Mall Walking

Dear Conor,

The end of week 5 was lots of fun!  It was our typical Tuesday morning which meant that you and I had to both be up, dressed, and fed before 9am in order to be at class by 10am.  It looked cold outside so I bundled you up in a nice and warm outfit.  You wore the same sweatshirt from the other day because it kept you so warm.  I also added your ski hat (I love this hat)!

You enjoyed class very much and I think next week we will try to move you to the floor so that you can interact more with the other babies.  We had Miss Linda look at your tongue again (because your mom just couldnt be satisfied with the pediatrician's answer of "it looks fine").  Miss Linda was a little more concerned about it and suggested we go see an ENT.  She recommended one in Portland and gave me the phone number.  I called and set up an appointment for Thursday.

After class we went to the mall to join some of the other mommies in their weekly mall walk.  We had forgotten to remove your stroller from Dad's car so you hung out in your Moby the entire time.  You made me so proud!  We ate lunch and did 2 laps around the entire mall (about 1.5 hours) and you slept in your Moby the entire time!  I am so glad that we started hanging out in the Moby early because its great to have in a pinch!  There are 21 mommies in our class and 8 of us went to the mall.  Here is a picture of our mall walking group :)

The onsie you found on our mall walk and texted to your aunties

I don't know if we will be able to join the mall walkers each week but I hope we can join them often as its a great way to get some exercise during the winter!

xoxo

Mom

Gloria

Dear Conor,

You have so many people that love you and that makes you a very lucky person.  Your family though is more than just those that are related to you by blood or marriage - there are some people in our lives that we consider family because our relationship with them is too strong to be described as just a friendship.  One of those relationships is with the Carrai/Rohr family.

Henry and Gloria Carrai have a house next door to your Trayner grandparents on Cape Cod.  Henry passed away a little over a year ago but Gloria is still going strong.  Right now she is living in a rehabilitation center (like GG Irene) and because it was on the way home we decided to stop in and visit.  Now, Henry and Gloria have two daughters (Phoebe and Sue) and they are our family as well.  Phoebe wasn't able to visit with us but Sue was!

You weren't so sure about going to meet Gloria at first but you warmed right up to her and took a short nap on her chest (about 5 minutes). We spent about an hour with Gloria and Sue before we had to get back on the road and get you home!  Here are some pictures from our visit.

Not so sure about this Mom!

Kisses from Gloria

Family!

I think I like it here!

Hopefully we will be able to visit with Gloria again soon (and get some pictures of you and Sue!).

xoxo
Mom

ROAD TRIP

Dear Conor,

The snow couldn't stop us and we were up early on Friday to make sure we had everything packed and ready to go for your first ROAD TRIP!  Before you arrived your Dad, Hunter, and I would travel almost every weekend in the winter to Waterville Valley and we spent many summer weekends on Cape Cod (where I grew up).  Well, we decided that it was time for you to take your first road trip to the Cape and to visit Grandma and Grandpa Trayner (and your aunties).

We learned that packing the car to take you on a road trip required a lot of planning.  We essentially had to pack up an entire nursery because you don't sleep in a crib yet.  So, you had your own little bag with lots of extra clothes in it, a full package of diapers, a box of wipes, some toys, blankets, and your bassinet.  We also packed the stroller (just in case we went shopping) and then you and your carseat of course!  I also had to bring the breast pump (to maintain supply) and we had your diaper bag for the actual trip (PHEW - that's a lot of stuff)! 

On the Road - ready for your first Road Trip!

 You traveled really well.  You slept almost the entire way to the Cape - even with a few stops added in which increased our travel time to 4 hours instead of 3.  But, none of those stops were for you -they were for your Dad (he had some work pictures he had to take).  You woke up about 40 minutes from Grandma's house and I jumped in the backseat to give you a bottle as I didn't think you could hold out till we got there.  You really didn't want the bottle - you drank about 1.5oz before falling back asleep.  But, when we got to Grandma's house you were HUNGRY!  So I fed you and then of course, you fell back asleep.  We set you down on the couch and you took your first nap on the Cape!

Napping on Cape Cod

 Friday night we stayed in and had pizza with the Grandparents and Auntie Sarah and despite your travels and being in a different place you were able to maintain your normal schedule (which I was very thankful for)!

The next day was your 1/12 birthday!  You started the day in the arms of Auntie Cathlin who came to the Cape to visit with you and was very happy to see you (and you were happy to see her).

What a cute face!

 After you had your time with Auntie Cathlin it was time to go for a ride!  We packed you up and put you in Auntie Danielle's car.  This was your first time being driven by anyone other than me or your Dad!  I was in the car and we both think Auntie Danielle is a GREAT driver so we were very comfortable with her driving you.  We took you to Mashpee Commons where you had your first visit to Vineyard Vines and Mashpee Commons.  It was also your first shopping trip!  We tried to get you a cupcake to celebrate your 1/12 birthday but Cupcake Charlie's was closed :(

In Auntie Danielle's car - ready to go!

When we got back Auntie Danielle held you (after you ate - look at that belly) and Hunter jumped in for the picture!  He loves being at Grandma's house and was very happy to run around and get love from everyone that was there!

Auntie Sarah spent some time with you each day learning how to change diapers and how to burp you!  Here she is on Friday burping you - you were not very thankful to her for getting the gas out!

Your Great Nana came over to meet you.  She loved on you the entire time she was visiting.  She couldn't believe how big you were!  You nuzzled up to her and loved on her but you also gave her a good listen to your crying!  Right before she came over you opened your Christmas gift from her and Great Dar - they got you a soft and fuzzy teddy bear (which we put on your bed in your room). 

Great Nana and Conor!

Then it was Grandma's turn.  She loves you so very much and wanted to spend as much time loving on you as possible because she can't see you as often as some of your other family.  She held you while I got ready for dinner.

We took you out to eat (this was your third trip to a restaurant) and you did very well!  You slept the whole time.  At the end of dinner I joked that we needed to get you a piece of cake to celebrate your 1/12 birthday.  Well, Grandpa Adam went beyond that and bought you a WHOLE cake!  The cake was so yummy!

1/12 birthday cake

Your piece of cake - I ate it for you and it was yummy!

 The next day you spent some time with Grandpa.  You were very happy to hang out with him at the counter.

 It was very sad but we had to leave on Sunday so that we could get back to Maine and so that both Dad and I could get back to work (and you had a doctor's appointment the next day).  We had such a great time on the Cape and you did such an amazing job traveling that it won't be long before we take another road trip!

xoxo

Mom

First Snow Storm

Dear Conor,

Week 5 started off pretty low key.  On Wednesday (01/11/2012) you were still a little grumpy in the early evening so I brought you upstairs to my room to have some tummy time on my bed in order to help your belly.  You didn't love it but you eventually cried yourself to sleep (it took about 2 minutes!).  While you were awake I brought in a bunch of toys for you to look at but apparently they weren't entertaining enough to keep you awake!

Falling alseep during Tummy Time

And still asleep while I transitioned you to your carseat so we could go grocery shopping!



Once you fell asleep we decided it was a great time to head to the grocery store.  This would be your second trip there.  Your Dad and I are still shopping together for groceries (1) because we like to and (2) because your carseat takes up so much of the cart we often need a second cart.  Right now the weather is too cold for me to feel good about leaving your carseat in the car and putting you in your Moby while we shop - but I am sure this is how I will end up getting a lot of the shopping done on warmer days/nights.

On Thursday (1/12/2012) you and I stayed inside as much as possible because it was your first official BIG snow storm!  We got several inches throughout the day of heavy wet snow.  Your dad had to work and he wouldn't take my truck in case we had an emergency and needed to get out so we worried about him a little bit and checked in with him frequently. 

Your first sweatshirt.

Sleeping on your boppy.

You wore your first sweatshirt becuase it was so cold outside!  You took little naps throughout the day and this allowed me to get the laundry done and get things organized (or as organized as I could get them).  You also slept long enough for me to shovel a little path down the driveway and the bottom of the drive so that your Dad could get in when he got home - and I appreciated that!

I look forward to the days when you are old enough that we can play outside in the falling snow and build snowmen and make snowforts - but for now I am very content to have you want to snuggle with me while the snow falls outside and we stay nice and toasty inside!

I love you little man!

xoxo
Mom