A Visit with Auntie Cathlin

Because I am so far behind in blogging the next few posts are very much out of order!

During February vacation we had planned to have family visit with us to help take care of Conor so that Josh and I could get caught up on regular work since Conor gave us little time to get it done since he doesn't nap.  Cathlin was the first to volunteer to come and she arrived on Tuesday, February 22, 2012 to love on her nephew.

However, Conor - you had different plans.  You were terrible for your poor Auntie Cathlin!  Although she is smiling in these photos you certainly were not.  You were miserable.  We now know that your behavior was due to acid reflux and that the medicine had not fully started to work yet.  We felt terrible that Auntie Cathlin didn't get to spend any 'nice' time with you so we hope she will come back to visit soon!

Trying to help Conor stop crying.

A rare moment of quiet

Still crying! 

Auntie Cathlin was so patient with you and she tried so hard to help you feel better.  She rocked you, bounced you, held you tight, pumped your legs, and did anything and everything she could think of to make you feel good. 

Auntie Cathlin left the next afternoon and by that time you were in a slightly better mood and judging by the picture below you were feeling your island roots (just kidding - you don't have any)!

I am so thankful you have such a patient and loving Auntie!  Thank you again for coming Cathlin and we would love to have you again anytime!

xoxo
Mom

Summer in March

Dear Conor,

This week the State of Maine (and most of New England) has been setting records for highest recorded temperatures.  Yesterday (3/22/12) Portland Maine was around 80 degrees for most of the day - the previous highest recorded temperature was 60 degrees!

Because of this beautiful weather we have been doing a lot of outside activities. On Tuesday we went to playgroup at Mercy in the morning where you and your friends played inside while the sun was at its peak.

Lots of Mommies and Babies at Mercy

Your friend C trying to teach you to roll over

You are never without your favorite accessory lately - drool soaked shirts!

Your girlfriend A....she's an older woman :)

After playing inside we went down to the East End Playground and had a picnic lunch and for a nice long walk along the trail.  One of the reasons I love our Mommy Group is because I am learning all the nice places to take you and Hunter for a walk!  This walk was very much like the Cape Cod Rail Trail that your Dad and I took our bikes on a few years ago.

Picnic Lunch

Some of your older friends swinging -you were too little still

When we got home we played in the yard with Daddy and Hunter until the sun made all of us too hot!  Being too hot and having the sun in your eyes made you cry so it was clearly the right time to pack it all up and call it a day!

Me and my boys

Take me inside Mom!

While I console you - Hunter poses for one more picture

On Thursday (which was yesterday) your Daddy and I decided that we couldn't spend these beautiful days working (because who knows how nice the summer will be) so we headed to the beach.  We were not the only ones that had this idea as Pine Point was very crowded.

But, we enjoyed your first true beach day anyways.  We set up the tent that your Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Sean got you for Christmas to keep you out of the intense sun and applied the sunblock to all your exposed parts (thank you to your aunt and uncle for the summer survival Christmas gift!).  After a little rest in your tent we took you down to the water to put your toes in the sand for the FIRST TIME!

Safe from harmful sun's rays inside the tent!  Mom hoping you'll take a little nap.

Family Beach photo 3.22.12

Sandy Toes for the first time

With Mom by the water

And with Dad!

Silly Daddy!  Pretending he was going to drop you in the water!

 When we got home from the beach you were very cranky and did not want to take a nap.  So, we decided that if you weren't going to nap at home we would go to another beach (this time Mother's Beach) to take Hunter for a walk and you would maybe nap in the car.

You didn't nap on the way to the beach nor while we were at the beach.  We didn't use your stroller but your new carrier that came in this week.  It's called the Beco Gemini and while you currently face in - when you have more neck control you will be able to face out and then when your even older you can ride backpack style or on my hip.  This carrier was well worth the wait and the cost!  Daddy thought we looked cute walking so he snapped this picture.

When our walk was over it was time to head home and get ready for bed.  I gave you a bath (which you loved) and then it was time for bed.  You were so tired that it didn't take too long to get you to sleep - about 35 minutes (it usually takes about an hour with two feedings to knock you out!).

You looked so relaxed in your sleep that I had to snap a picture and send it to your Aunties and grandparents.  You can thank Great Nannie and Dar for the adorable Chip n' Dale onesie!

I hope you enjoyed your first beach day as much as we enjoyed spending it with you. 

xoxo
Mom

First St. Patrick's Day 3.17.2012

Dear Conor,

We celebrated your first St. Patrick's Day by having a party the day before with your Tuesday Group friends.  The party was hosted by Carter and his mom and they went all out with lots of fun toys to play with, rainbow themed foods and an awesome craft project.

Telling Mom to hurry up and get dressed so we can go!

When we got to the party many of your friends were already there and were very excited to see you!  It is always a joy to see you interact with your friends!

Baby B: 8 months old looking up at you

Playing with Baby N and Baby C:  loved seeing all the babies in green!

Sitting with Baby N's Mom

You and Carter

Practing Tummy Time

Independent Play

Your Art project - and bring home gift!

Your art project was a footprint shamrock.  You smiled when the cool feeling paint was put on you little feet.  We only made one little shamrock but we might have to do something like this for your family members someday soon.  Your friend Carter made each party guest a special magnet.  We came home and put your magnet on the fridge!

Since you didn't get much of a nap you were pooped by 6pm and asleep by 6:30pm.  You slept until 9pm and then went right back to sleep after a quick snack until 1pm where you resumed your normal night routine.  Seeing you this tired and having so much fun with your friends reminds me that it is important that I continue to make time each week for you to interact socially with your peers. 

Saturday was the real St. Patrick's Day and it was a day for me, you and Hunter to hang out at home while Daddy worked.  I took that time to take photos of you and Hunter (they all look photoshop-ed because Hunter is still a little leery about getting to close to you).

Celebrating the day right from the start with green jammies and a green diaper!

Excited that it is all about Irish today!  Hunter is not so sure about your movements!

As close as Hunter would get to your sour puss face :)

Hunter 3.17.2012

Irish from your toes to your 4-leaf clover binkie!

We had a great day just playing with your toys, practicing independent play while I did laundry and organized some of the house.

I can't wait to celebrate your next St. Patrick's Day with you - my little irish man!

xoxo
Mom

A Trip to Boston 3.4.12

Dear Conor,

Today you and I made the trip to Boston to visit Auntie Ana, Uncle Gordon and Little Gordon.  You took your morning nap in the car and I was so proud of you because even when I stopped to get gas you didn't wake up (which is not the norm for you).

We got to the Berridge's home a little after 1pm and Little Gordon was just going down for a cat nap which allowed you to spend some 1:1 time with your Auntie Ana.  Then, once L.G. woke up it was picture time!  Every time we get together with the Berridges we take the following two pictures so we can show how much you two have grown!

Gordon: 5 months  Conor: 2.5 months

Conor: 2.5 months  Gordon: 5 months

 While the grown-ups are lunch (yummy BBQ!) you and L.G. played in the living room.  Since he has more neck support than you he got to play in the exosaucer and you took to the playmat.

We also wanted to let the two of you interact.  This was the first time the two fo you had really been awake during a visit. 

You enjoyed looking at L.G. and he at you - he also reached for your hand a lot because this is the stage of growth that he is at and he and the babies at his daycare do it often. He was trying to teach you!  And - by looking at this picture you can see that you learned!

We had a lot of fun visiting with our friends and we were so sad when it was time to go.  We hope to be able to get together with them again soon!

xoxo
Mom

3 Months Old!

Dear Conor,

I can't believe that you turned 3 months old this past week.  I am simply in awe at how quickly time is passing us by.  It honestly feels like you have been apart of this family for more than 3 months but it also feels like just yesterday we were in the hospital together.  It's hard to describe how both of these feelings can co-exist when their concepts are so different - but don't question your Mom because they just do :)

This month has been a month of growth for all of us.  You have moved out of size 0-3 clothes and are solidly in a Size 3, some 3-6 and some 6 (if you are wearing cloth diapers or if the item is cut rather small).  You have gained weight and on 3/14/2012 you weighed 14lbs. 4 oz.  I don't have your length as you do not have a doctor's visit this month but based on your little legs and the fact that you don't fit in certain clothes because of your growth I am certain you are longer as well.

When in disposable diapers you wear a Size 2 and when in cloth you are on the first snap.  This month we started you in cloth diapers.  You tend to not like to be in wet diapers and beg to be changed even if they are the slightest bit wet.  Because of this you were going through many many diapers a day (almost as many as when you were a newborn) and so the cost of diapers was getting to be very expensive!  Originally Daddy had wanted to do all cloth but I didn't know much about them and with my work I didn't have time to learn so I said no.  But, I have since met many moms that use them and so I was drawn to them as both a money saving option and a comfort option for you.  You currently wear them at night (Bum Genius Freestyle) and during the day when we are both at home (FreeStyle & Pockets).  We have not worn them out of the house yet because we are still waiting on some supplies to come in (wet bags, Grovia inserts).  We may try them on Tuesdays for group if things continue to go well.  I am also looking into prefolds with covers because they are not as bulky under your pants.

Your first time in cloth - 3/5/2012

Tummy time in cloth - 3/7/2012

Smiles in cloth - 3/18/2012

This month you have really come into your own.  You are smiling a lot more and you spend a good portion of your day 'talking' to us.  We don't baby-talk to you but instead ask you questions and wait for your response.  We prompt you to share in a conversation with us.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - but I like to think that by giving you the chance to talk you will always know that what you have to say is important to us!

[video to come soon]

You continue to love your mat and your penguin mirror.  But, we have also started sitting you in your little seat.  You are still working at holding your neck up straight so you can't spend too much time in this chair but when you have been in it - you appear to enjoy it.  I also bought you a little rocker because you loved the one at Jill's house and because it reclines a bit it is better for you than the little seat right now.  You love the rocker and its activity bar!

You have started to uncurl your hands and so your Daddy and I work hard to help you grasp and reach for toys.  We even went out and bought you some lighter weight toys to help you be able to grasp them better.  You are not quite ready to reach and hold things on your own but we work with you every day on it.

This month we also started putting you in your stroller seat instead of just the carseat.  You are not quite big enough for the straps but I can't stand to see you in the carseat for long periods of time or when we are going for walks in the neighborhood.  You seem to like the stroller seat and since I can tip it back - you are able to sit at the same incline as your swing and Rock n' Play.

On a beach walk with Hunter 3.8.12

Strolling Back Cove with Friends 3.13.12

3.13.12 Waiting for Group to start.

Speaking of your Rock n' Play - you are still sleeping in it at night on my side of the bed.  You now go to sleep between 8pm and 9pm (unless you have been very busy during the day and haven't gotten any quality naps in) and you wake up again between 1 and 2 to eat.  After that - depending on your mood you go back to sleep in the RNP or you are moved into bed with Daddy, Hunter and I.  No matter where you are sleeping you wake up again around 4 and then again at 6 and 7 when we get up for the day.  You have been taking naps in your swing in the morning.  You typically go down between 9 and 10 and you sleep for about 2 hours.  This has given your Daddy and I some much needed time to shower and/or get some work done.  (In fact, I am typing this now as you sleep).

You have now been on your medicine for about a month and while you still have trouble between 5pm and 7pm (if you are not napping which you have been doing in the last week) we do not have the trouble with you when you are awake that we had been having before the medicine.  I have to attribute your change in behavior to the medicine because it was almost immediate and therefore while your growth might contribute a small bit to the change it simply can't be responsible for the larger part of it.  We plan to continue your medicine until you are on solids and then I hope to wean you off to see how things go.

You have had several playdates this past month that I will blog about but they included a trip to Boston, Portland, and a St. Patrick's Day Party!  You are a very social baby!

We love you so very much Conor and can't imagine our lives without you - Happy 3rd Month!

xoxo
Mom