Jakan Family Christmas

Dear Conor,

On Christmas Eve morning Grandma and Grandpa Jakan came over to have Christmas Eve Brunch with us and exchange gifts.  Mommy found a vegan Belgium waffle recipe so Daddy could have some too and I bought Veggie sausages so you could have a little protein with our waffles.

You started the morning in Christmas-y jammies but a leaky diaper meant you had to be changed just before they got here :(

 

Grandma and Grandpa were so excited to see you and to be celebrating Christmas with you!

Christmas 2012

We decided to open presents before having brunch because you tend to get sleepy during the mid-morning and we wanted you to have a nice time exchanging presents with your grandparents. 

Its Santa Conor

 

Hunter trying to help you open presents

Selecting a present to hand out.

Daddy always yawns when opening presents

Conor is not sure why Daddy is yawning

Pajamas!

Grandma and Grandpa LOVED your plate!

Grandma also loved her new purse!

Good Job Grandpa!

Even you thought it was great!

My sweet and silly boy

So loving

Who is making you laugh so hard?

Its Silly Daddy!

Daddy opened a special present - the mug that you painted for him

Taking a rest with Mommy - before a diaper change!

Hunter helps you open your first gift.

Its music class instruments!

Grandpa opens our present - James Bond!

Daddy's popcorn maker

Super Friends!



What is this?  Its to the whole family.

Red Claw Tickets! (and a tee shirt and basketball)

Playing with the basketball

Sweet Boy and his little curls

Grandpa bought you a rocking horse.  You weren't sure about it at first and then it scared you.  Mommy and Daddy put it away until you are bigger!

 

What a GREAT Christmas!

We had such a nice Christmas brunch with Grandma and Grandpa.  The waffles came out really yummy and Grandpa liked the sausages even though they were made with veggies and not meat!  After brunch you were 100% ready for a nap so we said Merry Christmas and Goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa so that you could get a little rest in while Mommy and Daddy finished packing the car for our trip to the Cape.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for such a special Christmas Eve Brunch!

xoxo
Mommy

Christmas Details

Dear Conor,

This year I didn't do all the decorating that I usually do because I wasn't sure how you would handle all the changes at once.  So, every few days I put something else out to see what your reaction would be.  Mommy and Daddy love Christmas and even though we aren't usually home to celebrate Christmas in our home we like to decorate it as though we are going to be.

Here are some of the details!

The Dinning Room with the Christmas Seaside Village

Our Christmas Tree.  The shelf has Christmas books on it and while Mommy had a gate around the tree during most of the month she put it away on 12.22.12 so we could all enjoy the tree.  Can you see the balloons left over from your birthday?

Even Hunter gets decorated!

Mommy did not have a lot of time to bake this year (I usually make tons of cookies to bring with us to Grandma Mary's) but I did take time one night after you went to bed in order to bake cookies for you to leave for Santa.

And one more just because Hunter is so cute!

Merry Christmas!

xoxo
Mommy

It's a Grandpa Tom Christmas

Dear Conor,

You are one lucky boy because you got to celebrate Christmas 3 times this year!  The first Christmas was with Grandpa Tom on December 23, 2012.

We went to Grandpa's around noon with the hope that you would take a short nap on the way over (which you did and so you were a happy baby!).  Uncle Sean and Auntie Lindsay couldn't make it because Nolan wasn't feeling well but everyone else was there to celebrate.

While we were waiting for Grandpa to set the timer on dinner you enjoyed dragging a paper bag around the room.

Once Grandpa was done Daddy and some of the adults opened gifts until it was your turn.  Auntie was itching to have you open hers first so you did!  Her gift will be so much fun to play with for years to come!

Opening gifts is HARD work!

Leaving with your new soft sensory blocks

Then it was time to open the gifts from Grandpa, Andrea, and Uncle Justin.  Grandpa got you a LOL Elmo!  He was so excited to see you open this gift.  You weren't sure at first but once Elmo started moving you thought it was the funniest thing.

Auntie look!

Grandpa also got you a neat train.  When you press the smoke stack it makes all kinds of train noises and each cart has a different challenge for you!

After dinner and some more visiting you were getting pretty cranky - it had been a long day - so it was time to head home but not until you gave Grandpa some Christmas LOVE and then some extra hugs because it would be a while before Grandpa came back up!

Merry First Christmas Celebration!

xoxo
Mommy

PS.  You also loved the box that was under the tree!

PPS.  We also had to celebrate Auntie Cathlin - she and Jarrod got engaged on December 22, 2012....which means Auntie also got you an Uncle for Christmas :)

First Time using a Plate

December 22, 2012 - First time eating from a plate!

Saying Goodbye & a Nice Ride

Dear Conor,

The time has come for you to say goodbye to a friend for the first time.  Your friend Addilyn has to move away with her Mommy and Daddy because her Daddy got a new job.  She had a big early birthday celebration but I wasn't able to bring you because of work so on December 21, 2012 we went over to their house for a special visit!

A's mom set up an adorable space for A to get pictures with all her friends - you certainly hammed it up for the camera!

It was very hard to say goodbye but we were promised that Addilyn and her family would come back for a visit and when they do we are all going to get together!  Plus, we can keep in touch via FaceBook so it's not like we will never get to chat or watch A grow up!

When we got home from Addilyn's house I put together your Police Car.  It went together pretty easily and you couldn't WAIT for it to be done.  You stood at the gate to the bathroom the entire time I was putting it together.

Driving with Daddy

Stop - your under arrest!

Oh no!  Santa's in trouble!

I can see you enjoying this car for many years to come - we are going to let you keep it inside until spring and then it will become an outside toy :).

xoxo
Mommy

Birthday - Part 3 : the Grandparents!

Dear Conor,

You were so lucky that all your grandparents were able to make your first birthday party.  Grandpa Tom flew up and Grandma and Grandpa Trayner drove up (separately because Grandma came up early to help decorate and to help with the details and Grandpa had to work Friday night).  And of course - they all spoiled you rotten!

Grandma Janet and Grandpa Dennis got you a LL Bean Sled, pajamas, an Ernie doll, and a Christmas book.  The sled was a HUGE hit at the party!

Grandma Mary and Grandpa Adam bought you a cozy coupe - but it wasn't just any old coupe - it was a POLICE CAR!!!  You were so excited when you saw the picture on the box and your friend Braden kept saying "car car car".

Grandpa Tom put money towards your college fund and also got you a funny gift - a jar of pickles!

You are so very lucky to have so many grandparents who love you and enjoy spoiling you rotten!!!

xoxo
Mommy