You're Gonna Miss This

My sister recently did a post about the Trace Adkins song, "You're Gonna Miss This." It of course made me bawl thinking about how much I want my sleepless nights to end, but so sad to know that they inevitably will! When I was so tired of trying to get Parker to sleep through the night, my mom told me, "I promise you that when he's in High School, he'll be able to fall asleep on his own." What a sad thought...High School! I recently realized that sometime since Avery was born, Parker started talking in sentences! I LOVE THE WAY HE TALKS right now. Here are some of the new Parker-isms that I'm gonna miss! (For the original Parker-isms, click here)

• I nah poopy=I'm not poopy
• teen tee=stinky
• hi beebee=hi baby
• helpee mommy=let me help you, mommy
• hode you=hold me
• I lip=I slipped
• Parker do it!!!!
• I did it!
• I find it=I'll find it
• mommy fix it=will you fix this, mommy?
• all done prayer/bella/etc.=we're finished praying, Cinderella's over, etc.
• kiss it beller=kiss it better
• watch it Inkebbles/Shruk/Gar/Why/Mouse=I want to watch the Incredibles/Shrek/Madagascar/Super Why/Mickey Mouse/etc.
• baby wake=the baby's awake!
• baby Avry=Baby Avery
• Mommy do it=Will you do this mommy?
• I climb=watch me climb
• jup, jup=watch me jump
• a den=again
• ear hurt, dah tour=my ear hurts, let's go to the doctor (it doesn't usually really hurt...he just remembers going to the doctor when it did hurt)
• all vum poon=I want my spoons...all of them
• done=that one
• dah ten=also that one
• wah happen?=what happened? (said with a shoulder shrug and scrunched eyes)
• runnin=watch me run!
• help oo=I'll help you
• holder=can I hold her?
• I callin' _____=I'm calling (fill in the blank...usually Nannu or Evelyn--his girlfriend's mom)
• I a wannit=I don't want it
• I a wannit diss=I don't want this
• I lull you too=I love you too!

Other things I'm gonna miss...

• Parker listing names before he goes to bed. Every night he goes through everyone he can think of, and we tell him where they are. Nannu? Tennessee. Bapa? Tennessee. Michael? School.
• Avery grunting to fall asleep. She grunts and squirms until she's asleep...this is causing a bald spot on the back of her head.
• Parker's spoon hoarding. He gathers all the plastic spoons he can find and carries them around the house.
• Singing silly songs just for a laugh.
• Listening to Joe put Parker to bed.
• Kissing Avery's chubby cheeks and bald head ALL. DAY. LONG.
• Parker's sporadic counting. 4, 7 14, 9, 7!
• Doing Yoga with Parker. He lines up all of his cars on my pink mat, and thinks we're playing peek-a-boo when I'm doing downward facing dog.
• Getting so excited when daddy gets home.
• Parker kissing Avery ALL. DAY. LONG.
• Having the most upsetting thing that can possibly happen be a lego tower falling, a lost toy car, or having to come inside for the day.
• Being the one person who can make everything all better.

One day my kids will grow up and I really will miss these little moments. Parker will even one day learn how to share. Every phase is just that. A phase. And I love the one we're in right now!

Chunky Baby

By the way, Avery had her 2-month check up yesterday. She weighs 11 lbs 15 oz which puts her in the 97th percentile! She's 21.7" tall, so only in the 50th percentile. Short and fat...I love it! Her head's not off the charts like Parker's, but it is in the 90th percentile. Way to go, Avery! I love those chubby cheeks! Luckily she's only 2-months old. In a few years, I won't be able to talk about how cute her rolls and baby acne are. I'll enjoy it while I can!

Easter Festivities

Every year, Joe's mom puts on a fabulous Easter party complete with an Easter Egg hunt for the kids. Parker was a lot more into it this year than he was last year! His bag kept ripping and all the stuff kept falling out. I was going crazy trying to rescue the stuff (so that I could share the candy, of course), but Parker thought it was a game. He kept saying, "I dump it." He ate his fair share of candy, but I'm pretty sure I ate more!
We finally replaced the Easter bag for a plastic grocery sack. This didn't stop the bag dumping, however.

Kimberly used to have a "kissing cousin" named Jimmy. Apparently Parker now has one named Sadie.
Easter morning...Parker still looks half asleep.
Me and the kiddies...
Michael surprised us with a visit after church, but we forgot to have him take a family picture. Oh well! I feel kind of guilty because Easter sort of snuck up on me this year. The Easter Bunny sort of missed our house. The kids somehow ended up with Easter clothes, but no candy (I'd eaten all of it from the day before), no colored eggs, no baskets. Parker wasn't too upset...I missed the candy more than he did. I'll be a better mom next year! I guess that's not really what Easter's all about anyway, right?

Big Changes

Last week was one of those weeks that felt like a month. Here's a quick recap....

Parker went to his first "friend" birthday party. Happy 2nd Birthday, Brenden!
Avery slept through it (of course!)
I got my first case of mastitis. Not fun. But Parker got a fun day at Grandma's house with his cousin Sadie.
Joe rubbed shoulders with the Mayor in the grand opening of his new branch. Pretty exciting. Working a 60-hour week? Not so much.
Avery's first smiles...not yet on film.

After 4 years with just this....
We finally upgraded to this...
After almost 28 years of long, I decided to go short...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIGUELITO!!!!!!!

My cute little brother is 23-years old today! I was fortunate enough to be the middle child of the family, so I was the closest in age to both siblings. This meant that I got to fight with BOTH of them (and of course they ganged up on me...) One time Michael got so mad at me that he broke the sliding glass door at our house when I ran outside. Ouch. Somehow we survived and have a great relationship. Sometimes I still treat Michael like the little brother, but he has really turned into a great guy. Here are some of the things I love most about him...1. Michael is very honest (sometimes brutally honest). If I ask him his opinion, he gives it to me! He got home from his mission a few months after Kimberly and I had babies. At the airport I asked him if we looked fatter...he said "yes." We were wearing "I love Michael" shirts. Thanks bro! 2. Michael loves taking naps! When I was in High School, I lived for naps. He used to come home and make as much noise as he possibly could while I was sleeping. Once he entered the early-morning-seminary era, he understood. Now he can sleep anytime, anywhere (next to anyone...)

3. Michael is a great dresser. He has expensive taste and a real knack for fashion . His brothers-in-law may be older, but they use Michael as an example of what to wear. Joe and Michael had a great time as twins at Legoland last summer! 4. Michael has never minded being the "third wheel" with family. He loves doing things just for the memory! He convinced me to go hot-tubbing when I really just wanted to go to bed "for the memory". Michael really does remember EVERYTHING!
5. Michael loves wearing sunglasses...especially the big, dorky kind. Actually, these ones are pretty cool. Once again, Michael has GREAT taste!

6. Michael likes taking self-portraits and other random funny pictures.
7. Michael is a great uncle! His nieces and nephews adore him. Everyday Parker has a list of people he goes through SEVERAL times. He says their names and I tell him where they are. Michael is usually first on the list. Parker will be playing and will randomly say, "Michael?" I love that he loves him!

8. Michael is VERY supportive of friends and family. He recently drove alone to California for the funeral of a good family friend, Gwyn Carr. He was Avery's first hospital visitor.

9. Michael has always been good friends with my friends. When I went on my mission, he called my roommate Aubrey for help with his Spanish homework. They still occasionally chat!

10. Michael is very generous! When he was in Kindergarten, he found one of my mom's diamond rings and gave it to his "girlfriend." When my mom discovered this, she called the girl's mom...it was nowhere to be found. Michael loves finding the perfect gifts for birthdays, Christmas, etc.

11. Michael has a great sense of humor and is very understanding! He doesn't get mad at me for being an annoying (at times) mom. He was recently in the bathroom at my house while Parker was napping. I heard him singing (he has a great voice) in the bathroom and went and said "shhhhhhh" really loudly outside the bathroom door. He stopped singing and came out rolling his eyes. He handles things well...someday he'll understand!

There is SO MUCH MORE I could say about my brother. I love that he visits me regularly. He'll make some girl very happy someday! Happy Birthday, Michael. WE LOVE YOU!

6 Weeks Old!

Avery is SIX WEEKS OLD today...she's starting to chunk up. SO CUTE! Here are some pictures for Kimberly and Nannu since they can't squeeze her cheeks or kiss her neck in person!

Here's Parker throwing a fit when I turned the water off...definitely worth a picture!

I've Found a Cure for the Baby Blues and Terrible Twos!

SUNSHINE!

Ducks!
Abandoned Doll Strollers!
Lactating Belly Buttons?
Donuts!
Bubbles!

Watching the Big Boys
Arctic Circle's Chicken Rings
And a baby who sleeps through all the excitement!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

In honor of my dad's 52nd birthday (yikes!), I'm going to take a trip down memory lane. Here are some of my favorite memories (in no particular order). I love you! Happy Birthday!

1. BUFFALOooooooo.... On a road trip to Yellowstone National Park several years ago, we were stopped by a herd of buffalo. Once we'd passed the buffalo, my dad rolled down his window to alert the cars going the OTHER direction the reason for the delay. He yelled "buffalo" as we drove by. We laughed because each car probably only heard part of the message. "Buh" "Fa" Loooo". I'm sure they appreciated the warning. We also listened to a Kenny Loggins CD over and over on that trip.
2. The first time Joe came to California with me when we were dating, my parents were in the process of remodeling. There was no couch yet in the family room, so we were laying on the floor watching a movie (with the whole family, mind you). My dad asked us what the prophet would say about laying next to each other before marriage. We understood what he meant, but come one dad...there was nowhere to sit, and EVERYONE was in the room with us. My dad definitely made sure we didn't get out of line!
3. Road trips weren't complete without peanuts, licorice, and Pepsi!
4. Herbal Fiber Blend and Apple Cider Vinegar...need I say more? Dad loves his "remedies".
5. Late night Bishop's interviews in High School...can't say I loved them, but I'm sure my dad's influence kept me out of a lot of trouble!
6. Being chased down the hall when we were little. I don't think Kimberly ever suffered this (she was the perfect child), but all my dad had to do was pretend to get up from his seat and Michael and I ran screaming down the hall.
7. My dad NEVER let us sleep in. I blame him for my inability to waste time in the morning...I have to get up and get moving!
8. My dad always offers to "make" the pies on Thanksgiving (with help from his friend Marie Callendar)
9. My dad ALWAYS says his morning prayers (he is the KING of routine). Even when we were running late for early morning seminary, we still had to pray! He's always concerned about our spiritual well-being!
10. Weekend breakfasts...pancakes, french toast, etc. Dad's specialty!
11. My dad actually likes to shop...but he's fast (the way I like it...I'm not a big fan of shopping). Get in, find something you like, don't question it...just buy it!
12. My dad LOVES dogs. Duchess was his shadow!
13. My dad ADORES my mom. Nuff said.
14. Actually, my dad genuinely loves all people. He really loves everyone he meets (except all the boys I dated pre-Joe...)
15. My dad LOVES kids...especially his grandkids. He knows how to rile them up. It means so much to me to have him as the grandfather of MY children.

Anyway, hope your day was great, daddy-o. You deserve it! We love you!

Comet Surprise

Last week was just one of THOSE weeks. The sleepless nights are definitely catching up with me. I should be napping everyday when Parker naps, but I love to relish in the peacefulness of a Parker-free home and do more important things...like read blogs! Anyway, Friday night I was talking to Joe on the phone while he drove home from work counting the seconds until he walked in the door to rescue me. Parker was playing quietly in the kitchen. I commented to Joe that he was probably doing something he shouldn't be, but I didn't want to get up to check. Two seconds later, Parker ran into the living room covered in greenish powder and asking me to open a bottle of oven cleaner. I followed his powdery trail back to the kitchen to discover an empty bottle of comet, and a greenish white pool of it on the floor. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I threw Parker in the tub, waited for Joe to get home to supervise while I mopped the floor with the pile of Comet. We got all cleaned up and I realized that I hadn't taken a picture for my blog. Now that really made me upset. Parker was quite a sight. I guess I've never explained to him that we don't empty cleaning supplies all over the floor...or all over our clothes, hands and face. I don't think he put any in his mouth, but that should also have been pre-explained. Oh well...at least his adventure gave me a few moments of peace!

Joe amazingly got a very over-tired boy to take a nap on Saturday. Joe LOVES taking naps on the weekend, and sometimes I complain because there are other things I want him to be doing. I couldn't complain this time (except for the fact that he was sleeping under the covers. I don't know why, but it grosses me out to sleep in normal clothes under the sheets. Naps should be taken on top of a made bed with a blanket...Joe doesn't agree...do you?)It was a good thing Parker took a nap to prepare him for his emotional night! It used to be a nice break to have friends over for Parker to play with. He's going through a terrible phase right now where it's a nightmare! He cries, he screams, he canNOT share! Colby and Kandis came over for dinner, then stayed to watch Parker while we went to the adult session of Stake Conference. Apparently Parker does fine as long as we aren't here! Kandis took pictures to prove that Parker does indeed know how to share. We were amazed to walk into a quiet house. Kandis was working her magic!!!
Here are some pictures of Avery and her boyfriend Brooks...can you believe he's only three months older than she is?
BFF!
On Sunday we went to Marci and Marcus' house. While Parker and Jacob screamed at each other, Avery and Tate sat nicely and quietly. Yes, Avery is still an angel. Parker is too....just not when other kids are involved (or his parents, apparently!)