Itsy Bitsy Parker

Happy Heart Day!

2012-02-14T14:31:00.000-06:00

I want YOU to be my Valentine!

Proud!

2012-02-13T08:54:00.000-06:00

I did it! My first half marathon is behind me--by 3 weeks--the time I gained in not having to complete runs for the past three weeks, I've gained in added work responsibility, so once again the blog has taken a back seat.

The race was great and I'm incredibly proud that I was able to complete it in 1:50:37. My original goal was under 2 hours, which I met and then some!

getting ready to start

And....GO!

Probably Mile 5 or so.

Just crossed the finish line...a little emotional!

WE DID IT!

It was a cold morning, probably the coldest I have run in since the start of training, but that didn't slow us down. It was a wonderful experience, but I'm still not sure I will do another one, just due to the strain it causes my body and the monotony of doing the same workout everyday. But all that aside, I'm so glad I did this one.

I can't write this post without giving a shoutout to my race buddies Leisha and Shelley. You guys were the difference in me actually doing this vs. continuing to say "maybe one day". We all stayed dedicated, and that's what ultimately brought us to the finish line. Heck, Shelley even did it in her early weeks of pregnancy, which is AMAZING! How cool to tell that Sweet Pea what a rock star Mama is. And to our cheering section, Mom, Dad, JP, Matt and little lady, so nice to see familiar faces along the way!

Ladies, thanks for all you did for the last several months...what an accomplishment!

2two!

2012-02-01T10:25:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago we celebrated Reese's 2nd birthday. All I can say is where did the time go? We enjoyed another nice January day and even though there was a little chill in the air, it was a great day to be outside!

My friend Megan, had the thought several months ago of doing a tutu them since we are celebrating 2 years, and I loved the idea...just needed to figure out how to fit all of our little boy friends into it. So, I took to the web, did some digging around, and settled on the Tutu's & Ties theme. It was a fun theme to plan, especially with the help of Pinterest--I mean who plans a party these days without it?

Can you tell she loves wearing a tutu?

We borrowed Grammy's bouncer again this year. It's always a hit with the kiddos! I also rented a bubble machine which I was a little disappointed in. It provided some great ambiance, but not really worth the cost.

We haven't quite mastered "blowing out the candles". The look on her face in the pic says it all..."how do I blow out candles? Just look really hard at them and THINK about blowing them out and they will--it's all a mind trick". And she probably thinks that's really what works since she had a little help from the wind. Oh, and she is obsessed with the Happy Birthday song. Just this morning she was looking at her cupcake Legos Uncle Mike gave her and singing "Happy Birthday Reese". Yes, it's been 2 weeks!

Our best attempt at getting a pic of all the kiddos--even if it is just feet.

Here we are enjoying some of our new gifts. And yes, that is a real tiara (not a toy version). Thanks, Megan--as soon as she gets that "princess" complex, I'm sending her to you!

I'm Ready!

2012-01-28T11:03:00.000-06:00

By this time tomorrow I will have completed my first (and probably last) half marathon. I have a plethora of emotions going on right now--nerves, butterflies, confidence, and wanting to kick some butt! I say it might be my last because all this training has tarnished my love for running a bit. I miss the days that I could "decide" to go run and then run a nice and simple 3 miles or so and call it quits. That's not enough to train for a half marathon. I have enjoyed this 4 month trek and I have a feeling it will all be well worth it when I cross that finish line tomorrow. But, I will always remember what it has taken to get to this point. Pure dedication. Sticking to my training calendar. Running 8 miles in the cold rain. Etc. Etc.

My goal is to finish the race in under 2 hours and I think it's feasible given my training. I definitely couldn't have done this without my trusty training partners, Leisha and Shelley--they have been AWESOME and kept me going when I didn't think I could. I never thought I could run and chat, but now I'm spoiled and bore incredibly easy when running solo.

So here's to Team Nike: thanks for all the support in training...we've come a long way! We're going to have an awesome race and a great celebration afterwards!

And now I have to go eat some more Tiffs Treats...gotta love carbing up!

Don't You Just Love Lists?

2012-01-18T09:03:00.001-06:00

And here I am...still stuck in 2011--on the blog, at least. So to catch up REALLY QUICK and get into 2012, I'm going to make a list. Don't you just love lists?

1. We had a great trip to the ranch just before Christmas and JP got a deer...yay! that we have a freezer stocked again!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Not intended for human use...Reese's doll stroller is still intact...BARELY!

2. We celebrated JP's birthday with lots of fried goodness (pickles and mac& cheese). I also made red velvet cake balls--I've made several flavors now and I'm totally into them! They are easy, tasty and the perfect size.

YUMMY!

3. I'm now trying to work off all the fun I had eating fried food, candy, cookies, etc. Not easy, but I sure did have fun getting to this point.

4. Reese totally embraced Christmas and all it had to offer this year. She is really enjoying her tea cart and tea sets, new kitchen and all the wonderful food to go in it!

5. Christmas with the Parker's was quite hilarious with 4 kids ages 1-5 opening gifts...we probably could have charged for tickets because it was pretty close to a Ringling Bros. affair.

6. Reese still asks about Chippey every other day or so...she really misses him, but knows that he is in the North Pole with Santa helping get ready for next year.

I hope this new year is safe and prosperous for us all! 2011...OUT.

Wishing a Very Merry Christmas to All

2011-12-24T13:44:00.000-06:00

Wow! The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has been in full force since....well...just after Thanksgiving. Getting the house decorated, shopping for friends and family, sitting on Santa's lap, daily conversations with Chippey, a trip to the ranch, now back in Austin and another trip planned to Brenham before it's all over with.

It is a very festive time of the year. All because many many years ago, away in a manger because there was no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head and our Lord and Savior was born! Merry CHRISTmas!

Christmas Magic on Rodeo Drive

2011-12-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

I'm absolutely ashamed of my brief blogging hiatus, but between blogging here and keeping up with my other load of responsibilites, this one has ended up on the back burner. Of course, there is a ton that I could retro post, but I'm true to myself and know that won't happen, so I'm just going to pick up in the here and now.

From the title of this post, you might be thinking we recently took a trip to Beverly Hills. Well, as much as I would have loved to afford to do my Christmas shopping in the great LA burb, I'm simply speaking of the good 'ole ATX here, which to me is just as good (if not better)!

I'm referring specifically to the magic our Elf on the Shelf has brought to our home. Reese's Godparents gifted it to her this year, and she has embraced it all....the book, the movie, "An Elf's Story" (that we watch about every other day, thank goodness for DVR) and of course the elf himself.

His name is Chippey, since we watched the movie just before he made his initial appearance here on Rodeo Drive. And being an almost 2 year old, I'm not sure she could think quite beyond her now favorite movie to come up with a more original name, so Chippey it is....this year anyway. I decided to not write his name in the book just yet, because I have a feeling next year he might have a new name....or not...we'll see.

Even to a 22 month old, Chippey has quite the hold on her. We have recently taken on a more high maintenance bedtime routine which includes me singing Reese to sleep. (insert laugh here, because we all know how glorious my voice is). And, sometimes after many songs sung multiple times, her eyes still beam wide open and as soon as I leave the room, she gets up, stands at the door and the crying begins. At one point last week, I said (through the door) "Chippey wants you to go get in your bed and close your eyes". There was immediate silence, and she obeyed exactly Chippey's wishes. Dang, I love this elf! I'm happy to report that we are finally back to a less high maitenance bedtime routine!

Chippey's hangout today. Maybe this means we will see his magic this evening, too as he whips up dinner for us.

JP and I have really had a lot of fun beginning this tradition in our home. We have decided, however, to save a lot of the creative Chippey antics for years to come, when they will be fully appreciated. It really is magical, though to see the gleam in her eyes and smile on her face when she wakes up, looks around the house, and finds Chippey in a new place each morning. And coming home from school to find him in the same place is just as good. When we're out and about, she asks about him and completely understands that he talks to Santa every night.

Oh, and speaking of Santa, I have to include our trip to see him. Reese was so excited, but of course as soon as she sat on his lap, she fussed a bit. But it wasn't for long and I feel like I could read exactly what was going through her mind by the look on her face: "I'm a bit scared of this guy in the red suit and beard, but his clothing and hat look a lot like Chippey's. And Mommy and Daddy say Santa and Chippey are friends and he brings presents to good girls like me, so I better not pout and I better quit crying".

Oh the magic of Christmas...it is beautiful!

From Our Little Cupcake to Yours...

2011-10-28T08:58:00.000-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND!

Hoping I Can Handle It

2011-09-19T10:20:00.000-05:00

If you know me, you know I run quite a bit. I really like to run...it's quite theraputic for me. One of the few gear purchases I made before baby was a really good jogger, because I knew I wanted to run with Reese, too. But, I very rarely run more than a 5k or so.

Well, I'm now training for a half marathon in Jan/Feb (haven't decided which one yet) thanks to my friend Shell. She has run a couple of fulls, and a few halfs, so I feel like I'm in good hands, but there definitely is that worry, of, "can I handle this?".

Honestly, I know I can run it because running comes quite easy for me and I enjoy it, but I'm a little worried about getting bored and actually having the patience for my body to do the same exact action for 13.1 miles. I'm praying that adrenaline will be running so rampant that patience and boredom won't even come into play, but I still worry.

I'm really excited about this new challenge, though, and completing it before the big 3-0. I have a feeling this will be a 1 and DONE kind of thing, but I still want to mark it off the list.

So, I'm in the midst of training now with my trusty new Asics (fitted just right by the awesome peeps at RunTex) and my training calendar from Shell.

So wish me luck....and patience!!!

We are pet-free and in the minority, it seems.

2011-09-09T14:46:00.000-05:00

I picked Little Miss up from school yesterday and her teacher asked us to bring in a picture of our pet(s). I guess they are doing some type of activity with it today. I mentioned that we don't have any pets, to which she responded in pure amazement at the fact that we didn't have any. She then asked Reese, "it's all about you, isn't it". To which she responded with a head nod and a very clear "YES". All the while I'm pondering, "are we the only family out of her class who doesn't have any pets". So, on the way home, I debated sending a pic of a friends dog (that we often dog-sit), but then I had a better idea. I'll just send a picture of Pink Bear and Horsey (her lovies), because they are loved a lot and in a sense her pets (that sleep with her).

Of course, I then got busy cooking supper, playing chase, and reading books and completely forgot about the picture until JP called this morning after he dropped her off with the words, "we forgot the picture".

Well, it's just another reason I love my work situation and location, because I could still make it happen. So I grabbed Pink Bear and Horsey, propped them up on the chair, took a few snaps, uploaded, printed and VIOLA!

Now, I can hardly wait to hear what her reaction was during their "activity" when all of her friends probably had pictures of dogs, cats, birds and such and she had Pink Bear and Horsey. But, I couldn't let her feel left out just because we are currently pet-free, right!?

It's all a Balancing Act

2011-08-22T14:22:00.002-05:00

So much to do and not enough time to blog...for myself anyway. Which, btw, I really hate because this is my scrapbook, if you will. I have so many topics and recaps spiralling through my head as subjects to write about, but lately I've found myself blogging more for clients than for myself. Well, it does pay the bills, so I'll be keeping with that, but hopefully finding time here, too. I'm doing social media work for two different juvenile brands at the moment (whom I will talk more about later) as well as my committment to get Graco ready for the upcoming ABC show and my other juvenile industry sales work. Needless to say, things are super duper busy over here, but I thrive on it!

With all of the back-to-school posts I saw this morning along with the a few changes of our own when it comes to Reese's school, has got me thinking how wonderful a balance I feel like we have right now in our household. Yes, I know we always scream from the rooftops how busy we are, but honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way. Reese has been at her school full-time now for just shy of 4 months and part-time there for almost 6. She is quick to say bye-bye and blow a kiss to me in the mornings because she just can't wait to get there. And, in the afternoons, she is excited to see us and ready to come home (and EAT, of course)! It's the perfect mix for both of us. I've been quite overloaded with work the past month or so, but I have a very strong "this is how it's suppossed to be" feeling of challenge and accomplishment everyday--and I really like it that way.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the time I was able to spend at home with Reese before I got back into the full-time swing of things, but at the end of the day, I'm a working mom, it's just who I am, and I'm pretty sure our little family (and bank account) are all better off because of it.

So, back to the changes with Reese. Well first off, I can't believe we are at the 19 month mark and I see a little more "kid" in my little lady everyday. Today she starts a new class with (kinda, sorta) new teachers. Well, most of the kids are the same, just swapping with the teachers from the other toddler class, since they changed the curriculum for the toddlers a bit and her class is now 19-24 months. Her old teachers (who I absolutely adore) moved to the younger toddler class. I don't think they were too happy about it, but at least they are just across the hall.

They celebrated on Friday with an "end of summer" pajama picnic complete with crust-less sandwiches, ChickFilA nuggets, cheesy puffs, fruit and cupcakes. I only wish this heat partied with them and was ready for an end, too!

MORE!

Of course when I tried getting a pic, Reese was already geared up to leave with me and didn't want anything to do with having someone else hold her for a pic---but I'm sharing it anyway!

Ms. Gracie & Ms. Vida--they say Reese was the most well-behaved of the class--
I'm not sure what changes on the short 3 minute drive home.

So here's to a great first day in her new class. She said she was ready and I know she'll take it like a champ because that's who she is. And cheers to balance...we all need it and are better off because of it!

Have a great school year, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: She Hearts Her Mommy

2011-07-19T20:37:00.003-05:00

and I HEART her, A LOT! I'm usually the one behind the camera, so I'm excited to post these shots the hubs recently captured...thanks, babe!

Channeling our Inner Kid

2011-07-14T14:53:00.002-05:00

The 4th of July weekend usually means fun in the sun for us, and this year was no different. With the exception of a trip out to a local winery and lunch on the lake, we decided to take it to the backyard this year vs. the lake or pool, and boy did we had fun! Just like little kids! (oh and I think they enjoyed it, too)

Maybe she could be the talent for the next packaging photo shoot?

It all started out on Saturday with a quick trip to WalMart for a Slip N Slide. We had fun with it even though we are too big for it, but the real fun came on Monday when we combined our friend's Slip N Slide with ours to form a bit of an obstacle course--and that it was! There were only a couple of us that actually made it to the end, and that was still a feat. I've only posted the pics of my husband and me here, because I'm not sure I have permission to post to the public all of the mishaps that went on. Let me put it this way, it was a true WIPEOUT ZONE, just like the show on TV with bodies trying to master something that didn't even support our body weight.

I think there is a reason these things are made for kids because I was quite sore the next day...and the next! But the entertainment factor for the 15 or so of us that were there was beyond words. The amount of laughter could have also been a culprit for my sore body.

What really got me, was how funny little Miss thought we all were trying to conquer something that was really made for her. She would get down right giddy watching us throw our bodies into the air, just hoping to make it to the end. But, in most cases didn't make it past the first pool. And, of course she loved playing with her friend, Mia and eating lots of holiday treats!

What a fun time it was, but for now all of the air has been removed from the paraphernalia and loaded up for storage...until next time.

What kind of games and activities do you take part in to ensure your inner kid is still alive?

Summatime...

2011-06-24T13:31:00.000-05:00

...and the livin's easy!

This week has been CRAZY busy for Team Parker, so I haven't had time to craft up any good content on our lives, but wanted to share this awesome pic my oh-so-talented bro-in-law took over Memorial Day weekend.

It's that time of year for living in swimsuits...especially in this Texas heat! Little Miss was enjoying the morning in the backyard frolicking in her pool and sand box. Uncle Matt captured some awesome images in her summer outfit of choice, so I just had to share her cuteness and his skillz.

What Twitter did for me Tonight

2011-06-15T21:23:00.002-05:00

We had a really yummy (and super simple) dinner tonight. I just think this is really worthy of sharing because just today, one of my Facebook friends had posted a question as her status stating, "who can give me twitter lessons?". There are a million ways to use this fine tool, but a couple of weeks ago, The Pioneer Woman had tweeted this:

Step 1. Get thyself some basil. Step 2. Make this:http://tinyurl.com/3vuw7sb

(for those of you who are too lazy to click the link, it's a recipe for a yummy pasta with pesto cream sauce)
PASTA + CREAM + BUTTER + FRESH BASIL + PARMIGIANNO REGGIANO =
A W E S O M E N E S S !

mine is a bit creamier than Pioneer Woman's, but in my book, that's better!

Well, given the fact that I have fresh basil growing on my patio, love pasta (and everything else that's in this tasty recipe), this was a no-brainer. So, I printed it out directly from her blog, bought the ingredients last week (besides the fresh basil, of course, that I picked 5 minutes before chopping it up) and finally got around to fixing it tonight. The only change I made was using whole wheat penne that I boiled in chicken broth, rather than simply water, to give it a bit more flavor. If you need a simple, and quick, but incredibly tasty meal, fix this one! I've had a sick child all day who really wanted nothing more than to be held every waking hour, and I was still able to accomplish this one (even holding her with one arm a majority of the time). Oh and I can't forget to mention how much she LOVED it too!

So part of what I'm trying to get at here (besides the recipe), is depending on what your likes and interests are, twitter has it. Market with it, have fun with it, get great ideas from it, stalk your fave celebrities and brands with it, and so on and so on and so on. Oh, and if I'm not already following you on twitter, comment with your handle and we can tweet away! (mine is @heidi_n_parker)

Roadtrippin' It.

2011-06-08T13:39:00.001-05:00

We took a roadtrip Memorial Day weekend.

Are you surprised that it was centered around a UT sport?

Well anyway, it all started the weekend before when Texas was playing their final series against the Aggies and our friends Shell and Matt said, "hey, let's go to Oklahoma City next weekend for the Big 12 tournament". My first thought was NO. And the thoughts that ran through my head were of an uncomfortable and bored toddler riding in the car, not wanting to be at the games we wanted to be at, in the end having to spend more time in the hotel room than I wanted and screwing up our friend's (who don't have kids yet) weekend. But, by the end of the weekend, I was totally gung-ho and brought myself to remember to just have low expecations about the whole trip and go with the flow. It also helps to have great friends that are go-with-the-flow people, too (and entertain my child)!

Well, I ~~think~~ know little Miss likes going as much as we do! It's the times when she's in the house for too long that she gets whiny and not fun to be around. So this roadtrip was just her style and let me tell you, she is my little trooper!

After a 6 hour drive (all 5 of us comfortably in Shell's company sedan), we arrived on Friday afternoon just in time for the game. We went straight to the stadium, and Reese was thrilled to be out of the car and giddy to soak it all in. (especially the Cracker Jacks that she flagged down the vendor for...not sure how she even knew what they were, but she sure does now and LOVES them)

proud Daddy!

We were able to enjoy an adult dinner that evening til 10:30 or so as she slept peacefully in her orange chariot.

it bubbled like a volcano...yummy!

Friends! (Disclaimer: Reese is right by the camera sleeping soundly)

Saturday brought two games, perfectly spaced to catch a nap in between, and it was refreshing for all of us to get a little mid-day shut eye.

the restaurant overlooking the ball field was a nice break from the heat

our crew

Post (2nd) game we found a great wine bar with live music and a fairly empty patio for Reese to run around on. You know it's all about finding the right venues that make Mama, Daddy, and Reese (and Matt and Shell) happy. We did learn though, that Oklahoma does have a law against kids in a bar, so we had to enjoy our evening cocktail in the hotel lobby vs. the hotel bar. But, we enjoyed it all the same!

The trip home on Sunday was even smoother than Friday. Two little naps and a stop for lunch at Joe T's in Ft. Worth was all she needed.

So, this toddler continues to be a great at adapting to whatever environment we put her in--especially hotel rooms and practicing her favorite pastime.

HOTlanta, it was!

2011-06-02T16:17:00.000-05:00

I took a really quick trip to Atlanta this week to shoot an installation video and product feature video for a new car seat Graco has coming out later this year. I don't know what it is about the product development cycle of Graco's car seats, but I feel like we are always filming in the heat. I think the high was 98 yesterday, and just imagine how it's magnified even more with all of the lighting and being in and out of a mini-van for a majority of the day. I know I'm from Texas and should be used to it (considering we've already had several days over 100), but that's why our electric bills are through the roof for at least 6 months out of the year...WE LOVE OUR AIR CONDITIONERS!

Anyway, I wore khakis instead of skinny jeans this time, in hopes that they would feel a little cooler. And they did, I just felt a little frumpier that usual. The heat was quite brutal though, but Todd at Fraser Films was really great about letting me hang out in the house whenever we weren't shooting. He kept saying, "we've got to keep you fresh". Well, I was far from feeling fresh, but hopefully I looked fresh....enough, anyway.

It was a long day, reporting to set at 8 am, wrapping at 6:30 pm and catching a flight back to the ATX and returning home at midnight. I've done enough of these that the process has become kind of like habit, but the poor makeup stylist, Stacey, had a little more work than normal touching me up every 10 minutes, it felt like since I was basically melting.

Lunch is always a great break, though, when Chef Jaye is cooking. We had a tortellini pasta salad with feta, flank steak, salmon, chilled cucumber soup, and hearty chocolate chip cookies. Yummy, to put it lightly and great perk of working with this team.

Here's a quick look at the setup:

it just looks hot, doesn't it?

this is the monitor the Graco team and the producer watch to ensure all looks good...hopefully this shot doesn't make the cut.

prepping for the product feature video

closeup!!

demoing with a crash dummy how to properly use the harness

So what it comes down to, is the work still has to get done, whatever the conditions. Oh and how could I forget to mention the bee hive located inside the brick column of the carport, just a couple feet from the van. Thankfully they were nice and didn't sting anyone!

A Favorite Pastime

2011-05-24T14:08:00.000-05:00

I'm fairly sure every toddler is amazed by it. What amazes me is the tissue strength to go out of the bathroom door through the hallway, and into the living room without tearing. Maybe I'm spending too much on tp?

15 Months

2011-05-05T08:36:00.000-05:00

The 15 month mark has come and gone, and Miss Reese surprises us with something new everyday. She continues to be a big eater. In fact, that topic is a constant from her teachers at school. Reese loves school and has officially started full-time this week. I'm so thankful that her teachers always have good things to say about her, specifically what a good child she is, always in a good mood and overall how easy she is. That's always refreshing to hear, because she's beginning to get quite testy with us at home. I don't think it's anything out of the norm, but she sure knows how to push her limits doing things she knows she shouldn't.

Given her stats below, I'm thinking she's going to be more like her dad than me.

Weight: 23 lbs 4 oz (60%)
Height: 31.5 inches (80%)

Hardly Lifting a Finger

2011-04-29T14:08:00.000-05:00

We spent Easter weekend out at the ranch again this year, which is always a good time, but an even better time for me when you combine a toddler that doesn't stop and "big kids". It's so true that kids love kids. Reese was so entertained the ENTIRE weekend by all of the "big kids". Miss Reese was so smitten with the Beverly boys, and Laurel and Kelsey Lowke were the ultimate little moms.

getting the eggs ready!

Chase and Laurel helping Reese on her hunt

I think back to when I was a kid, and if there was a baby around, I was attached to it. I loved babies when I was younger (and still do), but we all know it's not quite as novel when you are a parent of one. I think we can all agree that being able to sit back and relax vs. constantly chasing and entertaining is always a nice break.

In true ranch fashion wearing Reed's boots

and here wearing Reed's (or Kelsey's) titanium necklace (they're both ball players and both wear them)

We also celebrated our 6th anniversary over the weekend, and 3 of the kids were flower girls and ring bearer in our wedding. My how time flies!!!

We enjoyed a lovely weekend with the family and even had a few rain showers.

Reese became spoiled as ever being pushed in her Cozy Coupe and pushed in the swing. Hardly lifting a finger makes me a very spoiled mama of a toddler!

For that matter, by the looks of this spread, we're all spoiled!!

Egg Huntin'

2011-04-21T15:35:00.000-05:00

We are just in from Reese's first egg hunt at school. It was fun to be there with her and show her what to do, but all she really cared about was the contents of the eggs. I can't say that I blame her, but isn't the point to get as many in your basket as you can? (at least that's how I grew up doing it) Well, she would pick up an egg, and immediately open it and want to eat what was inside before even thinking of moving on to the next one. Fine, whatever, but you know when it comes to games, I'm a little competitive, and I guess I just need to sit back and let her own personality and wants shine through. So, that's what I did. She didn't come home with a ton of eggs, but she sure enjoyed the ones she did get!

Can you tell how much she is lovin' that marshmellow bunny!?

Birth Control?

2011-04-20T15:01:00.000-05:00

Yes, some may look at this and say, "I never want to put myself through that", but really all of those tears and fits are totally worth it! Trying to get a cute family pic at the ballpark...just a typical day in the life of Team Parker!

It's Wedding Season

2011-04-19T09:33:00.000-05:00

Yes, we still have friends getting married, left and right. Our season started in March with Lindsey's Whimsy's shabby chic affair outside of Brenham. She didn't leave a shabby chic detail undone--what a a beautiful day it was to celebrate a beautiful couple. I especially loved these adorable antique hankies that were present before being seated for the ceremony.

It's definitely the details that set apart one affair from another, and not to mention, it's the perfect way to make it personal and the all about the bride and groom's own style.

and Reese loved these adorable pinwheels

Then we move on to the first part of April for Matt and Linda's affair. JP and Matt grew up together and JP was a groomsman, so we had the privilege of celebrating all weekend in Houston.

Linda is Vietnamese, and they did such a beautiful job of including the Vietnamese tea ceremony as part of the day. It was a long day with the tea ceremony at 10 am, ceremony at 1:30 and reception (complete with an 8-course meal) later that evening. And boy was it yummy!

And how cool to learn about and celebrate a new tradition (to me anyway)!

This past weekend we celebrated the engagement of some family friends, Weston Blackie and his fiance Natalia. It was refreshing to not travel for this one, as the MOG has a place overlooking Lake Travis, where the soiree was held. And a soiree it was!

Because the couple will be getting married with just family and a few friends in Aspen in September, this was a chance to celebrate with all the hoop-la. Complete with the Newsboyz, a jazz band on the porch, fireworks, Santa Margherita, and divine noshes, the evening was absolutely delightful. And of course, the views (that I've shared before), were out of this world, and luckily with a bit more water in the lake.

We've got quite a few more friends tying the not in the next couple of months, unfortunately some we aren't going to make because they are far away destinations like Jamaica and Playa del Carmen (and with not working for the past 6 months, that's just not in the budget). So, for now, we'll try and rest so we can bring our A-game for the next one. Ciao!

Dressed for the Occassion

2011-04-06T16:25:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we enjoyed our first crawfish of the season. I know, I know, I can't believe I've waited this long, either, but if you know Team Parker, you know we LOVE these little creatures and all that goes along with it...a cold beer and friends and family! I wouldn't say that fancy clothes have any symmetry with a crawfish boil, but it was the perfect opportunity to get Miss Reese in her cutie patootie ~~lobster~~....errrr crawfish dress! Considering she's not into them just yet, she was perfectly dressed for the occassion!

We HEART School!

2011-03-23T13:20:00.000-05:00

This post is about 4 weeks overdue, because as I type, Miss Reese is wrapping up her 4th week of "school". She loves it and I love it, too! The decision was primarily made to give me some time to focus on going back to work, because that is LONG OVERDUE. I sure have enjoyed my time at home with her this past year, but I realized really quick that I wasn't cut out for it longterm. Quite frankly, I never planned to be a SAHM at all, it just kind of worked out that way with me leaving Graco and doing some contract work for the first year of her life, and I wouldn't trade it for a thing!

It's clear though, that we both thrive in environments away from each other for part of the day. Currently, she only goes to school 2 full days a week, and as soon as I've found the right fit for my next career step, we'll ramp up to full-time.

We've yet to have crying when we leave, and she is just giddy when she gets out of the car in the mornings. I hear from her teachers that she's quite humerous too. I mean I already knew that, but it's nice to know she let's her personality shine through to others besides JP and me. So, it's definitely a win-win for all of us!

I took some pics of her on her first day, but they are lost or somehow deleted, so in place, here is a pic of her from the day after her 2nd day, hanging out at Zilker Park--it's the best I can do for now.

The New Recommendation

2011-03-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

Wow! I knew it was coming, but didn't realize it would be a less than a week after I posted rear vs. forward facing. I turned on my TV this morning and before I could turn it to my go-to, The Today Show, CBS's The Early Show was introducing the new recommendation from AAP and NHTSA. Then I turn to NBC, and there I watch the same discussion. This is big news, folks, and it's not just for the car seat crazies like me anymore, it's what everyone should be following!

I guess Reese won't be watching that DVD player in the car anytime soon...at least not forward-facing.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rear vs. Forward Facing

2011-03-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

In my time working for Graco, I did quite a bit of volunteer work with various car seat safety organizations as a certified car seat technician. Yes, I had to complete a 40 hour course to get this certification, and I've had to renew it twice. This last time I renewed, I no longer worked for the company, but it was just something I wanted to keep up with. I have become quite passionate about car seat safety, especially since a majority of the time, parents are using them wrong.

Of course, in the end, we do have laws, which don't even begin to cover the ins and outs of car seat safety, but it's the parents that make the decision of how long their kids ride in car seats and whether they are rear or forward facing. With Reese celebrating her 1st birthday almost 2 months ago, it got me thinking that maybe it would be helpful for parents if I provided just a little bit of education on why it is so important to keep them rear facing longer than the 1 year AND 20 lb mark.

The American Academy of Pediatrics set the guideline of 1 year AND 20 lbs before you could move your baby to a forward facing seat in the car. However, I hear they are looking to change that recommendation to 2 years old. I know that seems absurd to a lot of you, but think about it...when our kids are riding rear facing in the car, the seat is actually doing the work on impact. They are facing the rear, which keeps them cocooned and pretty much free of whiplash, whereas forward facing our bodies feel it all. And considering their little bodies and spine are so small and delicate, they can only benefit from staying in their rear facing seat longer.

I know a lot of it comes down to convenience, and I get that, but at the end of the day, it should be about safety, not convenience. Heck, in Sweden, they keep their little ones rear facing until 3 or 4 years old.

Reese has definitely reached the 1 year AND 20 lb mark, but she's still rear facing, and will be for quite a while yet. She doesn't know the difference, and I know we don't ever "plan" on being in a crash, but I know I'm doing what I can to keep her protected in the event that we are in a crash.

So, I will get off my soapbox now, but being educated about these things is a good thing....it can only help us make better decisions, right?

On the Walk

2011-03-09T21:11:00.000-06:00

So, about 3.5 weeks ago, Reese finally decided to "let go" after 3 months of "cruising" and only taking a couple of steps between furniture to hold on to. We happened to be at Grammy and Grandpa's where she decided to take about 6 steps completely unassisted. Since then, she's been on the loose!

And already ready to head out the front door!

The Zoo

2011-03-06T18:30:00.000-06:00

Reese and I have been trying to do whatever we can to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather we've been blessed with lately. So we got together with Baby Neuhaus, and headed to the Austin Zoo.

I honestly wasn't expecting too much, considering most people aren't even aware that Austin has a zoo, and actually it's darn near to Dripping Springs. JP even joked before we went, "oh, ya'll are going to see some goats, cows and birds today?". But, all the same, I knew it would entertain Miss Reese. Of course, it's nothing like a big city zoo, and definitely not like the San Diego zoo, which I hear is the ultimate, but did provide some entertainment looking at common and not-so-common creatures.

We saw monkey's, tigers, peacocks, jaguars, wolves, parrots, cheetahs, goats, pigs, deer, chickens, and more. I was especially impressed with the tigers. I think the zoo has about 5 total and we had the pleasure of witnessing a little tiff between two of them. I say "a little tiff", but I sure wouldn't want to be involved in it. They were scratching at each other, roaring and pushing each other down. And I forget what large animals they are. I don't think Reese even blinked, but Lindsey and I were quite entertained.

So, anyway, not really an "above and beyond" zoo, but definitely a place I will take her back to. Oh, and I forgot to mention, given the fact that it is a bit out of town, some of the views of the hill country are absolutely amazing!

And, of course, while we waited to ride the train, the girls were entertained best by playing in the dirt and picking up leaves and rocks. It's keeping them out of Reese's mouth that is the challenging part for me!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T08:30:00.000-06:00

Uno.

2011-02-09T19:25:00.000-06:00

So, the 1 year celebration has come and gone, but I can't forget to post how we are growing!

weight: 22 lbs 2 oz (70%)
height: 29.75 inches (75%)

Reese took her 4 shots like a champ. Of course, there was a little drama while she was getting poked, but by the time we walked out of the room, she was just fine.

She continues to pretty much eat anything in sight. If someone around her has food, she's on her way to belly up to them and beg just like a little puppy. We put a plate full of food in front of her at meals and 90% of the time it is clean (and 50% of the time she wants 2nd's). She's got a mouth full of teeth--12, I think, so she is becoming more and more of a pro at mealtime.

She is beginning to take a few steps here and there between things to hold on to, but continues to cruise for safety or uses her walker to get places. She's still a scooter, but has begun to crawl a little bit, especially on carpet. I guess she figures on the slick floors, she can get to where she wants to go quicker if she just scoots.

She can tell us where her tongue, nose, mouth, teeth and ears are. Her favorites are Pink Bear, Monkey, and all of her new dolls. And she absolutely LOVES her new chair and stays in it for the duration of Your Baby Can Read and Praise Baby. It just amazes me sometimes what all she knows, and I know this is only the beginning!

She Had Her Cake and Ate It Too

2011-01-28T15:29:00.001-06:00

TWICE! I mean, it was her birthday and all, and she didn't eat it all the first time, so we let the sugar settle, then brought it back out for round 2.

Round 1:

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I want her to wear her cute shirt again throughout the year, so I thought it best to just take it off of her...I'm sure she'll be loving me when she sees these in 15 years.

She pretty much did exactly as I thought and had the icing spread all around. She did start off a little slow though, by picking the green icing dots off the edge, but it didn't take long for her to get down and dirty with it.
Round 2: (a bit on the tamer side)

Happy 1st Birthday to Our Sweet Little Monkey

2011-01-26T15:33:00.000-06:00

Wow! What a glorious, magical, amazing and beautiful year it has been. I can hardly believe the 1st year landmark has already come and gone. We have been so blessed this year to have our sweet little lady in our lives and we thank the Lord everyday for what a blessing she has been!

Of course, we had to commemorate the joyous occasion with a par-tay, and what a glorious, magical, amazing and beautiful day it was. Since Reese's birthday landed on a Saturday this year, the actual day was the perfect day to celebrate with our family and friends. And, thank goodness for the beautiful weather we had so that we could enjoy being outside--otherwise we probably would have been a bit cramped in the house.

I enjoyed every minute of planning this soiree and I was just thrilled with the way everything turned out, so of course, I'm going to have to share some of the details.

These adorable invites were an inspired by a design I found online, but I'm totally into doing my own invites because I can do them exactly how I want them and a lot cheaper! So, with a little help from JP, Snapio (and Illustrator, of course!), the end result couldn't have been cuter!

You are probably starting to see a trend here of all things pink (and green). I just think gerbera daisies are the perfect fresh flower for a little girl's day. And I was able to reuse the paper lanterns from our wedding to add a little flare.

I decided to go with cupcakes rather than a cake, because they are just too easy to deal with, and you can't beat the tasty ones SAMs makes. Then I went one more step and ordered these ADORABLE toppers from threekidspartyshop on Etsy. I have to say, I'm a bit obsessed with Etsy right now and it was the perfect go-to spot to put some personalized touches on this party.

Of course, the birthday girl had to have her own little smash cake too, and she loved every minute of it (pics and video to come). Threekidspartyshop did this topper too, and it was just perfect!

And, if you're a Parker grandkid, you're sure to have the cutest, and tastiest cookies at your party too! My MIL (Grammy) is so stinkin' talented and creative and everyone went home with one of these adorable monkey cookies.

And here is a glimpse of the birthday girl in her party frocks. Again, all ordered from Etsy. MaddieBugBaby did her adorable shirt (which we plan to wear all year!) and her pettiskirt came from TwoAngelsBoutique. If you're in to pettiskirts, they have EVERY color you can think of at really reasonable prices.

A Little Game of "Boo"

2011-01-19T11:53:00.000-06:00

An Adult 24 Hours

2011-01-18T11:16:00.000-06:00

This past weekend we had the joy of attending one of my pledge sister's weddings in Houston. Reese was not invited, nor would I have even considered taking her if she was. It's events like these that make a great excuse to make it an adults-only day (and buy a new dress, of course). It was so great to reunite with all my Theta ladies and enjoy a beautiful reception at The Rice. Everything was beautiful and congrats to Elizabeth and Kyle on their I-Do's.

Thanks to Grammy and Grandpa, we thorougly enjoyed our adults-only day--it does a body (and a mama) good!

Celebrating 106 Years

2011-01-10T21:53:00.000-06:00

We headed to the ranch this past weekend to celebrate a very special lady's 106th birthday. Yes, you heard correctly 106 YEARS! Aunt Cornelia's birthday is actually a week and a half away, but with other scheduling conflicts, this was the weekend to celebrate. And, you know you have to celebrate when it's something like 106 years!

As I mentioned in my post about her last year, she did not have any children, so her nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great, and so on are like her children! About 35 of us gathered at the ranch to celebrate this past weekend and what a beautiful day it was! Aunt C arrived from San Angelo a little after 10 am and didn't leave until 4:30 in the afternoon...I think she was pooped!

Of course, it's always great to see her and celebrate with her, but an event like this also brings lots of cousins we don't get to see very often. I think Reese grew up a bit this weekend. She had to run with the big dogs, and I mean that literally. They were pushing her little walker around and Reese was literally running behind it trying to keep up and laughing the whole way! The great thing about the new Lodge at Schulz Ranch are the large open spaces to get up and go!

And Aunt C loved every minute of being with Miss Reese. She couldn't take her eyes off her and really got a kick out of her being an "endless pit". It's so fun watching the interaction between them and remembering their age difference.

So, I'll leave you with the chorus from the song that was written for at her 90th birthday celebration, which is a true testament to how special this lady is to her family and really everyone who knows her.

Aunt Cornelia, we're here to say we love you

Your cheerful ways and kindness warm our hearts
You know we're thinking of you, we celebrate your life
And we say Happy Birthday now to you,
God's blessings too!

Family Photo Shoot

2011-01-07T14:39:00.001-06:00

My main goal in scheduling a family photo shoot was to get a good shot of the three of us for our Christmas card this year. I achieved my goal, but was a bit disappointed in the print job I had done as the picture looked like there was a major shadow cast on it. But, I was not about to go through a re-print, as I just wanted to get them out, so if you recieved one, this is how the picture was supposed to look.

We had a fabulous time posing for these pictures with Meredith from Meredith Greager Photography. It was the first part of November (just after daylight savings time) and we chose to do them behind the Four Seasons next to Lady Bird Lake here in Austin. I have to say, the setting was superb...it's beautiful back there! Here are some of our favorites.

11 Months

2011-01-05T15:11:00.000-06:00

Reese also celebrated her 11 month birthday on the 22nd along with her daddy's birthday. Of course, we've been mostly focused on the holidays this past month, but I still wanted to be sure and post for 11 months, even if it is late.

What's new:

her hair is FINALLY growing. I have a feeling she is going to have somewhat of a mullet to begin with because the back seems to be growing much faster than the front
she is a pro-scooter. It's quite humerous watching her "scoot" around the house (and she's fast!)--I'm fairly confident she will never get on her hands and knees and crawl!
she'll probably be walking any day. She takes quite a bit of caution and won't walk anywhere she can't hold on to something, but boy does she know how to get around via her feet. I'm sure it's just a matter of time that she actually lets go and runs!
6 teeth and a couple on the way
she's a human disposal. Seriously, she eats just about anything and a lot of it! We call her the "endless pit"

It's hard for me to fathom that my next post like this will be announcing her 1st birthday! It's been a grand 11 months and we can hardly wait for her to dig in to that cake as we celebrate 1 year!

A Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-01-04T16:36:00.000-06:00

I only wish I could be as diligent as all you other bloggers out there and get my Christmas posts out on time, but because I didn't, it's gonna be all wrapped up here!

I think back to this time last year and how I was growing quite large with only 4 weeks to go before Reese was born. Then I look at all of our celebrations and festivities of the Christmas season this year and thank the Lord for bringing us such a beautiful little lady to entertain and delight us. I mean, I know we weren't bored before, but dang, did we just twiddle our thumbs before her?

Christmas 2009

So, really it was a most wonderful time of the year, and we enjoyed every minute of it with our friends and family. We headed west to the ranch on the 22nd to spend Christmas with my family, with a stop in Fredricksburg to celebrate JP's birthday. Good wine at Lincoln Street and beer-battered 'shrooms at Auslander....yeeeaaaaahhhh! JP didn't seem to have a lot of luck in the deer hunting category this year, as Christmas day came and it was time for us to leave, but one last drive around with Michael yielded an axis doe. And let me just say...that is some good eatin'! I'm also having the hide tanned and looking forward to new pillows for my sofa...you know I saw some at Christmas Affair for $120 a pop!

So, back to Austin we go on Christmas day evening (after the deer had been cleaned and cut up). Then, to Brenham we went on the 26th to celebrate with the Parker's. Yes, we were on the road quite a bit, which is fine for now, but I do look forward to Reese waking up at home on Christmas morning sometime in the future.

Many people have asked me how Reese enjoyed her first Christmas, and quite frankly, I think she was pretty much oblivious to it. Yes, she is enjoying her new toys, but all in all, doesn't have a clue! Even though I'm planning a nice party for her 1st birthday, I'm totally aware that it too won't mean a thing at this point in time. I really thought she would enjoy opening presents, but actually all she wanted to do was eat the wrapping paper (which she did...it's great protein, right!?)

So, really, I'm already looking forward to Christmas 2011, because I know Reese will still be very young, but I know it will be much more magical for her than this year (and hopefully she's as easy going when we go to see Santa)!

A Christmas Kind of Weekend

2010-12-13T10:41:00.000-06:00

Enjoying Friday night Happy Hour at the Domain with Katy

Meeting Santa and getting ready to sit on his lap. Had to really check him out first.

"Santa! I (now) know him!" I'm sure next year won't be quite as easy.

Lunching at Flip Happy Crepes with Grammy, Aunt Lauren and Cousin Emma before The Austin Children's Nutcracker.

She May Not Be a Crawler...

2010-12-09T22:13:00.000-06:00

...but she LOVES her walker! Kinda a funny thing, she hasn't attempted to walk with this for several days (and before that couldn't do it on her own), and we put her behind it today, and much to our surprise, she was a pro!

Who Needs it Anyway?

2010-12-02T10:52:00.000-06:00

So a new yellow pages showed up on our doorstep on Monday. Who even uses a phonebook anymore now that we all have iPhones and Google? I know I sure don't, so as much as Reese loves tearing up magazines and paper, I figured I'd let her go hog-wild....and she did!

Oh, and in the event that Google doesn't have a listing I need, I'm keeping the CD ROM version that was also sent with the hard copies--you know, just in case.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2010-12-01T10:39:00.000-06:00

...and Reese is lovin' it! Of course, getting the decorations up isn't something that happens in one day anymore, but Reese has been a good little elf!

She's really enjoying her nativity that Honey and Grampy bought her last year, complete with the Inn at Bethlehem, manger scene, and the 3 Wise Men. Of course, I'm not sure if it will ever look this put together again...

Here she is sporting her ADORABLE gingerbread apron Grammy made her. I wonder what she's going to make?

10 months

2010-11-29T21:09:00.000-06:00

Wow! I haven't been doing a very good job keeping up with things lately on the blog, so I'm going to use this post to get caught up.

The past month has been filled with more football, reunions, hayrides, a trip to Fredricksburg, a quick trip to the ranch, and much more...hmmmm, maybe that's why I'm so behind! Miss Reese loves to be on-the-go (and her Mama does too), so we try to keep it that way.

hayride with the Ahrens fam

loving the slide and looking forward to many more days in the "jumper"

She is still not crawling as we all know crawling, but has figured out how to get around as long as she's on the carpet or tile. Don't let this confuse you with being mobile. She is a cruiser! She walks laps around the coffee table, or anything else she can reach and walk to. I'm still a bit leery of whether she will ever be a conventional crawler.

We have a great eater on our hands, although, I'm already worried we've created a monster. She would much rather have risotto and creme brulee versus Gerber ravioli or applesauce. She's got four teeth and two more on the way. She's been a champ at transitioning from the bottle...we are just two days in to no bottles, but before that she only had one before bed, so I'm pretty sure doing away with the last one will go smoothly too.

I've been putting off "baby proofing" my house since she hasn't hasn't been truly on the move, but I think it's time....especially since JP went in to her room this morning only to find our little lady standing up glaring at him from her crib.

Oh, and how could I forget Thanksgiving! Well, I know my husband would love to forget the game, but seriously, we have so many things to be thankful for, namely our Lord and Savior, and family and friends, who we love so dearly. Of course, Reese was one of the first things that came to my mind when I thought about Thanksgiving this year because she has truly brought such joy to our lives and we are so thankful for the past 10 months as we have watched her grow.

I know it doesn't look like it here, but Reese was so happy to see Will on Thanksgiving at the tailgate...it had been a while!

....and now on to the Christmas season...one of my favorite times of year!

Elle & Reese: already great friends!

with Leisha and Leslie at a much needed girl's night out at A Christmas Affair (note the tumblers of wine...the line to the bar was too long to stand in again...everyone was doing it!)

bath in one of the new sinks at the ranch and lovin' the washcloth!

Embracing It

2010-11-22T16:16:00.000-06:00

So, I'm sure it's just a phase (at least I hope it is), but Miss Reese has been quite clingy and crabby the past week or so. I mean if she isn't sleeping, eating, outside or watching Your Baby Can Read, she is little miss antsy pants and fusses. I'm fairly certain she is cutting some new teeth, because this temperament is not her norm. Let's hope it comes and goes fast, though, because it's wearing this mama out! I mean, I make quite the to-do list for myself at the beginning of the week and constantly picking up and consoling a fussy baby makes things go r e a l l y s l o w l y.

But, last week, my mom said something that made me think, she said "enjoy holding her now, because there will come a time when she won't want to be held", and I think "...and too big to be held". So, I'm trying my best to embrace this "clingy" time and enjoy snuggling with my little one. Yesterday, she woke up from her nap and I knew she needed to rest a bit more so I sat on the couch with her (and paci and horsey, of course) and she slept in my arms for over an hour. Of course, my mind was listing out all the things I needed to do, but it was ABSOLUTE BLISS watching her sleep in my arms...something that hasn't happened in months!

So yes, I think I'm doing a pretty good job embracing this phase, but even today she seems back on the path to greatness.

Trick or Treat

2010-11-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

I hope all of our future Halloween's are as wonderful and smooth as Reese's first one. She was the cutest little duck I've ever seen and never once tried to take off her (duck) hat. She embraced everything the day had to offer, including hanging with great friends, enjoying some good grub and trick or treating with Elle Ehlert the Owl. So I guess next year I can expect a constant bugging to eat more candy.

Super Caroline, Reese the Duck, Elle (not in costume yet), and Eli the pumpkin

Shelley is quite a kid at heart. Tons-o-fun was had in the cozy coupe!

now in costume

starting the trick or treat trek in the wagon

Saturday Night Lights

2010-11-01T14:06:00.000-05:00

Well, we all know Texas isn't having their best season, but that doesn't keep us from enjoying a beautiful Saturday at DKR. We are finally beginning to see hints of fall, which makes tailgating and watching the game that much more enjoyable.

9 Months

2010-10-27T16:14:00.000-05:00

So here we are at the 9 month mark and Reese is still not crawling. The more and more I read about this and talk to her doctor, it is actually completely normal, especially since she isn't lacking in any of the other developmental milestones...she's just going to do it on her own clock. They say many babies skip crawling all together...who knows, maybe she'll be one of them! She's gotten quite good at scooting in a circle on her bottom and moving backwards on her stomach, but just not crawling forward on her hands and knees. Of course, I know it will be a whole new world for us all when she truly does becomes mobile and I'm enjoying that I can still set her in one spot and know that she's probably only going to move around that 3-6 ft radius, but what parent doesn't want their little one to master this milestone in a timely manner!?

9 month stats:
weight: 19 lbs 14 oz (74th percentile)
height: 29 inches (90th percentile)

Boy have we been busy this past month! Of course there was the big trip to Vegas, Round Top Antique Festival, TX/OU in Dallas, and Finley's 1st birthday party just to name a few.

Reese is showing her personality more and more everyday...she is such a ham! She is such a sweet little baby and we are looking forward to what's next!

lunching in Dallas with Daddy

one of her favorite things...standing up in her crib

having fun with Emma

lovin' the big ball

tailgating with Amy...just sorry we missed Will...AGAIN!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

2010-10-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

So, it's fall, even though the weather here in Texas doesn't really show it. Hopefully things will be cooling off soon! Even with the warm weather, it's still pumpkin season! Our church has quite a nice little pumpkin patch set up, so I decided to take Reese and introduce her to all of the orange goodness (and make it a photo opp, of course). Our friends Lindsey and Caroline joined us and the girls seemed to be more interested in the hay, grass and eating dirt than they were in the pumpkins.

Reese also had a little fall off the bale of hay I had her propped up on, but of course she survived and I'm sure there will be many more.

I guess the morning light is to blame for so many of the AMAZING shots I got. It was impossible to wittle my favorites down to just a couple, so I'm posting several.

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Reese Does Vegas

2010-10-22T09:36:00.003-05:00

So for the past 6 months, I've been working for Graco, teutonia, and Aprica via contract to plan the their show space (equalling a whopping 8200 sq ft) at the 2010 ABC Show. Once again, the show was held in Vegas and since I needed to be out there for a full 7 days, I asked Honey and Grampy if they would be willing to bring Reese out, so that I didn't have to miss her for a whole week. They had been wanting to make the trip anyway, since so much has changed since they had been out there 20 years ago. It was a long week, but I'm so glad my little lady was there for part of it, because I think I would have been miserable without her. Here are a few pics of the booths, which turned out looking absolutely spectacular!

I asked Honey to write a little bit about their trip with Reese to share on the blog...so here it is:

Earlier in the month, Honey and Grampy had the occasion to spend some quality time with Miss Reese. Her Mother was on a project in Las Vegas so we took her out to so she could be with her Mother part of the time. The airplane ride was uneventful---she took two naps, one in Grampy's arms and the other in Honey's arms. Reese was awesome---wooing the hearts of those around her. In Vegas, she was sighted at multiple high end restaurants. ( Her Honey and Grampy love fine dining.) Reese enjoyed the likes of Emeril's, NOBU, Mario Batali's, and Michael Mina's Nob Hill. She was soooo good at all these places, taking in the sights. She really enjoyed strolling through the casinos seeing all the flashing lights and hearing the sounds of others hitting the jackpot.

Reese adjusted well to PST from CST. She made up an hour every night so by the time it was time to go home her body adjusted to the 2 hour time difference. The first morning she was up and ready to play at 4:30 am.

It was an awesome trip both for the grandparents and Reese. There was a close bonding, something that Honey and Grampy will never forget.

I'm a bit sad that the only pics we have from this excursion were taken on our iPhones, but here is one of Reese and me getting ready to watch the water show at the Bellagio...it never disappoints!

Giggles: My Saving Grace for the Next Few Days

2010-10-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, watching and listening to my little one giggle is one of the best things about being a parent. It's sheer delight for both of us!

I'm leaving for a week-long trip to Vegas early tomorrow morning and will not see Reese again until Sunday when my parents bring her out there, so this will be my saving grace until then!

8 Months

2010-09-28T10:24:00.001-05:00

Wow, I can't believe we are closer than ever to the 1 year mark!

We continue to be amazed and crack up laughing everyday as Reese's little personality is coming out more and more. I think we've definitely got our work cut out for us!

She still isn't mobile, but if we can get her on her tummy long enough (without throwing a fit), it does seem like she has some interest in moving, but just can't figure out how to get up on her knees. She loves to stand--on her own, though. Of course, she's not pulling up quite yet, so to get in that favorite position, she has to be put there.

Of course, it's football season, so that is really the majority of what we've been doing lately (on the weekends, anyway) and Reese is loving every minute of it.

everything still goes straight to her mouth

just look at that grin

our ball girl at the Austin Hamptons Party

Wreck'em/Hook'em?...one confused little lady

gameday with Elle Ehlert

A Roadtrip Weekend

2010-09-23T21:57:00.000-05:00

So we packed it all up and headed to the LBK last Thursday night. It's really the only chance I get every other year to make the trip because most of the football games overlap with Texas home games, and I'm not making the trip solo. It was such a fun (and tiring!) weekend, though it didn't have the outcome I wanted, I think I can take it better than JP could if it would have been a loss for Texas, so there ya go.

We were pretty much on the go the entire weekend, meeting up with friends, old neighbors, and hangin' out at all my fave places from college. I took so many great pics, too, that I decided to simply put this little slideshow together since there were just too many to post....enjoy!

Born to Be

2010-09-15T15:57:00.003-05:00

...a college football fan! And I keep it general here, because as most of you well know, JP and I went to two different Texas schools. Of course, Reese (just like her mama) will wear her UT best almost every weekend as we head south to tailgate and cheer the Longhorns to victory. But, she also owns several ADORABLE Texas Tech frocks too in which I heart dressing her up in. I guess I pass along my thinking to her in that she can cheer for Texas every weekend they aren't playing the Scarlet & Black, which in case you didn't know, is this upcoming weekend. So, how does Reese show her loyalty in her frocks during this game? .......she doesn't. Well, she doesn't pick one over the other. She will be wearing a couture (designed by me, constructed by Honey) house divided dress. Of course, we are headed to Lubbock, so throughout the weekend I have other Tech choices for her. I mean, I only get to go to Lubbock every other year, so I've got to rally while I'm there.

even Aggies give cute gifts like this...thanks Melissa...we love it!

But, this past weekend was the first home game in Austin, and Reese joined in the traditions and fun just fine. JP headed down to tailgate at his usual early time, while Reese and I came a little later. She really was such a champ! We stayed in our seats til halftime and then joined Shell up in the Club for some AC and grub. Can I tell you what a difference the AC makes?

trying to stay cool with a cold water bottle and a fan

The National Anthem with Daddy

Thanks for bringing me to the club, Aunt Shelley!

So anyway, we had a great first game experience...and here is Reese in true tailgate fashion...filling her belly before the game. Here's to many more!

(Like a Little Fish) IN A BIG POND

2010-09-14T13:28:00.001-05:00

We headed out to Lake Travis on Sunday during Labor Day weekend to join the Knippa clan at the McCreery's lake house. What a wonderful day it was enjoying each other's company, the beautiful weather (yes, it was a few degrees cooler than the scorching temps we'd been having), boats, jet ski's and good food!

I have to be honest, when Margie called to invite us out, I had a bit of apprehension with the idea of taking Reese on a boat. I think it really all stems from the car seat advocate in me that preaches the importance of correct use of child safety seats, and the fact that we buckle our little ones up oh-so-tight to ride in the car, but casually just hop on a boat with them that is completely open and roaring down the middle of a busy lake. Well, I got over my apprehension real quick, went and purchased an infant life vest, and went for it!

Boy, am I glad we did, because Reese loved every minute of the lake and all it had to offer! She loved floating next to the dock, riding on the boat, and floating in the cove at Cow Creek. I wish I had pictures of her at Cow Creek, but I was too much of a scaredy cat to take my camera on the boat and it end up at the bottom of the lake or water damaged. She just floated around in her life vest kicking her feet like she knew exactly what to do--maybe those swim lessons taught her more than I thought!

It was so cute, as we were loading up, one of our little cousins asked "is Reese a lake rat?". I got such a kick out of that and though she hasn't even had a chance to be a lake rat, since this was her first trip, she could just turn into one (especially since her 'rents love it so much too!)

Here are a few pics floating next to the dock. Thanks again to the McCreery's for having us out...soooo fun!

Like a Little Fish

2010-09-08T15:23:00.001-05:00

So, I mentioned that we recently wrapped up 3 weeks of swim lessons. We did lessons twice a week (30 minutes each) for 3 weeks with Aqua-Tots and Reese loved every minute of it. Looking back now, I can't even recall one time that she fussed during her lessons.

JP came to the second lesson to watch and take pics, and I'm sure he was wondering why on earth I paid good money for these, but the truth is, Reese and I both learned some things and I now feel as confident as ever having Reese in the water.

We had to wait until Reese was 6 months old to even enroll, and her class takes kids from 6 - 18 months, so there was a lot that Reese just physically couldn't do at her age, like climbing along the side of the pool, and using her elbows and knees to get out of the pool. I still spent time at these stations with her though and went through the motions with her so that she was still learning.

This little fishy LOVES the water! We learned how to glide on our belly and float on our back and the first day, the instructor couldn't believe how calm Reese was on her back and didn't resist at all. And going under the water? SHE LOVED IT!

Of course in between all of our activities, there was ever-constant splashing!

7 Months

2010-09-07T10:20:00.001-05:00

This post is several weeks overdue, but I wanted to get something posted before the 8 month mark comes along and we forget what was going on at 7 months. So now let me look back at the calendar to see what we were doing at the 7 month mark and rack my brain to remember what Miss Reese was up to.

Reese's little personality has been coming out more and more everyday. She is such a people person (shocker!) and loves to be entertained (but what baby doesn't, for that matter)! She is most content sitting up and playing with her toys, so rolling over is still something we've only seen a few times. Of course, we know she can do it, she just prefers not to.

She continues to be a baby on the go and likes it that way! It's amazing how her mood changes by simply taking her out of the house (even if it's just in the back yard). We just wrapped up our 3 weeks of swim lessons, which she absolutely loved and deserves a post of it's own (coming soon!). We also enjoyed several days at the ranch recently. Kids love the ranch, and Reese is no different. She was in heaven sitting under the big tree, enjoying the breeze (when it decided to show up) and hangin out with the fam. I'm sure her love for the ranch will only grow as she gets older.

ready for her first day of swim lessons

celebrating Honey's birthday at the Salt Lick

pretty blue eyes!

thinkin' she's big stuff on Swayzee's Power Wheels

Long Time, No See

2010-08-31T17:21:00.003-05:00

Itsy Bitsy Parker aka Reese's Pieces has been neglected lately. I hate this because I guess this blog is my way of "scrapbooking" the happenings in our life, and the fact that it has been neglected means I'm not doing a very thorough job of documenting all the goings-on.

But, what it comes down to, is that there has just been a lot going on for us. This is not to say that everyday isn't crazy busy for the Parker's, but my work is getting crazier, considering this tradeshow I'm planning is just over a month away. I also had the opportunity to pick up another job with Graco last week filming more videos for 2 new Graco car seats. The trip to Atlanta was a fast and furious one, but I wanted it that way so that I could get back to my little lady (she didn't join me on this one, since we didn't use babies in the shoot). Besides that, Miss Reese just keeps getting better and better, so dropping everything to play with her, hug her, kiss her, laugh with her, and snuggle with her is an everyday occurance that can't be missed.

I was apart from her for 2.5 days while I was in Atlanta, which the initial thought of was a bit daunting for me since she has only been on a couple of overnights away from us. But, in the end, it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, I missed her tons, but I was so stinkin' busy, that I didn't have time to let it consume me. It also reaffirmed for me that I need this work/life balance in my life and that going back to work in the next several months, is the right thing for me to be the best parent I can be. Plus, the grandparents did a great job of keeping me up-to-date by sending these great glimpses:

swim diaper made it in the bag, swim suit did not

say it, don't spray it, Reese

my kids for the day on set

Reese split her time between my parents house and Grammy and Grandpa's, staying with Grammy during the day, then with my parents at night. It sounds like she had quite the time--playing in her own little pool, playing with her cousins, baths in the kitchen sink, and swimming in the big pool at the Cramer's.

So, I think this was good preparation for our next time apart, which will be in October when I go out to Vegas for the tradeshow. We will have 3 days apart, then thankfully my parents will bring Reese out to Vegas for the remaining 4 days of the show, because a full week without my little lady would not be a good balance for me.

The Final Product

2010-08-09T14:11:00.000-05:00

My apologies for forgetting to post these, but I have been reminded about them as I prepare to film a few more for Graco later this month. I guess you could say this is Reese's claim to fame (at least for now)!

Even though every new Graco car seat comes with detailed installation instructions, Graco also understands that many of us learn better (and quicker) by actually seeing the seat being installed and quite frankly they want parents to have all of the resources they need to ensure their children are safe. And with the fabulous technology we have today, these videos are just a click away on Graco's YouTube page and product pages on http://www.gracobaby.com/.

Reese was such a champ during the filming--you can find a full recap here or here. I love looking back at these and seeing how much she's grown since then and I can't wait to share these with her when she is older. Enjoy! (and I hope that these may even be helpful for a few of you)

Enjoying the B's

2010-07-26T14:33:00.001-05:00

baseball ::: berm ::: beer ::: babies ::: buddies

What more could you ask for on a Friday night? Oh yeah, fireworks, and they were awesome, but Reese slept right through them.

she wants some...soooo bad!

Nap Nanny Recalled

2010-07-26T13:14:00.000-05:00

Isn't it just a little ironic that I post last week about my love and obsession with the Nap Nanny, and today the CPSC issues a recall on it? Well, I know all too well about what goes in to issuing recalls from my days at Graco, and most often, as in this case, it's because the instructions and warnings are not followed by the users.

I confess, I use the Nap Nanny in Reese's crib, even though it advises against this. Really, I want her to know that is where she sleeps, so that's where the Nap Nanny goes. But seeing this recall and seeing what CAN happen, changes my decsion, and from now on, Reese will NOT sleep IN the Nap Nanny IN her crib. Though she doesn't seem to move in it, I don't want to continue taking the chance of what COULD happen.

I still praise this product as it truly does wonders for babies with reflux, but the bottom line is, if a product is not used per it's instructions, bad things can happen.

Again, here is the link to the info.

6 Months

2010-07-24T13:11:00.000-05:00

Half a year....already!?....seriously? Miss Reese reached the 6 month mark on Thursday and we headed to the doc on Friday for her 6 month visit. She is still a little chunk, but not keeping up in the height category the way she was.

Weight: 17 lbs 5 oz (80th percentile)
Height: 26 inches (55th percentile)

She, of course, has a few new tricks. She started rolling over on her own a couple of weeks ago, but doesn't do it much. I guess she would rather just stay on her back or fuss long enough on her tummy until someone picks her up or turns her over. She is a champ at sitting up on her own, and loves to sit and play! We started cereal about a month ago, and have just recently added some real stuff to it. She seems to love it, but I'm sure I'll have more to post on that later.

Last week, I taught her the tootsie roll. Yep, exactly what you are thinking..."to the left to the left, to the right to the right, now slide, slide, slide...." but her favorite is "dip, baby dip, come on now dip, baby dip". This brings on quite the number of giggles and laughter, whether I'm holding her dancing around or simply dancing in front of her. I'm sure I'd be laughing too, watching this crazy mama dance.

She continues to be the apple of our eye and we just love watching her grow up more and more everyday! It is truly amazing! Here she is lately.

Playin'!

blowin' out a booger

watchin' Daddy

in her tutu

I Bow to the Nap Nanny

2010-07-21T16:25:00.000-05:00

The Nap Nanny is truly an amazing product! I could just kick myself, though, for waiting until Reese was already 2 months old to get it. I just thought, why jump to fork out another $130 on a baby product, unless I REALLY need it--well I REALLY did. I know I've mentioned before about her reflux, which by the way, we diagnosed kind of late, then went on one medicine that didn't work, and then finally to one that did. That coupled with a sleep positioner that actually works and she doesn't fall off was the trick to all of us getting a good night's sleep.

Reese was not a good sleeper in the beginning because she was so uncomfortable as a result of the reflux. It progressively got better with the medicine, but then the Nap Nanny was the icing on the cake. She absolutely loves this thing and from what I hear, so does every other baby that sleeps in one. Their tagline is "everybody sleeps" and that sure is a fact!

Reese has been a champ at sleeping at night for quite some time now (even though I'm just now posting this). So, now comes the time that we try to wean her off of the Nap Nanny. She's had several nights without it, but often she would wake up in the early morning and I end up putting her back in it. I thought she was completely grown out of the reflux, but I don't think she is. So, back on the medicine we went and back into the Nap Nanny we went. Now, I'm trying the nap flat, Nap Nanny at night scenario, which seems to be working quite well. Now, it's only a matter of time that we try to wean her of it all together. Adelyn over at Nine Months to Life has a hard time staying in it, so they are talking about doing away with it too, but Reese doesn't seem to move in it--she loves it that much and sleeps that great in it! I just know that the longer I prolong this change, the harder it's going to be on all of us.

I will always have great things to say about this awesome product! I just hope I have great things to say about Reese's sleep patterns once she's fully out of it!

Our Traditional 4th

2010-07-13T13:48:00.000-05:00

JP and I have spend the 4th of July with roughly the same group of people for the past 9 years or so (I say "or so" because I can't remember exactly which year of college we started this tradition) and look forward to this wonderful celebration every year!

The Loerwald's ('rents of my friend Laci) have been so gracious to host us, whether it be out at their place on Canyon Lake or in the more recent years, in their backyard oasis. The day is always complete with tons of good grub, yummy adult beverages (so glad I could partake this year) and a few fireworks shows. We've been known to still be in the pool in the wee hours--always so fun catching up with everyone!

We were so thrilled to add Miss Reese to the par-tay this year. She, of course, loved being in the water and couldn't even eat, she was so busy taking it all in. We love our traditional 4th and may it continue!!!

trying to get the ball in her mouth

love from Honey

lovin' on my sweet little lady

Another Fab (and Shab) Wedding Weekend

2010-07-11T17:47:00.001-05:00

We survived another crazy fun wedding weekend, but that coupled with the 4th of July, has kept us recovering for several days.

Congratulations to Cyndi and Trae Schultz on your recent nuptials...and what a great celebration! JP and I started it off on Friday with all of the guys from the wedding party over at the casa. Let me just say, things get a bit rowdy with a bunch of guys together, kickin' the party off at 9 am on a Friday morning--I can only imagine what the bachelor party trip was like in Vegas. Then we headed out to the Salt Lick in Driftwood for rehearsal dinner at Thurman's Mansion. We love the atmosphere at Salt Lick, but had never been to an event at Thurman's Mansion--what a great place for events! I could also picture a beautiful indoor/outdoor wedding here.

Saturday took JP to lunch with the grroomsmen at Iron Cactus, so Reese and I met up with all the grandparents for brunch at Taverna--one of my faves! Who doesn't love delish italian fare and $1 mimosas...I mean, really...you can't beat it! We decided to not take Reese to the wedding with us, so she stayed with the Beverly's again. I think Reed and Chase are beginning to think she is their little sister...they are so stinkin' cute with her!

There was quite a bit of worry on how the weather would turn out after a full week of rain, but it turned out just perfect. And thankfully that hurricane gave us some action, because otherwise it probably would have been 100 degrees and miserable. After a beautiful ceremony, I began sipping on Sweet Leaf Tea and vodka out of a mason jar and didn't put it down all night---yummy! The venue, Vista West Ranch, was a perfect backdrop for a Texas Vintage/Shabby Chic affair and all of the details dovetailed perfectly. We left Reese behind on this one, knowing that one of our fave Austin bands was playing and knowing how loud and rowdy things could get. If you've never heard (and seen) LC Rocks, you should! They are an 80s cover band that never disappoints. And let me tell you...they live their work...check them out!

they passed out these awesome sunglasses when LC Rocks started singing "I wear my sunglasses at night..." and I've been wearing them ever since.

Cyndi and Trae, I hope you are enjoying your honeymoon...see you soon!

New Friends

2010-07-08T21:44:00.001-05:00

Of course, they aren't new to us, except for their newest addition, Harper, who is an absolute doll. However, they are new to Reese, and she had a great time meeting her new friends, The Huckert's last week. It's so fun having friends so close, to share our kids with and watch them grow up. I remember keeping Swayzee when she was a little older than Reese, and now she is such a little lady and thoroughly enjoying her new little sister. I'm sure these little ladies will have many more fun times to come!

holding sweet Harper and wiping Reese's drool (of course!)

sweet baby girl!

Reese and Swayzee matched!

Play Date

2010-06-29T21:50:00.001-05:00

I am absolutely loving my time at home with Miss Reese, but the one worry I have had is the lack of interaction she has versus being in childcare with other kids on a daily basis. Luckily, we get out and about just about every day and have great friends in town with little ones to get together with and play!

We had a great time last week with Lindsey and Caroline and look forward to this being the first of many play dates. I could just tell by the look on Reese's face (even though these photos don't show it) that she just loved playing with Caroline. Of course, Caroline has 4 months on Reese and is able to do a lot more with her toys and move around, but soon that age difference won't matter a bit and I know they will be fast friends. Another plus, getting to play with someone else's toys is always refreshing for all of us. And don't forget their other friend Elle Ehlert...I know she will be the ringleader of the whole crowd! We can't wait!

5 Months

2010-06-22T16:15:00.001-05:00

Wowzers! We're almost to the half-year mark. Our little lady continues to amaze us and keep us smiling! She continues to communicate with her voice, ranging from giggles, to laughs, to screeches, to coos and da das. Of course JP says she is saying "Daddy", but of course we all know she isn't consciously calling out his name. Everything goes straight to her mouth, even the soap in the bathtub! Her feet have become her favorite toy, and just today I noticed she had her big toe in her mouth, too! It amazes me how flexible babies are!

As for other milestones, she has yet to rollover. I feel like she gets somewhat close, but honestly I don't think she has any interest in it right now. She is almost sitting up by herself, so I think she might sit up completely unassisted before she rolls over, which quite honestly is ok with me, considering I will have to be much more diligent in where I set her and not turn my back. Of course, I want her to reach these milestones on time, maybe even early, but I'm kind of ok just the way things are now.

We have spent quite a bit of time the past 3 weeks in Brenham for various events. It's been fun hanging out with all of the grandparents and cousins, too! Ta ta for now.

cousin love!

with Grandpa and Finley (yes, they are only 4 months apart)

our attempt to get all 4 cousins in one shot

and this is what it turned in to...Reese was huuuungraaaay!

loving outside with Grammy

loving her daddy on Father's Day

Finally made it into Uncle Mike's arms

Way to go Cubs!

2010-06-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

What a great game to take home the State 4A Championship! We were thrilled to make the short drive up to Round Rock and watch our alma mater play at Dell Diamond.

Tuscany in Texas

2010-06-10T12:28:00.001-05:00

We didn't have major plans for Memorial Day Weekend this year, which was a nice change of pace. So, we decided to jaunt out to the Hill Country for a little winery touring and tasting. I absolutely love that we can drive less than 2 hours and have such neat places to visit, and still make it back home that night.

I love the Texas Hill Country. We drive through Fredricksburg several times a year on our way to the ranch, but usually we are trying to get there fast and get home fast, so we don't stop and take the time to visit some of the great places along the way. We had grand plans to visit several wineries, but it didn't quite turn out that way, but we had an awesome day, nonetheless, that I would be happy to repeat again!

Our first stop (and only winery stop) was Texas Hills Winery, just outside Johnson City. For all of you non-Texas readers, Johnson City is in fact named after our late president Lyndon B. Johnson and his family's ranch is situated just outside of town. We really liked Texas Hills. They have a great Pinot Grigio that actually stands up pretty well to the famed Santa Margherita. One of our other faves was the Kick Butt Cab. If you're ever in the area, it's a great place to stop and have a taste!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot that we stopped in Drippin' for breakfast and here are my two main squeezes

Then, we ventured into Fredricksburg to meet The Rankin's and their new baby boy, Miles. Our timing was off a bit, so we found ourselves at Lincoln Street Wine Market enjoying the offerings while we waited (darn!). Another great place! You can get ANYTHING they have by the glass! Their noshes are great too....I recommend the chevre gouda and some proscuitto....yummy! Miss Reese loved the wine bar, too. She is such a little trooper and can't help but like being out and about. JP and I have truly made her a part of our busy lives, not holding back on much, and she's loved every minute of it.

chillaxin' on the sofa

the little man and me...it was so great to meet you!

We really enjoyed seeing The Rankin's and meeting their newest addition! We finally decided to forego our "Tuscany" theme and headed over to Auslander for some beer battered mushrooms. I really don't have any other recommendations there, but their beer battered mushrooms are THEBOMB.COM!

the boys enjoying some true German fare (the order and a half of 'shrooms weren't enough, I guess)

Awwwwwwe! Two happy families!

So, I'm really looking forward to our next trip to Italy--Tuscany, to be exact--but in the meantime, I'll settle for an 1.5 hour drive to the Texas Hill Country and play pretend.

4 Months

2010-05-27T15:34:00.001-05:00

...and yet another month has come and gone. Where the time goes....I haven't the slightest clue! Reese reached the 4 month mark this past Saturday and my was it a busy month. First there were Matt and Shell's wedding festivities, then my 1st Mother's Day (which, by the way was a great one and I have a beautiful blue topaz ring from my husband and daughter to remember it by), and I've gone back to work....sort of. This post is all about Reese, so I don't want to bore you with too many of the details, but Graco (teutonia and Aprica, too) has contracted me to work on all of the details for the 2010 ABC Kids Expo in October in Las Vegas. So part of my day is also dedicated to this, which makes things CRAZY BUSY!

So, back to Reese. She is a growin' little girl. We went to the doc yesterday and here are her stats:

Weight: 15 lbs 4 oz (85th percentile)

Height: 25 1/2" (90th percentile)

Becoming quite the "long chunk". My mom calls her "chunky monkey". She is really starting to have fun with her toys and of course everything goes straight to her mouth. She continues to be quite the little chatter box, too! The girl just doesn't quit...the only time she really sits still is when she's sleeping. And speaking of sleeping, she doesn't want to miss a thing, keeping her up during the day more than the average baby. She does sleep great at night though!

getting used to her entertainer...her favorite is for me to sing along with Old MacDonald

these are her two bff's

I recently bought her the Jump N Jive doorway jumper (the musical mat is awesome!), and I can't wait until she understands how to use it like Will I'm a little biased about this product, too, because I worked on the commercialization plans for it while I was at Graco.

So, basically, we are just chuggin' along and loving our little lady more and more everyday.

Here she is lately....

with Daddy in the pool

in her float

enjoying an evening on the patio...note the bug on her cheek

loving the duckie

loving bathtime with Daddy

Bluebonnets

2010-05-20T10:26:00.014-05:00

Yes, I know they have come and gone in our great state, but I did have Reese's first spring in the bluebonnets documented. I mean what would life be like in Texas, without photos like these? I would be a horrible mother if I didn't get some. And for those of you out-of-staters, the bluebonnet is Texas' state flower and every spring you see the sides of the highway littered with people taking pictures in them. I'm proud to say that these are NOT on the side of the highway.

There was this great deal through Alicia Cargile Photography that I just couldn't pass up. She was offering the sitting fee for $20 for bluebonnet shots and all of the proceeds went to the Brenham State School. Hello!?, even if there was only 1 good shot, it would have been worth it. Now the bad thing is, there really isn't a bad shot and we have to make some decisions.

Reese was only 2 months when these were taken, so sitting up in the bluebonnets on her own wasn't going to happen, so I had the bright idea to use this antique red rocking chair. It was my grandmother's dad's and I think it really turned out to be a great prop!

These are a few of my faves.

Another House Divided

2010-05-11T15:41:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, the time had finally come...Shelley and Matt's nuptials. We've been looking forward to this for quite sometime, and let me tell you, the weekend did not disappoint. There was literally no detail left undone.

A quick history of this lovely couple, for those of you who don't know:

Shelley: one of my besties from Texas Tech and Theta sister!
Matt: friend of JP's from UT...they worked together for the football team while they were students and now Matt is Equipment Manager for UT Football

These two are so special to us and we are absolutely thrilled to have two great friends ready to spend the rest of their lives together. And we must not forget, they are now members of the UT/Tech House Divided fraternity....woo hoo!!!!

Thursday: A fab Tex-Mex dinner at Matt's Famous El Rancho and then on to the Broken Spoke for a little two-steppin'. Shell's fam was in from out of state so they enjoyed dance lessons, too!

Friday: The Bridesmaid's brunch at Iguana Grill overlooking the lake while the boys played golf at the UT Golf Club. The spread was amazing...my fave was the fried eggs on top of toast and ham with poblano cream. Of course, great margaritas for lunch on a Friday were all I needed to get the party started!

Then we headed over to the Lakeway Resort to check in and get settled. Of course, the highlight of Friday's festivities was the rehearsal dinner. It was at the UT Club at DKR stadium and absolutely not one detail was left undone. When we arrived by the provided transportation (awesome, I must say, to have a few drinks and not worry about who is driving home) we were greeted by Bevo himself. Funny thing is there was quite a bit of foot traffic around the stadium and there were lots of crazies trying to get their pic with Bevo, but we kept shooing them out of the way, because really he was there for OUR party.

Shelley had worked to get the Masked Rider there too, but Transfer of Reins to the new rider was 2 weeks prior and there was already a Tech event scheduled that day for the rider to be at. Up in the club we were greeted with amazing decor sporting a tailgate theme and the godzillatron was in full effect congratulating Matt and Shelley.

There was even a video toast recorded from Mack Brown himself given to the lovely couple. I know it was so special for them! We had drinks galore and feasted on typical tailgate fare with a slider bar...it was yummy! Except for the venue of course being in Austin, everything was divided between Tech and UT. Even the cocktail napkins were UT and Tech jerseys. We ended the evening with a trip down to the field for a few pics and practicing our run through the endzone. It was such a great party and of course a great primer for the big day.

Saturday: Pretty much consisted of a laid back morning and afternoon of gettin' ready, yummy food and mimosas. It was just so fun to be in a wedding with so many other GREAT friends! The wedding itself included another mention of the Rutherford "house divided". The night was so "shelleyfied". Hot pink and orange lighting EVERYWHERE lit the entire venue overlooking Lake Travis, coupled with beautiful flowers and feathers.

Food was amazing...cedar plank salmon with dill, grilled veggies, pasta salad, broccoli salad, mashed potato bar complete with french fried onion strings, caviar and blue cheese, brisket sliders and mac and cheese! Can I go back and get some more? My only disappointment was not getting any dessert (wedding cake, of course, along with fried pies and Blue Bell homemade vanilla for the grooms cake) due to my gallivanting on the dance floor. And my little lady was such a trooper all weekend...she didn't want to miss a thing! I don't think she slept for more than 30 minutes at a time on Saturday and even those little cat naps were few and far between!

thanks to Maurer Party of Five for a great family photo!

"And after the show, it's the after par-tay, and after the par-tay, it's the hotel lobby..." And what would a great wedding weekend be without an exceptional after party!? Honey was gracious enough to let Reese sleep in her room, so JP and I, accompanied by a tub of Cheesy Poofs (which Erika is kindly displaying) enjoyed the ~~evening~~...errr morning to the wee hours.

Sunday: RECOVERY!

So here's to The Rutherford's (man, I'm gonna have to get used to that!)...may God bless you as you enjoy a lifetime of happiness and a very happy HOUSE DIVIDED.

5 Year Jaunt

2010-05-03T16:46:00.002-05:00

Wow...time really does fly when you're having fun! JP and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary last weekend and what an amazing ride these past 5 years have been, especially this past year as we welcomed Miss Reese into our lives.

We weren't quite ready to head off on a big trip without Reese, so we decided to just enjoy this great city we live in for the majority of our Saturday. As we both mentioned earlier, Reese was well taken care of by the Beverly's, so we decided to jaunt around Austin and enjoy the beautiful day. The rule was we couldn't go to any place we had been before...and we stuck to it!

Our first stop was the Shuck Shack on East Cesear Chavez. Such a great outdoor place, complete with a bocce ball court and horseshoes. We were really looking forward to some raw oysters and come to find out, their shucker doesn't arrive until 4:30, so no raw oysters until then. Instead we had the ceviche, which was quite good.

Next stop, 2nd Street District. We headed into Lambert's for a refreshing cocktail and their gourmet frito pie. Let me just tell you that this thing is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! It's basically fritos, a little bit of brisket, goat cheese, homemade green chile queso and a little pico de gallo...I could have eaten 3 orders of it on my own! Then we headed to La Condesa, which is supposed to be famous for their ceviche, but since we already had our ceviche fix at Shuck Shack we decided on the nachos. They weren't your traditional nachos, but oh-so-tasty!

My friend, Megan (who recently moved to Austin) met up with us and since she lives downtown, we decided to go soak up the evening sun a bit on her rooftop pool. It really has such an amazing view of Lady Bird Lake, the Congress bridge and the Austin skyline. We hung out until the sun went down and even watched the bats fly...something we hadn't done yet, either.

that line in the sky are the bats

Finally, 9 o'clock rolls around and we figured we should probably go grab some dinner. We decided on Vespaio on South Congress and it did not disappoint! I think we got on the wait list around 20 minutes after 9 for a 45 minute wait, but luckily we were able to find a tall top in the bar a little sooner. JP and I love sitting in the bar, but Reese is usually with us and it doesn't work so well with a baby, car seat, etc, so it was a treat! The food was AMAZING! They had a special of the day, which was gnocchi with a tomato cream sauce, avacado and lobster, but much to our dismay, they were sold out. Of course, my wheels start turning (I was determined to taste this treat) and I'm thinking they are probably sold out because they were out of lobster, so I asked about just getting the gnocchi without the lobster and it worked! Even better...they added shrimp to it! JP and I shared that along with the veal saltimbocca. Oh and how could I forget our awesome appetizer...just made fresh mozzarela on top of an artichoke puree and tomato puree served with foccacia bruschetta....DELECTABLE!

So, can you tell we are foodies? A good cocktail or glass of wine accompanied by a good plate of food and conversation is all we need to celebrate and remind us of what an amazing 5 years it's been. Love you, babe!

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

2010-04-28T14:36:00.000-05:00

Heidi and I took Reese down to UFCU Disch-Falk Field to see the Texas Longhorn baseball currently ranked #2 in the country play a Saturday afternoon game against the Kansas Jayhawks. AS always we hung out for a while in the left field corner with some friends...Reese hung out in the Baby Bjorn while daddy had an iced cold cocktail to get primed for the game...

When it was finally time to go grab a few innings from the seats, Reese was ready and eager to see what was going on...

The Hittin' Horns didn't disappoint my baby girl, and thus Reese is 1-0 at UT Baseball games...My little lucky charm!!!

This last weekend before setting off for a day of bar hopping, Heidi and I took in the Annual Brenham Day down at the Disch...Though we didn't stay long, we saw a lot of friends from Brenham and Washington County.

Otto Kemper and Ricky Seilheimer always make this event great for family and friends to come and hang out at the ballpark, even if you don't go into the game....

The Maurer's Party of Five were in attendance, of course, and we got to chat it up with them for a while.

Austin, Avery, and Caleb took a liking to Baby Reese and kept her company while we chatted with Wes and Jamie.

Finally it was time to go...Reese got to take in more baseball at Cousin Reed and Chase's baseball games in Pflugerville while Mom and Dad celebrated their 5th Anniversary downtown with a few stops at the Schuck Shack, La Condesa, and Lambert's (their Gourmet Frito Pie is AMAZING!!!) before have a very nice Italian dinner at Vespaio. Here's to another 5 years, Babe! And another... And another... And another....

3 Months

2010-04-26T13:53:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you can all relate...you hear it time and time again, "they grow up so fast" and "love every minute because it goes by so fast". Everyone who has ever uttered these words is absolutely right! I cannot believe that Reese is already 3 months old--time really does fly by when you're having fun.

Speaking of fun...Miss Reese is more fun everyday. We see a little more personality out of her everyday and quite honestly, she cracks us up! She is quite the chatty little baby. It will be interesting to see what she talks about once she actually has a vocabulary, because I can only imagine what she intends for all of her interesting sounds to be as they are today. And I swear she is growing like a weed! JP and I look at her some days and see noticeable differences from the day before...it's wild! She really is putting on the baby chub and I love pinching that sweet meat! She is also learning new tricks everyday. Last weekend Honey taught her to sit up on her own in the Boppy and boy is she proud little baby! She also loves sitting in her highchair and watching whatever I have going on in the kitchen...and tells me all about it, too!

Along with her 3 month birthday (last Thursday), Reese also experienced another first this weekend--her first sleepover (without the 'rents). JP and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday. Our cousins (and friends), the Beverly's, were also begging us to babysit, so it was perfect timing. We dropped Reese off around 1 pm on Saturday and didn't get her back until 2 pm on Sunday. JP and I stayed in town, but sure enjoyed a beautiful afternoon and evening around the ATX hitting up a string of places we had never been to--it was a blast--more to come on our destinations a little later. Reese enjoyed watching the Beverly boys' baseball games on Saturday, attending their school carnival and more baseball on Sunday--thank goodness she likes to be on-the-go! We really enjoyed ourselves, but it sure was great to have our little lady back home on Sunday!

Here are a few pics of the little lady lately...

Girlin' It Up

2010-04-21T13:00:00.001-05:00

As you recall, we did not know Reese was going to be Reese until she arrived, so I had planned a very gender neutral nursery. The beginnings of the nest may have been suitable for a boy or girl, but we've been girlin' it up ever since Miss Reese made her arrival.

The monogrammed panels you see in the pic were planned be it a boy or girl. I had all of the white and brown painted and complete before delivery day and had already planned to do the monogram in silver sage if IBP was a boy and pink for a girl. I also added painted ceramic pink and brown knobs to her dresser. That coupled with some of the awesome gifts Reese has recieved has made for an adorable little room.

So anyway, just wanted to share a few pics of Reese's girly nursery. It continues to evolve, so stay tuned to see the awesome hair bow holder Aunt Lauren made...as soon as I get it hung!

Paci on the Ground

2010-04-14T19:43:00.002-05:00

Reese and I made up a new song today when she was sitting in her highchair, and proceeded to spit out her paci. It goes a little something like this...

(to the tune of the oh-so-famous "Pants on the Ground" from American Idol tryouts this year)

paci on the ground
paci on the ground
what we gonna do
with the paci on the ground

Reese just cracks up when I sing it to her...now I can't get it out of my head and JP is walking around the house singing it too!

A 105 Year Difference

2010-04-10T21:05:00.001-05:00

We headed out to the ranch once again to celebrate the Easter holiday this year. As always it was a great time with family and a great chance for a little R&R. Aunt Cornelia came out for a visit on Friday and since we missed her the last time we were out there, it was her first time to meet Miss Reese, and it was so special!

Before I go any further, I need to give you all a quick history on Aunt Cornelia. She turned 105 years old on January 18--WOW! Yes, that is just 4 days difference from Reese's birthday, so they are almost exactly 105 years apart. Aunt Cornelia never had any children, but her 16 nieces and nephews were the stand-in, and then the great nieces and nephews, and great great, and so on are all truly like her grandchildren and great-grand children to her. PawPaw (my moms dad) was one of her nephews and they were always very close, so it was so special to see her with Reese and see another generation get to meet our matriarch. Aunt Cornelia, along with her late husband, Albert, are also the party responsible for giving our family "The Ranch". It is such a special place to us and we are so thankful for it!

5 generations (with Grandma standing in since PawPaw isn't with us)

Now, I have to tell you a bit about her visit and some of her remarks. As can be expected with 105 years of life, she is a bit confused these days, so she did ask me a couple times, "is this your baby?". She was really in awe of Miss Reese. It was a fairly warm day and Reese was dressed in some play clothes (a onsie and pants), but Aunt C harped on the fact that she needed to be covered up with a blanket so that she would stay warm and not get sick. Well, Reese is a little heater, and we kept a blanket on her to make Aunt C happy, but I have a feeling Reese was quite steamy.

On to her swing. For part of the visit, Reese was sitting in her carseat, with it attached to the SnugGlider and swinging away. She loves it and I do to! Aunt C kept asking, "Is she getting dizzy?"...so cute...we kindly replied, "no, it's just like if we were rocking her in a rocking chair".

I just thought it was all quite humerous to hear her remarks and what was going through her mind pertaining to a baby and such and how it differes from my thoughts and the way we care for babies on a day-to-day basis. What a difference 105 years makes!

A Lady Who Lunches

2010-04-08T21:51:00.003-05:00

It's funny...I always admired the "ladies who lunch" when I was working hard and grabbing a quick bite somewhere before heading back to the grind. Well, during my time off with Reese we've had a few chances to go out to lunch with friends and I must say it is quite enjoyable to have a nice little lunch outing in the middle of the day.

Last Thursday Reese finally got to meet Michele. She had just flown in from NYC, Marita picked her up from the airport, then headed over to meet Reese and me for lunch at Hula Hut. It was a beautiful day and Hula Hut was the perfect place to catch up on the patio, enjoy the awesome weather, and for Michele to get some much needed queso and a marg. Thanks ladies for a lovely lunch!

So, I think I might start calling myself a "lady who lunches"...I could get used to it!

Michele meeting Reese for the first time

Marita finally getting to hold Reese

Lake Austin as the backdrop...one of my fave places!

A Beautiful Day

2010-04-06T09:06:00.003-05:00

On Palm Sunday March 28, 2010, our baby girl became a part of Christ's family through Baptism. It was such a beautiful day and extra special since the event was shared with my 28th birthday. Miss Reese fussed through the majority of it, but as soon as the water hit her head, she was quiet. We use bathtime at our house to make her happy, too!

with Reese's sponsors Matt Parker and Joe & Pam Lowke

Reese's Christening dress was hand smocked by Honey and made by an employee of my mom's. It turned out absolutely beautiful--just as I imagined it.

We enjoyed celebrating with several of our local family and friends afterwards at the house and enjoyed the back yard and beautiful weather. We feasted on chopped beef barbecue sandwiches, baked potato salad, chilled haricots verts (french green beans) with feta, and Emeril's Blue Cheese Waldorf salad. Everything was so tasty thanks to Grammy and Honey for helping (especially since our Atlanta trip was earlier this week)!

Oh, and how could I forget the scruptious Tres Leches cake (with Reese's monogram on it, of course) !? I ordered it from Austin Cake Studio and it did not disappoint in decoration or taste. I was originally going to go with Italian Creme, but considering it was my birthday too, I was a bit selfish and picked my favorite!

Finally, the Grandpa's saying goodbye before heading back to B-town...so sweet!

Happy Easter

2010-04-01T16:25:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Shoot

2010-03-30T09:53:00.001-05:00

The trip to Atlanta was a great one. Reese was such a trooper! I will write more about our travels soon, but this is about what we went to Atlanta to do. Many of you guys know how passionate I have become about child passenger safety and part of it is because Graco is so passionate about it, I couldn't help but be immersed in it when I worked for them. They go the extra mile to provide consumers with how-to videos to assist in the installation process, because we all know how overwhelming it can be for new parents trying to get this new contraption into their vehicle correctly.

So, Reese and I set out for Atlanta to film the installation video for the SnugRide, our most popular seat. Of course it is top-rated and more moms rely on the SnugRide to protect their little one than any other seat.

We started the day on location at 9 am...well, let's say 9:15 for us since traffic was horrific and we were a tad bit late. I'm so glad I don't have to battle that mess everyday...my commute took me almost 2 hours that morning. Thankfully, Reese had a full belly and slept through it all.

First thing was hair and makeup. Considering they shoot with hi-def cameras and such, you're normal everyday mask usually isn't enough. Then once I got dressed it was onto the demo part of the series. We shot outside in a mini-van and went through the steps of how to install the seat using the seatbelt and LATCH.

We had Reese buckled in the seat to show putting the baby in the car , but as soon as I clipped the seat into the vehicle she began to fuss because the bright lights were shining directly into her eyes. We did several takes of it though, so hopefully there is a take that works.

The actual demo took a majority of the morning, so we finished up and then broke for lunch. During the short hour or so timeframe Miss Reese had two blowouts and went through the two pink outfits we had, so the majority of her camera time was wearing jeans and a yellow sweater...our last option since dresses don't really show well buckled into a car seat. You never know what you're going to get with a baby on set!

Then we moved on to shooting the informational/Vanna White-style video. I had done the installation demo videos before, but never this one, so I was a little nervous at how I would do. Of course, our producer along with the Graco staff that was there were great coaches and the teleprompter made it so easy, so I feel fairly confident that it will turn out ok.

We wrapped up the day recording the voice-over for the installation demo. It is amazing that two simple videos lasting less than 2 minutes can take a whole 8 hour day of filming. Like I said earlier, Reese was such a trooper and had several naps throughout the day. When it was her turn to be on camera as we were showing how to adjust the harness around her, she was really hamming it up with the camera guy...hopefully we'll see a few smiles in the finished product.

Final videos to come...as soon as they are edited and in their final state online. Thanks, Graco for a great day! I look forward to recapping this again with Reese one day when she can really appreciate it!

Oh, and check out the Graco blog for their take on the day.

On the Run

2010-03-23T17:54:00.000-05:00

So with Reese's 2 month birthday came her first ride in the jogger. This was one purchase I was really picky about. I love to run and be outdoors and I was determined to continue this once the little one arrived too. So I decided on the BOB Ironman, which is supposed to be the primo for runners. I have to admit after using it for the past two days, I really don't have any complaints. From my time in the baby gear business, I did learn that to be a true jogger, you have to have a fixed front wheel. I know you might be asking yourself, "well how do you turn it?". Well, this thing is so lightweight and maneuverable you simply put a little weight on the back and move the front tire where you need to go...I love it! And, no, my Graco loyalty has not gone out the window...they don't make a stroller suitable for running, however I did get in contact with one of our sales reps to get me the best deal on my BOB, so it does help knowing people in the industry.

Now on to the run itself. Let me just put it this way, if you want burn some extra calories and work harder on your normal run and route, simply put a baby in a jogger and you've got yourself a pretty extreme workout. First of all, you have to push the thing, so that leaves only potentially one arm free to run with. That in itself is an adjustment. And for me, my iPod is also in one hand, so it does become a bit of a juggling event. Hills of course are much harder when you are pushing a stroller. Reese, of course only weighs 11.5 pounds, but that's enough to keep me huffing and puffing. Throw in the crazy wind today, and I found myself having to take a walk in some parts of my route.

So, I look forward to mastering my runs, stroller and all...wish me luck!

Wide awake and ready to go

Must have fallen asleep at the very end...out like a light!

2 months

2010-03-22T20:55:00.002-05:00

We had Reese's 2 month checkup today...my how time flies! She is long and lean weighing in at 11.5 pounds and 23 inches long. We have been battling her reflux and are now on our second medication to try. Beyond the reflux making her uncomfortable, she really is a great baby. I think her favorite place to be is in her car seat, considering it makes her upright enough to feel some relief. It sure does make it easy to go-go-go..which is really all we've done lately, so that is a plus! She's really getting into the interacting stage where she smiles, coos and laughs at us when we talk to her (videos to come soon)...it is truly one of the best things to see that beautiful smile and it just makes my heart melt.

We had all of her vaccines done a couple weeks early since we are headed to Atlanta on Wednesday. We figured we should be on the safe side for her first plane ride. I'm saying my prayers that she does well and is not "that parent and child" that I always used to be so frustrated with on my plane rides and tuned out with my iPod. Oh, why are we going to Atlanta? Well, we are filming a car seat installation and demo for Graco on Thursday. I will be sure to keep you updated on how it goes and the finished product of course, but it's going to be one like this and this that I've done in the past. I'm looking forward to the trip and seeing some of my work friends while I'm there, too!

Here are some of my favorite recent pics of my lovely little lady.

Family Photos

2010-03-22T20:34:00.000-05:00

We also used the Sip n See to get some family photos taken...here is our first attempt.

Reese with the Mama and the Papa

trying to get set for the 4 generations pic

Here we are...Reese still not looking at the camera

even though this is with the paci...I just love it!

with Grandpa and Grammy...so cute!

With Honey and Grampy...we have a trend here of the grandpa's looking at the baby