School Pictures - Fall 2016

Connor had school pictures taken this fall and I'm not going to lie. I completely forgot.

It was scheduled for a Monday (I can't remember anything all weekend.)

Luckily I didn't hate his outfit, but he was in desperate need of a haircut and they helped me out by giving him a severe comb-over ;)

 

I'm going to show you our three favorites that we picked,

and then the other ones they showed at the bottom.

 

You can see his previous school pictures here:

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

 

These are the three that we chose:

 

 His little hand in his pocket. :)

 

These are the other ones:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm hoping one day I will actually remember picture day
and have him in a planned outfit with a fresh haircut! :)

Connor at 18 months

Connor is officially 18 months old and while I was a little worried about his progress after his 18 month check up, I don't have any worries now. I think he has just blossomed in the few weeks since we saw his doctor.

 

  

Physical

This boy is a runner! I love hearing the little pitter patter of his feet down the hallway in our house. When he runs he slings his arms back and forth almost faster than his feet are going.  

He has become more independent and walks into school by himself every morning. I mean - I walk with him, but he doesn't want me to carry him like I had been. He gingerly takes his time walking down the hall and then basically steps into his classroom like, "here I am!!"

Most days I carry him after I pick him up, but more and more he is happy to walk to the car himself.

 

His wave is side to side now instead of up and down and he now waves for 'Hi' as well as 'Bye.'

 

He still love, love, loves to throw balls. Nana got him some golf sticks that he is obsessed with and I'm always surprised at his good aim when throwing. We finally got him a basketball hoop and he has started throwing the basketball instead of always dunking it. I'm super proud. :)

 

 

Communication

Talking has been a bit of a roller coaster for us. He said his first word, duck, at about eight months, but since then has slllooooowed way down. He completely forgot the word duck, but started saying a few words around his first birthday. My last update at 14 months he was saying four words consistently and the doctor seemed happy with that.

 

At his 18 month appointment I started to get worried, because he really was just not talking much, the doctor said he wanted him to have at least 10 words at this age and I said he basically has two:

Dada and Ball.

I started getting a little panicked about how hard it was going to be when the new baby came if Connor wasn't able to communicate with me.

 

In the last two weeks, his vocabulary has really expanded and as of today he says the following words consistently:

Ball (by far most used word)

Dada

Mama

Bye-bye

Go

Elmo

Baba (bottle)

Book

Baby

Nana (banana)

Mine

uh-oh

Bubble (newest and maybe his clearest)

 

He also signs "more" and nods his head yes and no (sometimes). I wish he would communicate yes and no more often, but I'm sure that will come and I'll be wishing he didn't know the word 'No' Another cute thing he does is puts his hands in the air, palms up, to say 'where did it/they go.'

I can't wait for football because he for sure knows "touchdown!" with his arms.
My new favorite trick is when I chant USA USA USA during the Olympics he will pump his fist.

 

Lately I feel like he understands 90% of what we say, which makes communication much easier. He will follow instructions and *usually* listens when we say "no" or "uh-uh"

 

 

Eating

This boy still loves his carbs. In fact, last week he insisted on have a sandwich roll for breakfast.

He loves bananas and apple sauce, sometimes he likes grapes and apples.

We have not made any improvement on the vegetable front.

He love pizza, beans, rice and yogurt.

He also, of course, looooves sweets.

 

Usually in the morning he will have a bottle and toast/waffles.

For lunch he will have a banana, sunflower butter sandwich, and applesauce.

He usually eats a snack after his nap of goldfish, granola bar, or fruit.

For dinner he eats whatever we are having.

 

He also really likes feeding himself and I discovered recently that he will eat more if he gets to use the fork to put it in his mouth.

 

The doctor did say that it was time to get rid of his bottle (uh oh). I'm guessing the sooner the better because we don't want him wanting his baby sibling's bottle - or feeling like they 'took' it from him. Right now he has at least two bottles of milk a day. Sometimes more when we are home all day.

 

I loaded up on sippy cups last week and we are hoping to make the complete transition in the next month or so.

 

 

  

 Loving

Around April Connor really started to enjoy watching videos on my phone and/or the iPad. We try to limit it and I think we do a pretty good job. He will watch in the morning while I get dressed and he eats his breakfast and drinks his milk. His favorites are Bubble Guppies, Elmo's World, songs, or random videos of people opening/reviewing toys.

 

Recently he has been obsessed with books. He will bring them to us to read to him or he will just look at them by himself. One thing he loves to do is point at all the balls on the pages and scream 'ball.' Even his nighttime routine has changed from me singing songs to watching three songs on my phone to now - books.

 

He looooves animals. He gets excited anytime we see one (not often - LOL) or he sees one on TV.

 

Connor gives hugs all the time. Anytime we say ouch or act hurt when he slaps or a ball accidentally hits us he comes over and hugs us. This weekend I taught him that the baby is in my tummy and he when asked "where is the baby," he will point at my tummy, kiss it and hug it.

 

He still FIERCLY loves his blankets.  He loves to chew on the corner and then (weirdly) tap his ear or the corner of the his eye with the wet/harder corner. Recently he likes to put the corner of the blankets between his toes. I'm glad we have 6 of these blankets and can try to rotate them through the laundry often.

 

He loves people - especially strangers. If someone next to us at a restaurant is not paying him attention he will just stare at them and laugh loudly until they do. hahaha

 

He also loves being rough. If Cecil or I are laying on the ground, we immediately become a jungle gym and he thinks it is hilarious.

 

Copy cat - he copies everything we do and its adorable. This past weekend Cecil was scratching his chin, so Connor did too and then looked at me for approval.

 

Me - he definitely is attached to me and does not like it if I'm holding anyone else. Seriously does not like it. He doesn't even like it if Cecil rubs my arm sometimes. I think he is in for a rude awakening when the new baby comes. uh oh

 

 

We just love this sweet boy of ours and I can honestly say 18 months is one of my very favorite stages. My heart bursts with pride every time he learns a new word or copies Cecil doing something ridiculous. He makes our house 100 times happier and we love him so much.

Spring Pictures - 2016

When I saw that our favorite photographer was having Spring Mini sessions, I asked my SIL if she would want to do a cousin picture for my MIL's Mother's Day gift.

 

We had to reschedule a couple times due to bad weather in April,

but we were able to go the first Sunday in May.

 

Connor was in a MOOD. Oftentimes he is not happy/sad/mad, just confused and stares at the camera.

This time.......he was MAD!

He was all smiles and giggles on the way there (of course).

 

For the mini package we got to chose 5 images that we were able to download.

We paid a little extra to chose six because the last one was just too funny.

 

1) My favorite picture of the day.

We had a tough time getting this because Connor would not go from me or Cecil to Austin,

but my genius SIL figured out he would go from Cecil to her to Austin.

Anyways, this is the money shot that we got for Nana.

 

 

2) Connor at 15 months.

 

3) Austin at 14. He is leaving middle school this year and heading to high school

Such a handsome guy!

 

4) Group picture.

I should have jumped in here too, but I wasn't thinking straight after dealing with Connor's tantrum.

Anyways, I still think it is sweet of Nana's four babies

 

5) Boy Picture

 

6) And finally, if you can't beat them - join them!!! hahaha

I felt like crying too!

 

Here are the other ones that we didn't select:

 

This is about when I wanted to lose my mind! Happy Mother's Day Nana!! gahhhh

 

I had really wanted Connor to get one in the teepee because it was so beautiful but he would not sit by himself.

 

And our family ones. I need to learn how to stand and smile. gahhhhh

 

I might like this one if Connor was smiling.  

 

So this was our toughest photo session yet, but I am forever thankful for the five good images.

 Motherhood sure is interesting.

I'm pretty sure Nana enjoyed her photos and that is what matters. :)

Easter Basket 2016

I'm back with a quick post of Connor's Easter basket.

Last year Connor was only 3 months old and I just didn't make him a basket.

My mom was super sweet to give him one at her house (that I failed to get a picture of)

And Leslie's best friend even gave him one too (that I also failed to photograph).

 

This year I know his likes/dislikes and I really looked forward to preparing his basket.

I just used a regular basket that I keep in his room to hold blankets by the glider.

 

Here is his basket!!

  

 

I actually kept it on the dining room table with our other Easter décor the entire month.

He's still short enough that he had no idea. :)

 

I got him a swim suit and swim shirt (with a hoodie!), his first pair of flip flops, new sperrys, a larger blanket with his name, a thermos, bath drops, an egg full of easter candy (that Cecil promptly took to his office #frownface), a lamb, and letter magnets (not pictured).

Like I have mentioned before on the blog,

Connor has been super attached to his blankets and stuffed animals lately.

During a trip to Home Goods he reached for (and wouldn't let go of)

this little lamb. I bought it and hid it away in the basket.

The Easter bunny ended up coming during Connor's naptime on Easter Sunday. ;)

After his naptime, he hunted eggs and then we gave him his basket.

 

Just as Cecil predicted he reached for the lamb first.

Cecil tested out his new shoes and we opened the letter magnets.

It was kind of like Christmas morning. I loved it!!

 

 I really enjoyed putting his little basket together. :)

 

Connor at 14 months

Connor turned 14 months on the 21st and I thought I would do a post about what he is doing right now at this really cute stage.

Walking

He has really started walking. I mean he is officially a walker! He's been walking short distances for a few weeks, but now he is walking more than crawling and this morning was the first time he walked out of his room into the living room. I know it doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but it is. He is typically upset when I leave a room and right now expects me to carry him room to room with me. So if he starts walking around and following me it will really improve my productivity! 

 

Talking

Just this week I feel like he is communicating better. Monday morning he was saying DaDa and looking around for Cecil. I told him that Dada went to work. Blank stare. I said Dada went Byebye and he repeated me 'Dada byebye' and waved his little hand. It was precious.
I felt like we had our first conversation.
swoon.

He has also started handing me things I ask for.
Specifically, he will hand me my phone or his ball when asked.
He says the following words consistently:
"Uh uh (uh oh)
Baba (bottle)
Da da or dadadadadadada (Daddy)
Baaaa (ball)
He also still loves to point. He will scream duh duh and point at what he wants.
It's not talking, but its the way he communicates the most. LOL
 

Loving

Right now Connor is very much into stuffed animals. He has become attached to one at school. The teachers told me that when Connor gets upset he is happy after he has been given 'his bear.' Even his friend Harley (teacher's daughter) will bring him the small bear when he is upset.

He has loved his blankets for a long time, but the love for soft things has expanded into all stuffed animals. Lately he will put his head down on them and say 'aww.' Cecil told me he taught him that.

 

Eating

I am starting to become concerned about his eating. He is refusing anything that is a) not pureed/smooth or b) a carb. It's really frustrating when I try to give him healthy things and repeatedly have to throw them all away. He will eat fruit and vegetables in baby food form and always eats his beloved yogurt. He loves crackers and pretzels. I'm hoping its a phase and it will end soon.

He still loves his bottles and takes one on the way to school, one before his nap, and one before bed.

 

 

 

 

 

School Pictures - Spring 2016

Connor had his school pictures taken last week. I'm going to show you our three favorites that we picked and then the other ones they showed up at the bottom.

 

Now they are LIGHT YEARS better than his school pictures from the fall.

 

I just love school pictures so much. I love that everyone has awkward ones.

They took pictures on a Monday and of course I forgot about it Monday morning and didn't remember until I was walking into the school. I like his little striped shirt from my sweet friend Michelle, but would have put different pants and shoes on him if I had remembered.

 

This is my favorite because it is reminiscent of the standard school photo taken for yearbooks.

I mean! Where did my baby go??

 

These two are Cecil's favorites. 

 

And these are the other ones they showed us:

Sorry for all the wonky pictures. They are clearly pictures of pictures.

 

 

 

School Valentines - 2016

You all know that we sent these to Connor's friends in the mail.

 

I bought these off of Zulily at the beginning of the year for Connor to "hand out" at school and even though I think they are cute printed with Connor's name, I was a little underwhelmed when they arrived.  

 

When I saw Andrea's post about her Valentine printables I knew wanted to use them somehow. Thank goodness I have nephews that I get to spoil. One day in January on one L-O-N-G drive to my house in traffic I pulled up her post for them to look at and choose their favorite.

 

Leslie told me she took them to the store to buy Valentine's and after they got there they were all 'Nooooo. Auntie is doing this for us!' lol Those are MY BOYS!!

 

The week of Valentine's I went to Target during lunch and scored these items. :)

Reeses heart for Cecil

Fun Dip for me

Swedish Fish for Leslie

 

The night before I had Leslie have the boys pick out the ones they liked best.

I had them printed as photos from Walgreens as Andrea suggested. Leslie picked up the pictures and then I met them at her house after work one day (before I picked Connor up).

 

Zay's teacher asked that they just put their name on the Valentines so that it would be easier to hand out. Nevertheless, he wanted to (and was VERY focused on) come up with a list of his classmates. After we finished that, he and I worked together to put his together. He wrote on the cards while I filled the bags will Starburst and stapled them to the cards.

 

Zay said he wanted to do Minecraft for the boys and Legos for the girls. So we just did half and half. I purchased the only clear bags target had. Next time I would try to get the smaller bags that Andrea used from Hobby Lobby.

 

I just love Zay's careful handwriting.

 

 

 

Noah's teacher had supplied a list of his classmates names so he took his time writing each student's name and stapling the Star Wars or Animal Cracker bags to the cards. I had to leave before Noah was done but he worked on his own and then finished the rest up after basketball practice.

 

Leslie *might* hate me for this picture. oops

You can see in the bottom of this picture that Noah did request to make one special valentine for one special "friend" in class. See the all pink starburst in the bottom of the picture?

 

Noah's handwriting was not as great. ;)

 

Noah  added this one to his *special* pink starburst bag

 

 

 

We put this one on a bag of Swedish fish for the boys to give their Mama on Valentine's Day. I didn't realize she was giving up candy for Lent. Ooops.

 

I loved this little "craft" with my two favorite big boys and really appreciate Andrea sharing her creative talents with us! :)