Saturday Morning with Aunt Andi

This morning, we were woken by the doorbell. It was Aunt Andi. She was in town and headed to the "Survivors Walk" at the State Hospital. She took Conner with her to the walk. He rode in his stroller and evidently did some flirting. The report was he has another girlfriend. He was very good for Aunt Andi. She bragged on his good behavior. Way to go Andi. You did it!!!!! No diaper changing was involved until he got home. He had filled his britches. Andi was gonna give it a shot because I told her he pooped on her clock so she needed to change him. First thing she did was stick her hand in it. This sent her running and gagging to the Bathroom. I got stuck with the job. Aunt Andi, we'll save another one for you so you can try again. Thanks for spending the day with Conner. He loved it.

Time to re-fuel after the walk. Winners drink milk.

Green Beans

We started baby food Wednesday night. Green beans were up first. Conner was not so sure about the beans. He was positive we were pulling a fast one on him. It was not his normal milk or rice cereal. He ate half of the cup and that was kind of a struggle because most of it came back out. Thursday, we tried green beans again. It went better tonight. He almost finished the cup. Two more days, then on to carrots!!!!!

The first night

"What the @#$% are you people feeding me?"

The second night was a little better

4 Month Check-up

Conner went to see Dr. Voyles yesterday for his four month check-up. He got his shots and was a very good boy. He cried when it happened and then stopped almost instantly. He then looked at Jessica, the nurse, like "What did you do that for?" She said "Dr. Voyles made me do it, Conner." He was very good.

At his 2 month visit, he was in the 95% in both height and weight. This time, he was off the charts. Who knows where he ranks because the chart doesn't go that high. Dr. Voyles said his weight and height are perfectly proportioned and he is definitely not fat. Just solid as a rock. We had him weighing 22 pounds here at home, but there he weighed only 20.5 pounds. That means we can all subtract a few pounds when weighing in on our scale. YES!!!!!! He is 28 inches long.

We were given the green light to start baby food. Green Beans here we come. He told us we were one of the few parents he has talked to at 4 months about going to the next car seat. So, we are in the market for new car seats sooner than we ever imagined. When we registered for our showers, I remember saying "This car seat will get us through the first year, it holds up to 20 pounds." Boy, was I wrong.

We had a great visit and everything is looking great. He is right on track and very healthy. Amen.

Happy 4 Month Birthday Conner

Conner turns 4 Months old today. He is getting so tall. We enjoy his company more and more everyday. He has his own personality that is so much fun to be around. He is such a happy baby. We love our time together watching him learn and explore new things. He changes everyday.

Happy Birthday Poor Monkey
What Conner is up to at 4 Months Old

1. He loves his Mommy and Daddy
2. He is so happy. He smiles all the time and laughs a lot more.
3. He loves the outdoors. He has fun camping and swinging outside in our big swing.
4. He loves to play in his exersaucer.
5. He is very strong. His legs especially. He can turn the exersaucer in circles with his legs.
6. He talks all the time. Not sure what he is saying, but it always seems so serious.
7. His hair is still about the same. Maybe a few more sprouts since the 3 month post. Still looks to be dark brown.
8. His eyes are changing from blue gray to green gray. Not sure what color they will turn out.
9. He loves his rice. He gets really mad when you take a break during his feeding. He wants the next bite right now. He will grunt if you slow down or stop. He definitely has the feeding concept down. Swallow and instantly open the mouth for the next bite no matter how far away the spoon is from his mouth.
10. Seems to be doing well at daycare. The ladies love on him and brag on him every day. He still has the same girlfriend, Isabelle, and holds her hand under the play yard. I caught them once.

More Sock Monkey

We just can't decide it Conner and the Sock Monkey are friends or enemies. He always gets excited to see the Monkey. He always grabs it and kinds yanks it around and always tries to eat him. He always has a lot to say to the monkey. We aren't sure if it is good things or if he is cussing it out. We need to get it on video to share with everyone.

Another Camper First

Conner seems to amaze us every time we go camping. He does something on our trips for the first time. This Labor Day weekend, unfortunately, it was his first time to get sick. He has made it 17 weeks with out illness except for a small cough. This weekend, while camping at New Harmony, he broke out with a fever and it kept rising. We headed home Sunday at 2 a.m.. We went to the Doctor Sunday and we found out his throat was inflamed and he has a viral infection. His temperature has been up and down for days reaching 103 degrees. He just feels crummy at times. We have been pretty lucky that he has been so healthy this whole time. He was bound to get sick eventually and the camper was the spot. I am glad it happened on a 3 day weekend, so we had an extra day together before I had to go to work. Get well soon, Conner.

Saturday afternoon. Our always happy, always smiling baby started to get really fussy. We knew something BIG was about to happen when the smiles started to fade.

Overdue Visit

Conner hasn't seen his Granddaddy in about 4 weeks. So, Last night, mom and dad came to Evansville to visit their little man. Unfortunately, he is still fighting a fever and was quite fussy, but he got to spend some time with his grandma and granddaddy. We grilled Kabobs and had pasta salad. It was a great evening.

Conner slept a lot yesterday. He found his granddaddy's arms to be a great spot.

The Sock Monkey

Conner has a sock monkey, just like the ones we all had as children. The difference, Conner seems to hate his sock monkey. That - or he really likes his sock monkey. It is hard to tell. When he sees his monkey, his normal talking tone turns into somewhat of a mad shout. If that is possible for babies. He scrunches up his face and puts the monkey right up to his face and will give it hell for as long as you let him. He will then take it by both ears, and still give it hell. Almost as if he is saying, "You listen to me, Monkey." It is so cute. You can hear him at the other end of the house when he is talking to the monkey. He then tries to eat his tail or legs. I am afraid this monkey isn't going to live to see age 2. We did get some pictures of him tonight being friends with the sock monkey. Not the usual case.

Grandma Payne

Grandma Payne comes down one evening every week to spend time with Conner. It gives me a chance to get some things done while they play. She helps by giving Conner his bath and his rice and bottle. Then she will rock him to sleep before she goes home. It has been a big help to Steve and I. We look forward to her visits. She can make Conner laugh more than anyone else. She has just the right touch to get him to giggle non-stop. It is so much fun to watch him laugh at her. He loves his grandma.

Tuesdays with Grandma Elfreich

Tuesday started the first of many Tuesdays shared by Conner and Grandma Elfreich. He will be staying home every other Tuesday and Grandma Elfreich will be coming over to spend the day with him. Conner gets to sleep in, lay around, and lounge in his pajamas all day. He also gets to spend time with grandma. They read books, played, went for a walk, swung, and of course watched "All My Children." I think they will have fun together. Thanks Grandma.

Rice----Take 3

Experimenting with Rice went better Sunday night. We broke out his reclining high chair. It is a lot easier to feed him when he is sitting on his own and we aren't trying to hold him on a camper table. He also seemed to like his chair. He was sitting in it like he was HOT STUFF. The rice went down a little easier. I think he is realizing what to do with it. Swallow it,,,, not spit is out. When Steve put the spoon to the bowl to get more, Conner was growing impatient and grunting. He was ready for the next bite. He was a little ticked when he realized the bowl was empty and the rice was gone.

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He isn't storing rice in his cheeks here. Those are just his cheeks. The neighbor, Chris, is constantly asking Conner "What are you storing in those cheeks, boy?"

"Hurry Up, Dad"

Rice

We started Conner on Rice Friday night. It was a couple of weeks earlier than we were told too, but we thought he was ready. We were in the camper which is where a lot of his "FIRST'S" have happened. He had his first real bath in the camper sink at 3 weeks old. His first night of Colic was in the camper that night after his first bath. Now, his first bowl of rice and the first night he slept all the way through. Camping has become special for us because we always have so much extra time to spend with him one on one. What else is there to do but play with him and love on him non-stop for a whole weekend. We love our trips together.

He wasn't real sure about the rice thing the first night. I think most of it came back out and settled on his face. He did a lot of tongue- ing the spoon. He wasn't sure why we were putting something in his mouth. I think he swallowed maybe a fourth of it, but it was just enough to fill his little belly and let him settle into a deep sleep from 8 p.m. til 6:30 a.m.. We woke up several dozen times checking on him. Was he breathing???? Oh my gosh. If you are used to him getting up every 3 to 4 hours at night, it is a little scary when he doesn't.

The second night of rice went a little better. He seemed to swallow a little more and acted like he knew what to expect. To our surprise, he slept another 10 hours that night without a peep. WOW. Were we finally there???? NO.... Back at home, Sunday night, up every 3 hours ready to eat. Oh well. We will get there.

He wore most of it.

Camping at Patoka

This weekend, we went camping at Patoka Lake State Reservoir. It is the nicest state park we have been to. It was very pretty and clean and the weather was unbeatable. Conner had fun as usual. He loves the outdoors. We set him outside in his swing or exersaucer and he can entertain himself. Aunt Janie and Aunt Joannie were also there, so he was not lacking anyone to love on him. We started him on Rice Cereal for the first time Friday night and he slept through the night. That was a first. He did it again on Saturday night. We went on several walks, played on the playground, went for a ride around the park, and went to The Newly restored West Baden Hotel. It was a great and relaxing weekend for the three of us.

Too Cute

Camping is good for catching up on napping.

Too Big for my Britches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camper Baths are so much fun!!

Sleeping Single in a double bed.

They are watching TV.

Swinging