Parnell Family Reunion 2012

Every year the Parnell's get together for a family reunion.  For the past several years we've gone to Hot Springs, AR.  We were in  Hot Springs again this year.  Last year, I was newly pregnant....9 weeks.  Last year, I was hoping and praying I would get to bring my baby to this year's reunion.  Well, obviously I did get to bring him :)  I loved showing him off to Chris' extended family.  He was so sweet and happy and was passed around constantly.  Everyone commented on how happy he was...and of course, they all thought he was so cute!

We got to Hot Springs Thursday around 7 p.m..  We flew in from Austin, and I was hoping Pearce's second airplane ride would be just as successful as his first.  He was totally awake for the first flight to Dallas, but he did great.  When we got to Dallas, we had a 2 hour layover, but he was totally fine.  On the second flight from Dallas to Little Rock, he fell asleep as soon as we took off, and stayed asleep until we got to Hot Springs!  We arrived at the "Big House" at 7 and then he was ready to play!  We had several families staying in the Big House which was our central meeting place where we ate dinner and visited at night.  Other families rented condos and then they would just come to the Big House.  We stayed in the Big House and had a nice big bedroom to spread out all of our stuff.  The only problem we ran into was that the house has lots of windows and is very light during the day and in the morning.  Pearce would wake up around 6 because it got so light in our room.  I would put him in bed with me and make a little "tent" with the covers to make it a little darker and he would sleep another hour...thank goodness, although that's still early for us!  Naps were also a little hard just because his room is so dark at home.  But, all in all, he did great!  Pops and Mimi were so proud to show him off...it was really sweet to watch that!

Nathan and Pearce...look at those chubby cheeks!

Me and Charlotte.  She was by my side almost the whole time and I loved it!!

Friday, me, Ashley, Wayne, Nathan, and Charlotte went canoeing and Pearce stayed with Pops and Mimi.  We had so much fun in our canoes!  Nathan and Charlotte loved it....especially when Wayne fell out of his canoe!  I must say, Ashley did an excellent job steering our canoe.  I was really impressed!  We had fun getting out at different places and swimming and having a little picnic.  Friday night, everyone met at the Big House for dinner and a game of "Family Jeopardy."  All of the little kids had fun playing together.  There were lots of boys for Nathan to run around and play with.  I told Chris, next year, Pearce will be running around with them!

On our way to go canoeing!  Silly Charlotte!

Me and Ash

Nathan and Charlotte...so cute!!!

I thought Pearce looked so cute in this outfit!

Pearce and his buddy, Jake.  Jake was so sweet to Pearce.  Each morning he played and played with him :)

The guys doing what they do best...grilling out!

Saturday, we went to Mid-America Science Museum.  It's a pretty neat hands-on museum.  Wayne's brother, Stuart, and his family came with us.  The kids loved it!  Pearce slept through most of it, though :)  Saturday night we had another awesome dinner at the Big House and the annual Parnell auction.  All of the families bring things to auction off in order to make money for next year's reunion.  It's always fun to watch Darien be the auctioneer and to watch people battle it out for a certain item!

The kids managed to stay still long enough for this picture and then they were off exploring the museum!

Me and my sissy :)

Digging for fossils!

 Back at the "Big House."

Ashley and her baby girl.  Charlotte looked so cute in this dress and doggy ears!

Of course Nathan managed to find a gigantic stick :)

Me and my little guy.

Sunday morning we all came together for breakfast and a devotional and then everyone started packing up and heading home.  I've always had fun at the reunion, but from now on, it will be so much more fun and special now that we have Pearce.  Can't wait for next year!!      

Today

We had such a fun day today.  My play group came over to my house, so Pearce had lots of little friends to play with.  It really is so fun to watch the babies interact with each other.  They remind me of little puppies...crawling all over each other, nibbling on each other, chewing on toys....so cute!!  We had cheese dip, spinach dip, cookies, tea, and water.  I just am so thankful to have met these girls and to have their friendship!!  After everyone left, Pearce and I played a little more and then it was nap time.  He took the longest nap! 

I do believe I have a very vain baby....he LOVES to look at himself in the mirror :)

Pearce, show mommy how much you love me.

"Mommy, I love you THIS much!"

Happy Father's Day to my baby daddy!

We have had a great Father's Day!  Pearce wore his cute outfit that said "Daddy's Sidekick"...ha!  First, Otis and Daisy gave Chris their gift....3 boxes of coffee for the Keurig.  Chris LOVES Dunkin' Donuts coffee and I found out they started making the K-cups, so I got a box of that and two from Starbucks.

 Then we had a yummy breakfast of eggs, bacon, and biscuits.  Chris' friend Sully was in town and stayed with us, so they had a great time just relaxing and talking.

Later on in the day, it was time for Pearce to give Daddy his gift.  Chris has to travel a lot for work and his bags were getting very worn out.  I decided to get him a really nice bag for traveling.

I am so thankful for Pearce to have such a great Daddy.  I remember when we first found out we were going to have a boy.  Of course we did not care at all what we got, but when the technician said "It's a boy" Chris got the biggest smile on his face.  It was priceless.  I knew he would be a great daddy, but it has been so fun to watch this happen.  Chris is so involved and helpful.  He loves to talk to Pearce and hold him.  He is so good at making Pearce laugh and smile.  He is GREAT at talking "baby talk" too :)

Chris, you are such an amazing daddy to our son.  Pearce is going to learn so much from you.  I hope you had a great Father's Day with many more to come!  We love you!!!

AND...I can't forget these important guys!

Happy Father's Day to my sweet Daddy!   

Happy Father's Day to my Father-In-Law! 

Pearce is so lucky to have 3 wonderful men to love and guide him!!!

Mama and Papa come for a visit!

I was so excited for my parents to come for a little visit!!!!  My dad played in a golf tournament on Thursday morning and then as soon as that was over, they were on their way!  They could not wait to see Pearce...and me, I suppose :)  They were so excited to see Pearce, that they didn't stop at all to get anything to eat, so by the time they got here, they were starving....now that is LOVE!  

Pearce loves his Mama and Papa!!

Papa with his namesake :)

"Mommy, they're HERE!!"

Pearce's FAVORITE book !

 Mama LOVES to give Pearce a bath, so she got him all nice and clean and wrapped him up and took him out to Papa to love on.  He looks so sweet in his towel!

Happy baby!!

Look at this sweet face!!!

After a day of golf, a drive down to Austin, and lots of playing with Pearce, Papa was WORN OUT!

Friday, mom and I were going to run a few errands and have Papa watch Pearce while we were gone.  Mom is going to make Pearce his Christmas stocking, so we went to a cute needlepoint place and picked one out.  It is going to be sooo cute!  I can't wait to see it!!!!!  We decided to put this little sun suit on Pearce because it was just the right size and so "baby" looking!  You can't see it very well, but it's a dinosaur on the front.  Chris prefers shorts and polos instead of outfits like this, but we just couldn't resist!  I must say, he did look so cute and babyish in it...but after a few pictures we decided to put on his little overalls :)

How in the world did I get so lucky to get THIS beautiful baby?!

"I don't think Daddy is going to like me in this."

"Hey Mr. Dinosaur guy, where did you come from?"

Mom loves to take Pearce for strolls.  Look how relaxed he is!

More playing with the little guy!  We love to put him on the floor and just watch him go crazy with his kicking and "talking."

Saturday night, Chris cooked a yummy Father's Day dinner for my dad.  He has been watching his eating, but he was looking forward to getting off his diet during his visit!  I imagine it's pretty neat for my parents to see THEIR baby with HER baby :)  I've always thought that if I could be half as good a mommy as my mom was to me, I would be happy with that.  I have nothing but wonderful memories of my childhood and of my parents.  My mom was so loving to us.  I can remember Ashley and I sitting in her lap in the rocking chair, her singing to us, and our legs are pretty much dragging the floor because we were probably too big to be sitting in her lap.  She loved to love on us...and actually she still does!  So the whole time they were here, they both kept telling me how sweet Pearce is, and what a good baby he is.  Mom told me how proud she was of me and what a good mommy I am......that made me feel SOOOO good!  My dad said he just can't believe what a good sleeper Pearce is and how unusual it is for him to already be sleeping totally through the night.....and waking up at 8!

There is nothing better than knowing your parents are proud of you.  I hope Pearce will feel that way all his life.  I learned how to be a parent from my parents.....mom and dad, I think you taught me well!!  We love you so much and can't wait to see you two at the beach in a few weeks!!!