Photo "dump" ~ leaves and Mr. Cool

Bill raked the leaves from our front tree into a pile so we could take some pictures!  

Here are the results of "playing" in the leaves...

The sunglasses from Aunt Michelle fit much better these days - and Connor actually leaves them on his face!  Yippee! :)

I see you...

"Who you looking at?"

Cold Snap

what do you do when it gets cold outside?  

Here at the Hoffman house, we've been hanging out in the basement... with the space heater on in the background  reading books and playing with toys.

Cinnamon has started sporting her sweater.  She snuggled up with Connor and I on the couch for some extra warmth - she even let Connor play with her ear...

In a last minute photo shoot with Daisy - we remembered the warm summer days... turns out that Connor and Daisy have 'matching' outfits!  The Patterson's were up to our house for dinner on Sunday so we took the opportunity to get a picture of the kiddos ~ because next time it's warm out, these outfits might not fit!! ;)

Photos and Videos!!

 Connor sat still long enough the other day for me to get some pictures!

He's so interested in the lens cap that hangs from the camera strap that as soon as he sees it normally he's immediately trying to get to it! :)  This time, I was up on the chair and he was across the room, so I managed to sneak in a few shots. Yay!

Okay, These videos aren't the best... but the first one is of him doing the ASL sign for "more"... which he still isn't the best at.... but he's learning!  

The second one is of an almost crawl the other night before the memory card was full on the camera and cut me off (oh. my. goodness.) but don't worry, right after that he went back to his belly and didn't crawl anymore... we're so close it's ridiculous - but he'll get it in no time and I'll be wishing for the 'non-mobile' days! 

Eight Months

mama... I really want that camera lens cap.  If I stare at it long enough maybe it will come closer...

Tried to get this in right before bed time.  bad idea.  Oh well...

This one shows two things - his love of emptying the toy bin, and that he can wave! ;)

Connor is Eight Months Old today!  Whew!

He is getting bigger every day and currently wears a size nine month shirt, but the nine month pants are just a little big around the waist.  He likes to feed himself at meal times (he thinks baby food is a waste of time, but don't worry - I squeeze it in between bites of "real food").  He likes crackers and puffs, but also has tried some grapes and bananas and chicken bites.  He makes lots of noises - humming and "complaining" and shreaking.  He can make the "f" sound and also blows raspberries.  

He can take steps forward when he is holding my hands, and has perfected the army crawl forward on his belly.  He rocks back and forth on his hands and knees.  He can pass things from hand to hand and loves to wave to himself in the mirror.  He would rather play with something that isn't a toy - kitchen spoons, yarn, my hand held mirror.  Just this week I went to get him from his nap and he had pulled himself up on the side of his crib.  Bill lowered the mattress for me as soon as I took Connor out! :)

He takes two naps a day and is sleeping from 8pm to 8am. :)  He likes to sit outside and play or go for a walk in the stroller.  He likes to take the pieces out of a puzzle, the rings off the tube, and the cups off the stack.  He likes to flip pages in books.  He smiles at pretty much anyone he sees - and they of course, smile back! ;)  

We love you Connor!  Eight months has gone so fast!!

Drinking and Eating

Connor loves his sippy cup... although he doesn't really know how to work it yet...

He loves "crackers" and puffs, and... anything else he can feed himself. :)

Such a big boy!

Creeping

trying to get to the camera lens cap...

Connor has been doing some new things lately.

He leans forward when he is sitting and puts his hands on the floor in front of him.  For a while, this was the end of it.  Well, now he has figured out how to go from that position, to putting his legs out behind him, so he's on his belly.  It's a slow process, and sometimes one leg gets stuck underneath him, but for the most part, he's got it down!

look Mom!  No belly on the floor!

He also has been teasing me with the crawling.  He gets up on his hands and knees... then he rocks back and forth... then - back down to his belly he goes! :)  He's working on making those tiny muscles stronger and stronger!

 He also has figured out how to push forward with his toes while he's on his belly.  He "creeps" around pretty well!

Creeping towards Dad :)

 Turn your volume up - he's dancing to "Larry Boy"

He doesn't look at the camera at all... but he loves to dance to music.  :)

Rain

It's raining

It's pouring...

 Rain, rain

Go away

Come again some other day...

So... we're in the middle of the flood zone here...

Just when you think it's going to let up... more keeps coming.

Hasn't seemed to bother Connor one bit!  Bill took him to the mall last night to get out of the house while I taught my first music class, and we went to the store this morning to get out of the house (for my sanity).  
Hoping to stay dry and let me also say...

PRAISE GOD we decided to replace the doors!!!!! 

Today

For the first time

in 23 years

I'm not going back to school.

It's very strange

and pretty sad - I really love back to school time and teaching.

BUT ~ I'm home with my sweet sweet boy, and that's better then any classroom.

eating cereal this morning :)

Love you Connor William - the best "student" this teacher could want !!! :)

Utz, Crabs, Irene, Trains, and Crawl... Barton weekend 2011

Mike, Julie, Jacob and Grace came to visit this weekend!  We were so glad they came and stayed with us for a few days, and we had a great time visiting and showing them around Hanover.

They arrived late Thursday night and after a quick hello, we all headed off to bed.  Friday morning we hung out at the house, playing with toys... and Cinnamon. :)  After lunch on Friday, we tried to go to the train store... but it was closed.  We headed to another one around the corner and poked around for a little bit.  Then we stopped at the UTZ outlet store.  Julie and Mike found a new chip - sweet potato chips!  They are a favorite of mine too! :)

Friday night we headed out to dinner at "Big Mike's Crab House".  Since we've moved to Hanover, we've talked about taking Mike to this restaurant.  We had our chance on Friday!

Mike posing outside with the sign

Mike working on his first crab

Julie, Jacob, Grace and I ordered "normal" food.  Mike and Bill split a dozen crabs.  These are Maryland Blue crabs, which Mike said he had never had before.  Bill was excited to be the 'expert' crab eater, and he coached Mike along.  Picking crabs takes a while, ... Julie and I took the kiddos to a park around the corner while the guys finished up.

Jacob was less then impressed with the crab picking...

Saturday morning we played and let Connor get a good nap.  We packed up the cars and lunch and headed to Strasburg to ride the train.  We decided to brave the bad hurricane forecasts and go for it anyway! On the way there, the skies were gray and cloudy... and once we were in the parking lot it started pouring buckets.  After about a ten minute downpour... it almost stopped completely!  We had time to get out of the car and get to the ticket window before it started raining again.  Then... right before the train arrived for us to board, the rain let up again!  Horray! :)

the train heading into the station

Mike, Jacob, Grace and Julie on the car.

an engine going past us

my accidental "artsy" shot out the train window :)

Hoffman Family of three :)

we saw some buggies on the way home - this picture was through my wet window

Saturday evening we had pizza for dinner and after the kids went to bed, Mike and Julie and Bill and I finished our Phase 10 card game.  Bill was the big winner, with Julie coming in second.  I racked up 600 some points... oops... 

Hurricane Irene hit Hanover around midnight.  It was raining and SO windy all night.  Around 2:00am we lost power.  No damage done though, and around 8:30 power returned.  We said goodbye to our visitors and headed out to church.  

If you have made it this far through the post, you are probably wondering why it says "crawl" in the title... well... I was just teasing a little, because he's not really crawling yet.  BUT, he's SO close!  He's figured out how to get up on his legs a little better, and will rock/bounce forward and backward... but he hasn't actually crawled yet.  I've got the video camera ready to capture the first moments though!  Don't worry! :)

working hard to be a crawler! :)

Seven Month Photos

well... hello there...

looking at Mama

cheezer grin at Dad

best one of the bunch... I think...!

always on the move!

7 Months - and all dressed up! :)

hard to believe it's been that long already!

I'll post the picture tomorrow - thanks Deb for the video from church this morning! :)

(I'm hoping the sound works - it worked one out of the two times I tried it on my computer...)

Finding the Joy Friday... on Saturday

I'm "linking up" on Momma StJ's blog (which you can find here)

On her blog she has "finding the joy Fridays" - and I'm joining in ... on Saturday!

Two words sum it up for me: Date Night.

Can I get an AMEN! ;)

look - even Connor's excited! :)

Photo Shoot with Sherri

So, in my last post I told you we did a photo shoot with Sherri.  

Here are some pictures from our afternoon, and I think they look pretty good!

Look for more coming soon! :)

Thank you Sherri!  We had fun being "models" and I think the pictures turned out so great!

Weekend :)

Okay, this time I remembered the camera.

We arrived on Friday to Tim and Sherri's house... later then expected since we got rather confused on the back roads of Bradford County... but we made it and enjoyed a delicious dinner with the family!  Tim and Sherri have three kids; Sydney, Kevin, and Alex (in case you don't already know that).

Connor enjoyed hanging out with boys - Kevin and Alex were great playmates while we were there!

Kevin helped feed Connor

Alex was showing Connor the ropes of playing with the toys

We got to see Uncle Bruce while we were there too - he has a camper and showed it off to us.  Sydney was also enjoying spending time with Connor, and working on her crocheting skills - she is a very quick learner!

Uncle Bruce with his camper (and Sydney).

Saterday we enjoyed homemade crepes for breakfast!  We had a photo shoot with Sherri in the afternoon, and then headed out to Owego, NY for my cousin Jonathan's wedding.  We enjoyed the outside ceremony, and then had fun visiting with family, eating good food, and celebrating Jon and Leigh's marriage.

ceremony on the water

Bill and I with the happy couple

Uncle Andrew helped Bill find a way to be a little taller...

Sunday morning we went to church and then came back and enjoyed lunch with everyone.  Over the weekend, Sydney worked on this purse for me.  It's made out of DUCT TAPE.  Amazing huh?  She had one raffled off at her dad's company picnic, and she had someone call to order one!  A business woman in the making!  It is the perfect size for my wallet, coupon holder, and planner. :)

While I was cleaning Connor's room this morning.... look what he did....

he started here...

and ended here! :)

And... I forgot to report the six month stats:

16 pounds, 13 ounces (30th percentile)

26.5 inches (44th percentile)

Camping Trip

So we were camping this past weekend, with the Barton family... the... third annual trip (Raystown, Shawnee, and now Cooks Forest).  

We hiked, 

swam, 

lounged, 

napped, 

cross-stiched,

maybe ladder ball (but I'm  not sure...) 

sandbox time,

3 :30am wake-up from the neighbors putting up a tent, 

grilled food, 

etc. etc.

Where are the pictures?

:(  Oh... we don't have any of our own... 

because I FORGOT the camera!  

Boo.  :(  

But, hopefully this one of Connor will make up for it!

look at that chub!  oh my goodness I can't get enough! :)

We're heading north for a wedding this weekend, 

and I hope to remember to 

pack the camera and take gobs of pictures 

so I can post a whole bunch when we get back. :-D

Toys