Your first Boo-Boo

Dear Conor,
While the Trayner family went to Florida we agreed to watch the BoBo bird.  We had done a great job taking care of him while his Mary was away.

We cleaned his cage, we gave him lots of good food to eat - I even let him ride on my shoulder!

Bobo getting ready to take flight and follow Dad into the kitchen

Chilling on Mom's shoulder.

When Grandma Mary got back she drove up to pick up her dear Bobo.  She visited with him first and then she came over to visit with you.  Well, Bobo didn't like that she had stopped paying attention to him and he jumped on her shoulder and ran over to the other shoulder where your hand was and bit your finger twice.

At first you were shocked and then you got scared and probably felt a bit of pain and you started screaming and crying.  You had a tough time calming down and you cried for about 5 minutes and tehn fussed for a bit and finally calmed down after nursing.  Grandma felt terrible about her Bobo hurting you and she pushed him into his cage and told him he was a bad boy.

When Grandma and the bad Bobo left we took you for a walk and saw the damage to your finger.  As you can see he got your knuckle and the small joint at the beginning of your pointer finger. 

While you and Bobo might not be best friends right now - he did sent you an apology via text later that night.

xoxo
Mom

Portsmouth Children's Museum

Dear Conor,

You have had a lot of playdates this past month but on April 26, 2012 we drove to Portsmouth, New Hampshire so that we could play with the Fillip family.  We met them at the Portsmouth Children's Museum.

The Museum has so many fun things to do that I can see us visiting there for many years to come!  You and Ryan spent some time in the baby/toddler section where there were mirrors on the walls and soft pillows and foam shapes for you to lean against.  There were also things hanging from the ceiling for you to look at.

Butterflys on the ceiling and mirrors on the wall!

Practicing sitting on the foam supports

Whoa Mom - this is FUN!

Ryan trying to get my camera

Playing with the GIANT pin-thing.  Ryan - Sophie - Conor butt prints.

 After we played for a little while we went to eat some pizza (where you fell asleep while we were eating). After pizza and your nap we went back to the museum and through the tunnel to the playground/park out back. Sophie played on the playground while you and Ryan hung out on a blanket and we took some pictures.

Two boys (Conor 4.5 months - Ryan 1 year)

All three kids - someday we will get a good photo! (Conor 4.5 months, Ryan 1 year, Sophie 3 years)

We had so much fun with the Fillip family and hopefully we will get to see them again soon!

xoxo
Mom

Showering Auntie Lindsay

Dear Conor,

You have now attended your first official baby shower.  On Sunday, April 22, 2012 we drove down to Massachusetts to attend Aunt Lindsay's shower for your (currently name unknown) cousin.  Your Grandma Janet drove with us to Somerville where we picked up Auntie Cathlin and then we all drove together to the shower.

There were many friends and family at the shower and your new cousin got so many things that he will need.

Look at all the presents for your cousin!

Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Sean opening the first gift

And more present opening!  Uncle Sean didn't try to guess anything.

You got sleepy during presents and rested for a while in my lap

But then Auntie Cathlin made you smile and laugh

Auntie Lindsay opening your gift - newborn overalls for cousin

Opening presents took a long time and you needed to rest so you took a snooze in your stroller

And you slept through all these presents!

Your cousin is a lucky little boy and he got so many nice things.  The shower was a lot of fun and was decorated beautifully.  There were mason jars with flowers on each table and little pails of chocolates with blackboard signs that said "Baby O'Reilly" and other cute sayings.

We also played a game where you had to guess what baby food you were tasting - the baby food was gross and I promise to never feed you spaghetti and cheese baby food (YUCK!).

You had a tough time in the car on the way home but it had been a long long day and so it was understood.  When we got home we gave you a nice warm bath, you nursed, and then you went to sleep. 

Conor you have had so many adventures and you are still not even 1/2 a year old!  Your cousin is due only a few days before you turn 6 months so we shall see if you are a cousin before or after your 1/2 birthday!

xoxo
Mom

4 Month Well-Baby Visit

Dear Conor,

Today you had your 4 month well-baby visit with your pediatrician.  You did really well when all your stats were being taken.  Here is the run down:

Weight: 16.8lbs (77%)   [2 months - 12.9lbs; 75%]
Height: 24.5 inches (27%) [2 months - 23.5 inches; 75%]
Head Cir.: 42.75cm (60%) [2 months - 41cm; 75%]

We are not yet concerned about any of your measurements because babies often grow out before they grow up.  However, your current imbalance does create a clothing predicament because you need 6 months size clothing for your little bum and shoulders but your cute little legs and arms are too short! 

Your next visit is in July so we shall see how you measure up then!

Today you were also scheduled for 2 shots and the roto-virus drink.  However, they were out of the combination shot which meant that you had to get 4 shots (2 in each thigh) and the drink.  The office took a long time getting your shots together so between visiting with the Doc and the shots you had nursed and fallen asleep.  We had to wake you up which is something we NEVER do.  You did well during your shots (or as well as can be expected) and you nursed right after which did help you.

But, today you have been a bit 'off' and both your Daddy and I believe its due to the fact that we had to wake you up.  When you sleep we have learned that it means you really need sleep (you crash hard) and we do everything in our power to not wake you up (you had even missed playdates because I won't wake you up).

You fell asleep tonight at 7:30pm and it is my hope that you sleep long and hard tonight to give your body the best chance at making up for what you missed today and help you recover from the stress of inoculations!

Thankfully at your 6 month visit you don't get any shots (so we were told).

xoxo
Mom

In Loving Memory .....

Dear Conor,

On April 12, 2012 your Great Grandma Irene passed away.  She was your Dad's grandmother and your Grandma Janet's mother.

You are a very lucky child - when you were born you had 4 great grandparents (GG Irene, GG Jackie, Great Nana and Dar) where many children do not have any.

Your GGI came to visit you for the first time on December 17, 2012 (the day we brought you home) and it was love at first sight for the both of you.  GGI used to say you always smiled and were quite for her because you loved her and your Dad and I believed it to be true.

 
Shortly after these pictures were taken your Grandma took a fall and had to go to the hospital and then to a rehabilitation center called the Newton Center.  We visited her there on Christmas Eve and she was very excited to see you.

We went back the next morning after opening gifts at our house to celebrate Christmas with her and your Jakan grandparents.  It was a very nice Christmas and once more, GGI was very excited to see and hold you.  Every time she held you she commented on how big you were getting - even if she had just seen you the day before!

We visited GGI often at the Newton Center - taking pictures as often as we could as GGI wanted to hold you at every visit.  Here you are holding her finger on January 17, 2012 when you were one month old.

GGI did a great job getting physically better while at the Newton Center and she was able to go back home to Grandma Janet's house for a few weeks.  But, she had another injury that meant she had to go back to the hospital and then to a new center called the Greenwood Center.

Unfortunatly, your Great Grandma Irene really struggled at the Greenwood Center and after a few weeks of being there she passed away.

This Saturday you will attend your first funeral.  As you are so young it is unlikely that you will remember this day or that you will remember your GGI.  But, she was a wonderful women.  She was sweet with a little bit of spice thrown in to keep you on your toes but most of all she was in love with you from the moment she learned you were coming.  I am so thankful that you had the opportuinty to spend these last 4 months with your Great Grandmother and that she had the chance to see her grandson (your Dad) become a father.

Her love for you is so strong you may be certain that she is forever watching you from above and smiling as you grow and succeed.

12.17.2011 - Great Grandma and Great Grandson meet for the first time.

2nd Beach Day -

and it's only APRIL!!!

Wow Conor - I never thought that my winter baby would have been to the beach twice before Memorial Day (and not just to hang out but to be in a swim suit and enjoy the sunshine, sand, and water)!

Today your Auntie Cathlin and your superfan Jen Whitt (shout-out) came to visit and since it was about 80 degrees we went down to Mother's Beach in Kennebunk.

Picture with Mommy!

Playing in the sand with Auntie Cathlin (who taught you to stick out your tongue when she visited last time)

So sweet - baby toes in the sand!

Chilling out in your stroller with Mr. Moose.

A little after beach playtime with Auntie.

And a picture with your company before they left!



It was so nice and warm at the beach that we thought we would try dipping your little toes in the water.  We tried the tidal pool but after a second in the water you cried.  It was a little chilly so we were not going to try your toes in the real ocean.  You didn't even like your feet on the wet sand because even that was COLD!  So, I don't really blame you at all.

We were at the beach for 2.5 hours.  You didn' take a nap at all but after some playing and a little lunch you did take a little bit of time in your stroller to chill out and relax away from all the stimulation.  You seem to be at an age where we have to be aware of how much stimulation you are getting and if its been too much or its gone on for too long we need to give your little nervous system a 'time out' so that you don't meltdown (this is normal - its not just you - many of your baby friends have the same problem right now) so I was proud of you for spending some time in your stroller.

When we got home from the beach you played with Auntie and Jen for a litlte while on the couch before they had to say goodbye so that they could get home.  But, before they left we made plans to go down and visit them both at their school, spend the night at Auntie's house, and then take in some Boston sights the next day.  We are going to wait until the weather is a bit more consistant before doing this but I just know it will be fun!

A BIG thank-you to Auntie and Jen for coming to visit - we hope they come back soon to visit!

xoxo
Mom

4 months old!

Dear Conor,

You are four months old now!!!  The first time we did your monthly pictures you required a lot of extra support and this time you were holding your own little body up and I had to take pictures fast because you were trying to roll!

Trying to pick up the sticker.

Your smile lights up your entire face!

I love your cute little chin - it only makes an appearance when you hold yout little head up!

Time is going by way to fast and you are growing and developing like a weed! This month you have learned so many new things. You are now opening your hand to grab things with a pincher grab (you had grabbed your Daddy's arm hair a few times), you reach for the birds and toys that hang from your playmat and you pull on them. You reach to turn the pages of a book, and you hold several of your toys.

This is your current favorite toy.  You love to hold it.

You even like to hold things when you sleep!

You have also become very verbal.  You are also experimenting with fluctuations in tone.  You like to talk in low tones and then let out these shrieks in a high pitch voice.  Sometimes you talk for long periods at a time - often in the morning or late afternoon.  Other days you choose not to talk that much at all.  Your Daddy and I both enjoy listening to you babble and often we find ourselves talking to you in order to keep you talking!

You have also moved up in clothing sizes.  You are wearing a lot of size 6 pants (due to your size and the fact that you are wearing cloth diapers a lot more now) and in shirts you float between 3-6 and 6 months depending on the make and style of the shirt.  Your continue to be wider than you are tall so we do have to roll your pant legs a lot but that just adds to your cuteness!

Such a cute baby with your Grovia Hybrid Diaper!

Your Bum Genius Freestyle Diapers -we use these at night mostly.

Spending more time hanging out in your cloth.

Your sight is incredible.  You follow your Daddy and I around the room.  You smile when you see us approach you and you love to watch Hunter as he does his thing at your level.  I love watching your face change as you recognize that we are coming to get you - you often go from fussy to smiling as we get closer.  You have always been an alert baby and with the improved eye sight this behavior is only enhanced.

You have hit some type of sleep regression.  You are no longer sleeping for 4 hours at a time.  You have slowly moved your own bedtime back from 10pm to anywhere between 7 and 8.  You fuss a bit at 9pm but a quick little hand hold and you are back asleep until 11pm when you need to eat.  After that you sleep again until 2ish but at that time if I don't pull you into the big bed to sleep with Daddy and I you are up for at least an hour and then every hour thereafter.  If you are in the big bed you fall asleep pretty quickly and sleep for at least 2.5 hours.  We used to let you do your 8-11 sleeping in the swing but for the last week I have been putting you in your crib on the boppy pillow (you still don't sleep well flat).  At 11pm we transition you into our room and into the Rock n Play.  As you are outgrowing that we will be using a friend's co-sleeper for the next few months until you are sleeping longer periods of time and we can transition you fully to your crib.

Sleeping in the big bed early in the morning.

As far as naps go - they are not something you do reguarly or for long periods of time. You tend to take a few 30-40 minute naps a day. Sometimes these naps can stretch past an hour but more often than not 30 minutes is all we get. You will nap in the car but once the engine is turned off you wake up! Sometimes I have tricked you and left the car on while I carried you inside and you have slept a little longer but that hasn't happened too often. While you don't take long naps - you do generally wake up a happy baby and that's all that matters :)

15 minute naps on the floor are ok too!

You have grown so much in the last month that I am worried I will forget to document all the new things that you do.  We have your 4 month check-up this week so I will be certain to post your stats then!

My how you've grown!

xoxo
Mom