Attracting babes on the beach...

 

Sand Island with Dad

 

Grand Mom gives Parker Gatorade

 

 

Sacandaga Summer with Parker!!!

First Sunset on the boat with Mommy...Parker says, "When is bedtime?"

Hey Mom, where's my beach chair?

Uncle Bob came from Texas!!!



Nana love <3>
Aiden Bland and Daniel Ryan came to visit!

Parker's secret girlfriend, Gabby.

Hey, Mom- get that camera out of my face!

Cousins- Molly, Shannon, Sean and Ryan!

Just before a rainstorm on the screen porch

This has been the best summer of Parker's life! And his Mommy's! I can't even tell you how lucky I feel to be a teacher and have all this time with my little man. We have been vagabonds this summer, lugging him all over the place! We spent two weeks at Nana's where we made a little place for Parker to call his in my old bedroom. Complete with crib and monkey decor.

Then we moved to the Great Sacandaga Lake in Northville, NY. We rented a camp here for the remainder of the summer since we rented out our home for track season. Since we just bought a new boat, Parker has bad a ton of outdoor experiences-- boating, a campfire, beach time and his first swim in the lake! Needless to say, he is growing like a weed and we can't even keep up this blog to give you all the updates. He's an avid army crawler, an expert stander and has just started giving kisses and almost-waving!

We have been lucky to have a ton of friends and family visit us at camp. We hope to see some more before the end of summer!

Parker says hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

When Parker puts his mind to something, he does it!

Parker's famous!

Parker made his photographer's website! He's so adorable!

Summer with Parker!

Got bottle?

What's it take to get a drink around here?

Pool? Did you say pool?

It is very difficult to look adorable in this giant life jacket, Mom.

Many of you know that for the past three summers Mike and I have spent a lot of time in CA and other parts of the country. We have missed three summers at home, enjoying the yard, our garden and friends and family on the 4th of July. We have missed the fun of being home for the summer together! Well, now we have all that time to spend with Parker--- and then some! We are particularly excited because we just got a new boat and have been really enjoying all the fun parts of summer--- especially with the latest heat wave! We are so lucky to both be teachers and love our jobs the way we have. Parker has experienced many firsts the past couple weeks at the start of the summer, here's just a few.

1. First swim in Nana's pool
2. First swim in Sacandaga Lake (well except for in utero)
3. First ice cream cone (well, a couple licks!)
4. First pickle (He teethed on it and didn't mind the taste!)
5. First fireworks (slept through it!)
6. First trip to Jumpin' Jacks
7. First boat ride!
8. First baby cousin!!! (Welcome Baby Henry!)
9. First trip to a restaurant where he sat in a high chair (and tried to put everything in his mouth)
10. First bout of shrieking. It has seemed to pass as of now--- which is good because it was getting kind of loud around here!

Professional Photos- 6 months!!!!

Go to www.kristibaumgarten.com

Click on "enter website"
Click on client proofing
Enter "parker629" for a password

And enjoy the photos! They are amazing!!!

Parker discovers the Baby Einstein app on the Iphone

Parker does acting exercises

Little Mr. Gallagher

Parker is officially an eater. Now, whenever he sees someone eating or drinking, he is really mad that he is not eating or drinking. He has started drinking from a sippy cup (if you hold it for him) as well as an adult cup. He loves any food he tries and even prompts you with whines between bites to let you know he is not quite finished. In the picture above, I turned my back for a minute and food was promptly ALL over his face-- I am not sure if he smeared it himself or splattered it. He has quite the mind of his own these days.

We are about to celebrate Mike's first Fathers Day. Nothing says Happy Fathers Day like a little boy who is the spitting image of his Dad. The pictures above are from when I brought Parker in to school for Mike's senior presentations. I don't know who is prouder of who!!! Parker sat right at Daddy's desk and had himself a good time. He was particularly impressed with the American flag and the giant Smartboard.

Stay tuned to Growing up Gallagher for Parker's 6 month pictures--- he's getting so big so fast!!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

A Poem for Parker

Our Dance

Poems are designed to save memories
capture heart thoughts
contain the slideshows of our minds.
And for us, so far my boy-
this is mine.

Last night we danced.
Your innocence like a bubble around you.
A bubble I would like to climb inside,
to forget the responsibility of buckling your seat belt
or making sure you don't choke on small objects.

We played music- loud so the neighbors could hear,
and you looked to me
with eyes of peace.
Such peace should be contained, perserved, cold-pressed and concentrated
so that this night, while we danced
and I sang into your minature ear-
So that this night was cut out, framed and matted-
a collage of love that only you and I can share hereafter.

We danced.

Parker is 5 months!

Parker is a happy five month old boy. He now looks forward to his cereal in the morning and "dinner" at night, is teething on anything that he can get into his mouth and undoubtedly recognizes his name, Mom, Dad, Jodi (his daycare provider) and his friends at day care. He loves music, songs that Mommy and Daddy make up, getting tickled and his exersaucer. He still (knock on wood) sleeps very well at naptime and at nighttime and is, overall, the happiest baby we know. Which works out well, cause he's the one we got! We are so excited, only one more month and it's summer- which means more family time for the Gallaghers!

Nana Photoshoot: Bathtime with Parker 05.01.10

Parker discovers his feet

Parker has been rolling over, kicking, grabbing and scooching quite a bit the past couple weeks. In this video, you can see the little monkey try to grab one of the toys between his feet. He's getting stronger and moving around a ton! Solid foods are going great-- Parker has tried, avocados, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, pears, bananas and applesauce. Today we are trying peaches for the first time! I have been attempting to make my own baby food which proves to be quite a bit cheaper but sometimes I cannot get things quite the consistency that Parker likes it. Stringy vegetables are hard to get quite as pureed as you want but things like bananas and avocados are a cinch!

Parker has really enjoyed his mesh feeding net that he got from his buddy Tanner's Mommy. We put frozen banana cubes, frozen avocado cubes and ice cubes in there. He loves the taste and the mess!

Parker's Baptism

It was a wonderful day of family, babies and food. Parker was so lucky to be baptized with his cousin Sarah, who is only seven months older than him. Both babies survived the dunking. Parker wore a 50 year old christening gown that almost every child and grandchild in the family has worn. He wore it proud and put his own little stamp on it soon enough via spit up.

I can't believe my baby boy is baptized! What a lucky family we are :)

A Boy and His Thumb

Okay, I know this video is sideways, but I did it on my little point and shoot camera. Parker just started sucking his thumb and it's kind of funny cause he really gets into it, really loud and boisterous. I thought it was smart how he took his thumb away and brought it right back in this clip, but then again, I am his mother and everything he does is well, pretty awesome.

Also there are new videos on you tube if you search for Parker Gallagher-- he's got his own channel with some new videos aside from this one.

Enjoy!