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

Parker's 8-month update!

Dear Parker,

This has also been a big month for you!  You have really started to show your personality.  I fear you are going to be very mischievous as you grow older.  You are also fearless.  It's hard to know if you are more fearless because of the helmet or if you would be this fearless anyways.  This month you got your helmet, began crawling, began eating some table food, stand ALL day long and smile at everyone.  You have such a happy personality.  You also prefer to fall asleep on your own these days.. no more rocking you.  I think that has some to do with daycare and then some to do with your helmet.  It's hard to cuddle on mom's shoulder with that thing!  I don't blame you sweet boy.

You have adjusted very well to your helmet.  The hardest part was the helmet fitting where they kept taking it on and off of you and then taking it back to the workroom to adjust it.  That just took lots of time and you became grumpy.  But, you did great.  I can already tell a difference!  It's very impressive.  The first week we adjusted you to it by the following schedule:

Day 1: wear it for 1 hour on and 1 hour off
Day 2: wear it for 2 hours on and 1 hour off
Day 3: wear it for 4 hours on and 1 hour off; sleep in it all night
Day 4: wear it for 8 hours on and 1 hour off; sleep in it all night
Day 5: wear it for 23 hours on and 1 hour off; sleep in it all night

It never seemed to phase you one bit.  You actually love it.  The only way I got you to crawl at first was if I would set your helmet on the floor.  It fascinates you.  But then, you don't ever get to see it since its on your head all the time.  :-)  But, baby boy, your head STINKS!  It's the worst smell.  Even after washing your head it still smells.  The helmet smells, also.  It also leaves little red "strawberries" on the side of your face by your ear and on the top of your head where it is applying pressure.  We have to wash your head every night per DRs instruction.  The hardest part about this whole helmet thing is getting you dressed.  We kind of have to dress you from the bottom up instead of putting clothes over your helmet.

Daycare says that you stand all day long.  You are on the go.. the call your Mr. Social Guy now.  You also crawl over to the cribs and pull up and stand at the cribs while your friends are sleeping.  I'm sure they love that.  :-)  You stand all day long at home, too.  But now you are crawling to get you places.  I love watching what you will go for next.  Mom has to get some baby gates.  We don't want you flying down the stairs!  You also think you can walk without holding on to anything.  But, you cannot. You face plant every time.  I think the helmet has given you a little bit of a false sense of security.  You pull up on everything including mom and dad.

So, my sweet Parker, here's what you are doing at 8 months

• Wear size 3 diapers.
• Wear 6-month clothes... you are long and lean.
• Became too long for your infant seat, so now you ride in a convertible car seat.
• Weigh in at around 19 lbs
• Eat 4-5 bottles a day.  On the weekends you generally eat 4 bottles, but during the work week you eat 5 bottles.  I think its because you generally sleep later on the weekends.
• Eat baby food 3 times a day.  You eat 4-6oz of solid food at each feeding.  You love to eat!  You are such a good spoon eater.  You just sit in your high chair and open your mouth wide!
• Have learned how to drink out of a sippy cup!  Yay!  This took lots of practice.  You still require some help holding it though.
• Eat puffs and rice crackers.  Though, I gave you some pizza the other night and you were a huge fan.  Who is not a fan of pizza?!  You also like some fettuccine alfredo.  In the past, every time I tried to give you some rice from my plate you spat it out.  So, maybe you are starting to grow out of this texture phase.
• Sleep about 10-11 hours at night straight.  You sleep from about 8-7 each night.  We have to wake you up for daycare every morning at 6:30.
• Take 2 naps a day, each about 1.5 hours.  I can still sometimes get in a third nap with you.
• Still a pretty good car rider.  You just babble about in the mornings and look out the window to your heart's content.
• Favorite toys are mom's purse strap.  Mom's keys.  Remotes.  Paper.  I literally can't leave any paper out or your will eat it like a dog.  I had to pull chunk of paper out of your mouth two days ago.  You also like your standing table still (you dance to the music all the time) and like your alligator that blows balls in the air.  You also like diaper boxes.  You stand up at them and push them around.  You like seeing the flaps of the boxes go up and down.
• Have had pink eye twice and one ear infection.  But none of those phased you too much.  You just had really snotty eyes.
• Always smile and still have just two teeth.
• Like to play peek-a-boo and patty cake.

We sure do love you baby boy.  We love watching you discover new things and see the amazement on your face.  We're so proud of you already.  We love you always and forever.

Just crawling around.

I'm coming to get your camera!

This is the only picture I could get of you on your back.  Gone are the days where I can just stand over you and take a picture.

Stink pot.

I love standing at the door and looking outside!

This!  You are always this happy.

Parker's 7-Month Update

Dear Parker,

Seven months was a really big month for you!  You are really starting to turn into a baby boy rather than just a baby!  You are so active.  You have finally figured out how to roll and know how to get from one toy to the next.  At daycare, they say you will just roll anywhere.  Can't figure out how to get that toy?  Never fear, I'll just roll to it!  You definitely roll at home, but I wouldn't say you roll from one end of the house to the other.  You know mom & dad will get you whatever you want, so you just let us know if you aren't happy or want a different toy.

Since you have figured out rolling, you earned your "I roll" tag at daycare and you now mostly sleep on your tummy.  We had a rough 3 weeks with you in December.  You caught a terrible cold and got two teeth all at the same time.  You were a terrible sleeper during those battles.  It broke mom's heart to see you in pain!  You traveled to Arkansas for New Years and you were a superb airplane passenger.  You just slept both ways.  However, I'm discovering that you are not a good sleeper in new locations.  I think you wake up and kind of get scared/confused at where you are.  It takes you a long time to fall back asleep when that happens.

You are such a good eater.  You love your solid foods.  You will pretty much eat anything if it has some fruit in it and you aren't picky about your fruits.  You just open your mouth up wide everytime a spoon gets near you.  It's adorable.  Mom has also started giving you some Baby Mum Mum's (rice cracker) and some Puffs.  You despise the texture of those items, but you love to try to get them to your mouth.  I think this has really improved some of your fine motor skills because it takes a lot of work to get a puff into your mouth.  Mom puts about six on your tray and you usually can get about 1 or 2 in your mouth.  But, once in your mouth you hate it.  You try to gag and get it out of your mouth. I'm hoping you move past this pretty soon so I can get you to eat some real food.  You spit out anything that has any texture to it so far.  We are also working on a sippy cup.  You *sometimes* get some water out of a sippy cup.  You at least like to play with it and bring it to your mouth.  You mostly just smile when you get it to your mouth.

You are still such a stander.  I got you a musical play table for Christmas and you could pretty much stand at that and dance to the music all day.  I love this.  Your little feet just go, go, go.  You will also walk behind your walker.  You haven't grasped the concept of turning or anything like that and you need extreme adult supervision... but you like it nonetheless.  Your little face is so serious when you are walking.  You also love to stand at the ottoman.  You prefer to play with mom's chapstick, the tv remote and the coasters more than any other toys.  Funny how that is.

You also had a very wonderful Christmas.  Your family spoiled you rotten!  You got so many toys, that we had to leave some of it behind in Arkansas for another trip.  You liked to play with the paper and the boxes.  You just say in my lap the whole time and watched your surroundings.  DD Nana got you a toy manger scene and you loved it the most, I think.  You liked being able to chew on everything and I think Baby Jesus was your favorite chew toy.  :-)

At 7 months you:

• Wear size 3 diapers.  But, are still finishing up the rest of the size 2 diapers we have first.
• Eat 5 5-6oz bottles a day, but you seem to be transitioning to 4 bottles a day.
• Eat at LEAST 4 oz of baby food in one sitting, 3-4x a day.
• Nap 2 to 3 times a day.  You usually only nap for about an hour to an hour and a half at a time.
• Starting to make more sounds and be more vocal in general.
• Love riding in your wagon and/or your trike (that the adult pushes).
• Have a tolerance for swinging in a swing.  I can't decide if you really like it because you don't smile, but you at least don't seem upset by it.  The forward swing motion seems to kind of scare you at first, but you will unclench your fists after about five minutes when you realize its okay.
• Are generally a happy baby.  But, if we don't let you stand/walk you are sure to let us know that is your preference.  You aren't interested in trying to crawl.  You are more interested in learning to climb so that you can stand.
• You will scoot backwards, but no forward motion yet.
• Refuse to walk inside your walker; you much prefer the walker you can push.
• Have friends at daycare and aren't afraid to take another baby's toys.  It's cute to see you interact with the other babies.  You guys will just sit and smile at each other.  I wish I could see you during the day!!  This one baby, Brooklyn, will cry if I come to pick you up.  She loves you and I think you love her, too!
• Moved up a class at daycare, so now you are in a class with crawlers!  You seem to have adjusted well, it's mom who still has work to do in that area.  I really loved your first set of teachers, Ms. Nairy and Ms. Hale.  It's taking some getting used to with the new ones.
• Becoming quite the car rider!  Mom is so proud!!  We have come such a long way with the car.  You will just sit in your carseat and look around until we make it home from work.  I love watching you back there just take in your surroundings.  You also like to fall asleep in the car, too.

You are such a big boy!  I can already tell that month eight is going to be a big month for you as well.  You got a helmet in month eight.. special post about that will come later.  Mom and dad love you baby boy, always and forever.

I'm so happy to be seven months old!

My first restaurant experience!

You love your DD Nana.. and she loves you!!

My cool trike that my Great Nana bought me.
Note: very dangerous should child fall asleep while riding.
Must stay close to house while riding.

Positional Plagiocephaly

Well, my sweet boy Parker has been diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly.  In layman's terms, Parker has a flat head.  He is going to be wearing a cranial orthotic helmet (aka, baby helmet) for the next six months for 23 hours a day.

Our first appointment was on December 29th where we got a picture made of Parker's head and spoke with a neurosurgeon.  We were also worried about craniosytosis (premature fusion of the skull), but it turns out that Parker's brain is good as new!  Parker literally just has a flat head, which is good news.  No surgery.  Whoo!  We left Texas Children's with a prescription for Parker's helmet and an image showing us Parker's head compared to the "average" head.  Most babies heads are oval shaped when you look at them from the top and Parker's head is very round.  Since its flat in the back, Parker's head is just getting wider so that his brain can grow.

We knew it would take 2-3 weeks for insurance to approve the helmet, so we have just been waiting for the phone call saying all is well, as we knew we met Cigna's requirements to get a helmet.  Here is Cigna's official position on positional plagiocephaly, if you're interested.  

When you read the internet about the helmet you can see a whole host of opinions and thoughts on the helmet.  Some say it is not worth it and it will return to its normal round shape on its own.  Well, did you know that at 6 months a babies head is 86% the size of an adults?  That's a big head!  The curve of how fast your brain grows rapidly flattens out after year one and then stops growing around year two.  What happens if it doesn't round out after year one?  You're pretty much stuck with a flat head, that's what.

You can also read online that the helmet is just for cosmetic reasons only.  True, his brain is fine.  But really, who wants to go around with a flat head the rest of their life if they can prevent it?  Parker's head is clearly flat.  We did all we could do to reposition him beginning at month four, but he just preferred his back.  I'll never know if I should have done something differently to prevent his flat head; its just the way it has to be.  But, would you want to have a flat head for the rest of your life knowing that someone could have done something about it?  From daycare workers, to great grandparents and to even my six-year old niece, they have all noticed Parker's head.  I wouldn't want him to be teased for something that can be fixed.

This leads me to the next part of the story.  We received notification that Cigna will not cover Parker's helmet.  It's not because of Cigna's policy, it is because it is National Oilwell Varco's (the place where Robert works) decision to specifically exclude the use of cranial orthotic devices from the plan unless you have surgery.  I can guarantee if the CEO of NOV's little baby had a flat head he would want to get that fixed, too.  But nope, the helmet won't count towards your deductible or anything of that nature if you work for NOV.

You might be thinking that I should have read my plan documents before I re-enrolled in January.  Well, I did.  I read the entire booklet from front to cover and read the summary plan description.  The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires plan administrators — the people who run plans — to give plan participants in writing the most important facts they need to know about their retirement and health benefit plans including plan rules, financial information, and documents on the operation and management of the plan.  However, nowhere in our summary plan description did it mention that it wouldn't cover the baby helmet.  The summary plan description had a specific section for services not covered and it completely left out cranial orthoses.  Turns out the "SPD" didn't consider this an important fact to call out.  I guess the fact that 1/5th (20%) of all babies get flat heads since medical science has changed its position to have babies sleeping their backs isn't considered important.  We had to have NOV's benefits department send us the actual plan description to find the specific exclusion.

Really, I understand a flat head is cosmetic in nature.  Really, I do.  It's elective.  But the thing is, I didn't choose for Parker to have a flat head in the first place.  How is this different than say, a nose job or some other cosmetic election?  Well, God designed your looks and maybe you want to just randomly change that.  Okay, fine other people/insurance shouldn't have to pay (via higher premiums) for you to just randomly change your look on a whim.  But, Parker wasn't born with a flat head.. God didn't design it that way.  Medical science told me to lay him on his back.  The flatness was not there right away.  Sleeping on his back over time created the flat head.  Essentially, his environment created his flat head.  Just like our environment causes us to break bones and get sick.  How is this any different?

What's even more odd-- our plan will pay for the regular DR visits to check on the helmet and his head, but not for the actual helmet.  Now, how does that make sense?  To me, it just a cop out.  Someone along the way decided that having a flat head wasn't a big deal.  Maybe you still think that.

Let me tell you this.  I know what its like to look different first hand.  I know what its like to wear a back brace to school.  I know what its like to be teased and made fun of.  I know what its like.  I would never put my kid in some time of brace/device just for the fun of it.  But, trust me when I say, I will do everything in my power to make sure that Parker can fit in at school.  There's so much we can't control... but I will do everything I can in what I can control.  And, I can control his flat head, to the best of my ability at least.  With or without insurance help.

Here is Parker's head at 6.5 months.

 

Oh, this kid.  He's the light of my life.  Yes, I know.. this is just a little blip on the radar.  Really no big deal in the scheme of things.  He won't ever remember this.  He'll get used to the helmet everyone says.  And, considering how often he hits his head on things now that he can stand and sit up, it's probably good that he is getting a helmet.  :-)  Mostly, I just want to vent.  I'm fortunate enough that paying for the helmet out of pocket without insurance will just be inconvenient.  But, for others, it could be the decision between getting something every kid has the right to have... a round head or not.

Holy Smokes... I have a kid who's half a year old!

Dear Parker,

Where does time go?!  I can't believe you are getting so big!  You are 6-months now and getting bigger every day.  You smile all the time and are generally a happy baby.  I'm not going to call you easy, but you are definitely a happy baby. 

I took you in to see the doctor just before Thanksgiving for a lingering cough and we left with a referral for the neurosurgery department of Texas Children's Hospital.  Sorry baby boy, you have a flat head, or in science terms, plagiocephaly.  The pediatrician is worried about your fontanels.  You still have a large ridge at the top of your head and the soft spot at the top of your head is very small.  Your soft spots aren't supposed to harden until you are about 2, so that is cause for concern, which could be Craniosynostosis  (definition: congenital premature fusion (closure) of one or more sutures on a baby’s skull.  Sutures are seams that connect individual skull bones. When these seams are open they allow the skull to expand in an even fashion when the brain grows in infancy. When a suture has closed too early, the skull cannot expand in a uniform fashion.)  It has taken a very long time to get into see the specialist.  I called to make an appointment the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and can't get you in until December 29th.   So, there will be another blog post about that, later.  There is a good chance you are going to end up with a baby helmet.

This month:

 

• Weigh 16.47 lbs and are 27.5 inches long.
• You experienced your first Thanksgiving!  We spent Thanksgiving in Arkansas and you had a great time.  You loved seeing your cousins, Maddison & Tristin.  We took Meier family photos and you were a rock star.  You didn't sleep all that great until the last two nights, but overall you were a real trooper.
• Tried to eat/suck on the arm rest of the airplane during our travels.  Your dad just about freaked.  It was hilarious.  You would just reach your arms out and open your mouth wide to get your mouth on the armrest.
• Still love your jumper!
• Can sit very well, but can still topple over if we don't put a boppy behind you.
• Still love to stand.  You can stand against the couch & ottoman at home and move side to side down them almost by yourself.  You could stand and play with the remote controls for an hour.
• Got to take a trip to Austin to meet some more cousins and you loved watching the 2-year olds on the playground.
• Got your first ear infection and legit fever (102 degrees!)
• I can see your first tooth!  It's not all the way in yet, but its just under your gums.
• Generally sleep through the night.. about 8:15 to 7ish.  But, this past week with your ear infection you have NOT been a good sleeper.
• Have a serious drool rash.
• Seem to really like your solid foods.  You eat cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, prunes, mangos, bananas, and apples.  You aren't a fan of anything green.  These solid foods have started to mess with your bottle feedings though.  You are not a good bottle eater.  Every bottle seems to be a battle.  So, I'm trying to re-jig your schedule.  I think I'm trying to feed you too many bottles, too often. 
• Refuse to roll over and lay on your stomach.  You pretty much scream bloody murder when on your tummy.  You have started getting up on your side.  So, I'm hoping you start rolling over, soon.  This will really help your head, too.  We are under DRs order to get you to roll over.
• You are quite the pooper.  You poop 3-4 times a day it seems and go through 2 to 3 outfits a day.
• Really like the game peak-a-boo.
• Still love your stackable toys and anything that crunches.
• Can play independently play on the floor with your toys for a little bit as long as you aren't tired.
• Started to need your pacifier more.  I think this is daycare's fault.  But, if you are happy with it, I'm happy with it.
• Stayed with your dad and your Mimi & Papa Randy at the house for three days while I went out of town for a work trip.  You were such a good boy without mama.  But, I'll never forget when you saw me for the first time after my trip.  You smiled so big and when I picked you up you tucked your head into my shoulder with smile. You even blushed.  It melted my heart and I hope I remember it always.

The Christmas pictures below are the ones I took for our Christmas card.  I know I'm biased.  But, I think your the most handsome six-month old around.

I'll love you forever and always baby boy. 

 

From the Meier Family photo shoot.  Like I said, rock star.  You remind me of a little old man in this photo.
Gladden Photography



You and your cousins Maddison & Tristin
Gladden Photography



Look at that face.
Gladden Photography

 

Parker's Five Month Update!

Dear Parker,

My, how I can't believe you are five months already!!  Where does time go, my sweet baby?  You are such a great baby!  You are so active and want to be moving, but haven't quite figured it out how to do that yet.  This month, we really set about taking you places every weekend.  We've been to the Nutcracker Market, two different outlet malls, different parks, Old Town Spring, a pumpkin patch outside of Katy, and Prasek's in Hiljie, just to name a few!  Mom and Dad have to leave the house with you, or we go a little stir crazy!!  You also experienced your very first Halloween and you were such a trooper!  You were a little alligator/dinasour and just hung out in your stroller until you fell asleep.

You are very active and putting everything in your mouth.  You smile all the time and just giggle all day long.  You love the sound of Donald Duck and hearing us sneeze.  That makes you laugh, even when you're crying, every time you hear it.  You are doing really well at sitting and love to stand.  You can push up on our arms to a standing position all on your own.  However, you don't have a real sense of balance, so you are really wobbly.  Stable, but wobbly all at the same time.  It's hard to get you to learn to sit because all you want to do is stand!  "I'm a big boy and hear me roar!"  You aren't a huge fan of tummy time, but you do reach for objects while you are on your tummy and you kind of "scooted" the other day, too.

DD Nana and TePaw came to visit you over a weekend as well, and DD Nana even stayed through a Tuesday!  You got to stay with her all by yourself while mom and dad went to work.  You loved it!  In fact, you loved it so much that when we took you to daycare they called me to tell me you weren't yourself.  You missed all the attention DD Nana lavished upon you.  That grandma sure can spoil you quick!  DD Nana bought you a puppet that you seem to like and her and TePaw sure had fun playing around with you and the puppet.  It was the funniest thing to see!  TePaw laying on the floor behind a chair with a puppet on his arm, making funny sounds.

We have also started you on solid foods.  I use the term solid food loosely here.  So far you like pears, sweet potatoes, carrots, and cereal.  You don't like peas or avocado.  That's all I have introduced in you so far, so we will keep exploring!  Now that you eat your solids, you aren't eating your bottle quite as well.  So, I'm still trying to figure out how to make sure you get in your bottle feeding and don't let the solids take up all the room in that small tummy!

You've officially been in daycare for 2 months now.  You really like your teachers and you smile at them all the time when I'm dropping you off and picking you up.  You don't really cry too much in the car anymore, though you still have some bad days.  Now, you pretty much just talk to yourself and play with your feet.  Boy do we lose our socks back there though! Since you are in daycare, I think you have developed a permanent runny nose and a cough.  It's nothing serious, but it will still sometimes wake you up at night.  I'm sorry baby boy.  It doesn't seem to slow you down, so there's relief in that.

At 5 months, you:

• Wear 3-6 month clothing and some just regular 6 month clothing.  You are long, but you are thin.  So things are either the right length and too wide or too short and the right width.  You're super cute in jeans though!
• Sleep generally from 8:30 to 6:30, with 2-3 naps a day.  Sometimes you sleep longer and then sometimes you wake in the middle of the night.  I think this largely due to the solids.. so I'm still trying to get you on a good schedule that works for your digestive system.
• Drool like crazy.  They say its teething, but I haven't seen a tooth yet!  You drool so much that you've developed a little rash under your chin, on your chest.  You also have gotten really dry, chapped cheeks.  Aquaphor has really seemed to help us on your cheeks.  But, we're still working on your chest.
• Like bath time and have figured out how to splash around.  You end up soaking us by the end of it!
• Love playing with your feet and sucking on your big toe.  Forget the thumb, big toe it is!
• Wear size 2 diapers.
• Weigh somewhere around 15 lbs.
• Are as curious as ever!  If we are out and about, you never cry because you love just watching what everyone is doing.  You can't wait to do it, too!
• Love your jumper.  One time, you even stayed in it for an hour!  You just jump like crazy and love it when the music is going.  Mom and Dad jump with you, too!
• Giggle all the time when we make funny sounds and/or sneeze.  You even giggled the other night when you sneezed yourself.
• Don't like to spend much time on your back anymore.  You can sit pretty well... falling backwards is still your downfall.  
• Stand all the time.. which means you try to jump yourself when we are holding you up.  That's why you love your jumper.. you can jump to your heart's content and not mom's arms content.
• Love your stackable doughnut toys.  I have no idea what the toy is called.  But its the colored rings that you stack up.  Sometimes you just chew on the center of the stand, but you are really fascinated with trying to unstack them.  You don't care so much about stacking them, but do like trying to unstack them.
• Play with Sophie the giraff and chew on her.  Yeah, you pretty much chew on anything.  Your mouth is usually wide open all the time trying to get something in your mouth.  When I just show you Sophie your mouth stretches open.  It's hilarious.
• Bring stuff to your mouth, but you aren't as good at keeping it at your mouth.  We still need to work on your fine motor skills.

You sure are such a big boy!  I can't wait to watch your six month!  You amaze me each and every day.  I love watching your face and helping you discover the world.  Mom and Dad love you always and forever baby boy.

So curious, all the time.

Yep, standing is what you do.

Not a single tear was shed during the making of "Parker in a pumpkin."  Be impressed.

You love your great Nana.  Giving her googly eyes.

Yep, just trying to chew on my hood.

Four generations!

Got totally lucky with this shot.  But, again, you're trying to chew on your hood.

 

 

Parker's 4-month Update!

Dear Parker,

I can't believe it.  You are four months!  Holy smokes, my how you have changed and grown since we first brought laid our eyes on you.  At four months, you:

 

• Wear size 2 diapers.
• Wear 0-3 month old clothes. 
• At home, you eat 5, 6-oz bottles, but at daycare you eat 6, 5 or 6-oz bottles.  Two of those bottles are formula.  You don't mind the formula at all.  In fact, you didn't even seem to notice a difference.  ....If only you knew kid.....
• Are starting to laugh and I love it!!  This makes mom's heart happy.
• Just love your dad.  He is so patient with you!
• Found your feet and love to play with them.  This makes changing your diaper difficult because you like to hold your feet the whole time.
• Are starting to get used to the ride to and from daycare in the car.  You still cry, but not nearly as hard or for as long.
• Like to make sounds.  Lots of "ugh"s!
• Sleep 9-10 hours at night with about 4 hours of naps during the day.  You will nap in your crib without assistance besides a paci to put you asleep.
• Sleep unswaddled in a sleep sack. 
• Love to eat and sleep with your hands above your head like you are just chilling.
• Went to the zoo for the first time and you were such a trooper!!  I'm not sure you noticed a single animal, but you could have been your own exhibit with all the sweet comments we received on you.
• Like your daycare teachers. You smile at them when I'm with you.  This lets me know you are in good hands.
• Do artwork at daycare with your hands and paint.  It's so cute!
• Still like to be in your jumper and bounce.  You see more objects and focus in on them as well.
• Grasp and hold the objects hanging from your play gym when you aren't grabbing your feet instead.
• Can sit for about 10-15 seconds unassisted before you fall over.  You still like to stand and we have to get you to focus on sitting, first.
• Not a huge fan of the bumbo.  You prefer to sit on your own.
• Went to a birthday party for a 7-yr old at gymnastics and you loved watching the big kids play.  You didn't make a peep and just sat in daddy's arms the entire time. 

We have your 4-month shots tomorrow and I hope we get the go ahead to introduce some rice cereal.  I can't wait to watch you explore that.  You love to keep us on our toes and we love watching you.  Next week, we plan to take you to the pumpkin patch.  That should be fun.

We love you always and forever, sweet boy.

 

We took this picture for your Great Aunt Vicki.  We just have to keep it on the DL.

Sweet painting.  I'm glad you are not learning grammar right now, though.

Your mummy outfit for school!  It's getting close to Halloween around here.

Yep, you love that daddy.

Watching the big kids play soccer.

At the zoo with daddy.

Maybe you saw the elephant!

All the zoo needed was a Parker exhibit!

You just love playing with those feet.