Baby is growing up too fast!

Connor is 8 weeks old on Thursday.

Our little son is so much fun, we are constantly laughing at the little things he does. He is surprising us in all of his new little developments and strengths. Boy Oh Boy he is growing up. I look back at pictures of him when he was just born and already seems like so long ago, and so much has changed. How does that happen? How does time just slip away? I am trying very hard to not say things like "I can't wait for him to crawl. I can't wait for him to sit up. I can't wait for him to talk...etc.", because I can wait. I can wait for it all because I am enjoying all the things he does now, like smile and kick his legs and drool and stare at Mommy and Daddy and hold his head up and lull him to sleep in your arms as you pat his back. There are so many things that we just love! We can't get enough of him. We are both so happy, as our family grows the love that we share is just insurmountable. I love my life, with this little boy. I love my life with our little family. Watching Shea smile and laugh and brag about our boy makes me just fill up inside with an overwhelming amount of gratitude. Shea loves being a father and I have never met someone that lights up around his son as much as him. It is so sweet to see him singing and playing with Connor.  It makes me all the more anxious to have more!

Away in Dreamland

Bath Time

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MESA FALLS

On Monday we went to Mesa Falls with some friends. It was nice to get out and have a little adventure. Shea just finished another semester of school and being able to enjoy the great outdoors was a nice treat. We have been very busy this summer, especially Shea. Having a baby around makes basic chores a hassle, I am still working on getting somewhat of a schedule down. We hope to have a lot of fun family trips this August, since it is Shea's only break from school. In September he has to get back to school. Relaxing and spending time as a family is our main goal for the summer break. Shea is working from 9-5 this summer at the school and weekends are all play time. So we are starting our planning now.

Mesa Falls was beautiful and Connor loved the sound of the waterfall. He just stared and stared, that is after he woke up finally. Connor loves sleeping and can't resist doing it every chance he gets. It was so green all around and it reminded me of the green in Maryland.

Craving Cupcakes

Today I am craving some of my Mom's Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. But since I am not pregnant anymore I decided I won't give in to my craving. Plus I am just too lazy to go out to the store, lug Connor around in his car seat, and buy cream cheese to make them.  

I love cream cheese and anything with cream cheese, for instance my favorite kind of cake is chocolate cheese cake. I have had it for my birthday almost every year since I was 14. These cupcakes are one of my all time favorites. When I make them I usually think to myself, "Wow this is a lot of cupcakes I will have to share..." So I plan to give some to friends, but they never end up leaving our home I eat 90% of them before Shea even knows I made them.

So I thought I would share the recipe, in case anyone else is craving some chocolate and cream cheese combo.

CREAM CHEESE CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKES  

Cream cheese mixture:  

8 ounce cream cheese package
1 egg
1/3 sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup of chocolate chips

Chocolate cake mixture:

1 ½ cup flour
1 cup sugar
¼ cup coco
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tbs vinegar
1 tbs vanilla

Directions:
Use a mixer as you combine the ingredients for both mixtures 

Use Aluminum Muffin Tins

Fill muffin tins 1/3 full of chocolate cake and a tablespoon of cream cheese

Makes about 20-24 cupcakes

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes

Refrigerate (I like them cold!)

Our First Family Fourth

Happy 4th of July!

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday honoring the birthday of the United States of America. The adoption of the Declaration of Independence was on July 4, 1776, which declared our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

This was our little family of three's first fourth of July. We enjoyed the time we had together lighting off fireworks at Shea's parents house. It was a lot of fun and we were impressed with our little bright light show.

Watching with Daddy

Wide Eyed

Family Fun

Lots of Fireworks

All bundled up (Even the loud fireworks couldn't keep him awake for long)

Cuddling with Mommy after the fireworks

Connor had lots of fun with his cousin Jonas. It was Jonas's first fourth of July too. Jonas is only 2 1/2 months older. They had matching outfits so we did a little photo shoot. They loved squirming around while watching each other intently. We even put on some music for them to dance to. It will be so much fun when they get a little bigger and can really play together.  

Engagement Anniversary

Our Engagement Story

It all began when we met at school and fell in love. But when the summer came we had to say our goodbyes as we went our separate ways. Shea went to Nashville, Tennessee to sell alarm systems for the summer and I went to Frederick, Maryland to work and spend the summer with my family. We spent as much time as we could on the phone, racking up a nice long bill on both ends. When Shea finally made enough money he bought me a plane ticket to come visit him in July. I was ecstatic.

 

Seeing him at the airport to pick me up was one of the biggest reliefs of my life. Spending the summer without him was so hard and we both longed to be with one another. We spent our time in Tennessee visiting the sites and making a trip to the mall :) Most of the time Shea and I just played with his new friends from work (all married LDS couples). On July 4th I guessed that this might be the big day when he popped the question. So you can guess my disappointment when we had a quiet evening together watching movies, with nothing planned.

 

The next day I awoke to a phone call from Shea telling me that he had to work for a little while today since he had an appointment he couldn’t skip. I was so bummed to hear that I wouldn’t be seeing him for awhile (I was staying with his married friends so I just hung out there). Since I wasn’t expecting much for the day, I took a quick shower and put on some sweats. When Shea came to pick me up he told me I might want to change since he had a special date planned for dinner tonight. This was my first big clue that this might be it! I tried not to get my hopes up though, fearing that I might be disappointed again. While Shea was changing and getting ready too, I called my Mom and filled her in. I was so excited on the phone, but also a little cautious. My end of the call went a little something like this “This is it! Well maybe. I don’t know, but this seems pretty special, so it could be. Or he could just be trying to make this trip really fun. He said he didn’t have money for a ring so it’s probably not going to happen, but maybe. I will call you right after.”

When we got in the car Shea told me he had a present for me. Then he reached in the back of the car …

I got really excited and a little bummed in that two seconds, here’s what I was thinking “This could be it, but the car. He is going to propose in the car. That stinks. Oh well I love him.”

… Then he pulled out a bottle of lotion with a bow on it. This was devastating. I knew right then (or thought I knew) that he wasn’t going to propose. Why would he get me a present unless he felt bad for me, and knew I was hoping for “the ring” tonight. So I thought this present was to prepare me for a night of fun but no big on one knee moment. So we started driving on our way to dinner.

I was still kind of sad but not trying to act sad, which accounts for the fact that my head was down the whole drive so as to not show my disappointment. Which ended up making me car sick. Perfect. I was contemplating how I was going to tell him we had to pull over so I could … when he pulled into a parking lot. Were here! Okay so I thought I was in the clear, until I stepped outside into the blistering heat. AKA: Heat only makes me more nauseous. So now Shea leads me over to a long line for a boat. Wow, now my mind is running wild. “This is big”, I am thinking, “maybe he is going to propose”. And great I am sick. So we are waiting in line forever and I am feeling worse and worse, I am starting to think I am going to have to tell him I can’t go. But I am worried this really is the real thing, so it stick it out and start eyeing the bathrooms near by…

side note:
They are checking everybody’s stuff jackets, purses, etc. Shea has a jacket with him so last minute he whispers to me that it is too hot for a jacket and runs to go put it in the car, I have to run to the bathroom we lose our spot in line and have to go all the way to the back to start waiting again. I am feeling worse now and thinking I will probably faint before we get onboard.

Finally we make it on board and by this time I am hoping I can sit down and relax, I am not even disappointed that there is no little black box bursting from his pockets. I am too sick by this point. I am trying very hard to show enthusiasm for this wonderful date. We walk around trying to find a place to sit, and while we chat we try to ignore the fact that I am looking a pale green. Eventually the heat from the day starts to ease up, and it turns to dusk. The sun sets. YAY!

I start to feel better now and Shea gives me tickets. He says that the next surprise is tickets to dinner and a show onboard. Fun. So we go find our seats. I am feeling great now. Since it is air conditioned in the dinner/show room. I am enjoying our food and the company and the beautiful boat. When Shea asks if I would like to take a little walk around the boat. We went outside and it was beautiful the stars were glittering off of the river. Shea was very quiet. I asked him if he was alright and he said he was sea sick(AKA: Nerves ). I got a little worried. But within minutes Shea was reminding me of when we first met and how perfect he thought I was. And he told me some very beautiful things but by this point I had caught on and was in shock. Then came the ring and the one knee and the rest is history.

Watching the show

Proposal

The Perfectly Gorgeous Ring

(Shea picked it ALL by himself)

The day after we were so happy we just beamed,

and I told Shea I had to walk on his left,

so he could hold my right hand,

so my left hand would be visible,

so the world could see my beautiful ring.

 I was so proud!

Why this long post? Well today is our two year engagement anniversary. Shea is taking me to dinner tonight to celebrate. (I did have to remind him that today was a special day, but he remembered after that.)

It is hard to believe that it has been two years since Shea proposed and we made our love and commitment to one another known to the world. I love Shea so much and I couldn't be happier than I am right now. Shea is constantly aware of my feelings and is sensitive to my needs and happiness. I enjoy our quiet moments together as much as I do our moments of celebration. Shea is my best friend and I can tell him anything. I am so grateful for our constant communication and affection for one another that is continuing to grow. We learn more about each other every day, and as the years pass I know that we will become even stronger and closer as a couple. I am so happy I can be sealed to someone who looks at me and makes my knees go weak every time, I am so happy to be able to hold his hand for eternity.

ONE MONTH VICTORIES

Our baby boy is one month old (yesterday), and is doing great. We are loving every moment with this little guy. He brings us so much happiness, it is amazing how much love he brings into our home. Shea and I are so happy. We are constantly watching him learn and grow, he is teaching us many lessons in patience as well :) He is such a good baby though, he is so happy and loves to sleep. When he cries they are quiet and quick little bursts, most people can't believe thats the extent of his unhappiness. We are just spoiled with such a well behaved baby.

We had a WIC appointment at the beginning of last week and he weighed 9 lbs 10 oz. He is in the 50th percentile for weight and the 25th percentile for height (I don't remember his exact height). Our little man is growing so big and strong!

 

I think now is a good time for an update on our Connor. His eyes are still a blue-gray like most newborns, but they may very well stay that way just like Daddy's. His poor little face is struggling with baby acne break-outs (as seen in the picture above). His newborn clothes are getting a tad too small, and 0-3 months is a tad too big still. But both sizes fit him for now as he lingers in the in between. He is still loving his swing. And a new trick we have tried, which hasn't failed us yet, is when he gets fussy we warm a blanket up in the dryer and wrap him in it and rock him to sleep, he is out within minutes (Mommy's idea I might add!). Connor still stays relatively warm all the time, except those feet, which we keep socks on. His daily apparel is a onesie, and he rarely wears pants (partly due to the fact that Daddy hates having to put them back on after he changes his diaper, so they never stay on long).

 

Baby Connor's milestones at one month old:

• Lifts head when lying on tummy
• Lifts head for short periods of time 
• Moves head from side to side
• Stares at faces
• Follows objects (Daddy) briefly with eyes

• Brings hands to face (he enjoys sucking on them briefly)
• Is starting to make cooing sounds
• Responds to loud sounds

What is Baby Connor liking at one month?

• Baths with Daddy
• Being held, by anyone and everyone- Mommy and Daddy would like to think he likes being held by us the best :)
• Listening to running water, it calms him down
• Music, again it's calming to him
• Car rides (they put him to sleep everytime, but he has to be moving - he hates waiting for fast food )
• Red Curtains, he will just stare and stare at the red curtains in our bedroom and he smiles at them more than he does Daddy or Mommy
• Windows and being outside, he is fascinated with the world outside

What is Baby Connor disliking at one month?

• Getting the pacifier (he will take the pacifier but he fights against at first)
• When the pacifier falls out after he has started sucking on it
• Changing clothes
• Loud noises
• Stuffy noses
• Bright lights when he is trying to sleep, he will put his hand over his face sometimes to block it.
• Upset tummy
• When Mommy and Daddy laugh at him when he is crying, because we even think that is too cute

Mommy and Daddy's favorite things about Baby Connor:

• Connor loves to sleep and eat. We can't help but just watch him in such a peaceful state. He looks so serene and we can't believe this precious baby is all ours. He is just so sweet.
• Connor makes lots of noises, but the ones we hear the most are grunts. He will grunt while he is being fed, while he is sleeping, when he is upset, when he is squirming. He is so funny, he is like a little caveman grunting to try and communicate with us. So cute. 
• Connor will wrap his long toes from one foot around his toes from the other, it is so funny. And he will cling on so close to you, he just loves being held like a little monkey. Shea's favorite nickname for Connor is "Monkey Man". 
• Connor never spits-up, he will just gag and swallow it. Which worries me a little sometimes. But he now has picked up the habit of drooling, he will blow little drool bubbles and leave a nice little drool spot on your shoulder when you hold him. We love it.
• Connor has a birthmark on his back, a red little spot. Connor has a double hair cowlick in the front. It is very frustrating when Mommy wants to brush his hair nice and neat. When Connor wants to be fed he will do this cough-like cry. Those little things make him perfectly unique, and just remind us that he is all ours!