It's Been A While...

I got so used to putting up blog posts all the time...and it has been so long since the last one that it feels a little strange to do another. I have to admit that I have missed it.

The Guion Fam had a wonderful Christmas. We started our vacation by packing our little car to the brim--us, carseat, dog, clothes, Christmas presents, etc... As you can see in the picture, poor Deacon was forced to lay on top of a suitcase in the backseat. At one point he even had his head laying in Parker's lap! It was pretty funny. I have to admit that not only was I excited to go to the Tri-Cities to see my amazing family, but also just to get out of Cheney for a while.

So, our awesome break away from Cheney and all the snow started out in the Tri-Cities. We celebrated Christmas a little early because Travis, Parker and I were going to be in Snohomish for actual Christmas day and my sister and her family were going to be in California with my brother-in-law's family. I think this was the first Christmas that both my sister and I were gone. It was fantastic to get to spend time with my family and just relax. We got some amazing presents as well. My favorite had to be my new Garmin from my parents. (For those of you who don't know, a Garmin is a car navigation dealy.) I am totally obsessed with them, and now I have a pretty pink one of my very own!!! Travis laughs at me, because he is a man, and doesn't need the aid of the Garmin that we have fondly named LOLA. Travis hates being told how to drive by an electronic device. It has really come in handy for me though...I have absolutely no sense of direction and could get lost anywhere!!! After a fantastic several days with my family, we packed up the car again (minus Deacon who stayed at my parent's house to play with their hilarious, paper-eating dog Gus) to head to Snohomish to see Travis' family. I had so much anxiety about the trip and the road conditions. Anyone who has a baby understands what I am saying about traveling with an infant. It is one thing to go somewhere when the trip takes less time than the time between his feedings, it is quite another to have to pull over and get the baby out of his seat to feed him and change his nasty, blow-out poopy diaper in a truck! It is tricky...let me tell you!!! The road conditions over the pass and on the way to the pass were terrible. I spent most of the time white-knuckled in the passenger seat. We saw so many cars in the ditch and so many State Troopers on the side of the road helping people out. By the time we finally got to Snohomish we went straight to Great Grandpa Frank and Great Grandma Mary Lou's house for the Guion side Christmas and gift exchange. It was nice to see everyone, but I did feel a little anxious still because it had just been a very long day. I have been really trying not to get stressed out because I know that Parker can sense how I feel. The next couple days were spent with family and friends. Parker got some very cute clothes this Christmas. He is not even 3 months old yet and is already wearing 3-6 month clothes because he is so long! We took him to the doctor right before we left for vacation for his 2-month well-baby check. It has been a couple weeks since that, but he was 12 lbs. 12 oz. (75th percentile) and 24 1/2 in. long (95th percentile). Future basketball star? We shall see!

Well, I wish I had taken more pictures, but here are some of the updated pictures that we did take. My parents got us a video camera for Christmas and as soon as I figure out how to get them onto the computer, I will post some of those too!

Parker with Grandma Jammi and Grandpa Lee
Parker "found his hands" in the last several weeks and is constantly staring at them and putting them in his mouth!
We are finally back at home and trying to get back on our regular schedule. I looked over and saw this totally adorable sight, both my boys sitting on the couch watching T.V. together! I couldn't pass up taking a quick picture.

These three pictures were taken at my parent's house. I love Parker's little faux-hawk in the top two and his little button-up shirt! He is getting to be such a big boy!!!

Help! We're Snowed In & We Can't Get Out!!!

Well...if there ever was a time that I really hated Cheney with a passion...this would be it! I know that everyone has to listen to me say how much I can't wait to get out of Cheney and move away from it, but now I really have to get out. It is no longer just something I want to do. There is so much snow here and I think Deacon (our dog) is the only one enjoying it! I was excited to see the snow at first--when I was still unaware that it would not stop! We are currently snowed in to the parking lot at our apartment complex and the road once you get out of the complex hasn't been plowed either...we are literally stuck people!!!

The weather is really putting a cramp in my day. Parker has his 2 Month Check tomorrow morning and I already had to call the Pediatrician's office to let them know that we may or may not make it. It is a toss up whether or not we will be rescued from this awful place known as Apartment 20!!! If I wasn't going "stir-crazy" trapped in the apartment before, I AM NOW!!! Travis went to dig out the car and see if he could get it out of the parking lot to get to work...NOPE! He was out there for about 2 hours, stuck! Finally he got it back to where it had been parked before, but only with help from some of our neighbors. We were supposed to be leaving for the Tri-Cities tomorrow to start our winter vacation and we are unsure whether that is happening either! My parents said that if we could not get out of this awful place by Saturday, that they would bring their truck and come rescue us!!! Well, here are some pictures of the massive amount of snow here and our crazy pup that is "in love" with the snow!

Here is our silly puppy...his face is constantly covered with snow from seeing how far he can bury his face looking for snowballs!

Check out our windows...yup...that's ice...ON THE INSIDE!

Here is our parking lot that we can't get out of! (and the street outside of the parking lot)

Here is our little guy...ready to head outside in his puppy "Elmer Fudd" hat!

One of those days...

Have you ever had one of those days when someone hurts your feelings so badly and just makes you feel terrible? I have had two in a row...ugh!

Yesterday I checked my E-mail to see that I had a new comment on the blog. I am usually so excited about these. It is nice to know that people relate to what you write, or find it amusing/interesting. It kinda makes you feel like you are writing for a purpose. When I checked to see who had left a comment and what they had written I was very sad to see that it was an extremely RUDE comment. Someone had posted a comment that stated that it would be nice if I would post some pictures of Travis' parents holding Parker because "it would be nice to let other people see that he has 2 sets of grandparents." Yikes...let's pull back on the reins a little bit here!!! Anyone who really knows us is aware that Parker has two amazing sets of grandparents, who I write about often, so I don't think that leaving rude and inappropriate comments on my blog for all to see is a very kind thing to do. I know the name of the person who left this comment...but not exactly who it is. If you are reading this, I would just like you to know that my feelings were very hurt by this comment and I think you are out of line. If you pay attention to my blog (key word MY blog: this word entitles me to write about whatever it is that I want) you would see that I do not just post pictures of Parker with one set of grandparents...I have not posted any pictures of Parker with my parents either. (Except for one of him with my mother the week we brought him home from the hospital and she had stayed in our little apartment with us for a whole week, waiting on us hand and foot, I think a picture thank you on the blog was well deserved).

I started this blog as a fun way to keep everyone informed about Parker and our lives, since we do not live in the same city as EITHER of our families. It is times like these that make me feel like taking time out of my day to fill everyone in is not a good use of my time. As a new mommy, I am busy all the time and could easily be doing other things...but I choose to do this. I know that it is hard for both sets of grandparents to be away from Parker and not to get to see and hold him every day. It is overly hurtful to feel like people believe you are "favoring" one side of the family over another and I would just like everyone to know that this is not the case. I have deleted this hurtful comment off of the blog and would kindly ask that IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY...PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT ON THE BLOG. You have caused a great deal of hurt. I have enough going on in my life right now...and do not need others to add DRAMA to it.

Sorry for the rant to those who read this and have no idea what I am talking about...and thanks to those who do know and have been so supportive of my feelings.

New Pictures of 7 Week Old Parker James!

It seems like it has been forever since I had the time to post a blog...believe me, I have been trying!!! Lately it seems like there has just been so much going on in our little apartment. It took us a little while to get back on our schedule after Thanksgiving. We put up our Christmas decorations and our little tree (literally). We have an aluminum tree that belonged to my grandparents. It is one of the ones you always see at the antique stores now. My Grandma Sy kept it in amazing condition and it still looks great even though it is so old. This tree reminds me of her, which I absolutely love! I miss her so much all the time and it is great to have something that brings back good memories. She always knew how to make the holidays, an already amazing time, EVEN BETTER.

Parker is getting so big. It is hard to believe that he is already 7 weeks old! He is making so much more noise now. He "coos" all the time and grunts a bit too. A new obsession with the T.V. has started early--he stares at it no matter where we put him. Parker also loves the lights on the Christmas tree. He loves to play on his activity mat and bat at all the toys. He has the most fantastic smile, and he shows it to us quite a bit now. He sleeps a solid 8 hours at night now, which we LOVE!!! Now that he is awake more during the day we really get to see what a content and amazing boy he really is. It had been a while since I put some pictures up on the blog, so here they are!!!

THANKSGIVING AT THE OFRANCIA HOUSE

PARKER JAMES--THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AT MY PARENT'S HOUSE

I LOVE THIS PICTURE--HE IS REALLY STARTING TO FOCUS ON EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE

PARKER & DADDY TAKING A NAP...WELL, DADDY TAKING A NAP!

THIS VIDEO IS HILARIOUS...A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO: the burp you hear in the background is Travis, Parker spits up almost immediately afterward (probably trying to compete with Daddy and 1-UP him) and he is totally staring at the television...not at me!

GIVING THE EVIL EYE...HE IS GOOD AT THAT ONE! USUALLY HIS FOREHEAD IS ALL WRINKLED!

PARKER'S VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT--THANK YOU GRANDMA JAMMI AND GRANDPA LEE!

I LIKE TO CALL THIS VIDEO "THE RED BIRD BEAT DOWN"--PARKER IS SERIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH THIS RED BIRD AND NOW THAT HE HAS LEARNED HOW TO HIT THINGS AND MAKE THEM SWING IT IS ALL HE WANTS TO DO!