Second Surgery

Dear Conor,

Today we went for a ride with Dad for his work but we also had to go into Portland for your appointment with the ENT.  I was very nervous for this appointment because I wasn't sure what to expect.  The nurse that brought us into the room was very sweet and she explained what the doctor needed to do to examine you and at what points we should expect to hear you cry.  Then she got you all set up in the big chair.  You looked so tiny in the big chair because they kept you in your carseat the whole time.

After the nurse got you settled the doctor came in to check you out.  You did not like him sticking the Q-tip or his fingers under your tongue and you cried just as the nurse said you would.  He said that your tongue-tie was not severe but it was also not so minimal that he would suggest that nothing be done.  You had a moderate case that we could choose to have it cut or we could wait it out and see if it stretched or if it ended up impacting your speech.  If we needed to have it cut later it would likely need to be done in a hospital setting as the older a child gets the harder it is to cut it in the office because they squirm!

Your Dad and I decided that we didn't want to take that chance because it seemed more traumatic to potentially place you under anesthesia when you are a toddler to have something done that we could easily have done now and not have to live in constant wonder.  So, we told the doctor we would like to have it done while you were still little.  Little did we know that he was going to do it that day!

A little bit of numbing agent was applied to the underside of your tongue and then after a minute he snipped the little membrane and it was over - or so I thought.  There was a bit of blood and the doctor wanted to be sure it clotted before you left the office so he applied a clotting agent to the cut marks (it turned silver and remains there for a while).  He cleaned up your little face and then it was time to go.

I promise - it looks worse than it actually was - you kept spitting little bits of retained blood out at a time.



We saw improvements in your tongue action pretty quickly.  You were moving your tongue a lot more and sticking it out further than you ever had before.  Also, when you had dinner you stayed latched on much better. 

I am so proud of how strong you are - you didn't cry during your first surgery and you didn't cry during this one and you recovered nicely from both as well.

xoxo
Mom

Week 6

Dear Conor,

Week 6 started out with two major events in your little life.  I had to go back to work for more than just an hour.  I was so sad to leave you.  It was a very difficult thing.  I had to make sure that I left you enough milk (I left you three 2.5oz bottles) and that everything was out and ready for your Dad.  He knew that I was having a hard time leaving and so he sent me a picture of the two of you hanging out.

You and Dad on your first true day without Mom!

I left the house around 8:45am and didn't get home from Court until 12:30pm.  I worked hard while I was at Court but I wanted to get back to you every second that I was away.  Conor, Mommy loves loves loves her job but she loves loves loves you too!  It is very hard to be away from you when you are still so little.  But, I have to say - your Daddy did a great job taking care of you.  When I came home you were sleeping in your swing and you had finished 1 bottle and had started on the second.  Your diaper had been changed a few times and the house was even in one piece! :)

After I got home we had a little playtime on the floor with Hunter.  He still doesn't seem to be truly aware that you are present in the house (or he doesn't care) as he often walks right over your little legs or sits down almost on top of you (but still very careful not to sit ON you).  When you are on the floor Hunter loves to roll all over your blankets and stick his little nose in your toys.

We decided to go and visit your GG Irene later in the afternoon and when I was putting you in your carseat I noticed that the straps seemed to be much further below your shoulders than appropriate.  While we were visiting GG Irene I looked up the instructions on my phone and before we left the Newton Center I moved your straps up!  You are such a growing boy!

While visiting GG Irene you were once again the talk of the Center!  You brought so many smiles to all the ladies that are there getting better so that they can return to their families.  We took GG to the cafeteria so she could listen to the Irish performer.  You were a little fussy to I rocked you to sleep in the hallway to the sounds of Danny Boy.  But, you didn't sleep long and GG was getting tired so we walked her back to her room and said our good-byes.  She would be going home in just 2 days so this was our last visit to the center.

Holdng GG Irene's finger

It was a busy day for all of us and we ended up going up to bed a little earlier than normal which you were very content to do.  It was a good day Conor - a day that begin with a tough task and one that ended with an easy one - tucking you into bed.

xoxo
Mom

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

Conor is ONE MONTH!!!

Dear Conor,

You are officially one month old.  I can't believe that you are already old enough for me to be writing this post!  While it feels like you have been a part of our family for more than one month, it amazes me that we have already reached this milestone.  There have been so many firsts in this first 31 days.  You have celebrated two holidays, taken your first road trip, been introduced to almost all your immediate family and even some of your extended family.  You have had your first playdate and made some new friends from playgroup.

You have also grown.  As sad as I am to see you growing up already it makes me very proud to know that are strong and healthy.  You weigh 10lbs 10oz (75%) and you are 21.5 inches long (50%) with a head circumfrance of 39cm (70%).  You are tracking on the growth scale beautifully.  You are now in Size 1 diapers and you are wearing size 0-3 clothes (though they are still big on you in both length and girth).  Your diaper rash has cleared up and while you suffer from gas pains regularly but we are working on that (with frequent burping, Little Tummies medicine, and different feeding positions).

You are now grabbing onto fingers and working on gaining some head control.  You have strong leg muscles and you like to push with your legs if you are being held in a standing position.  Your arms move a lot now and while you don't have control over them all the time there are moments when you know exactly what you are doing.  You are taking a bottle roughly (Avent glass bottles with a slow feed nipple) once a day from Dad and you are working to take a binkie.  Your current favorite is made by MAM as the SOOTHIES were too heavy for you.  When we are helping you with your binkie you like to wrap your little hands around ours.

You are a social butterfly.  You love Tuesday play group and taking adventures - you do not like to stay cooped up in the house for more than a day at a time.  You love your adventures!

While you are clearly a momma's boy you enjoy your time with your Dad too.  The two of you are developing a strong bond.  You often like to nuzzle at his neck and fall asleep with your head on his chest.  He enjoys this as much as you do (though it means that he can't get his work done!).  Dad works hard to get you to enjoy story time but you often cry and he is not able to finish the book in one sitting....that is something that I am sure will come with time.

My favorite part of each day is early in the morning when you wake up to be fed and I pull you into bed with me.  After you feed I can smell your milky breath and feel your chest rise and fall against mine.  You are my beautiful baby boy and I couldn't imagine life without you.

Happy 1 Month Birthday little man!

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