Connor eating from Becky Lee on Vimeo.

His signs aren't exactly perfect, but he tries, and we know what he means. This week he has learned so much. I can't believe how fast he is growing right now.

Moments before he threw an epic tantrum...



...about Mike wiping the sand off his hands.

Seriously.

We went to the Fall Festival yesterday. My mom would seriously have loved it. A huge craft show. Bigger than the ones they throw in Colorado Springs. Didn't buy anything, but saw a lot of really cool art and one booth had these great handmade wooden puzzles that I really wanted to get for Connor. But I held back. I can order them online if I want later.

We then ran over to get Connor's hair cut at Master Cuts... and I'm sorry, I know he was squirmy and all, but I think she could have tried a little harder to get the back of his hair even. There is seriously a chunk of hair that is an inch longer than the rest of it...AND she charged $12 for it. She insisted on not going any further if he was getting upset. I agree, but did she LOOK at the back of his head at all? If I'm going to be charged $12 for a 2 min haircut, I want to be OK with bringing him out in public afterward. I think from now on, I'll be giving him haircuts.

Mike and I had a real date on Saturday...

We actually got a babysitter...

It was wonderful...

Connor loved her, and she said he was the easiest baby to watch, and didn't cry once...

Mike forgot his cellphone and had to run back into the house to grab it> When he returned to the car he told me the house was filled with Connor's laughter.

We might do this again.

=)

Connor still isn't saying many words these days. It seems like he learns one "trick" or word and then stops doing it entirely. The only thing he does every time we ask him is where his belly button is. He loves that. He used to put both hands on his head when we asked where his head was, or plugged his ears when we asked where those were... but he stopped cold just a few days ago. He gets super upset sometimes about me asking and it all ends up in screams and squeals. Not pleasant.

Lately he has finally picked up on saying bye bye and waving.





I know... he's almost 18 months, and he probably should have already known this by now, but this is huge for us. He's been pretty slow with picking up things like rolling over, walking, but we always knew that it was probably because he was a preemie. I feel like we've worked really hard to name everything he touches or points at, but he just doesn't feel like trying to say it. He understands most things, like where his shoes are, or where the light is on the ceiling, and what a ball is etc... but getting him to say these things... NO WAY!

It's definitely frustrating sometimes and I wish I knew a better way to teach him these things. I guess I shouldn't worry. At least he's got his looks. =P

I can't get over how big Connor is getting. To the point that we can swing him around like this.



He's also climbing up the steps to the slide and goes down on his belly all by himself. My little guy is growing up.

*sigh*

I started physical therapy a few days ago and it went really well. I have been doing my exercises pretty much everyday and I can already feel a difference. I actually ran up the stairs the other day and I wasn't at all worried that my knee was going to give out on me. That felt wonderful!

We all took a trip to Portland this weekend and loaded up on fun stuff for Connor. It was weird, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't find anything there that we needed or wanted at the time. This trip was all about Connor. Lucky guy.

All I really wanted to get for him was a toddler chair. Something that he could sit on when watching Sesame Street since noticing that if I lay on the floor with him, he'll sit on my back as if I'm a chair. Instead we found him a pretty cute table and chair set. All for the low low price of 25 bucks. We also got him a bead/wire toy and a rug with roads on it that he can run his toy trucks over.




Recently Connor finally started taking baths again without a complete melt down. He went through an entire month of absolutely freaking out about the water. It totally baffled us. We ended up just giving him sponge baths for about 3 weeks because we just couldn't take the screaming and tears anymore. Then the other day Mike decided to just try it again... and wouldn't ya know it. It was like he was never afraid of the water...Crazy kid...



Mike can use his vacation time soon, and although we are already on taking a few days to go back to Colorado for Christmas, we thought we'd put aside a few days for ourselves. Problem is, we just can't decide where and what we want to do. With gas prices it's making it that much harder. Anyone have any suggestions?

More Cutness

Blowing kisses from Becky Lee on Vimeo

I had my doctor's appointment today. I don't have to have surgery which is a relief. Just 6 weeks of physical therapy. I have Chondromalacia or "runners knee" which I find funny, because I don't run, bike, and am generally the most nonathletic person ever.

I felt so silly because you know that little test they do on babies to check that their hips and knees are working...yeah, he did that to me. Here I am on my back and my legs are moving every which way and "pop pop pop" goes my hips... and I'm thinking..."where the heck did that come from?" Then he informed me I also had Congential Hip Displacia after I mentioned I was born without the cartilage fully formed in my hips and had to be in a brace thingy for a year.

It all sounds so technical and bad, but I guess a lot of people, especially woman get this "runner's knee" thing. So knowing that, and knowing that most people see great results just from physical therapy alone is assuring.

So....yay! =)

Oh, and I sent the blanket, so now I can show it.



I did a horrible job on keeping straight stitches, so rick rack came to my rescue to cover that up. I'm pretty pleased with the result.

The heat! I can't stand it!

Losing steam after cleaning the house today. Trying once again to open the kitchen up to Connor after buying some child proofing stuff for the cabinets. Funny thing is, we bought him alphabet magnets for the fridge, and all those once tempting cabinets don't mean anything to him anymore. He's ALL about the magnets.

I've been having troubles with my right knee for a little over 3 months now. Totally stinks. My knee cap doesn't feel stable anymore. It slips and cracks and is just all over painful. I can't walk for long periods of time before my leg swells up, or I can't kneel on the ground to change a diaper because it hurts so much.

Needless to say.. I'm a bit worried.

I have a doc appointment on the 14th so I just gotta hold out until then. It's sort have been just a depressing time these last couple months too. Because of the pain in my knee, I'm of course not as active, which doesn't aid with losing more of the baby weight. In fact I think I've gained some back. I'd love to want to go out with Connor for walks or to the park, but I just don't think I can keep up with him by myself because of this. I really hope the doctor tells me it's something pretty easy to fix with some physical therapy and NOT surgery. I don't know how I'd take care of the Con-man if I had to have that done without Mike having to take off work.

=(

Connor got his first haircut today while we were visiting our friends from church. He did well for the first 15 min... then freaked out... we took a break, and he was upset the entire time for the second half. But he got it done. And it looks much much better.

=)

Connor has been doing this a lot lately:





I just love how his personality is really started to shine through. He brings so much joy into our lives. Such a cutie.

I finished the blanket last night, and I would post pictures but 2 things are holding me back...

1. I don't want Mike's sister to happen upon it in flickr before she receives it.

2. I'm sort of embarrassed with my lack of sewing skills that I kinda don't want anyone to see it... then judge me... harshly. =) I just don't think I could take it after how stressed out I was last night because of this darn blanket.

I have a really cheap sewing machine... I mean. CHEAP. I got it off eBay a few years ago for 20 bucks. It works well, don't get me wrong... but the only stitch it does is straight. I thought it would at least have zig zag. Nope. So that sort of screwed up my whole idea. Of course I conveniently forgot that little detail when I started on the blanket in the first place only to pull out the sewing machine much much later and see that straight stitch was my only option. =(

This handmade blanket looks VERY handmade. Ugh

Mike assures me that she'll love it anyways because she will appreciate that I took the time to make it for her baby. I just hope that's true.

How cool is this?!

The Apple store in our town donated this stuffed leopard to Mike's company as a thank you for all the business they give them...and Mike got first dibs on it for Connor.

Although I was thinking of changing the color/theme of Con's room, it's slowly becoming a jungle theme. And that's OK with me...because that leopard is so freakin' awesome!

Today I have to work on a baby blanket for Mike's sister who is due early July. Her nursery is going to be monkey themed so Mike and I picked out some really cute monkey fabric that I think is going to go very well in the room. I'll post pics of that later...

Connor is doing just fine after his little catastrophe with our steps. The next day his bump on his head was pretty much gone. Whew!

In somewhat exciting news, Connor graduated from his "Guppies" group at church to "Starfish". This basically means that he's no longer in the 0-12 mos nursery, but now playing with 12-24 mos babies. This is exciting because they wanted to make sure he was a strong walker before they put him in the other group so that he could "hold his own" with the other kiddos. He attended his first day today and had so much fun! One of the ladies said he played well and loved it when she played the guitar for all of them.

Wowie. She plays the guitar for the kids? Awesome! =)

I spoke too quickly.

We all piled in the car this morning and rushed over to the pediatric clinic to see if Connor had a concussion... or worse.

He tumbled down all 14 steps.

I heard the "thunk thunk thunk" and I ran to the edge of the steps where I witnessed the end of the fall. I watched in horror as my little baby boy tumbled the last 3 steps until finally making a stop at the bottom, banging the back of his head on our linoleum floor.

I scooped him up right away and we both cried for at least 5 minutes. He settled down faster than I thought he would but definitely wanted to be cuddled.

He is doing fine. He has a couple of bumps and bruises, but the doctor said he looks great. She just wants us to keep a real close eye on him for the next 24 hours.

I feel awful. But I'm glad our little guy is ok.

Where is summer?

The past few days have been nothing but dark skies with rain showers here and there. It's starting to get depressing!

It seems like Connor has been growing so fast these past couple of weeks. This is such a fun stage! I love how Mike and I try to communicate with him, and he tries to communicate back. He's starting to point at things and grunts in this tone as if he's asking what it is. "raaa? raaa??"

He of course knows who "kitty" is, and I've taught him that when I say "tweet, tweet, birdie!" that means that their are birds nearby, and he runs to the window to look at our bird feeder to try to catch a glimpse. He's learning the parts of a face... and grabs my nose in all of his little fist until I say "nose!" and then he proceeds to giggle uncontrollably. "Dada" is still is favorite word, and will only say "mama" if he is upset and crying, and even then I think that's just what happens to roll out of his mouth when he cries, and not necessarily looking for me specifically. But I'll take what I can get.

His favorite game is still "peek-a-boo" and he will open a cabinet just to hide behind it and then pop his head back out exclaiming "ahh!".

The most monumental thing though that he has learned is to be able to go up and down our staircase. It is so great to be able to know that if he is at the top of the stairs , I am able to walk away for a bit and know that he won't come tumbling down the stairs. We have opened that area up now by removing the gate to give him free reign. If he wants to go upstairs and play in his room for a bit, he can choose to do that.

Here is a video of him going down our steps all by himself!

Connor is actively working on his molars, and has definitely been not so much fun to be around. Up until yesterday.

I've never gotten so many cuddles out of my little guy until then. He just wanted to sit with me all morning looking out the window watching the birds. I treasured every minute. We still had our moments of random bursts of crying mixed with laughing mixed with shoving his fingers in his mouth for relief.

For the most part he is down to one nap a day. Especially if we are being active and getting out of the house to run errands, etc. The past few days however he's been sneaking in a second nap which leaves him wanting to stay up later than usual at night. Last night we put him down at about 7:30 and I don't think he actually went to sleep until about 9 or so. He woke up once screaming, and I went in and rocked him back to sleep. This morning I woke up on my own, rolled over to see the clock was about to turn 9am. So, a. Connor was still sleeping, and b. Mike was really really late for work. Connor is usually his "alarm clock" waking him up at around 7:30. Connor didn't wake up until 10am. That has NEVER happened. Poor little guy.

He is in great spirits today though. Hardly seems in pain at all. Hopefully he won't have too much pain in his mouth in the future. Although, I would love another round of those cuddles again.

Connor had his 12 month check up a couple of days ago at 14 months. We were late because... well, because we are never on time for anything. There really isn't an excuse this time. Just that I kept saying, "I gotta make sure we make Connor's 12 month appt.", and then promptly forg0t to do it. I'm a terrible mother.

I could go into how if we were still in Jackson, Wyo, they would have made the appointment at the LAST appointment, because they are awesome and act like they actually care. While at Connor's new doctor, which is at a clinic, he sees his doctor for about 5 minutes before she shuffles us out the door without much instruction with what's supposed to happen next. But I won't go into it.

Oh Dr. Pockatt, how we miss thee.

Anyways Connor is a whopping 23 lbs 9 oz, 32.5 in tall, and has a 45 cm head. I'm glad he's on the charts, but boy is he all over the place. He's 96% in weight, 51% in height, and 10% in head size. They say he's doing fine, and I agree. I always thought he was incredibly proportional. But I guess it's "normal" to have a gigantic head. Mike's dad told me one time that his small head will probably mean he'll be a genius because it'll take less time to retrieve the information in his brain. Hey! It could be true!

Connor began walking about a week ago. I guess it's just not Mike and I that are late in things. (I'm kidding!) I think he was definitely holding out on us though, because he started walking like he had been doing it for weeks. He rarely falls, and when he does, he's right back up. I think he was practicing in his crib at night while we slept. It's the only logical answer I can come up with.

Mike was supposed to go deep sea fishing for the first time this morning with some co-workers, but they had to reschedule because of the crazy deadlines they have to meet. I was really excited for him, and totally bummed when I found out he wasn't able to go. I found this video for Mike on youtube. Here's to hoping it won't take him this long to catch one when he finally is able to go.

Starting Fresh

Well this is the new place I will keep a blog from now on. Wablee.com expired, and we just weren't keeping up with it all that well. That...and well, it was just too expensive for us to renew at the moment. Blogspot... you'll just have to do. =)

I feel like I don't know how to get started. During the day when something happens I think. "Hmm, I want to write this down and share it." but when I actually sit down to do that... it just doesn't seem to come out right.

Oh well. Maybe this will come easier as I go a long.

Twitter just doesn't cut it...

when i have more than 140 characters to talk about.