Parker’s Pad

by | Family Life

Well, we finally got around to finishing the nursery…and it only took two months after the baby was born! Actually, we started working on this room way back in April (here’s a sneak peek I posted) and SLOWLY added furniture and decor as the weeks went on.

Fast forward to 10 pm last night, when Zach and I were arguing over which wall to put the anchor decal on — I won that battle ;) Up went the canvases above the crib, and we called it a night. I posted all the photos on Facebook, which you can see here.

I have to admit that Parker got the best room in the house, and it is the most decorated of any room, too! I’m not known for my interior design skills, but I hope one day to work on those (right after I develop my cooking skills a bit more). I feel like I need to be better at both of those things, now that I’m a mom and therefore, a true grown-up.

{Parker Weekly} Eight Weeks Old

by | Family Life

As you can see, Parker wasn’t thrilled about having his picture taken last week. But we like to keep it real around here; this probably won’t be the first weekly photo featuring tears and a red face from crying!

We kicked off week 8 with a fun day at Henson Robinson Zoo for the World Breastfeeding Week walk. I provided music for the second year in a row, and it was fun to participate with Parker this time around. My mom and Zach also came and we all had a great morning.

Parker continues to love napping in his swing (for hours at a time!) and is sleeping really well at night. He still wakes up to eat anywhere between 1-3 times, but he goes back to sleep easily afterward. He’s usually in a great mood when he first wakes up in the morning — my favorite thing is unswaddling him, because he stretches his arms in the air and makes the cutest face like he’s saying “I’m free!”

I made an awesome discovery this past week: Parker LOVES hanging out in the bathroom with me while I take a shower. I’m pretty sure it’s the sound of the water, since he loves the white noise app so much and they sound very similar. He will sit happily in his rock ‘n play as long as the water is running, but the minute I turn off the shower, he starts fussing. Watching me put of my makeup and do my hair just isn’t quite as captivating ;)

Other 8 week happenings: Parker’s first trip to the grocery store (he slept in the Ergo carrier the entire time), his first public meltdown while shopping at Kohl’s (that was NOT fun), attending another birthday party (our friends Nico and Amanda’s little boy, Luka), and lots and lots of smiles and cooing. He is becoming so much more interactive, and he is so curious about the world around him.

{Parker Weekly} Seven Weeks Old

by | Family Life

I kicked off week 7 of Parker’s life by watching The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, which had been sitting on our dining room table since he was born. Why I waited so long, I have no idea…I could have saved myself many hours of frustration.

I knew the basic principles outlined in both the DVD and book (which we also have in our possession), but it was what I didn’t already know that saved naptime. Prior to watching the video, we had been repeatedly trying to put Parker in his swing either on the lowest setting or just keeping it still. BIG mistake. I learned that babies like the FASTEST setting best, so armed with that knowledge and the new “white noise” app I downloaded, I tried the swing again. Lo and behold, he loved it. And most importantly, fell asleep almost right away.

No more refusals to nap anywhere but my arms; now he’ll sleep up to 3 hours during the day in his swing. I feel like a new woman now that I have the time and freedom to get things done around the house and on the computer. I also feel a little bit guilty, not holding him as much as I did before, but I know I shouldn’t — he is a much happier baby overall since he sleeps so well in his swing!

Week 7 also marks Parker’s first celebrity moment. I entered his photo in a contest for People Magazine,  and it was one of 15 that was chosen to be featured on their website. Really, though, how could they not have chosen it?

Our baby is famous! Haha. Zach and I are still playing paparazzi with all the photos and videos we take of him. Here’s a video I sent to Zach this week…it’s so fun to see Parker getting interested in his toys and playing more as he gets older.

I can’t believe that Parker will officially be 2 months old in just a few days. I feel so lucky to get to spend every day with him, even when I go back to work next month. Zach and I agree that he is the best thing that ever happened to us!

The First Days

by | Family Life

When I was in the throes of labor, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to see Zach capturing it on camera. But now that it’s all said and done, I have to admit that it’s pretty cool to have Parker’s “birth day” documented from start to finish. Watching this video brings back all the excitement of those first hours and days of his life, and it will be so cool to show it to him one day.

{Parker Weekly} Six Weeks Old

by | Family Life

This has been a good week so far! The weather has been gorgeous, so we’ve been taking lots of walks around the neighborhood and in Washington Park. I also got back on my bike for the first time in 10 months, and I can’t even begin to describe how great that felt. My dad and I rode almost 12 miles, which is nothing compared to the 20-25 we usually did before I got pregnant, but I’m easing back in.

Oh yes, and then there’s Parker :) He’s up to 9 lb, 5 oz this week, my big boy! His personality is getting bigger, too. One of the things that makes his smile most is when I kiss him — his whole face lights up and he opens his mouth in a huge grin. It melts my heart.

Other things he loves: ceiling fans, the picture Zach took in Florence that is hanging above the couch, bath time, and riding in his carseat. We took our first road trip to St. Louis this past weekend, and he was a dream of a passenger:

As usual, there was no shortage of adorable photos this week. But my favorite would have to be the one we took for a photo contest at People.com in honor of the royal baby. My little Prince Parker!

Those faces are too much! Zach and I may be biased, but we both think that he gets cuter by the day I’ve taken so many photos that my computer memory is almost completely full (which won’t stop me from continuing to take at least 10 per day!).