Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas was a lot of fun again this year. The kids are at the pefect age and enjoy everything about the holidays! We had almost a full week of Christmas getting together with different sides of the family to celebrate and the kids loved giving and recieving gifts. Connor actually liked seeing what was inside the paper this year instead of just playing with the paper. The kids are way too spoiled and got way too many gifts. We are still trying to find somewhere to put everything =) Thank you to everyone who made Christmas special this year and Merry Christmas to everybody!

 

Matching PJs from Mem...adorable =)









  

  

 Working on his new puzzle

 

 

 

Taking a gift opening break to eat Marshmallows and watch Mickey at 7:30am!

 

 

 

Singing Rudolph with Aunt Eileen

 

 

  Piano Lesson with Tim

 

  

  

 

 

31 for 21 - Letter to Connor

Dear Connor,

A year ago today I wrote my first letter to you and I have decided that I am going to write you a letter each year. I am amazed at how much you have grown and accomplished over the past year. You teach me so much every day about working hard and never stopping until you figure out whatever it is you are trying to do. You work so hard to communicate with us and I am so proud of how many new signs you have learned over the past year. You have learned to stand on your own in the middle of the room and clap along cheering for yourself with everyone else in the room. You have learned to take steps and I really think if you stopped laughing so hard while you walk, you could probably walk a lot further.

You are so funny. You make me laugh every single day with your unique sense of humor. You have a different laugh for every occasion. You find the strangest things funny. As annoying as it is at times, I love it when you shake your head no at the most random moments when we ask you a question.

I love the way that you blow kisses and the way that you have learned to actually give a nice kiss on the cheek. You give the best hugs and squeeze so tight with a big giggle every time. I love the way you start tapping your feet and dancing everytime you hear the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song. That song used to make me sad because it was Makayla's favorite show when your heart defect was diagnosed, but now it will always make me smile because of how happy it makes you and reminds me of how perfect life turned out!

I love our daily storytime together. You refuse to sit in my lap, but snuggle right in next to me and rest your head on my shoulder as we read your favorite books. You love any book about a train and will request train book until we read one. We can never read less than 3 books. That is unnacceptable to you.

You have enriched my life in countless ways and I love learning new things with you every day. I look forward to each and every day we get to spend together and cannot wait to see where our journey leads us.  I am so happy that you are going to be a big brother. You are going to teach your little brother so many amazing lessons. I love you Connor!

Love,
Mom

31 for 21 - Splashing in the water

Connor loves splashing in the water. He was very sad when Pa had to close his pool for the season, but still has a great time splashing in the bathtub. We try to do a bath every other day due to Makayla's eczema and dry skin from water in general, but someday's Connor will not allow us to not give him a bath. He just loves that part of his day. He will splash, play with boats, but his favorite part is filling cups with water and dumping the water over his head. He has also been known to dump the cups of water outside of the tub, but knows that mommy is not very happy with him when that happens!

Over the summer, he made some great progress in the pool. He has always loved swimming, but last year that mostly involved sitting ont he steps or floating in a tube. This year he would "jump" off the side into someones arms. He would even go under water with his jumps and come up very happy. He kicked and moved his arms to make the water splash and loved every minute he spent in the water.

Connor, Makayla and Uncle Andy

 

 

At the water park...Connor spent the entire time by the fire hydrant!

 

 

P.S. I don't know what it is about October, but this is the 2nd year in a row I am trying to post the last few days without power. Last year I drove around with the kids in the car trying to find a parking lot with working free wi-fi. This year I am fortunate enough that the internet still works once we turn on the generator for power! 

 

31 for 21 - Fire Station

Connor's dad is a Fire Leiutenant on the Atkinson Fire Deparment. His Pa is the Fire Chief and his Uncle Andy is on the department as well. Connor loves to visit the fire station and is lucky to be able to go as often as he wants. He does not always like it when daddy has to leave for a fire call, however, and makes it very clear. As soon as the pager goes off he points to his ear telling us to listen, but then cries really loudly so we can't actually hear what the call is. It is sad, but Makayla usually tries to explain to Connor that daddy won't be gone long and he is leaving to help people. The strange thing is, even if it is during the day and daddy is at his full time job, Connor will still cry when the pager goes off because he associates that noise with being sad. Hopefully soon he will realize that his daddy has to leave to help someone who may be hurt.

Today was the open house at the fire station. Connor and Makayla got to go for a ride in the fire truck and tour the fire station again. Connor was not too thrilled with the truck ride, but was happy crawling around the open space since all of the trucks were pulled out of the station.

"Cheese" face

 Helmet weighs more than Connor

Pa, Makayla and Connor

Daddy and Connor

Family photo

Connor in his firetruck

Future firefighters