Park's Wish List.

This weekend we buttoned up Parker's standard holiday plaid shirt - this time throwing a blue sweater over the top to switch things up a bit - and headed into Bellevue for our annual family Santa visit. This is one of my very favorite traditions, and I'm always SO curious as to how Parker will respond to the big man in red.

A few days before, I began talking with Parker about all things Santa.

'Hey bud. What would you like to ask Santa Clause for this year?' I asked.

'Um....?' he pondered with a very twisted lip, scrunched up nose and eyes gazing up towards the heavens. We call this the stroke smile, and he likes to bust it out when he's deep in thought...

He thought for another minute or two while I rephrased the question.

'What present do you want to open on Christmas day?'

'Um....? OH!' he had finally come up with something, and I was curious if that something would give me a good excuse to hop in the car and head to Target...

'A hat! And...and, and a turtleneck! Nes, a purple hat and one red turtleneck. Dat's what I want from Santa.'

What the hell? How a two-year-old, born in 2012 even has the word turtleneck in his vocabulary is beyond me. And why he'd like to add a turtleneck and purple hat to his wardrobe is an absolute mystery. 

Something tells me next years wish list will be a bit more lengthy with a few more toys and gadgets added to the mix - so today I will happily cross "Target" off my to-do list and instead enjoy the simplicity of this holiday season with my little boyfriend who needs nothing and dreams of nothing more than joining the Red Hat Society...

Christmas is Coming!

I love love love the anticipation of Christmas. As soon as the Halloween candy is consumed, one of my favorite tasks to accomplish is updating our family photos and creating Christmas cards. I usually stay cooped up for one snowy day during our annual November Sunriver trip and scour each and every holiday card deal and design online. Last week, I settled on our design and placed our order and I'm SO excited to receive them in the mail then begin the task of writing, sealing, stamping and sending out a stack of cards to the ones we love the most. 

This year, our sweet friends Jen and Kyle Sanders, of Jen Sanders Photography, joined us in our new neighborhood to snap some family photos. They look as though we traveled to the very top of a mountain and through the rustic gates of a lush tree farm - when in fact, we trekked across our street and about thirty steps down the road. Score! Nothing beats convenience when you're wrangling a tired, cold and hungry tot. As I scroll through the images of green trees, smiling faces and itty bitty boy ties, I couldn't be happier with the warm Christmas vibes filling my screen.

Time to hit up HomeGoods & deck the halls!

So much.

Lately, I have been telling Parker, I love you so much.

To which he usually smiles and responds, I so much!

For a long time he's been saying some variety of, eye wuv wu, which is sure to melt me every time....but these days, this so much! response has been killing me softly. It is really specific and special moments like this that I hope to remember forever. 

Firefighter Parker

Firefighter Parker and his trusty sidekick, Siren, celebrated Halloween 2014 in style. For both, it was their first year trick-or-treating and they couldn't quite get enough. As the doubter realist of the crew, I set my standards low, low, low - and made sure to tell Jordan multiple times that Parker was most likely too young to understand the creepy concept of knocking on stranger's doors...in the dark hours of evening...to collect sweets that we most likely would not let him eat. 

Jordan listened as I expressed my complaints concerns, and then happily watched Parker prove me wrong as he enthusiastically ran to "anodder house! mo candy! trick-or-treat!" The kid partied hard and us parents kept him out way too late. 

Mom knows best? I guess not every day.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Parker James!

What a year it has been! Yet before we recap, let’s take a moment to look at where we’re at right now, July 28, 2014. It’s a Monday, which means dad is at Valley Medical Center, working away in his first year at residency. He’s gone really long hours and every third or fourth day, is gone from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. Those days are long for everyone, and as much as dad doesn’t like missing out on our evening routine, you are a resilient little man, which continually inspires and challenges me to try to be independent and resilient, too. Today, you and I spent the morning at your favorite local park, The Sammamish Commons, splashing in the water fountains, swinging, eating blue sprinkled cupcakes and playing with a few of your all-time favorite tots.

We celebrated your birthday this weekend by inviting all of our family to our new home, which you always refer to as “Paker’s howse”. We sung happy birthday, ate your favorite pink cupcakes, opened colorful presents, and let you run wild and free while scootering around the park with your idolized big cousins. T’was a fun day spent in a townhouse packed full o’ cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts, grandparents, and great grandparents, who all love you very much.

This year for your birthday, dad and I got you four things. 1. A new home with your own bedroom + playroom - which we moved into last month and are absolutely loving. 2. A new sibling - who should debut sometime in late February and absolutely rock your world. 3. A new book, The Wheels on the Bus, which you are beyond obsessed with. And 4. A new bucket of sand toys – which we put to good use with our friends at the splash park this morning. I'd say these gifts do a good job of representing where you're at in your interests, as well as where we're at as a family...

It’s been a really big year both in your development, and in our family’s story. Early into your second year, probably a week or two after your first birthday, you conquered confident walking and we haven’t stopped chasing you since. Your language development has been my favorite part of watching you grow this year, and just a couple months ago you started saying hilarious, extra-nasally three syllable words like “chem.-bu-cals” as you float around the hot tub, and “temp-a-ture” as you carry the thermometer around your playroom and take the temperatures of your stuffed animals. I’m not sure if this is a sign that you will one day follow suit and become a doctor like your daddy, or if you’re just a little more science brained than your mama. I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

This year was also big because your dad graduated from medical school. "Whoohooo cowege!" as you often loudly cheer with both fists pumped into the air. In May, we drove to Yakima and attended his graduation ceremony at the Capital Theatre. We were sitting in the middle of a crowded row, in the middle of the stuffy and uncomfortably warm auditorium and let me tell ya kid, I absolutely feared the worst.  It didn’t help that the ceremony took place in the middle of your naptime – and that we were jumping into the adventure completely sleepless – yet you rallied and blew my low expectations right out of the water by enthusiastically clapping, quietly cruising through iPhone pictures, eating goldfish and patiently sitting on my lap throughout the two-hour ceremony. Should have never doubted your ability to rally when times get sleepless, as you have been the proud conductor of the Sleepless Train since day one. I may never fully understand, nor fully appreciate, your high energy paired with your sleepless antics, but it sure does amaze me.

Your dad and I celebrated his graduation a few weeks later, by leaving you at Nama and Papa’s house to play with the aunts and cousins and indulge in your first McDonalds cheeseburger and fries! During this time, we spent five days exploring the lush, green lands of Austin, Texas. I stopped nursing you the week we left and felt absolutely terrible leaving you behind, but I think it was a healthy and positive experience for all. I had to keep telling myself, although this little guy is attached to me now, one day he’ll be leaving his mama behind and running off to college, to travel the world, to get married, or to begin a career, and I won’t be able to keep him all to myself. Since we cannot stay attached buddies for life, I figured it would be a good growing experience for me to jet off with dad and enjoy five days sans plastic toys, diaper duty, and sleepless nights. You’ll have to trust me when I tell you how excruciating it was for me to kiss you goodbye and walk out the door en route to the airport. It is probably a feeling you will not fully understand until you have kiddos of your own, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one. Leaving you in loving hands and jet setting states away was a really difficult decision…a difficult one, but a good one. During those days, your dad and I traveled new lands, ate delicious BBQ, did tons of fun things like ropes courses and zip lines, watched the colorful sun set and rise over the rolling hills of Texas, dined on farm-to-table cuisine like kings and queens, swam in infinity pools, soaked in the summer sunshine, read books, practiced yoga, and cheersed to your dad’s great accomplishments. As our relaxing week away came to an end, we excitedly hopped back on our plane to Seattle, and snuggled you like we’ve never snuggled before. It was fun to carve out some mom and dad time, but it was equally as fun to touch down in our very favorite state, and smooch our very favorite boy.

Just like last year, and I don’t imagine it changing in this next year of life, every single day while your dad and I are with you – eating dinner at the table, walking around the block, kicking the soccer ball at the park, or watching you discover something new – I turn to him and say “HE IS SO CUTE! Isn’t he SO cute?” And you are, buddy. You really are. But you’re not just cute.

You’re really funny. Your sense of humor is wicked and your sense of direction is nothing short of incredible. If my GPS ever failed me I’m absolutely convinced you’d be able to direct me right where we needed to go. You’re bright - really, really bright – as you count to ten, identify your colors and sing your ABCs. You are physically strong, and sometimes use that strength to push and bite both loved ones and strangers alike, but for the most part your kind and tender heart brings a huge smile to my face as you say “eye yov you” and lean over for “tugs” and “tisses.” You’re in love with the Disney musical Frozen, and will empty the toilet paper holder and grab it to belt out “Let It Go” in your makeshift microphone as you dance on your bed in nothing but a size four diaper. You’re also up for adventure, and this year alone have traveled to Disneyland, the cabin at Billy Clapp, Newport Beach, California, Sunriver, Oregon (twice), Scottsdale, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada and all across the highways in Washington state. We’re thankful to get to take you to new places and experience so many fun moments and memories together as a family. They’re certainly not memories that you’ll retain, but your dad and I will! Like the time we strolled you, our 1.5 year-old son, all over the Las Vegas strip. Who takes a toddler to Sin City? Your weirdo, wanderlust parents do!

I can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for us, as you make new friends in our awesome neighborhood, and evolve into your new role as a big brother. I’m currently just a few months pregnant, yet you already talk constantly about “bebe Popsicle” who you promise is a gurl, and you kiss my tummy at any chance you can get. I’ve got no doubt you’re going to be a fun, kind and protective big brother and I can’t wait to watch that happen. I love you so much, buddy, and am really grateful for all the quality time you and I get to spend together.

These days, as we sit around the table munching on a snack or sipping on a smoothie, you’ll often notice we’re enjoying the same food or beverage and you throw your fork/spoon/cup/pancake in the air and say “Cheers!” with a big cheesy grin on your face. Cheers to you, little man!

I love you,

Mama

Bumps, Bruises and Chipped Teeth.

Today my crazy baby was trying to keep up with his older cousins, and fell down some wooden stairs while trying to get down from a treehouse at our local children's museum. It looked bad and sounded bad, but Parker was already running a fever [insert judgement here] and had been up from midnight-5:30am with a terrible case of croup, so honestly, the fall didn't really seem to faze him. His already glazed eyes just got a little bit glossier, and his already runny nose just ran a little bit faster. Did today feel like a train wreck from start to finish? Absolutely. But don't most sleepless days? And the show must go on!

So on we went.

Honestly, I was a little caught off guard when Parker didn't cry post-fall. Then I was a little more caught off guard when I got him home and realized he had chipped his front tooth. My not even two year old had chipped his damn front tooth.

Something about seeing that baby pearly white chipped at the corner just about ruined me. I think it's because newborns come into the world absolutely perfect, and I'd like to keep my kid so fresh and so clean for as long as I can. But then I also want to expose him to new things and encourage him to run wild and free. One of the great tug-o-wars of parenthood, perhaps? As I watch my newborn turn into a baby and then quickly toddler his way into early childhood, I've noticed quite a few bumps, bruises, scars and chipped teeth along the way. 

"It just comes with the territory, Laura. He's a rough and tumble boy who is growing up,"  my husband explained to me tonight, as I glanced at Parker's scratched up legs from our recent Denny Creek hike, and his freshly chipped tooth. Both serving as visual reminders of memories well made with my independent and adventuresome kid, as well as the reality that my perfect and blemishless baby has somehow transformed into a boy. A rough and tumble, and not-yet two-year-old boy. 

My Favorite Dad Grad.

// this weekend we celebrated and raised our glasses to //

Jordan's Graduation. Mother's Day. Being back in the Yak. [Grand]Mother's Day.

T'was lovely to soak up the Eastern WA rays while kicking it with some of our very favorites. 

Parker's enthusiasm was contagious. 

These two. Best o' the best.

Some of Yakima's finest.

Youngin's in lovin's.

One day you'll join the four eyes club, eagle eyes.

Da homies.

Park's bestie. 

Cutest little elf I ever did see.

Fun at Nama's house.

And one more for the ol' memory book.

Mama's Day.

Happy mama's day, friends!

Last year Jordan set the standard pretty bity low for Mother's Day. He's an absolutely fabulous hubby and parenting partner, so I don't mind admitting this minor lapse in judgement. Honestly, at the time, as a first time mother, I felt very disappointed with the celebrations that did not take place on that day. But today? I think his game plan was brilliant. Set those standards low so we can only rise 'em up ;) 

And rise 'em up we did.

Today was a beautiful day. Truly a perfect day celebrating the ones I love, with the people I adore most. I opened my eyes in beautiful Suncadia, to Parkerman standing on his tip toes leaning over the mattress with lips puckered. A few hundred thousand kisses later, we made our way downstairs to play with our in laws and his cousins. We then met Baba and Mawmaw for brunch at the lodge. T'was both delicious and lovely to chitty chat with our homies [aka: my parents] about our house hunting process.

After leaving sunny Suncadia with an absolutely tuckered out tot, I prepared my anxious heart for the long ride home. Hauling Park around town during nap time is almost always a recipe for disaster. I get all out of sorts if my already sleepless kid is deprived of his nap, to which my poor husband is then stuck with a cray cray wife and a ty ty kid. Lucky for both of us, Parker decided to rest his leetle head and sleep the entire hour and a half journey to Nama and Papa's house.

You know what they say. The best things in life are FREE. A napping kid during our car ride over the pass was the greatest thing Park could have gifted me on this already glorious day. And the Glassybaby that dad helped him pick out wasn't a terrible second best in the ol' gift department. Just call me spoiled.

Park hot tubbed and played outside at Nama and Papa's, while I was treated to a facial, by my incredibly talented sister-in-law. Finished up the day with to-go Chinese food on paper plates with my sibs and parents back at our casa. Finally, we completed our day by indulging in a big ass cookie brownie, fresh out of the oven.

Nighttime is always our favorite time of the day, and today did not disappoint. Parker giggled as I tickled and kissed him half as many times as we did in the morning, then we sung silly songs and prayed with dad. He crashed immediately after whispering 'awme' and with that, my very favorite mother's day came to a close.

Happiest Place.

Everyone thought we were riding the CRAZY TRAIN straight to Anaheim when they heard we were taking our sleepless, tantrum-throwin' tot to Disneyland. And I couldn't blame em, it sounded crazy to me too. But here's the truth, we were never going to Disneyland for Parker's sake. Disney is a place Jordan and I have talked, planned and dreamed about visiting for five years now. One year, we even got so pathetically close as to staying in Santa Monica with a free day to fill, yet we couldn't afford park tickets to the real deal, so we went down the road to spend the day roaming around Knott's Berry Farm. Fun day? Yes. Did it fill the Mickey shaped hole in our hearts? Not a chance. 

So when Jordan committed to attending a men's retreat in Santa Ana this winter, we knew it would be the perfect time for him and I to finally enjoy the thrill and the crazy of our happiest place on Earth. And our child? Well, he was just along for the ride. That lucky little son of a - - Disney fanatic. 

Leading up to the trip, I researched like a crazy lady. Wrote lists. Bought new toys. Charged my camera. Packed snack attacks. Debated whether we'd rent or bring our own stroller. And as Jordan and I headed to the airport with an unhappy camper in tow, we hoped for the best and then set our standards really, really low.

What happened when we cautiously walked into the park on morning one of our two day Park Hopper adventure was nothing short of a miracle on 34th street. 

Parker took one look at the waving Mickey-mitten welcomers who added to the joy, hustle and bustle of Main Street and immediately knew he had found his peeps. The people who could keep up with his endless energy and then some. Who always waved. Constantly smiled. Carried colorful cotton candy and bundles of Mickey-shaped balloons. The music. The sounds. The smells. The lights. The characters. The crowds. Our feet hadn't yet stepped off the bricks of Main Street yet our kid was already in love...home sweet home in the land of over stimulation.

As we headed towards the rides and mapped out our morning game plan, I received a text from my very thoughtful and always-cautious father. "Enjoy the day. And remember to go at an 18 month olds pace."

Little did my dad, or any of us for that matter, realize that Parker's pace would outlast us all. He rallied from open to close, riding the rides, waiting in the lines, shopping for new Tigger and Mickey hats, watching 3D shows, dancing with live shows, devouring popcorn, running through Toon Town, meeting the characters, and waving his way through two parades.

Prior to our trip, Parker had never watched any Mickey movies and was unfamiliar with all of the characters. We figured he'd be terrified to see the big guys in person, but holy holy, does that boy keep us guessing. Not only was he unafraid, meeting characters was the absolute highlight of Park's trip. That, and the Winnie the Pooh ride - which him, Eric and Mia [who earned sainthood status on this trip] must have gone on at least ten times.

It's been a few weeks since we've returned, and honestly I am still a bit baffled by how care free and magical our trip to Disneyland was. It was a dream come true for Jordan and I to finally visit the parks together, and seeing it through the eyes of our kiddo was just an added bonus! 

I thought all kids loved this ride? After waiting in line for thirty minutes, only to discover Park's just not that into Dumbo, we caught our one Hallmark meltdown of the trip on camera. Classic.

Happiest parents in the happiest place. 

Parker Says.

I say it every month, and Jordan constantly mocks me, but this month really, truly has been the most fun with our ever entertaining little boy. He is moving a million miles an hour, cutting teeth like it's his job, and you can just tell by looking at him that his little mind is always, constantly spinning. Must be dizzying to be a growin' tot. I've noticed a dramatic and adorable expansion in his vocabulary recently, and since Park's word development is so very newsworthy, I've decided to include a list of his current sounds with English translations. You're welcome.

He Says // He Means

Sann Sa // Santa
Banca bac // Banana
BaBa // Grandpa Jim
PaPa // Grandpa Mark
Rawr // Bear
Ba Da // Airplane
Ba Da // Big Bird
Huhuhuhu // Yes
Shhh // Fish
Honk Honk // Car

Haaah, accompanied by the strangest facial expression // Hot

And of course, everyones favorite, and the butt of all jokes...

Dada // Mom

Super Bowl XLVII Champions!

Hey Little 12th Man Fan,

We made history tonight. No, not you and I specifically, unless you consider our impressive consumption of Muddy Buddies & Fritos hamburger dip to be world record worthy. Naw, tonight wasn't so much about our accomplishments...

Tonight the Seattle Seahawks steamrolled the Denver Broncos 43-8, to win Super Bowl XLVIII. For weeks, people have anticipated the best defense matching up to the best offense in what was sure to be an entertaining fight. I glanced at a few polls, only to learn how much the majority of the nation predicted and cheered for an orange and blue W. But they didn't get that win. The Seahawks played flawlessly and made our blue and green soaked city very, very proud. 

So here's how it all went down. You, your dad and I woke up to the sun shining brightly. A beautiful, blue sky morning. With bed head abundant and pajamas jammin' we ran downstairs, with as much anticipation and wonder as we did on Christmas morning. We turned on the tv and watched ESPN and SportsCenter, utilizing a brief commercial break to run upstairs and throw on our blue and green. Then, with zero seconds to spare, we ran out the door to church. To our surprise, the service  was transformed into a full on Super Bowl trivia extravaganza. After worship and watching Making of a Champion, the congregation enjoyed beef brisket & Skittles together, while sitting at blue and green covered cafeteria tables. Jerseys were worn by young and old, and Hawks decor colorfully awakened the outdated  middle school gymnasium. Strange as it sounds, a 10:00am potluck, complete with Skittles and soda pop just feels right when your team finally makes it to the Super Bowl. 

After church, you and dad rocked it at swim lessons, while I cheered you two on from the wet & wild sidelines. You did great going down the plastic slide, and didn't even scream when your instructor swam too close // with such noteworthy accomplishments I can only imagine you were trying to outshine Russell Wilson on his big day? 

Fast forward thirty minutes and the entire family was huddled around grandma and baba's television set. Uncle Matt, Lauren, and their cute dog Sadie, as well as auntie Amy drove over the bridge to join us.  We ate way too much food. Laughed and cried thru commercials. Okay, maybe no one cried, but I'm pretty sure I did spot auntie Amy wipe away a tear after the Coca Cola commercial. Your dad and I won a few bets and lost a couple others, and uncle Dan created an awesome spreadsheet, complete with prizes for the winners of each category. We watched the pre-game. The game. The post-game. And then some more...

Buddy, I wish you would be able to remember this awesome moment a decade or two down the road. As you lay peacefully passed out in your crib, our entire city is currently on fire. No really, people are celebrating in the streets, setting off fireworks, and I just saw in the news that some hooligans in the U  District are lighting couches on fire. Please don't be one of those fans, or if you are, spare yo mama the worry and don't post anything on Facebook. Okay? 

So there ya have it. A little recap of a big day for Seattle fans. I'm happy that you, your dad and I could all enjoy our first hometown championship together. 

Watching post-game interviews, and reading stories about young and determined Seahawks players who have finally brought the Lombardi trophy home, I can't help but dream about where you might find yourself in ten, twenty years from now. What dreams will you accomplish and where your dad and I will go to cheer you on? I can only imagine - will your passion, hard work, and dedication take us to a science fair, a basketball tournament, a new country, a math Olympiad, a ballet recital, a rally, a choir performance, or a national championship? I guess only time will tell. 

Welp, my Super Bowl recap just became an ounce too sappy and I've officially stuffed ten handfuls too many of Muddy Buddies into my mouth. Must be my cue to close the computer and call it a night. I love you, buddy. More than the Seahawks and I'm more proud of you than any Championship title our sweet city will ever bring home. 

Cheers,

Mama [or as you like to say] Dada

One Point Five.

Hey ya little stinker pants,

Happy eighteen months, buddy! One and a half years ... How in the world did that happen? Ever since that summer day in 2012 when you made me a mama, I have come to understand that all those cliche mama lines // you know, the 'I can't remember what life was like before you' and the 'I didn't ever think I could love someone so' plus the 'I don't remember the last time I showered' and the 'this is the most challenging yet most rewarding job of all time' // well, I've caught myself saying each of them, and I've gotta admit...cheesy as they may be, there is tremendous truth tied to those sentiments.

You were a game changer, bud, there's no question about it. Some days I think I'm going to burst because of your beauty and the joy that fills my heart by being your mom, and then there are other moments when I could cry from sheer exhaustion and frustration of it all. Regardless, every day, more precisely ever hour of every day, I whisper into your little ears how much I love you. I then slap a silly grin on mah face and tell your dad 'he's so cute' to which he now just rolls his eyes. He's heard it a thousand times, and will hear it at least a thousand more. Old news to him, but you are, Parkerman. Those big blue eyes, your feisty and spirited personality, your sense of humor and desire to make others laugh, your love of all things animal noises/airplanes/books/balls/baba/big bird/and milk, your mini Mohawk, your fatty cloth diaper waddle, your smile, your little fingers as they sign, your little voice as it speaks, and your animated actions and facial expressions communicate so much to us about who you are and what you're all about.

At month seventeen, just around your second Christmas, you gifted your dad and I with the most incredible present // sleep. Grandma now brags to all her lady friends that you're sleeping thru the night, to which I always, always chagrin. Sleeping through the night, you are not, and I am most definitely giving you a big, red pen circled 'F' in regards to your nonexistent naps....but it is true that on most nights, you now sleep four-ish hours consistently, and for that, we have promoted you to king of the castle. You like the crown and status, and we like sleeping long enough to actually experience a dream. On most nights, you're out at 9:00pm and stay quiet in your crib til midnight-2ish. If grandma Ann thinks that is sleeping through the night then I'd love to see her up with your wide awake self at 3am, 5am, and 7am. Somehow we've misguided you into thinking there's a halftime party happening during the wee hours of the morning, and your standing, screaming, and persistence in cheering until one of us tends to your needy needs is nothing short of impressive. And obnoxious. We often cuddle from 2am onward and you usually wake me up rearing and ready to go as the sun rises, with a smile and an enthusiastic 'dAda!' quickly followed by the milk sign. Please don't blame me when you end up in therapy. 

You're a silly, strong willed, and energetic little lovebug. You keep us guessing, humbled and very, very entertained. We love you so much, and we love you even more when you sleep ;) Keep it up, kid.

xo. Mama - who you still mischeviously call dAda

Life Lately // Winter Edition.

Cheese!

Our parental happy place.

 First day of swim lessons.

Soaking up the sun and watching ba-da's soar at the park.

Our new favorite lunch joint in Woodinville. 

Big Bird, forever and always.

Enjoying the nightlife with great friends at Purple Wine Bar.

Cheering on auntie Katie at the U.

'Soo...can we go back inside and watch Big Bird now?'