Oh What a Miracle...

I'm so thankful. Thankful for my little miracle. He fills my heart and brings joy to everyone around him. Connor LOVES music and singing.

We took a music class together called Tiny Tots Tunes. It was so much fun to learn new songs with him! Here is one of his new favorites ....

I have hands, I have hands,
Watch me clap, watch me clap.
Oh, what a miracle am I.

I have feet, I have feet,
Watch me stamp, watch me stamp.
Oh, what a miracle am I.

Oh, what a miracle, oh, what a miracle,
Every little part of me.
I'm something special, so very special,
There's nobody quite like me!

Connor is three months old today!

Monthly stats post with pictures coming soon...

Two Months Old

January 11, 2011

My monkey is two months old!

I cannot believe that it has been TWO months already since Connor was born!

Time with him really is flying by.

He is such a happy baby and we're having so much fun watching him grow and develop.

His personality and likes / dislikes with facial expressions are just now starting to come out and he loves to chat chat chat!

I love it and could listen to him coo and watch him smile all day long!

Here are some two month stats:

- Weight: 11 lbs 11 oz (50 percentile for age)

- Height: 22 1/4 (25 percentile for age)

He had is check up yesterday and his pediatrician said "he's perfect"! We already knew that, but I'm allowed to think that since I'm his mommy :)

He got his first set of shots and he was less than thrilled about that. He's been pretty quiet and sleepy since getting them but even with shots he's a happy camper.

Aunt Kiks went to the dr. with us and had fun playing with Connor while we waited!

Singing with mommy and auntie kiks...

Here's what else Connor has been doing in his second month of life!

- Wearing Size 1 diapers

-Wearing Size 3 month clothes!

- Eating 5 - 6 oz in each bottle (he loves to eat!)

- Sleeping from 8 or so at night and wakes once around 3:30 a.m. then again around 8 a.m. (lately he's added in a 5:30 wake up... not sure what that's about but I hope it stops soon!)

- Takes a short nap in the morning but long naps in the afternoon

- He LOVES his glowing seahorse and now loves his little projector with elephants on it that puts images of animals on the ceiling!

- LOVES bathtime and just started moving his feet in the water. We've also removed the newborn support now (such a big boy!) so his feet really can splish and splash now :)

- Celebrated his first Christmas and rang in the New Year with mommy and daddy at home

-Met his great-grandparents for the first time! He just loves his Great Gran'ma.

- Met three of his cousins from South Africa! He loved Leanne, Warwick and Cayla! (we had such a fun time with them here)

- Had his first cold. We were all three sick at the same time... NOT fun and glad that's over.

-Was spoiled and loved while he stayed at Nana's house for a couple of nights while mommy and daddy went to Dallas to watch the Aggies play in the Cotton Bowl!

- His Favorite Songs: The Wheels on the Bus and Pat-a-Cake

Overall we've been busy bee's this past month. We also go to a mommy's bible study and have made new friends! We have a playgroup once a month that we've only gotten to a couple of times, but hope to be there next time!

My message to Connor this month:

Happy 2nd month of life, Connor Bear! You light up our world and bring so much joy to our family and everyone around you. I'm so thankful for you. I'm thankful that my body carried you and kept you healthy and strong. I'm thankful for this time of being at home with you. I hope you always know how much you're loved and feel special every day! Even though I don't want you to get bigger, keep growing big and strong and keep those smiles coming. They just melt our hearts!

Introducing our present ...

Well, you all know about our little monkey already...

but here is his official announcements i had made!

Happy New Year's Day!
Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2011.

Merry Christmas from The Lankfords!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Connor had a busy but fun first Christmas.

Filled with family, friends, food and festivities (and my many Christmas outfits)

which included:

Thursday night Christmas with the Lankfords / Hunt family. Connors great grandparents were in town from Colorado and his aunt and uncle (and cousin in the tummy) were in town from Dallas. Connor got lots of presents and had fun looking at the lights on the tree!

He is such a lucky boy to have great-grandparents! His Great Gran'ma just loved holding and feeding him and he chatted away to her! He also loved his Great Papa's deep voice.

On to our next gathering...

The next morning, Christmas Eve day, my family were invited to breakfast with the Kolbs and their extended family (my sister's boyfriends family) and had so much fun with a "white elephant" gift exchange. Their family give really nice white elephant gifts instead of gifts for each person. The kids all draw names for eachother and give one cousin a nice gift. They had so much fun giving and receiving their gifts! We got a massage envy gift card and some books with $20!

Connor wore these adorable sheepskin slippers that his cousins from South Africa brought him for Christmas! He's feet were toasty warm!

After a nap and some quiet time at home, we headed on to meet Santa on Christmas Eve!

The Gross family had a fun Christmas Eve party and Santa came! Connor was asleep and woke up to lots of flashes going off and he was in the arms of a white haired man in red.... poor little thing was so confused.

(There was a really bad rain storm, which is why Ryan and I are both soaked.)

We then headed on to Christmas Eve dinner with my family.

Mimi joined us for dinner and fed Connor his Christmas dinner!

Then Aunty Kiks gave him a bath and put on his Christmas PJ's!

and read "twas the night before Christmas to me"... (from her iphone)

We all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas dinner that mom made for us. We sat around the table and ate, laughed and chatted.

The next morning we opened presents at Nana's house and Connor was very excited that Santa came!

Connor was so lucky to get such special presents from his Nana and Aunts.

He got a very cool piano activity center, new shoes, a giraffe pillow and some other fun goodies!

After a great morning we all went to Ryan's moms house for Christmas lunch / dinner.

(Connor's Great-Gran'ma wanted to sit and hold him in the living room. They cuddled and chatted the whole time!)

The next morning we celebrated Christmas with Ryan's dad. Again, Connor got more presents! His Grandpa Larry gave him a cute outfit with puppy dog feet, a warm cozy blanket and a really soft Giraffe to cuddle with! Connor slept really well because we were sitting in front of the fire!

Despite feeling a huge void with dad not being here, especially during the holidays, we had a good Christmas.

Last but not least... our Christmas card (which didn't go out until close to New Years... oh well)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

He has arrived!

Our baby boy arrived on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 8:07 a.m.

He weighed 7 lbs 15 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.

He is just the sweetest thing. We're learning a lot about parenting a newborn and just love cuddling, kissing and staring at him. We've laughed (i've cried a little) and laughed some more over things in our first few days. We have some great stories to share later.

We've fallen in love with him and are happier than ever.

Here are a few pics from our first days with Connor and bringing him home....

We're Ready!

We're ready! Connor's nursery is done, our bags are packed, his car seat is ready and this Lankford house is as ready as it'll ever be for our newborn boy to come home!

His bassinett is ready in our room...

Here are a few pics of our baby boy's nursery...

A little hard to see, but my baby china set, Beatrix Potter, is out on the shelves. He also has a piggy bank, special pictures and my favorite ultrasound picture of him.

Connor has the most comfy glider / rocking chair with matching ottoman. We're looking forward to lots of story times, night times and special cuddles in this chair!

You can't see it in this picture, but we were given the cutest little pillow with Connor's initials monogrammed on it. He also has a very soft blanket with his name on it.

I made these wooden blocks - they say "NOV 11" so hopefully he doesn't come on another day! :)

I'm in love with Connor's infant carrier. It has the cutest giraffe and blue print cover!

Now all we need is the cuddly baby boy!

My dad... our angel

The third day of every month is hard. Each third day of the month marks another month that's gone by since we lost my dad. Today will be 11 months. That means that next month will be a year. I can't believe that. So much has happened in a year. Most days I just get a "punch in the gut" feeling and it will hit me that he's gone. Almost like i'd forgotten. How did this happen?? How can a year change so much in your life?? I went to pick up my car from the mechanic recently and the guy couldn't find my account under my name. The owner, a family friend, came to help the guy and said "it's under Ian". Again - that "punch in the gut" feeling. My dad always handled our cars. It was just his thing. He loved cars. I think he was a frustrated mechanic at heart.

This third of November is a little different. Today wasn't any easier than any of the previous 11 months, but I do have something else on my mind this month. It's impossible to not think about this little life that is growing inside of me. I know he's a gift from my dad. I know that I would not be pregnant if we hadn't lost dad. I know with all my heart that the two go hand in hand. Our baby boy's middle name is Ian. I love that my dad will continue on in our little man. I'll teach him all the things my dad taught me and we'll do all the things that dad would have enjoyed doing with his grandson. He would be such a great "papa/gramps/dude" (all our names for him)

One of the best gifts my parents have given me is a childhood. I had a wonderful one. I have such special memories of growing up always feeling loved and knowing that my parents loved each other. This is what i'll strive to give my son.

As we get closer to the birthday of our baby boy next week - I know dad is looking down from above and smiling.

I miss you pappa. Each day every day. I'm so grateful for these memories: