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!