Christmas Day

The whirlwind has come and gone, leaving wrapping paper and toys in it's wake. Mason was, as always, completely spoiled. We started our day with stockings and then Big Pancake, a holiday tradition growing up. And then we opened presents. To say that we are blessed is a serious under statement.

We all enjoyed a nice nap and then had dinner with our neighbors, who invited us over. It's been a long time since there was more than just the 3 of us gathered around a holiday table. It was nice to have some company.

Hope Santa was as good to all of you as he was to us. I am looking forward to seeing what 2012 holds in store for us. Personally, I hope it has a new little bundle of joy joining our family.

Christmas Eve

I've been going to a local Presbyterian church this summer and fall. I've really come to feel at home there and look forward to Sundays with Mason. Chris stays home, so it's a little quality Mason time, something I value quite dearly. I asked Chris to come with me this year and so we all got dressed up and headed off. They had a live manger of animals. In the actual church! Mason had a great time petting the animals and singing all the songs and just watching. Usually he goes to the nursery, so I think he must have known it was different, being in the actual church service with all of us. He did great! Granted, we spent the entire hour feeding him whatever I had, but, whatever, he did great! I am not above bribery! Whatever it takes to get us all through to the end. We came home and the boys watched football (the Cowboys, of course!) while I made Swedish Meatballs for Chris and then headed off to bed so Santa could come visit.

Sick Baby Boy

Mason has been fighting a nasty cold for about a week now. Poor guy coughs all night and cries and is just miserable. I wish there was something more I could do, but all that I can really offer is cuddles with mom and lots of vicks baby rub. He won't really eat. I knew it was bad when he spit out a clementine and said "icky". On a slow day, he'll eat 4! His temp has finally come down from the 103 range, which is good. And, in typical Mason fashion, he still has such a good attitude about it all, playing with toys and reading lots and lots of books. Parenting is so hard when all you want to do is wave a magic wand and make them better, and yet, no such wand exists. Not fair!!

He is excited to see Grandma and Uncle Travy in a few days. They are going pretty much out of their way, to spend 1 night with us, and have breakfast before hitting the road back to Missoula. It's fine, we take whatever family time we can get, even if it's just a few hours over eggs and pancakes, we'll take it and enjoy it.

Egg Nog, Blanky and Some Good News

If I ever wonder if Mason is really mine, I can always default to his absolute love of eggnog. He will drink my entire cup worth, smack his lips and say "more please", all in about 5 seconds worth of time. I swear, he just devours it. I guess we really are related!

My good news is that after much begging and persistence from me, Chris has finally agreed to let us have 1 more baby!! Mason is going to get a sibling after all, and I am so excited about this next journey. I've been being a tad bit of a control freak about it all, whereas Chris just keeps saying that there isn't a need to fix that that isn't broken. So I am trying to clutch at it a little less and just enjoy the experience. I have no grand illusions of more that 2 kids, so this will be my last chance at pregnancy. I want to soak in and enjoy each and every aspect of it, and savor it for those times when my heart aches for a 3rd. We are hoping to get pregnant in January and have a baby in October. I think we both secretly wish for a girl, but, I know we both openly just wish for a healthy child.

Happy Halloween

This was the first year that Mason went trick or treating. I am not sure who was more excited - Mason, for the chance to walk around with the other kids at night or dad, for the chocolate. Either way, it was a huge success and they both had a great time. I even abandoned my post at the door and walked to a few houses with them. Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

I skipped church on Sunday and we went out to breakfast and then headed to a pumpkin patch east of town. Mason loved riding the "choo choo train" and the hay ride and really just getting lost in the corn maze. Next year I'd like to get there before he's actually taller than the corn!! Oh well, fun was had by all, and that's the most important thing.

Dinner Anyone?

I swear he had damn near EVERY pot that I own on the floor!!

Breckenridge Weekend Getaway

We snagged some condo points from my parents (thanks again mom and dad) and headed to Breckenridge a few weeks ago for our 5 year wedding anniversary. We had perfectly dry roads there and back and some snow to play in while we were there. Not a bad way to spend a long weekend - snuggled up with my two favorite boys.

Our Exciting Night at The ER

Mason was in the bath tub on Monday night, doing what he wasn't supposed to be doing (standing) when his hand slipped and he came crashing down, on his chin. There was a lot of screaming and crying (both dad and I, and Mason) and a little blood (just Mason) and a few frantic calls to the pediatrician who said we needed to come on in and have it looked at and probably closed up. Mason did awesome, even earned a stuffed whale from the attending doctor who stitched him up. It was well after midnight when we got home, but, the important news is that we all survived. Holy hell child, your mother can't keep this up! I think it was harder on us than it was on him. Good gravy!!

If you ask Mason, it was an ok night . . . they put us in a room that over looked the ambulance bays, so he got to watch them come and go all night. He was a happy camper without a care in the world. At least til the fishing hook came into play, then it's a different story.

Love you little man!! No more trips for a while, ok? Ok!!

Random Cuteness

Just a few Mason photos to brighten your day, and mine. Plus an "after spaghetti" as promised for Auntie Angie. What can I say, the kid loves his noodles!

Fair Time

Someone mentioned that the fair was in town, and that it wasn't far from our house. So Friday night when Chris got home, we packed up Mason in the car and headed off. There was a 4H barn with a ton of animals that we got to pet. One of the goats kept licking my leg. I was worried he was going to get tired of licking and chomp down, but he behaved. Mason really enjoyed seeing all the animals, especially the moo cows and the goats. On our way out, he and dad shared a deep fried twinkie. And yes, for those of you wondering, it is as gross as it sounds. But, they loved it!! Maybe next year we'll even brave a ride or two.

4th of July Weekend

We've had a nice, long holiday weekend around here. Friday night, we took a bucket of KFC up to a local park that has some fun water features and let Mason run around. He had a good time playing and running with the other kids. He was quite upset when we finally left.

Saturday morning we got up and got ready and hit the road, driving to Estes Park for the day. I really love it up there. If only I could find a way to make a living. Hmmm.

Sunday was pretty quiet - our only real adventure was to Kohls. Mason's feet went from size 4 to size 6, literally overnight, so we needed some new shoes. After he went to bed, Chris and I had a date on the back patio with our fire pit and smores makings. YUMMO!! I don't think we've had a fire out there since Mason was born. It was nice just to talk and eat and enjoy each other's company. We couldn't see many fireworks - just heard lots of popping noises.

Chris and Mason spent this morning working on a busted pipe in our sprinkler system. Thank goodness I have a husband who knows how to fix those kinds of things! Later this afternoon we are headed to Chris' cousins' house - Danny and Ali - for a bbq. They have family in town cause Ali is about to have a baby girl. As much as I want #2, I know that seeing her just a few days from giving birth will certainly remind me of the down side of being pregnant. Especially in the dead of summer. Blech!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Settling Back In

Mason has been having some issues settling back into the routine of life around home. He's been in time out more times than I can count to. I think someone told him that 2 year olds are difficult, and I think he's been practicing. But, he is still cute, sometimes. Good thing, too, or I might ship him off to boarding school!