The Stanley Scoop: December 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Drake loved his fire engine! Grandma Stanley gave him a "Santa" outfit

before we left for Sacramento. He looked so cute in it on Christmas Day! Grandma and Grandpa Parkinson's dog (Lucy) took quite an interest to Drake. I have to say... they actually became quite good little buddies by the end of the trip. Drake was always looking around for Lucy. He loved to pet her and even give her hugs.

Christmas 2008

BJ, Drake, and I drove to Sacramento to spend Christmas with my family. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at the Niepraschk's new home in the Bay Area. It was wonderful to have all of us together again. Keri and Chris's house is beautiful and it fit all of us perfectly. Christmas Eve was a blast. Keri played the piano and we all played instruments and sang Christmas songs. We laughed and even shed a few tears when we felt the spirit as we sang songs about Christ. We also acted out the "manger scene" and dressed up in costumes. We had a wonderful turkey dinner in Keri's dinning room and ate and ate and ate (the best part of Christmas). It was quite a chore getting all the kids to bed. Everyone was excited for Santa Claus to come. Christmas Day we all woke up to a family room full of toys, candy, and other fun stuff. Drake got a fire engine from Santa that he could ride on. It was so fun to watch him push it while Cole rode on it. They were good little buddies. After all of the morning excitement we lounged around and enjoyed one another's company. The "boys" played Settlers of Zarahemla for the 100th time....I think BJ won 99 of those times! Keri and I read our Twilight books...I think she finished hers that day! I can't express in words how wonderful it is to be with family. I loved how we have such a strong bond. One of my favorite parts of the time we spent at Keri's house was the spiritual conversation we had on Christmas Eve with a few of us. I feel closer because of the experiences that were shared. I love you all!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Drake's Corner

Drake had his first birthday on Dec. 13th. One of his birthday presents was his "front-facing" carseat. He was so excited to be facing the front so that he could see out the window. He smiled and laughed the whole hour drive to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We celebrated his birthday with Grandma and Grandpa Stanley. He enjoyed opening all of his presents and eating his "truck" cake that grandma made. Drake loves to spend time at grandma and grandpa's house. He plays there while mom works a few days a month.

Drake can say mom, dad, and car...and sometimes bath. He is just learning to walk and seems determined to walk further and further each day. He is growing so fast! Drake likes to pull anything and everything out of cupboards and shelves that he can reach. He likes to be close to me or BJ most the time. He holds onto our legs and walks around with us. We can't imagine what life would be like without him!

Drake's Corner

10/21/09 - Drake called Grandpa Parkinson "Big Grandpa"
He said he wants to go to "Big Grandpa's" house in California.

10/21/09-I told Drake this morning that some friends were coming over that day (my visiting teachers). Then the doorbell rang and it was our construction manager/builder that came to fix our ceiling. He was a large man that was pretty dirty b/c he had been fixing up houses. He had paint all over his hands and he also had a very deep, loud voice. Drake kept talking about his dirty hands and that he needs to wash them...(of course he said all this right in front of him!). When Drake and I went into the garage to get his shoes he looked at me and said "mommy, your friend is scarey!"

10/20/09-We went to the Children's museum and I brought Drake a lunch to eat in the car on the way home to stay awake. I gave him his lunch in his carseat and then started the car- I heard him spitting and I turned around and he was spitting at the window! I asked what he was doing and he said he was "spitting at the window." I asked why he was spitting at the window and he said "Daddy do it!" Sometimes BJ will cough and then roll down the window while he is driving to spit out of it...of course Drake was watching! BJ thought that was pretty funny but was harshly reminded that "someone" is always watching!

10/16/09- We were saying breakfast prayer and Drake was holding his stuffed monkey. He folded the monkey's arms for the prayer also. He held the monkey's arms folded until the end of the prayer. It was so cute1

9/27/09- "Rock you minute"- means he wants you to rock him for one more minute. "Check on you" means he wants you to check on him after you put him down for bed. He'll say "mommy check on you?"

9/26/09-Drake knows who President Monson is. He sometimes says "Prophet Monson." Drake loves looking at pictures of temples and knows where the angel Moroni statue is. He remembered this morning that he got to see "Nanner & Allin" (Tanner & Dallin) at the temple (Tanner & Kate's wedding). While I was rocking Drake before bed Drake said "hospital- mommy help sick kids - mommy nurse." BJ tells Drake that I am a nurse and am helping sick kids when I have to go to work. I told Drake that I would rather be with him and that I couldn't wait until orientation was over so I could be with him a lot more.

9/18/09-Drake finally got to really taste chocolate. He has had a milk allergy that he is finally growing out of. When he tasted the chocolate muffin he said "yummy chocolate!" Now he always asks for "yummy chocolate" and then claps and says "yeah" when he gets it. I was putting him to bed the other night and he even said ..."mommy, I smell chocolate!" There wasn't any chocolate in site.

8/30/09- Drake calls the itsy-bitsy spider song - "Itsy-bitsy bug."

8/15/09- "Pay with you"- is what Drake says when he wants to "play with you." "Pay with you mommy!" (so cute!) When I am with Drake I will say "I am so happy to be with you!" The other day Drake came up to me and said "happy you!" I knew exactly what he was saying.

8/10/09- We read Drake's special picture Book of Mormon each night before he goes to bed. Last night we read about the Crucifixtion/Resurrection of Christ. While we were eating breakfast the next morning Drake said "Jesus night, night." I knew exactly what he meant...he was remembering about how Jesus died and that we talked about it the night before. Drake really internalizes things and will mention things that I know he has thought about. I didn't even mention Christ at breakfast that morning - he brought it up himself.

8/8/09- Drake says 2-3 words together and can count to 2.

7/31/09- BJ had an Elder's Quorum activity tonight. They helped repair Tate Cook's roof. The Cook's live around the corner from us so Drake and I walked over to say hi to them. When we got there it was an amazing site. There were about 20 men on the roof. It was humbling to see all the men helping. Drake was so excited to see "daddy on the roof" that he talked about it for the next few weeks!

7/22/09- Drake says "e-oh" instead of "uh-oh." It is so cute.

7/12/09- Drake and I have been listening to primary songs in the car. Drake's favorite song is the "popcorn song." Every time we get in the car he says "cacorn" because he wants me to play the popcorn song. We sometimes end up listening to it 10-15 times while we drive. Drake loves to give people "knuckles" and blows bubbles on everything.

7/11/09- Drake calls baseball - "b-ball," OK-"k," popcorn song-"cacorn" I was putting Drake down for a nap, I rocked him for a few minutes and we talked a little bit and then I carried him to the crib. He looked at me and said "I uh ou" (I love you). I always say "I love you" to him before I put him down to sleep. This was the first time he said it to me without me saying it first. It meant a lot to me b/c I had been orienting for work more hours than I wanted and I didn't like leaving him. I needed to hear him say that to me. I love that little guy! 6/18/09- Drake knows and recognizes the letters A, B, C, D, he knows the colors pink, blue, orange, and recognizes circles, triangles, and squares. Drake loves to swim and can blow bubbles in the water, kick his legs, and loves to even go all the way under the water! Drake practices blowing bubbles in the bathtub and in the pool. I have encouraged him to practice whenever he is in the water. The other day I caught him in the bathroom with his head in the toilet practicing in the toilet water! Well...I couldn't get too mad since I have encouraged him to practice so much! Hopefully he didn't swallow any.

6/5/09- I have to remember that Drake is always watching me. One morning while we were eating breakfast I had a little milk left in my bowl and I drank out of the bowl...of course Drake was sitting right next to me. The next morning after breakfast, I was rinsing off my bowl in the sink and I heard gulping noises....then I heard Drake say "ahhhhh, ga gone (all gone)!" I turned around and saw Drake drinking out of his bowl just like I had the day before...oops!

5/31/09- This was Drake's first time in nursery . He was a little worried and sad when I left but he attached to Sis. Guffey and enjoyed the toys and especially the snacks. Drake said his first prayer this week. He said "Heavenly Father, thank thee food, Jesus Amen." It was adorable. I am so proud of him.

5/23/09- Drake loves daddy's new riding lawn mower and loves to go for rides around our yard.

5/16/09- Drake is learning how to leave my home decorations alone. The other day I caught him holding one of my candles with both hands and then sucking on the wich like it was a straw. He thought the candle was a straw. It was pretty funny! 4/10/09 -Drake is very social and loves to say hi to everyone. When we are at a store or church etc...Drake will try to talk to anyone. People comment on how much he likes to interact with other people.

4/4/09-When we moved into our new home in Cincinnati (moved from Basement apt in Lindon, UT) Drake was so excited to have so much room to run around. Each time he would walk into a new room he would say..."wow!" Drake gets really excited when he can hear the yellow school bus pick up the kids in front of our house. He yells out "bus" or "truck" when he can hear them while we are in the house. He sure doesn't miss anything! Drake loves Elmo and has an Elmo toothbrush he likes to use. Drake tries to be reverent during prayers...he loves to say "amen!" at the end.

3/1/09-Our first "official FHE - We talked about Jesus and showed Drake a picture of Him. Now he points out pictures of Jesus whenever he sees them. We were amazed at how fast he caught on!

2/22/09 - Bedtime routine: pajamas on, brush teeth, take fluoride, get blanket and monkey, sing a primary song, family prayer, read book, read BOM & rock with mom or dad for a few minutes and talk. When we start singing Drake goes into his room and sits on the floor - ready to pray - he knows when it is bedtime.

1/25/09 - Drake says a word and then is so proud of himself he claps to celebrate.

The Stanley Scoop

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas 2008

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Drake's Corner

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