The second bit is that this is why:

As of lunchtime yesterday, Connor refuses to let either Shannon or I feed him. Up until dinnertime Sunday night, it was the only way he ate. I’ve never seen him take this much initiative eating himself. I’ve held his hand around the spoon a few times, but all of a sudden, with no warning, he stopped letting us spoon-feed him and insisted that he feed himself, out of nowhere. I kind of wonder how long he’s been doing this at daycare (I’ll ask tomorrow), but this is really impressive.

I’m reminded over and over again lately that he’s not really a baby anymore. He’s more and more a fully-functioning little kid. He’s not really talking yet (just a lot of ‘yeahs’ and ‘nos’ in response to nothing in particular) but man, he’s getting big.

I forgot to turn off my invisibility field. Nobody’s particularly happy about that.

I’m trying to get Connor to look at the camera. And making an idiot out of myself in the process.

I’m snapping. It isn’t working.

This one actually may be my favorite. It’s certainly the one where we all look the happiest. But both Shannon and I have our eyes closed.

This is another good one, but we needed 4×6 wide for the cards. I had to crop it pretty severly to get it like this anyway (the full picture is *way* off-center; two-thirds of the frame is to the left of Shannon).

Again with the eyes closed. Shannon does this a lot. Also it’s not particularly flattering to anybody involved.

If you want to see the final photo, you’ll have to wait for the card. (Or, if you must spoil the surprise, you can follow this link).

Two words: projectile vomit.  Of yogurt.  I’m not sure he’ll ever touch the stuff again.  For that matter, me neither.  Really, really, really gross.  I just hope he’s feeling better tomorrow.  He was able to keep down some milk at bedtime, and his energy was better this evening than it was this afternoon, so I think he’s on the mend.  Still, though.  Ewwww.

An overdose of cuteness, I know.

John Hummer: Well, dear, what do you think of the photographs?

Margary Hummer: Oh, they’re lovely dear.  Of course, as with all things, they will fade with time.

John: Too true, too true.

Marge: Of course, maybe one day our great-great-grandson will ask his son to remove the dust and grime from these visages using some sort of magical machine.  And maybe he will do so with his son, our great-great-great-great grandson, on his lap.

John: Margary?

Marge: Yes dear?

John: Don’t talk crazy talk.

Marge: Yes, dear.

There are some great ones from the party.  here’s Connor with our friend Nichole and her son Desmond:

Then there’s this one, also of Connor and Desmond.  This one pretty much sums up their personalities (sorry Dez):

The more I look at that, the more I laugh.  Some of you may remember Desmond from Connor’s first few weeks:

The rest of the birthday photos are here.  As I mentioned, I’ve also posted our Montana pictures, which are here.  Here he is ready to set out, riding on the back of his Uncle Pat:

Of course the Montana pictures were taken using Shannon’s mom’s camera, because promptly after Connor’s birthday, my camera up and died on me.  I’m in the process of deciding whether to get it fixed (for $150) or replacing it with a later-model refurb from the company at a hefty discount (anybody have an opinion on either the Canon G9 or EOS Digital Rebel XT?).  So feh on that.