Parker is 3!

The birthday boy in his new frog goggles...

his guests, cousins and best friends (Rebekah & Hannah)...

the cake...

the meal...

the swimming...

the tired little brother and grandma...

the happy little cousin Sophia...

the skating lessons from Hannah...

the new skates that he "really wished a lot for these!!!"

the singing...

the happy little brother after his nap...

aunt Jill finishing off the cake :)!

the mess in the living room...

the party continues...

the cuddles and smiles the next morning...

and just like that, my baby is 3...

...but wasn't this just yesterday?

Lord, thank you for Parker's life and entrusting him to our care....that we would be faithful in raising him to know You....

"...that he may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

rollin' rollin' rollin'

Owen is a rollin' .....

...and he is going to be 4 months old tomorrow!!!

Here are some of his 4-month milestones....

You are tipping the scales at about 17 pounds

You go to sleep about 7:30 pm and sleep until 8 am (waking up once to eat for 10 minutes)

You can roll over back to front

You have tried rice cereal once and don't really like it

You love your daddy and get really excited when you hear his voice

You are a happy boy and smile all the time

You love going on walks 

You love watching "The Office" with mommy and "Caillou" with Parker

You are discovering your hands

You will not suck on a pacifier, but are beginning to suck your fingers

You don't like to nap, but instead want to play all day

Busy living...

Long time no post. I have been so busy living I don't know where the days go. Owen has rolled over from his back 3 times now and gets sweeter by the minute. This is Owen's face most of the day.....eyes open (he doesn't nap much) and smiling...he is very quiet and peaceful and I just love him...

He thinks I am soooooooooo FUNNY! Ha!

It got warm enough to swim a couple weeks ago and every day since then Parker has had a fit about not being able to put water in his pool again.....please, Lord, warmer weather!

Parker has been really busy planting. Here is his "shop" where he parks his equipment and works with his tools. Have you ever heard of a 2 year-old being a workaholic?????

Here is Parker with his "best friend" Rebekah....seriously, I think they are twins.

Owen's nickname is bulldog because he has a bunch of extra skin that wrinkles up on the back of his head....

Parker fondly refers to him as "O-dog-bull-dog"....

Looking forward to a weekend of being home and enjoying the weather!

Shhhhhh.

In church this morning Parker says (in his not so quiet Parker voice during a prayer).....

"Mommy, look at that lady. She doesn't have a shirt on."

(In reference to the lady sitting in front of us with a strapless dress on.)

Yeah.....it was loud enough for the people behind us to hear....or at least I assume so since they were laughing...........

Needless to say, I was a little embarrassed. 

Oh, Parker....

I was up feeding Owen this morning and after a terribly long and frustrating day yesterday, I decided to get my heart right first thing this morning. I was praying that God would give me strength to be consistent with discipline for Parker....praying that God would help me be slow to anger....and enjoying the quiet stillness before the storm (a.k.a. Parker waking up).

And all too soon, there he came.... bounding up the stairs with a feisty grin, ready to go....

Parker: Good morning mommy...

Me: Good morning Parker.....how did you sleep?

Parker: Good...I am ready for my breakfast now.

Me: I need to finish feeding Owen and then I will get your breakfast.

Parker: Noooooooo....I am hungry and I want my breakfast RIGHT NOW!!!! I need to eat first!

Me: Parker...if I were you I would stop whining and complaining because I am not giving any warnings today.....

Parker: Mommy, and if I were you I would be feeding Owen right now.

I was speechless. Yeah. Not sure if he was stating a fact, trying to be funny, or what, but I was speechless.....

Today has been a better day.....not a good day, but better....

Smiles & Trials...

Owen is the happiest boy....He is all SMILES!

He wakes up smiling and goes to sleep smiling....

And when I say sleep, this boy knows how to sleep...

At about 8 pm he is ready for bath and bed and usually sleeps until 7:30 am! 

Thank you Lord for Owen and all of his smiles!!!!

Parker is in the thick of the TERRIBLE two's...and he is all TRIALS!

I am so thankful his birthday is in a few weeks...

However, I have heard that 3 is harder than 2....could it get any harder????? 

Please, don't answer that. 

Days that he can go outside are upon us and I am so excited for nice weather. He did get to ride his bike the other day when the wind wasn't blowing 45 mph.

And I choose to thank you Lord for Parker, and all of the trials!!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Yes, the testing of my faith is producing perseverance....I am still waiting on the mature, complete and not lacking anything business...Oh, Lord help me!

Super Man!