Connor, etc.

Connor's First Haircut (Or Say Goodbye to the Mullet!)

2007-07-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

We finally decided to get Connor's hair cut. Those baby curls were starting to look like a mullet, and at least three times in the past week someone thought he was a girl - even though he was dress in "boy" colors.

Before:

We went to Snip Its - a place that specifically does children's haircuts. We figured they would be better prepared to deal with a reluctant, wiggly toddler than Paul's barber would be. They had videos (which Connor wasn't too interested in since he doesn't watch TV) and toys and animal crackers and at the end you put a little of the cut hair and a card into a machine and get a prize. Only it made so much noise he got scared and hid behind Mom. Then he tried to put the prize back into the chute.

Sometimes an animal cracker makes everything better.

Some after pictures:

Isn't he handsome!

14-17 Months

2007-07-12T08:21:00.001-07:00

Well, it'sbeen awhile. Connor is walking and running and climbing all over now. His sweet little baby curls are getting long enough in back to qualify as a mullet, so hopefully we'll be able to get his hair cut this weekend. He's not talking yet, but he is learning some signs, which helps him tell us what he wants (even if he doesn't always get it). He can say please, thank you, again and food. Those are the important ones, right? Sometimes he just runs through all of them if we don't let him have what he's asking for. One is bound to work, he figures. Here are some pictures from the past few months:

Wearing mom's sunglasses.

Connor likes to climb in our bed and snuggle down in the covers.

Ah, young padawan...

Connor has figured out how to get into the chair. It took him awhile to figure out how to get back down by going backwards. For awhile there he would just throw himself over the arm of the chair. It always worked - someone always caught him. (Well, he sort of ended up in the magazine rack once, but I almost had him, he didn't land that hard.)

He knows this is not allowed. But he likes to stand up.

Not that way!

Sometimes the only way to get Connor to hold still for a picture is to get him when he's strapped down in the high chair. We have tons of pictures about 10 seconds after he was doing something cute, but instead we have a picture of him heading for the camera, fingers out-stretched.

Playing with with a 20 Questions game. I think he stumps it every time.

Leave him alone for 5 minutes and he has banana and egg in his hair.

He likes to push laundry baskets around. Unfortunately he also likes to turn them over and stand on top, so usually these are off limits.

Connor and Nelson looking out the window, waving goodbye to Lisa (our nanny).

Nice hair!

Hope you enjoyed the pics. Have a great summer!

Getting Bigger (Or The Incredible Shrinking Bear), cont'd

2007-03-06T07:15:00.000-08:00

A few days old.

2 months old.

Around 3 months old.

4 months old.

4 1/2 months old

5 1/2 months old

6 months old

7 months old

8 months old

At one year it's getting hard to get him to lie down for this picture. The one below may be the last one we take for awhile. He seems to be slowing down a little. (Dr. Addy says he's 80th percentile for height and 40th percentile for weight - tall and skinny. Who are this kid's parents?)

Some more pics

2007-03-06T06:53:00.000-08:00

We've finally convinced Connor to take real baths, instead of sponge baths. He still doesn't really like it though, so someone has to get in with him. But once he's out and wrapped up in his cozy towel he feels much better!

Once again, everyone sitting on Mom.

He's off and running!

We've even convinced him to wear shoes. He wasn't so sure at first. We never put little baby shoes on him because - well, what does he need them for? Apparently to get used to wearing shoes. But after a couple hours of fussing the first day he's fine with them. So now he can get down and walk around when we go out. Too bad stores aren't baby-proof.

Chirstmas and Connor's first birthday

2007-03-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been so long. It is spring break for GVSU so I'm working at home and have a little time to update the blog.

Connor started walking at Christmas (he's been walking along furniture for a few months, but now he's free-roaming). He much prefers walking to crawling and he's getting pretty quick. Any time he hears a door open he's there within seconds.

I hope to have some more pictures from our family Christmas once I collect up pictures from the rest of the family, but here are a few from his birthday. We didn't throw a big party - we just took him with us to a Superbowl party. (Happy Colts fans!)

Mom made a cookie!

Connor got to try a little, but the rest got eaten at the Superbowl party.

9 to 10 1/2 months

2006-12-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Connor's changed a lot the past couple months. He prefers to get places by walking, even though he has to hang on to furniture or the wall. He can stand by himself for a few seconds. It shouldn't be long now before he walking. He likes to play with Nelson. He'll throw Nelson's ball or hand it to him and then cackle. He likes to feed Cheerios to us, once he's had all he wants. Here are some pics from the last couple months.

Connor gets a kick out of playing tug-of-war with Nelson.

A young IU fan.

Sitting in his toy box.

Sometimes Nelson gets a Nuk.

Taking after his Uncle Keith, Connor has magnificent bed-head.

Posing for his Christmas picture.

Dad with the boys.

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

Eating Cheerios.

This is Connor's nanny, Lisa. She's fantastic!

Misty Wondergem.

She's a big hit with Nelson, too.

So is Marty. Nelson has lapsed into a belly-rub coma.

He's actually snoring.

Life is good.

Connor is in the stage of bringing us books to read. Sometimes he likes Dad to read him more than one at once:

Big A, little a, what begins with A?

Mr. Brown can buzz. How about you? Can you go buzz, buzz?

By the way, we can both say the Dr. Seuss's ABC book from memory. Just ask us.

So can our nanny. We're all very glad that Connor is getting some new books for Christmas. (Thanks grandma!)

8 to 9 months

2006-11-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Once he figured out how to sit up, crawling and pulling up to standing came pretty quickly.

He hasn't quite figured out the sippy cup yet.

Getting Bigger (Or The Incredible Shrinking Bear)

2006-11-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

A few days old.

2 months old.

Around 3 months old.

4 months old.

4 1/2 months old

5 1/2 months old

6 months old

7 months old

8 months old

"I'm huge!"

Around 6 1/2 to 8 months

2006-11-05T10:12:00.000-08:00

Around 7 months Connor was just learning to sit up on his own.

On his way to crawling.

Waking up in the morning.

2006-11-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

Here's how I wake up in the morning...

First I rub the sleep out of my eyes.

Then I stretch.

Then I discover my hands.
Then I contemplate breakfast.

Meeting Uncle Keith

2006-08-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

Connor's Uncle Keith was in town for the weekend. Keith lives in Berkeley and will be starting graduate school there in the fall.

Some other pics from that weekend:

A week with the extended family

2006-08-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Connor got to stay with Sheila's mom, aunt and grandmother for a week.

Aunt Sherry

Uncle Billy

Misha, wondering what they've brought home this time.

Flying baby!

Granny

(sorry, I know you hate having your picture taken, but Connor likes his pictures with his great-grandmother)

Fun at the pool and the beach

2006-08-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hanging out in the kiddie pool at Bryan Park in Bloomington, IN

Big cheese!

Getting dried off with Grandad.

Lake Michigan - that's Uncle Keith.

Getting Bigger

2006-08-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

A few days old.

2 months old.

Around 3 months old.

4 months old.

4 1/2 months old

5 1/2 months old

6 months old

Basement Remodel

2006-08-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

When we moved in we had a gigantic bar-type structure in front of our washer and dryer. It appeared to be built from scratch by the previous owners. So I thought I'd share some deconstruction pictures.

Before

Going...

going...

Gone! Thanks Dad!

and basement painted.

Headed to the dump.

Getting Bigger

2006-07-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

A few days old.

6 weeks old.

8 weeks old.

9 1/2 weeks old.

Around 12 weeks

3 1/2 months

4 months

Getting Bigger, cont'd

2006-07-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a limit on the numberof pictures on one post so...

4 1/2 months old

5 1/2 months old

In the pool

2006-07-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

We decided to try out the kiddie pool. Connor wasn't so keen - the water was too cold. He did better the next day when the water had warmed up, but Dad wasn't home so we didn't get any pictures.

Baptism

2006-07-20T04:44:00.000-07:00

On June 18 (Father's Day) Paul baptized Connor. (It's nice to be ordained!)

A few More...

2006-06-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

He's discovered his thumb.

Finally got his name up in his room.

Sorry it's been so long...

2006-06-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Since I (Sheila) got a laptop I rarely make the trek upstairs to the office, which is where all the pictures are stored for theblog. Here are some from the last couple months. Below are some pictures of our latest home improvement project and some more Paddington pictures. Enjoy!

Learning to grab things.

Paul's family

Big cheese!

Home Improvement

2006-06-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Over memorial day weekend we painted our bedroom - the last room on the main level to be painted. Yay! When we moved in it was a dingy robin's egg blue with offwhite (on the yellow side) trim. We changed it to almond paste (darker than off-white, lighter than khaki)with almost-white trim.

Before (not our furniture)

After

We still have some decorating to do - plants and art and window shades.

Getting Bigger

2006-06-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

A few days old.

6 weeks old.

8 weeks old.

9 1/2 weeks old.

Around 12 weeks

3 1/2 months

4 months

12 weeks to 3 months

2006-05-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Finally, a picture of Grandma with the boys.

Would anyone else like to sit on my lap?

Crashed on a bed in a hotel in Toronto. We got to travel with Paul for a conference at which he was speaking.

Aren't they photogenic!

Husband on Strike!

2006-05-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Paul is boycotting because of such unfair behavior as Sheila's leaving the bedroom in the middle of the night to sit up with Connor. Apparently she insists that he must be "fed." Further, Paul comes home to find that, even though she is home all day, rather than doing the laundry, cooking and cleaning herself, Sheila is "needing some help with it." At least he thinks that's what she said - it was kind of hard to hear over the screaming, inconsolable baby.

It appears that Paul's father-in-law is providing him with supplies.

No, wait, we have been informed that the above picture is merely the other half of this operation: the removal of an old basketball goal and the installation of a new one.

Never mind.

9-11 Weeks

2006-04-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

A little upset.

More serene.

Nelson's allowed in the bed for a few minutes in the morning.

Getting Bigger

2006-04-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

A few days old.

6 weeks old.

8 weeks old.

9 1/2 weeks old.

~ 2 months

2006-04-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

Getting a bath.

Drying off.

Paul has discovered the joys of "baby-wearing." I think he cleaned the entire upstairs with Connor in there!

I'm sure it's more comfortable than it looks.

Dressed up to go out for dinner.

Nelson got a haircut!

2006-04-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

Here's Nelson before with his best friend Mosely. They are a little excited, so Misty (Mosely's mom) mediates.

Deson't he look hand-some?

Getting Bigger!

2006-04-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure which shows it more clearly - his size compared to Paddington, or his size compared to the diaper he's wearing.

A few days old.

6 weeks old.

8 weeks old.

5-6 Weeks

2006-03-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Connor a little older and with some of Sheila's family.

Paul with his son.

Conner and his great-grandmother.

Conner and Great-Uncle Darold.

Conner and his grandfather.

Big yawn!

Four generations.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Nelson - he wanted his picture here, too!

2006-03-18T14:26:00.000-08:00

Picking out Nelson at the breeder's. Nelson is the one one the right. He weighs about 2.5 pounds. He is a Schnoodle - Schnauzer/Poodle mix. His brother there looks more like a poodle.

Not much bigger here.

Sleeping with mama.

Almost full-grown and with his winter sweater.

Showing off his Schnauzer haircut.

A few more pictures from the first weekend home

2006-03-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

What a face!

Snagging a nap.

Meeting the puppy.

Those are grampa's hands.

2006-03-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Connor at 8 days old with his Paddington Bear that we bought for him at Harrod's in London.

Connor and his puppy taking a nap.

After a bath - and still not too happy about it.

Being up until 2am is tiring for everyone.

First Couple Days

2006-02-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

Here's us still in the hospital.

My officemate, Beth.

Ken and Carrie and Valerie

Drew and Jacci

Connor's First Day

2006-02-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

Here's a few pics of us the first day. The two women in scrubs are my L and D nurses.

Hi everyone

2006-02-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

As indicated in the title, this blog is mainly about Conner - a place for us to post pictures for family and friends to check out so that we don't have to remember who had been sent what pictures. You'll probably also find pictures of Nelson (the puppy), because we think he's pretty cute, too.