Double Digits, Double the Fun

Those first 9 months are for babies.  Gone are the days when I couldn't sleep all night.  See ya later baby food, I'm eatin with the big kids.  So long stroller rides when I couldn't stay awake.  Catch ya later gummer days, I'm off to the dentist.  My babbling days are past!  Yeah those first 9 months were great, being hauled around everywhere, crying when I was hungry, etc.

Ok, so some of those things I haven't quite conquered quite yet(and quite frankly I'm holdin on to that cryin when your hungry business), but today I hit the double digits!  10 months baby!  As they say in that Juicy Fruit commercial that I have never seen, "double the pleasure, double the fun!"  And now that I am 10 months may I see hello to bigger badder sounds like da, da, da. And bring on the cabinets, plants, and DVD's, and anything else destructible. Crawling??????  I'm skipping that and going straight for the big time!  Oh and that bottom lip that I have developed so well, that's gonna have to stay as well.

At 21 pounds, two teeth, thunder thighs, and a smile that makes you melt, the fun is just beginning!

Oh the Joy!

Crawling is for the weak!  Parker has decided to take his chances on his feet only.  He uses anything and everything to hold onto as he walks around.  Every Thursday is laundry day in the house, so the laundry basket comes out.  Parker knows what that is for... his new walker.  Last Thursday he was going round and round the house and finally found it!  The big blue exercise ball. It was the only thing he wanted and he was going to get it.  He kept pushing the laundry basket, running into things, and I had to stop and help him turn back toward his goal.  Finally he got close enough to the ball that he let go of the basket and flew to the ball.  It was so funny to see the smile on his face and know that he got what he wanted.  He is so brave!   

Welcome to the Family!

                              (stolen with pride from Cammie!)

Parker's stint as the youngest cousin came to an end as of 4:00 AM on May 16th as Nykelle and Carson welcomed a beautiful Mia Bella into their home.  Swallowing our envy and pride at having the "baby" of the family, we would each like to take a turn at offering our words of welcome:

Parker:  (As interpreted by dad).  Welcome "cuz".  Just a word to the wise for us youngins, beware of Carter!  His abundance of love spills over and bursts the privacy bubble at times, but all in all he is a cousin that wants the best for you.  Your cousin Cali too is a bundle of joy.  She may seem like she is 5 but her wisdom is beyond her years!  I hope you are liking your stomach, because I sure don't.  Perhaps you will be crawling before I do!  I sure have tricked my parents into doing whatever I want them to do.  It's all about the bottom lip!!!  I love you and can't wait to eat yogurt bites with you!  Good to have ya "cuz"!

Auntie Melissa:

  Do you have runnin' shoes yet?  When I heard you were coming I wanted to lace up the old sneakers and be there to love you and hold you!  This is when it stinks to be in Castle Dale because I want to be there to hold my new little precious niece.  I will be there soon, but in the meantime start wrapping that daddy of yours around that little finger!

Uncle DEVO:  Howdy.  What a great family to be a part of.  I hope you have been workin' on that Italian language, it sure does help when it comes to family meals (may I recommend the Parmesan Chicken!).  I look forward to seeing you and having you a part of the family.  May I also recommend filling up as many diapers as fast as you can, keep those parents on their toes!  Welcome "Mama "Mia""

Ghosts of the Garden

In the baseball classic "Field of Dreams" Ray Consella hears voices that prod him on to build a baseball field while plowing under his crop of corn.  By doing so he ventures on a journey that would eventually reunite him with his father.  

As I went about my garden today and started to till the ground and prep it for planting I couldn't help but hear the "ghosts of the garden".  As I planted the garden I reflected on some of my heroes that have taught me much not just in the garden but in life.  

As I planted the potatoes it was as if the ghost of my Uncle Bart was speaking.  It was this time last year that I called him at his home in Enterprise from the IFA in Price asking him how to plant potatoes and what kind of corn was the best.  It was then that he instructed me on how to do this.  It was a bounteous crop and I was grateful for timely advice.  If he were here he would say,"Make sure you cut the potato in half with the eyes of the potato facing up and make sure that you mound it and continue to mound it as you go throughout the year."

As I was planting corn I reflected on the many times I would go to Grandma and Grandpa Esplin's garden with my Dad and Uncle Karl and plant corn.  While gardening my dad would relate to me how good Grandpa Esplin was at keeping a garden and how he wouldn't allow a weed in his garden.  My dad taught me (because he was taught by his dad) to evenly space the corn and to slip in the seeds just behind the shovel (This was my job as I would lag behind as my dad would do the shoveling).  It was always necessary to put 3 or 4 seeds in each little hole.

The famous phrase"If you build it, they will come" that was coined in this film continued to ring true this afternoon. Yes it would be nice to still have Uncle Bart and my Grandpa Esplin around to give me more advice on how to garden in the garden.  Heaven knows that they would cringe at my futile attempts at a garden.  But it is my hope that whatever comes of it would bring back wonderful memories and reunite me with what they have taught me that I may pass it down to my children in the years to come (Parker made sure I planted the Carrots and Lettuce just right).  

"Is this Heaven?" was the question posed by Ray's dad after playing catch.  After spending a day in the garden with my son and wife I too ask myself the same question, "Is this Heaven?"

Happy Birthday Grandma

Thanks for another birthday!  Celebrating your birthday gives us all the more reason to:

. . .Travel to Wyoming towatch your grandkids open your present to discover that it was a game for the "Maybe" 

. . .Go out to lunch and pay for your own Fried Ice Cream that came despite your anxiousness to leave without a sumbrero or birthday cheers!

. . .Get Parker a new toy that he can punch like a punching bag with you in the middle of it

. . . Grandkids cook for you!  (KFC "Grilled" style)

Whatever the reasons, keep having birthdays!  We love you.  You are the best.

Deal or No Deal

Melissa's brother and his wife are expecting their third child to join their two other wild meowzers.  This excitement for a new baby in their home is really affecting Carter, their three year old.  After spending a weekend with them in Wyoming, Carter approached his parents with a proposal.  PROPOSAL (and I paraphrase) "Mom, dad, when the baby comes, I'm going to trade the baby for Parker" which led to mom's response "well, what if it it's a boy?" to which Carter insisted that he wanted Parker to come and live with them instead.  Even his dad trying to convince him that he could have the best of both worlds by having Parker come and stay and play and have the baby as well, this didn't seem to thwart Carter's demand.  (Cammie please correct this story at any point).  Unconvinced and still determined, Carter is anxiously waiting for the trade to be made.

Well Carter, here is our response. If he is allowed "Woody time" then we can negotiate.  Though Parker may look happy, lovable, and squeezable, you may want to reconsider when he attacks the knee caps with his bottom teeth.  If you are still not budging despite the teeth marks then our people can talk with your people and hopefully we can resolve something.  In the meantime all that we ask is that you let Parker play with Woody and Buzz when he visits.  

April Tid bits

April was action packed with many wonderful and memorable experiences that unfortunately couldn't be packaged and delivered for a blog post but are worthy of recording.  Here is a recap

Roasting smores with mom and dad in the firepit!

Planting my very first tree!  (It's an ash tree - perfect for Baseball bats!)

Celebrating my very first Easter!

9 MONTHS and ready to take over the world

It's official.  Parker has now been in the outside world longer than the cramped inside of mom's stomach and from the looks of things he is not going back in.  After 9 months he is either convinced that he is too big to fit back inside or that his parents really aren't that bad (and if they are there is plenty of family who will love and adore him).  

Parker is weighing in at near 20 pounds (most of which is in the legs).  Perhaps it is the dragging of his weight but whatever the case may be he doesn't seem all that anxious to crawl but would rather do laps around the house and anywhere his wobbly legs will take him.  Teeth are emerging and in their vampire way continue to dig into mom's neck and arm as he is a big time mama' boy.  Though starting to develop an attitude he continues to be easy going and easy to be entertained (as long as mom is in arm's reach).  Baths are a joy and one place that he seems to never want to leave.  

Mom continues to be ever present and ever loving as she takes every opportunity to read to him (something he is loving and learning to turn pages).  Mom has even been the recipient of what a jealous dad witnessed as an audible "ma ma" as he reached for her while on her knees having family prayer.  

Dad is just happy that he smiles and is recognized when he comes home for lunch only to be sprayed with baby food while feeding him (white shirts may no longer be so white!).  

Happy 9 months buddy.  It's better out here with you.

It's Gotta Come Out

             Let's do this!

Gallbladder's are overrated or in Melissa's case aren't even in the body any more.  Starting in July Melissa has been having Gallbladder attacks and was recently detected and determined that it had to come out.  Dr. Cox at Castle View hospital performed the surgery that went very well.  Melissa was a lightweight when it came to the "happy gas" as they had to pull back on the dosage when she stopped breathing on her own (apparently nothing to worry about???).  In just over an hour the surgery was complete and by 1 PM was being wheeled out of the hospital.  

          Still in one piece but minus an organ!

Helpless but supportive was her loving husband who made sure the "pink ladies" kept the powder donuts a comin' (for that loving husband of course!).  I made my mark after 4 donuts and a few glasses of cranberry juice.

A week later Melissa has proved to be one tough cookie.  No she isn't doing summersaults but she is up and at em eager to dive into a long neglected double stuff oreo cookie and milk.  

CALL the Dentist!!!

"He must be teething" was our excuse for every tantrum Parker threw for nearly the first 9 months of his life.  That excuse cannot be used any longer for those pearly whites are starting to peak through!  The first sight of teeth came on April 9th followed by a second spotted on the 23rd.  It is safe to say that he now has more teeth than most hockey players and his Grandpa Gus that he was named after.  Though this is exciting news and surely needs to be marked on all calendars, the dentist is going to have to wait!