STATS

Last Friday, we had Elli's 2.5 year check- up and Connor's 1 year check-up at the doctor.  I've taken the kids to the doctor by myself numerous times, but this trip was a bit more chaotic than the previous trips. This trip wore me out!!  Elli woke up very early that morning and the appointment was right in the middle of Connor's morning nap, so I knew it could be a rough trip.  Connor kept wanting to walk up the ladder, Elli was scared (even though the day before she said "I LOVE shots. I like Dr. Tyler," Connor also didn't want anything to do with the dr., and Elli kept begging for a treat to be good.  It was really hard to talk to Dr. Tyler seeing as how it was pure chaos in the room.  I don't remember much of what we talked about, but I do remember that he was very pleased with the development of both kiddos.  Elli's 2.5 year stats are: 26.4 lbs (10-25%) and 36 in. (50%).  Connor is 19 lbs (10-25%) and 30 in. (50-75%).  

Elli only got one shot, the flu shot.  She kept saying "I don't want a bandaid. Mom, you tell them. I don't want a bandaid."  Connor received 3 vaccinations and the first dose of his flu shot.  We have to go back in September for the second 1/2 of it.  Unfortunately, this was probably the last time seeing our pediatrician, as he is opening up a membership-only practice.  We've really enjoyed him as our pediatrician!

We all survived and even managed to go grocery shopping after the appointment.  I'm not sure why I ever thought having 1 kid was difficult!

When Mom's Away....

I'll post about our trip to Dale Hollow soon, but there are a million pictures to sort through and that post will take me forever.  So in the meantime, here are some pictures from Scott, Elli, & Connor's weekend.  I left Scott at home with the kids (his first time with them both for more than 3 hours) and went to Cincy with some of my friends for a weekend away.  Scott sent me numerous pictures from the weekend!  

He sent me this picture and his email said "look how big we've gotten...Elli is in size 11 shoes and Connor is walking"

Apparently, he let Elli pick out whatever she wanted to wear and she didn't do too bad :)

He managed to get both kids ready and take them to the mall after Connor boycotted his morning nap!

This pictures screams "Germs!" Scott said Connor would start smiling and then roll all over the floor.  I'd be shocked if he doesn't get sick within the next couple days, BUT at least he had fun!!

Daddy took the kids to the "Micky Mouse Store" as Elli refers to it!  He said she grabbed everything in sight and wanted to try everything on.  He had to convince her to keep her clothes on, as she started stripping down in an attempt to try on the other clothes.  She picked out a Cinderella nightgown and Connor got some 'Cars' figurines.  Elli walked around the whole mall in her nightgown after she got it!

They also played outside for awhile!  

He was able to get both kids ready, fed, and out the door for church by 8:00!  When I got home, Scott asked Elli if she missed Mommy and she said "No."  Then she looked up at me, smiled, and said "I love you. I just teasin' you." However, I think both kids had a blast with Daddy, as they were pretty attached to him yesterday!

Oh, and don't feel bad for Scott.  He spent most of yesterday at a fantasy football draft with 7 other guys :)

1 Year Party

We started out Connor's 1 year birthday celebration with presents the morning of his birthday, his favorite meal for dinner, and ice cream afterwards!  Here he is opening gifts on his birthday....

This past Saturday, we celebrated with our friends and family.  There was a total of 31 guests there including kids and babies (35 if you count the 4 of us).  We had a packed house, but it was fun to get everyone together to celebrate our little guy!!

I attempted to make Connor's cake this year, which turned out so much better than Elli's 1st year birthday cake.  Scott's Aunt Brenda sent me directions and so I gave it a try!

I had cupcakes and Connor's smash cake made at meijer.  They were able to coordinate the colors to match the decorations!

Some pictures of the decorations....

I didn't get a picture of everything completed, but here is an idea.  Our menu included: pulled pork, taco dip, finger jello, mac & cheese, fruit, and relish tray.  We also had little 'airplane snacks.'

Randy flew all the way in from GA to celebrate Connor's birthday.....OR to help Grandma and Grandpa Brauchler move and his party just happened to be on the same weekend.

The kids loved playing outside on the new swing set!

Connor with his airplane Papa Lindvall made him for Christmas.  

Some of our house guests.... (I think I missed a few)

Getting ready to open gifts!

A lot of this was going on!  Now Connor loves pop (thanks to the Papas)

This girl couldn't wait for cake!!

Connor wanted that cake the second he saw it!

Digging in....

 And then he started playing in it!

 Connor enjoyed playing with the gifts more than opening them.  

 Kensley and Elli had no problem stepping in to help him play with the gifts!!

We had a good day and lots of fun!  Thanks to everyone who came out to help us celebrate one very, very special little boy!  And thanks to our moms who helped make food, serve food, and clean up the food!  

*I also have a DVD of Connor that we had playing during the whole party....I'll have to post that at a later date!

1 Year Old

Dear Connor,

I can't believe you are 1 year old!  Your personality is developing more and more each day!  There has been many, many changes within the last month!!  You took your first step on July 20th and have been taking steps here and there ever sense.  You still prefer to crawl, but I'm convinced that one day you will just take off.  You've taken up to at least 8 steps at one time and then usually instead of falling you just sit down and decide you don't want to go anymore :)  You also got your first tooth last Monday, August 13th.  It seemed to bother you, but after a few days you were fine.  We switched you to whole milk last Sunday night and you seem to really enjoy it way more than your formula.  Nowadays, you prefer it cold.  You don't take 8 oz. of it at a time like your sister did, but instead just get in all your ounces at various times throughout the day.  You are also bottle-free since last weekend and are doing great with it!  Connor, you were pretty upset with us the first night we offered you a sippy cup instead of your bottle and somewhat upset the 2nd night; however, you have quickly forgotten about bottles!!  And lastly, you are officially PACIFIER-FREE.  Yep, we went cold turkey on the paci last night.  You were not happy last night and it took you about 1.5 hours to fall asleep, but you slept all night without any trouble.  It took you about 15-20 minutes to fall asleep during your morning nap and a little over an hour to fall asleep for your afternoon nap (the paci isn't the only thing to blame for this....you took a really good morning nap and slept for quite awhile....I don't know that you were fully ready to go to sleep in the afternoon).  You had little trouble at bedtime tonight....only took you about 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep!  With each nap and bedtime, this will get easier and easier as you adjust to sleeping without the pacifier.  I'm really proud of how you've done....you LOVED that paci!!  Elli is also now taking away her baby's pacifiers saying "I take Baby Sally's paci away. She's too old.  She's 2 now."  

You and your sister are playing more and more with each other.  Elli is often very interested in toys that you play with and has no problem taking them away from you.  You, of course, throw a mini fit!  A year ago, she wanted you out of the house, but now she LOVES having your around!  Nowadays I hear, "I wanna play with Bubby for a few more minutes," "I like Bubbies," "I wanna go wake bubby up," "Where's Bubby?"  She loves bossing you around and occasionally wants to play like you are HER baby.  She doesn't quite understand that you are too big for her to pick you up!

You enjoy listening to music and I love to watch you dance.  You enjoy 'driving' your riding toys, climbing all over the place, throwing balls, giving your stuffed animals hugs, climbing all over the place, playing with blocks, and did I mention climbing!!!!  You are not much of a reader these days and I'm lucky to get 3 books read to you in a whole day!  You just don't sit still long enough for them!  But you do like pointing to pictures in the books!  Your new trick is telling us what a dog says.  You smile real big and say "wuh, wuh, wuh, wuh."  You are babbling up a storm!!

You are a relatively good eater and aren't too picky.  However, you are starting to show a preference to some foods over others.  Your favorite food is crackers- you love them.  I can't get them out without you going crazy.  You also have quite the sweet tooth and love ice cream, cookies, and cake!!  You usually make a huge mess while eating, getting food on the floor, in your hair....everywhere!!  Your new thing is that you want to feed yourself and I usually let you attempt this with oatmeal.  You do a pretty good job getting the spoon to your mouth when the oatmeal is put on there for you.  You also like to take bites of things rather than having someone cut them up for you- your independence is already starting to show through!

We were lucky to get this photoshoot done!  The second we put you down, you were on the move.  Your Daddy was very creative in getting some smiles out of you!

Happy 1st birthday to our sweet, sweet little boy!  Life just wouldn't be the same without your little smile and giggle!