She is my joy...

My Parker girl was born 1 year ago today.  How can that be?  Where did the year go?  It seems like I blinked and 12 months passed...

Parker is truly the light of my life.  She always has a smile and a laugh to go along with her silly antics!  She is crawling like a maniac and is walking along all the furniture.  She will stand by herself for quite a while, though no steps have been taken just yet.  I know once she walks, she'll be running all over the place :)  She knows the sign for "milk" and uses it every day.  She is finally holding her own bottle... which I know is pretty late... but for the longest time she was a diva about feeding and only wanted US to hold the bottle.  What a little stinker!  She also whistles now and is quite proud of that newly acquired skill.  She "sings" along to music sometimes while we're in the car.  She says "Mama", "Dada", "Baba" and a few other strange little sounds that I can't spell. :P  She loves being chased around the house and waits for you to crawl after her.  She loves to blow kisses to people and waves to everyone around when we're out and about.  One lady I met in a store said, "She should be a little beauty queen!"  Umm... no thanks.  Toddlers & Tiaras will NOT be part of her future. :P  But she is my princess, even if she doesn't enjoy wearing frilly dresses. :)  I should say that DADDY doesn't always like her to wear frilly dresses.  The only thing Parker doesn't like about them is how they hinder her ability to crawl quickly.  When she does crawl in a dress, there's a hitch in her movement... it's pretty hilarious!! :)

Shane & I have loved these last 12 months... though some moments stick out in our minds more than others.  We loved those first few minutes with her - just staring at those big blue eyes and wondering if we were really ready for all that lay ahead.  We loved the first time we heard her voice - even if it was a cry!  We loved the first time she slept through the night - it was at 7 weeks and we were THRILLED that we could get a full night's rest again.  We loved hearing her laugh for the first time... no better sound on earth!  I loved watching her dance with her daddy at my brother's wedding in Washington.  What a beautiful moment that was for me to witness.  We loved watching her eat that first bite of food - the faces she made were priceless!  We loved watching her sit up by herself for the first time - she was so proud of herself. :)  Hearing her say "Dada" is pretty amazing... though "Mama" was what I had been waiting for.  It might have taken her far longer to say it, but once I heard it, I loved her even more than I knew I could.  We don't get much cuddle time with Parker, as she just isn't one to sit still for that long.  But when she rests her head on our shoulders, all is right with the world.  And watching her crawl for the first time was such a fun moment!  We were all together at my parents' house and everyone was sitting in the family room as she made those first forward movements.  My mom has it on video, actually!

So many moments to love... and what a beautiful little girl God has blessed us with.  I pray that she grows to love Him deeply and fully, that she understands the sacrifice that He made for her on the cross.  I pray that her heart will break for others who are hurting, that she will want to make a difference in their lives.  I pray that she will always be so full of joy, that even in the darkest times, her heart will shine through.  But most of all I pray that she will always know that she is loved... not only by us, our family & friends, but by her Heavenly Father - the Author & Giver of Life.  Amen.

My daughter, the ham :)

Is anyone shocked by the fact that Parker is a little ham??  I'm certainly not. :)  She is definitely my child... when I was her age I always wanted to entertain people (and still do for that matter... though it's certainly not cute like it was when I was a baby!).  Parker is constantly making us laugh with all her shenanigans.  I'm grateful to have been blessed with such a joyful little girl -- I knew her middle name would speak the truth.  When we go places with her, whether she's in her stroller or perched in a shopping cart she loves to smile and wave at everyone in her path.  People laugh and say, "Look at that baby!  She's saying 'hi' to me!"  It's hilarious, I must admit. :)  I also got a call from my sister this morning letting me know that Parker is now whistling... WHAT?!?!  Yep - she has discovered how sucking in air between pursed lips produces a soft whistle.  My mom was doing this with her the other day, but I never actually heard it come from Parker's mouth.  So funny all the little things she does.  God is so gracious -- I pray that I never take His gift for granted.