Thursday, December 18, 2014

Merry Christmas Korbin!

Today we dropped off a bunch of gifts for an almost 2yo little boy with OI (brittle bone disease). I think this was the first time I really felt excited for Christmas, and it was mostly from being able to give to someone in need. And for giving in Korbin's memory.
I had fun shopping for this little kiddo and wrapping everything up:


Things he needs, and fun toys he wants.
This year felt different, I think because we have Parker now. After dropping everything off, I had this incredible urge to just hold Parker. I couldn't wait to get to him and get him home.
I love continuing to do this in Korbin's memory, and this time it's made me so grateful for P, even more so now.
Because I got a lotta love to give.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

3/4 of a Year

Time is flying! (Do I say that with every monthly P update?!) And Parker continues to amaze me with how much he's developing and keeping up with other kiddo's his age (rather than adjusted age of only 7.5mo). I believe his eye color has settled now; a beautiful shade of brown with the occasional flecks of deep blue around the edges.



He makes so many sounds with his tongue now, clucking and raspberries galore. He also figured out how to make sounds by saying something while patting his mouth with the back of one of his hands. Adorable! And so smart.



 He seems to genuinely smile so much more now, and laughs and giggles often. Even after telling his own babbling jokes! So hilarious to see and hear! And he started bowing his head and smiling now, almost in a shy way when seeing someone new, even doing some head banging if he's been crawling around on the floor. 



As for crawling: he still army crawls. But boy does he move! He can almost completely pull himself up to sitting on his own, and almost pulls himself up to standing.
While he becomes more independent (Ryan developed the two spoon method when feeding P: P has his own spoon to 'eat' with while we feed him) with things like holding his bottle himself, he's started to want dad more after daycare. He raises his arms to ask to be picked up, and we can almost have conversations with how much he babbles now.



As for food, he has tried so many things this past month! He loves eggs in the morning and always gets a few bites from my plate. Other foods he enjoys are sweet potatoes, peas, butternut squash and pears. He liked applesauce and bananas, but they did not like him back (his poor butt!). And pumpkin pie was just too much and made him throw up almost immediately.


I'm having more and more fun introducing foods to him. And just so love that we are still nursing! I love the bond we continue to build with that, and need it after all we went through to have him here with us.
Because I got a lotta love to give.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Funk

I suddenly feel like I'm in a funk. Thanksgiving came and went (finally) and I immediately set to work decorating the house and planning all of our holiday shopping and activities. But it's as if I'm just going through the motions and my heart's not fully in it.
This should be an exciting Christmas. Our first one with Parker! But instead I'm just feeling bluesy and really missing K. This just makes me want every moment possible with P, but work feels like it is getting in the way of that. I guess I haven't been fully enjoying my job as of late. It's busy and stressful right now, and I just want to be at home with my little man. Holding him, reading to him, cooking and baking, doing all of the artsy projects that pop into my head on a daily basis.
Life is a bit of a struggle at the moment. Hopefully forcing my way through the holidays will pull me up and out of it. Because there's so much to enjoy with P.
And I got a lotta love to give.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Life

I am so enjoying life with my little Mr. P! He's just so fun and beautiful and he's here for me hug and love and kiss. I am just so thankful for his presence in our lives!
I truly love having him here. Yes, I end my days exhausted and looking forward to a few hours of sleep at a time since he's not sleeping through the night just yet. He fills our time and our arms 24/7 it seems. And now I wonder, what did we do before P? I mean, we would get home from work and have a couple of hours till dinner time. What happened during those couple of hours? Were we lazy? Boring? It makes me laugh, maybe even in a crazy kind of way, that we used to think we kept busy. We had no idea!
Which makes me sentimental as I wish we could have known all of this with K. I am happy, and that doesn't mean I miss K any less.
Because I got a lotta love to give.

Friday, November 14, 2014

2/3 of a Year

I can't believe our little man is 8 months old already! Time is flying, and though I find myself missing how tiny he was when we first brought him home, I am even more so enjoying watching him grow and develop. Parker is just such an amazing baby!


He no longer sits still and wants to be in everything, even if he himself isn't so mobile just yet (that's what mom and dad are for, right?).


P is such a happy guy. He's rarely upset or just crying. And we just love including him in our daily routine and life. Yes, life changes when you have a child with you. But it doesn't end like it seems some would believe. It just gets more exciting!


P has now started solids and likes most of what he's tried so far: oatmeal mixed with breast milk, mushed potato, rice, and carrots. He did not like avocado. He has now officially found his toes and loves to chew on them. He's learned to stick his tongue out and blows raspberries non-stop (ih the drool!). One week I decided to try to teach him how to wave; he picked it up in just three days! When he recognizes someone, Ry or Nargis or Auntie Amy at daycare, he smiles and waves. Adorable!
Loving the time we get to spend with our precious second little man.
Because we got a lotta love to give.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

7 Months Old!

Our little P-nut is over the 6mo hump and already a month into the second half of his first year of life with us! We are just loving watching his continual development into such an awesome little person.
He just started finding his legs and feet this last month, which he'll hold on occasion. Sitting up is still wobbly, but it's coming along. On the 3rd he sat unassisted for a whole 3 seconds! He has also found his penis (um, he's a boy, of course he has!). And he is becoming a thumb sucker as of the 11th. I don't even know the last time we tried a binky as since he was 6mo we switched him to his own crib and he LOVES it. We are all loving the sleep. P also loves bath time, and can't seem to kick and splash enough before bath time is over. And overall he seems to be much more aware of people and things around him now, too.
While nursing, he also wants to talk to me, which can be tricky! But it is so precious to see and hear. And we are still nursing, which means I am still pumping, and it is so worth it!
Daycare has been fantastic. I think that's mostly because he is with family. He seems to really enjoy his time with his auntie and cousins and the other kids. Something we are working on with dropping him off and picking him up is waving hi and bye. I swear he's done it a few times now!



Being 7mo now, technically 5.5mo, we decide it was time to try some solid food. I'm not so sure he really liked the oatmeal, even though it was mixed with breast milk. But this is where the fun in trying new foods is. Oh the faces!



Loving every second with our little P-nut.
Because we got a lotta love to give.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

A Poem

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
By David M Romano

When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not here to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me

I wish you wouldn’t cry 
The Way you did today
While thinking of the many things
We did not get to say

I know how much you love me
As much as I love you
Each time that you think of me
I know you will miss me too

When tomorrow starts with out me
Please try to understand
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand

The angel said my place was ready
In heaven far above
And That I would have to leave behind
All those I Dearly Love

But When I walked through Heaven’s Gates
I felt so much at home
When GOD looked down and smiled at me 
From his golden throne

He said This Is Eternity
And All I promised you
Today for life on earth is done
But Here it starts a new

I promise no tomorrow 
For today will always last
And Since each day’s the exact same way
There is no longing for the past

So When Tomorrow starts without me
Do not think we’re apart
For every time you think of me 
Remember I’m right here in your heart

Forever in my heart, Korbin.
Because I got a lotta love to give.