We are getting real close to getting in the house. Yea! Should be in the next few days. There will still be lots of touch up, punch list type stuff to do, but at least we’ll be in there. I’ll try to take some pictures of the inside before we bring all our stuff in.
I took my usual series of pics around the exterior when it snowed – just because I could. So these are from January 8, 2010.
It is traditional to put a copy of the blueprints for a new house into the newel post. We thought it would be fun and maybe someone would come across it someday.
We got snow a few weeks ago here in Atlanta. It wasn’t much, but it is a nice treat every now and again. For Parker Rose, it was her first time seeing the white stuff. The snow started slowly in the afternoon, quit for a bit, and then ran through the night. We got PR out in it right away (click to enlarge and see flakes):
Beth and Parker Rose heading to the new house in the blizzard
Our Christmas celebration this year was broken into three separate days to make sure we got time with as much family as possible. I already posted on Day 1 and Day 2 and my dad has already posted on Day 3.
This trip was the first time that Parker Rose got to meet her great-grandparents – all of them. That was a great treat, seeing my grandparents, who held me as as baby, and getting to see them with my daughter. Parker Rose turned on the the charm in her party dress and there were smiles all around. Here are a bunch of pictures:
Parker Rose meeting Mema and Papa
And Grammer, too.
Reese checking out the baby and vice versa
Nate hanging with Finn and Reese, watching a little Scooby Doo
Of course, there were presents to be opened
And wrapping paper to be eaten
Grammer opens the family portrait of grandkids and great-grandkids
I mentioned in my last post that my computer was down. We reviewed the security camera footage and we’ve identified the perpetrator. At one point she even seems to taunt us by looking towards the camera and smiling. Diabolical!
My computer has gone kaput for the time being. It is a bit tough access my stuff, though nothing has been lost. It just makes blogging more difficult. PR feels my pain and in a wonderful show of empathy, sheds a tear for me. Or it could have been the wind on our walk. Either way, this picture from my camera phone is one of my favorites, taken 12-28-2009. Click pic to embiggen (yes that’s a real word).
New Year’s Day 2010 was a strikingly beautiful day – clear cold sunny weather that couldn’t help but make you feel polished and refreshed and ready for new challenges. Beth and I went for a walk with Parker Rose, getting a few pictures in front of the new house and taking a few at the park near our house. Click to enlarge the pictures.
Beth and Parker Rose posing on the new driveway
Parker Rose waiting for someone to answer the door
One nice pic before the wind sent us home shivering
Parker Rose has progressed through a few milestones the last few months that I either haven’t gotten on film or haven’t gotten blogged. Not this time. She is starting to sit on her own. She still needs some support most of the time, either a helping hand or nearby pillows to prop her up. Here is a little video action of her sitting up and playing:
Soccer was my favorite sport to play growing up and I always hoped my kids would feel the same. I didn’t want to push anything on them or live vicariously through their sporting lives. That was before I saw the innate talent Parker Rose possesses. Now, I won’t stop until she leads the US women to victory in the 2031 World Cup. You heard it here first.
It started with a favorite toy in her car seat, but it continues now with all of her toys. She just can’t stop kicking.
I can’t tell yet if she’s gonna be a lefty or a righty. Watch the video and decide for yourself:
Heading down a dangerous road of convincing Parker Rose that she will get loads of presents every single day, we held our second Christmas celebration the day after our first. This one, oddly, was actually on Christmas Day. Beth’s mom’s (Parker’s Nana’s) birthday falls on December 25th, so we celebrate her as well.
We gathered in the afternoon at Laurel and Doug’s condo. We walked in to a wonderful spread of appetizers, a large pile of gifts under the tree (mostly for Parker Rose), and a big TV with a fireplace DVD running. I swear you could feel the warmth.
A warm welcome
We tried to do some pics of Beth, Parker Rose, and me quickly before anyone got messy.
PR is ready to rock in her Christmas dress and cape
Shortly after we arrived, PR was ready for a nap. We put her down and the grownups had a chance to enjoy the food, drink, and company. We managed to open a few gifts as well. We were surprised to see that, even after opening all our gifts, we had made hardly a dent in the pile under the tree. That left gifts for only one person, and she was sleeping.
Parker woke up (with a bit of bedhead) and was excited to see the crowd still there and ready to have some gift opening fun.
Is everyone here just for me?
She used her vast Christmas experience from the day before to speed through the gifts. Even the camera couldn’t keep up with her amazing unwrapping skills.
Rip, rip, rip
She still hadn’t quite figured out that the wrapping is just for show, and isn’t edible. In her defense, this ribbon does look like a candy cane.
Yummy. It's peppermint flavored
After the gifts, there wasn’t much left to do, except more eating, drinking, and making merry for the adults, and happy sleep for the worn out and suddenly much richer Parker Rose.
"While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads..."
The pics are great, but a little more video to capture the spirit would be great:
