He's growing up too fast!

Wesson wanted to say Hi to everyone today! We had a 12-month check-up with the Vanderbilt GI and our little man is just a runt. No more Nexium! He is 28.75” tall and weighs 18 lbs 14 oz. The normal growth pattern for the first year is to triple birth weight and increase height about 10”. Well, check that off the list. He was 6-2 and 18.5”. I guess he’s just going to be tall and skinny with a lightning-fast metabolism…. Like his Mama!!! Wesson is pleased with the doc’s recommendation of Boost supplements and all the PB&J his heart desires. I closed my eyes and took a big gulp of Wesson’s first milk/Boost concoction to make sure it was going to come through the Sippy Cup fast enough… Boy was it fine! It tastes like a Vanilla milkshake.

On another note, the instruction book that came with Wesson failed to mention how long to do bottles, when to go to the big Sippy cup, etc. Santa and fate have been a big help, though. Santa brought him a REAL Sippy Cup and he loves it. Then, Wesson ended up at WellWell’s house with no bottles one night so he got all the Sippy Cup action he wanted. We offered bottles through his cold, but last night was THE NIGHT. He climbed up in my lap with his Sippy Cup, killed 7 oz. of “milkshake” and was done for the night. We’ll see how it goes for a while. We aren’t pushing him to get rid of it; he’s really just okay with it. Let’s just put two points in the Awesome Parent column and leave it at that. We’ll make up for it when its time to dump the P-A-S-S-Y.

More Christmas!

After Wesson saw what all Santa brought to our house, we loaded up (still in our PJs) to head to the River to have Christmas with WellWell and PawPaw. I love, love, love wearing pajamas for 24 hours straight, snacking on anything edible in the kitchen, watching (or sleeping through) Christmas Vacation and of course playing with all the new goodies as we open them! Wesson liked it too because he ate a million Cheetos and drank all the juice he could get anyone to put in his new Big Boy Sippy Cup.

He is definitely my child. He knew exactly what to do with his stocking... pull all the goodies out!!!

Gigi and Scott brought him this awesome dump truck. After a quick skim of the instructions, Wesson was ready to work!

WellWell, this sure is an awesome present. What is it? Well Wesson, I don't know. You won't get off of it!

Seeing a trend... Yes, Wesson climbed all over every present that was more that 2" off the ground. Good thing we got to him right after this because Gigi's present wasn't full. He would have gone right through it!

 And finally, lets not forget that this poor baby had the flu... Doesn't he just look pitiful?!?! He might have felt better if he would have let us get the thick layer of Cheeto off his face. Nonetheless, a precious picture!

Aubie is here!

The Herds brought Lee and Wesson an inflatable Aubie just in time for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP game. It was only humane, though, to have Aubie stay inside away from brutally cold weather!

SANTA CAME TO TOWN!

Santa came to see Wesson! Here are his goodies wrapped then the final product. One major gift Wesson got was the FLU! Yes, Lee and I made a quick ER run on Christmas Eve morning for what we thought would be an antibiotic to loosen up Wesson's chest congestion. Turns out, no meds. It was the flu. Thankfully, he never ran a fever. We just had a some rough nights and a little more whining than we would have liked during so much together time. You can see from the gift-showing photo session that Christmas and the flu wore Wesson completely out. He's still the cutest baby I have ever seen!

Garth!

I have wanted to see Garth Brooks for so long. He "retired" 16 years ago after the Central Park concert. I have said since then that if he ever came back that I would see him. Well, fast forward 16 years... I saw him! Colby and Catherine "CaCa" Baddour made the trip with us. It was amazing! Words cannot describe our experience. First of all, our seats were awesome! Garth just sang and sang and sang... Song after song after song. We were naming songs on the way home that he didn't play in those two hours. Truly a life event I will never forget. Mayor Karl Dean came out (it was the last show) to let Garth and Trisha know that the city was estimating revenue for EACH of the SIX nights at $5 million... thats $30 million!!! Just incredible. A very nice blessing after such a long road of recovery from the May flood. We Are Nashville... because of great people like Garth!

Oh, The Dust Buster

Wesson LOVES Lee's dust buster! He always wants to help clean out his high chair and other spills. When the opportunity presented to work on the big white chair, Wesson was willing and ready. Look at him take it from Lee! Too cute!

Christmas with Mimi & Granddaddy

We had a short visit with Lee's parents for Christmas, but we have a trip to Charlotte coming up this weekend. We will get to spend more time together up there. Mimi and Granddaddy were kind to entertain Wesson while Lee and I visited with family and friends after we lost Trent. I am so thankful for every memory I have and all those we make each day. 

I had to include this picture to show you how much Wesson loves cards. Lee had this music box playing and Wesson did not give it an ounce of attention. He was busy reading his card. He is still holding the card...

This is the madness of gifts we were spoiled with that day!

Trent Holt 

May 15, 1997 - December 17, 2010

Our family appreciates all the love, support and prayers over the past few days. Trent Holt's time in our lives has been a blessing. Oh, he was so bad so often but nevertheless a true boy. The personality given to the child just needed out, for God new his time was limited and shouldn't be wasted. I'm so proud of the many accomplishments he made in such a short time. Between his good looks, his sports and the Scholastic Bowl Team, he proudly did what he always said he would... He "brought sexy back."

  

Look Who's Walking!

First of all.... Wesson is a walker! More to come on that!

Wesson's first holiday function this Christmas was his party at daycare. He packed up all his goodies and had them ready to give out. Thank goodness for Christmas cupcakes! Then, of course, we had to get a picture with Nannie (Miss Cathy). Boy, does he love her! I think they would both be happier if we posed for a picture before the madness started. Don't they look exhausted? Poor Miss Cathy can hardly enjoy the day. Wesson received another KayKay's shirt from Miss Cathy and a great truck to push around from Sawyer (He drew his best bud's name - How fun!). Wesson drew Maycie's name and gave her a Cinderella CD player because she loves princesses.

One Year Old!

Wow, I cannot believe how quickly your birthday came. When I started taking your monkey pictures, I knew we would one day have a picture of you swinging him around your head. Well, we are getting very close! Your monkey is your friend, though, so I don't know that you will treat him too bad.

• You weigh 18 pounds 12 ounces and are 27 inches tall.
• You have 9 (almost 10) teeth. Your first molar has broken through!
• You talk and sing all the time!
• You sleep from about 8:30pm to 7:30am.
• You wear size 6-12M or 9M clothes.
• You love your Passy when you are sleepy but play well without it.
• You adore all six of your Loveys that Aunt Katie gave you. You have one at the river, one in the car, one in the living room and the rest are rotated through the wash for your crib.
• You went to Whole Milk cold turkey and just had a belly ache the first night.
• You eat like a Champ! You are starting to want more table food than baby food. Sweet Potatoes, Chicken and Apples mixed in any way is a must-have.
• You are pretty good with the Sippy Cup (better at school than at home).
• You want to walk but you get too excited when we practice. You have taken five steps at the most.
• You love playing with Tupperware lids and have a designated cabinet that is "Your Cabinet." You try to get into the others but clearly understand when we tell you that a cabinet is "not your cabinet."
• You love the dishwasher and always such a big help after supper.
• You can go all the way up the steps, but we stay behind you. You haven't been interested in coming back down. If you go head-first like you do into the playroom (just one step), its not going to be pretty!
• You have learned to say "Ah" back at us after we tell you "Ah" because you are about to do something we would prefer you not to do.
• You have always been very social. You smile, cheese and lay your head over at girls in restaurants.
• You give "love" when asked to or for a hug.
• You give the best kisses... mouth wide open and slobbery.
• You love music, watching other children, and just life altogether.

There isn't much you don't like. From now on, I think most of your dislikes will revolve around being told no and not getting what you want. On that note, you have developed the bad habit of holding your breath when you cry. Mama and Daddy really do not like it. Dr. Chen said to ignore you after we have made sure you can't hurt yourself on anything if or when you pass out! Come on, now! She said its a learned behavior and reacting to it will only make it worse. Yes, I know this. I was hoping my first lesson in this would be about repeatedly throwing your cup in the floor from your high chair. Dr. Chen also made the comment that you usually don't see this type of behavior until TWO years old. You are ONE! So, lets just hurry up and get through this phase and move on with life.

Anyways... like before, you did great at the doctor's office getting your shots. You don't really scream of pain. You are more broken-hearted that your friend would hurt you like that. Its like you look at the nurse waiting for her to say she is sorry. You got some pretty hefty vaccines this time. The MMR liked you so much that you presented every side effect possible! Here is your pitiful rash that broke out after almost two weeks! Maybe it will all be over soon, just in time for Ho-Ho to come!

 

You are precious and we love you tons!

Thanksgiving

We were very thankful for our lives, our family, and our friends this Thanksgiving. But, we were also thankful for The Nolans inviting us to Florida for a few days! Wesson stayed in Scottsboro with Granddaddy and MiMi. He had a great time and was actually manageable after a 4-day stay with grandparents. I thought it was supposed to be terrible. I'm sure we'll get another shot at it.

So, off we go to Destin! It was very odd not to be with immediate family, but friends are important, too. Dan and Anna served a beautiful Thanksgiving meal that we could have eat for a week! Then, it was off for the fun. Lee went deep sea fishing and caught six red snapper, among other things. Here are a few shots from their day...

I opted out since it was a quick trip and I didn't want to spend it trying to stop rocking. So, I found a few other things to get into!!!!

Yep... I went to the outlets at midnight!!! I have never in all my life! I did get some great deals, and I knocked out my Christmas shopping very quickly! There were tons of families that said they spend Thanksgiving at the beach just so they can shop Black Friday at the outlets. IDEA?!?!

Living Life

Between Halloween and Wesson's birthday, there were no major events.

Just life at the Parker house. Here are a few of our moments...

Front door finally complete and adorned with pumpkins, a fall wreath, and gorgeous

twirly trees that I got for my birthday from Mama, Daddy, Ginny and Scott.

First face plant... inevitable, I know. Wesson got a little brave a little too close to a TV tray.  

Played, clapped and danced with Monkey. 

Going on 1 million miles on the School Bus. By far his first favorite toy. 

Fell asleep eating a PB&J after a long day at school. 

No, we didn't leave him like that long. 

Updated the mantle with the precious baby, which, I must say, he loves.  

Got several new hats for these cold school mornings. Wesson loves the morning and loves to here "lets go to school." (Not Daddy, just Mama & Wesson, Daddy is not a morning person.) 

Got a few birthday presents in the mail and tore the paper into a million pieces. 

and... got a BIG box of toys from Aunt Katie!!!