Dear Parker (One Year)

Dear sweetest one year old,

A year! Seriously! I have spent a full year blessed beyond belief with you. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I loved you. I loved you with every fiber of my being. I anticipated this love being powerful because I watched my own mama and I saw how very much she loved all five of us. She forgave things others wouldn’t forgive, she sacrificed everything for us. It is so different when it happens to you. When you came into this world, I could do nothing but cry tears of joy and kiss your perfect little hands, feet, tummy, and head. I remember that moment so perfectly because it was the moment my world shifted. My everything, the reason I breathe, was a funny looking 6 pound 7 ounce, curious, purple baby with no name. Your head was so misshaped from dropping so early. You barely had any hair. You were so very tiny. You were the opposite of what my dreams had shown me. I thought you’d look just like me, but you looked just like daddy. It was better than my dreams.

You are a (almost) walking, (almost) talking man. During your 12^th month, you developed a deep love for the outdoors. Despite the cold, you will walk anywhere we let you go. You want to splash in the water and crunch all the leaves. You are the quickest crawler! I am jogging behind you all the time! I can almost always find you in the piano room when we are down stairs and the drum room when we are up! The stairs are not even an issue any more. You just go up or down as needed (don’t worry, folks, I am always right behind him).

We got to celebrate your first Christmas. It was just as amazing as I had hoped. You had the patience to open your own presents and, like most babies, you preferred the paper and boxes, but nothing got your attention more than tissue paper. You loved the tissue paper and pulling it out of the bags. We would stuff it right back in the bags for you. Much like Thanksgiving, you ate E V E R Y T H I N G in sight. People fed you things left and right and you would steal right from other’s plates. You aren’t too concerned with playing with your cousins yet, but that will change. Christmas will be so different once you all play together. I cannot wait! I know you are the only boy, but, be patient, let them put make up on you and play with babies with them. They will return the favor. You were kind of a booger with the Christmas tree, but it was brand new to you so it was very easy to be patient with. A good portion of my ornaments are broken, but you had fun so I do not mind.

A year with you has been more than I ever thought I deserved. I cannot believe that your tiny little spirit chose us. You chose me. You are all I ever prayed for. I have always wanted to be a mama, but being your mama has been beyond my wildest dreams. You are the easiest baby. I had to wake you up for feedings in the middle of the night. What baby does that? You aren’t a fit thrower. You are a cuddler and a kisser. You pet my face while you nurse. You giggle at everything and want to learn anything you can.

I love you forever, Parker Ericson. 

*Disclaimer: I swear this was written around his actual birthday! I just forgot to post it. 

Dear Parker (Our Third Month)

Dear Little Dude,

My, oh my, it has been quite a month! You are absolutely hilarious. You have your Daddy's calm temperament, but your Mama's crazy side. You go from zero to sixty faster than a Bugatti! It all happens too quickly to get frustrated with. I usually just laugh at the craziness. It has been such a busy month for you!

You pretty much have head control down pat. You still love tummy time and it has definitely paid off. I guess I'm pretty lucky when it comes to tummy time because so many of my friends say their baby absolutely hates it. Since day one it has been a way to calm you down. We never do a set time... it could be three minutes or you could be on your tummy for fifteen minutes. It all just depends on when you start doing your dinosaur calls to us. You are still rolling over from your tummy to back, but I think you learned that you can't turn back so you don't do it as much.

You went from being on the small side to being a little chunkster. You are so long and getting more and more rolls by the day. You can down a full bottle in 10 minutes. Occasionally, I will struggle to get four ounces in you though. You still get breast milk exclusively and you definitely know when I try throwing in some formula. You will fight the bottle the whole time. 

We were given the okay to let you sleep through the night at your two month appointment. You gained enough weight to not have to feed every three hours! Hooray! You take full advantage of the uninterrupted sleep. You get your last bottle at 9 and sleep until after 4. Thank you baby, you're an angel. I'm sorry for posting the next photo, but I just think it is so precious. I know it will embarrass you later, but I went through a lot to get you here so you can handle the embarrassment later.

You spent about five minutes trying to get comfortable before finally settling right here. 

You had your first swim classes! Of course you were a bit hesitant at first, but you eventually loved it. They do little exercises to get you used to the water and there are a few you like and even more you hate. You love things more when you have control (like kicking off the walls and swaying in the water). Showing off started early with you. You are the youngest in your class and they did not think you could do the tummy time on the water mat, but you proved them all wrong. Your head was the strongest and held the highest!

You are Mama's best running partner. I love going on a run and staring down at you in your stroller. I get to see how fashionable you are too. The weather has been fickle this month... one day you were in a bear outfit to stay warm and two days later you were rocking a onsie and sun glasses. You make a miserable run quite joyful. 

Your puppies are noticing you more and they are absolutely obsessed. Everyone doubted Leia because she was basically a wild dog. We were told to have her euthanized by an over dramatic Uncle Erick and someone even gave us instructions on how to give her to the Humane Society! Despite rude people, your Daddy worked hard to make her a good pet and all his work paid off. I was so scared to introduce you two, but I don't know why now. She is in love with you. One night you were getting your diaper changed and were laying on the ground. You started crying and Leia looked at you, went and got her ball and dropped it off right by your head and then gave you a big, wet kiss! It was so precious. We tried to get you to ride her, but she kept laying down and turning over to kiss you. 

 You threw your very first party! All your favorite people came to celebrate the Irish in them with sweet treats, beer, and Mexican food, just like the rest of Arizona. You threw on your favorite green outfit, helped Mama make some sweet goodies, and watched your cousins slip'n'slide. It was quite the successful event.

Leprechaun Munch... I'll post the recipe later

We were able to celebrate your Daddy's birthday. You have never, ever fussed at dinner before, but decided to throw your first fit at his birthday dinner. We don't blame you, you are going through a growth spurt! After dinner we were able to have cake with the folks that love your Daddy and oh boy... you got your own little present. You saw fire for the first time and it was the most magnificent sight to you. The cake got a little extra candle wax coating because we loved watching you get excited over the fire.

 A fun little treat you got was to play drums with your Daddy! I think he loved it just as much as you did. You are going to be a little musical genius like Daddy and I can't wait to watch you learn. Maybe the drums will be your forte, or maybe the guitar. I hope it is the piano. Your Dad won't play much for Mama, but he is quite talented. You'll get that from him. I am completely tone deaf.

Parkman, thank you for always amazing us. Thank you for your smiles and snuggles. You bring me and your Dad so much happiness. I cannot get enough of you.

A Shower of Love for Baby!

Like I said before, my mom and I enjoy throwing parties. There is a lot of creativity packed into that little lady I call mom. We are not fans of the typical shower themes... oozing blue all over, bibs, onsies, and such. Why not do something more festive? We went with a fall theme and decided to do it outside (big booboo, it was SO hot out). My Mama did AMAZING. I'd just like to say that my mother didn't take anything from Pinterest, probably because she doesn't know how to use it. I mean, really, she has only had a Facebook for a month, she won't join Pinterest for another 3 years or so. She is creative all on her own. There were hay stacks all over and pumpkins galore. The color scheme was gorgeous. She had a baked potato bar and lots of cake (for me, duh). I had so many great friends come out to celebrate our little man. Thank you so much everyone. You spoiled him! More than anything, I'd like to thank my magnificent mother. She works hard and it shows. I love her to the moon and back and my baby is SO lucky to have her as a grandma, just like I am lucky to have her as a mom. 

Just one of the many stacks. 

Potato bar! Yum.

The cake. Yum. I ate at least half of it alone.

Like how we throw the fruit with the dessert? It is there to make you feel less
guilty.

Thank you gifts! I loved them.

Very spoiled babe, that isn't even all of them.

Table set up.

This was one of my favorite parts... the cute drink station with glass bottles.

S'mores bar. The only thing from pinterest... but Eric and I are guilty of that one.
Thanks for making the box dear!

And that is all folks, I was so totally exhausted.