P is 2!!!

It has been a long couple of weeks, and most importantly, Brady's dad is doing much better and was awake and coherent before we had to leave.  I have so much to tell you about our time back in KS, but I want to dedicate this post to Parker.  I cannot believe that our self-proclaimed "big guy" is two.  He has been the highlight of our lives for 730 days and I can barely remember what we did with ourselves before he arrived.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I started this blog, originally named "shocked and knocked up" (my mom was really proud).  Every time I write a new post about Parker, I think about him reading them someday and hopefully, realizing how much he is loved.  I often wonder what he will think of the original name and wonder why we were so shocked.  I want him to know that I was shocked in part because my biggest fear was being unable to have children and his arrival (however unplanned) erased that fear.  Those five (or six) positive tests meant that I was going to be a mother and I would get to see Brady be a dad. Brady and I still smile thinking about how God's timing is so much better than our own. Feeling him grow inside of me brought my faith to a whole new level and when he was born I learned the meaning of miracles.   He has made every moment since then a blessing (yes, even the all-night teething, poop on the floor kind of moments:).   I can't believe that he is now two and can't wait to continue to watch him grow!

Here is a look back at how far we have come!! (there are a lot of pictures here...I promise if you scroll down far enough you'll see some 2nd birthday pics!)

In case you can't tell, the scale says 9lb 1oz...seriously, he looks like a 3 month old here!

1st football game!

First Thanksgiving.

First Christmas

first obscene gesture...ha

baptism

best friends

learning to crawl...backwards

First birthday

again...first birthday

I'm ONE!

1st pumpkin patch

football season #2

First family halloween costumes

The famous owl hat...:)

Football

First time crying when he met Santa

first bow-tie

First time realizing he could climb into the tub himself...too bad he had clothes and slippers on...

first pair of wristbands...he really likes accessories so I'm sure it won't be our last...:)

Scuba Steve

Awww, the backpack

First time at the beach

London Eye

2nd birthday morning...jet lag + lack of food + massive fun at the football game the day before = grumpy birthday boy

Birthday breakfast with mommy and daddy.  Presents always cheer him up!

He got a wooden train set, but I could only pack the little train in our suitcase

With Gram Gram and G-Dawg at his little party at BRGR (yes, we decided the best way to celebrate would be to let him have as many truffle fries as he wanted:)

We had a little breakdown because I am an idiot and decided to hand out everyone else's cupcakes before P's.  He thought that he wasn't getting one.

He had to have the one with blue frosting.

We really needed a nap.

Grammy and P...I need a photography class.

Aunt Janae and Aunt Van

Update

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers.  Brady and I are so grateful to have such great friends and family.  As I am writing this, there are still a lot of unknowns, however, thankfully, we are no longer worried about survival.  Wes is still unconscious so we are just waiting to find out what the long-term effects will be.  We do know that he will have a long road to recovery so we are grateful for your continued prayers.

Prayers needed

When Brady and I moved, we knew that we might have to sacrifice weddings and births, but we never considered what would happen if someone got sick. Unfortunately, we have discovered first-hand how hard it is to be half-way around the world when, scariest of all, a parent is sick. Brady's dad, Wes, has been in the hospital since Monday and early yesterday morning we made the decision to fly back. If your reading this, please say a prayer for Wes and for Brady and his brother Cortney.

So close!!!

Parker is so close to two I can hardly stand it!  On Sunday we will celebrate his 2nd birthday...as P would say, "oh gosh, that's crazy." In honor of his birthday week, here are just a few reasons (this week alone) why I love this age...

1.  Yesterday, this is what I heard when I woke up..."MOOOMMMMMMY, I awake. Somebody needs to make me some dinner!" When I went in there and said, "don't you mean breakfast?"  He says, "yes, thank you."  Oh goodness.

2. This is his new dance move...

3.  We were reading the book Dragon Stew (love this book), and in it, there is a picture of dragon poo.  Parker sees it and says, "Dragon poo poo. Somebody needs to clean that up!"

4.  We were letting P go without a diaper (shorts were on), and he is still too young to realize that Brady and I purposely asked him to squat so that we could giggle at his plumber's crack.  We are super mature parents...:)

5. We went to a rugby game this weekend and Parker went right up to the older boys playing after the game and said, "hi guys!"  Luckily, they were sweet enough to let him play too!

6. This is his new favorite dinner pose...we really need to work on this!

7.  We have been giving P two m&ms every time he potties in the potty so now the second he starts to go, he says, "Ooohhhh, I want m&ms!!!"   

This is such a fun age and I am so blessed to get to enjoy every second!!

Pantless Parker

I have to apologize to the grandparents out there.  I know that you frequently check my blog for pictures of Parker and this week, I have not delivered.   I haven't posted very many pictures this week because Parker has been, well naked.  Yes, we are potty training and I have been letting him walk around the house pant-less when I can (don't worry, I have cleaned up my share of messes this week).  To be honest, there have been many instances when I have wanted to take pictures, because frankly, P is really funny when he is naked.   However, because of my fear of jail, you won't see any naked Parker pictures.  Here are a few from this week to tide you over!

Parker insisted on wearing last year's halloween costume...so close, but doesn't quite fit.

He loves these big pillows at the library!

"It's right there," pointing to our house.  The only way I can get them to get home when walking is have him "show" me where we live. 

"hi mom"

Ohhh, I can't walk!

This is one of the first things I heard P say this morning when he woke up.  Last night I fell down the stairs...while holding Parker...scary.   Parker cried pretty hard for a minute after it happened, but I assumed he was mostly scared.  However, he did start limping right away and because he didn't have anyone to mimic, we assumed something really did hurt.  This morning he was limping again and going, "ohhh, I'm having trooouuuuuble walking," and "my foot hurts."  He is still limping with no tears, but I have a feeling we might be going to a doctor later today...shoot!

Hello Piper!

This is Parker seeing Piper for the first time since moving.  This was the end of a 10 minute reunion...if only I would have remembered to turn on the camera sooner!