Tough Decisions In Toddler World

Connor has been a little bit more cranky than normal because of the hand, foot, mouth virus (which by the way has spread all through the one's room at school).  The thing about this virus is that you can't always see all the blisters.  A common symptom is to have blisters inside the mouth which can be extremely painful and would make anyone a little grumpy.

We've tried to comfort him with things he doesn't normally get during the day, like the paci.  He has been so good about not wanting the paci unless it's bedtime, however, this week we have given in.  It seems to be the only thing that has calms him down. 

When I talked to the nurse today about his virus, she recommended popsicles to soothe this mouth.  So he got exactly what the doctor ordered!  Connor seemed a little stressed out trying to make the decision between the popsicle and the paci.  So his solution was to take a lick of the popsicle and then the paci.  He went back and forth until his mouth was numb!  For the sake of my sanity this week, we'll just go with whatever works until he's feeling better.

All about Connor!

I haven't posted any pictures of Connor lately, so I decided to dedicate an entire post to just him!!!

He's becoming more independent everyday and my baby days with him are slipping away quickly.  He wants to walk/run everywhere and he is really starting to test our boundaries about how far he can go.  When it comes to eating, he can do it himself.  If I try to feed it to him, he just turns his head. 

Trying to use the fork

Since he couldn't get any on the fork, he tried eating the mac n cheese straight from the bowl.

Eating straight from the bowl didn't work either, so he just dumped it out on the table.

So proud of himself!

(all iPhone pictures)

I thought he would be saying more words by now, but instead he has started to do some sign language.  My big thing with him is to be polite, which takes a lot of patience with a toddler.  Every time he wants something, I say "please" and in return he nods his head and puts his hands on his chest.  Sometimes I just ask "What do we say?" and he does the sign. 

He has also started to shake hands with people (I have no idea where that came from) and he's trying to count to 3.  However, his version of 1, 2, 3 is "Do, Do, DAH!" and then he claps for himself.  Matt and I have found ourselves laughing so hard we are practically crying because of the stuff he comes up with.  We don't even remember life before him!

Atlanta Wedding

Passed out as soon as we got in the car after the wedding (it was an outside wedding where the heat sucked all the energy out of you!)

Have a good week!

 

Life lately. . .

Life lately has been an emotional and physical roller coaster, hence the reason for my blog absence.  It started with Matt and I getting the stomach bug, which completely wiped us out!  Thankfully Connor escaped without any symptoms of sickness, mainly because Gigi and Big Daddy kept him.  After about 48 hours of absolutely no energy, we started to come back to life! 

In the middle of all that came the emotional roller coaster that we are still riding.  Gigi was diagnosed with cancer and it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to hear.  Immediately my mind started racing and tears started flowing.  She promised me that she would be around for a long time and I am definitely going to hold her to that promise!

She has had a consultation with the doctor and the prognosis is good, but will require extensive surgery.  We aren't sure when the surgery will take place, however she is trying to have it done sometime this summer.  This situation has really put life into prospective for me.  I've always taken a lot of things for granted and this has definitely made me take a step back to appreciate everything. 

Timing couldn't have been more perfect for our Florida trip this past week!  Thanks to my dad, the trip has been planned since April (it was my birthday present).  It gave us a chance to get out of Memphis to relax and it also gave Gigi and Big Daddy some quality time with Connor (since Connor didn't go).  The trip was quick because we left on Wednesday and returned Saturday evening.  I definitely felt like a grown up down in Florida this go around because there wasn't any late night drinking or sleeping in!  We wanted to make the most of our time, so the days were spent on the beach and the nights eating out. 

Thankfully the oil hasn't hit Destin too hard yet!  The water was really sea weedy, but warm and there weren't any jellyfish or tar balls that we saw.  (However, the day before we were there several tar balls had washed in and the water was closed temporarily.)  The only effect of the oil spill that we saw was a dozer digging a trench on Friday.  Apparently the trench was there to catch any tar balls that may wash up at night time and the work had to be done during the day so sea turtles wouldn't be run over at night. 

(These are all the pictures I took in Florida...we are horrible about taking pictures of ourselves!)

This morning we met up for breakfast with Gigi, Big Daddy, and Connor.  It was so good to see him!!!  Unfortunately, Connor has gotten the hand, foot, and mouth disease from daycare.  Bless his heart, he has little blisters on his lips and tummy.  It's not the first time he has had it, so I know it just has to run its course. 

Hopefully next year will bring another Florida trip and Connor will be able to go with us!

These boots were made for walking. . .

Connor had his follow up appointment for his tubes today.  Of course we had to wait forever before we could go in the back.  So Connor decided to pass the time by doing a few head stands!  I'm slowing adjusting to the fact that he's not always going to behave.  For me that has been a very big adjustment, but I'm learning to pick my battles with him. The doctor said that his tubes looked great and that he wouldn't have to come back until October (thank goodness). 

iPhone pic (really blurry)

By the time we got home, Connor was extremely cranky.  Nothing was making him happy until he found Matt's boots!  Once he got them on, he just stood there and watched tv.  Oh the life of a 17 month old!!!

Baby Birds

The baby birds finally hatched!!! They hatched a few days ago, but today was the first day I could get a picture because momma dove was off eating.  They are so much bigger than I thought they would be.  I hope they don't get too close to the edge and fall off! 

Connor still loves to check on momma dove and the babies.  He has started walking over to the window and saying "Shhh" with his finger over his lips! It amazes me how he picks up on things, almost kind of scary.

Love For Momma Dove

Connor has a new friend outside his bedroom window.  There is a momma dove who built her nest on Connor's windowsill!  She has two eggs that she's been keeping very warm day and night.  I swear she never leaves the nest, the poor thing is probably starving. 

Momma Dove

Sorry the picture isn't very good, but I didn't want to get too close

Anyways, the dove has become part of our morning and bedtime routine.  As soon as Connor gets up he has to say hi to the dove and he has to say bye bye at night.  He's learned to be really quiet and still so he doesn't scare her off.  I'm not sure how long until the little birdies hatch, but I'm anxious to see how Connor does.  Now that he has super sonic hearing (from his tube surgery) I'm afraid the non-stop chirping is going to keep him awake.  Until then, we'll just enjoy Momma Dove!

Connor saying good night

Just being cute