Howdy Parker

The rootin-est, tootin-est cowboy in the wild, wild west!

My Two Boys

Here are some pictures of the boys that I enjoyed comparing so I thought I would share them with you...

Isaac Timothy came into this world at 7lbs. 15oz. and 20 1/2 inches long.

Today he is 32lbs. and 38 inches tall.

(weight is 81 percentile and height is 96 percentile)

Parker James came into this world at 9lbs. 10oz. and 21 inches long.

Today he is 17lbs. 11oz. and 25 1/2 inches tall.
(Weight is 99 percentile and height is 93 percentile)

Difference: Isaac is tan, dark hair, and has a round head (like mommy) and Parker is white, blonde, and has an oval head (like daddy).
Similarity: Both are beyond cute!!!!

Isaac was 10 days old on Thanksgiving.
Parker was 8 days old on Thanksgiving.
Difference: Check out their legs!!! Isaac didn't have any chunk like Parker!

Isaac's 2008 Valentines (three months and two days)
Parker's 2010 Valentines (four days shy of three months)
Similarity: Isaac lives up to the meaning of his name, laughter, while Parker lives up to the meaning of his, protector. He's wondering who he can take down after he gets rid of this silly outfit.

I bought this outfit right when I found out I was pregnant with Isaac. I knew I would have one boy that would wear it but never dreamed I would have two!

91st Birthday

This post is a little over due but there has been so much going on that I've needed to blog about. Anyway...

On January 30th, my Grandmother turned 91 years old. Last year the entire family got together and had a big party for her. It was a grand event that we still talk about! Well, as much as we would have loved to do it again, it just wasn't possible. We didn't want this year's birthday to be a complete downer so we came up with another way that we could all be together... By mail!!! Everyone agreed to send her a card! She ended up receiving over 40 cards! They included family photos and pictures from the little great grandkids! Even our long lost cousin Fred got in on all the excitement! ;) I think it was a hit and paid off in the end! Thanks family for helping to make Grandmother's birthday as special as possible!

Here she is with all her cards. In the front you can see Isaac and Parker's cards. Isaac sent her the 9 and Parker sent her the 1. Get it? 91?

And here are my cousins that took her picture with the cards so that I could post it on my blog! Thanks Troy, Tori, and Sabreena!

All in two days...

Whew! What a weekend... I am pooped! On Saturday and Sunday we were non-stop so I was thrilled for a relaxing Monday with no plans. Here is the past couple of days in collage form (click on each one to make it bigger):

It started by propping the boys in front of the computer for a few Buzz and Woody clips so everyone could get ready. Remember, the Toy Story movie is no longer allowed due to words that toddlers should not be saying!

Next, we headed to Azusa where Uncle Aaron's tennis team was playing. He's a coach at a university here in Southern California. Isaac got to hang with the team and cheer on the Lions! Can you tell which picture was the last one of the day? :)

Like usual, Parker just went with the flow. He enjoyed being outside, eating, watching big brother run all over the place, and taking a long nap on mommy (in the baby wrap that Auntie Nichole made. I use it all the time now. Thanks for teaching me how to use it!).

At church on Valentines Sunday, we had Parker dedicated. It seems like it was only yesterday that we were doing this with Isaac. Just like I wrote when I blogged about Isaac's dedication back on October 12, 2008: This was a time for Shaun and me to realize that we have been given a gift, a very fragile gift that needs to be handled with the greatest love and care. Yesterday, in front of our whole church family, we made a promise to God that we will raise Parker with Christian discipline and instruction. Children grow in steps and stages and we acknowledge that their spiritual growth is a part of that process. Shaun and I don't believe there was anything magical about the ceremony that took place. It didn't reserve a place for Parker in heaven, that is his decision to make someday. However, we did commit to teaching Parker about God's love so that one day, by the grace of God, he will understand what it means to become a follower of Christ.

~Some promising verses for parents~

"i prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." I Samuel 1:27-28

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6


We love you Parker James!!!

Not done yet... After the boys took a nap, we headed to Chuck E. Cheese for Nicholas' 2nd birthday. Isaac loved that it was a Lightning McQueen party and that Chuck actually came out to visit.

Finally, what kind of weekend would it be without going to the "gun" show!? Isaac definitely has the muscles to scare anyone away!

Love

February 10th has not proven to be an enjoyable date. 15 years ago my Granddaddy passed away, one year ago my Grandma passed away, and I spent this morning at a memorial service for my friend's dad who just passed away due to cancer. Last night, as I was taking her a meal, I was anticipating today and wishing that I could just skip over it. The boys were at home with Shaun, I had the music blasting, and the rain was coming down hard... It was nice to be alone with my thoughts (actually, it was just nice to be alone). I was listening to Kris Allen (last years dreamy American Idol winner) and the song "Live like we're dying" came on... This hit a little too close to home. here are the lyrics:

Sometimes we fall down and can't get back up

We're hiding behind skin that's too tough

How come we don't say I love you enough

Till it's too late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come

We could make a feast from these crumbs

And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun

So if your life flashes before you

What would wish you would've done

Yeah... gotta start

Lookin at the hand of the time we've been given here

If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin

Every second counts on a clock that's tickin

Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 84,400 seconds in a day to

Turn it all around or throw it all away

We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em

While we got the chance to say

Gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies

Who would you call with your last goodbyes

Should be so careful who we left out of our lives

So when we long for absolution

there'll be no one on the line

Yikes! What if I really was staring down the barrel of a gun or that my plane was about to crash? Who would I be crying out to? The part that hit me the most was, "we gotta tell 'em that we love 'em." What kind of love are we talking about? And who is them? Knowing Kris's background, I figured that he was talking about Christ's love and sharing it with the WHOLE world! Now this is a little overwhelming to me because how am I supposed to get to everyone!? Well, the internet is a good start. Pretty much anyone in the "whole world" can read my blog!

I only ever talk about my boys (who are fast asleep... not fair) but tonight I decided to put my heart on my sleeve and post about another relationship I have.

I joined a group called Bible Study Fellowship (world wide organization) and this years study is on the book of John. I have been completely blown away with how much God loves us! I think about how much I love my little guys and that no love could ever be greater, but it's not true... God loves us so much that he sent his son to this horrible and disgusting earth and to be the ultimate sacrifice so that we could someday live with Him in all His glory. The life we live now is only a blink compared to what is to come. Yet, keep in mind, that what we do with this life depends on where we spend eternity. So why don't I share this wonderful news? Well, the bottom line is that I'm selfish and scared. I get so caught up in my own life so I tell myself that I always have tomorrow. But do I? I also question myself... "what will people think of me?" or "What will I say?" or "What if I don't have all the answers?" OR "Am I living a life that others would even be interested in?"

Being a parent has made this all the more real to me. As I'm teaching Isaac about God's love, he's teaching me about what it means to have child-like faith. Isaac is all about monsters and ghosts lately, which means fighting bed time and then waking up in the middle of the night because he's scared. Instead of yelling at him because I'm beyond tired and frustrated, God has shown me that I need to use this as a "teachable moment." I've told Isaac that Jesus doesn't want us to be scared and that he loves us so much. He is always with us and even gives us friends (like Buzz and Woody) to keep us company when we're scared. Now, before he goes to bed he prays, "Dear God, thank you for my friends and loving me. Amen." When he wakes up he says, "Isaac no be scared, Jesus loves me. Jesus bes with me!" It is the most precious thing I have ever seen. The best part is that he is no longer waking up at night screaming! He is comforted by knowing that he is loved and is never alone. I wish it were that easy for adults.

Well, it is very late now and I can hardly keep my eyes open. I'm hoping that this post is more than a ramble and that it actually makes sense. I guess I'll read over it in the morning and see if I accomplished what I think I set out to do... Good night. Jesus loves you!!!

Paradise Pleeeeeeease...

Dear My Wonderful, Handsome, Sexy Husband, Shaun,

I just wanted to remind you that this is our Hawaii year. We go every other year and it would be a shame if we skipped out on the adventure that is waiting for us this 2010! I do realize that we have two little ones that would make the trip a tad bit more difficult, but I'm totally up for the challenge! It didn't stop us when Isaac was 10 months and you were on crutches! You wouldn't want me to cry now would you!? I know you think it would be better if Parker were a little older, and I agree. So I'm willing to compromise... Instead of going this summer, like usual, we can wait 'til the fall, or even winter! He'll be walking by then... Piece of cake! Also, I am keeping in mind that there are other big events in the making (which I have been keeping a secret and hope to share with the blogging world soon) but, because there is always a but with me, I would be much happier if I just got my way in this situation!

Love, your Adoring and Completely Taken with You Wife, Erica

My precious Family

A mommy's heart can never be too big!

Couldn't decide which picture I liked more so I used them both. The biggest difference is Parker's expression... Love them both! Pretty good picture for having the camera set up on a wipes container.

Not Fair!

To be able to wear horizontal stripes, go to bed with a full tummy of creamy milk, wake up with a double chin and chunky thighs, AND all of that be considered cute and healthy... NOT FAIR!!!