More Parker-

 I know family looks at this blog so I like to post updates of the little guy for those of you who can't see the litte man in person. Here are some pics of when he was just 2 weeks old, and then some updated pics of him now at 8 weeks old. He has put on some serious chub and I LOVE IT!  Grandma Sandy weighed him and he was about 12.5 pounds!  Huge change from the 5 pounds when he left the hospital!  But I do miss how teeny he was. When I look at his premie clothes it amazes me that he fit in them. He's my growing boy. :)

He is smiling now, and loves to lay and look around, kick his legs, and wave his arms.  He is sleeping much better- we've got 6 hours sleep stretches the last 3 nights- love it.  He stills snores, grunts, and coo's all day long. He's a noisy little guy.  We just love him to death!  He will be blessed on July 10th!  I can't believe he is getting so big so fast.  I Love Love Love being a mommy.  :)

He looks so different- maybe its time for some new professional pictures! haha

6 weeks old! and Growing like a weed :)

Hey Everybody!

Parker is growing like crazy and we wanted to post a quick 6 week update of all of his little quirks! 

Parker has grown 3 inches since he was born, and is putting on the chunk! We now have a double chin, some thigh rolls, and a baby pot belly!  Heck I think Parker is about as big as most newborns haha.  He is fitting great into his newborn clothes now, and I bet he'll be into his 0-3's pretty quick.  

He's still eating every 2 hours, 3-4 oz- which means he is up every 2 hours at night- what a treat.  :)  Speaking of sleeping- Parker snores.  Yep- and its totally adorable.  He is also a stretcher- he stretches all the time, with his arms way above his head and his legs out long and straight.  He's a grunter and a good little pooper too!

We Love him to death and can't wait to get to see

 what the next few weeks bring :) 



Bear Lake Trip!

Tyler, Parker, and I needed to get out so we decided to head to Bear Lake for a little day at the beach with our families. It was so much fun, and so nice to get some sunshine. The water was so high that the only beach we could go to was the North Beach- but thats our fave anyway.

 Here are some pics of the day's activities :).

BEAR LAKE- JUNE 2011

 

 Grandma Sandy with Baby Parker

Parker taking a lazy summer snooze

 Grandma Kristy setting up!

 Grandpa Jim- Singing into the umbrella stand

 Tyler and Stuart

Krystalee- our sun goddess

 

Emily and Evan- catching some rays

 Parker and Mommy

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Moments

Today I had a moment- a brief time where the world looked different, calm almost, and I felt peace.  It began with a movie about a man who has inspired me.  His music has changed me and I've joked at times that it is the soundtrack of my life.  I can thank my little sister for the introduction, but I've always turned to his albums for comfort is times of stress or fear or sadness.  The documentary about Andrew overcoming cancer was amazing (Dear Jack- you should see it) and as it ended I looked over at my other couch to find my beautiful baby and amazing husband sound asleep.  Needing some fresh air and wanting to avoid waking my two boys, I stepped outside to sit on my porch.
Not sure if any of you looked outside at this time but it is beautiful.  Its drizzling rain, there is a slight fog, and the clouds are set very low on the mountains. Its almost majestic looking in a way.  Its unusually quite for this time of night on a saturday... its peacful. 
I sat there on the step for a while and just felt the calmness.  I thought about my amazing husband and child- I thought about me, and where I am, and what I am doing, and I thought about the people in my life who inspire me.  What is it about them that makes them so special?
Passion.  There is this desire to do something, this love and passion about something in their lives and they don't care about anything else.  This desire means everything and nothing else matters.  Whether it be music, religion, philanthopy... I am inspired by people with a passion for something.  They have drive and know exactly what it is they want and need. 
Am I inspired? am I driven? do I have a passion- something I would give up anything for? Outside of my family... I'm not sure what it is that I am truly passionate about. I want to find it...my passion.   I want to be like the people that inspire me.  I am making it my goal- to find what drives me.    Do you have a passion? What is it that drives you?

Showing off our baby boy!

When Parker was just 10 days old, we had the great Ashley McKnight take some pictures of him.  She did an amazing job and we are loving how they turned out.  Its fun to see how tiny he is, and document all of his cute little parts :) We just wanted to share with you how cute our little man is.  Maybe its just me and my mom goggles, but I think he's pretty adorable.  ENJOY!

Yep- more of the little man

 " I throw my hands up in the air sometimes..."

AAAAAACHOOO! 

Little Parker Details

Hi All-
Just thought I would document some of the cute little things Parker does, so I can remember them! 

*  I like to open my eyes and stay awake more than I used to! I look around and sometimes I smile!
*  When I get angry or upset, just before I start to cry real hard, I snort over and over again.
*  I like to throw my arms up in the air above my head- especially when I'm sleeping
*  I have long skinny legs and big feet and I like to stretch out long and straight, and then pop them back in real quick- over and over again
*  I eat pretty much every 1 1/2 to 2 hours-  I'm a hungy little guy!
*  Oh- and I squeak like a mouse when I eat, in between my big loud gulps. 
*  I'm a good little pooper too- and my poop face is hilarious
*  Today I went to the doctor, and I have gained some serious weight!! I weigh 6 lbs 8 oz-  quite the increase from last week when I weighed 5 lbs 7 oz! told you I'm a good eater
*  I also grew a whole inch! I am now 20 inches long
* My favorite things to do are snuggle with my daddy on the couch, sit in my swing, be wrapped up real tight, and be against my mom and dad's chests. 
*  Oh, and I make the cutest little kissy faces!  Ladies, eat your hearts out!

The mommy transition

While speaking on the phone with Grandpa Beckstead the other day, he jokingly asked me "So whose the boss at your house?"   I immediately responded with... "Parker is!"  and that is not far from the truth.  We've been home from the hospital for one week and I've been in full Mommy Mode.  My life currently consists of feeding the baby, burping the baby, changing the diaper, rocking the baby to sleep, 45 minutes of free time, feeding the baby, burping the baby, changing the diaper, rocking the baby to sleep, 45 minutes of free time, continued throughout the day.  Do I Love it?  YES!!!  It is a huge transition?  YES!!!

Going from a crazy busy, working 50+ hours a week, independent married woman to a stay at home mommy who has no control over her days schedule has been a major life change.  Sure I have free time where I squeeze in some homework, housework, good ol' TV, or on occasion a nap.  And yes, the busy is completely different and extremely rewarding in its own way.  I can't help but smile everytime I see a silly expression on my babies face, or hear him coo and make his little baby noises.  I have to kiss his tiny toes every time I see them, and I can't help but laugh when he opens his eyes and wrinkles up his forhead- he looks like an old man.  hahaha  But I find myself feeling a little down sometimes,  struggling with the change.  Yes I love being a mom- but staying at home all day can take its toll.  I do miss the freedom of going where I want, when I want.  I miss the financial security of having two incomes.   I wonder what life will be like when the baby isn't two tiny or young to go out - I have a little cabin fever.   I look forward to the day that we get on a good schedule, and I don't feel chained to the breast pump and feeding schedule.   And I can't wait for the time when Parker sleeps longer than 2 hours at a time at night.  I could use a good nights sleep :)

Am I wishing this time away, absolutely not.  I love his snuggles, his sweet little face.  I love that Parker is my tiny newborn and I have grown a newfound admiration for my amazing husband.  Smiles cover my face when I see Tyler with Parker,  He is like the "baby whisperer" and knows exactly what to do to make the little guy calm down and fall asleep soundly.   Having a baby at home has been such an amazing experience, but a hard one as well.  Maybe I am a bad person for admitting that its difficult.  Am I the only one that feels this way? Maybe.  But it really helps to be honest, to write it out, to share what this experience is like for me.  Being a mom is amazing.  Being a mom is hard.  I wouldn't change it for the world.