Parker's First Time Wearing a Baseball Cap

Parker is a little stud. I love my boy!

'Nuff said.

-Steve

"Are you lookin' at me?"

Flashin' gang signs... lil' hoodlum.

Honestly, have you ever seen a kid this cute? Me, biased? I think not.

Parker puttin' out the vibe, makin' is chick-magnet face

Helping Daddy With Homework

Steve doesn't usually get too much time with Parker being that he's at school from 8-4 everyday and then he has meetings of some sort almost every evening. I think it's torture for him sometimes when he has lessons to plan and he just wants to be on the floor playing with Parker. So the other night Steve attempted to hold Parker as he prepared lessons.... take a look for yourself, but I think it's safe to say that Steve didn't get very much done. :)

Something funny.... Parker somehow managed to hit just the right keys, erasing all of Steve's progress. Don't worry, he got it all back. :)

Five Months

Well.....Parker is another month older..again! What a fun little boy he is becoming. I absolutely love watching him grow and learn new things!

No, he did not fall asleep. :) There is a little mirror right there and Parker is staring at himself. Seriously, Parker could stare at himself for hours. It's pretty entertaining. Any time we bring Parker up to a mirror he is all grins! I love it!

Parker is always grabbing onto things and shoving them into his mouth and he drools A LOT. He also LOVES to watch people eat. So I guess it's safe to say that Parker loves to stare at two things, 1) himself and 2) people eating. Crazy little boy. Maybe if we start him on some baby cereals here soon he'll stop staring. :)

We love our Parker Boy!

Just Because

This past Friday I came home to a dozen BEAUTIFUL roses! Parker and I had been gone for a little over a week visiting family in Nevada. I think Steve missed me. :)

Lonely

Nykele and Parker left Thursday to spend some time with her family and watch a couple of Dakota's basketball games. They won't be back till Friday. Unfortunately, I had to stay here in Rexburg because I'm in the middle of doing my student teaching. I just have to finish this so that I can finally graduate and take us away from this frigid place!

It's been a lonely couple of days, and I'm sure that this feeling of loneliness will only worsen as I wait out the rest of this week... but it's given me time to think a lot about the blessings that so many of us take for granted. This short time that I've spent separated from my little family has made me realize how much I hate being without them.

I hope that none of us will ever forfeit the blessing of family. That bond is meant to bring us joy, to strengthen us and pull us toward our Savior and our Heavenly Father. If we are ever unwilling to do all that it takes in this life to make ourselves worthy of our family, then we are foolishly giving up the greatest blessing that's been offered to us. Hypocrisy, pride, selfishness... we all suffer with these thorns in our sides... these are things that make us less than what we want to be, less than who we should be. These are things worth digging out, worth striving daily to overcome, because I want my family with me in the end of all of this... I want them to want to be with me too. We've been provided with the tools to make us whole, we just have to remember to use them. If a week feels this long and lonely without my family, I don't even want to know how awful eternity would be.

4 days down... 5 to go. I can't wait to have my family back.

Christmas

Yes Christmas was a while ago, but at least I'm getting it up here! We went to the Dunn's house this Christmas and it was very nice. It's always nice to get away from Rexburg! :) While we were there we went and saw the movie Tron at the IMAX in 3D. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so tired and if I wasn't having to cover Parker's ears the whole time! It was still fun to go and see it with everyone though. Unfortunately we didn't take very many pictures...

Parker is wearing his cute Christmas jammies from Great Grandma Reber. So cute!

I think the only thing that wasn't so great about the trip is that I lost my phone. I had only had it for about two weeks. So now i'm back to my old one... for another two years.

Parker Is Four Months

Here we are again. Parker is another month older! It feels like he has done so much growing this month! He has become so vocal. He loves to talk to people and he has gotten really good at begging people to pick him up, especially if he has been left alone a little too long for his liking. (Just ask Grandma Cluff about that!)

Parker loves to smile...except for when we bring out the camera! Dang kid! He's also giggling now and I LOVE it! This sweet little boy also rolled over for the first time a couple days before Christmas, so fun!

I took Parker in for his well check today and he is definitely a growing boy! Here are his stats:

Weight: 15 pounds 10 ounces = 67th percentile

Length: 26 inches = 86th percentile

Head: 17 inches = 75th percentile