Birthday - Part 2

Dear Conor,

We made it!!  It's party time!!  The date of your birthday party officially arrived!!  I was so excited - your Daddy was so excited - your grandparents were so excited.....everyone couldn't wait to celebrate the last amazing year we have all had with you!

Your party was Whale Themed (It's been a Whaley Great Year) and so I bought some basic blue hats and with my cricut I cut out whales and some number "1s" and added them to the hats.  They didn't look quite finished so I added little white pom-poms to the top.  Your hat also got a ring of pom-poms at the bottom!

Hats and Noise makers!

Entry Table - signing mat, hats, noise makers

 To the side of the entry table was the food table.  It had so many yummy things on it.  Amanda and Goddad Chris brought a lasagna, tuna fish sandwiches, there were cookies from Sue, a fresh fruit salad, chips from the Smith Family, salsa, goldfish, and cupcakes.  The food was a huge hit and there was barely anything left over!

On the opposite side of the room was the "Guess how Old I am Game"  It took up both bulletin boards and Grandma Mary decorated them so nicely! 

On the shelf above the food table was your cake.  I worked really hard to make it just right for you.  I made several whales and this was the best one.  It was very very very hard to make a whale from fondant and while it wasn't perfect it was the best Mommy could do!

We also set up a gift table and put one of the whale pinatas on the table to decorate it.  This one was full of tasty treats for you and your friends to open later during your party.  We also put your little favors for your friends on this table so they were part decoration that were actually your "take-aways"

Gift Table

 Between the two bulletin boards was your high chair which was set up for taking your smash pictures.  I couldn't believe how nicely the paper matched your chair - that was not planed!.

There were tables set up for people to sit at and tissue paper pom-poms hanging from the ceiling lights to decorate the room and make it feel a bit like you were "under the water".  I also brought some of your toys down for everyone to play with.  I brought your ball pit, your bead maze, walking toys, and some other small things.  You did a great job sharing your toys with your friends and your ball pit was a huge source of fun for everyone!

The first guests to arrive were your BFF Gordon and your cousin Nolan.  Gordon and you enjoyed spending time alone in your pit and you were having so much fun that cousin Nolan just had to join in on the fun!

Because he is still little his Mom and Daddy helped him stick his little feet in it.  Nolan wasn't too sure about being 100% in the ball pit but he did like holding them so we gave him on to play with outside of the pit!

Slowly your friends all started arriving and you were so happy to see them all!

Playing with Auntie Cathline

Carter, Neve, Sophie & Ryan

Neve

Charlie

Sophie

Sharing whales with Neve

Lots of Friends!

 After everyone played and had a chance to eat it was time to smash the cake!  Oh Conor - you were so funny!  Your fingers touched the frosting and you immediately started crying.  You did not like how sticky it was and you did NOT like it on your hands!  You kept trying to push the cake off your high chair tray.

Waiting for your cake

Happy Birthday Conor

Taking off the whale.

After the whale came off the cake and some of the frosting got on your hands and arms you started melting down, begging to be removed from the chair.  Miss Sharon was taking pictures for Mommy and she (thankfully) didn't take those pictures - it certainly isn't how we want everyone to remember your day.

After everyone left your party we tried to offer you the cake again to see if there was just too much going on for you the first time.  This time it was just Mommy and Daddy (with Auntie taking pictures).  Here's how that attempt turned out:

Still not sure about this cake thing!

Nope - not in love with it

Get me outta here!

Priceless.....

It's okay that you didn't like your cake Conor (even though Mommy worked really hard on it) because it isn't about the cake but about the special day that we got to spend with you.  Maybe next year you will want to try a bit of cake:)

We also opened your gifts at your party.  Mommy had a great idea to take pictures of the gift giver, you and the gift so that it would be easy to remember for thank-you cards.  You are very fortunate to have so many generous friends and family who not only came out to your party a week before Christmas but also brought you a gift to commemorate your first year.  Here are a few of Mommy's favorite photos:

Auntie Cathlin got you Instruments!

Loving the Tissue Paper from Neve's present

Braden got you fun books!

GodDad Chris wants you to love the Bruins like he does!

It was an amazing party little man but there was still one more activity to do before all your friends left - break the pinata open!  Since you guys are little we got a pinata that you pull ribbons to open it up rather than hit it with a stick.  It was very hard because the ribbons didn't open it up very easily but with a little help from Mommy and Daddy it opened and all the yummy treats came out (Annie's goldfish in green bags).

That's it Conor - that's your birthday in a nutshell!  Of course there were many pictures taken that didn't so stay tuned for a Grandparent's post!

xoxo
Mommy



Happy First Birthday - Part 1

Dear Conor,

Your first birthday was a busy day as we had so much to do to get ready for your big party the very next day!  We started the morning by taking some fun pictures to post on FB for Great Grandma in Florida to see.

While I packed the car with everything we would need and checked my list twice (I was feeling a lot like Santa Claus!) you kept bringing me your shoes reminding me that we needed to get going!

As soon as we were in the car you fell asleep which was the plan and you slept all the way through our first few stops which involved a hot chocolate for me, deposits at the bank, and a quick trip through the car wash!

Then it was onto Wal-mart to get some photos printed and picked up some last minute decorations.  While we were driving my phone buzzed and it was a text message for you!

It was cousin Nolan texting in with a special Happy Birthday message!  All your family members had been calling or texting but leave it up to cousin Nolan to have the best one!

Once we got to Wal-mart we had to wait for all your pictures to be developed.  I was printing them off to hang up at your party for people to guess how old you were in each photo. Here are a few:

Birth

3 months

7 months

12 months

While we were at the store we took a quick trip through the toy section and I let you buy a birthday gift with the money Great Nannie and Dar sent you.  You picked out a Giggle Friend (you had been loving on them at every store we went to for the past few weeks and you love playing their app on my phone).  I let you pick which one you wanted.

looking at all the Giggle Friends

Conor spies "Curly" still on the shelf.

You had all the gang in the cart with you but then you saw "Curly" on the shelf and you kept pointing at him (there was one in your cart but he was buried) so I took him down and you started laughing and shaking him.  I assumed that meant you wanted him and as I put the others away you didn't make a peep but when I tried to take Curly you held on tight so that's the one you picked!

Playing with Curly in the car.

After Wal-mart we had to go to Grandpa's house to drop your playset off for storage as we didn't want it to get ruined in the snow.  We played there for a little bit to make sure the heat went up as Grandpa was coming in that night for your party (we also cleaned the toilets!).  You love playing at Grandpa Tom's house......you especially love the big slider that you get to look out of.

After Grandpa Tom's we went home where we played until it was time for you to go to sleep so that Mom and Grandma Mary and Sue could go decorate the clubhouse for your party the next day!

My mom always calls me at 11:57am on my birthday because that's when I was born.  You were born late at night and since you had a busy day I didn't want to go into your room and wake you up so I just peeked in on your via the monitor and snapped this photo.....you were officially ONE!!!

 Happy Birthday Conor!

xoxo
Mom

First Birthday Letter

Dear Conor,

Just looking back at this blog reaffirms my feeling that this past year has been full of so many firsts, an incredible amount of love, and the growth of a bond between you and I that simply can't be explained in words or measured in any way shape or form.

For nine months and 2 weeks you grew inside me.  I gave you shelter, kept you warm, and kept you safe from the world you were not ready to enter.  Now, 365 days later, I still give you shelter, keep you warm and safe.  I wrap my arms around you when you are hungry, tired, overwhelmed, or in need of reassurance.  My arms provide you the comfort you desire and act as a barrier to the sometimes overstimulating world we live in.  When my arms encircle you I feel your body relax, your tears subside, and your breathing become calm and consistent.  In that moment I feel like the most powerful woman in the world.....it is in these moments I understand a mother's undying desire to always ensure the safety and security of her children no matter how old they are.  As I hold and rock you at night I know that one day my arms will no longer encircle you and you will no longer fit in my lap.  So, on this night - more so than others I will hold you just a bit longer before putting you down to sleep.

In this last year you have taught me more about myself than I ever knew before.  You have shown me that I am strong and I am brave - but most importantly you have taught your mother what it means to love unconditionally and without hesitation.  You are my greatest accomplishment Conor - the thing in life I am most proud of.  For this I will always be grateful. 

While your Mommy has spent the last year learning about herself - you have spent the last year growing!  You entered this world at 8lbs. 10.6 oz and one year later you are weighing in at 20lbs 5oz.  You have grown roughly 8.5 inches.  You spent your first week in newborn sized clothing and you are now wearing mostly 12 months and some 12-18.  You have a size 4.5W foot that is no longer covered in cute little booties but wears Stride Rite shoes.  You were born such a little round ball of pudge but now - you are lean.  There are very few rolls left to be seen - your ankles, wrists, and knees are still undefined but the rest of you looks less and less like a baby and more and more like a toddler by the day. 

Your blue eyes have grayed but your hair remains a ruddy brown.  Many people marvel over the fact that your hair has the same highlights and lowlights that mine does and I love that we share that trait.  Some strangers consider you to have auburn hair as it appears quite red in certain lights - your eyebrows have yet to come in so your true hair color remains to be seen. 

You have your Grandma Mary's nose and at times your Grandma Janet's smile.  You hair texture comes from your Grandpa Dennis but your profile and mannerisms are 100% your Grandpa Tom (you could be his twin).  You are stubborn (like your Daddy) but smart and you are kind.  You are a perfect combination of all the members of your family and they all love you so very much. 

In one year you have learned to hold your head up, to push up on your arm, to sit, to crawl, to stand, to walk and to run.  You have learned to eat with a spoon (though you sometimes miss) and therefore you have gone from just milk to sharing meals with Mommy and Daddy (sometimes).  You drink from a straw and love water.  You are a social butterfly and love eating in restaurants.  You are not a napper and not the best sleeper but I know it won't be like this forever so for now, I cherish the extra time late at night or early in the morning that I get with you (though sometimes even I forget this when I am really tired).

You don't have a special comfort item or a favorite toy but you LOVE books.  You are an avid reader and always want to bring books every where you go.  You love your wagon and most recently your sled.  You observe the world around you so carefully I always wonder what you are thinking and can't wait for the day when your words come easily and fluidly.  When you were born you could barely utter a sound other than a strained cry and now you laugh, yell, and have an ever growing vocabulary (dad, hunter, mamma, read, book, duck, quack, moo, yes, this, up).  You are learning to sign "more" and "milk".  You communicate by pointing and waiting for us to follow you.  You still love baths.

One of the memories I will never forget from this year Conor is when you were learning to walk.  You would hold my fingers so tightly and in the other hand you would hold a tiny leaf, stick, or little treasure - as though it was helping you to keep your balance.  It reminded me so much of the moment in Dumbo when he is learning to fly and he holds tight to a feather.  Now, barely a week later you have taken flight and you have left my fingers and your "feather" behind.  But not matter how far you go you will always be that "Baby of Mine."

Happy FIRST Birthday to my Sweet Baby Boy.......thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy!



12.14.2011 - 11:47pm seconds old.

12.14.2012 - 11:42pm - Happy Birthday Conor!

 

12.15.2011 - 2:15pm (not even 24 hours old)



12.14.2012 - 10:30am  Birthday Boy!

12.14.2012 - 1 year old

My Little Artist

Dear Conor,

Sensory play is very important in development.  Unfortunately, you like to put lots of things in your mouth so a lot of the sensory play ideas that I have must be put on hold for a few months while you learn to not taste everything :).  So, mom likes to have you paint.  You get to feel the cold paint, how oozy it feels between your fingers, and you get to see the colors change shape and blend together. 

As Christmas was coming we decided to spend the day (12.11.12) making a Christmas gift for Miss Denise.

First we had to select the paint colors....and then you dictated when you needed more based on how you felt your painting was progressing!  You seem to love touching the paint bottles as much as you love the actual painting!

xoxo
Mommy

Mall Santa

Dear Conor,

On December 9, 2012 we took you to see the mall Santa for photos.  Now, we had been walking my the mall Santa near us for a few weeks and letting you observe him from a distance you were comfortable with.  You even approached him at one point but when you didn't turn a smile and walk right up to him he basically shooed you away.  I was a little concerned about the behavior of this Santa and apparently so were many other parents.  Complaints were filed and the Santa was replaced.  However, I knew that the Santa at the mall near Grandma and Grandpa's house had always been wonderful and the setup around him had lots to see and it was much more open and inviting then the one at home.  So, since we were down for Uncle Sean's party we figured "why not"!

Grandma and Grandpa came with us to get your picture taken and we also met up with Uncle Sean, Aunt Lindsay, Nolan and Grandpa Tom.  Your second year of Santa photos was a HUGE family event!

We got there before Santa arrived so Grandpa did what grandparents do and he spoiled you a little by letting you ride one of the rides.  Of course - you picked the police car!

Than Grandma spoiled you by taking you on the merry-go-round!

Then it was time to visit with Santa.  Nolan went first and he did a great job!  Then it was time for you to get your photos taken.  Mommy backed you up to Santa really slowly and talked to you the whole time.  You did pretty well for your photos (but there was a LOT going on in front of you)!  You many not have the biggest smile and you may not be perfectly positioned but that's what make these photos fun - they are such a snapshot of you in that exact moment.  Here are some that Grandpa Adam took with his cell phone.

After taking photos as a family we thought it would be fun to take pictures of both you and Nolan with Santa!  But, at this point you realized that you were no longer with Mommy and you looked up.  Once it registered that you didn't know who the man holding you was you started to get so upset and then you started crying and trying to get down.  It's a classic photo Conor and I love you for it!

So, Auntie Lindsay and I jumped in the picture and both you and Nolan were much more comfortable!

After these pictures it was time for Grandpa Tom to spoil you a bit so back into the police car you went!  Then, you were clearly getting tired and we still had to get back to Grandma and Grandpa's house to pick up Hunter, pack the car, and head home.....

You ended up falling asleep only 10 minutes before we got there and I was able to transfer you right into your carseat in Daddy's car so we said our goodbyes very quickly and started our drive home.

We had a great time visiting with our family and getting the chance to surprise Uncle Sean!

xoxo
Mommy