Playdate Thursday October 28, 2010

It was Connor's first official Halloween Party at his daycare and Granny was invited to represent Mom and Dad at the festivities. He was so dang cute all decked out in his elephant costume, having a good time, checking out everything from Granny's lap. He looks sober in this photograph but he had a great time.

The kids played games. When they yeahed so did Connor. When they clapped so did Connor. When they laughed so did Connor. I was amazed at how much participation he could do from my lap.

The kids whapped a pinata and Connor whapped a pinata. He was the first whapper because of his age. He was so dang cute as Shannon helped him take a good bead on the evil eye pinata. He got a pretty good hit more than once. I think they let him have more than his fair share of whaps. Perhaps? Me thinks they like him a wee bit.

Connor was particularly impressed with his candy sack. He didn't know it was supposed to have candy in it, he had fun with the empty, crinkly sack. When the pinata burst Connor bagged one piece of candy, he didn't care, but the other children shared till his bag was overflowing.

Then Connor and the other kids ate to their hearts content. Connor particularly liked the grapes, cantaloupe, cheese and hot dog treats. Believe it or not he was not about to eat any cotton candy. When the other children dug in, he turned away in disgust. When I finally coaxed him into a wee bite he grimaced like I had fed him the worst food on the planet. Later, when Mom tried to give him a bite, he continued to turn away. Now, Smarties on the other hand he handled with the aplomb of any two year old.

He was so dang cute. And that Katie, now, she knows how to throw a party!

A Happy Connor

September 30, 2010

A happy Connor in full possession of Great Aunt Jean's cell phone and cousin Cathy's camera and camera case. All artfully draped on his body. He had enough loops, straps, buttons and blinking lights to keep him happy for hours as he intently studied them, opening, closing, turning on, zipping, unzipping, turning off. What a joy to watch him.

We gently took them away from him when we went out to eat at Mongo's and Jean put the phone safely away in her purse. At Mongo's the chef brought Connor a complimentary white chocolate pumpkin full of chocolate mousse with whipped cream topping. The chef also brought five spoons so Connor could share with his family. He shared, but kept his eye on the concoction as it traveled around the dinner table and came back to him for another scoop. He can scoop with gusto.

As soon as we returned to his home, he went straight to Jean's purse for his phone. He was a happy Connor.

Playdate Thursday October 14, 2010

Connor didn't feel so good tonight, so he snuggled in my lap, broke all his crackers into little pieces, not to eat but to play with, and rejected his all time favorite Pepperidge Farm GoldFish that Katie had packed up for him to take home from daycare. Yep, these were all clues the wee guy was feeling poorly.

After daddy dosed him with a measure of children's Tylenol, he slipped out of my lap and started playing.

He managed to impress his granny with his now complete knowledge of puzzling. Not only can he take the puzzle pieces to the puzzle, he is accomplished at turning the puzzle piece until it clicks into place. Another bit of the world mastered.

I asked him to put his coat on the fireplace and he did!
I asked him to give Brandy a bite of cracker and he did!
I asked him to kiss me and he did!
All verbal requests.
His daddy asked him for the cell phone and he said, "No."

He loves that cell phone.

Connor didn't want any food of any kind although daddy tried to tempt him with applesauce, cheese, mashed potatoes, and his rejected crackers. Mommy came home and he still rejected all food, but when I handed Stephanie a small piece of chocolate candy Connor rushed to her from across the room like a starving fledgling. We all stood there open mouthed, like starving fledglings. How does he know that is candy? That it is different? No one gives him candy. How does he know that's chocolate? No one gives him chocolate.

That's a childhood mystery that shall remain a mystery. Roger said Children must just be hard wired -- somehow.

My final thought on Connor this morning was something I forgot to put in the inaugural post: Connor loves, Loves, LOVES knowing the sequence of things. The sequence of me picking him up on Thursdays. The sequence of feeding Brandy.

The sequence of me leaving: "Grannies leaving," is announced. Granny collects her stuff. Connor runs to the door, all the time busy giving me kisses or throwing kisses. Daddy opens the door and Connor steps onto the porch and waves me away. That's how it's done.

One time a lady stopped her car in the middle of the street to point out to me that Connor was throwing me kisses as I walked to my car. It was a kind act by a stranger, but I was fully aware of his actions. Connor knows how to throw kisses.

It is a joy watching him in the power of his complete knowledge of a sequence.

To Connor From Granny

Connor as he was one week ago today, October 7, 2010.

I don't know why it's taken me almost two years to start a Connor Blog. Well, I didn't start the Taylor Blog until last October, so I guess technically I'm only one year late.

He was born complete, with his teeny crooked foot, and fell into a bucket of love. I've seen every tiny increment of his development for the past twenty-one months. It has been a joy!

I saw him lift his head, flip over, and crawl, with his mom crawling right along beside him to share with him. I've watched his fascination with first this toy and then another. Connor loved the toy from Claire, the one with all the loops looping around that rattled, crunched and shone. He loved that abacus toy that he would lift up and move when I didn't know how he could possible do it, so small he was. He loved any noise maker, if it mooed, hissed, screeched, sung or dinged he was there. He loved boxes, empty boxes, big or little boxes. He loved/loves boxes.

I saw Connor toddle his first step, climb, push push toys, pull pull toys, and throw throw toys, well, throw everything. I saw him push, pull and climb into boxes. The perfect trifecta of pleasures.

I saw his eyes light up with the push fire engine, the shiny red bike, his dad's wrenches. I saw him hang onto his mom's vanilla, her mixer, her cookie press, all delights beyond measure.

I watched him sit, stand, walk, and almost run. If I sat on the fireplace he would sit beside me, if I sat on the step he would sit beside me, if I sat on the floor he would sit beside me, if I sat on the couch he would run off and play with his toys. He learned to find fruit in my purse, comfort in my lap, and how to do everything to a book; eat them, knock them over, stack them up, or sit and be read to. What a joy!

I waited seven months, along with the rest of the family, for when we first suspected him of cutting teeth to when he actually cut his first tooth.. I watched him dance, his very first interactive choice with the world was to dance. He was a wee little guy and I would hold his fingers and he would dance. I think he danced with his mom every evening when she came home from work. First food, first bath, first boat ride, first Christmas, first candy cane, first birthday, first truck, first hair cut. They have all come and gone. What a joy!

And look at him now, studying things. Studying things to see how they work. Always thinking, observing, figuring out this world he belongs to. Figuring out cell phones, remotes, cameras, computers, car seats, openers, closers. He has learned to get his little pointing finger poised to push what ever button needs pushing. Figuring things out one bit at a time.

He loves things hanging around his neck, draped on his arm, or dangling from his wrist. He can dress up in fanny packs, purses, back packs, belts, or watches. He can lug things across the floor.

He can protect his food from Brandy or feed her which ever he chooses. He can pull Brandy's tail or steal her bed. He can tug at his grannies heart. He is The Prince, The Wee Guy, The Connorman, grandson, nephew, and son to those of us who love him.

I linger here  --  relishing all the joys to come.

Love Granny