Happy Easter

We had a great Easter weekend!

We spent Saturday with some friends, The Pilgers.  They have a little girl who is 3 months old.  The weather was beautiful so we were able to take the "kids" on a walk, grill burgers, and color eggs!  What a great tradition to get started!

On Sunday we had a very busy day! It was a great family day!  We were so lucky to be able to spend time with both of our families, and feel blessed to have such flexible parents who allow us to see both sides on the same day!

We started out going to chruch, and then brunch with the other Stecher's.

It was a great service and I loved all the Easter Lilly's up front!

After church we went to Best Western for an Easter Brunch! Yum!

We then came back to our house so Parker could see what the Easter Bunny left him!

"You mean that's for meeeee???"

Parker received the walk and ride Lion and a Noah's Ark play set, among other great things!

"I think I like the Easter Bunny!"

We then ventured to Monmouth for more Easter festivities.  We enjoyed the afternoon with my family.  It was nice enough to sit outside and visit.  Although we live close we are often so busy we don't get an opportunity to just visit. 

Parker was again visited by the Easter Bunny!

Parker got his very first set of bubbles, a glow worm and...

A Wagon!

(Grandma Vancil, please email me the good wagon photos soon!)

Baby's first Easter was a long day!

A power nap here and there helped us make it through!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Piano 101

Today after school Parker and I went to visit my dad.  Travis had Parent Teacher conferences and I thought it would be a great opportunity to spend some time with dad/grandpa.

We had a great time!  We walked around in the yard, sat outside, played with toys, had dinner and...

We had our first piano lesson!

Grandpa is trying to teach Parker his favorite song:  The Marine Corps Hymn which is funny because my dad was in the Air Force, not the Marine Corps!

However, when I was little and learning to play the only thing I could play decently was the Marine Corps Hymn, so that is what dad heard day in and day out for years! 

How long do I have to practice????

Ahhhh...it starts already!

Lawn and Garden Show

Today Parker and I went to the Quad City Lawn and Garden show.  My mom and I have been going for years so it was fun to include Parker into our tradition!  Parker did great.  He smiled at everyone, giggled and talked for random old women and didn't have one melt down!  He even made it through a diaper change and a 6 oz. bottle while we were there!

Grandma, Parker and Mom next to a great flower bed!

Mom and Parker and our friend Jane and Parker.

This picture is a HUGE victory!  Parker has decided in the last 3 weeks that he no longer wants/needs to sleep.  This includes overnights and naps.  So at least he got two 45 minute naps today.  A victory is a victory no matter how small!

Easter Photos

Parker had his Easter photo taken at MotherGoosebumps clothing store here in Galesburg a few Saturday's ago.  It turned out great!  That is a REAL rabbit in front of him.  He is an animal lover already!  He's turning into such a handsome big boy!

Parker's Dedication

Today Parker was dedicated at church, and Travis and I joined the church.

He did a great job.  He didn't cry at all and was in good spirits. 

All of the Stecher's and all of the Vancil's were there.

It meant a lot to have all of our family and several friends attend to participate in this milestone in Parker's life.

Pastors Greg and M.J. did a great job.  Parker is smitten!  We appriciate all the time and effort they put into making this a great day for us!

Parker was laughing at Pastor Greg in this photo!

Thanks to Molly K. for taking all of our photos so we could have a quick and painless photo opt!  You're the best Mol!

After church we went to brunch at Best Western Homestead room.  I must say I wasn't sure how high to set my hopes for brunch, but they far exceeded my expectations!  It was quite a spread, and good too!

Tyler loved the cookies! :)

Parker got many nice gifts for his special day.  Here he is reading his Hug-A-Bible that Travis and I got him.  He was quite taken!

We had a great day!

Thanks again to everyone who took time out of their Sunday morning (early) to come and celebrate Parker with us!

6 month check up

Can you believe it?  I've been around for 6 months today!

At 6 months I can eat my hands, roll over, smile, laugh, sing, kick, jump in my jumpy, splash in the tub, eat baby food, and lots of other things. 

I'm still working on sleeping though...

Today at his 6 month check up he got the AOK.  He weighs 18 pounds 10 oz. and is 27 1/2 inches long.  He is in the 75% for each "benchmark"

Dr. Larson said, "He's stinkin' cute!"

We are going for a refferal to a plastic surgon in Peoria to check his head dimensions.  He has a slighly flat head and may need a helmet for a short time to correct the problem.  It was our choice as to if we wanted to go or not.  We are going to make the appointment to assure everything is correcting itself.  Just a minor bump on the perfect Parker road!

Happy half birthday Parker!

Tip me over and pour me out...

**Disclaimer for Grandmas everwhere** No babies were hurt during this photo session...Parker was buckled in and did not roll out of the swing....he is safe and sound...

Parker is quickly outgrowing his swing.

The swing is not swinging, it's just how he's sitting or rather squirming.

He thought he was pretty cute...or he's just figuring out when mom has the camera if I smile she'll put it down quicker than if I don't.

Yep, I'd say it was the camera theory...

Our baby swing days are numbered....and the days of sitting him in it without being buckled in are OVER!

Stylin'

Parker has enough hair to do this:

Do you like it?

I'm stylin' mom and dad!

My only hope is that he will not seriously want his hair styled like this one day....

Extended Family

This weekend Parker got to spend some time with extended family.  We had lunch on Saturday with my Uncle Russ from the Cedar Rapids area who was in town for the weekend.  This was his first time meeting the Parker man. 

After lunch and a trip to Toys R Us ;), we went to Travis' mom and dad's house to visit with Parker's cousin Annica.  Annica was in town staying with Grandma and Grandpa Stecher.  Parker decided he really likes his oldest cousin!  They had a lot of fun playing peak-a-boo and in some baby contraption.

Parker had a great day and made lots of people smile! 

Spring Fever

We are ready for spring!

Joe Cool with his favorite things.

I'm pretty handsome!

I crack myself up sometimes!

Bring on Spring!