Back to Italia

Sorry for my lack of blogging recently, but the last few weeks in the states were crazy and since we got back here last week, we didn't have internet. Good news and that we're up and running again and I'll be posting some new blogs and pics later this week when I get a few free minutes!

New Parker Pics!

I love my baby boy!

Rub a dub dub Ready for a day at the park with Stephanie, Stacey, and Skylar GO HOKIES!!!! Parker was not happy about our performance

Meeting Great-grandma Caro! Aunt Kellye!

Uncle Danny!

Back in the USA

Just a quick blog to let everyone know that we made it back to the states last weekend after a very long/delayed flight. Parker was a real trooper and barely made a peep the whole time which made mine and Karl's stress level significantly lower than expected! This was a very busy week- Karl was at a conference all week in Norfolk and I spent the week showing Parker things like the park (thanks again for the playdate Stephanie, Stacey, and Skylar!), the mall, Chick-fil-a, church, and so forth. Yesterday, my mom and I took him to the Newport News Fall Festival and spent the day there- Parker loved seeing all the people and the trees (we don't have many of those in southern Italy)- then he met his aunt Cathy and uncle Steve, and we even snuck in a trip to the grocery store and he did great! Today was a big day also- he went to church for the first time and we went over to Christina and Darin's so he could meet some of my best friends! He's almost holding his head up by himself and he coos and smiles constantly now! I can't believe how fast they grow up!!!!

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Karl left to go back to Italy yesterday and I can't believe I won't see him again for 3 weeks! He's coming back here though the end of the month so we can baptize Parker and take him to Indianapolis to meet the other side of the family! I'll post some pictures later today, but they're on my laptop and I'm just sneaking in a quick post before the little guy wakes up! Have a great Sunday and look for pics later today/tomorrow!

8 week check-up

Just wanted to report that Parker had a great check-up this week! I can't believe my little guy will be 8 weeks old tomorrow- he's growing up so fast! At his appt. on Monday, he weighed in at 11 lbs 3 oz (a little piglet!) and just shy of 21 inches. He got all of his first shots which I think was harder on me than it was on him and I was very glad to have my wonderful husband there to hold my hand through it! This week is pretty hectic as we are getting ready to fly back to the states this Friday- I'm pretty sure that I'm packing everything Parker owns :) I'll be home from this Friday until Nov. 4 and I can't wait to see all our family and friends and have them meet Parker! Here are some of the latest pics of my sweet boy- enjoy!

Sad goodbye

This past Friday was so sad for us because we had to say goodbye to the Colgrove Family! Ben, Leighanna, and Luke have been great friends to us here in Italy and we are going to miss them all sooooo much as they move back to the states and start their new life outside of the Navy. We hope they come back to visit often and we hope to get together with them back in the states, too! We'll miss you guys and good luck with the move/new job/crazy toddler/traveling!

Week of Milestones

This has been a big week for Parker- so many 'firsts'! This past Saturday, we went out to a restaurant for the first time with Parker to celebrate Amy's birthday and we had such a great time and he was very well behaved (luckily dinner was during the VT vs. ECU game so we didn't have to actually watch the embarassing loss).

At Cala Moresca Restorante in Bacoli with (left to right) Heather, Ian, Amanda, Ed, Karl (nice smile babe), Parker, me, Amy, and Scott.

Tuesday was a big day here because Karl left for Germany which meant I was alone with Parker for the first time...crazy that it took over a month for that to happen! On Tuesday night, Parker smiled for the first time and it wasn't the kind we often relate to his gas :) Then on Wednesday, he got weighed and is a whopping 9 lbs...my little guy is growing up too fast! I am finally getting to put some his newborn clothes away, but he's short enough that I can hang on to most of them still. Last night was the absolute best of his 'firsts'....he slept all the way through the night going nine hours between feedings! I have been told that I'm lucky to have such a good baby and I agree :)

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I'll get some new pics of him up soon, but when Karl was away, there wasn't a lot of free time for photographing the kid- I was lucky just to survive alone for three days!

One month old!

It's hard to believe that Parker is a month old already- I can barely remember what life was like before he was born! Karl and I are so lucky to have such a good baby- he's a great sleeper, rarely cries, loves people to hold him, has the cutest face in the world, doesn't mind when we take tons of pics of him, looks cute in all his outfits (though he still barely fits in any of them since he's so small!), makes the most adorable noises...I could go on forever telling you all the reasons we love him and why he's so spectacular! I thought I'd share some recent pics of Parker to help celebrate his one month birthday!

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We also want to say thank you to all of our wonderful family and friends. You all have been amazing in the last month with all of your love and support and it really has meant to world to us- we love you all!