Playing...and pulling up!

I am loving this stage of Parker's life because he's learning how (and liking!) to play...whether it's with friends, dog bowls or swinging at the park...he really is starting to play! He loves exploring as well and is curious about EVERYTHING...especially things that are not toys. Not only has he started to play, but he's also started to PULL UP! Yes, that's right...our sweet little boy is not a baby anymore and he's seriously thrilled when he stands up on his own! YIKES! Our house is so not ready for this yet! We have officially entered the "busy" stage...let the baby proofing begin!

Quite possibly his FAVORITE things in our house...Journey's dog food bowls!

Playing with his buddy, Asher!

Discovering new ways to play with his toys!

Another new fascination...the dish washer!

This is the very first time he pulled up on something!

Later that night...he pulled up on his piano!

He is such a GOOD shopper!

He loves swinging at the park!

One of my bff's from high school who lives in Austin came to town and we stopped by so she and her son, Brody could meet Parker.

Parker LOVED Santa!! We are so excited about his first Christmas!

Bath time with the cousins is so much fun!

Parker seriously loves giving Tess kisses!

And here he is again in his favorite spot!

Like I said...such a GOOD shopper!

He discovered yet another way to pull up on something!

He's just SO big all of a sudden! Where did the time go?!

Seven Months Old!

These months are going by SO fast...I just can't believe that he's closer to ONE than a newborn now! Parker is getting busier and busier by the day. He loves crawling around all over the house and exploring new things...lately his favorite are most definitely Journey's dog food bowls! He likes cords too, and he's slowly discovering doorstoppers and outlets. Needless to say, I think it's time to baby proof this house! He's still army crawling everywhere - but he gets up on his knees and rocks back and forth like he's ready to really crawl and then just goes straight to his tummy. We can finally feel his first tooth coming in! He is eating breakfast and dinner and still nursing great too. He seems to like most foods I give him...except for peas and avocados! His faves are probably: sweet potatoes, pears, prunes, plums, squash, bananas, oatmeal and a Gerber one called Harvest Vegetables. I've been trying to make all of his food, but sometimes it's super convenient and a lot easier to just grab one the Gerber jars! He weighed 17 lbs 8 oz at his most recent checkup and was over 25 inches long. He is the HAPPIEST baby in the world and gets especially happy the minute daddy walks in the door from work! He is starting to play more and more and will even crawl after us when we hide on the other side of the couch from him. I love watching him explore things with his hands...he loves textures and feels pretty much anything and everything he can!

It's not easy to take a picture with a sign in it anymore because he just wants to eat the paper!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving and was especially excited for it this year because it was Parker's very FIRST! We rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas each year between Tyson's family and mine, and this year was our year to be with my fam for Thanksgiving and his for Christmas. Parker and I headed up to the lakehouse a few days early to get some baking and cooking done with my mom and Kelly - it's sort of our tradition every year and there's just nothing quite like spending all day in the kitchen baking away with my two favorite ladies! Of course, this year was a little tricky with juggling Parker, Tess and Trent...but it all got done and tasted delish! We invited Tyson's parents to come down since none of their boys were going to be home for Thanksgiving this year...and PawPaw and Gigi were so excited to come and spend Parker's first Thanksgiving with him! All of Robert's family came over too - so we had quite a crowd over at the lake on Turkey Day. Thanksgiving this year was so special and we were reminded of just how incredibly BLESSED we are to have two such wonderful families, and how THANKFUL we are for Sweet Baby P, and the precious child that God gave us in him.

Trent and Parker's first bath together!

They might not know it yet...but these boys are destined to be best buds!

Gosh I love Kelly! I am so THANKFUL for her. She is my best friend and I don't know what I would do without her!

Tess loves to help in the kitchen...especially when it comes to licking the bowl clean!

Parker's hair was starting to grow over his ears, so we decided it was time for a trip to Nona's beauty shop for his first haircut!

It was a team effort with Nona cutting, mommy distracting, and Aunt Kelly documenting!

And voila! Great job, Nona and Aunt Kelly!

Such a handsome baby boy!

Our bake the day away extravaganza!

Trying to keep the little ones out of the kitchen...I think they had LOTS of popsicles!

I am so THANKFUL for our FIRST Thanksgiving as a FAMILY!

I think I'm biased, but he certainly is the CUTEST little turkey around! I am so THANKFUL for Parker James!

He LOVES it on daddy's shoulders! I am so THANKFUL for such an amazing husband who is the BEST daddy to our baby boy!

My happy, handsome boys!

He's already learning how to share!! :)

I couldn't be more THANKFUL for my job as mommy of this precious little man!

How beautiful are they?!

I think he was cracking up at Aunt Kelly...I just love that smile!

He played so hard he needed a water break!

Tess is turning into quite the photographer!

We are all so THANKFUL for little Miss Tenley in Kelly's tummy and cannot wait for her to get here!

I'm not sure how the pregnant woman got this job...but she sure looks good doing it!

Parker was starving so we gave him some Baby Mum-Mums to tide him over and keep him busy until it was turkey time!

I could seriously just eat him up!

Robert fried two great turkeys and my mom baked one...there was lots of tryptophan going on that afternoon!

Is it wrong to have pie on my THANKFUL list?! Holy moly were those desserts good!

I am so THANKFUL for such amazing parents and an incredibly loving Nona and Papa to Parker!

I am so THANKFUL for such amazing second parents, and an incredible loving PawPaw and Gigi to Parker!

We all had a great nights sleep from such full tummies and in the morning we snuggled up together with Nona!

Trentster loves to put on Papa's hat! I am so THANKFUL for Trent Roger Sadler and the hugs he gives to Aunt Karis!

A Casswell Family tradition...putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving!

I am so THANKFUL for Tess Marie Sadler and that I get to be Aunt Karis to such a sweet little girl!

Parker had fun discovering the Christmas tree and all of the fun ornaments!

He loves Christmas already! Just like mommy!

One afternoon we played outside and I got some cute shots of Kelly and her super cute kids!

When we came home, super daddy got all of the Christmas decorations down from the attic, so we we could deck the halls! Of course, the lights weren't cooperating and we saw a little bit of the Grinch come out...but my Christmas music and singing quickly cured it.

It took a lot longer to get it all setup this year since we were busy chasing Parker and trying to keep the lights out of his mouth...but ta-daaa! Such a pretty tree!

We can't wait for Parker's First Christmas!!