Week 3 - The end of 2011

Dear Conor,

We make it through the first two weeks and in that time we made it through your Grandpa and Great Grandma both going into the hospital PLUS Christmas and the chaos that comes with it! 

On Wednesday we hung out at home and tried to give your poor little purple butt some 'no diaper' time.  We broke out your activity mat to entertain you a bit and we sang songs.  I am not sure if you can see all the toys on your activity mat yet but we tried hard to make you comfortable.  You weren't a huge fan of hanging out in the boppy pillow - we will be trying to help you get more comfortable with it because your butt needs a lot more 'no diaper' time.

Dad put your pee-pee tee-pee on you because he didn't want you spraying our living room (and wanted your privates to remain private).

 On Thursday I gave you another bath.  This time Dad was home and so he got to play in the bathtub with you.  You really loved having him here - he played and splashed with you and ran the water over your belly.  You loved having the water trickle down from the orange fish.

After your tub we dressed you up in your tiger outfit and settled you in on the couch.  Dad and I thought it would be fun to give you the remote control to his playstation and send the picture to Uncle Justin.  You seem to love the idea of being in control of the television!

After playing with the remote you did some more 'no diaper' time which you tolerated for about 10 minutes and then you quickly let us know that you wanted a diaper back on and you wanted to be held!

On Friday the visiting nurse came to check you out.  She said that you looked fantastic and she gave us some tips on how to get your medicine to stick to your butt!

After her visit your Grandma Mary and rest of the family came up to visit you and we had our Christmas with them.  We had already opened your present from Grandma Mary on Christmas Day because she insisted that we do it but you had not opened your gift from your Aunties.  They got you an adorable little turtle toy that we attached to your carseat so that it can go everywhere with you.

After your Cape Cod family left we went over to visit Great Grandma Irene.  She was so excited to see you and she perked up when she held you.  You were the best medicine that anyone could give her.  We stayed and visited for about an hour or so and then it was time to take you home for the night.

Great Grandma Irene 12/30/2011

When we got home we all got into our jammies (well - you were already in yours) and we settled in for what would be the last full night of 2011.

xoxo
Mom

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

Christmas Morning 2011

Dear Conor,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!  This is your first Christmas and while each Christmas will seem to get better and better as you grow - there is only ONE first Christmas. 

Before you were even born I made a promise to myself that if I ever had children I would do all I could to ensure that they awoke each Christmas morning in their own home.  I realize that for your first Christmas you are only 11 days old but it was still important to me that I stick to my promise - even if it meant celebrating my first Christmas morning without my family.

We woke up Christmas morning pretty early for a feeding but decided to stay in bed just a little bit longer.  We finally went downstairs around 8am to find that Santa had come!  We took a picture with you in front of your first Christmas tree filled with gifts from Santa!

We started with our stockings - in this family you can open your stocking anytime you want but you have to wait till everyone is ready to begin opening gifts from Santa and the family.  Your first stocking contained a stuffed Santa toy, some binkies (two kinds), and a very special card from Santa that contained a key.  Santa's card said that each Christmas you were to put the key under the doormat so that he could come into our home without using up all his magic because we didn't have a fireplace for him to enter.  I will keep your key in your stocking so that we never lose it!

Santa also left you a few presents.  You got a whale toy for the bathtub/pool and a hammer toy that makes noise!

Your full stocking

Santa stuffy & Binkies

Your first present from Santa

It's a whale toy for the bathtub!

Your first Christmas gifts

See the telephone in the picture?  That is from Dad and me.  We both had one when we were little and so we wanted you to have one as well.  The superman onesie is actually the gift that you bought for Daddy but he wanted to have it in the picture with you!  Once you get a little bigger you will be able to wear it!

After you opened your gifts it was time for Dad and I to open ours.  Santa usually brings us each one gift and then we give gifts to each other. 

Dad and his Superhero pint glasses

Me and my VV flipflops

Daddy got me an ipad!

And I gave Daddy a new Iphone!

Another picture of you with all your toys!

It was a very Apple Christmas here in our home as well as a Fisher Price Christmas!  Now, next year you will have to be goo for 365 days (and not just 11) in order to have Santa visit our home - but I am sure you can do it!

After we had our little Christmas we all got dressed and went over to pick up Grandma Janet and we went to the Center to visit GG Irene.  We opened gifts with her there (my camera died so I don't have a ton of photos).  She got you some cute clothes as well as a musical seahorse!

GG Irene giving Dad a Christmas Kiss!

And giving you some Christmas Love!

 After visiting with GG Irene we went over to visit with Grandma Janet and Grandpa Dennis at their house and exchange gifts with them.  It was a good afternoon and you received some wonderful things (as did Dad and I).  You slept the entire visit but seeing you sleep was enough for everyone because we were also thankful that you were healthy and happy this Christmas!

When we got home we filled your tummy and then you chilled with Dad on the couch in your Christmas jammies until it was time for bed.

You had a wonderful first Christmas Conor but you were the best gift that we all received!

Merry Christmas Little Man!

xoxo
Mom

Christmas Eve 2011 - Round 2

Dear Conor,

Christmas Eve didn't stop when we left Grandpa Tom's house.  First we went to the Rehabilitation Center where Great Grandma Irene is currently living.  You and Hunter were both welcome there and everyone stopped to meet you both.  GG Irene was so excited to show you off to her nurses and the other residents there.  She just glowed when sharing you with them.  We kept you in your carseat for the majority of the visit until you woke up a bit and I asked GG Irene if she wanted to hold you (of course she did!).

GG Irene loves you so very much and she was thankful to have you visit her and asked that I bring you back again.  I promised her that I would bring you back the next day for Christmas but that I wasn't sure when we would bring Hunter back because he was very excited because of all the food!

After visiting GG Irene we went to Grandma Janet's house for a short visit.  Grandpa Tom and Uncle Justin met us there and we all visited for an hour or so before everyone went home to go to sleep so that Santa could come.

This was a very busy first Christmas Even and you did such a wonderful job handling all the visits - I am certain Santa will see that you have been a good boy this year!

xoxo
Mom

Christmas Eve 2011 - Round One

Dear Conor,

Merry Christmas Eve!  Today you are ten days old and it is your first holiday!  This year we spent Christmas Eve with Grandpa Tom and the rest of the O'Reilly clan at Grandpa Tom's Maine house.

The morning started with Auntie Cathlin coming into the room to get you and she spent the morning loving on you while I got dressed and packed up everything we would need to take with us.  Then it was time to dress you up, load up the car, and get a move on!

Once we got to Grandpa Tom's then it was time to unpack.  We had the gifts to bring in, Hunter's things, and then all of your stuff.  This was your first planned afternoon away so we brought your bassinet as well as your diaperbag with two changes of clothes!

Auntie Cathlin came out to the car to get you so that your Dad and I could carry all the other stuff.  By the time we got inside you were already in the arms of your Auntie Lindsay.  Shortly after you were in the arms of your Uncle Sean.  I think you look a little bit like him.

First Time Meeting Uncle Sean

Once you finally fell asleep I put you in your bassinet and captured what I think is my favorite picture of you so far!

Santa Baby Conor

 At one point your Dad was holding both you and Hunter.  You are both decked out in your Christmas outfits.  I tried hard to get a good picture of you and Hunter but he is still a little weary of you and so he doesn't want to be too close to you just yet.  I am sure this will change as you get older and he gets more accustomed to you.

 While you slept we opened presents.  Auntie Cathlin really liked the ornament you gave her!  She also loved the tree skirt that I made her.  She began pestering me for it last year and I had convinced her that she was not getting it this year but that was just to trick her!

Auntie Cathlin's tree skirt

You also got some gifts this year from the O'Reilly clan.  Grandpa Tom started you a savings account (well, he will start it once you get your social security number in the mail) and he also bought you some Christmas books.  Auntie Cathlin got you a sign that says "Baby's First Christmas" as well as some clothes (0-3 and 3-6 as well as a warm jumper).  Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Sean got you a Summer Play Pack.  It had sunglasses, a swim diaper, sunblock, a beach tent, sand toys, and a bib.  I know it will be well used this summer!  I had a lot of fun opening that present because we have been opening so much winter things that it was refreshing to see summer fun!

You did really well at your first holiday event and it was fun to see your family interact with you! 

xoxo

Mom

Day 9: 12/23/2011 Part 2

Dear Conor,

Tonight was the night you met your Grandpa Tom.  As I said in the post about your name, this is the man for whom you were named (your middle name).  Grandpa Tom became very sick in early 2011 and your Mom's heart ached thinking the worst.  Thankfully, your Grandpa Tom got better and is far healthier now than he has been in a long time.

Tonight he arrived in Maine to celebrate Christmas and came to meet you for the first time.  I can't tell you how happy he looked holding you and how special the moment was for me.  When things were up and down back in May I was really worried that things might get bad again - or worse before you were born; so seeing your Grandpa holding you - I can't even describe what that felt like.

Grandpa meeting you for the first time.

Moving the blanket to get a better look at you.

Telling you a story

And listening to you tell your own!

Grandpa Tom wanted to much to meet you at the hospital but when you arrived later than we all expected and only a week before Christmas he simply couldn't make the trip up twice.  So, we had been sending him pictures of you at least once a day (and sometimes more than that) so that he could watch your little features change (mostly the swelling go down) until he was able to get up here to meet you in person.

He also brought your Uncle Justin with him.  Uncle Justin was also excited to meet and hold you.

You and Uncle Justin sharing a look.

Grandpa and Uncle Justin stayed for about an hour or so and then they went home to get some sleep and get ready for our Christmas celebration the next day.  Once they left your Auntie Cathlin grabbed you and held you again - she really loves you!

You and I slept in my office on this night because Auntie Cathlin slept in your room and we didn't want to wake her everytime you needed a diaper change.....which is many times at night right now.  You did great sleeping in my office and we both slept like babies (until you had to eat!).

xoxo
Mom

Day 9: 12/23/2011 Part 1

Dear Conor,

Today you had your first bath.  You had your first bath because your Auntie Cathlin is arriving today and we didn't want you to be stinky!  Prior to today I had been giving you little sponge baths because your belly button and penis needed to heal before you could be 100% in the water.  Because we hadn't given you a bath I simply wasn't sure how you would react.  But - I should have known you would LOVE the water because both your Dad and I also love the water!

Your first bath experience.

Having a great time splashing your feet in the water.

All wrapped up after your bath.

The whole time that you were in the bath Hunter sat down at edge of the tub waiting for you to be done.

Hunter enjoyed seeing you in the bath and was thankful that he didn't have to join you (he does not always love the bath).  He followed us into your room after your bath and stayed there while you were getting dressed.

After your bath you fell asleep and stayed that way until Auntie Cathlin arrived.  Auntie Cathlin was so excited to meet you and couldn't wait to hold you.  She also loved taking your picture!

First time being held by Auntie Cathlin

She loved you from the first moment she saw you!

Having Auntie Cathlin here was a great help.  She held you and loved on you so that I could get things done.  I got all the laundry done, the dishes done, the last of our gifts for family wrapped and thank you cards written for gifts you received since you were born.  I tried to get your Aunt to move in with us and be your Nanny but she said she had to go back to Boston and to her school - but I did try :)

Auntie Cathlin reluctantly had to give you up later at night because your Grandpa Tom and Uncle Justin came over to visit with you for the first time!  More on that visit soon!

xoxo
Mom