So many reasons to smile

Parker has been smiling a lot lately and why not?  He is...

• Breathing better (we're hoping to wean his 02 down a bit this coming week)
• Eating better (he is now taking in 600+ cc's per day)
• Gaining weight like a champ (he was 9 pounds 12 ounces on Friday)
• Appears to be hearing more (his hearing test showed moderate hearing loss in both ears but with possible fluid and his noisy breathing, the tests may have been skewed.  He seems to be startling to more sounds than he was before so we're hopeful it's better than that.)
• Visually tracking things (faces, his mobile, bright colored objects),
• Getting stronger (he is getting more and more control of his head)
• Has been making cooing sounds (which I absolutely love)!!  

Go Parker!!!!!

Guess who's 2?

I can hardly believe my little girl is 2!  It just seems crazy.  Everyone tells me to enjoy it when they're little because they grow up so fast and I'm beginning to realize just how true that is.  It's amazing how much she has grown and changed.  She surprises every day with how smart she is and she's quite funny too!  These days Alexa's favorite things are:  doing puzzles, listening and dancing to music, talking and learning new words, going shopping, cooking with Mommy, reading books, learning new things (colors, counting, words), giving hugs and kisses, Elmo, story time at the library, spending time with her grandparents, helping with Parker, going to the park and anything outside.  Alexa also started gymnastics lessons this weekend which I think will be lots of fun!  She is such a good girl and I am so blessed to have her as my daughter!   

This year we had a very small birthday party with the grandparents and uncle John.  We are still trying to limit visitors to help Parker stay healthy so maybe next year we'll have big bash again.  We had Alexa's favorite:  pizza, grapes, and Elmo cake.  Could it get any better?  

Just because she's 2 doesn't mean she needs to use silverware you know...

 Wouldn't you want a pink vacuum for your 2nd birthday? 

 Even Parker got in on the festivities!

Fall fun

 From exploring the pumpkin patch with uncle John & Mommy,

 

to painting the pumpkin she picked out,

playing in the leaves,

going for evening walks,

 (Parker wasn't a fan of the bumps but we tried)

having picnics in the park,

dressing up Parker for Halloween,

wearing not 1 but 2 costumes,

and then going trick or treating for the first time...

I'd say Alexa has had a pretty fun fall so far!