my little fam bam.

My friend Amber asked us to do a family shoot and in return we got five free prints.  How could I turn that down?  We took the photos in our little apartment which I loved.  They turned out great so I thought i'd post the ones she sent.

(Yeah, I still need to fill those frames...)

california trip.

Branson and I took an all too quick trip to my hometown last week.  It was so good to see my family and it had been way too long since they had seen Parker.

We took a trip to the San Diego zoo while we were there.  Branson was in a meeting that day so couldn't come, but my mom, sister and grandma were able to join us!  I have to say I have an incredible mom and grandma.  My mom just had a full knee replacement about 8 weeks ago and my grandma is 84 and in better shape than me.  Okay not really, but pretty dang close.  They walked all over that park for about four hours.  I was more pooped than they were.

Anyways, Parker loooooved it!  Especially the cheetah (I think that's what it was?) which you can see for yourself in the pictures.

I look like a bug in those glasses. Eek.

 Such an interesting creature.^

Here are some other pictures that were taken on my phone throughout the week.

^ Brunch at Tom's Farms on the way home from the airport.

 I love these top two pictures. The one on the left was Parker on the plane to California.  I had an open seat next to me so he had that space to play and hang out.  The entire flight he just looked up and down the aisle saying "Hi!" to every person he saw. 

 This girl waving got pretty sick of saying hi by the end of the flight. haha  

The other picture is of Parker walking on his Papa's feet. So precious.

My mom lives on a lake so we decided to take advantage of that and the fact that it was 85 degrees in October.  Even though I didn't get a lick of sun, it felt heavenly to get some rays.  And Parker loves to splash.

Apparently by October everyone is sick of the sun? We were the only ones at the pool which was actually really nice!

I just had to post this random picture.  B and I LOVE going through model homes.  There are a ton of new developments going up in Temecula by my dads house so while Parker napped we ran through a few.  Branson decided to make himself at home in a house while he made a phone call. haha.

 We went to the pumpkin patch with Sierra and her boyfriend Lee.

I totally paid to go on the trampoline even though I was probably the oldest customer.  They had to change out all the harnesses and everything.  It was fun, but never again.  Oh to be a kid again.

 Parker on his first ride! He's such a champ!

 Our little pumpkin at his first pumpkin patch.

After the pumpkin patch we went to dinner at a new Greek restaurant in Temecula.  My new favorite place to eat.  Everything was so SO good.  

We also went to my friend Sadie's wedding reception.  It was so beautiful and she looked stunning.  I was so wrapped up in seeing old friends that I didn't even think to take any pictures.  Sad.  

Fun night though!

Morning cuddles before we had to leave.

It was a great trip and I am lucky to have the family I do.

belated birthday and imagine dragons.

Last Friday was one of the best date nights we've had in a long time.  Branson's tradition for my birthday is to take me to a nice steakhouse.  Last year he took me to Morton's steakhouse in LA which you can read about HERE.  This year we tried Ruth's Chris in Salt Lake.  It did not disappoint, although Morton's is still number one on our list.  The week around my birthday was crazy busy, so we were a little late celebrating, but it made for one fun night!

Pure excitement!

Juicy goodness right there!^

After dinner we went to see Imagine Dragons at Energy Solutions arena.  Vivint rented out the entire place and paid for everyone to go.  We also got vouchers for food and drinks.  It was such a blast and they were awesome live! Thanks Vivint!

After dinner we went to Dodo restaurant in Sugarhouse for... MORE dessert.  It was such a cute little place with amazing food.  All you Utahns should definitely try it!

alchemy year-end party.

This past week was filled with tons of fun all thanks to Vivint, the company Branson works for.  His region had a big party up in Heber City that was filled with tons of exciting things.  Branson got to race mini bikes and go-karts, Parker got to play around on the blow-up jumpers and go down slides with mom.  Vivint definitely knows how to throw a fun party!

One more month...

...until we officially have a ONE YEAR OLD! Can't even believe it.

Parker is now 11 months old and it is officially his birthday month.  You bet your bottom dollar i'll be spoiling him all 31 days...you only turn ONE once, right?!

My friend Amber shot a few pictures of us...the top two were taken by her!

Here we go...

*Parker likes to close doors.  He will crawl into a room, shut the door and then start playing with the door stop.  He does it every time.

*He still isn't walking but is getting closer. This kid sure is a speed crawler, though.  He is lightening fast.  He has a new walker that he has mastered, so I'm thinking that will get the ball rolling.  He also loves to push around his high chair as if it is a walker.

*LOVES to give open mouth kisses.  Even to strangers..yikes.
*This little boy is finally starting to cuddle.  When he is sleepy he will rest his head on your shoulder.  We sing him a song every night before bed and he loves to cuddle up into your chest. Heaven I tell ya.

*When he is hungry/eating/sees someone else eating, he smacks his tongue. 

*He has a slight rasp to his voice.  I melt every time he talks or laughs. Can you tell I am obsessed with my kid?

*Still says HI! all day long.  The other day Branson got home from work and Parker crawls over to him and says "Hi dad!" clear as day! It was the cutest thing.  I can't get him to say mama though...I think tries and it comes out baba. I'll keep working on him.

*Loves when we do animal sounds.  They get him to sit still and concentrate every time. The only sound he makes so far is snake, but he learns so quickly.  By the third time we asked what a snake says he made the sound.  I love how something so small makes us so excited. Oh and when we say "What does Parker say!?" He says Hi! Of course. haha

*New favorite food is Lara bars.

*He turns the pages in his books when we ask him to.

*Loves to drink out of glasses or water bottles.  Doesn't quite get the straw thing yet.

*He mimics just about everything we do.  Any sound we make he tries to copy us.

*He loves attention and is so good at making us laugh!

*When music comes on, he automatically starts dancing and moving his head and hips.

*Every time we say good job, he claps and grins so big!  Even if he is drinking a bottle he will drop it just so he can clap his hands.

*When he is finished with his bottle he will throw it as hard as he can.  When I say "all done" he knows that is his cue to chuck it.  haha. I should probably be teaching him some better manners. ;)
*Parker has always done great in the car and used to take naps while we drove around, but now he will only nap in his crib.  Kind of a bummer but makes sense since he sleeps on his tummy.
*Started to point at things.
*Loves loves LOVES little kids.  We will be in a store and if he sees any kid or smaller person walk by, he giggles and smiles so big. We are working on being soft...when he plays with kids he tends to get rough because he just loves them and wants to smother them.
*Loves bath time and hates when it has to end.

Every day gets more and more fun with this little man.  He is learning so much every day and it is so fun to just watch him play and explore.  We think he is a pretty rad kid.  

Happy Birthday month Parker boy!