Our Newest Addition

Losing Sadie was extremely difficult but we knew that there was another dog out there that needed rescuing. After searching for weeks on the Internet, we found Eli! He was at the Chatham Co. Animal Shelter. Parker & I drove out two weeks ago yesterday to meet him...I wasn't sure I wanted to go without Chad (I really didn't want to go without him!) but their adoption hours are short each day and he couldn't get time off of work. So he trusted me to go and see what I thought. It didn't take me long to decide that I loved him and wanted him so the next day I drove out there to pick him up and bring him home! He had an adorable sister who I hated to leave there, but I figured one puppy and a baby would be plenty to keep me busy. Parker loves him and thinks he's hilarious...Eli loves licking Parker and tries to play with him but sometimes gets a little too crazy. He is like my little shadow and follows me around all day...he's having some separation anxiety issues but hopefully we can get that figured out over time. He's such a cuddle bug and has been so much fun to have around so far!

Didn't realize how much he looks like Sadie...

Aunt Brenda's Visit

My Aunt Brenda came to visit us at the beginning of this month...we had such a good time! One of the things she really wanted to do while she was here was take Parker to play at the park. And he of course loved it! We also went out to lunch, went shopping, planted flowers in my front flowerbeds, and reorganized my entire kitchen (thanks A. Brenda - it's so much more functional now)! I'm so glad she was able to come visit us for a few days. Can't wait to see her and the rest of my family Memorial Day weekend!

Parker's Day With Daddy!

Since I ended a nasty cold and horrible cough after vacation that has been keeping me up most of the past few nights, I spent much of yesterday on the couch, which meant Parker got to spend the whole day with Daddy! They went to church together in the morning (And of course the nursery was full so Chad had to take him into service with him. Thankfully Parker behaved through most of it!), spent the afternoon doing yard work and playing, and then went for a walk together in the evening. Chad loved having the whole day with him, and I think it gave him a new perspective of just exactly what it is I do all day while I'm home! I'm happy to say I'm feeling much better today after catching up on my sleep yesterday, although this cough can go back to where ever it is that it came from...

Here are a couple pictures of Chad doing yardwork with Parker on his back. He says his back didn't hurt and that it was good exercise but I'm not so sure about that. Parker's getting heavy!

You missed one, Dad!

Ahh!! This is the life!

A New Favorite Toy

I don't know why we spend so much money on toys when our kids enjoy household items just as much. Look at all the toys in the background that he's not playing with because he'd rather sit in the fabric drawer!

Parker's First Beach Trip

This weekend was Parker's first trip to the beach. We went to Myrtle Beach with Chad's mom & dad, Kari & Art, Shannon & Wade and their girls, Megan & Molly. After a slightly rough start to the vacation (we got rear ended about 9 miles from our resort...car's in the shop getting a new bumper and a few other things, which means I'll be sporting a hot minivan for the next two weeks...) we had a great time! Parker seemed to like the beach and sand, although as usual it was hard to tell. He wasn't so sure about the water. It was so much fun to watch the girls with Parker. They haven't seen him since Christmas. I didn't feed him, change a diaper, or really do much of anything without an audience! Chad & I both had to work this week so we left Tuesday afternoon. It was hard to leave knowing everyone was still there soaking up the sun but it was good to get home. Parker started coming down with a cold while we were there and since he sleeps best in his own bed, we had some looong nights! We're looking forward to a few more days with our family this weekend!

Getting ready to go swimming in his new swim trunks

Daddy & Parker getting ready to swim

Parker & I enjoying the nasty salty chlorine water :(

Megan & Molly feeding Parker his breakfast

Tuckered out from all the activity of the weekend!

Mr. Unemotional

No I'm not talking about Chad! But his son is just like him sometimes! :) The City Park in Burlington has some cute rides for kids, so Saturday night Chad & I took Parker to meet some friends to ride the rides. Parker could only go on the train and carousel since those are the only rides adults can go on. And it was pretty hard to tell what he thought about either one! He didn't dislike them...He didn't cry on either one. But he was so serious that we couldn't tell if he liked them either! I'm sure he'll love it when he's bigger and can ride the cars, airplanes, and boats.

Think he likes it??

Not so sure...?

The train went much faster than we all expected!

It's loud in the tunnel when the "deductor" (as Ethan calls him) blows the whistle.

This particular evening we stayed out a little later than we should have since we had to get up early the next morning for church. And since we went to a friend's house for Easter dinner, Parker didn't get his usual 3 hour afternoon nap which resulted in the biggest meltdown he's ever had. I haven't seen anything like it and I hope I never see it again, although I have a feeling it won't be the last...

Our New Favorite Place

If there's one thing Parker loves, it's being outside! Since it was so nice this morning, Dana & Ethan, Kristy & Ava, and Parker & I decided to go to the park. We used to go all the time last summer but Parker was so little, he slept the whole time and we'd just watch Ethan play. Not so much this year! He absolutely loved it. I think he liked the swings the best, as you can probably tell from the picture, but was happy to play on any part of the baby playground. He even tried to eat some of the mulch...the little stinker would quick put it in his mouth when he thought I wasn't looking!

Lovin' the swing!

So happy!

Climbing on the playground

Way too busy to turn and look at me for a picture!

Sampling the mulch...yum!

Driving the fire truck

Ethan & Ava...aren't they adorable??