Auntie Invasion 6.26.12!

Conor has some of the best aunts on the planet (and I have some of the greatest sisters)!  His Auntie Cathlin got out of school for the season and we convinced her to come up and play for the day (well, we actually got her to stay overnight so there was a sleepover involved)!

Conor wanted to make sure he looked his best for his Auntie.

These are my favorite pants you own!

Cabbage Patch Face

 Since it took Auntie a long time to get up here Conor had to find something to do so he spent some time playing with another of his favorite toys - the sand sifter (thank you Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Sean).

Then he had to brush up on his reading skills in case he needed to read a story to Auntie before bedtime.

And at last - she was here to play!

It was great to have Cathlin up for a visit - her nephew loves her so very much (and so don't I)!!!

xoxo
Erin

Favorite Toys

Dear Conor,

At 6 months old you now clearly have preferences when it comes to your toys.  I would say that your favorite toy at this time are your stacking cups.  They cost me $3.99 at Babies R Us and I can't believe how much you love them.  A favorite game of yours is to have Daddy or I stack them up so that you can lean forward and push them down.  Then you want us to do it again and you cry when we stop. 

You also love to chew on them!  I am forever catching you with the cups in your hands or in your mouth.  Since you are not quite able to manipulate the cups sometimes you have more than one stacked together while they are in your mouth - you are such a funny boy!

What - you'll come play cups with me?

I'm holding onto these - they are mine!

ok, I'll share with you!

Its unclear what the big attraction with these cups are but I am very glad that they are easy to find and cheap - that way if you ever lose them we know they can be replaced.  Since you like the cups so much I have been looking for some blocks that we can stack and build with in the near future - but its very hard to find blocks not made in China or made with organic dyes/paints.  But I will keep looking!

xoxo
Mom

Sitting Up & Crib Photos

Dear Conor,

I can't mark the exact day that you started sitting up all on your own - needing no help from us but it was about mid-June that we felt comfortable moving the boppy pillow away from you for periods of time when you were sitting.  On June 21, 2012 I decided to get out the camera to capture your unassisted sitting so we would never forget.

As you can see your boppy pillow is no where to be found!  At this point when you sat you tended to lean to your right and use your arm for balance - this also allowed you to easily transition to your belly when you wanted to.  As of June 21, 2012 you were not getting into a sitting position from your back or stomach.

You also have become much more comfortable in your crib at night.  It seems that as soon as you turned 6 months old you became more of a little boy and less of my baby.  You no longer need to be swaddled or propped at night.  You are still nursed to sleep but that will change in time I am sure.  We do not permit you to play in your crib.  Cribs are made for night sleep (someday we will get you napping in there) and because I want you to associate sleep with your room/crib we don't ever put toys in your crib.  This is all well and good but it means that I have very few pictures of you in your cute little be so on June 23, 2012 I brought in the camera!

Hi Conor!

Whoa - might need to lower the crib sooner rather than later!

Hi Mommy!

Seeing you in your crib pushing up on your arms let me know that you were getting ready for the next big step (crawling) and that Daddy and I needed to start paying close attention to you so that we would be ready to move the crib down as soon as we saw the signs of you trying to stand up.  You do love your crib and its crazy to think that the very first time I put you in your crib you were so small and now look at you!


xoxo
Mom

Twins!

Dear Conor,

You already know that there was one little boy in my life before you arrived (Hunter) but I bet you didn't know that long before either you or Hunter there was another - his name is Clinton.  I was given Clinton by my mommy and daddy at Christmas in 1982.  Clinton is a cabbage patch kid and I was very lucky to get him because that was the year that they were all the rage and people were standing in long long lines and still some people didn't get one to bring home to their little girl or boy.  My mommy stood in line for my Clinton and since finding him under the tree he has gone everywhere with me.

Clinton has been on more sleepovers that I can count, he has been camping, skiing, he's been to college and then lived in Boston apartments.  He traveled to Spain and to Canada.  He has been there for every big and little step I have ever taken in my life.  He has cried and laughed with me (well, mommy has cried on him and laughed while holding him).  And when your Daddy and I returned to our suite after getting married he was waiting for me in a tuxedo that your Daddy had bought him.  He is a very special little guy to me and since you are also very special to me I wanted to make sure I captured pictures of the two of you together. 

It was hard to figure out what type of pictures to take but eventually I decided that the two of you should wear the same outfit and since I loved the pajamas that you took your 4 month pictures in I found a premie pair for Clinton.  We took some pictures of you playing with him and sleeping with him.  Here are my favorites:

Checking Clinton out for the first time.

Getting an even closer taste :)

"brotherly" love

Kisses for the baby

Smile!

Just another taste

My two cabbage patches!

As of right now you do not have an identified favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal.  I often wonder if you will make that type of attachment and so we will just have to wait and see.

xoxo
Mom 

Beach Party

Dear Conor,

On June 15, 2012 you and I went on our first beach party play date with all your friends!  We went to Willard Beach which is in South Portland near Miss Amanda's house.  We were very worried about parking but we were able to find a spot in the parking lot so we didn't have to walk far at all!

You wore your new lime green sunhat for the first time (Daddy picked out the color) and your turtle swim trunks. 

Smiley Baby

Serious Baby

You love beach toys.  You play with your red bucket and yellow sifter at home all the time and you were very excited to see that some of your friends brought their beach toys for your to play with.  Of course, you went right for the sifter and the bucket!

Because this was the first beach day we decided to try to get a picture.  Greyson fell asleep so he stayed in his mommy's lap for the picture but everyone else was awake.  We tried really hard to get a nice picture but it is very hard to get seven babies to look at the camera at the same time.  I have lots of fun blooper pictures but this is one of the best picture of all of you.

Back Row: Stella, Leela, Carter, Greyson, Luke
Front Row: Conor, Braden, Robbie

We stayed at the beach for about 3 hours and you did really well.  You kept your hat on the whole time and seemed to enjoy playing outside with your friends.  We did go and visit the water but it was very cold and you did not like that one bit!  You also tasted sand for the first time - you weren't that impressed but I am certain you will try it again (at least once)!

xoxo
Mom

A Cousin for Conor

Dear Conor,

On June 13, 2012 (just 1 day shy of being 6 months old) you became a cousin!  Your Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Sean welcomed your cousin Nolan into the world at 4:20am (that's very early in the morning)! 

I hope that you and Nolan grow to be good friends!

xoxo
Mom

SEVEN MONTHS & Doctor Check-up

Dear Conor,

I truly can't believe it - seven months!  You are now closer to being ONE than being a newborn!  Mommy has some great ideas for your first birthday and since the days are now flying by I better get started on the planning!

While physically you haven't grown that much in the last month developmentally you have blossomed.  You have become so much more mobile.  You use your arms to reach for things to grab and then you pull yourself towards those items.  When you can't reach something you use your toes to push off the floor or any object behind you to give you some momentum.  You are also pulling yourself up onto your hands and knees and rocking back and forth.  You also now LOVE to stand and walk!  Taking you to see Erika the Chiropractor has really made a difference in your gait and stability.  You are walking much straighter now and you are using both legs equally.  While you right step is still shorter than your left we are very happy with your progress.

You love to observe things.  You take them into your hands and you turn them around and around or you drop them and pick them back up.  You explore your toys in this manner - sometimes shaking them so much that we watch you bop yourself in the head!

You are very aware of your surroundings.  You look for us when we come down the stairs if you hear the creaking of the steps.  You cry/whine when someone you want to play with leaves the room, you turn to the voice of both Daddy and I when you hear us somewhere in the house call your name.  You are such a smart little boy already!

We took you for your 6 month check-up (which was really at 7 months) and here are your stats:  weight 18obs 14oz (58%); height 26 inches (20%); head 45cm (72%). You were such a good boy at the doctor's office until the final shot.  Once it was in your leg you gave a swift kick and the needle tracked down your thigh.  The nurse felt terrible because she wounded you.  I felt terrible because I hadn't held you tightly enough and Daddy felt bad because the nurse felt bad.  We all laughed and said next time we were going to put you in a straight jacket but on your legs!

While we waited for the doctor you had a great time ripping up the paper on the exam table!

Of course, as soon as we got home I had to check and see how your stats compared to your old ones - here they are (in order):

As you can see, your weight gain has slowed down and instead of gaining 2lbs a month you are gained 2 pounds in almost 3 months.  Your head circumference is back up which is a good thing because it means you will not be evaluated for further treatment on your flat spot (more on that later).  You are still a little shorty but you have plenty of time to grow so no one is worried since you are still growing.  They would only be worried if you had stopped!

I don't know what else to say Conor except you are wonderful in every way!

Happy 7 month birthday!

xoxo
Mom

PS.  Look how you have grown!  As each month passes its getting harder and harder to remember you as the little red faced baby in the first picture!