1 year old!

Oh, my sweet Connor. You are 1 year old!!! In a way it does seem like a year has gone by but when I think about you as a little baby and all the milestones you went through this first year I feel like I have missed something. It all went by too quickly for me. You have changed so much this past year and the love that I had for you the first time I saw you has only multiplied times 100! You have been the perfect addition to our lives and you bring us so much joy.

This past month has been full of new milestones and as always,  lots of fun!

*You weigh 25 lb.s 15 ounces (75-90%), you are 31 1/2 inches tall (90-97%), and your head size is 19 inches *90-97%) = You are a BIG boy!

*You are walking!! You have been walking for about 3 weeks now and watching you toddle around the house is one of my favorite things. You almost always have a toy or random object in your hands as you walk around.

*Some of your favorite things this month have been SHOES (as in, you are obsessed and always want to touch or hold any shoes you find), mommy's brushes (you try and brush my hair and it's so cute!), balls, and the kitchen toys (it's so funny to watch you stand beside sissy and bang all the play dishes and food around as if you are making something).

*Since you have been walking, you and sissy interact so much more. You love to do what she is doing and often times you get yelled at by her because you are playing with "her" toys.

*You still take two naps a day usually between 1-2 hours each and you still go to bed early before everyone else on the planet. I know it sounds crazy to everyone else that you go to bed at 530 but it has really worked for us and you sleep almost 13 hours at night. I cannot complain one bit! You are an excellent sleeper!

*Teething can even affect the best of sleepers though.There are some days when it is harder for you to to fall asleep and your naps might be a little shorter but I credit a lot of it to new teeth. And big ones at that! Both of your bottom molars have broken through the skin recently so you now have a total of 10 teeth! Wow!

*You say "dada", "sss" for shoes, and "b" for ball. Somehow you forgot how to say mama and it has disappeared from your vocabulary. It's ok though. I know it makes your daddy feel so special when you look at him and say dada with a big grin on your face.

*You wave hi and bye and give us lots of kisses.

*You laugh when you think you are being silly or if mommy or daddy are being silly. Your favorite is when daddy gets one of your bug toys, makes "bzzzz" sounds, and then makes the bug fly around and then land on his head. Now anytime you play with one of your bug toys you make the sound and make them land on something. SO cute!!

*You are fascinated with dogs, cats, and birds (all animals actually!). Anytime you hear a dog barking or bird chirping you grunt as if you are telling us you hear them or you are trying to imitate them. I can't wait to take you to the zoo again now that you are more interested in animals.

*You eat a TON of food and will drink water from your sippy cup. I am still nursing  you 3 times a day but I plan to really start weening you after your party this weekend. I have given you milk in your sippy cup before but you didnt seem as interested in it as Ava was at your age. I'm hoping that you will start to like it more so that weening you wont be such a long and drawn out process.

*You continue to be one of the most layed back and content babies I know. You are such an observer and love to take in everything around you. In new environments and around new faces you prefer that I am close or holding you but I am totally ok with that. :) *Correction! As of a week after your birthday you have shown a different side to your usual calm and quiet personality. Now if you want something that Ava or I have taken away from you or if you are frustrated with something you groan loudly and scowl back at us. I don't think your sister did this at such an early age. I'm worried I might have my work cut out for me!

Little guy, when I think back on March 10th, 2012 the image that always goes through my mind is that moment when you were placed on my chest for the first time. You immediately stopped crying as you listened to my voice. It's as if you knew that I was yours and you were safe. You stole my heart at that moment. I hope you always know how much your daddy and I love you and more importantly how much our God loves you. You are wonderfully and fearfully made and so incredibly special. You and your sister are two of the greatest gifts that God could ever give us. I feel so blessed and honored to be your mommy. I will always be your biggest fan. I love you with all my heart Connor! I can't wait to see what the toddler years will bring for you!

xoxo,
Mommy

Everyday Moments

You know that cheesy song by Sara Evans with the lyrics "these are the moments I thank God that I am alive. And these are the moments I'll remember all my life"? Well that's how I feel about my life right now. My kids are growing up way too fast (I realize I will be saying this forever) and it's the everyday moments with my sweet family that I cherish and look forward to. Watching my kids play together, watching their daddy give them endless love and attention and do the silliest things just to make them happy, snuggling with all of them on the couch...that's the good stuff! (yet another reference to a country song that plays through my head!). I realized that there are so many pictures from my phone and camera that I haven't posted so here they are in one big post, with videos included. It's a doozy!

Daddy is always a great sport playing dress up

Brunch with Kay Kay and Grandpa David when they came to visit last month

She picked out this dress and accessories and said she was getting married to daddy and I was her flower girl. :)

Sleeping in the car on a road trip. So much for the new head rest I bought that claims to be the best!

You can usually find us playing in the sandbox on warm winter afternoons

Sweet Macy. I wish I could give her more attention but I have a hard enough time giving it to my two little humans. 

We rewarded Ava with Chuck E Cheese for earning all her marbles in her marble jar for being kind and gentle to her brother.

Connor waiting for his dadda by the door :)

We spend a lot of time inside these days so I have to get creative. I made her this "tent" and she thought it was the greatest thing ever, especially after she brought her toys and books in there. 

Valentine's day love

We go to The Arc, the indoor play area at Ava's school, almost every Tuesday and Thursday after we pick up Ava from school. He loves to stand by his post and watch all the big kids run by. 

She still loves to color and make crafts

My smiley boy

He has a serious obsession with shoes, especially daddy's. He says "sh" for shoes. This is usually the morning scene before daddy heads out for work. 

Hugs from sissy. She's not always the most gentle but there is definitely love there (which I was worried about for so long)

Connor has also taking a liking to one of our favorite spots, Tappy's Frozen Yogurt!

He has been walking for about a week and a half now and he is picking up speed! I love to watch him waddle all over the house. Puts an instant smile on my face. 

Munchie has a distinct skill....she can chug her full cup of milk without stopping until every last drop is gone. She has been doing this since she started drinking milk and it just makes me happy. It means nothing to anybody else but Mikey and I, but I wanted to make sure I got a short video of it for posterity.  This will come in handy some day when she dunks her aggie ring! ;)

We play instruments a lot these days and Connor has become exceptionally good with the cymbols. 

He has turned into the.best.eater.ever!

Those eyes and lips....need I say more?!

I have never seen him do this before but I just happened to catch this rare moment. Cheese!!

He has my heart (along with his sister and daddy)

This is what he does when he wants something and there is usually some hand pumping involved. 

Always up for anything she wants to do

Wierdo! But this face always makes me laugh. Ava's always oblivious or else I am sure she would call him out on it. 

We are going to start a band

His sumo wrestler squat. That bottom is not touching the floor!

He only gives hugs to Daddy. Their bond is really starting to show. 

He walks everywhere and he almost always is carrying something or dragging something behind him.

Chilly afternoon at the park

Out of order, but another one of dinner time. 

So blessed!

11 months!

Happy 11 months old to my sweet boy!

Connor, Just one more month till you turn 1 year old!. I'm in denial. How is it that  you are already almost a year old? In a way it seems like it has been a year since I first held you in my arms but you have changed so much and so quickly that I feel like I have missed you being a baby. I replay those moments with you in the hospital over and over again, especially lately.  March 10, 2012 will always be a day I hold close to my heart. I didn't know how much better my life could get until you were born. Now that I am getting all sentimental and teary eyed, here are some things from this month I want to remember.

* You are starting to take steps on your own!! I wouldn't say you are walking just yet but you are SO close. You have taken about 4 steps so far. You are building up your confidence and I bet it wont be long till you are walking all over the place!

*Your LOVE to play with balls and I think it is so cute. You like to roll them and crawl after them and I even see you bang the little ones on the floor like you are trying to bounce them. You also really love your toy vacuum. It is so cute to see you push it back and forth and imitate mommy.

*You love to look at pictures of doggies and kitties and anytime we hear a dog barking or a bird singing you quietly listen and then let out a cute little grunting noise like you are trying to make the same sound or just let me know that you hear them. So cute!

*You are waving and clapping now and anytime  you hear music you start to "dance".

*You have a fascination with daddy's guitar and anytime you see it you go straight to it. I've never seen you move so fast!

*Daddy has become your favorite guy this month. You say dada all the time now and you like to look out the window and wait for him to come home.

*One of your molars is about to pop through your gums and you have handled it so well. I little grumpiness from time to time and sometimes hard to fall asleep but I have been so impressed with how well you deal with the pain of new teeth, and big ones at that!

*You are drinking water from a sippy cup now. I will start to weening you this month. I plan to drop your 3rd feeding and just give you a bigger snack and water during that time. I am kinda sad that my time nursing you is coming to an end. :(

*You continue to be such a good eater. You love almost anything we give you and we have started giving you more meat this month. You love chicken nuggets, little smokies, lunch meat, cheese, peas, pancakes, all fruit, crackers, and raisins to name a few.

*We have spent a lot of time outside the past few weeks and you love playing in the sandbox with sissy and swinging at the park.

*You and sissy are taking baths together in your little baby tub. She prefers to sit in there with you than the big tub and I actually prefer it because the less room there is the less likely you are to slide around.

Little guy, I love you more than you will ever know!! Always remember to snuggle with your momma no matter how big you get, ok? You will always be my baby boy.

xoxo,
mommy