Just a few little things to update on while Connor is copiously trying to avoid falling asleep alone in his crib.  (Dr. Ferber's method is coming in a couple of weeks - I can FEEL it).

I seem to attract ridiculous interview situations in general.  Brandon found a listing recently for a Spanish teacher at a private early education center and I decided to apply for it.  It was only twice a month, an hour and a half at a time for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds.  I heard back from the school right away and they asked me to come in for an interview.  I arranged for my friend Bradlie to watch Connor for the two hours or so I thought that I would be gone.  The school is a half hour away, so I spiffed up, dropped of Connor, and headed west.  When I reached the school, the lady doing the interview asked me about my experience with young children and I enumerated my qualifications.  Then she took a couple phone calls and got up from her desk to let a few people in the building.  Next she asked me about my experience with lesson planning for that age.  After this question, I learned that she is not the director of the school, that she did not know what the pay would be, and that the interview, that was then over, could have been conducted over the phone easily.  It was merely preliminary and she asked me to send in a sample lesson plan and told me that I would have to meet with the director.  Unbelievable.  I am so glad I drove all the way out there for ten minutes of her time.  The thing is that I would be a little more annoyed if it wasn't a good opportunity.  They have children from six weeks to pre-Kindergarten, so Connor could stay with the infant class while I taught and I would enjoy teaching Spanish to that age.

  Saturday was the first sunny day we had had in Saint Louis for a long time and Brandon was pretty glad of it since he was in charge of flag football for the annual chili cook-off at church.  The sun was even out for the occasion!  Brandon drove us to church early so that he could paint lines on the "field" and Connor and I took a long, much sought after walk.  We were pretty tired of being cooped up inside.  (And even as I type this, it is raining again and has been since Sunday.  "They" say that tomorrow, it is supposed to stop, but we have already had almost a foot of rain for October).  The chili cook-off was a lot of fun and Connor enjoyed hanging out with his friends, although he was a little too small for the bounce house they had set up for the children.  Maybe next year...
 

On Sunday morning, Connor was baptized.  Even now, I can hardly put into words the emotion I felt when our pastor carried him over to the fount and sprinkled water on his little head.  In our church, it is also a tradition to sing "Jesus Loves Me" to the baby after he is baptized which definitely adds to the emotion of the moment!  Anyway, I have included the audio file of the baptism and some photos for the grandparents!  I know it is not the same as being there, but at least you can hear Connor "talking" into the microphone :).

This weekend is the second annual rockyourfaceoff retreat weekend for the youth group, but this year I won't be attending.  I have mixed feelings about it.  It was so much fun last year, but this year I will be spending some time with two very dear friends of mine instead, so that I won't be too sad to miss it.  Although, I will definitely miss Brandon as he will be attending.  And I cannot yet say what his costume is going to be for the costume ball on Saturday night, but let me tell you: it is pretty much amazing.  Did I mention that I came up with it??? :)

I know everyone said it would go so quickly, but when Connor was crying all day, everyday, I never thought we would reach the “magical” three month mark.  Yet, here it is!  I am not sure if it is magical, but it has been really rewarding to see our baby hit some milestones.  It is also sweet to know that I am Connor’s grape sno-cone, but Brandon is at least a cherry.

Connor’s new tricks:

-          picking up toys by himself

-          transferring them from one hand to the other or to his mouth

-          sitting up in his carseat

-          clasping his hands together

-          rolling over on his side and back again

-          pulling out his “pass” and trying to put it back in his mouth (part two is not quite perfected yet)

-          smiling unprompted to gain attention from others (Mama, Daddy, Amanda, Charles… he has so many friends)

-          sitting in the Bumbo seat

-          batting at and grasping toys hanging above him (in the carseat and bouncy seat)

 He has also been going to nursery for the past couple weeks with his (second) cousin, Andrew.  Andrew plays with him, but doesn’t know how to be gentle yet.  (Finally, a baby that is smaller than him!)

 There is not much news to report from us.  I will not be working for the Jewish school – Rabbi ended up employing another lady with more experience.  We have been enjoying some incredible weather here in Saint Louis.  A couple weeks ago, we were pulling out our sweatshirts, but we have now returned to typical late summer temperatures. 

 In a couple more weeks, Brandon and I will be headed East for Brandon’s sister’s wedding.  Connor is excited to see Grandma and Grandpa and Grammy and Grandpa and Mammy and Pappy and all his aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I am hoping my sister Katie will have her baby, Cade, before we arrive so that Connor can meet him and teach him the ropes.  She is due October 8^th (my birthday!) so it is a possibility.

 Brandon and I have been enjoying two dates per month as we have been trading babysitting every week with our Lutheran friends, Bradlie and Ryan.  They have a year old daughter named Lila.  It has been a treat for us.  Most times we just head back home to prepare and eat dinner uninterrupted, but overall, the time alone is incredible.  It has also been eye-opening for us to see what it is like to have two children ten months apart.  At this time, however, Connor is not ready for a little sib. :)

 Well, that’s all for now.  I will try to be sure and update a little sooner next time as I know my public is desperate for news.