Smile

I know this is kind of a weird picture... but it melts my icy heart. I just love it when Parker smiles so big he closes his little eyes.

Well this is awkward.

We definitely need to call each other before work from now on.

Mulberry Fields

Parker and I have been going on playdates with a group of mommies that are into photography. It has been a lot of fun taking pictures of the kids, and getting to know some girls in the area. The latest get together took us to Mulberry Fields in Zionsville. It was probably the hottest day of the year, but I still managed to get some good pictures. The other girls always seem to get awesome pictures and actually know what they are doing with photo editing. Being colorblind really sucks for me when it comes time to try and edit a photo. It has also been a challenge getting a toddler to sit still long enough for a photo. I can only take so many of him running/running away from me. After a quick shoot by the barn, Parker and I headed over to the splash park for some fun.

These are a few of my favs from the day:

Lion Tamer

I think Parker may have a future in lion taming....

Garden

I really wanted to plant a big garden in the back yard this year, but time slipped away from me (again) so we settled on a few veggies planted in tubs on the deck. We had a couple of extra tomato and cucumber plants, and my mom just planted them in the mulch next to our fence. Those stupid things are 10 times bigger than the veggies on the deck, and have been spitting out insane amounts of produce.

Extra plants in the mulch....that are starting to take over the driveway.

I don't like bell peppers, and picked these up on accident when I was trying to get jalapenos. (My plan was to grow a salsa garden) We didn't even plant them, and they quickly became our "best" deck veggie. I use the word "best" loosely because they were all pretty epic disasters.

The best thing to come from the garden has been the look on Parker's face when he gets to pick something off the plants. He gets so excited and claps after he picks the vegetables. When Grandma and Grandpa were out of town, Parker helped tend to their garden.

Sometimes he gets a little carried away with the cherry tomatoes...

18 Months

Our little man is officially a year and a half old. He is still on the short and slim side, clocking in at 32 inches tall and 25 pounds. He still has a big round head, so he looks like a little football player. Our only concern at his doctors appointment is his verbal language. He still doesn't speak a lot of words, but he uses over 20 signs. We see Parker sign please, more, help, thank you, milk, eat, cookie, bird, baby and several other words on a daily basis. I think he is relying on his signs and not spoken words, so we are trying to encourage him to talk while using his signs. He calls Ken "Dad" and me "Ba". Still no "Mom". Parker loves painting, playing basketball, throwing baseballs, hugging Russell, drawing on his dry erase board, reading books, and opening up the pantry looking for treats. He was a great baby, and is turning into such a sweet little boy.

After his 18 month shots, we took the little man to the park to play. He finally likes the swings!!

Painting Buddy

Parker and I try to break out the paint at least once a week. He loves it, and it is strangely really fun for me too. If you have ever been my roommate, you know that I could go into "project trance" and paint for hours.

Doesn't he look like a little angel? Just sitting there like a good boy, painting on the paper.

.... it quickly turned in this....

...and then this.

With a quick dunk in the sink and a little paper towel on the floor, it was like this mess never happened.

$15

Once Upon a Child had a sale in which you get a plastic bag, and everything you can fit in that bag is $15. I was pretty proud of my packing job on this one. How many toddler clothes can you fit into a bag just bigger than a plastic grocery sack? I'll tell you: 2 jackets, 2 swim trunks, 1 speedo, 8 jammies, 1 blazer, 2 shirts, 1 overall, 1 shorts, 3 pants, and a baby sling.

And yes.... you read Speedo correctly.

Play Table

Ken finished Parker's table and it is awesome! It is a little tall for him right now, but is sturdy enough to last him until he is at least 30. We finally learned our lesson and will never try to put polyurethane on white paint. This table retails for $180, Ken made it for about 1/4th of that. Next on the project list... chairs and matching bookshelf.

I don't know how to take a nice picture of a plain white table, so trust me when I say the pictures don't do this table justice. We plan to put craft supplies in the bin eventually, but we don't exactly trust the little man right now.

We painted the inside navy, just to give it a little contrast.

The Curse

Parker has a sports curse. Buy him a jersey, and that player is guaranteed not to play for that team the next season. If you have a player that you would like to see leave their team, or the entire profession if you are really lucky, feel free to send their jersey Parker's way.

Prior

Cutler

Harrison

James

Bomb Pop

Parker wears this outfit quite a bit. Cubs hat, white tank, diaper.
Ahhh, summertime.

The only thing that makes this heat bearable is a bomb pop. Isn't he Fourth of July festive??

This kid is ready for his first Cubs game.
"Two more over here!"

This is when the heat caught up with the popsicle.

"Fine, just one more."

Dino Towel

I picked up a new towel at World Market for the little man. I thought it was pretty cute at the store, but it took on a whole new level of cute when Parker put it on after his bath.

Dinosaur towel!!

Roar!

Potty!

My mom and I were wandering around Once Upon a Child and stumbled across these brand new potty seats. We decided to get a bunch so when Parker is ready, he will have the same potty seat in every house.

Clearly, we have a long time until he will be ready to use it....

Ice Painting

This brings me back to my daycare employment days before Nursing school. We used to paint with ice in the sensory table when it was hot outside. Well, it is hot outside and Parker and I needed an activity. So I froze some watered down finger paint, then headed outside.

The night before, I made ice cube trays filled with paint.
(This also makes use of some of the half dozen trays I bought while making P's baby food.)

Just pop them into a plastic container and you are ready to go!

Parker was not interested in painting on the paper at all. He has chosen his own canvas to work with. He covered his belly, diaper, legs and arms.

He was a huge mess, and covered in paint from head to toe. And he loved it.