9 months

Am I late or what? Haha.  Parker turned 9 months last week!  He's really starting to thin out and grow vertically.  Parker has also gained at least 3 lbs in a month, he weighs 21lbs now.  With this recent spurt in growth we got him a new carseat.  Originally I wanted the Evenflo Triumph, but they were no where to be seen so we opted for the Safety 1st Guide 65 Ziggy.  I couldn't be happier and it appears Parker loves it too!

At 9 months you can smile, laugh, wave, clap and you have been standing all by yourself recently!  You say dada, mama, yeah and cat.  Eating is one of your favorite things, you especially love pickles.  Everyday I realize  that you're becoming more of your own little person and less of the baby I brought home 9 months ago.

I love you so much Parker.  You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Pot Luck

We've been spending a lot of time at my motherinlaw, Dianne's, apartment.  It's my favorite spot to take photos.  The lighting is always awesome, and I just love the vibe of her place.  Last night she held a potluck and the food was scrumptious.  I made chilli in my crockpot for the first time.  I love that thing, I don't know how I got by without it (thanks mom)!  Matt also went snowboarding in Powder King, B.C with his brother that day. It was his first time in yeeeears.  Lets just say he's not feeling so limber today ;)

My Mom came over and visited Parker and I while Matt was snowboarding.  It's always nice to see her, especially now that we don't get to see her that often anymore.  Parker smothered her in kisses and showed her how he says cat, in his own special way.

Our land lord finally finished up and went home today.  He's a nice and everything, but seriously it's so relaxing to just be us again.  Land owners stress me out.

Stay at Home Mom?

We finally got over our cold that's been lingering this week.  Being sick with a cranky baby is no fun at all.  Luckily I had Matt to help out and take care of us sickos.  Our land lord came down today.  I'm so happy everything is getting repaired and updated.  Not going to lie, I was getting a bit anxious waiting for him.  Amongst everything going on Parker stood for the first time all by himself. Oh, did I mention this Mama got a job?  Yep, you're looking at the part time counter girl for a local tattoo studio.  I'm so stoked for some adult time, but I know I'm going to miss my little man so much.

Mommy loves you !

Living in the Moment

Today we visited Matt's family.  Today Parker learned how to clap.  Today is perfect.

It's going to be hard when you don't need me to hold your hand anymore.

Fun with the Fam Jam

It was a great day.  All the dishes are done, diapers are clean and a few giggles along the way.  Later in the evening we went to a barbeque.  It was nice to see a few friends and family.  But then bed time reared it's ugly head and we went on our way, with a cranky, screaming, (fire breathing?) Parker in tow.

Look what I found in my mailbox, Gold/Ruby Indio 4!  It's so snuggly and I'm in love with the colors <3

Bitter Sweet

It's been so nice just being able to enjoy this week as a family.  Matt is in the process of quitting smoking cold turkey, today is his fifth day.  I'm so proud of him and he's handling it like a trooper (with a few nicfits in between).  Parker absolutely adores having his Daddy home.  He wants to do everything he does.  Cries and follows him when Matt leaves the room.  And giggles uncontrollably when they play peek-a-boo together.  He's going to be such a lost little boy when Matt goes back to work.  And back to work he is going (sorry Parker).  He found work today, and starts tomorrow at 7 am, sharp!

Today Matt's Dad, Adam, brought over a ground beef, zuchini and cheese casserole.  The guy is a culinary genius.  It was so yummy!  I for sure had seconds.

On a side note, I cant wait for all this white stuff to disappear.

Fluff Mail!

Boy, do I ever love receiving mail that's not the usual flyers and bills!  Today Parker received a goodmama fitted diaper.  It is so cute and I can't wait to try it out.  We also got a WHAM made Cheshire Cat pocket diaper earlier this week.  I love Alice in Wonderland and this is just perfect!

Lately I've been sorting through my old belongings (mostly my pre baby clothes *sad face*) and selling the stuff that I don't use/wear anymore.  Today I traded an old jacket for a leap frog play table for Parker.  Best trade eveerrr.  He's in love with it and I love the idea of re using, trading or buying used instead of new.

 In other Parker news, he has become a pro at using his sippy cup and waving.  It melts my heart and makes me want to cry a little because my baby is growing up so fast!

Baby Shower!

Last Saturday, Parker, Matt and I went to the first Annual Dawson Creek Baby Shower.  It was a big celebration for all babies born in 2011.  We had a lot of fun and it was nice that Matt was able to come with us.  I've only been to a few play groups but this one definitely got me motivated to go to more.  Parker loved socializing and I need more mommy friends (because really, I don't have many irl)  We filled up on cake and snacks, had Parkers photo taken and they even gave out little gift bags when we were ready to leave.

Adventures in Babywearing

Yesterday was so much fun!  Matt, Parker and I went to this baby shower for all Dawson Creek babies born in 2011.  We got Parker's photo professionally taken and ate lots of cake.  Parker met another Parker and flirted with a few girls, haha.  I'll post photos of this event later when Parker doesn't have me pinned to the couch while he naps in my lap.  For now heres a few photos of Parker and I trying out a double hammock carry;

Apparently he thought it was pretty comfortable ;)

See it swimming

I could not ask for any more from life after today.  It was one of those smooth, effortless, enjoyable evenings.  Parker slept horribly last night so Matt took him this morning so I could sleep in.  We played and played until Parker was pooped (literally) and needed a nap.  Boy did he ever nap, he slept like a rock for 3 hours!  After he woke up we had some lunch.  Parker nibbled on some avocado and the grown ups ate some cheese tortellini.  He has developed such an appetite.  Some days I just look at that tiny body in disbelief and think to myself, "Where does he put it?!!".  Later in the afternoon we got a call from Matt's brother Tony asking if we wanted to go swimming.  We packed up Parker and off we went.

This was Parker's second time swimming and he loves it!  We love it!  For the first 30 minutes I got to snuggle him in the kiddy pool.  He is usually so active I never get cuddle time unless he's eating or sleeping.  I took full advantage of this.  For the last half an hour we splashed and played with plastic motor boats.  It was paradise.

And now I'm holding the most perfect gift I've ever been given as he dreams.  I don't know how I ever became so lucky.

Wordless Wednesday

Oops

First of all, my poor neglected blog, its been awhile hasn't it?  Matt recently got laid laid off so we've been doing things around the house and spending more family time together.  We're finally TOTALLY unpacked.

It's warming up in Dawson, but hasn't been very sunny which makes for lazy days and watching Horton Hears a Who.  My Nana bought us a carpet and I desperately need a vacuum, my Mom is supposed to bring one over soon though (thanks guys!).

 

Last week we ventured out to Bonanza to visit Matt's Dad and Grandmother.  Parker just adores them both.  As soon as he sees them his arms reach out and suddenly I become chop liver, haha.  It was refreshing to get out of the house and into some clean(er) country air.  We were all having a major case of cabin fever and this visit was much needed!

Did I mention Parker is exceeding in self feeding.  He refuses to be fed anymore and demands to feed himself.  Goodbye purees, helllloooo table foods!

❤❤❤

Cloth Diapers

Parker has been in cloth diapers since he was 3 months old.  Before I got pregnant I never seen myself using them.  I had this image of diaper pins, pieces of cloth and rubber pants ingrained in my mind when I thought of cloth diapers.  Little did I know there are soooo many options out there.  We personally use mostly pockets and all in one diapers with a few fitteds thrown into the mix.

Not only are they cute, I'm also saving thousands of dollars (for real) and reducing un needed waste thats polluting our earth.  Disposable diapers contain harmful chemicals and are directly linked to low sperm count in males and asthma.  I'm so glad we made the switch, I wouldn't ever go back to paper diapers.  I thought it would be harder, but really it's been an easy switch to make.

If you're interested in helping our earth and making a healthier choice for your baby, this is a great place to get informed on cloth diapers.

Wordless Wednesday, Almost.

Excuse the absence, Matthew has caught a head cold these past few days.  So Parker and I are having extra mommy and baby time while Dad recovers, which means less blogging time, haha.  And we all know men are big babies when they're sick (sorry to say so, Matt).  Anyways here are a few shots from last week;

8 Months

Parker is 8 months old, as of yesterday (now that its midnight) and what an eight months its been!  Since you've been born I bought my first vehicle, we celebrated your first holidays, moved two times, adventured in baby wearing, taken a bajillion photos, adopted Juno and so much more.  At eight months old you can crawl with intense speed (watch out Juno!), you just about stand all by yourself and you feed yourself like a champ.  You say Dada, Yeah, sometimes Mama and you're getting really close to saying Cat.  You adore Juno and playing with the Piano your Great Nana bought you.  Everyday you look less like my baby and more like a little person, it's so bittersweet.

newborn

1 month

 2 months

3 months

 4 months

 5 months

6 months

 7 months

8 months

 I never thought I'd love someone so much. When you smile, my heart beams, your laugh is like music to my ears and when you cry, I just want to hold you and tell you everything is going to be okay.

Perfect Mornings

Yesterday we had a well deserved family day, it was way overdue.  I let Matt sleep in while I made these bad boys.  This is for real one of my fave breakfasts (besides eggs benny, nothing tops that) and its so easy!  Parker had a nap and then off to the pool we went!  This was Parker's first time swimming and we were so stoked to see his reaction.  Once we got into the pool he was so cuddly and docile.  Totally not the reaction I expected from my high energy, play all day, bouncing baby boy. But it was nice to snuggle up to him as we waded through the pool together.  I never did take any photos, but I don't regret it.  I wanted to live in that moment rather than agonize over perfect photos for the baby book.

After swimming as soon as we started driving Parker conked out hard.  We decided to take the opportunity to get some running around done.  The golden arches was our first stop so Matt could get a coffee.  I got one of their new fruit smoothies.  It was soo good, like booster juice kind of good.  I went into Shoppers looking for an agenda (WHY can't I seem to find a half decent one anywhere?!?) and came out with a glass nail file and a chocolate orange.

As we were heading home I suddenly remembered that someone told me that they had found my beloved blue notebook that I had lost a few weeks ago at the CO-OP, so I had Matt make a detour there to grab it.  I am so happy to have it back.  There was nothing personal written in it, but its nice to have a place to jot my scattered thinking down.

All in all we had a fantastic day and I wish more days could be like this.

Did I mention Juno and I have matching manis? (Well sort of)

wordless wednesday

I'm definitely a hypochondriac.  I took Parker to the Doctor's today because he's been shaking his head and pulling on his ear a lot and I thought he possibly had a food allergy.  But nope, I have a perfectly happy, healthy baby.  It doesn't hurt to be pro active either though, right?

Rice and Carrots

Matt came home early from camp this week.  Perfect timing too because I had an elk roast simmering in the slow cooker (I'm for real in love with this thing) for the past 6 hours.  I even made gravy!  This was my first time making a roast dinner, and it totally rocked!

Parker had some carrots and rice.  He loved it.  He's finally getting the hang of feeding himself and the boy has an appetite!

After hearing rave reviews I have finally got around to buying "The Hunger Games".  I've read about 100 pages of it so far and I'm very impressed.

Tomorrow we're going to try and go swimming at the CDC.  We also have a Doctors appointment at 1pm, so we'll see how busy we are.

Our Week Captured

It's been such a whirl wind lately that I've seriously been slacking on the picture taking and blogging.  Buuuut I have accomplished quite a bit this week.

1. Parker and I have some serious fun in the kitchen and there is soooo much natural sunlight that it's beautiful for photo taking.  I love his little smirk in this shot!


2. It was my 19th birthday on Saturday.  My Dad bought me this beautiful cake with my favorite frosting.  So yummy, thanks Pa!


3. Parker met my Dad's, Girlfriend's Son, Ryder.  He is the cutest 3 year old I've ever met and plays so well with Parker.


4. Parker entertaining himself while I sort through the mountain of clothes he's accumulated.  90% of the time he hates his exersaucer and the other 10% of the time he tolerates it.