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

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)

A Meeting of Great Proportions

Dear Conor,

There are many reasons that Mommy blogs.  One is because between lawyering and raising you she has very little time to actually scrapbook or journal.  But perhaps the most important reason is because there is a special person in Florida who I miss very much and want her to feel as though she is right here living in our day to day.  Well on September 21, 2012 you finally got to meet this special person - your GREAT GRAMMIE!

Great Grammie is my Grandma and your Grandma Mary's mom!  She used to live on the Cape in a home that had a swimming pool and then she lived at Grandma Mary's house.  But once day she decided to move to Florida where some of her brothers and sisters live.  We were very happy for her because we knew she missed them very much (and she LOVES the SUN) but now we are the ones that miss her!

We knew that GG was coming to visit so Daddy and I made sure to take some time off of work so that we could make the trip to Grandma Mary's house for the weekend.  GG came over to see you Saturday morning.  It was so fun to watch you study her and then get comfortable enough for her to love on you - almost as much fun as it was to watch her love on you.  She is just the best GG that a little guy like you could ever ask for!

Whoa!  whose this lovely lady?!?

It's my Great Grammie - isn't she awesome!

That afternoon we all went to Mashpee Commons to walk around and then we went out for lunch at Horizons (now called Hemisphere's).  You were such a good baby the entire time and you made everyone smile when you ate an entire PICKLE at the restaurant.  GG said she was certain you were my baby because we both love pickles so much!

After dinner GG came back to Grandma's house for a little while and you spent some more time with her (and Mommy just had to take pictures).  When Mommy was little Grammie used to pick me up for the day and we would go on little adventures.  Sometimes we went 'Off Cape' and other times we might go to Friendly's (this used to be Mommy's favorite restaurant).  And Mommy always had her birthday at GG's swimming pool when she was little!

Studying GG

Smiles for Mommy (kinda)

There is that beautiful smile!

A Tender Moment

I was so happy that you and Great Grammie finally got to meet.  I hope that you get to spend more time with her in the coming years as your time with your other Great Grandma (GG Irene) was cut too short when she passed this past spring.  I still remember the fun I had with my Great Grandparents from mini-golf to making fudge and sleeping on the floor in their basement in Virginia and I hope you make similar memories with your Great Grammie!  Perhaps we will take a trip to see her this winter!

xoxo
Mommy

Cousin Love

Dear Conor,

While were were on the Cape for Labor Day we went and hung out with Baby Nolan.  He has grown a lot since we last saw him and he even smiles a little bit here and there!

We tried to get some pictures of you and Nolan but you just wanted to give Nolan kisses or crawl away and lay with the few toys that were on the ground!

playing with the toys

Sweet Nolan

Cousins!

Wanting to love on Nolan

Mommy with Conor and Nolan

We stayed and visited with Nolan for a little while and then we all went to Mashpee Commons to eat lunch and look around the stores.  Grandma and Daddy had fun with you at the Pottery Barn store.

I love the basket that they put you in but Daddy said there is no room in our home for it so we had to leave it at the store.

We had a great time visiting our Cape Cod Family and we can't wait to see them again later this month when Great Grandma comes to visit!

xoxo
Mommy

4th of July 2012

Dear Conor,

We went to your Grandma Mary and Grandpa Adam's house on Cape Cod for your FIRST 4th of July.  We had planned to go to the big parade in town with some of our family but when the weather couldn't decide what to do we decided not to chance getting stuck in a downpour.  So instead - your Grandma, Auntie Sarah, you and I went to breakfast at Marshland Two!

July 4, 2012

This was only your 2nd or 3rd time sitting in a restaurant high chair and you did so well!  I ended up having to nurse you towards the end of the meal but you were very quiet and discreet about it (which had not been your style at that time) which was nice.  I think the fact that we were in a booth and there was not a lot of things to distract you really helped you focus on eating.

After breakfast your Aunt and Uncle came over with your new cousin "Baby N".  N was born on June 13th so this was the first time that we got to see him.  You were very much in love with him and kept wanting to touch him.

You were very vocal when looking at Baby N.  I think you wanted him to play with you.

Hunter wanted to sniff him too (Mommy is fuzzy)

Mommy loved holding Baby N and made sure to get her picture taken with him too.  After Mommy then we took a picture of Grandma and her two grandsons.

You love Baby N

You really love your Grandma and being at her house....we keep a bunch of your toys there and we brought a few of your new favorites.  Grandma played with you all morning!

And what holiday or FIRST wouldn't be complete without an adorable outfit and some pictures!

Happy 4th of July!

At the end of the day we watched the fireworks from the back porch but you were already asleep!  So next year we will still have a FIRST if your Daddy and I decide it will be ok for you to go to the fireworks :)

Happy First 4th of July!

xoxo
Mommy