It's Party Time!

The weekend after Parker's birthday was full of parties! The fun started on Saturday when we helped our nephew and cousin, Luke celebrate his FIRST birthday! We had so much fun at his "Circus" birthday party!!

 

The next day, we had Parker's birthday party at our house. We threw him a Mickey Mouse themed party. Parker was in heaven with all of the balloons and Mickey everywhere! The birthday boy got to celebrate with both sets of his Grandparents, Uncle Bret & Aunt Megan, Uncle Brian, Aunt Jen, Drew, Jack, & Luke, Uncle Kevin, and Sara. We served pizza for lunch, and then had cupcakes and ice cream for dessert. After lunch, Parker was a big boy and opened all of his birthday presents. He had lots of help from his cousins, Drew, Jack, and Luke. :)  It was a fun day! Parker is one loved little boy and was so lucky to be able to celebrate with all of the people that love him. 

The two birthday boys giving each other a hug!
So sweet! 

 

He didn't know what to think when we were all singing to him.

Parker's 2nd Birthday!

You only turn 2 once in your life, so we pretty much celebrated the entire week of Parker's 2nd birthday this year. We started our celebrations by spending the weekend before his birthday in Osborne at my parent's house. My mom's birthday was on Monday and Parker's was on Tuesday this year. We celebrated my Mom and Parker's birthdays Saturday night by having a yummy dinner and Oreo/Chocolate cake for dessert.

 

The morning of his actual birthday, Parker woke up to a bunch of balloons (or "boons" as he calls them) hanging outside of his door. Daddy had to leave early for work before the birthday boy woke up, but Mommy went into his room and sang Happy Birthday to him. He started his day off with some birthday pancakes with two candles in them. Parker and I spent the day together hanging out and doing lots of playing. When Daddy got home from work we had the birthday boys favorite meal, pizza! He ended his fun day opening his presents from Mommy and Daddy. He got a new Mickey DVD, a boat to play with in the bath tub and a new Mickey couch that he likes to lay on while watching cartoons.  

 

 

 Apparently, I can't sing very well! He didn't know what was going on.  

 

But he sure loved those balloons!

 

"I'm 2 Years Old Today!"

 

Happy 2nd Birthday, Parker Russell!

Mommy and Daddy love you and hope you have the best year ever!

18-24 Month Update for Parker

The calendar shows September 28th but I really did start this post clear back in July. Better late than never. :)

My baby is no longer a baby! Parker is growing up right before our eyes and acts like a two year old more and more every day. He is becoming so independent and doesn't seem to need our help as much these days. He is quite the little helper and is always willing to pitch in around the house, especially when it comes to vacuuming, unloading the dishwasher, and folding clothes. I love how we can tell him to go get a diaper, and he goes right over to the drawer, gets a diaper out, grabs the wipes, and then lays right down on the floor. I was so impressed the first time he went and got his own socks and shoes when he knew we were getting ready to go somewhere.

He dislikes having his teeth brushed (it's a fight everyday) but he is the easiest child to put to bed. After his bath and bed time stories, he picks up his Mickey, grabs the binky out of his bed, turns on his music, and wants lifted into his bed.

Parker loves to climb and will climb up on something every chance he gets. I have to take him off of our kitchen table multiple times a day. He loves climbing on the back of the couch so he can reach the light switches. It does come in handy though when I have my arms full and he can climb into his own car seat in the car. :)

He knows all of his body parts - head, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, ears, belly, arm, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes.

He is OBSESSED with the American flag and can spot one from a mile away. It doesn't matter where we are, someplace familiar, or somewhere new, he knows where they are. He even knows when a flag pole is empty, that there should be a flag on it. I have quickly learned how many flags are around. He has found them at parks, the grocery store, inside Sams, outside of Chick-fil-A, and hanging on people's houses. He was in heaven the week of the 4th of July!

He is wearing size 2T clothes and size 4 diapers.


Some of Parker's favorites right now:

Animals and their sounds
Bath time
Chocolate chip cookies
Dancing
Elmo
Flags - especially the American flag.
Going on walks
Hot dog song from Mickey Mouse - he love's singing it!
Ice Cream
Jumping in his ball pit
Ketchup - he loves to dip!
Lollipops
Mickey Mouse
No - telling us "no"!
On/Off switches - he is always turning our lights on and off
Pickles & Cucumbers, too
Quilts - he loves to snuggle with a blanket on the couch when he watches cartoons
Radios - he has to have our radio on all the time
Sun Chips
Taking pictures with our camera
Utensils out of my kitchen drawers
Vacuuming
Watermelon
XOXO - giving hugs & kisses!
Your drink - he loves taking a drink out of Brad or I's cup
Zoe

"Laughter is the Best Kind of Medicine"

Ever since he was very young, Parker has made me laugh every single day. I don't always have my camera handy to snap a picture, but when I do, I make sure to take at least 10. :) I wanted to document some of these pictures so I don't ever forget the funny things my little guy did to make me laugh.

Anyone who knows Parker knows that he is the happiest when he is pushing anything around. Give the kid a vacuum, broom, mop, or mower, and he's happy for hours.

Here he is mopping the kitchen floor, without clothes on, of course.  

Isn't this how everyone mops?

 

Apparently one couch wasn't enough. 

 

After his bath one night.  

 He is ALWAYS copying what his Daddy does.