Playing Outside

This is one mamma that was very excited the sun came out today! I did something I NEVER do--woke P from his nap--so he would have some time to soak up the sunshine and play with his new outside Christmas toys. His new bike is from Granfather and Gran-Gran, and they brought it by early Christmas morning before he woke up, so we had not even told him about it. He was SO EXCITED to see it--but not too much into riding it. He told me, "I can't ride this I am just a little boy." Any tips on how to teach him how to ride? I did my share of running behind him pushing his feet with my hands....no dice..

His favorite new toy was--of COURSE--his remote control monster truck! Santa was not exactly sure if this was what P had in mind, but after seeing him play today I think Santa did pretty good :)

Had to include a picture of John Cole--precious angel baby! He is really enjoying his new bouncy seat from Santa, and I am enjoying his having a new "prop." I put him in the swing a couple of times last week and he was NOT having it. Seems like I remember P didn't like it right at first either so I will keep trying....

Hope you are enjoying this holiday week with your family and that Santa was good to you!

Christmas Picture Overload

Christmas 2011 is one I will always remember--that is for SURE!!

I've spent a lot of time in the middle of the night, in the dark quiet with a newborn baby boy, and I can't help but think of Mary doing the same thing...2045 (give or take-wasn't Jesus 34 when he was crucfied?) years ago. Although so many things have changed--like my child uses the words "text" and "download" correctly in a sentence, but so many things remain the same. Like the way a baby is completely dependent on his parents and the miracle life is today just like it was all those many years ago....and the biggest miracle of all is that that tiny baby born in Bethlehem lives in our hearts today! I will never get tired of hearing the Christmas story and hope I can continue to emphasize the true meaning of the season to my boys :)

We enjoyed meeting Nana, Pop, K-K and Kevin Christmas Eve children's service last night--it was geared for the kids that's for sure but I was glad we got to share it together. We then all headed to K-K's for dinner and presents. Wasn't K's table just beautiful? We had a great night--P was the "trash man" and was pretty excited about the "biggest present in the WORLD" his new train table and his new iTouch. We called it a night and headed home....anxious for Santa to arrive (see P putting out his reindeer food) and to spend Christmas Day together....until....

Around 10 or so I was feeling pretty nauseous and asked Jeff if he was too because he was white as a sheet. Sure enough, we both started battling a bug in the next minutes. It was not a one time thing....got in touch with family at Kendal's in the night and she and Nana were sick too....must have been something we had eaten--BOO! We were all up all night and needless to say Christmas Brunch did not happen this morning...but thankfully Jeff and I felt good enough to at least make it through Christmas morning, and are both feeling almost normal this afternoon. And the ONE TIME I am glad Preston is a picky eater was last night--he had not eaten what we had that made us sick so thankfully he did not get it..whew! It's just one of those things that happen--and even though I hate it happened when it did we are still so blessed :)

Hope you have had a great Christmas with your family...now off to help Jeff put together this train table...don't know if we will finish tonight but we can try! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.....

Family Picture

This shot is actually the front of The Parker Family Christmas card this year, so forgive me if you are seeing it for the second time! I wanted to post it, though, for any blog followers that may have not received cards :) Not the best shot of John Cole, but he was only 10 days old or so therefore we had to do the best we could. I'm still SO PROUD this picture, and it just makes my heart leap to have my little family complete :)

On a less happy note--the Bulldogs were not able to pull out the win last night. But, you know, I am still true blue. We may not have won, but they didn't exactly "give us hell" now, did they?

More later..

GO DAWGS!

At first I was quite sad that I am not in San Diego cheering on the Bulldogs, but now I am confident my parents and in-laws are making up from my absence and am happy to be at home tonight watching the game on TV with my boys :) As I type, it is about 1 hour until gametime...and I thought I would post while I still have a very positive outlook.....GO DAWGS! BEAT TCU!

Doesn't John Cole look so big? He is 4 weeks old!!

Tacky Sweaters

This picture does NOT do justice to just how very TACKY we all look at Becky, Jana and Stacy's Tacky Sweater party!! Such a fun time...and the longest Dirty Santa game EVER. Too bad I still didn't have the HO! HO! HO! sweatshirt my mom made me in Junior High. Sorry, Mom, but that was BAD.....it makes for a good story now, though :) Getting psyched up to cheer on the Bulldogs tommorrow night. I'll try to find something TECH that will fit John Cole and get a picture of both boys cheering on the Dawgs....

Shepherd's Breakfast

So happy that Jeff and I got to share with Preston this morning an activity that was centered around the real reason for the season--Jesus' birth! Our children's minister asked Jeff and I if we would be Mary and Joseph for the annual Shepherd's breakfast this morning--becuase we have the newest baby boy at church :) The three's and four's have a little breakfast (well, not little for P as I think he had FOUR chocolate covered donuts!) then go hear the shepherds tell the Christmas story. Jeff, John Cole and I just sat and listened to Brian Mercer tell the story. Never have I been so proud when Brian asked the group what was the reason we celebrate Christmas and Preston said, "It's Jesus' BIRTHDAY!" John Cole, of course, did great in his first acting role...and I think I am going to join him now for a snooze...Happy Birthday JESUS!

My Second Born Son

As promised, here is a post dedicated solely to my angel of a newborn, John Cole. I have been hesitant to type these words, because I feared my bravado would backfire, but at 3 weeks 3 days old I think I am safe in proclaiming that Jeff and I have been blessed with a calm baby!! When I was worried that I could not love another child as much as I do Preston, a good friend of mine told me not to worry my heart would grow larger when I had another child. This is SO true. There is no way for me to imagine my life without John Cole in it and there are no words to describe how much I love him :)

His likes:
1. Laying on his right ear--don't you even TRY to get him to turn to the other side! I am super scared of the helmet...any tips on getting him to turn it?
2. Sleepy sheep--never had one of these with P...can't imagine doing without it now!
3. HIS PACI!!! Hip Hip Hooray!
4. Laying in his cradle and watching us eat as a family...as long as it is on his right side :)

His dislikes:
1. Getting the hiccups--poor baby gets them a couple of times a day :(
2. His bathtime--maybe it is because it is cold but I tell you he SCREAMS..but then is super content when I get his jammies on.
3. Getting in the carseat--poor thing, he will be sleeping snug as a bug in a rug and I have to get him up and put him in the carseat to take him somewhere. Lets out a little YELP!
4. When he is just trying to sleep and big brother is playing "one man band" or "shoot the ducks" and he just can't get his sleep!

I love you JOHN COLE!!

Singing for the DMA's

I promise to do a post all about John Cole soon--but today is another about Preston. His preschool class entertained the DMA group at Trinity this morning. DMA stands for Don't Mention Age and it is a tradition for the preschool classes to do a little Christmas "show" for them. My favorite number was the kids singing Happy Birthday to Jesus--so adorable!! But, by far the best part of my day was while the kids were filing out my little man came running up to me and gave me a HUGE hug :) Makes those 2am trips up to his room to assure him that there are no racoons coming through the air vents worthwhile.......

Santa's Christmas Village

....is actually the Monroe Children's Museum...but I thought that made a more interesting title :)

I have been attending MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) at First Baptist Ruston since the Fall, and have really enjoyed the meetings and getting to know the great moms at my table--the "LifeChangers." These women were also SO WONDERFUL to me--and continue to be--in the days after John Cole was born. So, I really wanted to make the MOPS playdate today at the museum :)

Initially, I asked my sweet Aunt Kristy who lives in Monroe if I could come to her house to nurse John Cole, and she graciously offered to keep him while Preston and I went. That turned out to be a REALLY GOOD idea. I thought our group would kind of have the place to ourselves but that was NOT the case....it was a ZOO! However, I am glad we went because it has been probably 18 months since P has been and he enjoyed the experiments and crafts MUCH more today than last trip. Of course, his favorite part was playing in (ie throwing and laying around in) the play "snow" scattered around the building but he also enjoyed some of the more "scientific" activities.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Breakfast with Santa

I didn't get many pictures this morning, and because Bart and Joanna were parenting Preston I spent most of my time at Breakfast with Santa actually eating breakfast :) I am sure that Allison got a GREAT picture, but I snuck a few myself and I love this one of Preston nailing down with Santa that he STILL wants a monster truck. Glad to get John Cole and Aiden together for the first time for a photo-op...he is just adorable! K-K went with me and her help was much appreciated--she was in charge of helping Preston "write" his letter to Santa--Thanks K-K! This is such a sweet time in my life, and I feel SO BLESSED to be able to make these memories with my sweet boys....Merry Merry!

PS--As I type I am being serenaded by Preston with his new fav Christmas tune, 'I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.' Too funny :)

Trial Run

Yes, I realize that one of my children is absent from this picture...but he was snoozing in his seat when we went to CTB today and John Cole was not the one I was worried about :)

Preston is officially over his fear of Santa! He walked right up to him, told him he is "Preston Parker" and he wants a "big monster truck." Now, if you know me very well, you know that I have probably never used "monster" and "truck" in the same sentence before I had a son....just not my thing....but my ALL BOY Preston is into some monster trucks!!

Can't wait for tommorrow's OFFICIAL visit with Santa at Squire Creek--complete with knee socks, saddle oxfords and matching red piped outfits....until then....

Christmas Jammies

Loving putting my boys in matching clothes for the first time! I only have a minute to do it before Preston outgrows the cutesy stuff, so bear with me I may get a little out of control :) Stay warm out there!

Sweetness

I know the word PROOF plastered across this makes it lose just some of its charm--but I just couldn't wait to share a peek from our family photo session last week! I promise to post actual pictures when I get them...and Christmas cards will be in the mail soon :)

Happy Tuesday!

Rainy Morning Project

I may just have to stop calling myself the opposite of crafty if I keep churning out projects like these :) Preston really enjoyed decorating his choo-choo train this morning, and to be as unskilled with a frosting bag as I am I think it turned out quite well if I do say so myself.....

Hope you are staying warm and dry...the Parkers who do not spit up on themselves have not made it out of our jammies yet today...more later...

Family Outing

We took our first family of four outing to the annual Hanging of the Greens service at Trinity tonight--and it went quite well! This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, and I sure enjoyed sharing it with all of my boys this year. Thanks K-K for your help during the service :)

We wish you and yours a blessed CHRISTmas season!!

First Days

Aside from some nursing issues on Saturday--that thankfully for the most part have subsided--we have had a wonderful first few days at home with both Preston and John Cole! I did get a taste of my new life this morning as BOTH sets of cradle/bed sheets had to be changed this morning, but you know, I can handle it. John Cole continues to be a very easy baby, letting out a little YELP! when he needs some attention, and Preston is just the best at being big brother. Of course, it helps that he gets a present almost DAILY for being a big brother...but if spoiling him a little bit gets us through then I am ok with that :) I am so grateful for Jeff's help this week--couldn't have done it without him that's for sure--but I think he was READY to go to work this morning.....

This cool weather is kind of nice if you ask me...perfect to be snuggled up at home with my boys...more later....

John Cole Parker is BORN!

John Cole Parker was born on Tuesday November 22, 2011 at 4:47 pm weighing in at 7 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 19 inches!

My labor story is quite long and involved--it would be one for me to tell you in person--but the synopsis is that I started the early processes of labor on Monday night, went to the hospital in the wee hours Tuesday morning, almost had them send me home, started progressing, had some amniotic fluid leak (water breaking) then Dr. LeBleu said "Let's have a baby today!" The only real pain I experienced was after my water was broken before I had the epidural. After the drugs, it was a very moving and wonderful experience that I will never forget!

John Cole is absolutely perfect! Now, I am not naive enough to believe he is not going to find his lungs, but right now he is an absolute DREAM of a newborn. He nursed vigorously right out of the womb, and aside from a long stretch of sleep right after he was circumcised, he continues to be a CHAMP at feeding. It's funny--he won't EVEN let me help him latch on--he has to do it HIMSELF. Too cute! We are not sure who he looks like just yet...a little like his big brother...but then yet not. All I know for sure is that I am completely in LOVE with him :)

Many thanks to Aunt K-K for coming over in the middle of the night so we wouldn't have to wake Preston when we went to the hospital AND for keeping him all day while I was in labor. And also thanks to Nana and Pop who still have Preston--kept him during our entire hospital stay and are bringing him back sometime this weekend--so Jeff and I can establish some sense of normalcy before brining an ACTIVE toddler back into the mix :)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I am sure I will be blogging a lot about John Cole's first days so stay tuned.....