What LOVE looks like

February is the "month of love."  I have never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day because my husband is so good at showing me every day that he loves me.  Why do I need a special day for that?  He often gets upset with me because I won't let him do anything for me on February 14th.

 I remember back in high school, during my senior year in seminary I was class president and was charged with planning a Valentine's Day party.  Instead of the usual, we focused on the love of Christ.  Everyone had a paper with their name on it that we passed around the room and everyone wrote something they loved about that person and we read scriptures about God's love.  That's was the perfect way to celebrate the month of love in my mind.
However, I never knew what true love was until we had our son and I watched my husband be a daddy.  What an amazing father he is to little Miles and I am SO grateful for that.  This is what love is:

Miles' Moments

I have decided that since Miles constantly does cute things I need to be recording them so that I don't forget.  So, that recording forum will be this blog.  I still have to post about our Thanksgiving and Christmas and will get to that sometime...hopefully this weekend.  But in the meantime, here are some cute Miles' Moments from the past week:

• After Aaron was made chocolate chip pancakes, Miles pulled the bag of chocolate chips onto the kitchen floor.  I ran upstairs because I heard them fall.  Miles was sitting in the middle of a pile of chocolate chips shoveling them in as fast as he could.  Aaron got out the broom and started to sweep them up.  Miles crawled on the floor after the broom trying to save those chocolate morsels from disaster.
• Miles tries to do Pilate's with Aaron and I.  He laughs at some moves but others he lays down next to his daddy and tries to imitate him.
• Miles lifts weights....he holds my 3-lb hand weight in front of him vertically and lifts it above his head while grunting.  Must be getting a good workout.
• Miles put his blue soccer ball in the computer chair behind me and said "un, oo, ee--GO!" and then made the chair spin around. He stopped the chair and repeated the process. Hmmm....I think we have spun him in the chair so much and he enjoys it so much that he wanted his favorite ball (thank you Teyghan and Kiari) to enjoy it as well. :o)

He is way too cute and growing way too big!

4 months of fun

Wow!  The summer has flown by and I can't believe it is already almost Halloween.  Ever time I update this blog I think "I'm going to be better and update it more."  Then life gets busy and since I am on the computer all day for work I have no real desire to be on it in the evenings or weekends.  Go figure.

I was able to make a quick trip to Utah in August.  My mom fell and broke her ankle requiring surgery and a short stay in a rehabilitation facility.  I worried and fretted and finally decided the only way for me to know that she was really alright was to go see her.  Miles and I flew out and had an enjoyable few days helping her and my dad out.  Miles was the best therapy she could ask for.

Aaron's sister, Ang and her husband Raja welcomed their third child in June; a beautiful baby boy named Hashan Issac Ratnayake.  Aaron's brother, Josh and his wife, Ember, welcomed their first child, an adorable baby girl named McKell in July.  It's so fun to be adding to the Conner posterity.  To bad we all live so far apart!

We went with our good friends, the Binghams, to the Royal Gorge in September.  What an amazing and awe-inspiring thing to see this gorge hundreds of feet below and marvel at God's creations.  It is such a fun place and I highly recommend it to anyone in Colorado.  It's a little pricey but well worth it.  Miles was petrified when we rode the carousel but he and Flint, his best buddy, loved running on and playing on the bridge.  We got some fun pictures and video that I'll upload a little later because I can't get it to work right now.

October has been super busy.  Aaron's mom and 2 of his sisters (Ang and Rachel) came to Colorado to enjoy TIME OUT FOR WOMEN (www.tofw.com) Time Out For Women is a wonderful conference put on by Deseret Book that is a Friday evening and Saturday event.  They have amazing speakers and musical performers.  We got a hotel in Denver and enjoyed some girl time.  My friend Ruann joined us as well.  It was wonderful to be uplifted and surrounded by righteous women.  We also had our first snowfall of the season that weekend.

The next week my parents came out because my niece, Teyghan (Ryan and Laurel's oldest) got baptized.  What a wonderful experience to see a beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father make the choice to be baptized.  She is a sweet girl and we are so proud of her.

The day after my parents left my brother Jeremy and his wife Nichole welcomed their little girl, Lucilia Janet into the world.  My parents missed meeting her by less than 24 hours.  This makes five children for their beautiful family. 

We got about 8 inches of snow yesterday.  Yes, it is the end of October and we have snow on the ground.  But we are forcasted to be back up into the 60s by the end of the week so it's all good.  I love Colorado weather!

Halloween is next week and I am still working on costumes.  What I have in mind may not work out right so I won't tell you about it until I have pictures!

Long overdue updates!

Miles is growing like a weed.  At his 15-month check-up, he was 34 1/2 inches tall.  Yes, that is almost 3 feet tall!  He's going to be tall like his daddy!  He successfully recovered from his first ever real illness--an ear infection that was brought on by teething.  We are so blessed to have such a happy and healthy baby.


I was able to go to Utah over Memorial Day weekend with Miles to spend some time with my family.  Aaron had a scouting fishing trip and was on call so I "flew solo."  On the flight there, the attendant who detached the Jetway from the plane somehow bent the door in the process and we had to deplane and get on another.  Our flight didn't take off until after it was supposed to land.  Miles was a trooper and happy as could be.  We had some amazing people sitting by us who just loved playing with him.  He was passed back and forth across the aisle.  I couldn't have asked for better traveling companions.  That weekend was also the annual Johnson Family "Weenie Roast".  It was SO great to spend time with some of my aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins.  At last count I think my grandpa has 48 grandkids, 50+ great-grandkids, and 4 great-great-grandkids (I could be off by a few but once there are so many it is hard to keep track!)  What an amazing legacy!


Last weekend we were able to spend some time with Jerm, Nichole, Xander, Dylan, Makenzee, Laurel, Teyghan, and Kiari (poor Ryan had a stomach bug and couldn't join us) in Estes Park.  A good time was had by all!  We got a cousin picture taken at one of those "Old Time" photo places.  It was expensive but worth it.  They all looked so cute!  We just wish Wyatt could have been there as well.  Miles had fun interacting with his cousins and it was great to spend time together just relaxing.  Miles is too young to fish, but he wasn't too young to watch the fishing from the bank and eat some dirt and rocks!


Anyway, life has been wonderful and time seems to be flying by!  Here are some videos we have taken over the past few months of our little guy...enjoy!

8 years and still going strong.

Today Aaron and I celebrate 8 years of marraige.  What a crazy, wonderful journey it has been so far!  I am so blessed to have Aaron as my husband.  I couldn't ask for a better man or a better father to spend eternity with.  I feel so unworthy of the love he gives me and the life we have together.  Aaron, you are amazing and I love you with all my heart!!

Mr. Miles is 1!

Oh my goodness!  Time sure has flown by this year.  As I was working this morning and the clock turned to 6:38, I felt tears well up in my eyes.  I am SO blessed to be a mother to Miles.  He is such a loving and happy baby!  He has gotten so big!  He is 32 1/2 inches tall and weighs 22 lbs 11oz.  Aaron and I are so blessed.  We are having a birthday party for him tomorrow and I will post pictures and video then.
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Dear Miles,

I can't believe that you are already a year old.  It seems like just yesterday that I held you in my arms for the first time and you grasped my finger while you nursed for the first time.  You've had a hold of my heart since that moment!  I am so blessed to call you my son.  You are a precious son of our Heavenly Father and your dad and I are so humbled that He entrusted us with you. 

You are such a pleasant and easy-going baby.  Grandma Ru once said that we were blessed with an easy baby because it was so hard to get you here.  I truly believe that because you are an easy baby.  I couldn't have asked for a better baby.  You are so much like your daddy.  You are so relaxed and laid back.  You take everything in stride.  I pray that you will be able to keep that quality as you grow and mature.  It will serve you well in life.  You get so excited to see your dad, to talk to your grandparents on the phone, and it seems you are just excited to be alive.  You love life and help your dad and I love life as well.

Keep growing!  Keep being happy!  Keep being super loving!  We will try our best to make this next year even better than the last!

All our love--your mom and dad.

Blind Dates Do Work

Eight years ago today I met my sweet amazing husband on a blind date. Yep, it worked! As I am sitting here reminiscing, I thought I'd share our story. One of my best friends at the time was Michelle Pedersen. One day Michelle and I went shopping and then went back to her house to "chill." Her husband, Joe, was home and right before I left he said that I was perfect for this guy named Aaron that he worked with. He asked me if he could give Aaron my number. I figured "Why not?"

A week or so later, Aaron called me. Now keep in mind, he was working swing shift so he called on his dinner break which was around 10 pm. I had to be to work by 7 am so I was usually in bed by this time. I remember putting the cordless phone next to my bed and reading and getting ready to go to sleep when he called. We had a good conversation up until I mentioned that I was a "returned missionary." As soon as I said that, there was silence at the other end of the line. I remember thinking "Great, he hates sister missionaries and I guess he'll just be a one date wonder; if we even make it to a first date." The conversation continued and he asked me out for that weekend--Saturday, February 22, 2003.

I was excited as I got ready for our date. I even remember what I was wearing--Khaki pants and a long sleeved light weight brown keyhole sweater with bell sleeves (I know, I remember the strangest things!) When he rang the doorbell and I opened the door, Aaron took my breath away. He was wearing a very sexy off-white turtleneck cable knit sweater, dark jeans and nice shoes. He was also holding a peach rose. Yep, he brought me a rose on our first date. I was speechless, which for those of you who know me is pretty hard to do. I really honestly believe it was love at first sight for me. There was just something about him. He led me to his sweet Acura with leather seats (yes, I was impressed--call me materialistic, but it was all part of the amazing package and first impression).

We went to dinner at the Bluebird Cafe in Logan. We both ordered the steak and sweet and sour chicken. It's a random combination, but oh so good! We talked and talked and talked. I found out that he loved fishing and being outdoors. He also played the saxophone, loved music, and liked the symphony. Wow! Talk about my perfect man--manly, yet sensitive. Stars in my eyes....

After dinner, we talked about what we wanted to do. We had originally planned to see a movie but had talked so long that we missed all the first showings. He didn't want to go to a late show because he was executive secretary and had early meetings Sunday morning. This impressed me to no end. In the past I had dated guys who weren't that "into" the gospel. They had testimonies, but it just didn't seem important to them. Here was a guy that not only was it important to, but who was worthy of his priesthood and trusted in such a calling. Another "perfect man" moment. The only movie we could go see was Jungle Book 2 because it had an 8:00 start time. So, that's what we went to.

As we are sitting in the theater I remember a preview for some movie coming out on March 23. Aaron said. "Oh, that's my birthday." During the rest of the previews, I started planning what I would do for him. Crazy, I know, but part of me knew that I would be dating him in a month. As we watched the movie, I had to try REALLY hard not to hold his hand or sit too closely to him. I am a very affectionate person, but I was "warned" by his friend Joe that he was a slow mover. I didn't want to do anything to scare him off.

He dropped me off at my apartment and we shared a long hug before he left. I remember talking to my mom the next day and telling her that this was it. I found the man I was going to marry. She just laughed. But it was true! We were engaged 2 months later (April 21) and married 2 months after that (June 20).

I am so grateful for Joe and Michelle for bringing Aaron and I together. What an amazing eight years this has been.

Flint

There is a little boy in our ward named Flint. Flint is 3 weeks older than Miles. We sit next to Flint in church sometimes. Lately we do it a lot because Miles and Flint are so cute together. Sometimes Flint tries to suck Miles's thumb. Miles likes to play with Flint's hair. They like to steal toys from each other. They like to grab each others faces, ears, hands, etc. They like to jabber and squeal and talk to each other all during Sacrament meeting. There are some Sundays that Flint's mom, Brenna, and I have to try really hard not to laugh because of their cute antics. I think they will be good friends (at least I hope so since his mom and I are good friends). It is so fun to see Miles interacting with other babies. There is another little boy, Brian, who is 6 weeks younger than Miles. I have a feeling they will be the three musketeers when they get older. Their poor teachers and cub scout leaders!

Kisses, Waves, So Big, & Prayertime

Miles loves to give kisses. He went through a phase 4 months ago where he gave kisses to everyone, but then abruptly stopped a couple of weeks later. He has recently started giving kisses again--big open-mouthed slobbery baby kisses. Only now he follows them up with clapping for himself. "Yeah! Look how smart I am!"

Miles now waves hello and goodbye to almost everyone. He will wave at the phone when you tell him to say "hi" or "bye" to whomever is on the line. It's times like those that make me wish we all had video phones so everyone could see him "talking" to them.

SInce Miles was born, Aaron and I have played a game with Miles. "How big is Miles? SO BIG (said while stretching his hands above his head). Miles now can do it by himself! You'll ask him "How big is Miles?" and he squeals and raises his hands above his head. How cute is that!

We try really hard to say prayers before every meal. That is something we were raised with and we have always done. We always remember to pray before we feed ourselves, but we sometimes forget to pray before we start feeding Miles--which is usually before we start eating. We are making an effort to say our mealtime prayers before he eats and it's paying off. He can be squealing and/or whining for food but as soon as we fold our arms and say "Prayer time", he gets quiet and sometimes folds his arms while we pray. As soon as we say "Amen" he's back to squealing and/or whining. It feels good to know that he's learning already.

Stair Climber

Miles is a little stair climber. About a month ago I was working in "my office" which is downstairs. He was playing in the family room outside my door. He's just talking to himself and laughing. All of a sudden, his voice seemed a little farther away. I go take a look and he is halfway up the stairs. Now we can't keep him off them. In the morning while I am working, he's trying to go up to wake daddy. When we are playing in the family room, he decides he wants to go exploring (i.e. climb the stairs).

I put a baby gate about 4 stairs up so that he can be safe while still climbing and in close proximity while I work. Wow! He was not happy! He stood holding on to that gate screaming at his mommy to let him out. He made it sound like I was torturing him! He's gotten a little better with the gate, but more often than not, I just let him crawl up them. We are working on going down. He's starting to get the hang of it and will do a couple of stairs by himself until he sees something the catches his eye...up the stairs!