CHOO-CHOO!, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

Parker’s current passion is trains – specifically Thomas the Tank Engine. In the morning, he rushes down the stairs to start playing with his trains. We took him to Strasburg, Pennsylvania to see Thomas in person. Grammy and Pappy Parker were there too. It was his first time riding a train and we chugged along through Amish country. Lots of fun!

HIDE AND SEEK, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

This cabinet in our kitchen was supposed to be a coat closet. You can see how that worked out! It is full of snacks and also one delicious little boy!

EASTER BEST, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

This is Parker on Easter Sunday in my parents’ backyard. He had a great time. Lots of kids came for my Mom’s elaborate egg hunt. And of course, he loves “hock-oh-lat”(translation – chocolate).

BUBBLE BATH, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

Here’s Parker in the tub. He likes taking a bath and he loves bubbles. Now that it is warm outside we are learning the importance of our nightly baths. He is quite filthy by the end of the day. He loves playing in his sandbox in the backyard. He recently learned how to pedal his tricycle, so we tool around the neighborhood. We have to call the playground “the p.g.” because once you mention the actual word, we MUST go there immediately!

HOOK ‘EM, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

You can see that Parker is still working to recover from the University of Texas losing the national championship game. Of course, Texas is Holly’s alma mater, so she is training him well. He has learned how to say “hook ‘em horns”. He is saying all sorts of fun things – some of his other favorite phrases are “all good”, “where you goin’”, and “cheese please”. He also loves to chase the dog and giggle and say “Cay-Cay”(short for Cayman).

ROSY CHEEKS, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

Here’s Parker after spending a little time out playing in the snow. We got about two feet during the big December storm. He had lots of fun playing in it – though he made it clear that he is adamantly opposed to mittens. The snow was so deep that every now and then he would topple over and yell “I stuck! I stuck!”

HMMMMM…, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

I’d like to say that Parker is pondering nature…having a Henry David Thoreau moment when i took this photo. Actually, i think he was tired of having his picture taken as i tried a little too hard to get just the right holiday photo.

SLINKY, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

I loved my Slinky when i was a kid, so I am happy to see Parker enjoying one too. His friend, Emily, got him this special Halloween Slinky for him.

TRICK OR TREAT, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

Halloween 2009! Here is the little man out trick or treating in the neighborhood. He dressed as a park ranger. He doesn’t totally understand the candy thing, but he sure did like barging right into people’s houses! He hasn’t learned to say trick or treat yet. Mostly he just greeted people with a very sweet “hi”. Almost as sweet as the candy! He also liked hanging out back at the house – enjoying friends and checking out Holly’s new fog machine.

THE ARCH, originally uploaded by littleshortymonkey.

Parker loved sprinting around the beautiful park that surrounds the Arch in St. Louis. I took this picture lying on the ground. He is super curious, so of course he wanted to see the camera lens. We took a ride up to the top of Arch – 630 feet!