We're Alive! :)

...and REALLY busy, apparently. :) First things, first. Here are a couple of pictures of the peanut...

I know. He's gotten big. I'm sorry. It's been too long.

January seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye. We've had a good start to the beginning of the year. J has been working really hard and is getting back into training for his second season of triathlons. I've been subbing a lot (meaning at least once a week) and have recently started tutoring two kiddos after school. I've enjoyed using that skill set (as P and I don't do a lot of work with integers and finding the area of circles or trapezoids), and admittedly, it pays better than my normal gig. ;) The good news for me is that every day I sub, it reaffirms for me that I made the right decision for our family in staying home. While I greatly enjoy being in the classroom (and seeing my old teaching buddies) and really enjoy interacting with older kids, I miss being with MY kid. I love getting to come home to him and enjoy our days when we don't have a set "schedule" and just get to hang out.

I'm sure P doesn't mind it when I sub or tutor, as he has some of the best babysitters in the world...his family! Weekly he gets to see his Grammy Share and Aunt Debby. Aunt Sandy has just started coming to hang out while I tutor, and Grandma Judy also gets in some good time with the little guy. We continue to try to make it over to see GiGi and Gramps every week, too! This is one loved little dude. We are so blessed to be surrounded by people who love us so much!

We continue to be really involved in our Sunday school class, and J is serving on the Benevolence Committee for the church. I do a weekly Bible study that I absolutely love with dear friends, and J and I are a part of a small group that meets regularly.

Twice a month P and I are getting together with moms who have little ones his age. It was a group I connected with when Parker was about 10 weeks old, and now the kids are all over the place! :) It's fun to have reconnected with this group - the moms are a great sounding board, and P seems to enjoy going and playing with the other kiddos.

As for P, that "P" can now stand for "Peanut" and "Personality." :) The kid is coming into his own...and there's a lot of personality packed into that chubby little body. :) He makes us laugh every day, and he just brings us so much joy! There is MUCH to catch up on (you know, minor things... like his first birthday! :-/), but until I get to those posts...here are a couple of pictures from the end of December that capture the little guy in all his glory.

He is still bizarrely/endearingly into balancing things. :) Above is an example. He likes to put his pacifier on the table (or the floor, or the crib railing) and gently use his fingertips to make it spin or teeter.

See? He gets kinda into it. :)

This picture was taken on January 2, which was the first day I walked into his bedroom in the morning to find him standing up in his crib waiting for me. :) It's now a regular occurrence, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing that little face peeking over the railing at me.

OK - more posts are coming. Do I dare make a resolution to blog more frequently? :) I'll try to do better...I promise.