Daddy Spoils

Daddy and Connor have always been best buds. And it helps that Daddy is the spoiler in this family. He can't resist giving Connor a taste (or more) of anything that he shows a particular interest in. So Daddy is keeping his position of favorite for now...

A blue "Airhead" (candy) Treat

Late Night Popsicle

Saturday Morning Donuts!

A Little Lesson in Love

Sometimes we have to set some time aside for "US" time. We try and do an "US" date every other date. Connor has fun playing at the Stanger house, while we get to have time together, away from routine worries. We try very hard not to discuss finances or work or chores. Sometimes we play a game I like to call "You make me happy!" we go back and forth telling each other things that we love about each other since we've been married. (This is especially a good game after a bad day or "disagreement" or if your in a "slump".) You get such a good feeling hearing how much you make your spouse happy, with little to big things. Like, "I love that you do the dishes, because I hate doing dirty dishes" or "I love that you are such a careful driver, and are always giving me tips in an uplifting way." It makes such a difference to feel appreciated and just inspired to continue daily life, because you know your spouse is at your side. Sometimes I admit I feel like "Wow, I do so much. And he doesn't notice." But this game is like a rejuvenation that he does notice and that what I do is important and is appreciated and it makes us both happy. Even if every little thing you do doesn't get mentioned, it helps me realize why I do what I do everyday.

Anyway some Tuesdays we like to have a $2 Movie Night. We show up an hour early, to walk and talk and play our game. We both love date night.

While talking recently we discussed how sad it is the state of marriage has become. People commonly get divorced and infidelity is far from a rare aspect of society. It makes us both cringe to think of friends or ward members that struggle in their marriage and give up. It is just sad and we can't help but think what happened, how could you just abandon the person you vowed to keep happy and the person you were sealed to for eternity. Obviously the media and the world are weighing matters that tear families apart.

Shea and I are just so against divorce and so committed and loyal people that it kills us to know that a marriage has failed for someone we even remotely know. We communicate really well and sometimes I think our communication is on overdrive. But I love it. I tell Shea every little aspect of my day and if I don't get a call and several texts from him throughout the day I am depressed because I am missing him SO much. I know it makes me sound pathetic, but I seriously love feeling so close to him and that we are a part of each others day, even when we are not with each other. I love hearing about how his day went and what made him sad or mad or happy. We feel the happiest together and it is devastating to think that some marriages are on the brink because they lack unity.
This is not to say we are perfect by any means, we both have flaws and weaknesses. But we feel so good about our marriage and so loved in it that it just hits me sometimes how lucky we are. We are so lucky to be loved and to be happy and to feel strength through one another.
This talk was shared in our ward recently, and I really enjoyed it and all the little things we can do to keep that "oneness in marriage" there:

Excerpt from "Oneness in Marriage" by Pres Spencer W Kimball
 "Love is like a flower, and, like the body, it needs constant feeding. The mortal body would soon be emaciated and die if there were not frequent feedings. The tender flower would wither and die without food and water. And so love, also, cannot be expected to last forever unless it is continually fed with portions of love, the manifestation of esteem and admiration, the expressions of gratitude, and the consideration of unselfishness.
 Total unselfishness is sure to accomplish another factor in successful marriage. If one is forever seeking the interests, comforts, and happiness of the other, the love found in courtship and cemented in marriage will grow into mighty proportions. Many couples permit their marriages to become stale and their love to grow cold like old bread or worn-out jokes or cold gravy. Certainly the foods most vital for love are consideration, kindness, thoughtfulness, concern, expressions of affection, embraces of appreciation, admiration, pride, companionship, confidence, faith, partnership, equality, and interdependence."

Life is just better when you look at your spouse and can say "I am happy!".

Stanger Babe

Our Stanger Girl is on her way. That's right we got another ultrasound and it is officially a GIRL! So we are having excited conversations about our new addition daily. Planning and longing, for her to be here and join us already.

21 Weeks

24 Weeks

28 Weeks

I am now 7 months, 28 weeks down 12 to go. My pregnancy with Connor was slow and just got slower, that anticipation of your first just made the time even longer it seems. This time around I have lots of distractions, Connor being the main one. And wow it is such a blessing because even though I am still anxious for our sweet babe, the wait seems to be much more bearable. Only 3 months left!

Here is a little doctor report from our appointment this week:
Baby:
Measuring perfectly (maybe even a little ahead)! Wonderful strong heartbeat of the 130's.
She is moving lots, Shea felt her for the first time at 26 weeks. He was thrilled. Lots of movement has been inner; kicking lungs, ribs, bladder, kidneys, and all that fun stuff.
Mommy:
Healthy and happy. I had my glucose test, (which is routine now) and the results came out negative. So no worries there. And I am still feeling great! This week I am getting the baby butterflies though, I can't wait for our little ladybug to arrive! I mean it is really coming up now.

We have started shopping more! YAY! And now I can't stop. Bows, leggings, jackets, and dresses. Where to begin?

A WILD ADVENTURE!

Today we explored the Tautphaus Park Zoo, in Idaho Falls!

It was Connor's first ZOO adventure. Shea's family joined us for our WILD day of fun!

The most adorable part was Connor's sounds! The first friend we met was an Asian Squirrel we got to see them pretty close, only the cage separating us, Connor just "oohhh"-ed and "oohhh"-ed at them as they jumped all around the branches. 

Connor, Grandpa Stanger and the Pelicans

Every time we saw an animal that Connor had an interest in he would growl at it. It was pretty much the cutest thing of the day. I loved hearing Connor growl as we passed each exhibit! It made the Zoo worth the walking. And when you have a child at your side excited for the adventure of it all, you don't have any regrets (even if your 7 months pregnant)!

Aunt Ellie and Connor 

Petting a donkey with Daddy

We got to meet some friends at the petting zoo, but Connor wasn't too fond of getting to know them. He is more of an observer than a petter. 

A scary lion!

When we saw something exciting (say the Zebra's)
Connor would look for me and want me to come over closer to see.
So he would point and grunt at me. 

Connor even wanted to imitate the monkeys. We could hear the monkeys screeching throughout our whole park adventure. So Connor tried to make some noise back.

Screeching Monkeys!
(And when we visited them they were silent, silly little things.)

He got a little exhausted at the end, after running around, following Daddy through the park, and meeting all sorts of new friends. As we were leaving we passed a duck pond where Connor heard they quacking banter. So the rest of the walk to the car we had a "quack"-ing Con Duck with us. 

After such a WILD adventure we were starving so we stopped at Five Guys Burgers and had what else? Burgers and Fries. Connor got to have some munchies while we ate, even though he was wearing down he was such a happy boy! What can we say we have a kid that thrives on attention!

Finally we got home and were able to relax after a day in the sun with lots of walking!

A Shea Day!

HAPPY 26th!

Shea had a birthday, shout HOORAY! (Friday, August 12th)
Unfortunately he ended up having a full day of work, a hard day at that. So it was a big relief to come home and get to spend the rest of his day with family.
I got him a couple things and he seemed to enjoy those little surprises. Life is amazing when you get to share it with someone you adore. Seeing happy faces and hearing laughter is truly the greatest! And we had a fun day full of wiggles and giggles. Connor loved all the excitement, as he gets older, month by month, he is learning and expressing more and more of his personality. Connor is a "GOOF" he loves to laugh and make people laugh and to get excited and see others excited.

We went to Shea's parents and had a special dinner with the family.
AND we got to enjoy Shea's favorite dessert, his Mom's Mousse Cake!
(Shea even got a separate cake to take home and enjoy!)

We had a lot of fun celebrating and giving Shea lots of KISSES!

WE are so grateful for all he does for our little growing family. He works HARD! And it is much appreciated. Then he comes home and always remembers to give lots of hugs and kisses to Connor and I. We play and relax and we LOVE being a family!

Squeal Piggy Squeal

Connor loves animal noises, I do random ones all the time for him and his favorites are:
Bear: GRRR
Rooster: COCK A DOODLE DOO
Doogie: BARK BARK RUFF RUFF
Lion: ROAR
Piggy: SNORT SNORT SQUEAL

He gives me big smiles and tryies to GRRR and ROAR back at me, with Piggy he laughs and laughs. He loves hearing Mommy snort and squeal.
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Since it is nice out most days when Daddy comes home from work we take Connor to the park and get snow cones sometimes. Connor likes the swing and loves the slide. He will go down the slide all by himself. And he squeals like a piggy. He gets a little scared. So out comes the squeal. It is adorable.

On Saturday we finally made it to the splash park at Porter Park. It is a free water park for young kids with fountains and a slide. It is a lot of fun and always a popular place. We have been wanting to take Connor all summer long but every time we get ready to go it seems to fall through.
Saturday was a perfect day. It was in the 80's and such nice weather for an adventure with water. Connor had a lot of fun discovering the splash fountains and playing with some other toddlers. He was a little nervous but all in all it was definitely a success.


Con was so cute. He would stand back and touch the spraying water but was a little afraid of it too. He kept running away and then running back to play with it again.

This is his curious face.

He would loose balance if we didn't hold onto
him as he played. He held so tight!

SMILE

He was so distracted by all the kids and LOVED it!

Poor little boy the sun was so bright and he would try and look
at the camera but every time he squinted really hard. It was adorable!

Daddy and Connor were buddies the whole time. Daddy watched and played, while I did a lot of picture taking. I love my boys! They are always so cute together, he would look up and start jabbering at Daddy! It was an exciting trip for our little Con Man!

Walking through the fountain...

Afterwards we had some fun on the playground.

This was a big slide, he was a little nervous
 for this one. But did great, with a little Daddy help. 

Daddy kept pointing at the camera to try and get him to look
at me for a picture, so then he decided to point too!
I love his knew point at everything discovery!

Then we walked home and Connor exhausted. After two licks of a popsicle (to cool him down) he was out!

Shhh

Connor has always been such a good baby, his favorite past time was sleeping for quite awhile. He sleeps in all different positions. I love catching my child in peaceful slumber. Even though now he isn't always keen on sleeping, he is still an adorable little snoozer. It is remarkable to see my sweet little sleeper from birth till now, look for yourself.

A few days old

One week old

A few weeks old

1 Month

1 1/2 Months

2 Months

2 Months

4 months

7 months

9 months

14 months

I just love my sleeping baby!