3 Generations of Parker Women

3 generations
This was fun, Mak had started to cry so I was trying to get her to smile.
Makenna being prim and proper!
In her blessing dress and tuckered out from the hard work of posing in all her cuteness!

I love JC Penney photography! They have always done such a good job with my family. So, I thought I'd share some and hope I don't get in any trouble.

Mak had her 4 month check today...she is at a healthy 13 pounds 5 ounces and 25 inches long. She's right where she should be on the growth charts. While #1 went with me, #2 was at school and #3 got a rare treat by going to have some "grandma time". He loved it! Sam is at the age where he wants to do what the big boys do. So when they go with Gram or Aunt Deb, he wants to go too. Never, in all my life, did I imagine I'd have 2 kids in diapers at the same time! But I do love them. DH and I were talking the other day about how they look alike (except for the obvious skin tone difference!) and I said "Maybe they were supposed to be twins and Sam was so excited to finally be coming to us that he didn't wait for her!" He's always rushing from one thing to the next. DH thought that was cute.

Enjoy!

Part 3 - The 1/2 mile run

SUPERBOYS!!

David and Andrew before the race
David coming toward me and Andrew in the background
Andrew from behind

And wouldn't you know that as they crossed the finish line my camera died??? AAAHHHH!! But, at least I got these shots. David had a fun run at his school one of the nights we were visiting and Judy asked if Andrew could participate as well. Boy, did she earn brownie points with Andrew! Andrew had such a great time with David. David was such a good sport and so sweet with Andrew. He kept running back to keep Andrew going and said he tried to stay with him because he didn't know anyone there. So, now Andrew has moments of being excited about running. That is an interest I would love to cultivate in him.

It was fun to introduce Makenna to her (one of her names!) namesake, Aunt Judy. Samuel flirts shamelessly with Judy and totally got into trying to play with the big boys. Alas, we didn't get to visit for very long, but hopefully on our next trip we'll get to remedy that.

Just a sidenote, Makenna rolled over for the first time this morning and up onto her elbows! She knew she had done something!

Road Traveled Too Long! Part 1

Well, we finally made it back! It kinda went a little like this over the past 17 days:

*Shocks went out in Vegas...must repair
*Rotator cuff injury for Suzanne was a nightmare...intense pain, could not lift babies!
*Okay, who ordered the winter weather? Nothing like watching a 4 year old catch snowflakes in his mouth for the first time.
*Note to self: must buy stock in the ibuprofen industry...love whoever invented it!
*9450 foot summit at Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado...AWESOME! Never saw so much snow in my life and more started falling as we were going through. Did anyone tell the weather god it's the end of MAY??
* Notice DH has golf-ball sized lump on his face...bad-tooth abscessed...no whining from him...REALLY! Refer to ibuprofen comment above!
*Meet my nieces girls and visit with her hubby, see a happy, healthy, beautiful Candice.
*Get to see Wendy, Adam, and meet little James (what a cute, cuddly grandson I have!) FINALLY! Introduce Makenna to her awesome, beautiful big sister.
*Load my kids and grandkid on Uncle Herb and take TONS of pictures. He BBQ'd us some yummy steak too!
*Visit with Aunt Judy, Uncle Mike and David...Andrew ran his first official 1/2 mile fun run and loved it!
*Drive down US 89 in UT and encounter more of the fluffy white stuff...what the heck???

More details will follow over the next few days. I really wanted to share some of my favorite pictures so far...so here they are!

Andrew admiring the Welcome to Colorado sign
My handsome 4 year old experiencing unabashed joy in the snow!
I love pictures like this! My DH shares his warmth with our babies!
Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs
My beautiful niece, Candice, with my little Baby Mak!

I will share more in the days to follow, like watching James snuggle with Grandpa the first time, Wendy seeing Makenna and watching the two younger boys go NUTZ seeing she and Adam, witnessing hero-worship blossom in Andrew for his "cousin" David. Watching my children climb all over Uncle Herb and I think he really liked it!

Thoughts from my Uterus...oops I mean Heart!

Grandson James 5 months old

Future QB or Rhodes Scholar!

Wendy and James

Adam, Wendy and James

Makenna is 15 weeks on Monday!

Her personality is really starting to blossom.

Okay, this is an official "I miss Wendy" post. I have been thinking a lot about my children the past couple of days (BIG surprise!) and how different they are from each other. That led me to thinking about when Wendy and I first became mother/daughter and the looks we would get and some comments. Reminded me of an article I read months ago and loved! So, hopefully this link will work...I'm still kind of new at this

http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Relationships/Where-I-Got-Daisy-Parenting-a-Biracial-Child/1

We went into a Babies R Us last November when we were both pregnant...CUT the hysterical laughter...we know the jokes! The lady behind the counter asked how we were related. Picture this: Me (pasty white, green eyes, brown hair, she could actually tell I was pregnant--not just overly self-indulgent!), pushing a 13 month old boy who is very dark skinned, light brown hair and dark brown eyes. We are with a beautiful very pregnant young woman with black hair and dark brown eyes who is accompanied by her husband who is blond, blue eyed and not as pasty as me! When I said she was my daughter (I LOVE doing that!) she said "Oh?" Then I explained how Wendy was a gift, that I bore her in my heart. No physical pain with her, so I was exceedingly blessed to have her.

I have been the receiver of a few comments about Sam. He's much darker than my other children. Wendy was a close match after her summer of lifeguarding at Disney World. The above-mentioned article gave me a good comeback for those comments. I've been thinking about the relationships I have with my children and each one is different. They'll never be the same at the same time as each child is at a different phase in his/her life. I guess different levels of need. Well, I began to ponder all of this yesterday when I was on the phone with Wendy. She casually mentioned they were going to Georgia in the fall. And then some plans for grad school back East. I experienced a MAJOR stab in the chest while saying "Oh, wow." We talked for a bit more before we hung up.

Later, after everyone else was in bed, I had an opportunity to consider what Wendy's move would mean to me. I wanted to jump up and down and shout "No, you can't do it!" I miss her so much already and now she has a son and we'll barely get to see him before they may go. So, I will pose this question to the masses...how fair is it to experience the "empty nest syndrome" while my hair falls out from the hormonal adjustments my body is making after having had the "empty nestee's" baby sister?? I knew the Good Lord had a sense of humor when I found out I was carrying #4, but now He may just be toying with me! AAAHHHH!!!

At least she is with her good husband and his wonderful family. I trust them to make good, informed decisions. Oh, one more thing, since I am whining and I said I would try not to do so much of it anymore...I just should get this out since I'm doing it anyway....What about me???WAHHHHH!!!

This leads me to the wrap and how I got here in the first place. When someone asks me where I got my children the answer has to be....a gift from Heavenly Father. Aren't we all?

Way to go, Babies!

"I didn't do it! I swear!" she exclaimed.

Makenna is 3 months old today.

She loves to coo and be talked to.

Big brother, Andrew, adores her...and loves to have his picture taken with her.

FINALLY! After 1 year, 6 months and 2 weeks, Sam finally walked! I have a feeling running is in the near future!

He loves to show off his new skill and will smile and clap for himself. His brothers have been a great encouragement to him.