes a diaper...somehow the pants don't make it back on. It kind of reminds me of Papa Kev-O!!! I had put him down for a nap and when I went in to check to make sure he was asleep (Parker likes to play in his crib for long periods of time before falling asleep...there aren't even any toys in it!) and this is what I saw. His little bum sticking up in the air and him practically sucking his thumb! I had to take a picture!


I hope you haven't all had a picture overload...but I don't know who could overload when looking at such a handsome boy! I may have a slight bias...but what Mommy doesn't. My sister found an adorable and oh-so-true quote that says something like:
There is only one perfect child in the world--and every mother has it.

Happy Birthday to "The Great Nan"

Today is Nan's birthday! Nan is Travis' mom's mom...does that makes sense? (Maternal Grandma) Nan is such an amazing woman and always a blast to be around. We miss her so much. She and Papa live in Yuma, Arizona. Our trip last February to visit them was one of the best trips we have ever taken. We had such a good time playing cards, dancing in Mexico, and checking out Yuma Territorial Prison. Basically we just love spending time with her! It seems like it has been forever since we last saw them...6 months to be exact. We were lucky enough to have her with us for Parker's birth. I can't wait for her to see him again. I'm sure that he will love his "Great Nan" as much as we do! Nan decided that she did not want to be called Great-Grandma, and would prefer to be called "The Great Nan!" So funny! So we appease her because she is so great and totally deserving of the title!

We hope she is having a wonderful birthday: full of sun, warm weather, yummy margaritas (make sure you don't tell them it's your birthday...you don't want another "special birthday drink"), and tons of love from all of us here in Washington! We miss you and we love you Nan!

• OUR WEDDING...SEPTEMBER 8, 2007

nan, papa, trav, lee, jammi--before wedding rehearsal

the duncan side--after the wedding ceremony (i'm so blessed to be a part of this family)

• SOME PICTURES FROM OUR TRIP TO YUMA...FEBRUARY 2008:

lee, jammi, nan, papa--nan & papa's place in yuma

nan, trav, & i in mexico (just a couple days before finding out i was pregnant)

jammi & nan in mexico--enjoying the warm weather and sunshine

nan doing what she does best--dancin' & havin' a good time! (there is a video that goes along with this...but because i love nan so much, i won't post it!)

we love this woman so much and can't wait for summer to get here!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT NAN!

Happy 6 Months Baby Boy

I cannot believe that 6 months have already gone by! It is amazing how quickly time flies. Parker seems so much older every single day and I cannot believe that I have been so blessed. He looks so much like Travis, it is fun to look at him and see so much of his daddy smiling back at me. Although he has been a little fussy lately, a mild fever all day yesterday, and doing weird things at night (waking up at random times to talk to himself or crying a little while still asleep) he is so much fun.

Some of the highlights about what Parker James is up to now :

• he is rolling all over the living room now...mostly trying to catch Deacon
• his new favorite noise is a very high-pitched & girly scream...he does it if he is mad or happy...pretty funny actually
• parks has 1 tooth and another already through the skin right next to it
  
• now it is hard to eat in front of him, even if he has already eaten because he is constantly reaching for our food
• he loves sweet potato, peach, and banana puffs (Gerber snacks that are crunchy but melt in your mouth)
• at lunch today he tried some pieces of tortilla (loved it) and some little bits of ice (also loved it)
• does not like green beans (but still won't spit them out...come on now...it's food after all!!!)
• loves playing fetch with Deacon outside
• finally figured out the jumperoo...but he more stands on his tip-toes then drops, it is funny
• is obsessed with Daddy

Here are what you are really wanting...THE PICTURES:


still lovin' his exersaucer...you can even see his little tooth!

his big blue eyes are my favorite thing

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Here is a little progression of how our "awake times" go:

step 1: parker rolls all the way across the living room to get over to Deacon


step 2: deacon still tolerating parker's presence because he hasn't reached him yet

step 3: parker finally gets to touch deacon

step 4: deacon acts like a grumpy old man and gets up a walks away...leaving a sad baby that worked so hard just to get to him a be his buddy


Just a couple pictures from today--notice the constant line of drool spilling out of his mouth...yummy!

happy birthday to THE BEST DAD

Today is my dad's birthday. I can't believe that he is 50! He doesn't look it at all. We have always been the girls with the "cool dad." The dad who takes all your friends out on the boat, coaches your soccer team, never gets mad, and almost always says yes! He is the grandpa that buys not just the little toys...but the awesome little dirt bikes because all 3 grandsons will get to have a blast on it. He is also that grandpa that loves to hold giggly babies and hand them right on back when they get fussy...or have a diaper that needs changed!!! It is hilarious.

I have always been a daddy's girl. Probably because my dad was my soccer coach (or the assistant coach) from the time I started playing soccer when I was 5. He is always there to push you along, pick you up when you fall, and let you know he cares...even if he doesn't always say it. He is such a blast to be around and really is the best dad in the world. I can't make this any longer or he will stop reading it!!!

So...I guess my point is Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!

My high school graduation--2003

Mom & Dad's 25th Wedding Anniversary dinner

Family Photo...I don't remember when...it is obviously missing Trav, Drays, and Parks!

My college graduation in June 2007

Our wedding--September 2007

The day after Parker was born--October 2008

My point with all these pictures is that my dad looks exactly the same as when I was in high school. I cannot believe how well he has aged...and he isn't even Asian! ( We always joke that my mom has aged so well because she is Japanese.) Hopefully that will work out well for Sara and I later down the road!!!

Easter Weekend

For Easter weekend, we were lucky enough to get to spend the whole weekend with my family. It was such a blast! On Friday we went to the hockey game. My mom had picked up some earplugs for Parker because last time he would get scared and upset every time someone cheered. They actually worked pretty well! Thanks Nonni for lookin' out!

(Parker and Great-Grandpa Bob at the hockey game)

On Saturday my dad and Trav started work on a new pergola (spelling?) for their deck. Who knew there was enough sun to get burnt...but Travis sure did!!! Travis and I told my parents that we were going out to dinner with some friends of ours, so not to expect us for dinner that night. Really, my sister had been planning a surprise party for them. It was my mom's 50th birthday on March 22nd and my dad will be turning 50 on April 17th! It was so hard to keep it all a secret, and I think that several people (especially Scott & myself) almost blew it so many times! We were all waiting for them at the Crazy Moose Casino...they were both so surprised! I can't believe we actually pulled it off! Dinner and drinks were a blast. We all had such a great time. A special thanks to Chip's sister Kassie who watched Parker, Caleb, and Drayson that night! I'm sure having all three was quite the handful...but she handled it like a champ! I'm sure Caleb was a big help too (such a great big brother and cousin!)

(Travis & I at the party...check out his sunburn!)


(Sara-Mom-Me at the party)

Sunday was Easter obviously. Travis and Dad finished up the pergola while Mom and I went to church. Parker stayed home and took a nap. After church, we all headed over to my Grandma Janet and Grandpa Bill's house for yummy food and an Easter Egg Hunt!!! Parker did great and everyone had a good time. I, for some strange reason, did not take any pictures. Ugh...I know! Parker had finally warmed-up to Drayson. Of course it was on the day we were leaving! On the first night we were down...Parker would get scared and cry almost every time Drays made a loud noise. It was so sad. I'm sure once we move down there he will get used to all the noise and be just fine! I can only make so much noise in our little apartment...obviously I need to make more!

(Papa Kev-O and Parker hangin' out...you can really see where he inherited his blue eyes and white-blonde hair!)

Now that we are back home Parker is back to being himself. We are getting back on our schedule and he is as noisy as ever! He found a paper bag this morning and decided it was the best toy. He got mad at me when I took it away. He has also figured out how to roll all the way across the living room to get to what he wants. We are really going to have to watch him like a hawk now! It was pretty funny this morning when he rolled over to Deacon and rolled on to his paws. Deacon put up with it for a little bit before he ran away. Parker just wanted to play with his buddy!

Happy Wednesday!

April Journal Entry

outside my window:

It is so sunny and wonderful. I am glad to have the sun back and some warmer weather to go along with it. It has been nice to go for walks and just hang out outside with Parker and Deacon during the day while Trav is in class or at work. I am trying not to get too attached though in fear that it may snow again at any moment...this is Cheney after all.

i am thinking:

That I am so glad that Trav's parents were able to come last weekend to visit. I wish that his brothers were able to come too. I feel like we haven't seen "the uncles" in forever!!! I am also so excited to see my family this weekend for Easter. I just know that Parker and Drays are really going to start having fun together soon.

i am thankful for:

Parker...I think this is going to be a pretty common answer for most of my journal entries. He grows so much so quickly. He does new things everyday. I am so glad that he is a happy and healthy baby. I am also thankful that his little 5:30 a.m. "talk to himself for an hour" phase seems to be over. It is nice to have our 11 hour sleeping baby back!

from the kitchen:

Dishes from tacos last night. They were so yummy! I am excited that my wonderful hubby said that he would do them this morning...so they are staying in the sink until he wakes up! Yay!

i am wearing:

My pj's still. Not that it is a drastic change anyway! I am a sweats-lovin' gal! Travis doesn't comment if I AM wearing sweats...but only if I am NOT wearing them. I am up and down all day long and playing on the floor...jeans just don't cut it for that! I am the type of person who gets out of the shower and puts on a comfy pair of sweats! (Please don't turn me in to TLC's What Not To Wear...Stacey and Clinton would have a COW!)

i am going:

Hopefully for a walk today. We are playing outside with Deacon again today for sure! Parker was hilarious yesterday. We were throwing Deacon's squeaky ball for him (it is so annoying and sounds like a duck-call) and Parker would squeal with laughter every time we would throw the ball, Deacon would run after it, and every time he would bring it back to do it all over again. I am sure that everyone in our apartment complex thought that someone was letting their baby scream...nope...that's just what our kiddo sounds like when he is happy folks!

i am hoping:

That whatever is going on with Trav's car is not a big deal and that it will be an easy fix for my Dad.

i am hearing:

Parker playing on his activity mat. He has learned a new noise...it is basically a scream. He is totally entertained by it and I am sure that our neighbors LOVE it. I am also hearing the kitchen sink and the sound of my hubby doing the dishes now.

around the house:

Nothing much. I have already vacuumed this morning. I have to do it several times a day because Deacon sheds like a beast!

one of my favorite things:

QUIET! Parker goes down so quietly for naps most of the time. He falls asleep so fast. Although he has decided he is a big boy and can sleep on his tummy now. There is no stopping him!

some plans for the upcoming month:

Tri-Cities for Easter...Lots of walks...Nothing all that exciting for the month of April (other than my sister's birthday and my dad's birthday).

some pictures i am sharing:

Ahhh...the joys of teething. His first little tooth has broken the skin. He has actually been alright during the whole thing. We'll see if that keeps up!

He plays so well by himself. Such a good self-entertainer.

I just love his sweet smiles and giggles. He is a riot. You can hear him laughing from anywhere.

Ahhh...love! His new obsession is the cell phone. We had to dig up an old cell phone of mine so that he will chew on that instead of mine or the TV remote.