Nesting and sorting...sorting and Nesting?

The nesting phase may have begun...

I have had this nagging mess of baby clothes literally hanging over my head in the attic since we found out we were having another baby.  I knew it needed sorted, I just kept pushing it back.  However that nagging feeling is getting worse.

Tonight with the help of Travis, my mom, my dad, and Parker we sorted through boxes and tubs of baby clothes.  Clothes that Parker once wore and clothes that he has yet to wear.  I was amazed at how many clothes we have.  Good news is Parker is SET for the summer thanks to Aunt Heather/Uncle Kirk and our family friends the Johnson's.  Baby Junior will be hit or miss until about 6 months (just because of being born in late June) and then he too, will be set on clothing. 

It is such a relief to know that each tub has the clothing size that is marked.  We had done a pretty good job of getting most clothes in the general range of sizes but I will admit to being sloppy at times and just shoving clothes in the attic in any box that had room.

A HUGE thank you to my mom and dad who came to help sort (and wrangle Parker!)  My dad thought he was coming to visit Parker and when he showed up Travis and Parker were running errands so mom and I could sort in peace and my dad got stuck digging through clothes piles; he he!  He kept saying are all of these clothes Parker's?  Where did he get all this stuff?  I think he was flabbergasted! :)

A huge thank you also to the Chervenka family and the Johnson family for all the hand-me-downs!  Please know that they will be used, and used, and used and are SO very appreciated! You guys buy CUTE clothes!

Nielson Field Day

Despite a rainy crummy weekend we were able to enjoy a Friday evening at Nielson School's Carnival.  Last year Parker had to be strolled around in a stroller and held up to play the duck game.  Not this year!
This year he went right to the duck pond and grabbed the ducks out and continued to say "duck, duck, duck, duck" the remainder of the night.  In fact it was the last thing he said as he drifted off to sleep.  I'd say the carnival (and ducks) had quite an impact!

  

 He also played the bucket ball toss with Mrs. Kohl, however, he didn't want to throw the balls, just gently placed them into each bucket along the row! 

Bathroom Experiences

We are amazed at how independent (aka dangerous) Parker is becoming!

On Monday night while getting ready for a bath Travis was in Parker's room getting a towel and I was in our room doing something when we heard the shower start...both of us thinking it was the other one starting the water...

We were wrong!

Parker was able to turn the water on and it was still on shower mode.  Suddenly to Parker's surprise water came shooting out of the shower towards him. There was a Uh-Oh and then a scamper of scared feet into dad.  Needless to say we were all shocked and surprised!

This is what we found this morning.  Parker often will follow us into the bathroom and get some toilet paper for his nose to blow.  Apparently he needed to blow his nose this morning and was going to bring some to us to use as well!

I guess we're going to have to keep a closer eye on our little "helper"!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day 2011!

 We went to church as a family

Spent some time with Grandma Stecher having brunch at Johnny's Italian Steak House.  This is starting to be a tradition (this is the 4th or 5th Mother's Day Brunch there).  Then we went to the Beau Arts Street Fair.

 

Then we went to spend some time with Grandma Vancil.  We cooked out, played in the yard and hung out with the doggies.   

Grandpa Vancil created this ball hanger for Parker to play with...call it a "pre" tee-ball. 

Thanks Grandpa!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms! :)

Finally the SUN!

After a week of rainy cold weather Parker finally got outside today!  Boy oh boy did he have fun!

He blew bubbles...

He played in his sandbox...although he doesn't like sand on his clothes or feet...

He played at his picnic table... 

He mowed the lawn for dad... 

He picked flowers for mom...

He had a great day!  Bring on more sunshine!!

Easter Day

On Easter morning we met Grandma and Grandpa Stecher at church.  After church we came home and had some time with the Stechers which included an Easter Egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

Finding Eggs out back.  It was a nice day so we were able to go outside, which Parker loves!

The Easter Bunny was good to me!

The guys playing with bubbles

My first Peanut Butter cup Egg...YUM!

Playing with Play-dough and Grandma.

After Stecher time we met up with the Vancil's for Easter Brunch.  The food was great, the atmosphere so-so, and the service needed improvement, but it was nice to have everyone together and especially nice for Travis, Parker and I not to have to have 2 huge Easter meals in one day! :)

After a nap for all 3 Stechers we headed to Grandpa and Grandma Vancil's house where the Easter Bunny had visited as well.  We had another great egg hunt and enjoyed time outside as a family.

Hop, Hop! 

We  have a future golfer...FORE! 

After a light supper we headed home.  Parker had a great day with his family and thoroughly enjoys Easter!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

First Egg Hunt

Today was Parker's first Easter Egg Hunt.  My mom's workplace hosts an egg hunt every year and she invited us to come.

Parker's first egg. 

There was a separate area for 3 and under which was nice and Daddy was smart enough to pick Parker up and carry him out in the courtyard some to avoid the distraction of the crowd.

Egg goes in here. 

Look I can shake it! 

How many do I have?  One, two, three... 

Grandma, I made out like a bandit!

Parker even found a "prize" egg and won a basket full of goodies...of which mom and dad dove into as soon as we got in the car ;)

Thanks Grandma!  We had lots of fun!

Hop Hop

Yesterday my mom had to pick up a rabbit suit for her workplace.  She thought it would be cute if she came over to the house to meet Parker....I thought this would be a great photo op.  Then I thought it would be HILARIOUS to scare Travis, so I didn't tell him she was coming by.

Mom texted that she needed 5 minutes and she was in front of the neighbors house.  I called down to Travis who was working in the basement to come up and watch Parker so I could start dinner.  I was hoping to have them both in the living room when she "hopped' by the window. 

Parker was watching the Wiggles in the living room, Travis was in the bathroom washing his hands, and I was in the kitchen turning the camcorder on trying to to chuckle at my funny moment coming up...Suddenly we hear a scream/cry and a pitter patter of feet come running through the hall. 

Mom was EARLIER than 5 minutes and caught Parker in the living room by himself while she was dancing about in front of our picture window.  Travis comes out of that bathroom saying what's going on...do you know who that is?  Do you know who that is?...as he's ready to chase the rabbit down the street. 

I'm cracking up and Parker is clinging to Travis for dear life crying.

It didn't go exactly as planned.

So I let the hop-hop in.  Parker was none to pleased by this and would not let go of Travis.  Even after we took the mask off and showed Parker that is was Grandma, he wanted nothing to do with her.  In a last ditch effort before we helped grandma out of the suit I tried to have Travis stand near the rabbit.   

Poor bunny was quite rejected...notice the death grip on Travis' shirt!

Once Grandma had left the rest of the evening Parker went to the front window saying "Hop-hop?"  "Hop-hop?"  He wanted to know when the next rabbit would come popping up in our window!

The very first thing he said this morning when he woke up was "hop-hop?" and he came running to the front window...I'd say that Hop-Hop made quite an impression.

It begins....life with boys...

This has been an amazing spring break with Parker and Travis.  We have had loads of fun and literally watched Parker mature before our eyes. 
For example:
He is no longer allowed to have a traditional sippy cup.  Both Dr. Larson and Dr. Smith (dentist) have said it is time to say goodbye and go strictly to a straw cup. 

Also, no more juice unless he is constipated which won't happen because he's on Lactulose. 

His speech continues to develop and grow and he is adding more words daily. 

He has learned how to partially sing a small amount of the ABC song thanks to a Baby Einstein music video. 

He has virtually stopped signing "Please" because now he says it....Peas....

He is hitting less and less when frustrated thanks to constant language and redirection.

and....
he is learning how to be a parrot...and mimic...

Friday night after dinner we were taking a drive around the area.  It was a decent evening and there were still people working in the yard.  We happened to see an elderly man getting on a lawn mower. His pants were so low he could have been a plumber...get my drift...
Travis says "Eww, Butts, butts..." and from the back seat we hear in a teeny tiny voice: "butt.....butts...butts"  We look at each other shocked and then back at a very smug little one and a half year old who was all grins!

Saturday afternoon Parker and I were at lunch with my mom, Jane, and Sara, Justin's Girlfriend.  We went to Granite City and Parker was doing really well.  He was starting to get antsy at the end of our lunch and I said, "do you need your diaper changed?"  His response was to say:  Poop....Poop...Poop...and continue in this fashion for many moments.  While standing up in his high chair, while being carried through the crowded restaurant....while being put on the changing station in the bathroom...
The kicker is..he wasn't even poopy!!!

So to wrap up our vacation:  Lots of fun family time, lots of growth and development, lots of changing into a big boy...and for sure 2 new words: butts, and poop..
This is my life with boys, and to think there is another one on the way...do you think it will take the new one 18 months to learn the words poop and butt with Parker around? :)