All I Want For Christmas....

Thanksgiving was a nice start to the holiday season. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Margot's mom's house in Cary on a beautiful fall day. After trying to stuff ourselves, we went for a long walk in the neighborhood to try to burn off some calories. Unfortunately, on tv that morning, someone saw a report that said you'd have to walk 27 MILES to burn off the average Thanksgiving dinner. YIKES! We probably only walked two, but I guess it was better than nothing. The highlight was feeding Connor as we had just recently started giving him solid foods. For fun, we let him play with a turkey leg. He seems to understand that it was food, but was confused as to why everyone was standing around trying to take pictures. Aunt Melissa "The Baby Snatcher" commented on how different the holidays are with a baby around and wondered what we used to do for entertainment before Connor was born!



When we came home from Thanksgiving dinner, the Christmas decorating began! We brought our winter friends down from the attic and they watched as we started unpacking boxes and checking the lights. We spent the weekend setting up the yard decorations (front and back yard) and then slowly decorated inside over the next week. It is truly a sight to see! It lights up the neighborhood!



As we hoped, Connor loves Christmas time just as much as we do! Connor loves playing around the Christmas tree- his face lights up in a big grin whenever he sees the tree! He doesn't seem the least bit interested in the presents, but hopefully on Christmas day he'll get excited about all the paper and bows!



I have a sneaky feeling Connor will have a house full of new toys after Christmas! He loves crawling around the living room floor with all his toys scattered about. Hopefully more than anything, for Christmas he'll get to see snow in Pennsylvania. Check back soon for pictures of Connor and friends on the Santa Train and meeting Santa!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family! What a wonderful year for us... We have so much to be thankful for! Happiness, health, good jobs, adventures and more on the way! We have been so blessed by the generosity of our friends and family and Connor has been such a good baby and growing up so happily and contently.



And as promised...heres a good shot of Connors little teeth...no biting yet (something else I'm thankful for)!



Our friends Sarah and John have alot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving also! On Monday (11/19),they became proud parents of a little boy! Matthew Alan Smith was born at 3:12 am, 7 lb 11 oz and 20 inches long with a head full of dark hair! He is so cute and was already wide awake and checking out his new world!




We have so much to look forward to! Like Christmas! The decorating starts tonight! We have lots of Christmas plans and look forward to sharing the excitement of the season with Connor. We know he won't understand it at all and he'd be perfectly happy if for christmas we just let him play with the computer, phone, or remote control. Its amazing how much kids learn, just from watching their parents!



Happy Thanksgiving to you! Best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving and start to the holiday season!

Big Firsts

First Date-
When Scott's parents visited a few weeks ago, we went to visit Connor's little friend Elise :) We tried to go to a kids museum in Chapel Hill, but there was a home football game and too much traffic. So we met at Betsy and Ethans house and took a walk with the kids! It was the first time Connor had riden in the stroller facing forwards and he and Elise seemed to have fun!



First Visit to Cedar Point-
Last weekend we took Connor to Ohio to celebrate Halloween Cedar Point style, even though he's WAY to small for roller coasters! Ian came with us and we met with Scotts parents, aunt and cousins. Coasters during the day, Haunted houses at night. We stayed at a hotel in the park, so we could take breaks and take Connor inside from time to time. We can tell already Connor is going to LOVE rollercoasters!





First Halloween Costume-
Last night we dressed Connor up for our family Annual Pumpkin Carving Party...he didn't really like it too much...so he only wore the costume for a few minutes. He was so cute though! This year we'll hand out candy and plan to take Connor out trick-or-treating next year.


(Our sweet pea with his Aunt Melissa)

First Tooth-
This morning, during our usual early morning family snuggle time, I did the daily tooth check... and to my surprise, felt a little sharpness where we've been watching for a bottom tooth! The edges are just barely peeking out... In a day or two it will be out for sure! Our little boy is growing up!


(ok, so you can't see the tooth, but trust me, its there)


First Solids-
Over the past couple of weeks, Connor has acted more and more interested in real foods...watching out every move at the dinner table and trying to put anything and everything into his mouth. So we finally decided to let his try some "solids". The first step for babies is always watered down rice cereal...and Connor loved every bite of it. No spitting it out, no crazy faces, just wanting more and trying to grab the spoon! He did great! We'll wait a few days and then start with the fun stuff- applesauce, carrots, peas...good things like that!

Our Little Pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we had a big adventure with our friends on a beautiful fall day. On Sunday afternoon we took Connor and met up with the Fricklas family, The Burts,The Yorkerys, and the Todd Family for a picnic and pumpkin patch adventure! The Ganyard Hill Farm (www.pumpkincountry.com) offers family fun with hayrides, corn maze, barnyard animals, pumpkin patches, and "Hay Mountain". We picked out a big pumpkin and a baby pumpkin:) We had a great time and will make this a yearly tradition!










Us redheads have to stick together! Happy Fall!


A Little Pumpkin Poem
One day I found two pumpkin seeds.
I planted one and pulled the weeds.
It sprouted roots and a big, long vine.
A pumpkin grew; I called it mine.
The pumpkin was quite round and fat.
(I really am quite proud of that.)
But there is something I'll admit
That has me worried just a bit.
I ate the other seed, you see.
Now will it grow inside of me?
(I'm so relieved since I have found
That pumpkins grow only in the ground!)
• Source: Anonymous

Recent Photos of Connor

Here are a few pictures of our cutie pie over these last few weeks. He's growing up so quickly and has been rolling over! He loves playing on his belly and will be crawling soon! He's also discovered his toes and tries to eat them! He is sleeping through most of the night- usually wakes up to eat after 8 hrs and then goes back to sleep for a few more hours of sleep. We have been so lucky- he's the best baby we've ever had!! His hair is finally falling out- it looks so funny...hopefully it will still come back red!

Margot's Childhood Friend- Sarah Stone

Sarah Stone and I have been friends for longer than I can remember. Before we were even old enough to appreciate it, we'd been friends more than half our lives. Now its been a quarter of a century! Although circumstances have moved us in and out of proximity over the years, we have managed to stay close friends and shared many experiences as we have matured from school age playpals to confidants (why does that word always make me think of The Golden Girls?) Although the expression "best friend" is probably now more appropriate for our husbands, we will always still be each others best childhood friend and best of girlfriends!

After experiencing sleepovers, school dances, lots of birthday parties, church camps, road trips, fighting over boys, crying over boys, parents divorces, losing pets, falling in love for real, and being wives...we get to enjoy the next part of life together as well! Sarah and her husband John are expecting their first child, a son, around Thanksgiving! Sarah called me while we were in Texas on our "babymoon" to tell me they were expecting- so we were pregnant at the same time for about 3 1/2 months! So our sons will be about 6 months apart in age! I can't wait to see them grow up together!







"Its takes a long time to grow an old friend."- John Leonard

Connor and Friends

Carrie and Margot have known each other since high school and last week Carrie finally got to meet Connor! We went to visit Carrie in Texas several months ago, on our last trip before baby!




Uncle Ian was finally able to play with Connor when he was awake and happy, which is more common now. Ian always seemed to visit right after Connor went to sleep, but today was different! Connor was so happy and smiling and talking which is always a treat!




This is Connor and his first friend, Elise Fricklas, daughter of our friends Betsy and Ethan Fricklas. Elise is 6 mths old and she was much more intrigued with Connor than he was with her, but he did wake up and play a little. We know its just a matter of time until they are running around together! Elise gives us an idea of what's just ahead, and Betsy has been a big support for Margot, in terms of new mom stuff, breastfeeding, etc.

Connor's big news this week is that he is starting to sleep in his crib in the nursery! He's not very consistent in how long he stays asleep each stretch (2-5 hrs), but is spending most of the night in his own room! Hopefully as he gets more used to it, he'll sleep for longer stretches and be able to put himself back to sleep if he wakes up in the middle of the night.

Going To Miami

Connor and I went with Scott to Miami for a few days to keep him company on a work trip. We were eager to see how Connor did traveling by plane- he was perfect! He slept during the flight to and from Miami and was so well behaved the entire trip. He was a constant reminder of how lucky we are to have such a good baby! We were able to go out for several nice meals, enjoyed some time at the pool, and explored some nicer areas of Miami.




At The Rusty Pelican on a rainy afternoon




Cape Florida- Key Biscayne




Connor's first step in the ocean!




Connor is more playful every day and is starting to bat and grab at toys. Here he is starting to play with one of his baby rattles. Every morning he wakes up in such a playful mood and smiles, laughs, and "talks"!




Vizcaya- an Italian Estate in Miami, built in 1919 by John Deering. We were able to tour the house and gardens, which is built right on the edge of Biscayne Bay.




Connor was not too impressed by the cultural experience!




We have been working on getting Connor to sleep by himself and plan to transition him to his crib when we get home. We realized that he'd be perfectly happy and sleep best if he had a king sized bed to himself! All in all, we had a great time together!

O'Neill Family Reunion- 7/28/07

This Saturday we spent the day at the annual O'Neill reunion in Pennsylvania and had the chance to show Connor off to lots of family. The O'Neill get togethers are always a big adventure with many branches of the family tree coming together to celebrate. As always, we gathered at the Revloc pavilion- about 100 O'Neill, Robine, Ruffley and Burkhart's, ranging in age from 4 weeks to 90 years old! This year there were lots of kids playing games and running around. Connor will be very lucky with lots of playmates when he gets a bit bigger!


Four Generations of O'Neill's- Pat, Rosalyn, Connor and Scott




Connor with his proud grandparents!




Connor was so good all day and barely fussed. He was so patient as he got passed around and everyone complimented his red hair! He snuggled up and even fell asleep in the arms of Nicole, Judy, and Twila.

Snuggling with Nicole O'Neill




One of the highlights of the reunion each year is the sports. Basketball, softball and volleyball are the usual activities. Scott's favorite is basketball and he looks forward to it all year! He was afraid he'd be unable to play this year since he had his knee surgery last fall and has not been playing ball yet this summer. He couldn't resist the urge to play any longer. Three games later, he still felt good and no sign of any trouble with his knee! He was so excited to be able to get out there and play and will likely have more basketball plans in the near future at home.




All in all, a great time was had as usual by the O'Neill clan! Connor was poopered out by the end of the day and sacked out for a nap in the grass!

All Smiles!

We have been tickled to watch Connor become more interactive this last week- lots of smiles, cooing, and laughing in his sleep. The smiles are still somewhat unpredictable, but he has several playful periods each day! I get lots of smiles when he's getting his diaper changed, almost like a big thank you! He's made it clear that he doesn't like to be in a dirty diaper, so whenever he fusses, its one of the first things we check! Here's one smile I caught when he was slowly waking up from a nap... More to come!