FOUR MONTHS!

Dear Colin,

You are now 4 months old.  I had a very hard time figuring out when to take your picture because this year there were only 28 days in February and since you were born on the 31st it didn't seem right to do it earlier so I waited until March started and we had a day with some sun in the morning to get good pictures.

Onesies were made by our friend Sharon! 

Of course, I also did photos in an outfit that your brother wore for his 4 month photos.  The shirt must have been discarded because I couldn't find it so I found something similar for you to wear.

And this Colin, is what it looks like when you don't want to get dressed or get your diaper change, or are cold, or mad that you are being put down so I can tend to your brother, Hunter or some other matter.  I still love you but no more ugly face!

SLEEP:
I have started having you sleep in your bedroom at night and you seem to be doing ok with this but you still wake up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less).  You are still swaddled but if I unswaddle you then you are awake even more.  I have a week off of work coming up so I might start unswaddling you then since I won't be so busy and we don't get a lot of sleep it will be ok.  You go to sleep around 7pm.  Are up at least once before 9 (if not twice), then up again around 11pm.  Last month I used to then bring you into my room but now I leave you in your room until your 1:30am wake-up.  Once in bed with me you tend to wake at 3 or 4, 6am and then if I am able to get you back down at 6am you are awake for the day at 7am.  Napping is hit or miss.  Sometimes you will nap at home up in your room if I am able to swaddle you and set you down almost asleep.  Sometimes I will nurse you to sleep and bring you upstairs to your swing to sleep.  During these times you will sleep for about an hour.  If you and I are home alone and I am wearing you - you will sleep for an hour or a little bit more.  You are not a great car sleeper but sometimes you will nap in the car too.  Overall, I would say you are getting 2-3 hours of sleep during the day when Mommy is home.

Sleeping in Mommy's bed - 2.20.2014

FOOD:
You are still a piglet and you are eating every 2-3 hours during the day and night.  You are on strictly breastmilk for now but you love to sit on the table at dinner and breakfast and be apart of the meal (unless you are napping).  Only two more months before I let you have food in your little hands!

CLOTHES:
You are currently in 6 month clothes from major "name brand" retailers and size 6-9month in most others "store brands or specially made for box stores".  It appears that despite seemingly to be growing at the same rate as your brother we will be buying you a lot of clothes because the seasons just aren't lining up correctly.  It seems the 1.5 months difference in birthdates is making a HUGE difference in clothing.

PERSONALITY:
You are such a happy baby when you are happy.  You smile from the tips of your very toes.  Your whole body is used to make the smile and it is infectious.  You smile at old people, young people, babies, toddlers, your Daddy, Me - just about anyone (but it doesn't make it any less special).  You are hysterical with Conor.  He can make you laugh at the drop of a hat and he loves to do it.  You have an adorable belly laugh and its fun to see you enjoy life so much. 

Your not all smiles though Mister.  You are also very demanding!  You do not like to be put down.  You require entertainment (you are not self-soothing just yet and you still get overstimulated too easily) from Daddy Conor or I unless its really short bursts of time.

 

DEVELOPMENT:
You are such a strong little boy!  You have been able to stand since shortly after birth but now you have some core strength and can sit (though you are bent at the waist quite a bit).  You are able to use those muscles to pull yourself into a standing position when holding my hands.  You hold your head up really high when on your tummy and you are starting to do so when sitting.  You do not love reclining anymore and are always trying to pull yourself into a sitting position if leaned against a pillow or blanket while on your back.  You are able to hold toys now and guide them into your mouth fairly nicely (though you do get very upset when you can't figure out how to let go of said toy)!  You also reach for things if they are placed just outside your reach span. 

You track people as they walk about a room and you turn your head when your name is called.  You also recognize voices and faces and produce smiles without prompting for certain people (Conor being #1). 

EXPERIENCES:
This past month you enjoyed your first true fun in the snow.  It was finally warm enough to play outside in the snow.  You watched the neighborhood kids sled and it was fun seeing Conor try to keep up with them.  You went for a ride in the sled and sat up on the big snowpile with Mommy and Conor (2.20.14).

We also went to a play place in Dover NH with Auntie Ana and this was your first time there.  You had a lot of fun watching the kids play but you were a bit too little for everything there so its a good thing you were content just to watch!  We also went out to lunch at a restaurant.  You did okay but it had been a long day and you were tired by the end of it (so were the boys!).

First Holidays: Valentine's Day and you attended your first Valentine's Day Party Playdate a few days later at Carter's house.  There you hung out with the Mommies and played with your friend Link.

Such a size difference in boys born 2 weeks or so apart!

GODPARENTS:
In the last month we also asked two very special people to be your Godparents.  Who?  We asked Chris and Auntie Cathlin.  They are also Conor's godparents but they are very special people in our lives and we felt they were the perfect choice the first time and therefore when it came time to pick again it only made sense that you deserved the best as well!  We were elated when they each said "YES" again.  Now, to make plans!

Colin, you are a wonderful little baby and I can't wait to keep watching you grow.  Until next month little man.

xoxo
Mommy

PS.  4 month comparison photo - Conor Above and Colin Below.

Nineteen Months

Dear Conor,

You continue to be the focus of every minute of every day in our lives.  We have tried in the last month to give you as much of us as we could because of all the changes that were coming your way.  Since I last wrote about your progress we have moved out of the house that truly became a home the day we brought you home to stay.  It was a difficult day because that little house was the place where you took your first steps, said your first words, and where we learned to be parents.  We left our driveway for the last time on July 19, 2013 at 8:45am....it was bittersweet because the new owners were already there so there was no last photo of us in front of the house and our last image of the home had their car in the driveway - in a way it already felt like it was long gone.

Goodbye Home

The week prior was incredibly busy for us and, of course, it was a week that you started saying even more new words and I found it challenging to keep up with you.  Ice, bowl, cup, bear, box, okay, pee, elbow, and knee I think were the new words for you in just a few days.  You have such wonderful friends - they came over to play with you on both Monday and Tuesday so that Mommy could focus on packing.  Monday night was your last night in your room because Tuesday morning Mommy drove your crib to Grandpa's house and that night you slept in Uncle Justin's room.  I know this transition time will be a challenge for you but just know that Mommy and Daddy are here for you and we are doing everything we can to help ease the stress and strain on you.

So, before the big move we spent the weekend on the Cape because Auntie Cathlin was getting married!  You attended the rehearsal but we made the decision that you would skip dinner because you were getting tired after the long drive down and we didn't want to start you off the next day with a bad attitude.  SAturday you spent the day with Daddy while Mommy got ready with the girls.  You came to the wedding (and you were pretty good too) before getting dropped off with Auntie Ana for your first babysitting at night.  You have been watched for short periods of time during the day by a few people but this was going to be a lot different and Mommy was nervous!  But Auntie sent Mommy these pictures to show what a good boy you were being!

Eating Dinner for Ana

Playing before bed

Auntie Ana did a great job with you and I am so thankful that we had her because I couldn't imagine having left you for the first time at night with anyone else.  You even went to bed for the first time without any milk and you did great!

This month you have also sprouted lots of new teeth!  You now have 4 bottom fronts, two top fronts, and one chewing tooth on each side both top and bottom coming through. You have been such a champ through all this and I'm hoping that with these new teeth you will start to expand your food interests!

You are now able to blow on hot foods, you picked blueberries for the first time, you identify secondary body parts (chin, neck, chest, elbow, leg), you know which grandparents we are talking to you about and you confirm this by talking about things related to them (boat, bobo, dog), time-outs are effective with you now and you sit for them 99% of the time, you still struggle with teeth brushing but we are working on that.  Lastly, you are able to express choices and wants with words and gestures.

We are constantly surprised by you little man and I can't wait to see what the next month brings (and its time for some new professional pictures!).

xoxo
Mommy

PS.  new words this month are: Pee, ice, rug, Carter, Braden, train, blueberry, rice, bike, stroller, bus, bag, alligator, step, jump, bowl, plate. 

First Birthday Letter

Dear Conor,

Just looking back at this blog reaffirms my feeling that this past year has been full of so many firsts, an incredible amount of love, and the growth of a bond between you and I that simply can't be explained in words or measured in any way shape or form.

For nine months and 2 weeks you grew inside me.  I gave you shelter, kept you warm, and kept you safe from the world you were not ready to enter.  Now, 365 days later, I still give you shelter, keep you warm and safe.  I wrap my arms around you when you are hungry, tired, overwhelmed, or in need of reassurance.  My arms provide you the comfort you desire and act as a barrier to the sometimes overstimulating world we live in.  When my arms encircle you I feel your body relax, your tears subside, and your breathing become calm and consistent.  In that moment I feel like the most powerful woman in the world.....it is in these moments I understand a mother's undying desire to always ensure the safety and security of her children no matter how old they are.  As I hold and rock you at night I know that one day my arms will no longer encircle you and you will no longer fit in my lap.  So, on this night - more so than others I will hold you just a bit longer before putting you down to sleep.

In this last year you have taught me more about myself than I ever knew before.  You have shown me that I am strong and I am brave - but most importantly you have taught your mother what it means to love unconditionally and without hesitation.  You are my greatest accomplishment Conor - the thing in life I am most proud of.  For this I will always be grateful. 

While your Mommy has spent the last year learning about herself - you have spent the last year growing!  You entered this world at 8lbs. 10.6 oz and one year later you are weighing in at 20lbs 5oz.  You have grown roughly 8.5 inches.  You spent your first week in newborn sized clothing and you are now wearing mostly 12 months and some 12-18.  You have a size 4.5W foot that is no longer covered in cute little booties but wears Stride Rite shoes.  You were born such a little round ball of pudge but now - you are lean.  There are very few rolls left to be seen - your ankles, wrists, and knees are still undefined but the rest of you looks less and less like a baby and more and more like a toddler by the day. 

Your blue eyes have grayed but your hair remains a ruddy brown.  Many people marvel over the fact that your hair has the same highlights and lowlights that mine does and I love that we share that trait.  Some strangers consider you to have auburn hair as it appears quite red in certain lights - your eyebrows have yet to come in so your true hair color remains to be seen. 

You have your Grandma Mary's nose and at times your Grandma Janet's smile.  You hair texture comes from your Grandpa Dennis but your profile and mannerisms are 100% your Grandpa Tom (you could be his twin).  You are stubborn (like your Daddy) but smart and you are kind.  You are a perfect combination of all the members of your family and they all love you so very much. 

In one year you have learned to hold your head up, to push up on your arm, to sit, to crawl, to stand, to walk and to run.  You have learned to eat with a spoon (though you sometimes miss) and therefore you have gone from just milk to sharing meals with Mommy and Daddy (sometimes).  You drink from a straw and love water.  You are a social butterfly and love eating in restaurants.  You are not a napper and not the best sleeper but I know it won't be like this forever so for now, I cherish the extra time late at night or early in the morning that I get with you (though sometimes even I forget this when I am really tired).

You don't have a special comfort item or a favorite toy but you LOVE books.  You are an avid reader and always want to bring books every where you go.  You love your wagon and most recently your sled.  You observe the world around you so carefully I always wonder what you are thinking and can't wait for the day when your words come easily and fluidly.  When you were born you could barely utter a sound other than a strained cry and now you laugh, yell, and have an ever growing vocabulary (dad, hunter, mamma, read, book, duck, quack, moo, yes, this, up).  You are learning to sign "more" and "milk".  You communicate by pointing and waiting for us to follow you.  You still love baths.

One of the memories I will never forget from this year Conor is when you were learning to walk.  You would hold my fingers so tightly and in the other hand you would hold a tiny leaf, stick, or little treasure - as though it was helping you to keep your balance.  It reminded me so much of the moment in Dumbo when he is learning to fly and he holds tight to a feather.  Now, barely a week later you have taken flight and you have left my fingers and your "feather" behind.  But not matter how far you go you will always be that "Baby of Mine."

Happy FIRST Birthday to my Sweet Baby Boy.......thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy!



12.14.2011 - 11:47pm seconds old.

12.14.2012 - 11:42pm - Happy Birthday Conor!

 

12.15.2011 - 2:15pm (not even 24 hours old)



12.14.2012 - 10:30am  Birthday Boy!

12.14.2012 - 1 year old

Happy Eleven Months!

Dear Conor,

This post is long overdue but thankfully it has been written for quite some time.  You continue to amaze us each month with all the new skills that you learn and the changes that we see in you whether they are big or small.

You continue to be a little peanut in height but you make up for it in your BIG personality. 

What does an 11 month old like to do you ask?

(1) empty the cabinet of all cooking utensils and carry them from room to room so that it is not uncommon to find the soup ladle in the bathroom.

(2) find anything and everything you can pull up on so that you can toddle from spot to spot.

(3) drool - you apparently are getting ready to cut teeth because your little lips are always wet and every once in a while we catch you drooling.....not something you do regularly.

(4) tease Hunter, touch Hunter, throw things at Hunter, pull on Hunter's blanket, share your toys with Hunter, yell at Hunter and do anything and everything you can do to be a part of Hunter's world including feeding him 1/2 your food.

(5) pushes the laundry baket down the hallway while throwing the laudnry on the floor

(6) destroy your book shelf until you found just the right one and then you drag it to either Daddy or Mommy to read.

(7) love wagon rides

Everyday I look at you in wonder and ask myself "where did my baby go?"  Conor you are still not a champion eater.  You prefer mom milk to solid foods but you have started LOVING waffles.  We bought mini waffles and you get at least one each morning.  You also LOVE frozen yogurt drops.  I take your yogurt and drop it onto wax paper and freeze it - these are yummy and you could eat the entire container if I let you.  You also like ricecakes (we buy baby one that are made with carrot and/or apple juice) and you love puffs and apples.  You have also started eating the pouches again but those are still hit or miss.

Happy 11 months baby boy!

xoxo
Mommy