Tag you're it!

I have been tagged by a close friend to tell 10 things about myself on the blog...sorry no Parker pictuers today.  Feel free to pass on this entry as I'm really not all that exciting!

1.) I've always said I need at least 8 hours of sleep...until Parker, now I can function on much less

2.) I'm terrible with names for instance I've had over 120 children in my classroom over the last 6 years and I could probably only name 50

3.) I love to plan trips...even if I can't go on them...my current "trip" is a winter vacation with Travis and Parker to Mexico. :)

4.) I love TV series that were set in "the old days"  for example, LOVE Dr. Quinn Medicine woman and Christy staring Kelly Martin

5.) Orange Soda or a cooler cold Pepsi is my favorite pop

6.)  I call carbinated beverages soda which makes Travis SOOOO mad...he thinks it should be called pop

7.)  I make life WAY too hard but I value the simple things...smell of rain, sleeping baby, quiet snowfall, smell of trees budding and fresh cut grass

8.) Karen Kingsbury, Nicholas Sparks, and Beverly Lewis are my favorite authors...back when I had time to read...pre-Parker :)

9.)  I think it would be AWESOME to live on an Amish Farm for a summer

10.)  I am addicted to Crystal Light Energy water packets...they have 120mg of caffinne in each packet!  Wild Strawberry! YUM (Avaliable at Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee and occasionally Wal-Greens)


TAG...You're IT!

Morning update from Grandma Stecher

"No morning nap for me", said Parker!

It's like Chuckie Cheese...only without the germs!

Who needs a formula bottle when you have an orange crib ball?

7 Months Old

Today Parker is 7 months old!  WOW! Where did the time go? 

At 7 months Parker:

Has an appreciation for PEZ...like Father like Son.

Hmmm...I think I want....That One!

At 7 months Parker can:

Hang out with his Buddy during a play date.

This is Carter and Parker "hugging".  Travis and I decided it was more like a manly chest bump!

Parker can do many other things at 7 months!  We are so lucky to have such a happy guy, we thank God for him daily!  We look forward to the next 7 months!

Parker's Help

I'll help you get caught up on the laundry mom and dad!

National Board Certification

Last year I decided to become Nationally Board Certified in Teaching.  It was a chore....then in November I found out I was 12 points away from passing...Grrr!  So I decided to "bank" my good scores and try again on 2 entries. 

I knew about this in December....however I am a procrastinator by nature. 

So I waited.

and waited.

and waited.

Until Spring Break and then I said..I'm going to have all this time I'll get it done.  However, Spring Break came and went and the entries didn't get done.

When is this project due you ask?  Are you getting worried for me?  Weeelllll... the due date is April 15th.  Yep today.  This crazy blue box had to be post marked today.

After a week of LATE nights, little time with Parker and Travis, and very little normal school/housework it's in the mail. 

Why then, are you still up at 11PM tonight you ask????

To work on cleaning up the messes I made all week long when crazily trying to get this thing done!

Now let's just hope I pass this year, I really don't want to do this again! I'm pretty sure Travis and Parker don't want me to either! ;)

6 month photos

Jodie McNally has done it again!  We had photos taken over break!  They are BEAUTIFUL!  We are so proud of the work she does!  So far she only has the "bathtub" photos up.  There will also be baseball and 'chick' photos eventually!  Check out the bathtub photos!  I think we need to find a way to contact Johnson & Johnson! :)

www.jodiemcnally.com/photography/parker6months

Helmet and Naps

Our goal over break was to get Parker into a better nap schedule.  There were days where he would only nap for a total of 20 minutes!  Crazy, I know!

So we've worked on it and much to our pleasure we have made much improvement on the schedule...is it perfect? Nope, but at least it's a start. 

This is Parker now.  He has been taking 2 naps a day one between 8:30 and 10 ish for about an hour and then an afternoon nap between 1 and 3 ish for anywhere from 1-2 hours. 

We've found that he likes sleeping on his belly which I know is a no-no with the doctors.  However, we tried laying him on his back and still do flip him to his back when we see him like this, but he almost instantly turns over to his belly.  There are even sometimes where he'll burry his head in the matress.  That we're not such a fan of but he is sleeping better on his belly.  He can fully lift his head up and roll from front to back and back to front so we're a little less anxious about the belly sleeping.  He'll fuss occasionally during a nap but with "a pacifier adjustment" as Travis calls it, he'll usually go back to sleep for awhile. 

Overall I'm pleased with the nap progress and excited to see if if continues when we go back to school in a few days!

On the helmet end of things.  Dr. Elwood examined Parker today and said there was such a slight discrepency he didn't feel the need for us to get a helmet for Parker!  Horray!  We were totally not opposed to a helmet and in fact have some friends who recently used one, and were ready to use it if needed, but we are glad that that's one less doctor visit Parker will need to continue to make.

My National Board Paper is due in less than a week and I have a LONG way to go before mailing it out, so I should be using this time to write, proof, something!  Enjoy the beautiful day!

Spring Break

We have been enjoying our time off with Parker.  The weather, until today, has been great for getting outstide to play.  He's already "all boy" and doesn't like to come in from outside.  We've taken several short trips to family and shopping, and Parker is a pro at getting in and out of his new car seat....not really, but we're working on it ;)

Here are some highlights:

The left over Easter photos from my mom...he's such a big boy in that wagon!

"Did you say something Giraffe?"

Play time outside with mom and dad.

The boys rough housing around

Awwww mom!

My big boy car seat!

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!