...What?

Didn't January just begin?  Phew.  What a busy month it has been!

"Drivin' in my car..."

Connor is wearing some SU beads that his Nana and Grandpa sent down to us!

Mmmm...pizza night!  Buffalo chicken and veggie loaded deliciousness!

Connor loves to play with his Dada.  He always tries to hang on Jonathan when he is getting ready in the morning, and is often upset when he leaves for work.  I get my fair share of him clinging to me, and we remind ourselves that even though it's hard to leave him with a sitter or in the nursery at church...we are blessed that he wants to be around us so much right now!

The weather here has been so beautiful.  Getting up to 60 degrees (or more) in January?  Not sure that I've ever experienced that before!  When we are inside, Con longs to be out.  When we are outside, we always have a slight meltdown when it is time to go in.  Thankfully, I have no objection to wanting to be outside!!!

Little boy loves to call "Ah-da!" (Otto!) and always makes kiss noises to call him.  Not always good if it means he is going to throw food from his high chair, but glad that they generally get along - Otto has realized recently that Connor will actually play tug and fetch with him as well as he can!

Play date with some "big" boys!

Still loving to drum.

Our sweet little boy keeps growing and growing (duh?!)...but I am amazed, shocked, and broken down to giggles (and sometimes tears) nearly every day.  Last week I ran into the bathroom to brush my teeth and when I came back into the bedroom, found Connor with our box of tissues, taking out one and a time and doing some heavy breathing (a la Tom Selleck in Blue Bloods) while holding it to his nose.  Of course, when I caught him, he jumped and then shoved the tissue in his mouth...nice.  

We keep hearing hints of more attempted words and some that are clear as day!  His "No no no no no!" is VERY clear, so we are already working through that phase.  Some days it feels like no matter what we do, no matter how often we change up what we are doing, "No's" and tears are coming every 5 minutes.  Other times, he is just happy to be taking it all in!

We went to a high school basketball game tonight and stayed through the first half.  Connor kept his eye on that ball the entire time.  He is SO attentive to how things work and still loves all things "ball".  "Football" is another of his now clear words!

February, you've come on quickly, but we are ready!

Friday Flashback - COOKIES!

Just a little flashback from the week before Christmas 2011, when my camera was busted and I had left Jonathan's camera at a friend's, so we used this sweet camera Jonathan found in his desk that held about 10 pics! :)

Traditions!  Gingerbread cookies with Aunt Lola.

Con was cutting and smushing all at once...talented!

Nevermind his Halloween pjs for Christmas cookies...

I think this is just before Connor decided that a sprinkle bottle made a very good shaker and doused himself and his aunt with every last green sprinkle in the bottle...it was post-bathtime people, I just brushed them all out of his hair!

Enjoying the fruits of his labor!  Yum!

Laura opening her Christmas gift and little boy with a big belly full of cookies...what a good night!

VA is for Lovers...and Siblings!

Yay for Aunt SA and Uncle Jay's tree!  Time to go get some Connor milk (rice and coconut!) and some bacon!

Reunited.  Sarahann and Jay kept Otto while we were in NY, so we took a trip up to VA the next weekend to pick him up, have "Christmas" with our siblings, and meet Connor's FIRST 1st cousin!!!

...and here he is!

Not so sure on the first "meeting".

"Rock the baby!"  I see that little smile, Reagan!

Precious Reagan and my big boy "baby"!

Oh hi crazy Aunt Lindsay with the strange faces! ;)

With his Uncle Jonathan.

Connor's first tool set!  Thanks guys!

Uncle Jay knows that boxes are ALWAYS fun.

Ready for disc golf!

Disc golf for the boys, naptime for the babies/dogs, catch up for the girls!

Daddies and sons.

Tuning up the special wedding guitar.

Now strum as fast as you can!

Thanks Uncle Jay, playing guitar is the best!

Little break on the way home...nice hat hair!

Snoppets of Home

Yeah yeah, I don't know what a snoppet is, but it sounded good after snippets.

The 3 of us, Dad S, and (Great) Auntie B took a little snowy trip out to Buffalo to make some visits.  In the center of this picture is Jonathan's Great Uncle Lee, who we hadn't seen in about 4 years!

Then we went to another part of the city to check out Uncle Dan's new place and spend a little time with him.  Nice couch, Dan!

Tired little boy wolfed down a lot of food when we ate out and then entertained himself with his paci and Daddy and Grandpa's watches.

Into PJ's for the ride home, one last leap to Uncle Dan!  We think your new apartment is great Dan, and can't wait to visit again!

Getting lots of solid playtime in.

Beautiful snow!

Happy.

Still fun to watch from the inside warmth!

Daddy, Nana, and Connor trio.

(Great) Grandaddy commented on how funny it was to watch Connor look at the music, then Nana's hands, then her feet on the pedals, then back to the music...studious musician :)

Got to have a DELICIOUS dinner and hang out with good friends Peter and Karina!  Thanks for my first go at brussel sprouts, Peter...I thought they were very tasty!

"Bye!"

"Baby!"

We were able to catch parts of two of Will's swim meets.  Here he is, ready to get up on the blocks!  Can't believe my baby brother is a senior!

The night before we flew back we were able to celebrate (Great) Uncle Chip, Lauren, (Excellent) Aunt Lisa, and Grandaddy's January birthdays.  It was great to spend time with everyone, especially since we missed our usual Christmas Eve get together.

The actual birthday girl that day.

Heehee!  Trying to get one last pic with a worn out little boy.

The Greatest Great Grandaddy!