Under Where?

So this week we have been using the potty. He does a really good job at school- must be the peer pressure- but it's a little more of a crap shoot at home. Pun intended. Monday and Tuesday were rough (Couch cushions have been washed.) but yesterday and this morning were great. It hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be, although I imagine the weekend will be difficult. I want to keep him at home so that we have a better chance of success, but the Chockleys are going to be here so he might get a bit distracted, even at home. We can handle a few accidents, though- we have a long way to go and many more couch cushions to wash! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Recovered

Connor went to daycare yesterday and seems to be alright- he's done with the antibiotics, no fever, and he's eating again. One of the things he ate was fruit cereal ice cream from Cold Stone. It tastes exactly like Fruit Loops, which is alright in your breakfast bowl but not so much for ice cream. Yuck! But he seems to like it. And considering he didn't eat anything for several days, I'll take what I can get!

Long Week

Connor developed a fever Saturday evening, which has persisted all week! Tuesday we thought he was on the mend, and then Wednesday began with a 103.5 fever and a very pathetic little boy. A trip to the doctor confirmed that he had developed an ear infection on top of the virus that was causing the fever. Now he's taking antibiotics for the ear, and although much perkier is still not 100 %.

Hot

Connor has a fever today- he's had it since Saturday night, actually, but he's really trying to sleep it off this afternoon. Hopefully a little Tylenol will go a long way. He is pretty puny.

His new thing is that every time we open the fridge he grabs the bottle of Tobasco and runs around the house with it. Uncle Shannon should be proud!

I'm glad to be back home, but I sure do miss the San Diego weather. Is it really 95 degrees right now? Will it ever get below 90 again? For some reason it is bothering me more this year than it usually does. In a couple of days I will have forgotten the beautiful 72 I left behind and will be used to the Memphis summer. But today I am still dreaming of an ocean breeze.

Dine-saurs

So this morning, Connor stood in front of the full-length mirror in our bedroom, singing at the top of his lungs: "We arda dine-sors mar-ching mar-ching, we arda dine-sors mar-ching mar-ching" (This is a song from the Noggin TV channel, for those that don't know. There are other words, but he doesn't know them. Come to think of it, neither do I.)

He held a drumstick as a microphone and did a convulsive dance while giving this performance. For himself. He was oblivious to me.

Maybe we shouldn't let him watch American Idol anymore? Or maybe he's just acting strange because his mom is out of town. Only one more day!

Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday Tiffany! We'll be dining at Garland's tonight to celebrate. Mmmm!

Bachelor party

So Steph is in San Diego for the week at a seminar, so I'm solo daddy. We're doing fine so far-- I think Connor understands now that Mom "went to airport, ona airplane, ona trip" and that she will actually return.

I've tried to explain to Connor that it's normal for Daddy to have a whole gaggle of fine women over to the house when Mommy's out of town. I think he gets it.

Actually, I really am doing wild things I wouldn't normally do when Steph is here--- like watching bad action movies. In the nude, of course. Like The Day After Tomorrow. Mindless, inane, but cool-looking effects.

Birthday Cake

Old Friends

On Saturday when I was getting dressed, I thought to myself "I hope Tiff doesn't put on a pink tank top tonight." Many times in my life I have wondered if she and I would show up in the same outfit, and have often called ahead of time to make sure it doesn't happen. I didn't call on Saturday. When she got to my house, not only did she have on the pink tank top, but she had layered it with a white one. And she had on a brown skirt- the same brown skirt I was wearing, the one I had bought at the outlet mall on the same day she bought hers. It's not the first time, and won't be the last, but I sure am glad we got it on film!

Say Cheese!

When you see a picture of Connor that involves a big smile showing all of his teeth, like this one, you can be sure he said "CHEESE!" when I pulled out the camera. I don't know who taught him to do this- it wasn't me or Chip. It's pretty funny though.

Other funny things Connor says these days:
He acts like he is manipulating us into doing what he wants, and I like to believe he's smart enough to do it. He will mention something he wants, and when we interpret it and repeat it back to him, he says, "Okay!" like we had a brilliant idea that we talked him into going along with. Example: "ImawannawatchDO-WaMommy!" "You want to watch Dora, baby?" "Okay!"
His other reaction to our interpretations of his ramblings is to say "Oh." Sometimes it is a surprised "Oh!" and sometimes a disappointed "Oh." Example: "ImatookanapondaPILLowMommy!" "You took a nap on the pillow!" "Oh." What? Did I get it wrong? Why so sad? Or "Morejuiceplease" "Would you like more juice?" "Oh!" Don't act so surprised- it was pretty clear what you wanted! I guess he thinks I'm usually much slower than this.
Randomly- when he sees a bug he says "BUG!" but pronounces it with a long U sound so it always cracks me up. When anything remotely wrong happens (drop something, bump into something, etc.) it's always "OH NO!" This morning I picked something up off of the floor and he said, "Oooh nasty!" And he has a toothbrush with Winnie the Pooh on it, which he refers to as "Poo Poo Bear." Now that's nasty!

SportsCenter

Connor watched golf on Sunday and was quick to realize that the thing to say is "GET IN THE HOLE!" as soon as someone hits the ball. He would have fit right in with the crowd at the Buick Open!

While we're on the subject, I'm happy to report that he's finally started using his baseball bat as something other than a golf club. Last night he was suddenly able to hit pitches that we threw at him while they were still in the air! Then he would drop the bat and ran into the other room and back, presumably running the bases after his big hit. Each night he shows off a new skill- he is a lot of fun these days.

Uncle Shannon

Here is Connor and his Uncle Shannon. Can't wait to see him again soon!

So Connor usually eats like a Chockley (not much) but lately has been eating like a Miller. He eats whatever they give him at school, and asks for seconds of everything at home. Every morning when he wakes up I ask him if he's taller yet, but so far it is staying in his belly. That won't last long- I expect him to be taller than I am by the end of the week.

Winner!

We just enjoyed another fun (hot) weekend with Uncle Shannon, who will be back again in a month- we're getting spoiled! He introduced Connor to aged balsamic vinegar, which Connor soaked up with French bread and ate tons of. Of course, he thought the bread was a baseball bat, and kept asking Shannon for more bat. We got a good giggle out of that one!

This picture rules because not only does he have on mis-matched pajamas, but he's also wearing a medal. Congratulations on finishing the 10-mile MS Walk- in a stroller. Several months ago. Hang on to the glory, son.

Tush!

Birthday visit

We went to Nashville this weekend for Bwana's birthday. There was excellent pizza and wine (of course), and yummy rum pound cake. Connor had a blast playing with the doggies and the family. Connor especially enjoyed Bwana's in-depth analysis of the technology behind his new Prius. He took notes (in crayon) and has already asked me and Steph to get him one. Or maybe he was just asking something about the last episode of Dora he watched. I thought I heard the word Prius, though.

Hmm, we took our camera, but only took ONE picture. Well, one with people in it, and a few of Mimi and Bwana's newly remodeled kitchen.

Another Birthday Picture

I don't have much to say about this. I just like the lighting. And the cake all over his face.

Mommy!

Mommy? Mommy! Sit down, Mommy! Goway Daddy. Mommy, stand up please. Where Mommy go? Cereal bar, Mommy? Watch Dora, Mommy? Mommy! Sit down! Watch Dora! No Daddy, Mommy do it. C'mon, Mommy. Love you, Mommy.

I love you too, baby.

Ooh! Butterfly.

IMG_3651
Originally uploaded by Chockley.

Back in the days before Hurricane Dennis turned Memphis into a swamp, I took this pic of a really cool butterfly on... the butterfly bush. Guess that name really means something.

More Webcam fun

Yeah, Connor enjoys the webcam quite a bit. Here's another pic of us enjoying one of Bwana's trademark tonsil shots.

Odds n Ends

Here is a picture relevant to yesterday's post- Connor basking in the glow of the computer screen. He had a little more to say today, but thanks to some bitchin' feedback on the Chockleys' speakers I'm not sure it all got through.

A quick shout-out to the newest server in the family, Cory Chockley. May the patrons of the chain restraunt you call home love you as much as you love them. And if you find yourself at the end of a long shift and realize you haven't used the bathroom in 7 or 8 hours, remember that a lot of cranberry juice will help ward off the infection.

Tiff's car just made its first trip out of town. Congrats on the sweet new ride!

Connor's latest trick is that he orders his own drink at Guadalupana. As soon as we walk in he is excited about getting his own cup of water. Hard to believe this is the same juice junkie I live with, but I won't argue. He also knows the word quesadilla, which I'm pretty sure I didn't learn until I was 19. Considering I probably ate 35 meals at Guadalupana while he was in the womb, I probably shouldn't be surprised.

Dear Cullen and Gina, Can't wait to see you in Destin! Love, Dennis

Next time we talk, remind me to tell you about our neighbors who just got evicted. The story involves a shotgun and a Little Debbie truck. Good times!

Technology

Today Connor had a video-conference with Bwana, Mimi, and Cory. They all enjoyed seeing each other, but the conversation didn't exactly flow. I think it will take a few tries before the novelty wears off and it becomes a regular way to communicate.

Connor talks a lot now, but it is usually when he wants our attention rather than when he already has it. He also talks a lot if we are playing together. One-on-one conversations aren't really his thing yet, but it's only a matter of time.

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but aren't my boys cute?