Conner Update: 21 months

I know, I know.......
this picture is not my most flattering,
but you have to admit--
the boys are totally cute, huh?
 I could melt.

Parenting. That word is so complex. I mean, being a parent is some tough stuff! Starts with pregnancy. We find out we are pregnant and we have no idea what to expect. [Although some of us think we do…. ] Some of us celebrate pregnancy by drawing really cute chalkboards and taking selfies or maybe that was just me. Some of us celebrate it by reading all the pregnancy books at Barnes and nobles…. Cramming all the advice and tips we possibly can into our brains. Some of us patiently pop out child, after child, after child. BLESS YOUR SOUL!

Than pregnancy ends, and we enter the big, bold mighty powerful world of: PARENTING.

Some of us become parents, and we lose our shit. The rest of us are usually wearing shit as we try and figure out what we’re doing. I still don’t think I have it all figured out. I have no idea how to get Conner to stop banging his head furiously into the floor when he gets upset and I still don’t know where all the missing socks are going…. But I do know that I wake up every day next to a small, curious child that thinks the world of his parents. Conner taught me how to love, how to be kind and how to listen. I could never thank him enough for giving me patience and teaching me I had a lot more great qualities within myself that I wasn’t using.

The world really isn’t as complicated as we think. I know I want a really beautiful house with a lot of really nice things, but that’s not what matters most. I know I want to stay at home, craft all day and take unlimited bubble baths…just a little bit of me time, we would kill for that, right moms? But I’m sure you figured out too…that’s not what matters. What matters is being kind to one another. What matters most is loving, unconditionally. The things are children need most from us as parents are things we all can give free of cost!

We’ve been doing a lot around here at the Doran house- Alot of running, laughing and cleaning. We had some trips to Church, our routine grocery shops turned into  a long, three hour dilemma and we had our first visit to the hospital. We moved into a new house, and welcomed new puppies. Conner loves talking on his fake cellphone, and his favorite reusable words are "Hot," "Up!" and "Juice/Baba".   

Conner had his first hospital trip. He was playing outside, and than wanted to be held. When he went to raise his hands and be lifted up, he wouldn't lift his arm and continued to baby it throughout the day. He began getting fussy, and wouldn't lift his arm so away to the hospital we went.

5 hours later, a little Tylenol and after the hospital inconveniently misplaced the x-ray results, Conner ended up pulling his elbow out of place. Luckily we only had five days of this before he was back to wreaking havoc in the world, just the way we like it :)

 

I guess I’ll admit my favorite part
about this whole experience was Conner's new reputation: a

mama's boy.. 

 

lately he hasn't left my side, and won't let me leave his. I totally don't mind it, though. If this was 3 months ago, Conner would NEVER cuddle with me. He would only fall asleep in his crib. This whole thing is new to me which could be why I love it so much.

 

I think the really important parts of parenting are the ones you don't expect to love so much. The way you are needed by your little’s when their sick makes you feel sooo special, right? There is only one person they want at the very time and you. are. it. I love getting to be the one by his side when he is down, upset or in a little pain. I can't always help, but I can just simply be there and I think that's all they want, anyways :)

 

 

 

 

 

and although he's "hooked on me" right now (as Jeff says), he is just as in love with everyone else he loves. He's only two so his list of loved ones isn't the longest, but I think I can tell from the overuse and enthusiasm he has when he shouts: "PAPAA!!!!", "Tiiii-Tiii", "Mah" short for grandma and "Og-Og" for Doggies.

 

 

We tried something else new this last month. After moving into our new house, we transitioned Conner into the big boy bed. He has his own Monsters Inc bedspread, and it's in our room. I researched the many different ways to transition your children from one bed into another; but I didn't feel comfortable transitioning Conner right after a big move into a new house, new bedroom and new bed. I thought that would be too much. Conner eventually started crawling out of his bed and into bed with us, so up came the conversation of: bed sharing. Conner was great at his sleeping schedule before transitioning into the big boy bed. He went to bed every night around 9:00pm and didn't rise until late the next morning. But, than he started climbing out of his crib. That’s when the idea of a family bed came in to play. I know it's not the most popular idea, sharing a family bed with your children, and usually parents don't switch parenting styles often. But, I like to try everything first before I judge it- so when Jeff told me his idea and why it was important to him, I agreed.

Jeff is an awesome parent and is so patient with Conner. There isn't many things Jeff feels adamant about, but this was one of them. I cant lie, at first the idea was not my favorite. I'm a firm believer that your children are incredibly important, they mean the world to us- but they can't be are everything. We must have other priorities and obligations in life to balance it all out. I think we found the happy balance between the two. Conner is beginning to understand the idea of consequences and decision making. We continue to discipline the same as before. We just enjoy each others company when it comes to bed time. This was the most pleasant surprise. Bed time is now my favorite part of the day! When Conner starts tugging on my pants because he's become too tired, and when it's time to lay down and it's silent, dark and he's right by me...digging his little toes into me until he falls asleep...those are my favorite moments.

It doesn't work for every family, but for now it 100% works for us. :)  

 

                                  

Conner loves the new house! Probably just as much as I do. Moving from a small apartment into a large, single story house has been such a huge huge blessing. Having so many rooms to decorate is like a dream come trueeeeeee! :) And, Conner is adorable when it comes to helping. The kitchen island is his permanent helper station when we cook, clean or unload some groceries.

 

I recently was promoted at work to a Full time position. It's been a blessing, but I miss my opportunities to go to Sunday Church. Fortunately, the opportunity comes every now and again. This Sunday was Palm Sunday and we had a awesome service at church! I get a little sad dropping Conner off at the daycare, but I secretly think it's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stinking cute watching him be a big kiddo and walk away, saying hi to all the other children. Than when we go to pick him up, his smile [like in the picture above] gives you a million reasons why we should all love life.

Papa got Conner a dinosaur on his first night home from the hospital!

 

Oooooh, did I mention eating Mascara is among his favorite activities?

Destroying all important make-up is a mission of his

that I cannot get him to stop doing. It's driving me utterly crazy.

Conner stands on the drawers,

after he throws all the belongings that were in the drawer on the floor,

 and carefully decides what make up he wants to empty that day.
It's a nightmare LOL so if you see me rocking the all natural look, you can safely assume it's because my probably brand new make up is lying on the dirty floor. Right where my little guy threw it. and I pick it up and put it away. And Conner Repeats that story x50 atleast before bedtime.

 

 

Thanks for all the good times, boys.
i love you!