Country Life

I guess it's been a while since I posted.. Alot has happened, but at the same time there has been a lot of normal day to day happenings too. Connor is still choosing to crawl as his primary source of mobility, he can walk (usually about 4-10 steps at a time) but will only do so if it is in the direction of Mom... :-) so we practice everyday adding a few steps and some confidence and one of these days i'm sure he'll just start walking :-) Jeremy is still working 6-10's, but that is over this weekend!! YEAH... Nicole continues to work part time at the childrens consignment and botique shop in town. Nicole and Connor recently went to Seattle/Auburn to help her brother find an apartment and to move his things (not only is exciting to see him move forward with the next chapter of his life after the wreck, but to see his belongings find a home somewhere other than our garage.... just kidding.. it was the least we were able to do). Other big things included: Connors first haircut, springtime means: OUTSIDE play :-)...fun, and Connors first bad illness: double ear infection and croupe ;-(....not fun!

Here are a bunch od random photos from the past few weeks:

Connor likes to unroll the toilet paper, luckily this roll was almost empty!

If you notice he is wearing a cloth diaper, I made the switch! I switched from disposable the weekend of his first birthday, so i've been using cloth for a month now.. the verdict: I don't mind it one bit :-) and knowing the many advantages of it..cost, health advantages for him, earlier potty training (so I hear, i'll believe that when I see it, I still think it's 100% based on when the child is physically ready) as well as the impact on the environment....  I think i'm going to keep it up! I still use disposable wipes (may switch there eventually too, but for now I have a BUNCH.. thanks to costco to use up :-) I am glad I started using them when Connr was a little older though because there are so many less in a day to change, so i've been able to get a system in place so when the time comes to have another baby... which won't be for a while.. i'll be confident to just use cloth from the beginning....

One very rainy day I was desperate for activity to keep Connor busy and entertained.. and of course I always revert to the messy ones :-) Here he is painting with food colored yogurt. (I'd been painting recently and he wanted to use the brushes.. so this accomplished 2 thing at once)

Weare very lucky to have awesome neighbors with kids, which will be great for Connor as he grows up. Delaney is about 7 and her brothr Carson is 2) Laney loves "baby Connor".

Laney taking the boys for a ride in the wagon!.. They were having a great time :-)

Connor getting a solo ride, "happy and you know it clap your hands" very much shown in this photo.

Connor had his first haircut 2 weeks ago.. It wasn't HORRIBLY needing it, but after I had 2 people call him "she" (whch had NEVER happened before) I decided it might be time.. so here are the photos of the big event.. We have a kids only hair salon just down the street from out house so it made it a very enjoyable experience.. in fact he cried when we had to leave!

The salon "chair" is what made it the coolest thing ever for Connor.... :-) the wheels and stearingwheel really move!

Before.... side view

Before.. top view

Say bye to baby locks!!.. :-) She would say i'm gonna kiss you.. just as she'd tickle his neck with the scissors.. :)

Showing his excitement... :-)

So busy driving places, didn't hardly notice her cutting.. and it took almost 30 minutes :-)

After.. front view

After.. side view.. looks like such a litte man now!

Connor is a TOTAL outside kid!! he's sleep outside if he could :-) Here Duke is trying esperately to get Connor to throw the frisbee.. Connor is starting to catch on to the game, though he only throws it about 1 or 2 feet.. Duke doesn't care :-)

"MOM... how do I get over these big rocks?" .. he figured it out all on his own :-)

First of many muddy knees to come:-)!!!

I saw a picture like this recently, so I decided to try it.. We did it on our way out the doorto meeting, so it was rushed and it wasn't as good of Connor as I would have liked.. but still a cool shot i'll find something fun to do with it...

Life on the "farm" I found these adorable boots at the consignmen store for like $5.. they hadn't hardly been worn.. and surprisingly they FIT>. NO shoes fit him.. he has really chubby feet.. so we went out one evening to feed the chickens and to try out the new boots...He was intrigued by the guinea hens and their annoying noise!

Mom and Connor in their boots!

Watching the chickens while I feed them..

When we moved Brian to Auburn, we stayed with Suzanne, and she had the coolest toy Connor could have ever imagined in their garage: Shane is borrowing it from his dad....

A tractor! A REAL.. BIG one :-) Uncle Brian voluntereed to show it to Connor :-)

Connor and I checking out thewheel.. this was before he threw a fit because I took him back inside :-( again, he'd sleep outside if we'd let him ha ha.. silly boy!)

Playing with Kalia's very cool farm duplo toys.. he liked the so much I would often hear him get quiet and he'd be halfway up the stairs going to Kalia's room to play with them :-) which wouldn't have beena big deal, bu he hasn't totally learned how to go down the stairs, he's mastered going up.. So we had to watch this carefully, and it'samazing how fast he can crawl!

Connor sucking on his favorite blankie.. he never sucked his thumb or a pacifier, but likes to chew on fabric, especially the muslin of the aden and anais blankets..

Again outside.. sitting on a toy I scored for free to add to his outdoor toy collection :-)

With Connor being sick, he's reverted to his "mommy.. clingy" phase, which is totally understandable, but often exhausting for me... The only time he'll let me put him down or play independently is when he's outside (which being sick isn't exactly the most appropriate thing since its still only in the 60's.. 70 if we'e lucky.. but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do!)needless to say, I am very much looking forward to warm weather! I think I just might get our yard looking nice this summer and maybe get a tan!.. FINALLY :-) We are looking forward to Jeremy having the weekends off again, we of course are already filling our summer calendar up quickly!

A little side note... another thing that has been keeping us busy is house plans/design.. That's right, we are thinking about building a house!!..  it won't be log like we've always dreamed, but we plan to do most of the construction ourself and log i just too specialized to be able to do that. (Building a house is one of a few reasons we are putting off baby 2... It'd be really hard for Nicole to use power tools and climb on ladders being pregnant or with a newborn, and Nicole isn't the type to sit on the sidelines when contruction is going on :-)......We hope to break ground this summer, and figure it will take about 2-3 years to complete and be ready to live in. We are shooting to move in by Summer 2015,...so another thing to add to our BUSY BUSY BUSY life! but we are very excited :-) When it's done we'll have LOTS of potlucks and get togethers!! We'll have plenty of room :-) YEAH.....