7 Months

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!