Bye Bye Curls...

Somehow I let Mike convince me to let HIM give Palmer his first haircut!!! I still can't believe I agreed to it, but he did such a good job. Yes, I do miss his little curls from the back, but he looked like he had wings behind his ears from the front. The back was much longer than the front, so he had a little bit of a mullet as well & it was time to break out the scissors.

Before: Nice Wings

Before: Sweet Curls

During: Mike used some major technique:)

During: I was thinking 'What have I done?!?' at this point!

After: This is still the sweetest little head!

Great job dada- you might have a repeat customer!

Just For Dada:)

To say that Mike has been begging me to update the blog is an understatement, so in honor of this being his day (and the fact that my memory card was FULL:) I decided to crack the whip on myself and download some much need pictures off my camera.

When Mike got home Friday night, we went straight to dinner & then went to the park for a little bit. After going 5 days without seeing this little guy each week, Mike is amazed at how much he is changing from week to week and it is so fun to watch them play together when he gets home. Even after not seeing Mike all week, he knows who his daddy is. They were watching the ducks at the park and he was all cuddled up with his dada! Love it! I have the cutest video of him chasing the ducks but the video cord is packed already- oh well- sorry Mike- I'm posting the golf video below:)

'My Father didn't tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch it."

- Clarence Kelland

While we were waiting for Mike to get home, I let Palmer play outside with his new golf clubs. This is from my phone- sorry for the poor quality- but it's just too cute not to share.

One Week Down...

Well, we survived week one without daddy! Yahoo! I must admit, it was much harder this week as Mike packed up his bags to leave tonight. Last week, it was something new- no big deal- I can handle one week at a time. I have moments where I feel extremely confident & then others... not so confident! Palmer was in a funk this weekend & I think he's just really confused & going through a clingy stage. Going into this, I've just prayed for an end date- even if it was a few months away. Just knowing how long would help me out so much, but that's not how life works, right? I am so thankful that God is in control and not me!

So without daddy here, I've gotten double the hugs & kisses, which I can never get enough of!!!

Week Two... here we come, bring it on:)

A Day In The Life of A One Year Old

As I typed the title, I still can't grasp the fact that I have a one year old- crazy! We had a low key day planned to celebrate Palmer's birthday & the weather messed-up our plans a little bit, but it turned out just perfect. We loved having Gramps & Gogo here with us to celebrate. We started out the day with a blueberry waffle topped with a candle, or course:)

Palmer gave his approval by gobbling it up!

We took this identical picture when we brought Palmer home from the hospital- it's crazy the difference a year makes!

Palmer got to try out his new carseat on the way to lunch... he's still not sure what he thinks.

'It's my birthday people, give me what I want!!!'

Palmer thought he was the best thing at The Green Truck Pub, so he decided to just check himself out- he's in love with himself!

After his nap, he squeezed in some wrestling with Gramps...

... some I-phone surfing with Gogo...

... and practiced some walking with Daddy!

He also got a pre-dinner treat of watching Baby Einstein: Numbers with Gogo & Gramps- he needed to figure out all the hype about the number one;)

We ended the day with a fun bath complete with a birthday faux-hawk!

We love you Palmer- hope you had a great first birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweet Palmer!

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him,

tell of all His wondrous works."

Psalm 105: 1-2

4-28-2010

4-28-2011

Dear Palmer,

Where do we begin- first, today we rejoice for the wonderful year that we've had with you. We give thanks for you & all that your life has added to ours. You came into this world big & strong and have not slowed down one bit! It just seems like yesterday that we anxiously awaited for you to make your grand entrance into this world- that is a moment I will never forget. The first time we held you, heard your precious cries, & breathed in the sweet smell of new life. You started out with your daddy's personality- very laid back, easy going, & mellow- you were a dream baby! As you've gotten older, more & more of your mommy is coming out in you- you have a little feisty side and you know what you want & when you want it- nobody is going to mess with you! We love how one minute you are the quiet, gentle observer and then a rough & tumble boy the next. We can't get enough of your soft, sweet chatter and your smile just melts our hearts. In you, God gave us the perfect gift and you've given new meaning to the words pure joy! You will forever be our little man!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Milestones & Mr. Monkey: 11 Months

Talk about down to the wire... P Man will be 1 in TWO DAYS!!! So, I'm slipping this 11 month post in just in time! This was by far the easiest, quickest, & shortest monthly picture session to date- not sure why because Palmer is one more active child. It may have been the fact that Daddy was home and helped;) I had a hard time choosing the 'official' 11 month picture but in the end, his arm around Mr. Monkey won out. Palmer definitely keeps us on our toes and we fall in love with our little monkey more & more every day

Milestones:

• Not sure of Palmer's 'official' weight, but he sure is heavy (and squirmy!)
• Palmer eats table food exclusively now and we've introduced more & more food to him, but he won't touch a pea or green bean to save his life.
• He loves to rub his hands thru his hair while he's in his high chair (especially if he has food on his hands:) or while he's drinking his bottle- strange.
• Palmer still has just two bottom teeth.
• His favorite activity is to throw a ball & chase after it, then repeat over & over.
• A close runner-up to balls is Palmer's Live & Learn House. He loves to check the mail, ring the doorbell, turn on the light, open & close the door, play with the shapes, & of course the ball shoot!
• He is also enamored with anything that has wheels- he loves to study them with his hands & if he can't get his hands on it, like the wagon, he'll hang over the side to watch them turn.
• Palmer loves to 'help' mommy to the dishes & laundry- who knew beating on a door could be so much fun?
• He loves to open & close regular doors too- he's so cute how he moves out of the way to get around the door.
• He's still in love with himself & almost talks a completely different language to himself in the mirror- it just melts my heart!
• The Exersaucer has been officially retired, but he still enjoys his walker.
• We started letting you watch some Baby Einstein and it's kinda scary how much it gets your attention- we pray there are no subliminal messages because you're taking it all in & hardly move when the video is on.
• Palmer has been sleeping with a lovie for a few months, but he's just started getting attached to a specific one- he loves to rub in on his face & bite it.
• Somehow we've come up with a few nicknames that seem to be sticking- I have no idea where they came from, but we both use them: Bubs, Bubbers, & Bubby
• Palmer, Jake, & Lucy all follow me around the house in a herd- it's cute... but not cute at the same time;)
• He still LOVES Jake & Lucy. He's more drawn to Jake, but Jake says the verdict is still out about Palmer. Now Lucy... she never sent out the jury- she'll let anything rub on her, so she's become P's personal climbing gym!
• I wish this milestone would change, but it hasn't- diapering & dressing- it makes me sweat just thinking about it!

Extras:

Runner-up:)

That looks like some serious thinking Palmer!

'Hey mama, aren't I handsome?' (YES!)

'Uh oh, where did Mr. Monkey go?'

Come & Listen

Come & listen, come to the water's edge, all you who know & fear the Lord.

Come & listen, come to the water's edge, all you who are thirsty, come.

Let me tell you what He has done for me,

Let me tell you what He has done for me,

He has done for you, He has done for us.

Come & listen, come & listen to what He has done.

Come & listen, come & listen to what He has done.

Praise our God, for He is good

Praise our God, for He is good

Praise our God, for He is good

Praise our God, for He is good

He has done for me, He has done for you, He done for us.

Come & listen, come & listen to what He has done.

Come & listen, come & listen to what He has done.

This song has been in my head all day long- it's such a simple prayer, yet so powerful. Tonight I was trying to read Palmer the Easter story and he just wasn't having it- he didn't want to come & listen! So I didn't fight him- I let him play & get his last bit of energy out. Instead, I started singing this song to him & I wanted to weep- I want Palmer to know & feel the power of the cross, I want him to to know what He has done, I want him to fear the Lord- I want him to fall hard at the cross!

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on the take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:10-12