The Beach and Beyond

Before school got out for Mommy, we celebrated Ayden's baptism at our church, Christ the Lord Lutheran. Both Aunt Jillian and Uncle Scott came since they are our Godparents. The pictures at the top are from the service and the pictures at the bottom are from afterwards.

We've been having so much fun already this summer. Grandpa Dennis and Molly (his dog) came to visit us for the weekend and I absolutely loved having them both here with us. Next summer Grandpa Dennis said that he would take me on his boat and teach me how to fish, I can't wait! During his visit we also put Ayden in the water for the first time, Mommy says he did better than I did the first time I got in the water, but I think she's crazy. Here are some pictures of both of our first times, what do you think, did I do better or did he?

Earlier this month, we went down to Tybee Island for vacation. We went down last year and had so much fun, that we decided to head back down there for another week.

Every morning, we would get up, load our bikes down with all of our beach stuff, and head for the beach. Once we got there Mommy and Ayden would continue riding down the beach, while Daddy and I hit the water. When they got back Mommy and Daddy would get the umbrella set up for Ayden and then they would take turns playing with me in the water and on the beach. If you were on Tybee beach early in June, this is what you probably saw when you walked on the beach . . .

What do ya think? Did we have it made or what? Ayden loved the beach, they would prop him up on towels and within a few minutes he scooted down so that he could put his feet in the sand and play. He would have to get changed when we would get back home, since he would have so much sand in his clothes and diaper.

Daddy would bring his "surfboard" (body board) and we would play on it everyday. Sometimes I would ride on it and he would pull me through the waves crashing on the beach, other times, he and I would ride the waves in the ocean.

After we would play at the beach all morning, we would head back to the house to eat lunch and take a nap. After our naps we would get our bathing suits back on and head back to the beach, only this time without our bikes. We would set up on another part of the beach, Nuggie (that's what we call Ayden, it's short for Nugget) would lay under the umbrella and I would play in the water. Mommy did take Ayden to the water a few times, but he didn't really think it was as much fun as I did.

One afternoon, before we went back to the beach, we went on a Dolphin Watching boat ride. I love, love, loved it! It was so much fun and it was my first time on a boat. Nuggie slept the whole time, so he didn't see much, but Mommy, Daddy, and I got to see lots of dolphins, big container ships, and even the Little Tybee Lighthouse. The ride lasted for a little over an hour, but after about 45 minutes, I was done, unfortunately I couldn't get off the boat, so I was a little fussy towards the end, but overall I had a great time.

Mommy wanted us to get a good family picture on the beach, so the last day we were there, after breakfast at the Breakfast Club, we headed to the beach for a family photo, unfortunately it didn't turn out like Mommy wanted, not to mention the fact that as soon as the picture snapped, I would race Mommy to the camera to see it. These are a few of our attempts . . .

and here is the winning family beach picture of 2011 and it was taken after we had been to the beach one afternoon and were leaving to head back to the house.

We had so much fun and Ayden and I can't wait to got back again next year. Mommy and Daddy are thinking about running in the Tybee Turtle Trot, in April, so maybe we'll be back sooner!

Yes, I'm in my underwear! How else do you expect me to play on the beach when we leave my swimsuit at home?

Love you, Connor (& Ayden)

Easter and Newborn Pictures

A couple of weeks after Ayden was born we went to visit Ms. Heidi Migella (hnmphotography.com) to get some pictures of Ayden. We went to see her after I was born and for my first birthday, she takes great pictures and has all sorts of great props that I got to play with while she was taking pictures of my little buddy (that's what I call him!). Here are a few of the pictures, what do you think?

Mimi bought me a UGA hat to wear when I was little and Ms. Heidi took a picture of me in that hat when I had my pictures done and Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Bunny got another UGA hat that we gave to Ayden and he had his picture made in that one, so here we both are in our awesome UGA hats, aren't we too cute?

On the Saturday before Easter, Mommy and Nana took me to Memorial Park to hunt Easter Eggs with the Easter Bunny. I had so much fun this year hunting eggs and I even made friends with the Easter Bunny. He still scares me a little, but I had Nana and Ayden with me, so that made him seem not so scary. That night I got to spend the night with Nana and Papaw, so that Mommy and Daddy didn't have me and Ayden to get ready for church the next morning. When I got up the next morning, I checked the front porch to see if the Easter Bunny had come and left me any eggs, but unfortunately there were not any eggs outside, but he did leave me a big basket with a Chipmunk's movie and all sorts of candy in it; it was awesome! After church we went over to Aunt Becky's house and had dinner with the whole family. Then I got to hunt Easter eggs at her house too; it turns out, he left the eggs there for me to hunt after we ate lunch.

In April, I started playing soccer at the YMCA, it was Parent Child soccer, so Mommy and Daddy got to play with me too. Sometimes I liked playing and other times, I just wanted to go play on the playground and slide down the slide. The best part was racing the coaches and all the other kids to the water fountains during our breaks. After a few weeks of learning the basics, they broke us into two groups, based on age, and then within those groups we played mini-games. During the first game I scored 3 goals and only one of them was for the other team! I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to play again in the fall.

While soccer was still going on I started my third year of parent child swim lessons. We were heading to the YMCA in the afternoons, Monday thru Thursday; Mommy told Daddy that this is what it's going to be like when both Ayden and I are older and playing sports and doing things after school, Daddy (sarcastically) said he couldn't wait. I absolutely love swimming and was doing really good, so my swim teacher, Coach Katie suggested to Mommy that I move up to the big boy swimming lessons. I am starting those after vacation and I can't wait!

We've been doing so much stuff this spring and summer, I can't seem to remember all of it. Daddy, Papaw, and I worked on building a new deck, it's not completely finished, we still have to do the stairs, but we're working on it and it looks great so far! Go Daddy and Papaw and Connor!

We've also been playing outside an awful lot. I love to play on my slide, kick the soccer ball around, hit baseballs, and Daddy's even been trying to teach me to catch a football. My other favorite things to do is play in the water. Ms. Lindsey and Azalee got me a slip-n-slide for my birthday and I finally was able to use it and it was awesome. Daddy loaded it up with soap and taught me how to slide down, we had so much fun, I can't wait to try it out again.


Next month we are heading to Tybee Island for vacation, so I'll have more pictures and stories then. Miss you all.

Love, Connor (& Ayden) XOXOXO

I'm a BIG BROTHER!

We've been so busy since Christmas, that I haven't had much time to write and update you guys on everything. The biggest news, by far is that I am a BIG BROTHER!!!!

Ayden Joseph O'Mara


was born March 30, 2011 at 2:05 pm. He weighed 6 lbs and 2 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long.

They say he looks like me, but I don't see it, I mean he's got way darker hair than me, but maybe I do see a little resemblance, what do you think?

Mommy had Ayden a week early, so I have gotten to spend my spring break home helping Mommy and Daddy take care of Ayden. I love to give him hugs and kisses, especially on his nose. On Monday, we took him to the doctor and I held his hand while Dr. Kelly checked him out. He was scared so I had to tell him it was okay and that he could be brave. We were both glad when the visit was over. Hopefully I'll get to go with Mommy and Ayden to the next doctor visit, so I can hold his hand again. Next time he'll get shots, so he'll really need me there to hold his hand then. On Thursday, Nana came over to stay with Ayden, while Mommy, Daddy, and I went to the park, where we fed ducks, played on the playground, and visited the animals.

Okay, so I have skipped over a few things that happened between Christmas and Ayden's birthday, but I mean I'm just really excited about being a big brother. Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Bunny came up to visit two weeks after Christmas and brought me lots of cool Lightning McQueen and Toy Story legos.


They left a day early because they were calling for snow, Mommy and Daddy didn't think it would really snow and guess what it really did snow and snow and snow. Actually it snowed first, then it sleeted and iced over, which meant we were stuck at home for a whole week. On Monday morning, the snow was fun to play in, but after my nap we went outside and everything was frozen over from the sleet and I kept slipping all over the place, so we didn't play outside much until later in the week, when I could finally walk in the snow/ice without falling over. Here's a few pictures towards the end of the week, when it finally started melting a little bit.


For my birthday, we had a Cars/Lightning McQueen theme, since they are my favorite. Mommy made my cake and it was a big race track in the shape of a three with Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Doc Hudson racing on the track.


I had lots of friends come to celebrate with me and I got lots of cool things, like a bug catcher vacuum from Aunt Jillian, a walking and talking Dinosaur from Addie and Jack, a Chick Hicks truck and car set from Hudson and Harper, a monster truck and story book from Jack and Jamey, a dog (named Red) I built at Build-a-Bear from Aunt Becky, Taylor, and Shelby, a puzzle and a McQueen slip and slide from Azalee, a baseball hitter and truck/trailer from Mommy and Daddy, and a fish tank, Mickey Mouse fish, and all the stuff that goes with it and a talking Buzz Lightyear from Nana and Papaw. I had a great birthday party and loved every minute of it.

On Sunday Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papaw, and I went to a Gwinnett Gladiators game and I got to have my picture taken with Maximus, the mascot.

Mommy got some video of us singing Happy Birthday and Daddy got some video of Ayden getting his first bath, I will get those posted soon. Hope you like all the pictures, I'll write soon!

Love you all, Connor XOXOXO

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011!

We had a great Christmas this year and it even snowed here, a first in Georgia in over 100 years. This year I was really excited about Santa and loved helping Mommy and Daddy get everything set up for Christmas and for Santa. The week before Christmas I got to spend with Mommy since she was out of school, we wrapped presents and made lots of cookies. Here are some pictures of me helping Mommy make sugar cookies for Santa.



On Christmas Eve, we went over to Nana's house to celebrate with all of Mommy's family, but Daddy and Papaw didn't make it, they were at our house all day building a deer stand for Papaw (actually "Santa's Elves" were getting ready for Santa to deliver and build his present!). I got to see Aunt Becky, Shelby (Taylor had to work), Uncle Tim, and Aunt Debbie. I absolutely loved spending time with everyone, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Tim even gave me a great remote controlled F-150 truck, which I know was probably pretty hard for Uncle Tim considering he's a Chevy man! After Uncle Tim taught me how to use it, we played with it all afternoon; it was great! That night after everyone left Nana's, Mommy, Nana, and I went to the Candlelight service at church. I had a good time, but Mommy and Nana said that I was being loud, hey, what can I say, I was just excited for Christmas!


When we got home, Mommy and I got cookies and milk out for Santa and reindeer treats (Muddy Buddies) out for the reindeer and I headed to bed so that Santa could come.


The next morning I got up at 4:30, but Mommy said Santa hadn't made it to our house yet, so we snuggled back up in my bed and fell asleep for another couple of hours. When we woke up and went downstairs, Santa had already come by, delivered his presents and ate the yummy cookies I left for him. I was so excited to see that he had came and left me presents by the tree, like my Cars rug, a cow tractor game, and new rain/snow boots, he even left me note that said I needed to check outside for an extra special present. So I played with my new toys for a few minutes, then we got dressed and headed outside to see what else Santa brought me. When we got outside, I saw that Santa and his elves had left me a new swing set. I was so excited, so I ran over and tried out the slide first thing,but since it was so cold I said I was ready to go back in and open the rest of my presents. Mommy and Daddy got me lots of good presents too, like Mater Tall Tales the movie, Jingle the Husky Pup (Mommy reads the story and he barks and sings along), gator golf, and a toy skid steer like Daddy's.


Nana, Papaw, Aunt Becky, Taylor, and Shelby got to the house a few hours later, after we had opened up all of our presents under the tree and Mommy got some stuff put away. And you know what, they brought MORE presents, I was so excited, I thought all the presents were unwrapped. I got some great stuff from everyone, more Cars, a Fire Truck Mater (what I had told Nana I wanted since this summer), new cow boots, a pop up tent, games like Cootie, Don't Spill the Beans, Shrek Memory, Lucky Ducks, and Chutes and Ladders, and a V. Reader, something that I can read with, but play games with too! Here are some pictures of me with my new presents and one with me and Papaw where he's teaching me how to use my new video game, isn't he the best?


That afternoon, Nana and Papaw stayed later and we got to play with all my new toys and Papaw's new Wii Drum Set. Right before they left it started sleeting a little, I don't really know what that is, but it just felt like really cold rain to me. That night before I went to bed the sleet turned into snow, how cool is that, we had a white Christmas! The next morning we woke up and snow was everywhere. Mommy headed out to do some day-after Christmas shopping with Nana and I went to work with Daddy to help him feed hay to the cows. After a few hours, Mommy and Nana came and picked me up from Daddy's work and we headed home to play in the snow. We didn't play too much before lunch, but after Daddy got home and we ate lunch we went out and played forever. It was so much fun! Daddy got out the garbage can top and we went down the hill in that a few times, then Daddy got out his old boogie board and we went down the hill in that too! It was so much fun and we went fast. I took turns riding with both Mommy and Daddy, then they let me ride by myself. Mommy taught me how to make snow angels and Daddy taught me how to make snow balls and throw them at Mommy and the dogs. This was the first year that I liked the snow, every other time it was snowed I didn't even want to be outside, this time, I couldn't get enough, I was so sad that I had to go in a take a nap. The snow stayed for a few days, so I got plenty of chances to play in it with Mommy, Daddy, Ava, and Sable. I can't wait for it to snow again.





Well, I better get going, I've got lots of toys to play with. I'll post more soon, since Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Bunny are coming up for a visit next week.

Love you all,
Connor XOXOXOXO

Here Comes Santa Claus - Cowboy Santa that is!

Last weekend Nana and Mommy took me to see Cowboy Santa at Bar G in Bishop. This is the first year that I have wanted to go see Santa and now I can't see why I made such a fuss about going to see his the past couple of years, he's great! I can't wait to see what he brings me on Christmas morning.

How We've Been Spending Our Weekends!

Mommy, Daddy, and I have been having a lot of fun these last few weekends. Our first stop was Rocky Ridge Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin and to ride the cow train. When we first got there, there was so much going on that I didn't know what I wanted to do first, so we hopped on the cow train and took a little ride. Daddy and I rode in the pig cart and Mommy rode beside us in the cow cart. After the cow train, we headed to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. I picked out a small one to put in my room and then I helped Mommy and Daddy pick out a big one to carve. Next I got to play in the corn box, which was probably my favorite thing there, who know playing in corn instead of sand could be so much fun! We saw pig races and visited the petting zoo. After all of our fun in the fields, we hoped on the back of the tractor and took a hay ride around the farm. It was so much fun, I can't wait to go back next year!


This past week Ms. Mary was out of town on Thursday and Friday, so I got to spend all day Thursday with Daddy and Friday with Mommy and Daddy. On Friday we went to the Georgia Aquarium, it was Daddy's first time, so I had to show him around a bit. After forgetting my cup at home and having to stop at Target to buy a new one, we finally made it there. We walked all around and got to see lots of fish. My favorite spots were the big "picture windows" where I got to lots and lots of fish swimming around. Here are a few of my favorite spots!




After we left the Aquarium, we headed across the street to Centennial Olympic Park. I got to play on the playground for a little bit and then we headed up to see the Olympic ring water fountains. I wanted to go take my clothes off and go swimming, but Mommy and Daddy wouldn't let me, so I had to settle for watching on the side. Aren't the rings cools?


On Saturday morning, we got up and headed to the Yellow River Game Ranch, one of Mommy's favorite places when she was my age. Mommy thought I would really like it here because I love to see deer outside of our house and here they roam free, eat food out of your hand, and you get to pet them, which is what I have always wanted to do with the deer at our house. As soon as we got there and headed in, there were deer at the door waiting for us, it was awesome! We got to see lots of animals, deer, sheep, goats, peacocks, buffalo, bobcats, raccoons, foxes, ducks, and even a mountain lion that tried to stalk me as her prey. Here are some pictures of our adventures . . .




Sunday we just spent resting from all of our running around on Friday and Saturday. Mommy and I went for a bike ride and later we all took naps. We were going to carve our pumpkins that afternoon, but we headed to Ms. Beth and Mr. Randy's to visit them and when we got back it was a little too dark to get started. Mommy says we will carve our pumpkins soon. I'll post pictures as soon as we do.

Love, Connor
XOXOXOXO

I'm going to be a Big Brother

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be a Big Brother in April. I'm so excited! I love looking at the Baby pictures on the refrigerator and rubbing Mommy's belly. We'll find out what it's going to be in November, so I'll let you know. Here's my new t-shirt from Nana, don't you love it?


Here's me checking out the pictures of the new baby.