Play Day at Eden Prairie Center

A girlfriend that is also a Mommy told me about the great toddler park at the Eden Prairie Center. It is so much larger than the one that I would normally take Parker too. Also, since Eden Prairie is a suburb, there are a lot of kids playing at this indoor playground. Parker LOVES it!

This was our second time going, and both times Parker spent his entire hour going up and down the slides. He never tired of it. Every time he would slide down, you could see this look of concentration on his little face. Then when he got to the bottom, he was so happy and pleased with himself.

I just can not believe he was able to climb up the slides with socks on!

Of course, Parker is a lady's man. I missed the cutest shot with the little baby girl actually grabbing Parker and hugging him. He hugged her back before he went on his way back to the slide. What a heart breaker!

Parker attracted girls of all ages. Who could blame them? He has such gorgeous blue eyes!

Of course, Parker threw a temper tantrum when it was time to go. He did not like that too much. We have approached "that stage".

Parker's First Steps!

Finally, after about a million times asked, Parker is finally beginning to walk! I am so excited for him, but at the same time, completely dreading all of the extra chasing I will have to do. Something tells me that he is going to be super fast, just like in crawling. This kid has places to go!


His method - to tentatively let go of the side of the couch. "OK, I have my balance."

"Wow! I can stand up straight."

"Are you getting this, Mommy and Daddy? Things look a little different from this angle."

"I am so excited! Yahoo! " Parker says as he flaps his arms like a bird when he gets excited.

Phillip and I must have sat there for at least 30 minutes or more, just cheering and clapping. I am sure the neighbors thought something strange was going on. Of course, Parker ate up all of the fan-fare.

It was strange watching him take his first steps...about 6 or so in a row. It reminded me of a little monkey. He looked so awkward, bless his little heart.

Parker's First Swim Class

(Parker on the way to his first swim class ever! He has no idea what is in store.)

I figured it was about time for Parker to learn how to swim. He always enjoyed bath time, so I crossed my fingers and signed him up. His classes are at the Foss Swim School, which I have been told by SEVERAL people that Foss is the place to go for swimming lessons, especially Parker's age. Even though we have had only one class so far, I completely agree.

We arrived a bit early for the class. I knew that it would be a bit chaotic and noisy. I wanted him to get accustomed to the pool and action that was surrounding him before "diving in". We sat at the pool side for about 15 minutes. He was nervously looking on, watching the other baby class before his. He didn't seem frightened, just unsure.

Parker had no problems getting into the water. He was ready to play. As soon as he met his other classmates (2 other little girls), he started splashing at them and smiling - turning on his charm! One of the first exercises the teacher had us do was practice doing the back float so that the kids would get get used to water touching their ears. Parker didn't mind too much, but he would not put his legs down and relax. He wanted to see what everyone else was doing.

Phillip left work for a while so that he could see Parker's first class. Every time Parker finished a new task, he would look over at Phillip, very proud of himself.

I then had to float Parker on his tummy, trying to get the basic idea of swimming. He really liked that, but we need to work on the concept of kicking and paddling.

One of the last exercises was called "zooming". I gently push his face in the water and shoot him out to the teacher while Parker is underwater. I thought for sure that this would get Parker upset. He absolutely loved it! We did it so much that his poor little eyes were red by the end of class. He did not want to stop.

In class, we also worked on learning how to get in and out of the pool. This was the only exercise Parker did not want to have anything to do with. Anything that involved getting out of the pool, he did not care to learn. He would not wait for the exercise to be finished before he tried to slip back into the water. He let his objections be known. I guess I have the next Olympic swimmer on my hands! Maybe I can get him a Wheaties contract...


With all of the work in the water (class was only 30 minutes), he was starving. He loaded up on carbs with spaghetti and then took a 5 hour nap! Later that night, he slept for another 12 hours!! Swim class is totally worth it!! I wonder how he will do today...class starts in a couple of hours.

Macy's 2009 Flower Show

Earlier this week, I took Parker to the Macy's Annual Flower Show. This is an event that Macy's hosts every year at the beginning of Spring. I attended the event every year when I lived in San Francisco and it was always quite magical - flowers falling from the ceiling, creating beautiful sculptures...the show in Minneapolis was very pretty, but not quite as fanciful and over the top as the San Francisco show. However, the first garden was very pretty with the flamingo topiary and pretty pink tulips and ferns.

The flower show was held on the eighth floor of the downtown department store. As soon as we stepped out of the elevator, the amazing scent of all of the flowers hit us. I had never smelled anything quite like it. It smelled so good.

I think it would be so fun to merchandise a show like this. Some of the details that were included in the gardens were so charming...like the little cat sleeping in his garden. It reminded me of the cats I had growing up, always laying in the sun.

Parker Met Papa Smurf

This past Tuesday, I took Parker to the Annual Macy's Flower Show in downtown Minneapolis. As part of the festivities, Macy's had a family day with Papa Smurf as the "guest star". Parker was not sure what he thought about him.

Wild Party, Baby!

This past Saturday night a friend of ours, whom also relocated from Boise to Minneapolis for a job, hosted a party to "Say Goodbye to Winter". Of course while we were partying it up, it was raining and pouring slush from the sky, but hey, it is a state of mind...right? Anyways, she sent this cute picture of Parker and I from that evening. You can't see it in the picture, but he is also wearing a skinny mod black tie underneath his sweater vest. The boy has style, that is for sure.

Parker's Big Boy Car Seat

Now that Parker finally turned one, we were able to buy him a bigger car seat.  It was a good thing too!  He was way too tall for his other car seat, but with the laws what they are, he had to stay in it until he was one.  As usual, I had Phillip choose the seat...he seems to enjoy researching consumer reports and stuff like that.  Supposedly the one he picked is "top rated" and should grow with Parker for a while.  I just look at the seat and think it is huge.  When Parker is in the seat while driving around, it looks like he has his own personal Lazy Boy in the truck...it cracks me up.

Happy First Birthday Parker!

I was busy most of last week planning Parker's First Birthday. Can you believe that he is all ready 1 years old?!? We did a Mickey Mouse theme for his party. Every morning, when we are getting ready to go to the gym, he watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He always stops whatever he is doing to watch Mickey Mouse. I think he loves Mickey's high pitched voice and songs.


My Mouseceteer - can you believe he kept his ears on for most of the party?


The kids playing games. Eventually, the ball broke the chandelier in the room. Luckily, it is a light that I was planning on replacing as soon as Phillip is finished with the remodel project.


The gang watching Parker and me open his gifts.


Since Parker wasn't too interested in opening the gifts- too much going on- the other kids wanted to help.


Tiana, Joe, Jess and baby Chloe. Everyone had mouse ears! What great sports our friends are!



Bradly and Parker say "Cheese".


Jess and Joe wearing their mouse ears.

We had a local bakery make Parker's first birthday cake - chocolate of course! I wanted a Mickey Mouse head, thinking that would be easy...but no one could make it. Something about copyright or some silly thing. I personally don't understand that since I could go to Michael's Craft Stores right now and purchase a Mickey Mouse cake pan this very second...if only I could decorate cakes. Well, I guess that is on my list of things I need to learn now.

Katie, Parker and I - singing Happy Birthday to Parker. You should have seen the look on his face. he didn't know what to think of all the hoop-la.

The big ice-cream project that Phillip was out of town for the past two weeks made their debut at Parker's party. They were yummy.

Instead of a Mickey Mouse head, this is what I got. It isn't exactly what I had in mind...but I am very particular about the details of my events. The cake tasted very good regardless. I suppose I will give the bakery another chance next year, but I will have to be more involved in the design of the cake. I am sure they will hate me...
If there was ever a doubt that he wasn't my son before...there certainly can't be a doubt now. Mmmm, chocolate cake! Parker absolutely loved the cake. He couldn't get enough.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!! Mommy loves you more than you can ever imagine!

What I Have Been Up To This Past Month - Part 4

At last, my final post about what we have been up to this past month while we were all sick.

I think I might have mentioned it before, but we did not get a Christmas tree this year.  I know, I know...a complete sin, especially for Parker's first Christmas.  Seriously, we were all too sick to go get a tree.  I did not want to take Parker out in this cold.  I kept thinking "soon", but soon never came.  Luckily, Santa did not have to worry about merchandising his gifts too much since Parker won't remember it anyways.  I will be ready for next year though...I finally broke down and purchased a really nice fake tree.  I know, I know...a fake tree does not sound like me.  But seriously, who wants to go out looking for a stupid tree in this weather?  Apparently, it is sooo cold here that the tree branches are frozen while the tree is tied up.  You need to let the tree stand upright for a couple of days without the ties before you can decorate it...you need to let your tree thaw out!  What in the world!!!  I certainly never had to do THAT in Vegas.  Boy, the things I never appreciated when I lived in Sin City.
I think it is safe to say that he was pretty excited about his new sweatsuit.

Lucky boy...most of the presents were for him.  All of you were VERY generous to him.  Parker thanks you all.  It ended up taking Parker 3 whole days to open everything.

My sister, being the rocker chick that she is, got him this little drum and music set.  It is one of those toys that he loves and I don't.  Let's just say, "Where's the aspirin?"

The boys on Christmas morning.  

Where's Parker?

From the very beginning, Phillip and I played peek-a-boo with Parker, throwing one of his little rags over his head and calling for him, eventually taking it off with a bunch of fan fare and such. He always enjoyed it. One day I was vacuuming and threw one of his rags off to the side. I didn't notice first, but he grabbed the rag and began to play peek-a-boo on his own! I was so shocked...and it was so cute. I was cheering so loudly for him that I am sure our neighbors heard. Unfortunately, Phillip was at work and missed the "big event".

This past month, while we were holed up in the house sick, Phillip managed to tape a short clip of it for you all. The quality isn't very good, so sorry.

What I Have Been Up to This Past Month...part 3

Phillip and I waited till Christmas week before we took Parker to meet Santa for the first time. We planned on doing it sooner, avoiding the crazy crowds, but as you know, our whole house-hold was sick for most of the season. We went to the old Macy's downtown. It is one of the old-fashioned department stores that is independent of malls and shopping centers. They had the entire 8th floor devoted to the North Pole and Santa. The theme this year was the "Day in the Life of the Elf", leading us down a path from the beginning of the Elves' day all the way down to meeting the big guy in red himself. It was very well done and I can only imagine how many hours and how much planning had to go into merchandising something like that.
Parker and I sitting at the North Pole Christmas tree.

This little piggy was twirling around, helping to decorate the North Pole tree. I thought it was so cute...I have a thing for pigs...probably why I love pug dogs so much.

Santa's toy shop busy at work. Personally, I thought the elves's looked a little evil, but the kids seemed to like it.

Parker and Phillip waiting in line to meet Santa. It wasn't that bad. I think we waited for an hour or so (considering it was two days before Christmas, I thought that was pretty good). Parker loved all the lights and activity around him.

Parker took all of the commotion in stride. He handled the waiting better than Phillip.

Is this not one of the cutest pictures ever? When we were finally up to meet Santa, everyone was concerned that Parker (because he is a baby) would start crying once he met Santa. I wasn't worried. Parker does not know what the word "stranger" means (a cute thing now, but could be worrisome later). He instantly took a liking to Santa and hung out with him for a while. We had so many cute poses of him with Santa that it was very difficult to choose. I only wish that I had the good sense to plan ahead and have a Santa picture for my Christmas card (not that I was even able to get those out this year, but you know what I mean).