Parker Elaine ~ 8 Months

Eight months ... Say what??? Usually the months seem to go so very fast but I am happy to say the past month was an exception. Maybe it was because Parker got to travel to Pennsylvania for the first time to see her Auntie, Uncle, and cousin Paisley. Or maybe it's because my entire house was sick for the past month. Either way month 8 was slow and full of changes for Miss. Parker. This is a really fun age because these little minds are so full of learning and it is so much fun to watch them each day.
Up until recently Parker's favorite noise to make was something relating to a monster all.day.long you could hear her making these growls and yells and we ate it up. Over the past few weeks she has started making more babbling noises and hearing her little "voice" is just so adorable. I may or may not be working on her saying "mama" over and over! 3 out of 4 of the girls' first word was DaDa and one was BaBa, so mama has to get a win at some point!  (update... she's been saying mama for the past few days now!!)

Parker has started trying out some new solid foods (or table food)... thanks to cousin Paisley. She has tried bananas, green beans, mashed potatoes, and pretty much anything else we think might be ok for her to try. She is more than open to trying new foods and possibly taking food off our our plates and trying to get food from her sisters. And while we are on the topic of sisters, the twins absolutely love to try and give Parker their food... for example seeing Parker in the living room with a cracker in her mouth and Livy proudly telling me "I give Parker cracker".... uhhhh ok.

Parker did so well on her first flight, she pretty much behaved the best I could have asked for. We got lots of smiles and compliments from other passengers and there may have even been a little flirting going on by Miss. Parker. It was so much fun to watch Paisley and Parker together they played and played and maybe even tried to give each other a hug or two. Parker learned a lot from Paisley in the few days we were there... I'm pretty sure that's how she learned to babble instead of always making her monster noises. Paisley taught Parker how to pick up her puffs and put them into her mouth as well as try out some new foods.

Although we haven't been to the doctor since 6 months Parker is definitely a chunk and I'm sure around 21-22 pounds. She is just making the transition into 9-12 month clothes with some 6-9 months still fitting. She is just as full of life as she is chunk... and it's no surprise given how much she loves to eat! Her smile is contagious and her blue eyes sparkle just like her big sisters.

So very close to ONE ~ time just moves so fast ~ We love you so much Parker Elaine.

Three

Wow... Three is crazy H O L Y C O W!! Listen, I know I have been through the three's twice before and either I don't remember them or they were just much easier one at a time. Of course I've heard all of the funny statements about three year olds most notably the "threenager" and yes Charlotte and Olivia are exactly that. And let's be honest one of my girls is nearly a real teenager and the twins seem to be closer to the teenage attitude than she does.
Here are few fun examples for you...

... Olivia crying... she hurt her foot ... I look at her foot ... pick up her foot ask her where it hurts... she screams "Don't touch it".... ummmm ok sorry I thought you wanted me to look at it.. guess not

.... Charlotte looking through her Halloween Candy ... she found want she wanted but proceed to tell her dad ... " I know I had three of these ... who at them?" One, way to go on the counting Charlotte, two, where the heck did that come from?? Crazy girl!

.... I really wanted to take some family photos this past weekend, because let's just say the last 2 years haven't gone very well with Holiday photos. I spend the night prior making sure all outfits coordinated ... every try to coordinate 5 girls outfits?? Not easy! All the girl were very excited to take these photos... until it was actually time ... Olivia was having nothing to do with it ... she wouldn't change her outfit .... she was definitely throwing the attitude around and let's just say I didn't get those photos... again


I love these girls like mad and while these things sometimes leave me shaking me head I really wouldn't have it any other way. These girls are fiercely independent and I love that about them, it gives me a small glimpse into the future.  There is never a boring day and we can't wait to see what the next day will bring with them. I am just hopeful that when Parker hits three there is no longer such thing as a "threenager" .... Good luck with that right???