4 months have flown by!!!

So most of you probably giggled when we said we would try to post every two weeks back in our original post in September. The reality is - we are having too much fun spending every second with our new little man, Parker Danne! He's been such a delight, a good sleeper (most nights) and watching him make new discoveries each day just makes us smile.

Speaking of smiles he just found this crooked smile during Week 6 when his Cousin Charlie and Aunt Mary came to town:

After 4 months we are finally getting our own lives back and have some sense of a schedule. We've had so many great moments - here's a quick recap of Month 1 & 2 - the next post will be about Month 3 and 4.

MONTH 1

Grandma says g-bye!

The shirt says it all - you think he'll be spoiled?

After Grandma Leslie left (sniff, sniff - Week 2) Parker had his second Doctor visit.

 At his second visit he weighed in 8.11 pounds. He gained over a pound in 1 week - just imagine what he weighs now (but that's for a later update!)

Dad and Parker @ the Dr's

He's a healthy boy and we love his Dr's - Intown Pediatrics - they are 5 minutes from our house! He's in the 85% percentile for weight and 50% for height at 21". I think we have a future linebacker in the making!

Alice & Parker

Week 3 0 Parker had the pleasure of heading Don and Alice Williams for dinner on their gorgeous garden terrace:

Don & Parker

Alice is an amazing artist and she gifted Parker with a print of one of her paintings for his room. The painting of of a young warrior named Kukoni from Kenya. She painted it while on a reserve and there's a great story behind the painting - but you'll have to come visit to hear it!

That's Kukoni in the painting next to Alice & I

Through the past three years we've lived in Grant Park we have learned so much from Alice and Don along with their daughter Christine and her husband Curt who live next door.  It seems appropriate to have a beautiful piece of art from such an amazing woman grace Parker's bedroom wall. It will be there each day for him to gander upon as he absorbs the world around him.

Grandpa Tony and Wendy came for a visit later that week - they stayed for an extra long weekend and it was so wonderful having them here! We hope they'll come back really soon!

Grandpa Tony & Wendy

It was really beautiful to see my father hold his grandson for the first time. I  now know how my brother feels when he brings his little folks up from Virginia to spend time with Grandpa!

The Dezso's teaching Parker how to Hook 'Em the right way!

We ventured out to the Hoptoberfest - beer festival in the Glenwood area and went to a Hook 'Em party at our friend's Mike & Jen's house. Don't miss their polar bear - I mean their dog named Bear...

Happy 1 year Anniversary!

Dad and Wendy babysat for one evening while Steve and I celebrated our  first wedding anniversary. We had received a giftcard to Cakes-N-Ale from our friend's Jeff & Nicole for a wedding gift - we finally had a good opportunity to use it!



Parker was finally able to have his first bath - which at first he didn't really care for - he eventually calmed down to realize he actually liked it. It's now one of the favorite parts of his day!

He loves his froggy robe that Aunt Jess and Uncle Pete got him and he just looks so cute we had to include a pic!

Not a big fan of tummy time Mom & Dad!

We try to do tummy time everyday but Parker is not such a big fan as you can see. He was born with a very strong neck so we are not so worried about tummy time just yet!

Pumpkin picking - notice Parker snoozing!

Mike & Jenny Woody.

Thanks Uncle Jay for my cute striped bunting!

After Grandpa Tony and Wendy left the following weekend we went pumpkin picking (which Parker slept through). We also attended a wedding for our friend's - the Mike and Jenny Woody. There was a campfire after the reception where Parker was passed around the campfire like a football.

And of course we had to celebrate Parker's one month birthday! Our friend's Dave, Melissa and Henry joined us as we blew out our one candles I know it seems so cliche but it all goes by so fast! Before we know it we'll be celebrating 1 year!

MONTH 2

Thanks Mr. & Mrs. Yusi for my cute outfit!

Dad, Aunt Mary, Cousin Charlie & Parker

Mid-October Aunt Mary and Cousin Charlie came to visit us. We were very excited to see the boys together and it will be wonderful to have them so close in age. Charlie was born about 5 months prior to Parker so he'll be showing him the ropes as they grow up together.

I like bathtime now!

At Parker's 2 month appointment he weighed in at 13.15 lbs - the 91st percentile! Look at that belly - this kid does not miss a meal! And I was initially worried I was not producing enough milk - HA!

This is Nolan - one of my best buds!

We went to a Pumpkin carving party at our friend Beth's house where Parker got to hang with his buddy Nolan (who's 1 month older than P). Here are the boys in their Halloween gear - P is in his cool Pumpkin outfit (thanks Dan, Alyssa & Charlie!) 

October was a busy month! Parker was Dad's good luck charm at our friend Gretchen and Stephen's 1st Annual Bocce tournament. Steve came in 2nd and we had such a great time and Yes Steve played with Parker in the Ergo carrier.

At the 7 week mark, Parker's personality really started to shine. Here he is playing on his under-the-sea playgym. He loves talking and playing with the big blue whale and octopus which hang above him. He started to reach for things and hold on tight with those chubby little fists. His eyes are staying dark so we think they may be brown.

Parker's making all sorts of gurgles and coos along with some other very loud noises like crying and this one - which we find quite amusing:

He's such a sturdy guy that's able to sit up with a little support behind him:

We Miss You Andy!

This was also a sad time. One of our best friend's - Aunt Andy decided to take a job in Chicago. We sure do miss having her around but we have already seen her twice since she moved! It's a good thing that a lot of Steve's family lives in Chicago so we'll have lots of reasons to head North!

Happy Smurf!

It was also Halloween during month 2 so our little guy really had a fun time getting dressed up as a little smurf. Thanks to Aunt Barb and Uncle John in Chicago for sending along the costume - it was perfect as it was a pretty warm day and the lightweight costume was great!

We also went to two Halloween party's that weekend. The first was at our friend's Tony & Cindy's house (they live behind us).  They had decorated it so amazing - they should have been in Martha Stewart. Can you guess what Steve and I were?

New parent's - don't worry it's only mustard and chocolate!

The next day Alyssa, Dan and Charlie (who live next door) hosted a Halloween gathering where they had set up a cute area with bales of hay and pumpkins so you could take pics of your little one. Parker was a tough subject but PorkChop sure lived up to being a ham (get it PORKchop - HAM?)

Thanks to Aunt Kris for my cute pumpkin hat that you knitted!

November brought the Cabbagetown Chili Cook-Off - and Parker was appropriately dressed for the festivities:



He's an honorary member of Team Cobra Kai - who won the award for spirit this year!

 Over the past 2 months we had so many fun friend's stop by for visits - thank you all for the meals, gifts for Parker and company! It has really been so much fun introducing Parker to all of his new friends and family. It's so wonderful to know that our little man will grow up surrounded by love and support. And also all of our great neighbor's who'll report back to us when PDD gets into mischief.

Here are some of the candid moment's that many of you have shared with us. If you have any pics to share that you have taken with Parker - please send them my way as I am getting started on his Baby book!

Mr. & Mrs. Yusi - visiting from NY

Shane, Julie, Andy, Mom and I

Melissa & Tim brought us breakfast - YUM!

Uncle Dave!

Curt from next door

Christine from next door

Dean aka #24

Kelly & Finn

Auntie Jen - who will have her own soon!

Tony & Cindy from around the corner!

Melissa - who just had baby Leo - Parker's newest friend - 1 month ago!

Uncle Jay!

Auntie G

Foster - one of our future babysitters.

Raine and Evelyn Grace came to visit Parker!

Aunt Mary and PDD - thanks for my cool cap Aunt Mary!

The Tuttle's - practicing for their little one - due in Feb!

Uncle Darrel

Uncle John - looking at a slice of joy!

Parker winning over Barrett with a smile!

Snoozing Parker and his future daycare buddy Snoozing Eliot...

Stay tuned: Our next post will cover Month 3 and 4 and hopefully catch us up to the present! If I excluded anyone with the pics - I apologize ahead of time!