Can you believe...

it's been one year?

Dear Parker,

Hi baby. Last night I rocked you back to sleep. You woke up with a stuffy nose but quickly closed your eyes and tried to drift away. I lightly touched your face and hair to help you relax. I thought of each feature as I touched it and remembered how sweet they have been to look at since you arrived one year ago. The hair, so soft, now light was dark and came as a surprise when you were born. The eyebrows, how they were raised so high when I very first saw you and how later they became my favorite feature (if there is such a thing) because you are so expressive with them. The eyes, they make you so real and reflect your true innocence. The nose, I remember how one of the first things that made you giggle was when we would wiggle your nose. Your mouth, sweet baby lips remind me of your first smile,the way you used to laugh in your sleep, sweet breath and now how you give kisses.

Parker, you are joy. Words are inadequate to express the feelings we have for you. I love your vibrant, spirited personality. The way you laugh and smile so easily for most everyone. The way you look when you think you are being funny. I love the way you are easily suprised but love it. I love how you work hard to understand things and learn quickly. You are intense and curious. You play hard, laugh hard and cry hard. You love to socialize with other babies and enjoy people watching. You are almost constanly "talking" or "singing" with your low, slighly raspy voice. You are constantly in motion, which hasn't stopped since I was pregnant with you. The fun hasn't stopped since I was pregnant with you either. Happy first birthday baby! I hope each year is just as jammed with fun as this year! I love you my baby, my boy, my everything.

With all a mother's love,

Mom

Parker in the Parade

That's Parker in the green stroller waiting for the parade to start.
I snapped a quick picture in between throwing suckers and passing out post cards.

Parker and I walked in our town's annual parade this year. I volunteered to walk with Just Between Friends which earned me volunteer hours so that I could shop during the pre-sale this year (JBF is a big consignment sale twice a year, the pre-sale is the only way to shop! Check jbfsale.com for more info in your area). It was hot and I was amazed that Parker just sat content in the stroller, very unsual of him! It was actually fun doing the walk, everyone loved us because we had candy!

My name is Heather and I am a Mormon

In the last two weeks, we've seen new "I'm a Mormon" commercials on T.V. They air during morning news shows and even during primetime shows. They have been shown so much that the local news (WCCO) did an interview with a representative in Salt Lake City last night. They have had many inquiries about why the commercials are showing. The commercials are being shown in 9 cities right now, according to the SLC rep. Brett, my dad, my visiting teachee and almost everyone at church that I spoke to has been approached multiple times about these commercials. The response is mostly curiousity as to why the commercials are being shown so often. Some believe it is to make the point that we are not affiliated with Warren Jeffs and others believe it is to pave the way for Mitt Romney to run again. I've heard some say they think it is "weird" for a church to advertise. At any rate, the church is being talked about and we are all finding ourselves brushing up on our missionary skills. I found it interesting that the commercials do not show or state "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" but ends with the words, " My name is ______ and I am a Mormon" and then the mormon.org link is shown. They are very well done however and show the diversity of our church here in the states. When I was working, most of my co-workers had never heard of Mormons or the LDS church. Those who had heard of the church here usually had little experience associating with Mormons so there were misconceptions. I am intimidated and yet excited about representing the church. It will be interesting to see how long these commercials run. I guess I should end here by saying, my name is Heather and I am a Mormon.

Boy Meets Cone

Parker had his first DQ cone, outside the womb.

The kid was marinated in this stuff in-utero.

He had no problem eating it cone and all.
And then he got greedy, he wanted some of mine!

For some reason, it is so easy to share with a baby, who can resist?

My family nearly fights over who gets to feed Parker the sweets. I say nearly because Grandpa wins and everyone knows it.