Yes, Daddy has taken a break from posting on the blog lately — we’ve been busy with the holidays, parties, illnesses (colds and ear infections), and photography business stuff — not to mention just everyday life.  I hope to get back to posting on a more regular basis soon.

Now, back to the title of this posting “A break from the normal…”

This posting is a break from the normal “Connor postings” because I am going to recommend a movie.  My buddy, Tony (best friend since high school and someone who I consider to be “my brother”), recommended a movie to me a couple of months ago.  The movie is Fireproof.  I waited patiently for it to come out on DVD so Victoria could watch it with Closed Captions and it was WELL worth the wait!

Victoria and I watched this movie tonight and shed more than a few tears.  I am not a deeply religious person and do not like to push my faith or beliefs on others, but I feel this movie is something everyone should watch. It is a Christian based movie AND is well worth your time.

To Tony — thanks for sharing this with us!

Love to all of you!

http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/

…is our new vaccuum.  When we first brought it home and used it, Connor was scared of it.  Now he has grown accustomed to it.

Whenever his child-proof gates are open, he makes a bee-line for it.  He walks over to it and points at it and smiles.  We say “vaccuum” and then he walks over to it and touches it.

I am not sure why he is so fascinated by it.  Anyone want to guess as to why?  Anyone????

Mommy and Connor started with a cold a little before Christmas and then Daddy got sick on New Years Day.  Connor was congested and coughing for nearly two weeks.  We tried the humidifier, the vapor plugins, and saline drops and they didn’t seem to help much.  It finally ran its course and Connor started returning to his normal self last weekend.

During that time period, Mommy and Daddy were subjected to less the ideal sleeping conditions.  Connor was waking up 3-5 times a night coughing and crying at times.  He would only be up for about 2 or 3 minutes, but when that happens and it interrupts your sleep pattern, it can take its toll on the adults.  We are much more rested as Connor returned to his normal sleep pattern last Saturday night.  (Daddy was especially thrilled to see this happen.)

Two days in a row during that stretch, we actually brought Connor into our bed around 4am so he could sleep the rest of the morning.   Something we might have only done once in the previous 11 months.  I enjoyed that, but it is hard to sleep comfortable when you are worrying about hitting him with an elbow or disturbing his sleep.

I guess we were a little spoiled since Connor has always been an excellent sleeper.

Anyways…once we get the Christmas decorations put away this weekend and get caught up on other things I will try to post more of the pics from over the Holiday season.

…have improved tremendously and he is slowly coming off of walking on his tip toes.  Once Connor started to learn to push things around, he always did it on his tip toes.  When he started to walk, it was on his tip toes.  He has realized he has more balance and control if he walks on his feet instead of his tip toes.

For months now, Daddy and Connor’s ritual was to play hide and seek around the couch in the family room.  Over the past few months his crawling skills improved and the speed at which Daddy had to get away had to increase.

Over the past week, Connor has learned that he can walk around the couch faster than he can crawl and now chases Daddy by walking.  Most other things he will walk to as well now.  Crawling is 2nd behind walking in his choice of movement.

He has also mastered walking and shaking things in one hand (like Ms. Tammy’s rattle).  He loves to shake things and walk!

Congrats on improving your walking, Connor!

We love you!

Mommy and Daddy

Hard to imagine that our “perfect” little boy will be a year old in less than 3 weeks.  Mommy and Daddy are planning his party.  A Mickey Mouse theme is in order because of how much he loves Mickey Mouse.

We’ve asked all the local toy stores to stop selling toys to anyone that is related to Connor as our Family Room is now resembling a childcare center.  😉

He loves taking his toys out and spreading them about.  Next on his list of accomplishments is to learn how to pick up his toys and put them away.  I think he still has sometime to learn this one.

Last week was a very busy week for our little boy.  Here’s a quick list of what Connor was up to last week:

• Attended his first Christmas party at Mimi and Grandpa’s house.  Great Grandma was visiting from Florida and she was able to see Connor’s newly discovered walking skills.
• Mommy had her first birthday since Connor was born.  Connor enjoyed a little bit of her birthday cake.
• 1st Christmas.  Connor’s favorite gifts were his dump truck (which he loves to push)  from Uncle Danny and his little play table from Mimi/Grandpa.
• Connor spent his first night without Mommy and Daddy.  All and all he did a good job for Mimi/Grandpa/Great Grandma.  Mr. Hurricane did show his unhappiness for a little while.
• Connor was christened at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church and then had a party at his house afterwards.  He was definitely acting like he was the center of attention when he was just pushing his truck all over the house for everyone to watch and laugh at.