First Halloween

Dear Conor,

Your first Halloween was a lot of fun!  Mommy and Daddy had to work earlier in the day and so we weren't sure just what we were going to do.  But, some of your baby friends were getting together to trick or treat in Kennebunk and we decided to join them.  Last year Mommy and Daddy had seen the big ocean houses all decorated and all the people out trick or treating and we thought it looked like fun so we were excited to give it a try this year.

We got you and Hunter dressed in some warm clothes and then we drove down to Main Street to find a place to park.  There we met Baby N and her Mommy Erika and you experienced your FIRST trick or treat!

first treat!

We visited a few of the local businesses that were handing out little treats to kids in costume.  You were very cute and by the end of the night were saying "teee" for treat!  Trick is a little harder to say so I didn't even attempt to have you try that one!

Trick or Treat

A Democrat in Kennebunk?!?

Mommy and Conor 2012

Daddy look - my treat!

One of the stops was Kennebunk Savings and Kenny the Bear (their mascot) was handing out treats.  We weren't sure how it would go but up the steps we went - as you can tell Conor - you were not a fan!

But you kept a positive attitude - because Halloween is FUN!

Even Hunter got in on the Halloween fun and dressed to impress.......

The Queen Bee and her Worker Bees

Trick or Treating at the Fire Station

One of the spooky houses we visited

Monster Baby C and you in the grave yard!

You both look worried!

Then it was Daddy's turn to have a little Halloween Fun!  First you visited the scary black ghost who was haunting the graveyard......

Then it was time to trick or treat at the spooky house......

But even with all the spook you thought Halloween was lots of fun!

It was dark by the time we got back to the car and got you all buckled in...you slept really good that night and I can't wait to take you treating again next year :)

Happy FIRST Halloween Conor!

xoxo
Mommy

First Shoes

Dear Conor,

Because you are doing so much standing on your own and walking assisted Daddy and I decided it was time for you to have your first real pair of shoes (well, Mommy decided and Daddy said ok).  So, we drove down to Kittery to go to the Stride Rite Outlet to have you sized and pick out some new 'kicks'.

Getting your foot measured

Now to measure the next one.....have to check to see which is bigger

All done - 4.5W it is!

We spent a little time looking at shoes and trying the various styles on.  Some were tigher than others because of the way they closed (one zig-zag velcro vs. two straight ones) and some had licensed characters and others did not.  We decided on a simple traditional pair of shoes for you in a size 4.5W.  Then we learned that it was buy 1 get 1 1/2 off so we also bought a pair of shoes in the next size up!

Paying for your FIRST two pairs of shoes

Your first shoes!

Shoes are fun to play with

and to eat!

We plan on introducing the shoes pretty slowly because you have never worn anything but socks and these are much more structured and do have some weight to them though their soles are very flexible.

The box is also a lot of fun to play with!

 
We hope these shoes will be a good first pair of shoes and will enable you to walk outside while you continue to learn to walk barefoot while inside!

xoxo
Mommy

Walking 10.23.2012

Dear Conor,

You are a walking machine!  You love to push your walking toy around the house so we decided it was time to take it to the great outdoors!  You don't drive real straight just yet but you enjoyed yourself anyways!

xoxo
Mommy

Standing Unassisted

Dear Conor,

On October 12 (just 2 days shy of being 10 months old) you shocked us all when you stood unassisted in the kitchen (you had done it the night before in the bathtub but I thought it was a fluke - turns out it was not). 

 

So cool to see you achieve these little milestones - can't wait for what you have in store next for us!

xoxo
Mommy

A Brisk Walk

Dear Conor,

On October 10th we were still sleep training and you were waking up very early and subsequently needing a nap fairly early in the morning but you were refusing to nap!  So, I bundled you up in your fleece suit and you and I headed out for a brisk morning walk.

It was a cool and quiet morning and I really enjoyed spending that time with you.  Just as I had hoped you fell asleep in the stroller after about 15 minutes and proceeded to sleep another 1.5 hours when we arrived home - it was a GOOD nap day!  Looks like brisk walks might be something to do more often!

xoxo
Mommy

Fall is in the Air

An early evening family walk required a NorthFace and blanket for Conor, a shirt for Hunter & sweatshirts for Mommy and Daddy - fall is certainly in the air . . . . . but we're still having fun!

9.10.12

Smiling at Hunter

Rosy Cheeks from the chill

Even Hunter and Daddy needed layers!

I actually love walking with my family in the early fall evenings as there are no bugs and the cool air feels good on your skin and lungs!

xoxo
Erin

Week 2 - post holidays!

Dear Conor,

Well, we made it through the holidays intact.  The rest of week 2 was pretty uneventful.  On Monday, December 26, 2011 we hung out at home and you did some tummy time with no diaper on (which you were not in love with and it hurt me to listen to you cry). 

Then, in the afternoon, the entire family went for our first family walk in the neighborhood.  We put you in your bunting that Grandma Mary bought you and then placed you in your bassinet and around the neighborhood we went!

You did really well on this walk except towards the end.  It was a rather cold day and I think that the cold ended up getting to your cute little face even though I had a blanket covering the bassinet and so you started crying!

On December 27, 2011 we went to Baby Class at Mercy.  When I weighed you I couldn't believe that you had grown so much!  You gained 6oz - you weighed in at 8lbs 12oz. 

Your winter hat is adorable!

You are always such a good boy at class - I call Tuesdays our special days (the best days of the week) and I look forward to them each and every week and I will be sad when I go back to work because we may not always have our Tuesdays - so I am cherishing every one of them right now.

xoxo
Mom

Day 3: 12/17/2011

Dear Conor,

Today is your third day with us and your first full day at home.  Today we did a lot of resting!  You slept most of the day, getting up every 3-4 hours to eat and have your diaper changed but the rest of the time you spent it sleeping. 

The swelling in your face has started to go down but your eyes are still closed 99% of the time (we assume its because of the swelling and the fact that you are only 3 days old)!

Today you had two firsts.

We went for our first walk today.  We (the four of us) got in your Dad's car and we drove to the middle school at the end of our street.  As this was our first walk it was also the first time we used your SUPER stroller.  It was a little chilly outside and we had to take things slow because I was still sore but we took a nice walk around the school as a family.  Hunter sniffed and did what he does best (which is pee on all the poles and trees) and you did what you do best (which at this point is sleep!) but it was still a great walk!

First Walk

Today was also your first time home alone with Hunter and I.  Grandma Janet and Grandpa Dennis came over again (and stayed for about an hour) and then they left with your Dad so they all could finish their Christmas shopping.  That left us home alone and it was very nice because as soon as they left I fed you and gave Hunter a treat and then we all took a little nap.  The both of you slept longer than I did and I was able to have something to eat and watch a little TV before needing to take Hunter out and wake you up to eat!

It was today that we figured out that you did not like to sleep flat.  I recalled that you slept in the hospital bassinet pretty well and couldn't figure out why you were not comfortable in ours.  Theirs was propped at an angle and so I placed some thin blankets under the pad of our bassinet and wrapped your naked little body in a fleece blanket and laid you in the bassinet under the tree.  I also placed a rolled blanket next to you so that you felt more secure and snuggled.  You were not comfortable at first but you slowly settled into it and spent the rest of the day sleeping in your bassinet.  Your Dad and I consider this our first BIG parenting success! 

Day 3 ended with the four of us going to bed around midnight after I had fed you one last time.  You slept in your bassinet most of the night but still needed some skin-to-skin contact in order to fall asleep after your 3:30am feeding.  I have read that its ok to allow this to happen given how young you are and that I shouldn't let you cry it out just yet (plus I love having you nuzzle under my chin and feel your breath on my chest) so we will continue to do this as you need it.

xoxo
Mom