7 Months

Dearest Parker,

Okay, you are officially growing up too quickly!  I wish I could freeze time right now and keep you at this precious stage!  It is blowing my mind to know  you are well on your way to a year old!

constant laughter and amusement

I know I say this every month, but this month has definitely been my favorite so far!  You have always been a pretty happy guy, but right now you are just delightful.  You are laughing like a little man the majority of each day.  You flirt with people like crazy.  If I'm holding you and talking to someone- you will turn your head away and then quickly turn it back and giggle.  Sometimes when Dad and I are on the floor with you, you will just get into a giggle frenzy as we talk to you.  It is the best sound in all the world.  I hope that laughter will be something you experience often in life!

still love to sleep with your Daddy

Stats:
Weight ~20lbs
Height ~27 inches
Teeth- 4
Eyes- blue (I think they are blue to stay)
Hair- really lightening up- like my color
Sleep- usually 8-9 hours in a row at night

Happy happy boy

We are so, so, so close to crawling right now.  You go from a seated position to all fours in a split second.  You'll rock back and forth, sometimes using a leg/foot to scoot forward, sometimes using an arm to move forward.  But you still fall to your tummy.  But then you will do a combo of reaching and rolling to move across the floor to the object of your desire.  It is so funny to watch.  You also will reach for my legs and push yourself up on your feet to stand.  In preparation, I have already installed a safety gate on the stairs, moved the tv high up, and put the plastic pieces in electrical sockets.

trying to crawl alongside Jack

post spinach

You are eating so very well!  You now eat 3 big boy meals a day and I can tell you really enjoy meal time.  Of course, you still prefer your milk.  You drink 5oz of breastmilk about 5-6 times a day.  I've made a ton of food for you lately, which I really enjoy doing.  Your faves are definitely zucchini, squash, carrots and sweet potatoes.

In the last week or so, you are REALLY starting to talk more.  Not any words yet of course, but a lot of gurgling in the back of your throat (followed by laughing at yourself), still lots of oohs/aahs, and some increased gibberish.  I'm so ready for you to talk so I can know what is going on in that brain!  We have a wonderful speech therapist, Leila, who is coming to our house to work on exercises with you once you have your surgery next month.  I'm curious how things will change for you once your palate is repaired...

have I mentioned enough that you smile and laugh ALL the time

you are already such a ham

As far as your interests these days, not much has changed.  You are showing more and more interest in Jack, and the sweet guy lets you pull his hair all day long without a whimper.  You love being on the floor playing with your toys.  You can entertain yourself for long periods of time.  You are now hitting toys together and banging them on the ground to discover their noises.  We have had several zoo visits recently- always a big hit!  We still take Jack on a run several days a week and you love your time in the stroller.  Your new favorite toy is your Scout Dog- every time he says "Parker"- you look at him and laugh.  I think you are learning your name!

Dad and I are so proud of you.  You make life so much fun, and we are so blessed to have such a happy, funny boy!  Love you little man.

XO,
Mom

7 Years

Yesterday, Spence and I celebrated 7 years of marriage!  I can't believe how quickly that time has flown by.  We've been a couple for more than 10 years now.  I don't even feel old enough for that much time to have lapsed for us.  And just like everyone tries to tell you, it truly does go by faster and faster with each year.

2004- right before I moved to NC

2005- the year we got married

2006- beach trip with the Robinsons

2007- Skiing with the Duttons

2008- birthday celebration

2009- Spence's Medical School Graduation

2010- San Francisco Trip

2011- Welcoming Parker into the world

2012- Spence graduates residency

It has been quite an adventure in our time together.  We spent our first two years in Kentucky where Spence started school.  This was followed by 2 more years in Little Rock where Spence did his clinical rotations and I went back to nursing school.  Now, we have just finished over 3 years here in Columbia, and Spence has completed his residency.  Oh, and we now have a dog.  And a child!!  So much has changed, but all in so many amazing ways that I could never have foreseen.  We are beyond blessed!

Happy Anniversary Spencer!  I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

New Friends

Parker early on

When I began keeping up with our blog, my intent was to keep our families up to date on how everything was going with the pregnancy.  They are all 11 & 14 hours away from us in Arkansas, so I hoped it would be a way for them to watch Parker grow and change frequently since we couldn't see each other on a regular basis.  After our 20 week anatomy scan when we found out about Parker's cleft lip and palate- it also became a way for me to educate everyone on what that meant, how it would be repaired, and what we could anticipate.  Like keeping a journal, it surprisingly also became a way for me to work through the emotions of what we were expecting.  I had no idea what a blessing the blog would become!

It is so sweet to look at these old pictures- he looks so different now, yet the same.

Parker's lip looks better and better each week

In less than a year, I am amazed at how many people have looked at our blog after researching cleft lips and palates.  I have had some really great emails and messages from people who gave us encouragement through their own experience. We've also been touched to see that communicating our experience has been an encouragement to other people who are just starting their journey in dealing with a cleft or other similar circumstances.  

Parker's lip repair looks remarkable!  We are so pleased with his results and know it will continue to look better with time.

The sweetest thing to result so far is a new friendship with a family here in Columbia of all places!  The day I went into labor, my friend Rachel had been researching cleft lips after learning that week of her son's cleft at their 20 week anatomy scan.  She was surprised to find someone in her own town who was going through the experience.  The day Parker was born, she and her husband also met with our MFM OB, Dr. Brown, for additional scanning.  Dr. Brown had just met Parker that morning in the hospital, and they talked about him (small world!).  

Rachel and I started emailing, and our friendship began!  Now, her little man, Robbie, is 2.5 months old, and is anticipating surgery on his lip with Dr. Chen next week.  Parker and Robbie had their first playdate last week- and it was such a treat!  I forgot what it was like to hold a 2 month old (only 15 lbs to Parker's 20!).  He is absolutely precious- and so handsome!  Spence and I marveled at how similar he looked to Parker just 4 months ago.  We also surprised ourselves by talking about how something that seemed so scary and devastating just under a year ago, now we describe as "not a big deal."  Yes, our son will have several surgeries, we use specialty feeders, and we are beginning speech therapy- but it all seems normal and so minute.  Parker is perfect in every way.  It has been so refreshing and encouraging for me to meet Rachel and Robbie and share our circumstances, emotions and experiences together.  You never know how God will use your circumstances for good and blessings!

Our friends Rachel & Robbie!

Family Strolls

For those of you that know us well- you know Spence is not one to go on a walk or want to spend much time outside, minus the golf course.  But lately, he has been great about taking a stroll with Parker, Jack & me.  I have found that our best conversations lately are when we take a walk.  There's no television to distract us, and we can just walk and catch up on work, Parker, future plans, goals, etc.

My favorite trail to walk and run is down at the Congaree River on the West Columbia side.  They have a fabulous paved trail that runs along the bank of the river for miles.  It's nice and shaded with trees, and is always busy with people out enjoying a jog, stroll, or bike ride.  

Jack loves running down to the river to cool off

Jack trying to get us to take a break for a cool down

I love my life!

Last night, we had a great dinner at the table- Spence and I had our meal, Parker ate his at his booster seat, and Jack lay at our feet in hopes something would drop.  Then we had bathtime, where Parker played, giggled, went to his tummy to reach for toys, and then reached up for me and tried to pull up on the tub.  Then, we had family cuddle time while Parker had his last bottle, we all held hands to say our prayers, and I read his bed time story.

As I finished the last page, I looked over and realized all 3 of my boys were asleep.  Spencer was asleep holding his finger out, held by Parker's hand, and Jack lay across them both asleep with his toy.  It was a moment that I felt tears well up, and realized I have never loved my life as much as I do right now.

4th of July!

We had a really nice and relaxing July 4th.  I spent the day cooking.  My parents gave me a Kitchenaid Mixer for my 30th birthday, and I christened it today by making some AMAZING blueberry poppyseed bread.  I found the recipe in my Food Network magazine- highly recommend it!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/blueberry-poppy-seed-loaves-recipe/index.html

LOVE my new mixer!  I felt so domestic using it

This bread was DELICIOUS!

I also made a delicious tomato pie (recipe from Southern Living).  It turned out GREAT!

prepping my tomatoes

Mine turned out looking just like this- and I made my crust from scratch too!  Very easy

Here is the recipe

That night, we had a delicious dinner of ribs with our friends Wes and Erica.  They are hanging out waiting on their little man, Merrick, to come into the world!  We are ready to meet Parker's new buddy. Look at this precious pic of her with P:

And to end a wonderful night, I got to snuggle the sweetest boy before I put him to bed.  I love any time I get to cuddle Parker.

Parker Loves Berries!

Meredith and Colin let us try this cool thing with Parker- it's the Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder.  It looks like a big pacifier that has a mesh netting that holds whatever fruit you put in there.  They put some frozen blueberries in the end, and Parker went to town chewing on them!  The mesh prevents large chunks from choking him, but he still got a lot of the juice.  Plus- I think the frozen berries felt good on his little teething gums!  I went and bought one for him later that day.

I think he is a fan!