Happy Cheese Day

Connor Scott Dixon

January 29, 2001-March 25, 2008

Today would have been my nephew Connor's 9th Birthday. He was a happy, lively, sweet little boy, who loved cheese. So in honor of him every year, at his parents request, we celebrate Cheese Day on his birthday. We try to make it a day of happiness and smiles and save the tears for later, in March. I thought that I would just write a few of my favorite things about Connor on this his Birthday.

Connor was the baby who helped me learn how to be a mom. I am the youngest and never really got to be around babies. Connor was the first grand baby and we all loved him right from the start. I remember the first time Annie let me feel him kick in her belly. It was the first time I had ever felt that, and it changed my whole outlook on life. Something was living inside my sister and it was going to come to our family and be a part of us. I loved him from that minute on.

The summer after he was born Annie decided to go back to school and she let me watch him one day a week while she did that. Often it would be nap time when I would get him, but I would still selfishly go into his room and scoop him up and make him take his nap with me holding him. I loved everything he did. I remember wondering with the family, what we did before there was Connor. We would just sit around and watch him no matter what it was, from lifting a gallon of milk and flexing his muscles, to crawling around, to lining up his toys.

We later learned that Connor had autism. This once again, taught me more than I ever could have imagined. He taught me how to be patient and understanding and the concept of turn taking with children, rather than sharing. He was not the typical child with autism. Connor was so loving. He loved to snuggle and I would take them gladly any time that he would give them.

There are so many things that I could say about him. He holds such a special place in my heart. So much so, that we named Levi after him, Levi Connor. I watched as his Mommy raised and loved him and was better prepared to be a mommy to my own children because he let me practice on him. But one of the things I will remember most about Connor is how much he loved cheese. Cheddar cheese slices, macaroni and cheese, quesadillas, string cheese, you name it, if it had cheese he loved it. And as always, he would ask for it in his robotic tone, "I want cheese, please."

We love you Connor!