Behind the Scenes of Parker's Monthly Photos

I spend each month trying to remember to take pictures and take mental notes of what Parker is up to. I have one month left before making these monthly posts into a physical 'baby book'. As imperfect as these posts may be it's the best effort I can make to save my growing baby's memories. Now, behind the scenes can be just as jolly as the actual post:

Mom! Take my picture too. 

Week 43: There's always something I forget. I put all the effort into taking photos and don't always remember to add them to the post.

Often I have several photos of the same event, I can't choose just one (it's a problem)!

Deciding when to stop a potentially hazardous activity, or let it continue for a fun photo op is a common occurrence.

Try as you might, you can't always get your photo subjects to do as you wish.

Emma won't let me take a picture of Parker without snapping one or two of her-I don't see the problem in this :) 

He is a happy boy for sure, but he can throw a tantrum with the best of them!

This silly blanket photo is not easily done. Sometimes I need timed assistance.

Sometimes even timed assistance won't get the job done. When an Oldfield doesn't want to do something, they let you know it!

Eleven Months Old

Parker, my always happy boy is changing a little bit. You are full of laughs and smiles, however, you have many opinions that you share very loudly! This makes you seem less easy going. Truth be told I think you're just agitated by your lack of mobility. I think you'll simmer down a bit once you're able to come and go as you please.

You LOVE outside, you beg and gesture to the window. We hold you up to the window and you pound on it and scream to actually go outside.

You're not as mobile as you'd like to be so lately you've been screeching to be picked up and then you gesture where you want to go. Mom and Dad keep showing you how to crawl but every time you try you skooch backwards vs. forwards which just makes you angry.

At 11 months you have A LOT to say. You are full of babbles and screams.

Your best friend is Emma. You want to be where ever she is and do whatever she is doing. Emma is a good sport and shares just about any toy and often asks to share her food with you (unless you are screeching, she doesn't want anything to do with that noise)!

You have two teeth on the bottom total.

I think you're obsessed with socks. I can't keep the silly things on your feet. You rip them off with hands and teeth just so you can hold them and throw them.

You seem very interested in sports and throwing. You throw everything that is placed in your hands and you love balloons and balls.

You can pivot on your behind, just one more way to rotate and move without crawling.

Week 41: Found Daddy's tow strap, couldn't resist.

Week 41: Blueberry Pancakes!

Week 42: Playing with Emma's balloon.

Week 42: Playing with one of Mommy's balloons.

Week 42: Look who holds his own bottle

Week 43: Still loving balloons (one more from Mom's Birthday)

Week 43: Muti-tasking (playing while eating)

Week 44: You screamed to be helping with dishes like your sister. This was the best we could do.

Week 44: Found and Opened this tupperware of toys by yourself.

Growling like a bear

11 Months Old Today: Oct 19th

We love you mister man!

My Sweet Life!

Shane's job keeps him spontaneously busy. He was expected to pick up a helicopter out of maintenance over night in California. It turned into more like a week and the kids and I missed him. He's always working so hard and we are so grateful. When he got home we spent the weekend together getting the house ready for winter and enjoying general conference. Also, I'm pretty sure I saw this sweet man painting Emma's nails and letting her play with her make-up. What a good Dad!

 Look what else got painted: The barn shed. I love it-Thank you Shane.

Plus, in an attempt to keep my family awake this year for conference we played a little game of Bingo. There are several out there all you have to do is 'Google' it. We had a lot of fun and I have to say I enjoyed playing. Maybe I'll make my own next year :)

Can you see those bright pink lips?! She's loving this make-up thing.

Getting Ready for Fall!

We LOVE Autumn in this house. The weather is cooling down, the leaves are changing colors, the pumpkins are turning orange, and the garden is harvested.

Emma keeps debating on what to be for Halloween. I try not to dampen her spirits with reminders of how cold it gets so all anybody really sees is your coat.

Dear Santa...

Is it too early to start making wish lists! I found the cutest boots that should work for the winter as well as walking out to the chickens. The temperatures are dropping to 30 degrees at night and let's just say my shoe wardrobe is still Vegas style. I was trying to figure out how to wear socks with my Chaco sandals the other day.

 Anyway, these boots are so cute I'll remember why I'm saving my money.

What's in the Water?

So we've been harvesting what crops we've grown (few compared to what we planted but plenty for our family this season). Some of the veggies have come out very different than anticipated; I'm starting to wonder if Southern Utah was once a nuclear testing ground. I've seen some odd shaped carrots and ginormous potatoes and other odd plants.

I threw that chap stick in there for size comparison.

Ten Months Old

Sweet Mr. Man,


   it's getting harder to notice what's different about you from month to month. The changes are more subtle. You just seem like a big boy now.

We finally put those 3 month old clothing away. You've quickly squeezed out of that size and are pushing the limits on 6 month clothing. I'm going to need to stock up on 9+ months now!

You got your first tooth (one of those on the bottom in the middle)! I know of two more that are on their way. You also play with your tongue a lot more now that there's something in that mouth of yours.

Your favorite parlor trick is to screech like a teapot and shake your head 'No' with gusto!

You seem to really enjoy music. You pound on anything that's in front of you like it's a drum. You also 'bob' when my Pandora is on or pound your feet into the floor.

You have started making more noise: you love to sing, fake cough, and yell. You also burst into fits of giggles whenever sister pays attention to you (which thankfully is often).

You've discovered 'leftovers' under the table. You pinch with thumb and finger to pick crumbs up and taste test them- YUCK!

You love pulling toys out of the toy box. It's one of your favorite games!

Week 37: Your sad face, I don't remember what it was about.

Week 37: Playing with the toys.

Week 37: Helping Mama in the kitchen.

Week 38: Ooo, a balloon!

Week 38: Sad you didn't get birthday cake.

Week 38: Playing with your tongue.

Week 37: Finding Crumbs under the table

Week 39: Testing out the backseat of a truck at a car lot.

Week 40: Hanging out with Emma while she watches cartoons (in a hotel).

Week 40: Sept 19, 2013

10 Months old already.

You are by far my favorite Parker-roo! You are starting to get very boyish (loud, dirty, trouble maker, different reactions and logic, etc). It is fun to see how you are different from your sister. I hope you will always love your Mama though.