Ski King

Conner tried "water-skiing" for the first time this past week. As you will see, he didn't mind that the water was a lot colder than the last time we went swimming. Jason went with him and never left his side. Hard to believe that Jason learned to ski on a board like this over 26 years ago!

Getting ready and getting the pep-talk from Daddy!
Done listening and ready to give it a shot! (Can you tell we have been practicing in the living-room?)
Here we go...
Showing off by standing up! Jason said he looked a little confused at this point and immediately sat back down. Conner is so light that to pull him, Toby only needed to have the boat at idle speed.
Conner also skied with Daddy on two skis! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures because I was so busy watching (and being nervous...to be honest). I bet they will do it again soon and I promise to post pictures soon!

My Grandpa is 50!!!!!

Happy 50th Birthday Grandpa...I love you! XO-Conner

P.S. Check out my awesome new haircut! My dad buzzed me. Now I look as big as I think I am!

Oh and here is a picture of my new pet turtle, Salmonella...or at least that is what my mom yelled out when she saw him!

Lessons learned!

On Labor Day, I celebrated my 28th birthday! I can't believe how much different this birthday seemed than all of the rest. I feel that I have grown and learned more this past year than in all of my prior years! Of all that I have learned this past year, these are my top five...enjoy!


5) "All of us are tempted. There is no one that can't be broken down, provided it is the right temptation, put in the right spot" ....I learned this lesson over the past year in trying to lose the baby weight! Geez...it is harder than I thought. Poor Conner gets so tired of healthy food that he loses his self-control too! Hey, he got it honestly!
4) "The only true cure to OCD is to have a baby". To my former roommate Lindsay, please note that the pantry is no longer organized with boxes facing out by label nor are the items in ABC order!!!

Yep, I even learned to let him get dirty! What is the fun in having table manners anyway?

3) When you have a child, you finally realize that it is true, your husband will always be a little boy at heart and he will never "grow up"! On this point, I have also realized over the past year that I am very lucky to have Jason as a husand. He is a great husband and a great father and I love watching him with Conner. As you can imagine, they are quite the pair!

2) "Life is a great big maze and God gives you all of the keys you need to find your way around. However, He put the keys to motherhood within the special women in your life."

P.S. Notice that I said "special" women...I have to laugh at all of the unsolicited advice I have received from pure strangers! Oh well, at least I got through all of the tears and can laugh about it now!

1) The hardest lesson I have learned this year...."Working and Stay-at-home are adjectives that describe a mom, in no way do they define her"

I still struggle with this one every day and I think every woman will for eternity. Balance in general is hard, but especially when it comes to the greatest love in your life. Some day, maybe I will have an answer. Until then, I am thankful for an amazing day care situation and for the understanding place where I work which is full of wonderful mentors. Without both, I don't know what I would do!

So that is it, in a nutshell. The other 8734 lessons I have learned do not come with cute pictures!