GoodBye, 2010!

Wow....what an amazing year! I must admit....I'm a little sad to see it go. 2010 will forever be known as the year I became a mommy and Brian became a daddy. 2010 was the year that changed how I will look at the world forever. 2010 was the year that taught me that life is right where it needs to be, even if it feels impossibly hard. I'm finally right where I should be... madly, deeply, in love with my family. So amazingly blessed....words could never describe.

January

February

March

April

May


June


July


August


September


October


November


December

Christmas 2010

What a whirlwind! But, here's a few high-lights.... Who needs to go see Little Fockers when you have the Little Parkers?!?!

Cooper and Carter opening their gift

Sara and mommy

hmmm....not to sure what to think!

family picture time!

Brian and Dawson

Brian and Sara

Clareesa and her books

Paul, Adrienne, Sara, and Brian (taking after Grandma Maria!)

Sara checking out her Santa gift...a laugh and learn table

Opening gifts wore Sara out!

Clothes for Sara!

Evan is excited about Space Books!

That's how I roll....

We finally caught our elusive roller on film. She's rolling from tummy to back and back to tummy....haven't caught the back to tummy on film yet....but, we will!

Letters to Sara: 5 months

Dear Sara~

It's Christmas Eve and you are 5 months old today! You are full of life and personality and are really developing into a little person. You are such a happy baby - as long as you have a full tummy and aren't over tired, you are content to just hang out and check out the world around you.

We love you so much, Little Mama. I love to snuggle and cuddle and I love when you fall asleep in my arms. I love your fat baby legs and your chubber cheeks. I love your sweet baby smell and your fuzzy little head. I'm so blessed to be your mommy, Sara!

What you are doing this month:
You roll over now! From tummy to back and from back to tummy. You don't do it regularly yet, but daddy and I have both witnessed quite a few rolls. You are mesmerized by your hands and getting toys into your mouth. You have perfected grabbing things - you're a sure shot every time. You love Sophie the Giraffe. You love spending time on your play mat. You play, and kick, and grab, and pull, and squeal with delight until you wear yourself out and fall asleep. You are content to sleep anywhere, so we let you sleep.

You are starting to tripod pretty regularly, but it usually only lasts a few seconds before you are toppling over one way or the other. If I help you balance, you can stay up for quite a long time. When you are sleepy, you have started rubbing your face into the crook of my neck. It's the sweetest thing ever.

Later today, we will celebrate Christmas Eve with family and friends. You will be surrounded by people who love you. Your cousins will be running around, bursting with excitement about opening presents, holiday decorations, Christmas music playing, the phone ringing to spread wishes of good cheer -- total chaos! This is the chaos your daddy and I have been waiting years to be a part of....no longer observers of this wonder love, but true participants! We have a family, we have a sweet, healthy little girl who is about to celebrate her first Christmas. I have never felt so grateful, lucky, and happy in my whole life.

Happy 5 months, baby girl!

Love you forever,

your mommy

Sara at 1 month:

Sara at 2 months:



Sara at 3 months:



Sara at 4 months:



Sara at 5 months:

Quick Sara Update

Sara started Day Care at the end of November. It was a much harder adjustment for mommy and daddy than it was for Sara! Brian and I took her for about 1 hour on her first day. We left her classroom hand and hand, saying to each other that it's weird leaving without her. I had visited several times after she was born and felt really comfortable with everything. But, leaving her there, was a totally different thing! She is happily eating and sleeping well while there, which is endorsement enough for us! She's the youngest baby there, so needless to say, she's getting a lot of attention. Her teachers keep commenting on what an easy, mellow baby she is. They have gotten to know her serious side, and love to make her smile.

Really, I get to go back to school?!?!

At Sara's 4 month check-up, she was tipping the scales at 16lbs. 2 oz and was measuring 25.5 inches long.

Gosh, we love this girl!

Naked girl after a bath.

yeah, man....I grew hair!

Look who's starting to tripod!

Holiday Season is here!

Wow! The holiday season has arrived. We had Thanksgiving at Paul and Andrea's. We enjoyed being able to spend the holiday with Brian's parents.

On Saturday, Ed and Gloria came by to meet Sara. Of course, I forgot to take pictures. I'm so not good at remembering to capture this stuff. We had lunch and visited. It was so great to see them but, it was all too short.

Then, we got down to decorating! We listened to Bing Crosby, drank White Russians, and hung ornaments with care.....

Sara was mesmerized by the lights on the tree!


Such wonder in those eyes...

She would stare and stare....I love the picture of her shiny head. She's getting a little more fuzz!

Tears of joy were shed as we hung this ornament!

You mean to tell me a big, fat white guy will fit down our chimney to bring me presents?!?! I don't believe you!

Joy to Mommy and Daddy's World!

That's all folks.....thanks Aunty Ally for sending this bumbo chair!

Thankful???

Thankful???

Immensely.......


Hugely.......


Greatly.....Forever Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Letters to Sara: 4 Months

Dear Little Miss Sara--

Last week marked the one year anniversary of us finding out that I was pregnant with you. It's amazing how much can change in a year! I looked through all your ultrasound pictures recently and it's so crazy that those pictures are YOU. You were one of those perfect embroyos. The little blob at our 5, 6, and 8 week appointments was you. The tadpole baby at our 10 and 12 week appointments was you. The yawning, thumb sucking, kicking baby at our 20 week appointment was you (and it even looks like you!). It's such a wild thing to try and wrap my brain around. I look at you and just can't believe that you were the little baby that we wanted so desperately kicking and rolling in my belly all those weeks.

You are changing so much now and are growing such a personality. You are still very serious. But you are at such a fun stage, where you are discovering the world and are delighted by everything. I'm so excited to see what you learn next! I love watching you watch things. You smile when we play "Patti Cake". You laugh when daddy holds you over his head.

Your coordination has really been improving--you are really taking a interest in toys, and are great at grabbing them and bringing them to your mouth! Everything goes in your mouth right now, and you're doing lots and lots of chewing and drooling.

You'll spend quite a long time on your tummy now and you can push yourself pretty far up with your arms. You've even started kicking your feet like crazy. I think you'll be scooting pretty soon.

You are such a sweet and mellow baby, Sara. What a blessing it is to be your mommy. Love you baby girl!

your mommy

Sara at 1 month:




Sara at 2 months:



Sara at 3 months:



Sara at 4 months: