Parker is 10 months!

Parker turned 10 months on April 23!  He had a big month for his gross motor skills, and is really starting to get around and explore.  This month, Parker ... 

- became an army crawling machine -- he is super fast, gets around everywhere, and loves to explore new places that he couldn't get to before (like the laundry room, the pantry, and the bathroom); 

- started learning how to pull himself up onto furniture -- he is really proud of himself when he can stand up and he loves the view; 

- learned how to get to a sitting position from laying on the floor; 

- gets into a bridge position (hands and toes on the floor, bum in the air) -- I think he is trying to stand up.  

Here are some other fun things about our little man.  At 10 months, Parker, ... 

- has 4 teeth; 

- takes 2 naps per day that are still inconsistent, and drive me a little crazy at times ;)

- loves to eat -- if we keep giving him food, he will typically keep eating; rather than waiting for him to be done eating we usually just have to stop feeding him; 

- he has liked almost all table food I have given him (even taco meat), with the exception of pasta, but he especially likes string cheese, strawberries, and chicken nuggets;  

- is a little obsessed with opening and closing doors, as is Jackson, which has ended up with fingers closed in the door more than once; 

- claps his hands, and gets a big smile on his face when you clap back; 

- is starting to wave, usually at himself in the mirror, but sometimes at other people too :)

- loves cars, trucks, trains, balls and anything with wheels/that rolls that he can push around the floor; 

- likes to make silly noises, his favorite of which right now is blowing raspberries; 

- enjoys when we sing songs to him;

- LOVES baths and is now taking a bath in the big boy tub with Jackson -- the two of them have a blast splashing in the water, and he loves that he now gets toys; Parker gets so excited when we tell him that it is "tub tub" time; 

- never keeps his socks on!!  He loves to pull them off and chew on them, so I've pretty much stopped putting them on his feet so I don't have to keep track of them ;)

- is quite the little flirt, and actually enjoys sitting and playing with new people (for at least a few minutes); 

- really enjoys watching the big boys run around, and can't wait until he can run around with them; 

- is such a happy boy!  He smiles all the time!

Here are some fun pictures of Parker from last month!

Parker still loves shoes, and crawling under things :)

Parker loves my computer, and one day I let him go to town typing in Microsoft Word.
He proceeded to save and print his document, without my knowledge.
We found it on the printer later that night and had a good laugh :)

Loves checking himself out in the mirror

Even though he eats a lot, he is still pretty skinny and tends to lose his pants
when he is crawling, unless they fit REALLY well :)

LOVE that smile!

And these two goofballs :)

Zooming around the basement

Saturday morning cuddles :)

Blowing raspberries 

Jackson helping Parker learn how to clap

My monthly photo shoots haven't been going very well ever since Parker became mobile.  This month, however, he seemed to love the camera and I got some super cute pictures!  

Happy 10 months, Parker!  We love you!!

Parker is 9 months!

Parker turned 9 months on Monday, March 23!  He just keeps getting more and more fun and learns more all the time.  At 9 months, Parker ...

- has 3 teeth (two bottom and one top middle) and is cutting his other top middle tooth;

- typically sleeps between 10-11 hours at night, and takes two naps anywhere from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours (he's still kind of inconsistent);

- is great at getting around!  He uses a combination of rolling and army crawling, and he can pretty much get anywhere that he wants to.  He also gets up on his hands and knees into a crawling position and rocks back and forth, and several times has even taken a "crawl" step or two.  He'll be crawling before we know it!

- he has recently discovered he can venture out onto the tile floor, and it makes cool noises when you bang toys on it;

- is getting really good at giving high-fives;

- is a little obsessed with chewing on our toes -- he actually makes his way over to our feet, grabs them, and starts chewing on our toes, and then gets really upset if we take them away.  He also loves chewing on shoes;

- has tried and really enjoys eating cheese (shredded and string cheese), rice, apples, goldfish, and animal crackers.  Daddy even snuck him a piece of cookie the other day and he was very excited!

- has become a very messy and distracted eater; he likes to be entertained while he's eating and Jackson does a great job of that :)

- is a very persistent little boy -- when he wants something, he keeps going until he gets to it;

- likes to get into -- and try to eat -- all things that he shouldn't play with; for example, the garbage bag, my computer, any power cords within reach;

Here are some fun pictures of Parker at 9 months!

Parker is really starting to like blocks ... but he mostly just bangs them together

Parker was having a hard time with naps for a couple of weeks,
and got to cuddle with mommy one afternoon 

Now that he's more mobile, he gets stuck under things more often :)

Not quite sure about the hat ...

Discovering the tile!

Parker also refuses to keep bibs on, even the ones that button

This is the, "It wasn't me, mom!" face!

Jackson and Parker now take baths together, and LOVE it!

They are becoming really good buddies :)

The "gangsta" pose

I love when they cuddle :)

"What are you lookin' at?"

Happy 9 months Parker!!  We love you!!

I can't put him on the floor anymore for pictures, because he just escapes.

Parker is 8 months!

Our little Parker turned 8 months last Monday, on the 23rd!  He is getting so big and so fun!  At 8 months, Parker ...

- still just has his 2 front bottom teeth, but is cutting his top two teeth;

- sits up on his own really well;

- is really good at getting around by rolling and scooting on the floor;

- loves to growl!  Parker and Jackson growl back and forth to each other all the time, and then both start laughing.  It is pretty hilarious!  He also likes to growl as a way to say hello;

- is a really good eater!  He loves all of the fruit baby food, oatmeal cereal, sweet potatoes, and has gotten a lot of better at eating other vegetables and chicken meals.  He also loves Cheerios, puffs.  This week, he tried banana yogurt, shredded cheese, and a graham cracker and loved them all!

- is getting better at defending himself against Jackson ;)  Sometimes Jackson loves Parker a little too much and rolls on top of him, so Parker has started rolling back on top of Jackson;

- loves talking to daddy on the phone!  When Shawn calls on his way home from work, Parker gets a big smile on his face and starts growling and laughing into the phone;

- likes to pat me on the back/shoulder when I am holding him;

- loves to chew on our toes ... he rolls/scoots over to our feet, grabs our toes, and starts chomping.  It's pretty funny :)

- has a wonderful laugh that always makes us smile!

Parker loves the swings at the park!

Parker also loves to eat!

We recently trained Parker to sleep in his crib (he was napping in his swing)
without being swaddled.  Turns out he is a tummy sleeper, just like Jackson! 

Parker trying cheese for the first time, and LOVING IT!

This is Parker's new trick.  He does it all the time, and we get a kick out of it :)

Happy 8 months, Parker!!  We love you!

This is his growling face :)