Purple

blue + red

equals

P     U    R    P    L    E

i'm not crazy...click here for proof

The Day the Fire Brigade Went on Strike

So, I bought Eli these two shirts from this place for Christmas.  I ordered them probably the first week of December, and I received a package from them on the 15th of December.  However, instead of two cute baby tees, I received two XL woman's tees.  One of them was actually fitting for me as it was a screen print of literary characters.  However, as I am not XL (yet) and did not need two mildly amusing screen print tees, I did not have any use for the obviously mixed up order.  I was a little frustrated, b/c I knew that I wasn't going to be able to give these shirts to  Eli for Christmas.  Think how upset he would be when he wasn't able to open ANOTHER present that contained t-shirts he could care less about.  Just think of it.  Doesn't your heart weep?

Okay, so not really a big deal...just frustrating.  So, I emailed customer service to see what would be the best plan of action.  They were immediate in their apologetic response, and told me to send the wrong shirts back (they would refund the shipping) and they would send the proper order, along with a coupon for my next purchase.  I sent the shirts back on the 17th.  And waited. And waited.  Then silently fumed about the mistreatment I was enduring.  I mean this had to be next to impoverished orphans and the unclean drinking water crisis on the list of horrible issues our world is facing, right?  I mean I waited 2...TWO weeks to hear back from this place.  Imagine the human suffering.  My child who has more clothes than will fit in his closet and dresser was going without 2, TWO more unnecessary shirts.

So, I emailed the company about a week and a half ago just to see what was the deal with my return.  They again promptly emailed me back and apologized for the delay, and assured me my order would be shipped out within the next few days.  They also gave me $5 off my next order and refunded my shipping money.

The shirts arrived today, and they are so adorable:

 

I can't wait for Eli to not give these a second look.  At least his mama gets excited about trivial things.



Side note:  The love I have in my heart for HGTV has just infinitely multiplied.  I love reading this woman's blog (I stole her idea was inspired by her idea of posting monthly newsletters to her daughter).  And now she has a show on HGTV...sweet tv bliss.

industrious

Play along...read about it here.

Walk This Way - Eli at 11 months

This time last year I was looking very similar to a beached whale.  I couldn't get enough of people telling me I looked tired, swollen, like I was going to pop and the incessant staring.  Now here we are.  People still tell me I look tired and swollen, but the staring is more directed at your insane cuteness--and those dimples, yowza!  You, my precious boy, are nearly a year old.  A whole year!  We've had the pleasure of your out-of-utero company for eleven months.  This has been a month of milestones.  You have become so much more independent.  And while I love to watch you explore, I can't help but want to keep you little and protected.  Alas, my work in the lab has not produced an anti-aging serum...so here we go.

 

Well, the big thing is your ever-increasing mobility.  You are definitely walking about 90% of the time now.  It's amazing to see you go.  When you were a wee baby, I would look at you and say, "I don't see how this little boy will be rolling...crawling...walking."

Dr. Gardner would have to agree that you rank high in the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.  You seem to be fearless in your exploration.  You continue to crawl/walk through, under, over anything in your path.  One night I was getting your tubby ready, and your giddiness for your impending bath could not be contained and you hoisted yourself almost into the tub.  I say almost, because if I hadn't been there to reign in your excitement, you would have earned your diving merit badge.  You also love taking our pots and pans out of the cabinet and climbing in.  And then there are stairs.  You can't get enough of them.  We have stairs that lead from the hallway outside our apartment to the lounge area that you are completely enamored with (the stairs...sorry for the dangling modifier).  You have learned to climb up and down them.  You definitely have an adventurous spirit, which is great!  You did NOT inherit that from me.  

 

You've also become very social.  When I'm at work on Monday and Wednesday nights, your dad will take you out to the lounge for your social hour.  He told me that the other night you two were in the upstairs lounge, and there was this group of girls sitting at a table studying.  You would act like you were going to go over to talk to them, but would chicken out.  Finally, you were able to muster up the courage to walk all the way over to them.  I hear they were instantly under your spell.  The next day as we were walking from Lowell to the student center, these same girls shouted your name from their window.  You're such a celebrity.  You love people, which, again, is something you did not inherit from me.  Not to say I don't love people, but I remember the pole that held up the roof was my best friend during recess for the first couple weeks of college...ummm kindergarten.

Playing Skip-Bo with some friends

Among your social milestones, my favorite would have to be your delight in giving kisses.  I hope that you refine the skill before you have your first kiss (when you're 25), because right now you give a kiss with your mouth open and the drool flowing.  A couple weeks ago, your gammy Rick was sad about something, and when she walked in the door, you went right up to her and gave her a kiss.  It made her day (and mine).  It's completely adorable.  Your favorite person to give kisses to is your daddy.  He is also your favorite snuggle buddy.  He'll be laying on the floor in the living room and you'll just walk over to him and lay your head on top of his.  Don't worry, I don't feel left out...I'm your preferred consoler (not a word) when you fall down and/or are grumpy.   

 

Giving gma Parker kisses

You celebrated your first Christmas this past month.  I was bracing myself for cataclysmic mood swings from you due to a very messed up schedule during the week of Christmas, but, again, you were very mellow about everything.  Again, not a trait inherited from me.  I was rocking back and forth in a corner after Christmas due to my messed up schedule.  It looks like Fisher Price exploded in our living room which is always great for an uptight person like your mother.  Don't worry, I'm currently devising an organization plan to help reduce my panic attacks. 

 

 All these toys, and you'd rather play with the dvd cases

More than all the toys, you seemed to love being around your family.  You definitely thrive when you're able to be social.  I mean you could be spewing fire and shouting curses in my general direction one second, and then someone new walks in the room and you go all Pollyanna.  It was great to see you connect with your great-grandpa, your uncle, your cousins, everybody!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...an update on Eli's sleep.  I told myself that we would master your sleep during Christmas break.  All the students would be gone, your dad would be home during the day.  However, the best laid plans...Actually, we seemingly mastered sleep the week students moved back in to the building.  One night, you would just not go to sleep.  Well, you did go to sleep at your normal bed time, but then woke up at 10:00 ready to head to Vegas to try your luck at Blackjack.  So, in a huff of frustration, I calmly laid you in your bed, told you I loved you and...WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM.  And you started crying.  BUT I STAYED OUT OF THE ROOM.  I laid in bed, calculating how much I'd have to spend on therapy for you because of this traumatic moment.  And then...you stopped crying.  I turned to your dad and asked, "Have I gone deaf?"  You just stopped...ten minutes of crying, and you went to sleep.  Not only that, but you stayed asleep until 6:30 the next morning.  The next night you did the same thing.  I laid you in your crib at 8:00, you cried for a few minutes and then went to sleep, and AND you didn't get up once during the night.  It was bliss.  I actually started living like a normal human being.  I was alert, energized, not a threat behind the wheel.  It was miraculous.

Then, I opened my big fat mouth to the Internet, and a minion of the devil saw fit to end our streak.  My friend Sara posted this  about things bloggers should never do, like claim victory over something out loud.  I cannot believe I said out loud, to people that you were sleeping through the night.  A week into our wakeless sleep, you got sick.  It was actually very sad. Remember this post when I was all "my child never gets sick."  Your mother is an idiot.  (Don't say idiot).  You came down with a fever that peaked at 103.  It lasted four days, and our blissful 8 hours of sleep waved bye-bye. We'll keep trying.  Last night was your first night fever-free, and we were definitely back at square one. 

Aaaanyway, as you can read (someday) it's been a very eventful month. I'm sorry for the epic-like length of this post.  It was written in iambic-pentameter at first, but I thought I'd save you from that misery.  I'm sure my faithful readers (thanks, mom) ditched this post about three paragraphs back, but that's okay.  I don't want to forget a moment of your amazing life. You have grown up so quickly.  I feel like your first year has been a blur.  I am so thankful for the love and happiness you've added to our home (I mean we had love and happiness before, but you've added to it exponentially). You are the best thing.  I love you lots, my precious boy.

I Fall Asleep Counting My Blessings

(cheese factor of post title thanks to Bing Crosby)

If you've ever read my blog (which I know you have, mom), then you know that I often will write my posts in my head whilst driving or trying to fall asleep.  Lately, I've been working on a New Year's post that will blow your mind (see, now don't you want to come back and read my New Year's post?  No? Yeah, it probably won't be that great.).  Aaaanyway, I know I won't have the opportunity to post between now and the end of the year what with Christmas festivities both here and yonder.  So, I thought I would post a top 10 blessings list.  There are way more than 10 things for which I have felt blessed this year.  These 10, however, stand out as unique to this year.

10. Sleep. I've discovered how much of a blessing a full night's sleep is.  Being deprived of sleep for an extended period of time makes you value it even more...that and a box fan.  

9. Glee.  High School antics set to a musical  =  genius.  There was one time in college when I tried to sing everything I did.  While I wasn't the most popular person that day, I felt a little better about life at the end of it.  Musicals make everything better, even prime time television.


8. Maternity pants.  I am hoping that some day it will be socially acceptable to wear fashionable pants with a waist that expands with you.  Oh, maternity pants, how I miss you--especially during the holidays. 


7. Caffeine (especially Coke). See number 10.

6. Mom friends (not to be confused with my mom's friends).  I have never been as grateful for the camaraderie of like-minded people than I have been since having Eli.  Spending time with women who have children similar in age to Eli is a breath of fresh air.  While I often feel like I'm in a NuvaRing commercial while hanging out with mom friends, it really is nice to bounce off ideas, frustrations, joys, etc. with women who are going through similar things.  These women are amazing, talented, fun, and just an all around blessing to me.

5. The generosity of our family.  Since I've decided to stay home with Eli, we are without the benefits of a double income lifestyle.  However, the Lord has blessed us with the generosity of our family.  Our parents have paid for necessary baby items, such as a winter coat, a high chair and a convertible carseat (just to name a few).  I am humbled and blessed by their generosity.  

4. Our trip to California.  Again, the generosity of our family made this memorable experience possible.  My grandpa provided the means for us to take Eli out to see him and other family members this summer.  It is a trip I will never forget and am eternally grateful for (sorry for the dangling preposition).

3. A (very) fast delivery.  I am probably the weakest person I know.  I don't handle pain well; my body's initial response to an intense amount of pain (and by intense, I mean when I hit my elbow the wrong way) is to pass out.  So, the prospect of 14 - 16 hours (the average length of a woman's first labor) of feeling like the lower half of my body was trying to break free from the upper half of my body was not something to which I was looking forward.  The Lord knows me well.  My water broke at 7:00 a.m., contractions started at 7:45 and Eli was born at 10:30 a.m.  We didn't even have enough time to get our camera out.  It was so quick.  I must say I am a little worried about my next delivery (if the time should come), because "they" say that each subsequent labor is faster than the previous.  

2. A healthy child.  Eli has probably had 2 colds since his debut, and they really haven't been that bad.  He already sleeps so horribly, I can't imagine how much worse it would be if bad sleeping habits were coupled with illness. 

1. Eli.  Obviously a child is a huge blessing.  It feels like an understatement, though, to simply say Eli is a huge blessing.  Our lives are completely changed with his arrival.  I sit here at a loss because I can't think of an elegant, exact way to describe what he has brought to our lives.  He is definition of blessing.  Go ahead, look it up: blessing - [bles-ing]  (n) - Elijah Steven Parker

The end.

Small Steps for Eli, Big Steps for his Mama (9/10 month edition)

So, Eli, you have been in the world as long (actually longer) than you were in the womb.  Last year at this time I was eating an insane amount of Captain Crunch Berries and walking up and down the halls in Lowell trying to ease my crippling heart burn.  While I still enjoy an occasional bowl of Crunch Berries, I enjoy having you out in the world even more.  When you were first born, I kept thinking that I felt so much more at ease when you were in utero (which is not saying much, because I was pretty much a basket case my entire pregnancy).  I knew that you were getting enough to eat (albeit, nutrients only the Cap'n can provide), you were warm, you didn't need a diaper change, you could sleep without waking up and crying, etc.  While I sometimes yearn for this type of bubble-esque protection for you (especially since you are so much more mobile), I am so happy you're livin' it up here in the Arbor with us.

 

(fake smile)

So what's new with you?  I'll tell you since your conversational skills are limited.  Well, since we're talking about it, let's talk about your babbles.  I'm convinced you've said 'hi', but it's probably wishful thinking.  You say dada when dad walks in the room and when he leaves, oh, and when you're playing with a ball or eating....sooooo.  You say mama when you're crying or eating or playing.  The most enjoyable verbal activity you've adopted is hitting your lips with your fingers and saying "blb, blb, blb".  And a sound that never fails to be a crowd pleaser: your growl.  You definitely seem to be understanding the conversational aspect of communication.  I will say something and you will respond.  I don't know if this is ground breaking child development, but I think it's interesting.  People in Target probably think I'm crazy, since I walk around having conversations with you, but whatever.

As far as gross motor skills, you have made some big strides (pun intended).  You crawl everywhere.  And you try to crawl through things.  Instead of going around the laundry basket or your exersaucer or the highchair, you crawl through them.  You seem to have an adventurous spirit, which is great because I was pretty much scared of air when I was little.  I'm worried the pediatrician or other concerned citizens are going to call Child Protective Services, because you constantly have bruises on your shins from all your crawling and climbing and falling.  Along with crawling, you like to climb.  A few weeks ago, while I was making you a bottle (in the same room), you had pulled yourself up in your high chair, turned yourself around and were proceeding to climb up onto the counter until I turned around in the nick of time.  You will try to climb out of your crib (awesome), onto the couch or chair, etc.  I have a box of your clothing under our table that I've kept there for you to use as a support for your cruising, but you now climb onto it, sit and then cry because you can't get down.

Speaking of cruising, you are doing it.  You use anything you can to pull yourself up to stand and move, including other small children.  One thing you love to do, which is super fun for me, is pull yourself up using our DVD shelves and pull the DVDs off.  It's super fun to clean up.  Your dad just puts them back on the shelf any which way, even *gasp* backwards.  Your insane Type A mother, however, has to put them back in an orderly fashion

(Can you spot the TWO Earnest movies we own?  That's all Ben.)

You have also begun to stand without support.  I have to admit, it is amazing for me to see.  I know some of you are thinking I should get out more (which is true, but that's another story), but wow...to see you, my baby, stand.  Pretty soon you'll be driving and complaining about how we make you drive the Element...it's so embarrassing...I mean it looks like you're driving a box, and all the other kids get to drive their own hovercrafts to school...life is so unfair.  And then you'll stomp off to your room, slam your door, and blare Rage Against the Machine.   I digress.

Also, YOU'VE TAKEN STEPS!!!  BIG GIANT STEPS!!! ON YOUR OWN!!! WITHOUT SUPPORT!!!  Okay, so they weren't big, giant steps, but how momentous!!  I'm guessing you'll be walking by the new year.

Other new things you like: books (HOORAY!!), toy cars, balls, clapping, football (watching it on t.v.), spinning the toilet paper off the roll (awesome), banging on pots and pans, prune juice, Ritz crackers (evident by the perpetual trail of crumbs on our carpet), baths in the big boy tub, and pounding on the keyboard (grandpa taught you that).

(Eli and his friend Ben Decker)

Okay, now let's talk about what you don't and won't do.  Sleep.  Sweet, elusive sleep.  Eli doth murder sleep (not in the morbid way Macbeth did, but still).  Your dad and I were talking about when we would want another baby (don't get excited, mom...), and he said that he can't think about having another child until we can get a full night's sleep.  Your dad and I live in a perpetual state of exhaustion.  Things are somewhat better than they were a month ago when you refused to take more than a 20 minute nap.  I was ready to put my head in the oven Sylvia Plath style.  Seriously, I think I was even hallucinating, I was so tired.  One time I pulled into our parking lot and I thought cars were backing up when they really weren't.  Yeah.  You take naps now and are easier to put back to sleep, but you still wake up, on average, 4 times a night.  I love you, my dear, sweet child, but please, learn to like sleep.   

These last two months, you've celebrated (with enthusiasm) Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I was interested to see how you would do with Thanksgiving, because it really is a precursor to Christmas, what with all the family and weird schedules.  I was predicting that you would get so out of whack that fire would shoot from your eyes and the earth's gravitational pull would experience a shift so detrimental that doomsday would be upon us.  However, you rolled with it.  Which I really shouldn't be surprised about, because, apart from the sleep thing, you're a pretty easygoing, fun loving kid.

 Exhibit A:

(Family pic at Thanksgiving)

Okay, so some of you may get uncomfortable with my cheese factor in this next paragraph, so please, stop reading if Hallmark commercials make you want to throw your shoe at the t.v.  I was talking with a friend the other day about how the birth story of Christ takes on a whole new meaning when you become a mother.  This time of year always causes me to become sentimental about my faith.  How humbling it is to think about how God came into this world because he loved his creation so much.  God came to a woman as her child.  And then God sacrificed himself for his creation while his mother stood by.  I look at you, Eli, and wonder where the Lord will take you.  What will you grow up to be?  What does life have in store for you?  What anxieties, joys, fears, tears, hopes will I experience as I watch you become a man and go out into the world?  What must have Mary felt while she watched her child grow up? What went through her mind as she watched his incredible life unfold? Obviously I am not comparing you to the Messiah or myself to the Virgin Mary (I don't want you to have a complex or anything).  But as a mother, I feel that the sacrifice Christ made means even more to me now, and I am so much more thankful and humbled by his life and love.  As with so many things in my life, I am thankful you can show me love in ways I've never thought of. 

More Turkey, Mr. Chandler?

Yes, I am posting.  I am foregoing the dishes and sleep and watching Christmas Vacation to post about our Thanksgiving.  Contain your enthusiasm.  Last Thanksgiving I was pregnant, and I took full advantage of my elastic wasted pants.  I could also blame my unrelenting eating on the child growing inside me.  This Thanksgiving that child was enjoying his life outside the womb, and my pants had no give. 

We went to Ben's Aunt Pat's house for Thanksgiving Meal, Round 1.  It was a house full of 35 Italians (give or take).  There was  A LOT of food.  I held off (knowing that the Rick Thanksgiving would be next) and allowed my boys to get their fill.  Eli tried mashed potatoes and a roll.  He thoroughly enjoyed the latter.  We then cruised on over to Concord for Thanksgiving Meal, Round 2.  Smaller gathering, but so much fun!  Ben left from there to go down to Reading to hunt.  I stayed at my parents and tried to watch Star Trek (the movie), but was too busy keeping Eli away from electrical outlets and fireplaces to really get into it.

The next day, Ben called to say he "caught" a deer (okay, he didn't say "caught"... when we were first married, as he was leaving to go hunting, I shouted, "Be safe...I hope you catch a deer").  Ben shot a "spike".  I think that's what it's called.  So now we have meat a plenty.  Not going to complain about free ground beef.  We likes our beef here in the Parker house.

I invite you to take a pictorial stroll through our holiday.  (P.S. I just read this post...yawn)

Eli and Grandpa Parker

 

Thanksgiving with Ben's family

Mmmmm, mashed potatoes

Eli, Poppa and Lucy  

Eli and Aunt Carrie  

Ritz Crackers, just like the first Thanksgiving

  
Family Picture

 Standard Ben and Jeanette picture

A man and his deer (picture quality poor due to camera phone)