Parker's 9-month Update!

Dear Parker,

Oh what fun you are!  You giggle and laugh all the time.  You absolutely love being outside.  We are all really enjoying the longer daylight hours.  This means we can resume some nightly walks!  You still love your wagon and also your trike! 

This month has really been more of the "same."  You crawl around and cruise like you've been doing it your whole life.  You have taken some steps but that really seems to scare you.  If we try to get you to do it again you just become zombie-like and refuse to stand.  You don't sit still for more than 30 seconds.  Even if that means you craw like 1 foot and then sit for 30 seconds and then go back to where you were.  You're a mess!  Quite exhausting!

The helmet does not seem to bother you one bit.  I feel like your roundness has sort of "stagnated" here in the past few weeks.  I'm sure it will start rounding out a bit more; just have to wait for a big growth spurt.

You said "ma ma" one time.  Not to be repeated.  But, even dad heard you, so I have proof!  But, for the most part you just say "ba."  You're whole face lights up when you smile.  You love it when dad chases you around the house on his knees.  How you giggle, so! I love watching you two together.  I also love hearing you two.  Your dad is always trying to teach you new things.  When I'm in the other room, I can just hear him saying, "look here Parker.  This is how you do it.  You go [....]."  It's so great.  You love your dad.  I'd say this month you have been more of a "daddy's boy" instead of a "mama's boy." 

You have started to have real separation anxiety when I drop you off at daycare.  This breaks mom's heart, sweet boy.  It's so hard to leave you in the morning.  But, I know you are in good hands.  Here's what you have been up to this month:

• You sleep 10-12 hours a night (usually 10-11 hours) from about 8 to 6:30.. when we wake you up.  If left alone, you'll sleep to about 7:45 or 8.
• Drink 4 bottles a day ranging from 6-7 oz and eat 3 meals a day.  You also like puffs and yogurt bites.  You love pizza and anything with tomato sauce (that's my boy!).  You still struggle with different textures.  You love baby food, but if I give you "real" food, you still struggle to swallow it.
• Wear 6-9 month clothing.  Still long and lean, buddy!
• Weigh 19.5 lbs and are 29 inches long.
• Enjoy bath time
• Fall asleep at night all on your own w/o me rocking you to sleep.
• Starting to warm up to the swing at the park.  At least you are cringing when we give you the first push.
• Wear shoes!  Well, that's a bit of an overstatement.  Daycare said I had to start bringing you in shoes b/c you are all over the place.  So, you have shoes.  I put them on before we get in the car in the morning and usually neither shoes makes it on your foot into daycare.  Their problem, not mine. 
• Got your third tooth on the bottom.  We're still waiting for those top ones to come down.  I did see them, but it looks like they went back up for the time being.
• Crawl everywhere and cruise like you were made for walking.  It's only a matter of time before you are walking!
• Enjoy playing with anything that is not a toy including mom's purse, mom's shoes, mom's earrings, mom's camera, hangers, remotes.  You get the drift...

You are so much fun, baby boy!!  I can't believe only three months left until you are one!  You bring us so much joy and I can't wait to see you learn and discover more new things.

Mom and dad love you, sweet baby boy... always and forever.

An Open Letter to the General Manager of Northwest Dodge in Houston

My name is Jessica Meier.  I believe you have been working with my husband, Robert Meier.  To remind you of the situation, we purchased a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Limited.  Our Jeep has less than 5,000 miles on it.

1.     On February 14, 2015, we started having significant transmission problems.  Our car got stuck in 7^th gear and the check engine light came on.

2.     Monday, February 16^th, 2015.  We first took the car to the River Oaks Jeep dealership to get it checked out where they proceeded to tell us our transmission needed to be replaced and that it was unsafe to drive.  They sent us back to Northwest Dodge because that is where we purchased the car.

3.     We arrived at Northwest Dodge on that same day, February 16^th.  Your team said we had to wait (it would take up to a week and a half to diagnose the issue) and would maybe have everything resolved by the end of March.  Your team put us into a loaner vehicle after several go-arounds that day where they finally caved.

4.     We drove the loaner vehicle for a week or so until Robert was able to meet with you when you were able to move us to the “front” of the line.  It was determined that your team could fix the problems.

5.     We stay in the loaner vehicle until repairs are made.  You give us our car back saying “It’s been fixed!”

6.     We drive our Jeep and notice it is still having trouble shifting (up shift from 1^st to 2^nd and downshift from 5^th to 4^th).  We take our Jeep back to Northwest Dodge where your team continues to declare all is fine and that the transmission will “re-learn” what it needs to.

7.     We take our Jeep back to you again on Tuesday, March 3^rd saying that no, it is not fine.  Your shop manager rides around in the car with the computer hooked up and did a quick learn which temporarily fixed the problem.  By the end of the same day, the car was having the same problems.

8.     Robert arrives the following day and rides around with another service tech who says that the valve body on the transmission needs to be replaced.  We get back into a loaner vehicle for another week or so for further repairs to be made..

9.     At this point, we have spent several hours on multiple occasions at your dealership and are very irritated that our brand new car is spending so much time in the shop and the issues not being resolved.

10.  On Monday, March 9^th, It is determined that our Jeep is “fixed, again!”  We take ownership of the Jeep only to notice that is still has significant trouble downshifting from 5^th to 4^th.

You have been in contact with Jeep and its determined that we can trade in our Jeep and get a new one since a new car should not have these kinds of problems.  How can we even stay positive that the Jeep has been “fixed?”  How can we trust that we won’t have even more issues with the car?  This is a BRAND NEW car.  It’s not even been driven outside of the city.  I drive this Jeep with my infant.  I feel less than secure in my car and have zero confidence in your repair department at this point.  Robert speaks with you and your team is under the impression that we can be made whole again by trading in our Jeep for a new one that is similar to what we currently own. Robert works with your team, specifically Dax, to find Jeeps that are of a similar price and options to what we currently have.  We find a new Jeep that is similar in price, options and style.

We arrive at your dealership on Saturday to complete paperwork.  However, it appears that nobody is on the same page.  When we get to the financing department, we must either bring to the table an additional $2k or get into new car that is significantly less than what we currently own.  I have NEVER been treated with so much disrespect in my life.

Your team should remember that we did spend $37,000 dollars with them.  I repeat: your team received $37,000 from us.  A fair commission has been earned and we are a paying customer.  Dax was incredibly rude and kept saying that “he doesn’t really care what numbers we are talking about.”  “We can talk circles all day long…”  It was extremely apparent that all anybody wanted us to do was to leave.  I have never, ever been treated so poorly.  I gave you guys $37,000 for a car with a sticker price of $40,275.  That was the deal we had negotiated at the end of October.  All I want is a car that I can believe won’t break down on the highway with my infant in the back seat.  I want a car that is worth $40,275 for $37,000.  End of story.  That’s how I can be made whole.

We went back to the drawing board to find a car that was in-line with what we currently have and your team wouldn’t give it to us without us paying more.  We have to get into a lesser vehicle that does not have all the options we currently have.  Albeit, with a cruddy transmission.  To make matters worse, when we went to look at this “lesser” Jeep with Dax, he hopped onto another customer and basically left us in the dust.  He originally told us there were only 2 cars on the lot we could “afford” and when we test drove that one we noticed a horrible smell.  So, we wanted to look at the other vehicle on the lot, but all of sudden he “only had one.”  It was clear he wanted us to just leave and he didn’t want to help us any longer. I believe he said, “He doesn’t work for free.”  He no longer had time to sit with us at his desk or to work with us.  He left us just waiting… for about an hour before we just left.  We were considering just getting this “lesser” Jeep because we don’t have any more time to waste at your dealership.  But, Dax wouldn’t give us the time of day with his “new” customers.  We arrived at your dealership at 9:45 Saturday morning and left at 12:45 Saturday afternoon because my babysitter had to leave. 

Believe me, I understand your frustration with the situation, but you have to understand our frustration.  I just want to be made whole.  Right now, I’m not getting to be made whole.  I basically just want a straight swap for a 2015 Jeep that is just like my brand new 2014 Jeep.  That’s it.  It’s not my problem that you don’t have any 2014’s left to swap me out of.  I shouldn’t be the one paying extra for a defective Jeep.  What happened to customer service? 

Again, I have never been treated so poorly for spending $37,000.  I just want a vehicle similar to what I currently own for the same price that I can feel safe in.  I feel like your team is trying to make money off my bad situation.  I’m not looking to make a dime off of you.  I just want to be made whole.

I will be working Jeep to rectify this situation and will be meeting with an attorney this week if this cannot be resolved.  I expect better for being a repeat Jeep customer and considering the money I have already given your dealership.

I appreciate your attention to this matter. 

Thanks,

Jessica Meier