Blueberries

Connor loves blueberries :)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Michelle!  See you soon!

Peek a Boo

:)

Love and a Haircut

Happy Valentine's Day!  Our oldest (digital) photo - 2004

Connor's first Valentine's Day ~ 2011

Connor got his hair cut last night. !!!!

Here is a before shot (taken a few days ago) to show you his long bangs.  The back of it was getting pretty long too.  It's time for a hair cut when Mom wants to keep clipping the hair up ~ which, for the record, I never did.  Although it was tempting!

We went to the Great Clips right around the corner from home.  When we got there we hung out in the waiting room for a few minutes, but then I decided he should go back and get to watch a little bit before it was his turn.

They had me hold him in my lap... So I didn't get any "during pictures".  But I put him in the chair all by himself when he was done to get the next picture. :)

Here are two more from bath time last night.  He definitely looks like a 'big boy' and not a baby anymore!

He did a great job sitting still and wasn't scared at all!  He even sat still for the clipper part - which was a surprise ~ I was sure he was going to try to grab them, or at least want to look at what was making the noise!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Heritage

for the record... this preference skipped a generation...

Away...

I went away to a conference this past weekend.  It was great!

We left Friday afternoon and went to Sandy Cove ~ near North East, MD.

Here is a view out the window on the way to the dinning room - pretty huh?

I was one of eight ladies from church who came to the retreat.

We had a fun time hanging out, attending the sessions, and eating the delicious food!

The speaker was Christine Wyrtzen, a speaker and musician.  There were four sessions we went to; they all had some singing, and then Christine would speak.  This is a picture of her doing some music to a slideshow.

While I didn't agree with everything she had to say, I still had a great time and felt challenged.  The topic was "powerful prayer".

Connor boy and Dad had a good time here at home - the report was that he was a good boy, but was starting to get a cold.  As of today, he still has a cold... hopefully we'll be on the mend soon!

teeth

can you see them?  There are now four on the top (wahoo!) and one lonely one on the bottom.

I think more are on the way... or we're going to have to start worrying about the drool... ;)

do you grind your teeth?  Connor thinks it's neat to rub the bottom tooth across the top teeth.  

It drives his Dad nuts.  

It makes my skin crawl.

We hope it's only a phase... and a fast one. ;)

12 Month Check In

Doctor's appointment today for the one-year "well-baby" check.

19 lbs. 12 oz. ~ 8th percentile

29 and 3 quarters in. long ~ 45th percentile.

19 in. circumference of his head ~ 90th percentile.

What he lacks in girth he's making up for in brains ;)

He is doing everything a boy his age should be doing, plus some other things... like walking!

He's figured out how to stick his tounge out (kind of) and he also likes to say "Ahhhhhh" after taking a drink from his cup.  He is a speed crawler, and is also walking all over the place.  He waves hello and goodbye, signs please and thank you, says "dada" (Dad) and "ma" (for more, not for Mom).  He likes to look out the window, play with trains and give hugs to all toys.  He knows where his belly, toes, and head are.  He is still a good sleeper.  He keeps us laughing and guessing what will come next!

Love you Connor Boy!

Connor-paloza!

We drove out to Pittsburgh to celebrate with our familes this year for Connor's birthday.

We arrived late in the evening on Thursday.

Friday was the first of two parties.

Here are some pictures and captions from the "Barton party"

game face on, ready for presents!

hugging the sock monkey from Erin and Jared

His shirt said "I'm a wild 1" to match the invitations and semi-theme of the party. :)

hugging the camo from Uncle Paul and Aunt Sandy

trying on suspenders from Pap and Grandma, with Jacob and Grace looking on :)

LOVING the singing!!!

Family photo - Connor's got his eyes on the prize!

Connor signing "please" to have more cupcake... he loved it!

Saturday was Connor's 'official' birthday.  He celebrated after breakfast with another present from Grandma, and presents from Aunt Michelle.

While I went to see wedding dress shopping/buying (!!!!) with bride-Michelle, Connor and Bill went to the Hoffman's for some pre-train Open House time.  We had a nice time at the Open House visiting with family and friends.  Connor LOVES the trains and so it was a great way to spend his birthday - doing something he likes!  He took a great nap (even with all the commotion) and had fun spending time with he cousins.  After the open house was over, we had a birthday party with Connor, Macey and Selah.  Since their birthdays are so close together, we figured it would be more fun that way!  And it was! :)

Macey opening her gift from us with some help from the 'big girls'

Connor opening a gift

It's My Birthday!  :)

Selah liked her Hello Kitty blanket that we gave her ~ Can you believe she will be NINE years old!?!?!

although he doesn't look so happy here, this picture shows Connor's shirt for this party :)

More cupcakes!!! Yum!!!

We left for home on Sunday morning to avoid rain/snow/ice weather that was supposed to come.  No school delay Monday though... bummer.

This week was the start of grad classes for the semester, the end of the semester for Bill at work (meaning, new kids start tomorrow) and a whole lot of organizing all the wonderful gifts we brought back with us!

Our family is so generous and thoughtful.  Everything Connor received is great!

zuu-zuu pet... I'm affectionately calling it Hammie 2 :)

Where Did We Go?

We've been down memory lane this week...

trying to wrap our minds around the fact that he's one.

A Whole Year.

Love. Love. Love. and more Love.

Change. Change. Change. and more Change.

more to come... a recap of Connor-paloza coming soon...

Guthrie

The public library in our town is the "Guthrie Memorial Library"

Connor and I have become regular visitors there, usually once a week we make the trip across town to return our books and hang out for a while before finding new ones to take home.

He's learning to love the library.

He can't see what's in the top bins yet...

favorite part of the books - pushing them from the front of the shelf to the back.

See? He finished the shelf to his right, he's working on the one in front of him.

so many books... so little time...

The Guthrie has three different levels, a "regular" library, a teen library, and then the children's library - where Connor is in the pictures.  They have lots of programs throughout the year, but so far we haven't been to any of those yet - here's to expanding our library activities now that Connor is over being a baby ;)

B for Boy... not Baby...

I've been working on getting things ready for Connor Boy's birthday parties this weekend.

These videos make me laugh and want to cry ~ he's SO big compared to the pictures I'm printing for the baby book.

What a wild year it's been!

:)

Can't wait to celebrate with everyone!

B is also for Birthday -
Happy Birthday Mom Hoffman!
We Love You!

Friends

Connor and Elle

Connor and Daisy

Eli and Connor

Emelia and Connor

Connor loves all his friends - and we love them too!

:)

Going through the pictures...

So I was going through our holiday photos,

and I found this one (which I cropped to share with you)

I think Chloe looks like Aunt Chelle.

:)

I think it's the ponytail.

:)

New Year, New Skills...

Connor's goal for 2012: learn how to juggle.  :)

Welcome to the Family

I've been waiting a long time to write this post, with this song in mind.  Since I got the CD a LONG time ago and first heard this song, I knew I'd have to remember it for this occasion.  So here it is!!

Welcome to the family,

Hope you have a real nice life,

With my little sister,

Yeah, she'll make a real good wife.

If you haven't heard by now, Michelle and Tom are getting married!!!!
They were engaged on Christmas Day.
Very excited!!!


Here's the song - a little tongue in cheek - to Tommy, from us.  :)

and here are the words, in case you can't understand what any country singer is saying while they are singing, like Bill often says... just scroll down and click on "Welcome to the Family".

Love you Michelle!  Love you too Tom, and welcome to the family! ;)

In all seriousness, we do love you.  

and we will hunt you down if you don't treat her right.

I mean, honestly, we love you.

;)