Connor is Famous...Again!

We got an email from the park district advertising their fall fest on Saturday and look who popped up!  A 2 year old Connor with a giant pumpkin!  I actually didn't even open the email since I knew we wouldn't be able to go to the fest, but a daycare mom told me about the photo and I found it in my deleted messages.

As soon as I saw the picture, I remember someone taking photos of him that day and I had to sign a release form in case they used them.  Two years later and he's famous!

A Special Outfit from Mama to Daughter

This week, I finally remembered to take a few minutes to dress up Caylee in a special outfit knitted by my Grandma (her Nana).  This outfit was my going home outfit from the hospital when I was born and my mom found it right after Caylee was born.

The styles have changed since 1982 with the big bonnet and wide cardigan, but it's still a classic look.  Her ruffle leggings made it look a little more contemporary!

My grandma is going to be so excited when she sees these photos!

Bradley University offspring

I was reading the newest issue of the Bradley University alumni newsletter when I found this...

I think I know who they're referring to!  MY KID! 

I'm pretty sure I posted about this back when it happened, but I can't find the original blog post.  In the winter issue, they featured Connor wearing his Bradley t-shirt with a little blurb about how we picked his middle name to honor the college we met at.  This note from another alum was so sweet to see!  We actually found out that another boy in Connor's daycare class also has the middle name Bradley after the school where his parents met.  I guess it's more common than we thought!  But it's also great to see how many people really loved going to that school and how it remained such a wonderful memory even after they graduated.

Yellow Pajamas - 1982 and 2011

4th of July Memories

Picnic in the Park

Our neighborhood does a Picnic in the Park every summer with activities and fun for the families that live there.  I used to go when I was younger, so I was excited to take Connor this year.  The activities have evolved and gotten much more fun since I was a kid, so they even had a bounce house and giant slide for them.  Last year, Connor was too young to play, so he just crawled around on the grass and people-watched.

This year, he got to join in the fun!  He was a little nervous to get in the bounce house, but I went with him and he quickly figured out how fun it could be.

No matter how often I tell him to "sit like a big boy" on the slide, he goes down like this.

His favorite activity was the giant slide that we went on together.  It's quite a workout for Mommy to climb up while carrying a heavy little kid, but his smiles were worth it!

A special park

Sunday was the perfect day to drive over to a very special park.  This park is important to Mommy because it was one of my favorite parks when I was growing up.

Although the playground equipment has changed several times throughout the years...

...one little landmark has stayed the same!  

The lion fountain!

I made a point to take a lot of pictures next to it because it was such a great memory for me.  Surprisingly, Connor knew just what to do when we walked over to it.  No water came out, but who cares? It's too cute!

After a tiring & hot morning at the park, we stopped for lunch at a little bagel deli where Connor pigged out on his grilled cheese, fries, and cold milk.

What I will miss about breastfeeding

As breastfeeding is winding down, I get sad when I think about the fact that he won't ever do this again.  He's growing up so fast and quickly turning into a little boy.  I was inspired by this post to write my own little list of what I will miss about it.

1. The special quiet time we shared will be missed.  Connor's quite the little boy and always on the move.  This was really the only time we had together where we could really snuggle, be close, and just spending a special moment together.  I did quickly learn to use my laptop on my nightstand while I nursed him, but we still spent many hours together bonding.

2.  I love looking down at his eyes that were softly closed and his long eyelashes resting on his cheeks.  He usually had his eyes closed while he nursed to just rest and do his thing.

3. This is gross, but it was so easy to clean his ears when he was focused on getting his milk.  Especially when his ear infections were bad, he was never a fan of letting me clean the gunk out of his ears.  The best time for me to do it was when he was occupied while nursing and he didn't mind it at all.

[pause to cry...this is hard for me to write!]

4. I'll miss him saying "milk" and bouncing at the side of the bed with his hands on the top of the mattress while he tries to climb up to our special spot.

5. The boppy pillow represents the many hours we spent together nursing.  We used it from day one and never used anything else.  He knows what that pillow means and I'll miss his eyes lighting up when he sees me pull it out from the special spot between the side of the bed and the nightstand.

6.  It was hard not to laugh every time he would pull at the bottom of my shirt when we would play after dinner and before bedtime.  He knew just what was under my shirt and demanded it.

7.  I will miss this learning experience and special time that we grew and learned together.  Both of us started out as newbies with no clue how to do it and we figured it out quickly.  We adapted as time when on and we made it work for 19 months.

8. I'm proud of the fact that we made it this long and I think it's kind of funny to see someone's reaction when I tell them I am still nursing even though he's [fill in the blank] months.  I'll miss that shock because it was something I was very proud of.  Part of me wishes we could keep going forever.

9.Not that this has happened recently, but I miss the times that he would fall asleep in my arms while nursing.  That milk coma was just too much for him to handle and he would pass out in the middle.  Plus, it was a bonus for us parents because we would just tiptoe down to his room and put him into bed with no fuss at all.

10. Most of all, like Allison said, I'll miss the baby I used to have.  That tiny little innocent newborn is now a growing toddler.  I don't know if I'll ever be able to experience this feeling again, but I loved it so much.

[cue the tears]

Breast-Feeding

Since we're probably going to start weaning the morning feeding soon, I tried to get in a few quick photos just for memories...

The holidays: 2011 vs. 2012

 What a difference a year makes!

Connor's first holiday season - 2011

Connor's 2012 holiday photos

He went from a tiny little guy to Mr. Personality and a big boy!

Notes for the Newly Pregnant

I wrote this post right after I gave birth and just found it now...Still so true!

1. As much as it sounds fun, don't buy all your maternity clothes right away. I know, I know, it's hard when you finally have an excuse to buy new clothes! I figured I'd get a little basketball bump, but I never knew how much my hips and ribcage would expand. Let's just say I had to return a few things (and maybe more than once) because they were too small by the time I went to wear them.

2. Don't buy all maternity clothes that scream,"I'm PG!" The really tight shirts with the elastic on the sides that look super cute with your bump are great when you're pregnant. (Same goes for all the babydoll shirts with the ties in the back) I loved showing off the bump! But you need clothes for after you're pregnant when you're still bigger. It's not fun to wear those bump show-off clothes AFTER you give birth. So buy a few things that look like normal clothes.

3. Enjoy it. Everyone will tell you this and it's true. The weeks go by SO fast and there's so much to think about and plan for. Take the time to enjoy it, sleep, and spend time with your Hubby before your life changes.

4. Morning sickness is not just for first trimester...unless you're lucky. It seems like most people only have it first trimester and then it goes away. Of course, I had it for all three because I'm so special : ) BUT no one tells you that it comes back in third trimester! Just when you think you're starting to feel uncomfortable, it creeps back up!

5. The post-partum healing was so much worse than I ever thought. Maybe I had more swelling than most girls, but it was AWFUL. I couldn't move!

6. The epidural was the best.thing.ever. Once you get it, you feel great! I don't understand how anyone would want to have a drug-free birth when they can be pain-free.

7. Take photos. Lots. Take them during your stay in the hospital, your first week at home, and every day after day. They grow and change so fast that you'll want to look back and remember every precious moment.

8. And going on #7, enjoy every moment. Take a few minutes every day to turn off the tv, computer and cell phone and just spend time with your little one. You'll wish you did this more often.

A year ago today

A year ago today was my first day at work after maternity leave.  

I spent those last few days an emotional mess and treasured every little second with my guy.  I took a zillion pictures of him sleeping because he looked so peaceful.

On our last day together, I dressed him up in his "I <3 and="and" br="br" hanging="hanging" mom="mom" of="of" onesie="onesie" out="out" photos.="photos." tons="tons" took="took" with="with">

On my first morning back, I turned on my computer to find this...

And one year later, that's still my desktop.  (I love my coworkers for doing this for me and putting a smile on my face during that really hard first day back!)

So much has changed in such a short time...

It's hard to believe that a year ago he was a tiny little baby just entering the world and now he's a little person with a wonderful personality!  He was the tiniest and youngest baby at daycare when he started and we laughed at how he couldn't participate in the fun activities because he was so small and still in his newborn clothes & diapers.  Now he's the oldest in his infant class and ready to move up with the toddlers.  He's walking like a pro, eating like someone twice his size, and learning to talk so quickly!  And as his shirt says, he's awesome.  :)

The Little Yellow Table

Anyone who knew me growing up may remember this little yellow table. My sister and I spent many, many hours playing on this table. This was our "kid's table" when we had holidays at our house (we were the only kids!). This was where we painted our nails (see red spot of paint on one side). This was such an important part of our childhood that my parents saved it.

And now look who gets to play with it!

Our Bradley University Baby

I giggled out loud when I saw this envelope in our mailbox - a stork delivering a tiny BU baby!

Dear Connor Bradley,
Welcome to the world - and welcome to the Bradley University family!

OMG, his own little membership card!

And his own little Bradley pennant!

I put his pennant next to his Bradley bear in his room.

I seriously giggled with delight when I saw this! I had no idea they sent these out! I hope they noticed his middle name :)