Playing catch up

Can my calendar be correct? Is March 2012 almost halfway over?! I came to the realization last night that it's been about two months since I've written anything longer than a tweet. And while that is indicative of the fast-paced schedule we've been speeding along so far this year, it's also indicative that Team Park has taken some time to step away and just enjoy life. Not a lot of pictures, not a lot of "oh, we have to capture this moment somehow," just enjoying our time together.

But, I would be remiss if I didn't bring this blog up-to-date! Plus, we've had some fun things going on here lately.

So, our little firecracker is now almost 14 months old. That reality is still sinking in! On Levi's actual first birthday weekend, illness hit the Park household. We rang in The Big One Year from bed, all three of us. Yuck. We did manage to make our little dude some birthday pancakes, which he loved, but I was so glad we hadn't scheduled anything big that weekend.

Fortunately, the photo below was snapped the weekend prior to his actual birthday, when we celebrated with both sets of grandparents, and Levi's fun aunts and uncle. Family came in from near and far, and that was a great way to celebrate. The birthday boy had his first taste of sweets in the form of a homemade carrot cupcake, and he thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Our routine has changed a bit, as I have a job! A friend of a friend needed someone to watch her little boy a few days each week, and that someone became me. It's taken some adjustment on everyone's part, but it's been good for both kiddos (and for me!), as they are only two weeks apart in age. I kind of feel like I have twins right now!

So far this year, we've gone to the zoo, welcomed a new baby born to some of our favorite people (with two more babies coming in the next six weeks!), built and destroyed towers, read lots of books, and had lots of playdates. And, someone learned the art of removing his pants!

I completed another graduate class, and Gib surprised me with a fun weekend getaway, where we got to relax, eat some amazing breakfasts (our favorite!) and experience some of our favorite worship leaders.

Already, 2012 has been a fun year for our family!

One year later

Well, folks, we have a one-year-old on our hands:

Talk about a milestone birthday! And not only for our little Deutbug, but for his parents, too. It's hard to believe that this time last year, hitting the one-year mark seemed so very far away.

I'm tempted to use the term "we survived." But that's not accurate, not at all. We didn't just survive. We "thrived." I'm thankful for every bump in the road, for without them, the victories wouldn't be nearly as sweet. And at the end of the day, or the year, our first year of parenthood didn't look like anyone else's. I think for part of the year, that made me unsure, frustrated at times. What I know now is that it was never supposed to. It's our journey as Team Park, and it's what makes our family, well, our family.


I simply cannot imagine life without this little guy!

Those beautiful, curious, spirited blue eyes.

That smile, those dimples and those adorable cheeks.

That laugh and that squeal.

Those arms that reach out for Mama.

One of our friends referred to Levi as our "fiery priest." I love that. It's a pretty literal interpretation of his name, but it's also pretty accurate for his personality so far, at least with the "fiery" part. We believe that the priest part is there, too, being molded day by day.

One year seems like such a milestone, and it is, but it's so much more of a beginning.

January 22, 2011, began a work in me that I couldn't yet understand. With his initial cry, my heart melted, and every day since, it has grown more and more full. My cup overflows.

Levi Blaze, you truly are our little wonder. You made me a mama, and with that title you gave me more satisfaction, more thankfulness and more joy than I ever saw coming. My life will never be the same, and that gives me cause to celebrate!

ONE YEAR OLD!

Happy, happy, happy first birthday to our little wonder, our precious little dude! We love you so much and continue to be amazed at how you have changed our lives for the better. You are absolute proof that God only gives good gifts. We celebrate you today, Levi Blaze!

Baby's Second Christmas

Now that Gib's parents have moved back within a few hours' drive from us, we were able to have an evening of Christmas with them this year, too!

It wasn't supposed to just be an evening, but we found out just before Christmas that SURPRISE! Gib would be having surgery to get his pins removed on the very day the Park clan had planned to unite at Gib's sister's house. So, that morning, Gib and I drove an hour for his surgery, then another two hours for the Park family Christmas, and then another hour and a half back to my parents. It was like a mini-road trip!

Gib was feeling pretty energetic going into the procedure:

And here he is in recovery, drinking "the best Sprite of his life." Neither of us realized that they might knock him completely out for such a procedure, but that they did. I find Gib to be pretty funny ordinarily, but coming out of anesthesia, that man is hilarious.

It was so much fun to see Gib's immediate family, even if for a short period of time. Levi received more fun gifts (including his jersey) and lots of welcome attention!

Baby's First Christmas

Although our baby is looking more and more like a toddler, we thoroughly enjoyed "baby's first Christmas!" He wasn't too impressed with wrapping paper or bows as I'd expected, but the tree captivated him.

This Christmas was so much fun for me. I loved having my sister there. I loved getting to celebrate Leigh's and J.J.'s first Christmas as a married couple. I loved waking up to my main man beside me and my little man bouncing away in the crib across the room. I loved getting to watch Levi Blaze experience the wonder of Christmas. I loved being with my parents. I loved playing Monopoly on an iPad for the first time. I loved spending the holiday all together as a family.

Levi enjoyed being the star of the show, and I love this sequence of him opening his gift from Aunt Leigh and Uncle J.J.

You know what else I love? This guy. In his adult sleeper that his thoughtful son gave him for Christmas. Now they can match!

We had a great time laughing together, playing lots of games and celebrating the Reason for the season. I'm pretty thankful to have such a great family!

Here are some of my favorite shots from Christmas!

Thanksgiving

We had a memorable holiday season filled with family and lots of fun… so much so that I'm just now getting around to write about it!

For Thanksgiving, the three of us took a road trip to Kansas to spend the holiday with Gib's family. Gib's parents bought a new place, and Levi thoroughly enjoyed looking out the front door, trying to get the remote from Uncle Brian, hanging with Aunt Kim and his grandparents, watching Wheel of Fortune, climbing the stairs, climbing people and sportin' a new hat!

I love these mischievous expressions!

Eleven months!

Deutbug! You are 11 months old! That's almost a year, my little man!

Each month, I say to myself, "life with this kiddo cannot get any more entertaining or fun or adventurous" and then lo and behold, the next month I find myself saying the same thing. Life with you, little mister, is a joy.

You continue to be a man on the move, crawling at the speed of light, pulling up on anything you think might be able to support you, and making your way from one part of the room to another by walking along furniture, window sills or anything else you find.

You've started talking to yourself when you play in your room, and it's the most precious sound. You babble in the sweetest tones and then interrupt yourself with shrieks just for the sake of shrieking. I love it.

Your tooth is in plain sight now when you smile, and you thoroughly enjoyed exploring these windows with your mouth:

This time of year, you love looking at Christmas trees with all of the lights. You enjoy it so much that you started standing, for just a few seconds at a time, in front of Grammy's and Grandy's tree. I think you especially loved the applause you received at the end of such a feat!

You still love to clap when anyone cheers, "yay," and once or twice I've heard the "yay" sound come out of your mouth, whether you intended to make it or not.

There are many toys you enjoy, but you LOVE books. You love sitting in our laps reading, and often times I will find you looking at books on your own!

We're nearing the end of 2011, and I continue to reflect on what a life-changing year this has been. You've completed our family in a way I never could have imagined.

Love, love, LOVE!

Mama