Adventures at Grandpa Tom's

Dear Conor,

During the time we lived at Grandpa Tom's you developed so much.  Your vocabulary took off and your interests because clearer.  You loved being outside in his yard either running in the grass (chase chase is what you liked to say) or picking up all the rocks in the drive way and putting them into different things (cups, bowls, your bike, your police car).  Sometimes it was a wrestling match to get you inside because you loved being in the yard.  So, when we had nothing to do - we spent as much time outside as we possible could.

August 9, 2013 - rock collecting

August 9, 2013 - rock collecting

August 9, 2013 - rock collecting

Sometimes Daddy even gave you a special treat and let you practice your driving skills - Helmets for Safety!

August 13, 2013

 

 

Pooltime was a favorite activity - Grandpa had a lot of great spaces to put your pool depending on how hot it was outside.

08/29/3013

But nothing beats just running in the grass!

09/08/2013

A few days after these pictures were taken we moved into our new house - this was the last time we played in Grandpa's yard!

Conor and Hunter - 09/08/2013

We are so very thankful that Grandpa let us stay at his house while we waited for our house to be ready to live in!  We had a great summer there and having all that space allowed you to grow and develop and have a lot of fun!

xoxo
Mommy

A Wedding for Apple (and Auntie)! 7.13.13

Dear Apple,

You are already following in your big brother's footsteps by attending your first wedding while still in the womb!  Your Auntie C got married on July 13, 2013 and we were lucky enough to be apart of her special day.

The day started off with some spa treatment - hair and makeup for the entire bridal party.

It was really early and clearly we all needed some help getting pretty for the BIG day and all the pictures that would come.  After getting made up it was time to go back to the house and hang out while we waited until it was time to get dressed.  All the bridesmaids got dressed first so we would be ready to help Auntie!

This is me (mommy) at 25 weeks pregnant with you!  And below is Auntie waving goodbye to our house for the last time as a single woman.  When she returned the next day she was married!

Someone's going to the chapel and she's gonna get married!!!  While Auntie is beautiful every day - she looked simply stunning the actual day of her wedding - truly a beautiful bride!

This is Mommy and Katie.  Mommy used to babysit for Katie and Auntie on the weekends.  Katie got married in May.  It was fun to see them all dressed up and "grown up" and also sad because it made Mommy feel a little bit old :)

Mommy and Auntie - sisters through the good, the bad, and the ugly and friends for life!  I am very lucky to have a sister such as Auntie - she and Mommy are not super close in age (we are 6.5 years apart) but as we have grown up the gap in age has seemed smaller and smaller.  Auntie is truly a friend now and not just my baby sister.  She's an amazing auntie and I can't wait for you to meet her!

The newly married couple!  Apple, meet Uncle Jarrod!  He's got lots of brothers so I am sure he will help Mommy figure out what's brotherly "love/play" and what you and your brother should get in trouble for.  He takes great care of Auntie (and she of him).  Mommy especially likes some of the sacrifices he has made to keep himself and Auntie local for the sake of family!  Mommy isn't rushing them but can't wait for the day that we can take a BIG family vacation with them and your cousins!

These were the gold shoes that Mommy wore for the wedding (Mommy's feet have coral nail polish on the toes).  They hurt so badly that as soon as pictures were over I threw them and Grandpa Adam's car and said I never wanted to see them again!

And lastly, a picture of you with Mommy and Daddy.  You were a great wedding guest.  We danced the night away and had so much fun with our family.  Thank you for allowing me to enjoy Auntie's wedding as much as I did!

25 weeks

We wish Auntie and Uncle Jarrod a lifetime of happiness and thank them again for inviting us to be a special part of their day!

xoxo
Mommy

New England Aquarium

Dear Conor,

This summer we have made two trips to the New England Aquarium.  We certainly are getting a lot of use out of the family pass that Grandma and Grandpa Trayner gave you for Christmas (2012).  The first trip was on 7.2.13 with Auntie Cathlin.  You and she had a lot of fun and it was nice that Mommy got a little rest because Auntie loved walking around with you and you loved your time with her!

This was one of the last times that we got to spend with Auntie all by ourselves before she got married.  It was a fun day for all of us.  After the Aquarium you napped in the car while Auntie and I had a picnic of Panera.  Then it was off to the dress shop for fittings!!!  Hard to believe that as I type this now Auntie is married and has a new home!  Thanks for a GREAT day Auntie!

Your second trip to the Aquarium was when we met up with Grandpa and Grandma Trayner (and Danielle) to bring Auntie Sarah back to them on 7.27.13.  Again, it was a great day with family and you had so much fun being with your family that Mom got a lot of rest.  You held everyone's hands but mine and spent time with each person.  We got lunch at Faneuil Hall and then walked around the waterfront before it was time to head back home.

Looking for the BIG turtle

Holding the side of the stroller like Grandpa taught you

Mommy, Conor, Auntie Danielle (& Baby Brother - 26 weeks)

Daddy didn't get to go to the Aquarium so we have to plan another trip or two so that he is able to see the new tank and spend some time in Boston with you!  Maybe next time we can bring Little Gordon and his parents!

xoxo
Mommy

Papa Boat?

Dear Conor,

As I said before you have really settled into Grandpa Tom's house and I find you looking at his cameras saying "hi Papa hi Papa" throughout the day and always at bedtime.  Every night before we go into your room you wave to the camera just outside the door and blow it a kiss.....you are so sweet!

This week I was cleaning up the kitchen/hallway area and had your lifejacket by the door (I had washed it due to it getting a little mold on it as it didn't dry out all the way the last time we used it).  Well, you saw that life jacket and immediately tried putting it on and doing up the buckles.  When I said no you looked right at the camera holding your little life jacket and said "boat papa".  I nearly died from how funny you were being (and of course, texted and called Grandpa).  Clearly you had a GREAT time earlier this summer boating with Grandpa!

Here are some pictures to recap that fun time (6.17.2013) - we stayed on the boat for about 2 hours before you had clearly had enough and were ready for a nap.

a little snack as we head out

making sure Grandpa is boating properly

conferring co-captains

Daddy and Conor filling the boat with gas (and Conor with snacks)

Teaching Daddy to drive the boat

Grandpa said he might be back this month and if so then hopefully you can go out on the boat with him again before its time to store it for winter!

xoxo
Mommy

Emotions Running on Overload

Oh Boy!

They say when you are pregnant you can become emotional at the drop of a hat or that you are more emotional than when you are not.  Well, pregnant or not - this week I have been very emotional.  This is a very busy summer for our family with so many BIG events that its hard not to want to simply freeze time.

Last night I listened to Conor breath as I rocked him to sleep - one chubby arm behnd me and the other ending with his little chubby hand resting on my chest.  As I watched his face relax into rest I saw how much he has truly become my little man and it made me so sad to realize that our nights of rocking until either he or I were ready to be done are slowly coming to and end.  Pretty soon there will be another little being craving my attention and so I am savoring these precious moments.  Josh is an amazing father and we truly share Conor-care but nighttime has always been a Conor/Mommy thing (this might have to do with the fact that I breastfeed and Conor still nurses before bed).  I find myself looking forward to those quiet minutes together as he drifts off to sleep in the dark room.  Last night I held you a little longer Con-man because I just couldn't let you go......

This weekend we will be driving to celebrate Danielle's graduation.  I was fifteen when she was born and 1/2 way through my freshman year of high school.  I can't fathom that the time has come for her to walk across the stage and in a few short months take those first steps into her dorm - her first "first" apartment if you will.  I feel a sense of pride over the amazing young woman she has become but I also feel as though time has flown by and am sad that she will spend the next few years growing apart from us before entering adulthood and coming back full circle to return to her family as she builds her own.  Thank goodness I am not the one bringing her to college as I'm not sure I could keep back the tears!

And then there is Cathlin - my first baby sister.  The one that I was so excited to have, the one that I probably tried to protect too much when she was little but who I also pushed away at times when I just wanted my own space and wanted her to stop copying me!  In forty-four days she will be a wife.

 Phew - just thinking about all these moments that have yet to come but will soon be memories brings tears to my eyes!  I don't know how my parents are holding it together this summer but life is built on memories and I am thankful that this summer there will be so many beautiful ones!

xoxo
Erin

It's a Grandpa Tom Christmas

Dear Conor,

You are one lucky boy because you got to celebrate Christmas 3 times this year!  The first Christmas was with Grandpa Tom on December 23, 2012.

We went to Grandpa's around noon with the hope that you would take a short nap on the way over (which you did and so you were a happy baby!).  Uncle Sean and Auntie Lindsay couldn't make it because Nolan wasn't feeling well but everyone else was there to celebrate.

While we were waiting for Grandpa to set the timer on dinner you enjoyed dragging a paper bag around the room.

Once Grandpa was done Daddy and some of the adults opened gifts until it was your turn.  Auntie was itching to have you open hers first so you did!  Her gift will be so much fun to play with for years to come!

Opening gifts is HARD work!

Leaving with your new soft sensory blocks

Then it was time to open the gifts from Grandpa, Andrea, and Uncle Justin.  Grandpa got you a LOL Elmo!  He was so excited to see you open this gift.  You weren't sure at first but once Elmo started moving you thought it was the funniest thing.

Auntie look!

Grandpa also got you a neat train.  When you press the smoke stack it makes all kinds of train noises and each cart has a different challenge for you!

After dinner and some more visiting you were getting pretty cranky - it had been a long day - so it was time to head home but not until you gave Grandpa some Christmas LOVE and then some extra hugs because it would be a while before Grandpa came back up!

Merry First Christmas Celebration!

xoxo
Mommy

PS.  You also loved the box that was under the tree!

PPS.  We also had to celebrate Auntie Cathlin - she and Jarrod got engaged on December 22, 2012....which means Auntie also got you an Uncle for Christmas :)