Mother's Day 2014

Mother's Day 2014

It seems that we have started a tradition of sorts for Mother's Day and hopefully it is one that continues for a while because its a nice alternative to a luncheon in an overcrowded restaurant (at least that's this mom's opinion!).  We head over to Funtown as moms get in for free (both our boys are free currently) and therefore we only have to pay for one Dad!  We also spend the day with Grandma Janet and Grandpa Dennis.

This was Conor's second year riding the rides and while Colin is still pretty little he was able to go on a few things.  Mostly though, he hung out with Mommy in the carrier and took a nice long nap before taking in the sights and there was a LOT to see!

The first thing we did was the Merry-go-round.  Conor has not wanted to ride the horses at the mall so we weren't sure how this would turn out.  But, there was a dragon and he was very excited to ride the dragon and have me take a picture for his friend Lachlan who had celebrated his birthday with a dragon theme the day before!  While Conor rode the dragon with Daddy standing close by, Colin rode a horse with me.  Of course, he was safely tucked in his Kinderpack while we were on the horse.

First Amusement Park Ride EVER!!!  6.5 Months Old!

 After the Merry-go-Round, Josh and Conor went on the race track cars.  Conor was allowed to drive and he seemed to have a lot of fun.  It was hard to capture pictures because the driver seat was never near any of the viewing areas.

Then it as time for the Ferris Wheel.  Conor had seen it while on the cars and asked if we could go.  We had one person too many for the ride so Conor went with Grandma and Grandpa for his first amusement ride without his parents.  Colin rode with Mommy and Daddy - this time he fell asleep in his Kinderpack.  Babywearing is such a wonderful thing - it allows us to do so many amazing things while keeping Colin on his schedule and safe from harm.  I'm so glad that I learned how to babywear and all its benefits early on with Conor because both he and Colin (and Josh and I too) have reaped the benefits!  Conor spend a good part of his ride looking up and down for the balloon Josh and I were in.  It was fun to watch his face as he realized we were above or below him.

Colin experiencing life as an only child; even if just for one ride

Looking for Mommy and Daddy

After our ride we ventured to the other side of the park where the children's rides were.  First we ate a little bit of lunch because everyone was very hungry.  Conor immediately wanted to ride on the swings.  He did these a few times.  Its great because there are never any lines and there are so many swings that he can ride a few times in a row.  I do believe they are his favorite ride at the park.

Colin had to sit most of these rides out so he enjoyed spending his time with me!  We found a nice spot to sit and nurse once he woke up.

And then Conor came over after his swing ride to say hi (Daddy was waiting in line for him at the helicopters).  These two little guys are my world and I hope I am the best mother to them that I can be!

Helicopters are so much fun!  Conor was big enough this year to push the bar himself which enabled him to decide if he was up high in the air or down low on the ground!

Seeing Conor spend time with Grandma and Grandpa is always nice (Colin spends time with them too of course - but he's not mobile yet!).  I have a picture like this from last year too and its sweet to look back and see how much he's grown in just a year.  Last mother's day I was pregnant with Colin when we were at the park!

This year Conor was big enough to ride some of the rides himself.  He went on two water based rides and LOVED them.  The first was a small ride where the parents are always within arms reach of the boat but the canoe ride was like a lazy river.  He was very good about keeping his hands in the canoe and holding the little rope they gave him.  The current pushed him along and he was so excited to see us every time he rounded a corner.  During these rides Colin was in the stroller watching and interacting with the family.  Maybe next year we will let him ride with Conor.

It was such a busy day that the boys were very tired when they got home.  Everyone went to bed very early and feel asleep hard!

Perhaps Colin went to bed a little too early or maybe he just wanted some alone time with his mommy on this, his first mother's day, because he was bright eyed and bushy tailed around 11pm.  So after some snuggles and some warm milk he went to bed with me.

It was such a wonderful day with my little men and my extended family.  I can't wait to do it again next year!  Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo
Erin

My First Mother's Day

While 2011 was technically my first Mother's Day as I was 2 months pregnant with Conor - it was a day of mixed emotions.  I was excited to share with our families that we were expecting but that excitement was curtailed by my Dad having an emergency and the uncertainty of whether he would get the opportunity to learn that he was going to become a grandparent.  Within a few hours of Dad's emergency things were settled down and we felt pretty confident that he was going to be ok and we were able to enjoy the Mother's Day weekend. 

Mother's Day Gifts for the Mothers......Announcing Conor :)

The Mommy & Daddy to be ....... 2 months pregnant

And now - one year later we are in a very different place.  Dad is doing very well and instead of announcing the arrival of our little one - we are celebrating Mother's Day with him!

The day started off with Conor and I getting up around 6:30am and sharing some snuggle time downstairs.  Then it was playtime before Daddy and Hunter came downstairs.  Once they woke up and came downstairs we shared in some family time before Conor and Daddy took me out to breakfast at Blast from the Past!

Conor fell asleep moments after we pulled out of the driveway and slept through the entire breakfast but my pancakes were still yummy! 

Someone slept through Mommy Day Breakfast at the Diner!

Our first Mother's Day Photo - 5 months old

After breakfast we went back to the house to pick up Hunter and we headed up to Freeport to do some walking and shopping (my gift was to pick out a new outfit).

Conor wanted to do the driving but we had to tell him he wasn't old enough.

But, he was happy to sit in the back and spend some extra time playing with Mom!

We spend 2 hours walking around the town.  I didn't purchase an outfit because I wasn't in the mood to actually shop but it was so nice just to spend the quality time with my family.  No phones, no computers, and no distractions - just me and my loves!

When we got home Daddy mowed the lawn while Conor and I started working on transitioning our gardens from spring tulips and daffodils to a blank slate for our veggies that will go in within the upcoming weeks.

Then it was time to rest......Conor was so tired he couldn't even wait for me to get his jammies on before he fell asleep on his playmate in the middle of the living room!

After a quick naptime it was time for dinner and then a little bit of playtime before bed.  Conor loves to play and play hard before bedtime - its almost as though he really needs to wear himself out in order to go to sleep (we start bedtime at 7:15pm with a diaper change and nursing and he's usually out by 7:30pm).  He was laughing and having such a good time tonight that we caught it on video.                  

Conor and Mommy playing on Mother's Day.

I truly can't believe how life can change so much in just one year.  Conor - thank you for making me a Mommy and for loving me unconditionally.  You have truly changed my life for the better and while you have only been here for five months I can't imagine my life without you.

Thank you Daddy for making my first Mother's Day a day I will never forget - I very much enjoyed getting to spend the day with just my guys and while breakfast out isn't always easy for you - I LOVED going out to breakfast!!!!

xoxo
Erin