A look back

Starting at month 1, watch my little Parker Lou grow! 

Now I'm 1 and up and running! 

Summer Time!

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to go up to Grampy's farm. He has my favorite horse, Eric, chickens, a huge garden, an apple orchard and this huge tractor! We had such a fun day. Sissy even drove the tractor! 

My most important job on the farm is to keep Eric fed. I had to do my best to give him as much hay as I could hold. Tough job but someone has got to do it. 

He also loves apple treats. I threw him apples and carrots. He ate them all right up!

Daddy even rode Eric around the farm but mommy didn't get a picture of that. Along with the big tractor Grampy got me a mini tractor that I could really drive. It's so cool. I love to pretend to be a real farmer. 

He also has a pretty cool slide. I loved climbing up it and sliding down. 

Daddy is always trying to get a picture of me smiling. See, I smile in pictures! I just have to keep it to a minimum because the cute overload is too much for most to take.

Today was the start of a really summer, hot stretch of weather. It was time to definitely take my shades out. I look ultra cool.

My favorite part of the garden is all the berry rows. I was hiding! And I was eating as many berries as I could put into my mouth.

After my farm jobs were finished it was time to head to the beach to the beach house. Grampy brought out his mustang but I first had to shine up the tires. 

Not bad hah? I think I do a pretty good job. Ready to roll. When we got to the beach the tide was way out. We had forever to play in the sand! Sissy is pretty new to the beach scene but she loved playing in the sand! She got special beach shoes from Grandma. 

Parker sure loves the beach, the sun and being held by momma.

What a fun day. Thanks Grampy and Grammi for having us come up and play. Hope to come up again soon! 

Note from mom-Perfect Morning

This too shall pass.

Price is at that age where he is very needy, very whining and is resistant to do what is told of him. Add that with a girly who is veryyy active and wants to walk in the complete opposite direction as you turn her in, well-it's a bit crazy. Last night they were up a LOT. Not sure really how much or why but Kadin and I did not have a great, not even a good, nights sleep. Common these days. In the trenches, in the trenches people. However, there is always tomorrow, a new day and this morning things turned a corner. Yeah, maybe it only lasted for a couple hours but those couple hours will be ones I'll never forget. 

Everyone who knows me knows I love to run. These days, jog, but still I love to get outside and run. With Price it was easy. Just threw him in the jogging stroller and we were off. I ran with him almost every day. With two it's a whole other ball park. Without getting into too many details it's not happening, or at least until now. Lately, I've been trying to get myself up either at 4:30 or 5:00 to jog by myself. It's really my only hope, before they get up. But with last nights sleep situation, I didn't make it. So once we were all up and mouths were fed and I had coffee, I decided, hell with it-I'm taking them in the double stroller, however hard it was going to be, as much as they were whining, I was going to jog around Greenlake darn it. Nothing was going to stop me. Even the pouring down rain. I needed to run and they were coming with me. 

Things started off great. Parker took her morning nap in the car and Price read his dictionary. Yup, his dictionary. I even managed to listen to my own radio station without whining or complaints. Good start. Got down there, no rain, sun was making it's appearance. Again, another good bonus. 

Put both kids in the stroller without any crying or complaining and we were off. Made it about a quarter of a mile, took a pee break and then kept on going. The rowers out on the water could hear my heavy breathing but that's okay, I wasn't stopping. I made it half way-and then I stopped. Not because I really wanted to or needed to, my body could probably have kept going but Price announced, "Price Run!" 

So I stopped, got him out and he jogged along side me and his sister, still in the stroller, the rest of the way back. He was inspired by the other runners. He looked at them, looked at me and then he was off. He isn't so great at pacing himself yet but he sure tries hard. The looks and comments he got were hilarious. Just a little stalky thing running his little heart out. I was so proud and my dad would have been even prouder. Sure, he doesn't have a runners body but I don't either. We just keep moving, we make it happen. 

Once we made it back to the starting point Parker was wanting out now that she is walking up a storm. She was more interested in the trees, the dogs and walking into the water. 

But it occurred to me as I was watching my two little ones that they aren't my baby, babies anymore. I have two active toddlers who are enjoying life and enjoying this perfect morning with me. It was amazing. 

This place I have gone to throughout my whole life to run is now a different, more exciting place. I am that person now I often looked at and envied. I am that mom, who has her kids, healthy and happy and jogging along the trail. Really, to me, there is nothing better. It was my perfect morning. Oh, and I finished with a Starbucks breakfast sandwich and coffee. BONUS! :)

Parker Lou is 1!

Hi, my name is Parker and this is officially my first blog entry. This is not Price, this is Parker talking, just want to make sure you know that. I'm one now, I'm a big girl. I put my feet up in my high chair and I like to get food all over my face and I like to show that I'm one. I like to steal my brother's water bottle too. I'm one. Here are some pics from my birthday party my mom and dad put on for me with all my friends. 

This is my party dress. I had a cupcake party and my dress had cupcakes on it. Mom calls me cupcake. I must be cute. 

This is my cake. I loved it. I almost ate the whole thing. My aunt Nancy made it for me and if you remember, she made the same birthday cake for Price for his first birthday, but mine was pink, not blue. 

It had a candle on it and everything! Mom and brother helped me blow out the candle. 

Wow, this is all for me?

Yum!!

Here is a pic of more of the goodies we had to eat. 

Present time!

I sure love my baby!

My buddy Colbie! She is only 2 months older than me. 

My cousin Ko Ko and my Auntie Karis

Love my grandpa!

My grandma Betty! My brother took this picture, all by himself. 

My grandmas are too much fun!

My Grammi and Grampy were also there but I don't have a picture of them. But they gave me a new baby, I like her a lot. 

I had so much fun! I can't wait until I'm 2! 

My baby is 1

Wow. Where has the year gone? I blinked and Parker is 1. Not an infant anymore, a little girl, her own person. You can tell by my lack of entries that this past year has been in a sense a blur. I haven't posted anything since Halloween, 4 months old.  A lot has happened and the bottom line is: both of our kids are alive, healthy and happy. Here is what I know so far about our baby girl: she is a spit fire. She has a big personality in a small package. She smiles with her eyes, she loves her brother more than anything, she's a blondie, she flirts with her daddy, she thinks her name is Sissy over Parker, she loves to see me and my boob often and inconveniently still during the night and she is going to start running like tomorrow. 

She has done things at a different pace than Price. She walked right at 11 months, and got teeth sooner. She has learned from Price what to do and she wants to do things like him and not a baby. She wants his water, wants to eat with her hands, wants to run but can't. She is hilarious. 

The biggest joy this past year has seen the unexpected bond between her and Price. I wasn't prepared for that and did not expect it to happen so soon. He is such a gentle leader. He shares with her, comforts her when she is sad, makes her laugh and plays with her. I had no idea when we just had Price how much fun it would be with two babies running around. I can only imagine what the future will hold. 

I am not going to say this past year has not come without struggle. Having a second baby so soon after the first is no joke. In the trenches people, trying to survive. I'll tell you what: I would not have made it without the emotional support of my husband. There were days when he'd come home from work and I'd just cry. I didn't feel adequate, I didn't feel like I was doing a good enough job. On my good days I thought, "I nailed this mom thing but failed at the wife thing" or "I nailed the wife thing but failed at the kid thing." Forget about my social life. I think my friends think I moved or died. I did neither. I just live by naps, feedings, playtime, bedtime and repeat. I didn't realize being a mom of two little ones would be so hard. It's hard and anyone telling you it isn't is either lying or getting a LOT of help. Wine has helped. Running, when I can-has helped. Laughing at myself has helped. There are silver linings and now that she is turning 1, I am seeing more and more frequently. So I am starting to see the light. 

Looking back on the past year I don't think I'd do anything different and I don't regret anything. Sure, I would love to lose the 20 pounds of weight I'm still carrying around but I know now things don't happen as quickly as I'd like and I think I'm okay with that:) 

I'm in a mommy fog for sure but I like being in that fog. It means I'm focused on what is most important right now. And what is most important to me is dedicating my time to my little ones. Price is already 3 in September and Parker is having her 1st birthday party on Saturday. Time goes by so fast and I'm just cherishing every moment the best I can.