Parker's First American Christmas

I can not say how or if Parker celebrated Christmas with his foster family. I know his foster parents were not Christian, but the children did attend a Christian school. I would say he got a fantastic introduction to the holiday. We made the trip to my parent's house Christmas eve, attended mass, and came home to our tradition of pizza.

A few years ago, my brother and I decided that burying yourself in presents is fun. So Parker joined us.
He too realized that it is fun!

Christmas morning, notice his PJ neck is a bit stretched. He loves to take off the top, although sometimes only and arm makes it through the top.

Throwing paper is fun!

The best gift for last, his kitchen! Every museum or play date we go to that has a kitchen captivates him for hours! His face lit up when my Dad took the sheet off. He came around and pretended to bring us coffee and played *alone* for over an hour!

Sorry the rest of Christmas is missing, we went over to my Aunt and Uncles...I left my camera. I am going to try to get pictures from someone else. He was the only child at the party but did really well.

The next morning, eating breakfast at the kitchen. I am a pretty regimented, schedule oriented person but holiday time...it's off..so live it up Parker, back to the table tomorrow.

Now this next part, I should not laugh but it was so dramatic...We are loading up the Saab...yes it is an SUV but we have a dog cage and other presents, and oh no the kitchen will not fit...

Parker see it carried out, he scream and cries, he sees it come in and realizes it is in two pieces. He shuts himself in Bailey's (my parent's dog) cage and cries hysterically saying "no" to leaving.

Yes, it was nap time, which made it worse ,but as we drove away his arms were out screaming for that kitchen! Little does he know, my parents will be here this weekend...with his kitchen.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I am ready to start a new year!

Message Behind the Ball

I am ready for Christmas! I feel like I am a small child counting the days until we head to see my family. In all honesty, it is cold here, which makes going out with Parker a chore. We have completed most of our holiday fun around town (I will not bake anymore, and although I could always shop we are back on the saving plan..more on that in 2011). One day of work and we are out!

Today, I helped out a MOPS mom by watching her 2.5 year old son for a few hours. I think this was a positive for Parker, he shared toys and seemed to attempted new words when he did. His mother happens to be Korean, so I asked her if she would translate the soccer ball below.

This had three messages on it and was given by the foster family. We did not notice writing on family day (what did we notice besides everyone crying and a very unhappy baby...) Well, they say some thing to the tune of "We all love you Sang-tae"...so sweet. To all of the families who wait, rest assured your children are in amazing hands. I am well aware this does not make the wait any easier... I will forever be grateful to his wonderful foster family.

New topic that has plagued me since last night....

I have mentioned a few time, my love for MTV shows. Yes, I will be watching the Real World in the assisted living. Regardless, there was a story last evening about a high school senior who made an adoption plan. They have shown this type of story a few times, but in this case the birth mother went through with the plan, then attempted to parent, and finally went through with the plan. It was amazing to watch the first 48 hours, from her emotions to the objective stance her mother took. Of course I cried when the baby finally went to the adoptive family, the mother stated something along the lines of..I knew it would hurt but I was not ready to go through the grieving process the first time...

Jim and I were talking about how the grieving process in adoption (for birth parents and child) never ends it, as new developmental stages are reached it must be readdressed. Who knows if I will ever get the answers I search for. I would love to know what that day was like for her, Parker's birth mom. More importantly, I pray that she is at peace.

Wow, I deviated throughout this post but MTV can be thought provoking!

Round Two

Jim and I made it out of the house, alone...for the first time in 10 months! We went to dinner and saw Wicked (it was Jim's first time, and first musical...ever) We had to keep reminding each other we did not need to rush through dinner, that no one was throwing food or toys on the ground! I had the waitress take our picture of our first night out...

Our neighbor, who is a high school student watched him...she text me during the show...that he was an angel..nice work Parker!

We hosted Jim's immediate family for Christmas this Saturday. Parker was out of sorts as other children played with his toys. he was lucky to get some new choo choos. He understands presents, but seems to think they are all for him. I had a gift bag this week and his eyes lit up.

with my niece, Gwen

We are excited to spend the holiday with my family. I have an amazing supervisor, who allowed to take Christmas Eve off!

I feel pretty crummy tonight...I lost track of the date....and forgot it was my Mom's birthday. (Yes, we had celebrated the week before). She would give me her kidney's and I did not even look at the calendar. Hmmm...need to bring a good surprise to Christmas.

Amidst the fun and festivities..I contracted pink eye, somehow Jim and Parker did not. Thank goodness!

Discipline...how festive

Parker just went through a tough age! 18 months to 20 months was really rough...I promise if you saw him in public you would wonder why?Parker does not play with HIS toys (play dates..sure no problem!) unless you play with him. At home he wanted to be CONSTANTLY entertained...and if he was not...he would tear the house apart. He threw things, food (lots of food) and would laugh at any attempt I made to stop this behavior. Well, I think we have turned a corner...he is starting to communicate more and understand the concept of being disciplined.

After a though provoking MOPS discussion group, I decided to give 123 Magic a try. This is simple to use and makes sense, both as a therapist and a parent. Trust me when I say it cuts down on "yelling" too. A few days ago I told Parker his pears would be taken away if he did not sit down, after one he sat and finished his snack. However, tonight he lost his new chair (we gave him his Land of Nod* chair early since we will be gone for Christmas) as he kept tipping over backwards. (Lost being relative to 15 mins or so)

I hope I am not going to eat my words...but we had a good day, at home. There were snow delays and it was 13 degrees so we stayed inside most of the day. We built a fort, he handed over his dishes, at all meals and told us he was done. We danced to Bob Marley and played limbo with Jim...

We had a great, although exhausting, party this weekend. We were too busy to get many pictures, maybe my sister in law got some. We have round 2 of 3 this weekend (our house again, but this one is catered..whew) Parker is going to wonder if he gets presents every weekend!

No trouble opening presents...

Check out this AMAZING table my brother and sister in law made! Steve built the table and chairs and Nicole painted...free hand. the top is done with chalkboard paint. This is such a special present that will be used for years to come.

Santa at our town hall, rumor has it he did great. My parent's and Jim took him when I was at work.

Holiday Happenings

We have been busy getting ready for our first family party this weekend...

Here is a recap of the past week:

Sampling Mom's baking and having a Starbucks* (don't worry it's hot chocolate with whole milk)

Going to church and a live nativity...sadly it was too cold to get out to see the camel

Went to see some ginger bread houses, they were a little fancier than our train

We invited this creeper into our home...before you say he's too young, it's s book, reading is never bad! and he loves finding the elf every morning. Not sure if it helps with his behavior (he escorted me out of the office this week, shut the door to be with Dad and laughed. I thought I had a few more years before he did that!)

We went to see "Mr. Christmas", a gentleman who has decorated the White House for the past 28 years. This same ornament is hanging at the White House.

Waiting for the Polar Express, see it in the background?

He wore his pjs and had so much fun, he kept asking for more when the train stopped

High five polar bear!

Mrs. Claus and Santa visited the train

Off for two days of work and then party with my family

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Happenings

I am a holiday junkie, and after last year I am ready for some fun (we were waiting on our travel call and I was some what of an anxious mess, scared of being a Mom but yet wanting him home)

I adore ginger bread houses, they are so sweet! I am not a crafty person but bought a kit for Parker and I to try. I showed it to him and put it on the dining room table, a week later he crawled up there and got down the "choo, choo" So after nap we decorated (good for motor skills, right?)

I put down a plastic table cloth that I have used for children during holiday parties. I "built" the train and let him go to town.

Yes, he swiped some frosting

Why not put the remaining candy in the train car?

Not too bad, right? Aunt Nicole we cannot wait to see yours!

Choo, choo had to go after he started to eat it.

Just had to share, him sitting at the table (took the tray off the high chair) has helped with him throwing his plate (he peels up the suction cup bowls, sigh). He is eating a chopped salad with feta and balsamic, as he waits for his egg strata to cool. He wanted the egg strata after he saw the broccoli and mushrooms! Parker please do not change your eating habits!

Beyond Thankful

It is hard for me to fathom that last year, at Thanksgiving, Parker was in Korea and all we had was a few pictures. We tried to keep with tradition and run the Drumstick Dash, Parker was going to sit in the jogging stroller. However, there was a 24 hours downpour that kept us inside. Trust me, I was disappointed, I love to run and it is a fun race. Later that night we traveled to Jim's family for our Thanksgiving dinner. Sadly, we did not get to see my family since I had to work the next day and my Mom was working Thanksgiving (ugh, heath care!) I told Jim that I wished our holiday was more of an "event", spend more time with family, shop the next day, put a tree up together. I can recall going to Chicago that weekend with my family to see the Windows and tree in Field's. It just made me sad to see families shopping and I was alone (yes, I did have friends to go with but I had to go early due to work on Friday)

Jim put the tree up while Parker napped and then Parker helped me decorate both trees. Surprisingly he did okay, after an hour he went into "all mine mode" (he just grabs and takes off). Jim spent his week off working on the basement (we're getting there) since we are hosting two holiday parties next month, and he wants as much as possible complete.

Sadly, I did not take any pictures at our Thanksgiving, and we had a Thanksgiving at a friends house on Monday and no pictures! (it was cute, they have two cats and Parker took Jim's hand to show him the cat, as if Jim has never seen one!)

Look how tiny he is next to the tree!

Ready for Thanksgiving in my football sweater. The sweater is a tribute to Jims family's refusal to turn off football during dinner.

the first tree he decorated, if you ask him how many he has he says "two" and holds up one finger!

Jim's work, almost done with the stone on the bar!

Back to normal this week, we are headed to the social security office to get Parker's number, let's hope it goes smooth!

In the Interest of time...

I feel like I have none....laundry, dishes, cook, workout, work, read, play...repeat each week. I am like a hamster on a wheel, I feel like I do not get anywhere. When I first stayed home it was exciting to run place to place, today I passed World Market* (I can spend hours in there) and thought what a hassle it would be to take Parker in and out. Maybe it is just his age but it can be an ordeal to do anything!

It was nice to get away for the past few days, Parker and I visited my parents. He had a great time visiting with his Grandparents, playing with vintage toys (yes, mine and my brother's) and annoying my parent's dog. Sadly, I arrived home to one roll of toilet paper in the whole house. 4 bathrooms, one roll...just saying. So the cycle of running to the grocery store and cleaning starts again. I cannot imagine how mother's with multiple kids do it.

Parker got to visit Aunt Nicole and Uncle Steve and tore their house apart the second he walked in...eating decorative rocks, grabbing at ornaments, dumping all of the fireplace matches on the ground...like a small tornado. Since Nicole had the house decorated, for the holidays, it prompted me to get some decor out. I figure the more I have done, the more time for baking cookies, watching Christmas movies, and drinking Baileys. Luckily, I have the majority of my shopping done.

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks:

He keeps busy while I cook playing grocery store...really it works!

Sunday morning, perusing the toy adds

Aunt Nicole has some friends who ride, so Parker got to visit horses

He wanted nothing to do with the pony...he prefers the large horses

Running through the barn

Wordless Wednesday: What has Parker been up to?

Boo! or Should I say Moo!

I was quite excited for Parker's first Halloween, I started the costume hunt in April (just research...) and was on the lookout for a sock monkey. Just imagine his sweet face in that costume! Well, anyways I had to settle for a cow, which was perfect because he can say "Moo"

We were invited to a Halloween party that one of our Stroller fit mom's was hosting so we spent an hour trick or treating in our neighborhood (or as Parker would say as he walked away from the home...tricktreat) and then did a few more homes in Steph's neighborhood.

Parker was in shock at the first home (we tried to demonstrate trick or treating at home)...he gave the m&m's back! After that he was a pro! A neighbor down the street even said hello in Chinese...I did not break it to the man the cow was Korean!

Here's some pictures from the night and the month of October...

With my Stroller fit ladies...

What, I have to leave the candy???

tricktreat...

Traveling in the wagon along with Mom and Dad's cooler of Octoberfest...

He is going to miss the costume, he wore it quite a bit this month....

at Kindermusik...

At a friend's birthday party...

and Octoboo at the library!

Parker is going to be disappointed the holiday only comes once a year.