Apple Update

Wow!

Apple you are growing and growing and I have to admit that I haven't been as diligent at writing up your progress as I was with your big brother (curse of being the second child I guess - but you are not loved any less)!! 

Currently we are at 26 weeks and we had a check-in with the midwives this week after a long 6 week break from them.  Why the break you ask?  Because we were very busy the month of July.  You and I had a few trials and then we had to attend a Bachelorette Party, Nolan's first birthday and finally, Auntie Cathlin's Wedding!

Your first and (likely only) Bachelorette Party 6.15.13 - 20 weeks 

Aunties!

You weren't a big focus at Auntie's single night celebration but by the time her wedding came around a month later you wanted the world to know you were here!  You are a BIG time mover and shaker and together we shook up the dance floor and had a wonderful time celebrating the newly married couple!

Wedding Day Bump - 24/25 weeks

Auntie's going to the chapel and she's gonna get married!

Mommy, Auntie, and Sweet Apple

Auntie and the new Uncle!

our first picture with Apple!

You are growing quite well.  All tests are coming back with great results and while I am on the lower end of the weight spectrum right now I am certain that you will catch up to your brother in those last few weeks.  Your heartbeat is quite strong and your Auntie Sarah got to hear it this week as she is up visiting and went to your appointment with me.

Your brother is in love with you and often wants to touch you and talk to you through my belly button.  He likes to blow raspberries on my stomach and I can only imagine what you are thinking when you hear that noise.  He talks about you a lot and thinks there is a baby in everyone's tummy which is really cute. 

Giving you kisses - 23 weeks

Loving you - 25 weeks

Right now we have moved out of our home in E.W. and are staying at grandpa's house while we wait to see if we can move into our new home in K.  I hope that we are able to move soon so that we can slowly get things ready for your arrival - we have one more appointment in August and then after that we move to every 2 weeks because your arrival will be in less than 100 days now!!  YIKES!!!!!

Besides moving around a lot (which Conor didn't do) you are so different from him in almost every way.  You constantly put pressure on my skin with your body and your moving (sometimes I swear your foot or knee is going to pop right out) but I have far less heartburn than I did with your brother.  You are sitting much lower than he ever did and I find it harder to get up from sitting down because of how you like to settle right into my pelvic area when I have been sitting too long.  You are active the most in the evening hours (which worries me that you are going to be as difficult a sleeper as Conor) and so I have had trouble sleeping at night because all your moving around causes heartburn at about 2am every morning.

Keep growing strong in there little man because we can't wait to meet you (and pick a name for you)!

xoxo
Mommy

PS.  Conor wants to name you Elmo or Ernie or Grover - how do you feel about those names?

Chinese Food and Cookies for Santa

Dear Conor,

After brunch with the Jakan Grandparents it was time to jump in the car and drive down to the Cape to get ready for Santa!

We arrived just in time for our annual Chinese food dinner.  Everyone got to go - except  Grandpa Adam but we made a special plate just for him!  The food was yummy and despite it having been a long day and the restaurant being full with a lot of stimulation you did really well!  Cousin Nolan also did really well and it was so much fun to have both you boys this year for Christmas!

After dinner we went back to the house and we let you open one present.  You opened a pair of Christmas jammies!  Mommy helped you get dressed in them and get ready for bed and then there was only one thing left to do.....leave some cookies out for Santa!

Cookies for Santa

Family Picture - Christmas 2012

Hey Santa - these are for you!

 

First Ever Christmas Cookie!  The official Santa Cookie Taste Tester!

After you went to sleep Conor I took a picture of Grandma's tree all decorated and light up just waiting for Santa!

Before Santa

Then, when you woke up early in the morning and Mommy needed to go downstairs and get some extra wipes Mommy saw that Santa had come!  So I took a picture with all the lights off - I didn't want to peek at what Santa had brought until everyone else was awake!

Clearly everyone had been good this past year because Santa not only came but he piled lots of presents under the tree!

Merry Christmas Eve!

xoxo
Mommy

Mall Santa

Dear Conor,

On December 9, 2012 we took you to see the mall Santa for photos.  Now, we had been walking my the mall Santa near us for a few weeks and letting you observe him from a distance you were comfortable with.  You even approached him at one point but when you didn't turn a smile and walk right up to him he basically shooed you away.  I was a little concerned about the behavior of this Santa and apparently so were many other parents.  Complaints were filed and the Santa was replaced.  However, I knew that the Santa at the mall near Grandma and Grandpa's house had always been wonderful and the setup around him had lots to see and it was much more open and inviting then the one at home.  So, since we were down for Uncle Sean's party we figured "why not"!

Grandma and Grandpa came with us to get your picture taken and we also met up with Uncle Sean, Aunt Lindsay, Nolan and Grandpa Tom.  Your second year of Santa photos was a HUGE family event!

We got there before Santa arrived so Grandpa did what grandparents do and he spoiled you a little by letting you ride one of the rides.  Of course - you picked the police car!

Than Grandma spoiled you by taking you on the merry-go-round!

Then it was time to visit with Santa.  Nolan went first and he did a great job!  Then it was time for you to get your photos taken.  Mommy backed you up to Santa really slowly and talked to you the whole time.  You did pretty well for your photos (but there was a LOT going on in front of you)!  You many not have the biggest smile and you may not be perfectly positioned but that's what make these photos fun - they are such a snapshot of you in that exact moment.  Here are some that Grandpa Adam took with his cell phone.

After taking photos as a family we thought it would be fun to take pictures of both you and Nolan with Santa!  But, at this point you realized that you were no longer with Mommy and you looked up.  Once it registered that you didn't know who the man holding you was you started to get so upset and then you started crying and trying to get down.  It's a classic photo Conor and I love you for it!

So, Auntie Lindsay and I jumped in the picture and both you and Nolan were much more comfortable!

After these pictures it was time for Grandpa Tom to spoil you a bit so back into the police car you went!  Then, you were clearly getting tired and we still had to get back to Grandma and Grandpa's house to pick up Hunter, pack the car, and head home.....

You ended up falling asleep only 10 minutes before we got there and I was able to transfer you right into your carseat in Daddy's car so we said our goodbyes very quickly and started our drive home.

We had a great time visiting with our family and getting the chance to surprise Uncle Sean!

xoxo
Mommy

Happy Birthday Uncle Sean & YEAH Auntie Danielle

Dear Conor,

On December 8, 2012 we made a special trip down to the Cape to celebrate your Uncle's 30th birthday.  We hadn't been to the Cape since Great Grammie visited in September so this trip was LONG overdue!

You did really well on the ride down and you slept a better part of the way.  We did make two stops.  The first being in NH so that I could change your diaper and feed you as you were struggling to fall asleep and then another at Exit 5 for the same reasons (you woke up hungry and wet).  Since having you join our family the ride to the Cape has taken longer but your comfort is important because when you are comfortable we travel easier!

When we got to the Cape we drove to Grandma and Grandpa's house where you were able to play for about 30 minutes before we had to get back in the car (I know - we felt terrible about that) and off to the British Brewing Company (BBC) we went.  Uncle Sean did not know about his party so we had to hide in the back room until it was time to shout "SURPRISE".

The party was a lot of fun but after about an hour and a half you were stating to show signs that you needed some down time.  Uncle Sean had wanted everyone to go bowling after and Daddy and I knew that if you didn't have some down time bowling would not be an option for us.  So we drove back to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

When we got there you ate, napped a little on Mommy, and played and played.  You had so much fun walking around Grandma's house and touching the Christmas things that she had put out.  We were home for about an hour or two when everyone else came home and asked if we were going to go bowling.  Mommy & Daddy felt that we should give it a try because, after all, it was Uncle Sean's birthday and we don't see him often!

You had a GREAT time at the bowling alley!  First you played with the bowling balls with Grandpa Tom.

 

While Mommy and Daddy took their turns lighting up the lane everyone got a chance to spend some time with you.

A sleepy Conor with Grandpa Adam

Fun Family Photo!

Auntie Cathlin

Picture Time with Mommy but you were too busy watching everyone else!

Soon it was getting late (later than we anticipated) and while you were holding yourself together very well (I was soo proud of you) Daddy and I knew that it wouldn't be long before you would be too overtired and there was still a 20 minute car ride back to Grandma's house. So, we said goodbye to Uncle Sean and the rest of the party and brought you home. You went to sleep without too much fuss that night as you were tired from your VERY busy day! The next day we had to pack up to leave. While we were getting things ready Auntie Danielle checked the mail. And guess what - she got an acceptance letter to college! You have such a smart Auntie!

Reading the letter carefully

I got into college!!!!!!

We are very proud of your Auntie and we know that whatever school she goes to will be lucky to have her! Thank you again for being such a good little traveler Conor!

xoxo
Mommy

A Halloween Package

Dear Blog readers:

On October 29, 2012 a special package arived for me.  When I woke up from my nap my Mommy and Daddy said that I could open it.

hmmm....a present for me

let me open it

I spy something orange & black

 

got to get this wrapping out first

A bucket - but wait - there's something inside

CLOTHES!  Halloween Clothes!

No Hunty - nothing for you

 

Thanks Grandma for my present!

This is how I will carry the bucket on Halloween

Catch my new pants Daddy!

I'm going to be awfully cute on Halloween!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for my Halloween presents!  I miss you tons and can't wait to see you again soon.

xoxo
Conor

Family Reunion (of sorts)

Dear Conor,

While Great Grammie was visiting we decided to have a party in her honour where all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren could get together and celebrate the matriarch of our family (and have some fun of course).

Aunt Laurie (your Great Aunt Laurie) hosted the bash at her home and so that's where we went on Sunday, September 23, 2012.

Here is Great Grammie with her Grandchildren


Back Row: Erik, Andrew, CJ
Amanda, Mommy, Cathlin, Sarah, GG, Danielle, Michael, Sean

Your Grandma with her two Grandsons - she was in pure heaven holding the both of you!

Nolan (3 months) Conor (9 months)

Then it was time for a picture of GG with her Great Grandchildren but poor little Layla was too nervous to have her picture taken without her parents or stand near anyone else so it was decided that the parents of the younger kids would be in the picture too.

Michael & Layla, GG, Mommy & Conor, JaySean and Janiyah, Sean and Nolan

 And of course - then Great Grandma needed a picture with her 'Centerville Cuties'

Grandma Mary, Great Aunt Laurie, Great Aunt Toni, Great Grandma

 Then all the different families took some pictures.  Here you are with 3/4 of your aunties (Aunt Lindsay was with Nolan):

Poor Auntie Danielle - so embarrassed that her family is just AWESOME!

Sarah, Danielle, Jarrod, Cathlin, Lindsay, Sean, Nolan, Daddy, Mommy, & Conor

That's better Auntie Danielle!

And Grandpa Adam and Grandma Mary of course!  The leaders of this gang.

 After all the big family pictures were taken everyone started taking smaller groups of pictures.  Pictures like this are fun because in a few years we will be able to look back and remember how small you were :).

Aunties Cathlin (25) and Danielle (17)

Hey!

Auntie Cathlin and Jarrod

And Mommy jumps in!

Auntie Sarah loves you now - she's going to be a great babysitter when you get a little older

Run Conor!

 The party wasn't just fun because you got to spend time with your whole family all at once but Mommy got to see some of her cousins she hasn't seen in a while.  Mommy used to babysit a lot of her cousins and Cousin CJ was the one that gave her the most TROUBLE!!! He might be all grown up but he still gets out of line and gives Mommy trouble :)

Mommy & Cousin CJ

 And Mommy can think of no better way to end a party in honor of Great Grandma than the way you ended the party - snuggled in the arms that made our whole family possible!

September 23, 2012

We love you Great Grammie!!!

xoxo
Mommy (and Conor)