Hey-Let's Play!

You quickly run out of entertainment ideas for a child when its fah-reezing outside all the time! This past week we ventured out to some wonderful indoor play areas to help pass the time. First, we hit up "Monkey Playhouse" and then "Chick-fil-a". Nothing better than cheap entertainment to keep your child happy :).

Connor was having a blast tossing each individual ball outside of the ballpit. It was after I cleaned up each individual ball that I looked up to read the GIANT BOLD sign that read "No throwing balls outside of the ballpit!" Whoops...

As if Connor needs another item to play with--next on our list--A bounce house!

This child loves to climb...

SOOOO excited to play at Chick-fil-a! Kept running circles around the play area.

Peek-a-Boo!....Gosh he's cute :)

Connor's 1st Parade!

It is extremely necessary (according to the Official Mother Handbook), to document every one of your child's "firsts". Yesterday was one of them. It was Connor's 1st Parade (and Fair). Although the Cape Coral Parade is nothing more than the Shriner's Club, a few dressed up children, the Mayor, and whoever Miss Cape Coral/Fort Myers was...it was still his first Parade! It happened to be one cold, windy parade that we apparently got to too early, so spent a good time walking to kill time & to stay warm! In the process of killing time, we took a stroll around the tiny Fair that was set up. We decided Connor may LOVE the "SuperSlide," so we went for it! Papa went to wait in the ticket line, while I tried to hold a place in line (nothing like waiting in a long line with a toddler that won't stand still!) Just as I was looking around the see just how many tickets this slide would take, Papa came up with six tickets...yes, this fancy slide was six dollars! Now I had the pressure of keeping my child happy in line & hope he absolutely loved this slide knowing we paid six bucks! :) Once the lovely lady handed me our straw-like, brown, holey sack to sit on, Connor & I started our way up the never ending staircase. Ever held a 30 lb child on your hip that is pushing off of you to get down, while climbing a staircase a good 200 steps high & about a foot wide, on an extremely windy day?!?!? It was at that moment that I became slightly afraid of heights. We got to the very top & then I was trying to figure out how I could put Connor down, get him to stay right there, while I set up our oh-so-sanitary brown sack to sit on. Thank goodness I was successful! Once we plopped ourselves on our sack, I gave a quick check to Nana at the bottom to make sure she was 'camera ready'...as it would only devastate me to not have a photo memory of this very moment! We heaved down the slide & as everyone noted, Connor was grinning all the way down! After it all, I was glad we went! After much more walking to kill time before the Parade, we finally reached the starting time for it to begin! God Bless whatever float came by in the very beginning of the Parade tossing out tiny stress balls, because Connor was then content for the rest of the Parade with his new ball! :) We ended the evening with more walking to the car parked over-way-yonder and pizza at Papa Joe's. We had a great night!

My face reads: Please God lets avoid a meltdown in line.


Letting Connor play in the rocks/dirt to keep him content while waiting in line...


Bracing myself for the "SuperSlide"






Watching the Parade (or for Connor, enjoying his new stress ball)

Video #2

Mr. Smarty pants caught in action as he learned a new trick.

Goof ball

A good time for Connor = nudity, a toy ball, something to climb, and a bed to roll on.

As promised...

Here's a short video made this past week. Funny little kid....

Video one:
Connor was getting a kick out of having power over Coop & feeding him his goldfish crackers.

Quick note...with photos to follow

I am guilty of blogging at work this morning, so no access to photos at this time. Yes I know--this makes for a rather boring post, but I wanted to make a note before I forgot/got too busy.

Pretty sure a few days ago I noted that Connor is fascinated with pulling doors open & closed in the house. He just recently started to enjoy pushing the door closed completely to hear it latch & then would wait for me to come open it, so he could repeat the whole process. Pretty sure I also noted that it would only be a matter of time before Connor figured out how to open the door himself.

Well, Mr. Smarty Pants realized that he is, indeed, tall enough to reach the door knob himself. As I was unloading the diaper bag after an outing the other night in the kitchen, the little wise guy decided to see what happened when he turned the door knob on his own. After one successful attempt of opening the door on his own, it was only the start of doing it another 20 more times! I will forever remember the face of that little boy as he realized he could open the door on his own! I'm sure he will forever remember my face as well, as my eyeballs were about as big as golfballs as I watched the door knob creepily turn & the door quietly pull open by one pudgey little hand.

Will try to catch some video & post it. Not sure a photo will do it justice!

....Which reminds me that I have a video to post of my funny little boy getting a kick out of feeding Cooper his goldfish crackers! He MUST have been full, since we all know Connor does not share his food!! :)

Back to work I go. Photos/videos will hopefully be up soon....but don't hold your breathe! Sometimes a nap these days gets priority over blogging :)

Happy Monday!

Chuck E. Cheese!!!!

I hate to admit, but I have basically fallen off the blog bandwagon over the past month or so. It may be a combination of working full time, complete exhaustion, mixed in with a little boy that has begun to enjoy the art of separation anxiety & tantrums. This past week has especially been difficult, as Connor has been fighting off a booger-clogged nose. I wish there was an easy way to teach a toddler how to blow his nose...and not fight taking medicine.

We've still managed to have a good time, despite all thats been going on recently. Here are just a few illustrations of what we've been up to lately.

Connor & Mommy's adventure to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time (Loved climbing the toddler playground, running through the arcade games, and touching each floor outlet along the way!)


Connor's new love....ski ball


He couldn't contain his excitement!


Drinking and driving with Stuart Little


Connor's independent game of opening and closing doors in the house has become one Mom must play along with now! He likes to push the door completely closed to hear it latch. Like clockwork, about three seconds later Connor lets out his helpless whines indicating the fact he can't open the door by himself! Connor tries to turn the handle of the door (smart little cookie), but can't turn it all the way. I'm sure that won't last for long...

Hopefully in the days to come I will have some more time to get back into my usual---obsessive photography and blogging about my little munchkin.

P.S. Happy belated 15 months to Connor man!

Funny Foam!

When I was a little girl, funny foam was a favorite in the tub. Craig, Katie & I would usually get funny foam in our stockings for Christmas when we were younger. Katie was notorious for going through a whole can in one bath sitting! The tradition has since been passed to my little one! Connor's had a few cans of funny foam just waiting to be broken in! Although Connor still loves to put everything in his mouth, he did pretty well experimenting with his new bath time product! Here's a play by play of the introduction:

Mom easing Connor into the funny foam phenomenon (in fear that he may very well consume it as if it were frosting).


After one taste of what was definitely not frosting, Connor was quick to learn the excitement of playing with the foam!


Still not completely sure what to think of it all...


After a few minutes of investigating, Connor declared his joy for the funny foam! :)

Chunker

My child loves food. Can you tell?!

Valentine's Day :)

One little boy is loved by so many! Today is Connor's 2nd Valentine's Day & he was blessed with thoughtful gifts from his Nana & Papa and G.G. Melveeta! He was also fortunate enough to spend the afternoon with the best Uncle & Auntie--Craig & Nicole. We had a great time exploring the Manatee Park. Weather was beautiful! Although manatees aren't the most exciting creatures to watch (just lay there in the water), we got a glimpse at lots of tarpon & jack splashing around. Connor probably didn't grasp the concept of manatee/fish watching, but he enjoyed being outside & going on a rock hunt.

Mama's boy :)




Loving on his 'tickled pink' lion from G.G.


Scoping out the manatees at the park


Connor leading Uncle Craig on a stroll




Connor leading Auntie Nicole on a stroll...


One pooped little boy on the way home :)

Happy Valentine's Day! xoxox

Connor's 1st Seafood festival!

Last weekend was a big 1st trip for Connor man. We traveled a good 2 hours to visit the happenings down by Papa's 'fishing villa' in Everglades City. To be completely honest, the festival isn't quite up our alley (with the majority of the crowd sporting hunting camo or leather outfits to coordinate with their motorcycles). It was just great to get together with the whole fam and get out for the day. Connor was quick to scope out an area of rocks to play in (go figure!), so he was pretty happy! Uncle Craig won Connor his very own goldfish, which Connor named "Dora", of course! Dora, however, now rests in peace, as Mommy woke up to a sad, lifeless fish the next morning :(. Maybe we'll try another fish when Connor's a little older! Enjoy some pictures (of rather poor quality since Connor was not quite 'cheesing for the camera' as needed)!

Papa showing Connor around...they're best buddies!


The all important rocks that keep Connor content for hours


A cute pic of Connor's Aunties (with the face of a child that was annoyed he had to stop playing in his rocks momentarily for a photo opp)


Connor is blessed with an amazing Auntie and Uncle! The 'Captain' and his little 'Captain in Training'




Connor giving his Dora fish a big kiss!

Rest in peace, Dora!

Randoms from the past week

Lots of cute pics. Little time to blog. Enjoy :)

Connor's new fave---opening and closing the doors! Him and Coop were enjoying his new game after bath one night!


Giggles with Mom (I love these moments--when he giggles and it makes me giggle, so we're both giggling at eachother!) :) Love him!!!








The weirdest swing I've ever seen---looks like some futuristic contraption, but I just thought Connor looked cute in it---like 'king of the park'

Happy Birthday Nicole!!!

This post is WAY overdue! I've had a busy busy busy week of work at my new job (which I LOVE, by the way), so have had little time to sleep/blog/etc. This post is dedicated to Connor's amazing Auntie & my wonderful sister-in-law, Nicole!! We hope you had a wonderful birthday & we love you lots!!

The official 'birthday photo with the banner' picture


Connor celebrating the night by using a spoon on his own!


...he was proud of himself!


"No hands!"


And this is usually how it ends...


Mr. Monkey boy climbing in the fridge :)