Bedtime Books

 Connor reading to Tay

 Reading...Connor has memorized all the words to many of his favorite books

 Starting Young

 He loves the teacher in Brown Bear because she wears glasses

Night Night

Connor's favorite thing before nap and bed are books...He would read every book on his book shelf if you let him. We have been having him read to Taylor at night before they both go to bed, Connor loves reading to his sister, but gets really upset when she grabs the book :D

Peppers!!!

Mike and Connor spent the afternoon picking vegetables and cleaning up the garden as we are going to get ready to plant some more :D. They had some good conversation and after a long pause, Connor said to Mike, "Daddy, Mommy talks a lot." Mike was pretty amused as he seemed to be thinking about it for a while and said it so seriously. I was talking on the phone to my bro when Connor brought in this big bowl of peppers. He informed me, "They are SO SO spicy, DON'T touch." Yummy, now its time to get some recipes for 100's of peppers!

Gramma's Fun Suprise

Every time we visit Grandma there is always a fun out of the ordinary suprise for Connor. Last weekend was silly sting...They had so much fun, I love their smiles - I wish I could have captured the laughing on camera!

Perry BBQ

 Connor and Grandpa swimming

 Daddy already teaching Tay how to paddle

 Tay all snuggled warm with Great

 Tay hanging out with girls cousins :D

 Connor and Great playing cars

 Connor loves playing with cousin Jacob

Hanging out with Tessa and Jacob

The same weekend we went to the fair, we had a fun BBQ at Great's house. It was awesome to spend some time with family and introduce Taylor to everyone. It was a hot day, so we decided to swim, but did not come prepared. Thankfully Great has a stash of swimming diapers at her house...the sizes just happen to be the wrong color - that is why Connor is wearing a pink one and Taylor a blue one ;D. It worked and everyone was so happy to cool off in the pool. Thanks Great's for hosting a wonderful BBQ!

Genetic Testing Results

Everyday I remember how grateful I am to have this little man in my life, in our life, as a son, a brother and a student. I get to teach him everything I know and love him with my whole heart! I get to comfort him, hold him, hug him, kiss him, and let him know Mom and Dad will protect him and only do things that will be good for him as he grows older.

Connor has gone through many doctor's appointments, exams, physicals, a lot for a two year old and he continues to be brave and is beginning to really love a few of his doctors. 

On Friday, Dr. Byrd left a message stating Connor's genetic testing was in, but we were unable to speak with her until this morning. Connor's collagen testing came back negative. This means there was no mutation found in his gene, therefore they will NOT diagnose him with Stickler's Syndrome. This test has a 73% chance for being correct and Connor could fall into the 27% of having Stickler's Syndrome, but have negative test results. Connor's eyes are so severe and very striking to all the doctor's that they want to treat him like a Stickler's Syndrome patient. Dr. Byrd mentioned that the severity of Connor's eyes are so abnormal, that it makes more sense for a disease (Stickler's) to be attacking his eye sight. Connor is going to be treated as a Stickler's patient for now. He is going to be watched closely by his eye doctor's and have full physicals more regularly. 

What does this mean for us? Well, we have been wanting answers since we first found out about Connor's eyes at 6 weeks. 2 years and 4 months later, we still want answers...if we will ever have answers, we do not know. We are happy Connor was not diagnosed with a disease. Thankful he will be monitored by a team of doctor's that we have much appreciation for. 

He is an awesome, happy, loving, fun, a normal two year old terror at moments and we are so thankful for him. Mike and I decided when I was pregnant with Connor we would raise the child God gave us, no matter what the health problems would be. We got the child God gave us and we are so blessed!!! Everyone has hardships, this journey together as a family has been hard, but life is full when you are surrounded by amazing friends and family who support you emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially each step of the way. 

LA County Fair

Connor enjoying his pickle, one of many good fair foods we ate

Connor and Grandma

Dad and Connor checking out the chickens

Tay enjoying her new stroller

Connor feeding the goats

Awww...he loves the hairy one

Baby goat

Look at that smile in the corner of the picture - priceless

Our brave little boy

Riding Chief - the massive pony

 Grandpa got his workout

and some cuddle time

Our jumping bean got a lot of jumping in :D

He went so high - yes, it scared mama, but not him

Enjoying the slide with dad

After lots of walking, we sat on these for quite some time

Taylor loved it

Somewhat of a group picture

One of many times down the giant slide 

Mike has been going to the LA county fair every year since he can remember, and now Connor has been every year since he was born...and it just gets better and better. This year we had such a fun time with family at the fair. It was pretty much all about what Connor wanted to do with lots of stops for yummy food and drinks :D. Taylor spent most of the day sleeping, but loved all the loud noises and bright lights at night. It was an awesome day, and is becoming such a fun tradition!

Taylor Meets Norcal Family

Four generations :)

GiGi and Neil

Great Grandma

Uncle Joe

Aunt Kelly and Uncle Greg

Playing with cousin Glenn

Hanging out with cousin Glenn

That's a family :D - Aunt Kerry and fam

Cousin Rollie

Cousin Rollie

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma

Kathy, my amazing friend and fourth grade teacher

Cousin Angelina

 Sky and Connor

Aunt Wendy and Cousin Riley

Awesome friends, more like family, Steve and Jackie

Almost my entire family lives within 45 minutes of my parents, so it is always super busy when I go to visit. This time everyone was meeting Taylor for the first time and they all fell in love with her. Since we were visiting for a while we got much more one on one time, so it was so nice. Connor loved playing with cousins, this word is new to him because he really does not have any...him and Taylor are the first grandkids, but my cousins are his too as they love the kids as much as they love me ;D. We miss you already fam and are so thankful for the time we got to spend together!