The times they are a changin'

A life with intention. An intentional mama. Keep up with the house. Keep up with the bills. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Right now it's all about Parker. And I hope that's okay...

Parker - at 33 months you are absolutely amazing. You:

*make up your own songs. Either completely, or new words (and nonsense words) to familiar tunes. 

*have longer, curly hair!

*constantly boggle our minds with your level of communication. 

*have no interest in potty-training.

*still love to read and be read to. You will often open up a book, even a mommy or daddy book, and start telling its story. 

*like things just so and if we deviate from an established pattern you have a meltdown. I know this is a toddler thing - but sure sounds like mommy sometimes too! 

*are completely used to daddy being gone for several days every week and go nuts when he gets home. If it's when you're awake, the first request is usually to play dinosaur upstairs where you give daddy very specific directions about how & where exactly to "attack" you on the bed.  

*are a somewhat picky eater and we're using the Ellyn Satter technique of "division of responsibility" to work with it. 

*are testing mommy's patience these days with some defiant moments. You know... the kind where I tell you not to do something and you look straight at me and start to do it again in slow motion. 

*love to hop around the house but it's more like a gallop and is the cutest thing ever. Grampa Gary & Grammy Lainey gave you a Peter Cottontail hopping bunny and you've been very inspired. 

*are making deeper friendships with our playgroup pals, especially Hannah whom we have Musikgarten with.

*love fruit, mini- whole wheat bagels, waffles, "cram" cheese, cereal (Special K or Kashi with dried strawberries), yogurt with graham crackers, oatmeal, toast, "orange cheese" (american cheese), spaghetti sometimes, macaroni & cheese sometimes...peanut butter and jelly are relatively recent additions and hummus with pretzels is a new favorite. 

*love going to the playground, especially the swings.

*have finally gotten the hang of blowing bubbles.

*imitate everything. It is allergy season and you are now asking for the neti pot and a tissue afterwards just like mommy. You hold it up to your nose (without water) and then blow your nose afterwards.  You will also climb up on to the piano bench, play the piano and sing on random vowels and tell me you are practicing. You also will start practicing while sitting at the dining room table. 

*at Starbucks we now get you "coffee" - steamed, foamed milk and you love it. 

*will talk to any other kid and the conversation always ultimately turns to "scary fireworks". We apparently scarred you for life at Disney World. 

*are at an age where mommy can take you into stores without the stroller and be reasonably sure that you will follow directions and stay close. Though we haven't tried this in Target or Publix yet and won't anytime soon! 

*are also at an age where you and mommy can have little lunch dates out and you will sit and eat your lunch at the table. We like to go to Chick-fil-a after trips to Super Target and have lunch and play on the play structure afterwards. Mommy loves to get those little mini-books with your kids meal. 

*love puzzles. 

*can put on your own shoes, socks, shirt and pants.  (If there are no buttons or laces.)

*love to color with markers, but not as much with crayons.

*always want to sit on the counter when I'm making your breakfast.

*LOVE to sit next to daddy on the couch and share his breakfast cereal.

*like to drink "glass water" out of our water glasses when you get the chance.

*like to paint with watercolors.

*say "can I want some?" when you would like something we're eating.

*just recently stopped saying "slipperly" for "slippery".

*are getting very good at make believe: asking for "cookies" and putting them in your pocket, having conversations with Susie or Marin doll, telling me that there's an elephant coming when we're reading bedtime stories, having more elaborate phone conversations (without actually dialing anyone). Just yesterday we watched an episode of Sesame Street with a doctor visit featured and you are now listening to my heart and checking my ears.

*you come to the hallway gate every morning and whimper a bit until one of us opens it so you can come crawl into bed and "snuggle mommy daddy". Most of the time it's just mommy, but when daddy's home it's the best!

*like to help in the kitchen - whether it's spreading "cram" cheese on a waffle, making your fruit roll-up or pouring cereal. Mommy is starting to have you help with cooking - laying sliced zucchini out on a cookie sheet, spooning macaroni & cheese into mini-muffin tins...maybe it's time to make cookies! Before we got the dishwasher fixed, you also liked to help with the dishes by holding a spoon under running water in the sink. 

You are our amazing little girl Parker and we love you!!

Comments

[Joe Lamy]

Thank you God, for this treasure of a life.

[meredith]

That is just awesome. So awesome. So cool that you can notice all the little things. I hope you print these and save them for her to read. She has a wonderful mom.

[Sheralyn]

Wow Jenny! What an amazing story you told through such a simplified layout. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about our sweet Parker!!!
XOXOXOXO
Sheralyn, Hunter, and Graham

[Grammy MM]

Oh gosh - what a gift for distant grandparents. Now I'm all full of happy tears!
Grammy MM

[Crista]

Jenny, I love reading your post brings tears of happiness!! XXXOO Crista

[Angela and Hannah]

Besides being such a beautiful writing..you picked a perfect picture to go with it:)

[Lynne Lamy]

Now I wish I could be with her even more....but I am glad Pop-pop had such a (his word!) "glorious" day with her on Sunday. Love and hugs, MIMI