Victoria and Connor came up to my office today so we could go to lunch. The gang at the office got to see Connor for the first time in a couple of months.

I was a “proud papa” because Connor decided to put on a little show for everyone.

Show #1:

First thing he did even impressed me! I was squatting down on the floor with Connor with a crowd of about 4-5 people watching us. Connor started to play with my badge that hangs around my neck. Connor had both hands on the badge and was standing on his own. He did this for a good 30-40 seconds which broke all the records he had previously (3-6 seconds of standing on his own). I was so impressed and kept telling everyone that this was the first time he had stood for such a long period of time.
Show #2:

A few minutes later, we moved inside my office so Uncle Tony could get a glimpse of Connor as well. Connor was standing and holding on to my partition wall and then he let go of the wall and stood on his own. He decided he wanted to take a step toward Uncle Tony and Ms. Tammy. He lifted his left foot up and took a step in there direction. That was the first time he actually took a step. Yes, he fell forward as he started to plant that left foot, but that was a beginning.

Of course I called Grandma on our way to lunch to tell her and she said that was officially his first step saying, “that is how most kids take their first step”.

Growing up as kids, my brother and I enjoyed decorating for the holidays (Easter, Halloween, Christmas). So, so continue a traditional from my child we decided to carve our pumpkins with Connor’s help.

You can see we kept him plugged up with his pacifier. This was to prevent him from putting any of the pumpkin shavings in his mouth.

And Mr. Pooh Bear made an early appearance with his newly carved pumpkins.

Enjoy!

Here are some pictures of Connor with Aunt Jeannie (Mimi’s sister), Uncle Kenny, and Poco while we were in Florida.

I think Connor wanted to take Poco home with us.

I was observing our “little man” (as Victoria likes to call him) tonight and he showed me a new trick with his walker. He was standing still and was sliding it back and forth between each hand. You will notice a few times he was actually standing on his own but probably did not realize it.

I think I reported on this around 6 month, but it was nothing that stuck with Connor.  On the last few days of our trip to Florida, Connor discovered his voice.  He mainly learned that he could open his mouth and start to scream.  This was more of an “aaaahhhhh” type of scream.  Something that if I did it as long as he was doing, it would make me hoarse.

Anyways, Great Grandmother said she heard Connor say “Da Da”.  We paid attention and sure enough he was saying it.  Of course, he does not know what he is saying or who to associate it with, but he loves to say “Da Da”.  I even heard him saying it Sunday morning as he was playing in his crib and Mommy/Daddy were still relaxing in bed.

Victoria was a little jealous that he was not saying “MaMa” but I explained to her that most infants say “DaDa” first because it is easier for them to say.  But believe me, Victoria was putting the “full course press on” trying to get Connor to say “MaMa” the previous few weeks.

Well, as most have read our flight down to Orlando went very smoothly and without incident with Connor (big sigh of relief).

On the returning flight, we had 2 seats in a row which contained 3.  This concerned us — remember how Connor loves to have his space (Please check your seat number…)  Victoria and I were concerned that the person next to us might frighten Connor leading to a long flight home.  So, Daddy and Connor crammed into the window seat and hoped for the best.  People kept boarding and no one was sitting in the seat.  Victoria looked at me and said no one was sitting there…I was still a little skeptical and was waiting for the doors to close and the plane to take off before I sounded “the all clear” to Connor.

The door to the plane shut.  Mini sigh of relief…

We taxied for takeoff and took off.  Big sigh of relief…

This should be an easy flight home and now we had a little extra room as well…

WAIT — not so fast!!!!!

As soon as the fasten seat belt sign went off, a middled age man was making his way to the front of the plane with his briefcase.  He passed by our open seat on the aisle and asked, “Is this seat taken?”  I sensed his anxiety level was running a little high.  I said no as Connor stared him down for a few seconds.

The man sat down and started to mumble to Victoria and I the following, “That woman back there is popping her gum.  I can’t concentrate and can’t sit back there for a 2 hour flight.”

Didn’t he notice what I was holding in my lap?  Did he think it was a bag of potatoes or something?  Didn’t he know this was “Mr. Hurricane” (the nickname now fits because of Connor’s screaming spells).

Victoria gave me a look like, what does he think he is doing? I gave her a look as if to say…”gum popping bothered you…wait until you get a load of Connor”.

Well, needless to say Mr. Hurricane was Mr. Perfect and soon fell asleep.  And Mr. Grumpy (the guy who stole our seat) finally returned to his seat when the pilot began his descent into Newport News.

You dodged a bullet Mr. Grumpy…next time sit and listen to the gum popping.

18lbs 7oz

27 3/4″ long

Connor continues to develop just fine and our doctor was very impressed with his ability to gather his pacifier and put it in his mouth.  He also gave Mommy kudos for teaching Connor how to turn his walker around.

The doctor told us that walking will be in Connor’s future since he has such command of push walker.  He says probably by 10 months if he had to guess, but he suggested we keep the video camera charged so we can capture those first steps.

After our trip to Florida, I noticed that Connor is much better around Grandpa/Mimi and Grandma.  In the past, he would sometimes cry hysterically (see theThe elusive “Loch Ness Connor”… posting).

I think being in a different environment and meeting quite a few people on our trip to Florida helped Connor get comfortable with others.  (I think his Great Grandmother must have had a talk with him and told him that there was nothing to be scared about.)

Anyways, he spent quite a bit of time with Grandpa/Mimi and Grandma this past week and all reported he was much easier to deal with once Mommy and Daddy had left.

Our doctor warned us that around 9 months, some babies start to experience separation anxiety and they sometimes don’t like to be separated from Mommy at all (even if Daddy takes them).  So, we will see what happens over the next few weeks.  We are hoping there will not be any relapses.  😉