comfort in the old

so many new toys for Christmas and he went right back to playing with what was familiar!

family

It was really fun to watch Parker interact with his cousin this Christmas...he asked where "E-I" was for three days after they went back home.

a little OCD?

Parker definitely gets his OCD tendencies from his father. No question about it. It's pretty funny - Parker makes us wipe off his hands a minimum of 3 times during a meal if any food gets on them...he lets us know if there is a miniscule crumb on the floor to pick up...he loves to wash his hands in the sink, pick up his toys (the daycare staff call him their little "helper")...and now - he's been arranging his new Christmas-gift animals neatly and spaced evenly apart on the bench. Just orderly? Something to watch out for? Right now it's just cute.

appetite...or lack thereof

Parker used to be a big eater. In fact, he'd eat so fast and with so much enthusiasm that we joked he'd one day be a star on the competitive eating circut. These days, not so much. We'll maybe get a few bites of applesauce and bananas, a nibble of bread, and an absolute rejection of anything that resembles chicken. He's doing fine, though....I'm resolved not to be a mom who freaks out over every little thing. If he's hungry, he'll eat.

We took this video the other night....it's fun to hear him start talking more and more. (notice a couple of things....he now also refuses to sit in a booster, wear a bib, or have his sleeves down while eating...funny.)

winter

It's definitely fireplace weather....brrr!

Just in case I don't get another chance to say it before the day...Merry Christmas everyone!

toddler editorial shot

Parker as seen by his 20mo. old classmate at daycare. I was letting the little kids take pictures and this is what I got...pretty good, huh?

turtle soup.

A recap of the crazy effort to get one good Halloween costume picture...