First Swim

Since the bath water was such a hit and because today was a hot day, we took Parker on his first swim in the pool. He loved it! He splashed all around and we bounced in the water. We even dunked under the water. So much fun!

This is Parker pre-swim showing off his cute new swim trunks.

Splashing around

Warming up after the swim

Bathtime!

Since Parker has learned how to sit up on his own, he can now take a bath sitting up in the tub. Saturday evening was the first time he got to take a bath like this and he had a blast!! He was a little startled when he made his first spash and the water hit him in the face. He looked at me and I smiled back at him. When he realized it was ok, he started laughing. He proceeded to splash and laugh for the remainder of the bath. It was so fun to watch him as he discovered water and how much fun it could be.

Tonight he spent quite a bit longer in the bath because he was having a lot of fun. Of course he was a little distracted by the camera when I tried to capture the splashing on video, but oh well. I'll try it again another time.

Six and a Half Months!

Parker continues to change so fast so I felt the need to do a mid-month post before I forget.

Parker loves to do his high-pitched squeal. I think he has figured out that he can really get what he wants a lot more quickly if he squeals as loudly as possible.

In the past week he has really been working on perfecting the art of sitting up by himself. He is getting a lot better and his falling over to the sides or backwards is becoming much less frequent. He will stay entertained for quite a while sitting up by himself and playing with his toys. A whole new world for him!

Parker reaches for EVERYTHING! If he can reach it or can stretch to reach it, he will grab it. And boy does this kid have a grip....especially on my hair! Gone are the days of eating pleasantly or playing a game with him on my lap. Thank goodness he can't crawl...yet!

Tummy time is becoming much more acceptable these days. He can really pick up his head and look around and play while he's on his tummy. He has been getting his legs up underneath him but doesn't know what to do next. In fact, much to our efforts to keep Parker sleeping on his back, we find him sleeping on his tummy in the morning most of the time now.

His personality is showing through more all the time. When he gets mad, he really gets mad and lets you know! His crying has reached a whole new level when we aren't doing what he wants us to do. Thankfully though, most of the time he is very playful and loves to smile and laugh. He will always laugh with you if you are laughing. It's quite contagious!

He has sampled a few new foods lately that I haven't blogged about...yogurt, bread, pancake, and some frozen yogurt from Golden Spoon. Oh, and my dad gave him a couple bites of the devil's food cake that I made for mother's day.

Parker's hair is growing like a weed and getting a little long for the spikey-doo.

"Mom, I think it's time for a hair cut!"

In honor of mother's day I will share my gratitude for being a mother and for having Parker in my life. I have wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. I am very grateful for Chad for helping me to make my dreams of having a family come to fruition. Parker is more work than I could have imagined, but he also brings more joy than I could have imagined. It's hard to be sad when I'm around him....I can't help but smile when I see him light up. He is beautiful! Sometimes I'm in awe that Heavenly Father sent such a sweet boy to me and to our family. I look forward to all of the future experiences that motherhood will bring and for the other children that we will add to our family down the road.

I am also very grateful for my own mom for all that she has done for me in the past and all that she does for me now....especially her help with Parker. I would really have a hard time leaving Parker with anyone else. It makes leaving Parker a little bit easier knowing that I am leaving him with someone that loves him as much as I do. Her service can never be repaid. Hopefully his smiles and laughing helps to lighten the load! I am hoping that it won't be very much longer before I get to stay at home with him full-time. Chad and I are continually working towards that goal. I can't wait to be a stay at home mom! I love what a former Las Vegas news anchor said last year as she quit her job to stay home with her child. "There are hundreds and thousands of women qualified to do my job at channel 3, but only one woman in the world qualified to be the mother of my little girl." I know that the same holds true for myself and am looking forward to the time when we can make that happen!

Morning Jog

Today Parker and I went for a morning jog in our "new" jogging stroller. My visiting teacher, Bracken, was nice enough to give me her jogging stroller that she no longer needs. It offers such a smooth ride and Parker loves it! Now, if I could just master jogging with my hands pushing the stroller....

Potatoes!

I left the potatoes slightly chunky the first night and that didn't go over too well. Since then I have whipped them and he has been liking them a lot better!

Dr. Davidson

Today was my first day to introduce myself as Dr. Davidson to one of my patients. It is something that I will have to get more accustomed to doing. My last job with Newport Audiology was my first job out of school. The company preferred that those of us that have our Au.D.'s not refer to ourselves as doctors because they felt like the geriatric population that we work with would mistake us for physicians. So, for a few years I have just been Kellie, the audiologist. Well, now it's time for a change! A new job, a new title! I think it can bring a whole new level of trust and respect from the patients that I see. Right now it's just feeling a little bit odd though. I guess it's time to let all of those years of education and all of those years of tuition (yet to be paid) shine. Introducing Dr. Davidson!

Sunny Days!

Here is Parker on one of our walks last week. It's heating up here in Las Vegas! Not too many outdoor walks left....a little sad because that is our escape from the house, especially when Parker is getting a little cranky. A walk will fix whatever is bothering him. We'll have to move our walks into the air conditioned mall!

Going Green....Peas & Green Beans!