P!NK concert

Last week I let the boys (my hubby & Mase) fend for themselves for an evening & had me a much needed & much deserved girls night out. 

The artist Pink was in town & we have been waiting to go to this concert since back in March when the tickets were purchased. The "game-night" girls & I decided to meet downtown at the Marriot where we had reserved a room & we had our own "pre-concert" cocktails & snacks. It was so nice to see them all & catch up as we haven't all been together in quite some time.

After a few drinks & stuffing our tummies full of chips, dip & pizza we walked over to the Sprint Center & took some pre-concert pics before we settled into our seats:

I truly was not prepared to enjoy this concert as much as I did. Going into it I didn't think I knew very many songs of hers but it turns out I knew every single one. Especially from her very 1st album - talk about a blast from the past!  Before her concert I wouldn't have considered myself a huge P!nk fan but after this show, I would definitely say I am now a FAN!

The acrobatics in her show were awesome & to think she did that while singing her heart out, hanging from sheets or flying across the entire stadium (a lot of which was upside down mind you) was pretty amazing!

And after discussing it, the whole group agreed that we all want her abs:

This after having a baby 3 years ago?! Wowsers - this Mama definitely has some work to do ;)

The show ended with P!nk strapped to this crazy contraption & flying through the air above the crowd while singing & never missing a beat:

It was a fun evening shared with some of my favorite girls & a much needed break for this mommy!


As always, a big thanks to Melissa for always having the camera & camera stick ready & for sharing her pics! Love this girl!!

Being A Mommy After IF

The other day I was at work when one of my new coworkers suggested how we should be trying for baby #2 since I was probably a "fertile Myrtle" now after having one. First of all - RUDE. Second of all, I would have probably laughed if I wasn't so completely caught off guard. I began to wonder if this was how people see me now? The 41 year old mom in a race to have baby #2 before my eggs are completely turned to dust & my uterus full of cobwebs??

I guess what this person didn’t know was that we had spent the last 6 years trying to conceive our first child. Month after month there were questions, tears, numerous blood draws, months of hormone injections, IUI's, IVF, too many ultrasounds to count, several devastating miscarriages which was followed by more blood work, more injections, another round of IVF, several frozen embryo transfers & then another chemical pregnancy - which turns out is a much nicer way of saying early miscarriage.

I thought having a baby & being a mommy would take away all that pain & heartbreak we suffered through the past 6 years. But when I consider the thought of "trying" for another child all those feelings that have been hidden & buried creep up to the surface. There are things that no one tells you about being a mommy & life after infertility so I am here to share with you a few things I’ve learned:

1. You don’t really ever get over it.

I thought having Mason would somehow magically erase the sadness, jealousy, bitterness & hurt that comes with struggling with infertility. Don't get me wrong, having Mase has certainly eased a lot of that heartache but there are still those moments when the pain in my gut & my heart return upon hearing women say how easy it was for them to get pregnant. I just can't help it. I am always jealous it comes so easily for some.

Infertility still haunts me from time to time - especially since there is always the possibility of baby #2 lurking around the corner. I spent my entire pregnancy extremely cautious & was always waiting for something bad to happen or for the ball to drop & it did not make for an enjoyable time. It wasn't until Mason was laid unto my tummy after just being born for it to sink in that I literally just had a baby & he was healthy & ok.

I still remain jealous of those who don't have to worry about these things, who can enjoy pregnancy completely & without any fear. Did you know I refused to name our child before he was born? There was a reason he was called "Baby T" & that we didn't share the name with anyone until he was born. It was because naming something makes it real & until I met our child, I was too scared to let him be real.

2. Sometimes you won’t feel thankful.

Being thankful for children after infertility seems like a no-brainer & it is....for the most part. It is truly a miracle to have this blessing in our lives & I thank God every single day - sometimes several times a day - for granting us this miracle. I stare at my son in awe & sometimes I may rock him for far too long after he has fallen asleep & I may give him hundred's of kisses a day & am so very thankful to have this opportunity to be a mommy....something I have dreamed about & prayed about for so many years.

But here is where HT keeps it honest & real. There are days & moments when I am absolutely NOT thankful, where I am stretched to my limit, irritated with the constant demands my job, my husband & life puts on me & some days absolutely exhausted by motherhood. Sometimes my infertile self will come back to haunt me & remind me “Hey, your the one that wanted this for so long! You prayed for this opportunity to be a mother & now you are one so deal with it!"

So when I am about to complain about something Mase did or didn't do or complain about some aspect of child rearing I find myself really watching what I say as to not look ungrateful for what we have been given. I sometimes have to try so hard to bite my tongue & instead paint a rosier picture than perhaps I should & that gets exhausting. Especially when speaking with friends who are still struggling with infertility, because I want to be considerate & show compassion for what they are still going through. I know it may be impossible for them to imagine that the demands of motherhood could be anything other than wonderful & trust me, they are & there are times where they are not.

3. There is pressure to be a perfect Mom.

Because I dealt with infertility for so long I found that my view of motherhood was skewed. I had to work really hard to let go of holding myself to impossible standards. I have let Mason become the center of my universe & I'm here to tell you that is not necessarily the healthiest place for me to be. I have since learned to let the house cleaning go, make more time for my husband, let daddy & Mase have more time together & getting out of the house & doing things for just mommy (girls night out, pedicure, shopping or going to the grocery store - alone).

That pressure to let motherhood be "all-consuming" is very strong in some parts of our society & I wanted to avoid motherhood consuming me so that is partially what drove my decision to stay working full-time. Trust me, I personally am a much better mommy working full-time than I would be not working at all & I know saying that makes me sound selfish but I know myself & how I am. Working part-time would be perfect for me & is something I would love to be able to do but financially we just can't swing it. Being at work 5 days a week & having Mason in daycare during that time is something I struggle with everyday. But knowing he is in wonderful care & in a great daycare where I know he loves going to everyday makes it so much easier to tolerate. 

I spent so many years swearing to myself that if I ever were a parent I would never work full time... along with the fact that I would never yell at my kids in public, or ignore them when they were yelling “Mama!” & I would never let them cry for any amount of time. Well I am here to tell you that I was wrong. I have let him cry & I work full time & feel guilty for it everyday. But I know that doesn't make me a horrible mother. It is absolutely impossible to be the perfect mother all of the time. But I sure try my very best to be that "perfect" mommy & that is all you can do is try...right?

4. Being a mommy will affect your friendships.

When I was going through infertility, there were times that I had to cut off contact with certain friends. The worst were my friends or co-workers who got pregnant at the same time I did & my pregnancy ended in miscarriage while they had much happier endings. There were friends whose baby showers I skipped out on because I just couldn't bear going & it was easier to skip a two-hour shower than go, put on a fake, happy face & then spend the next 12 hours in tears.

After I got pregnant, I had what I called "survivor’s guilt" towards my friends who were still in the trenches, fighting their own infertility battles. I really struggled with whether to invite these friends to my baby shower & I felt so guilty that I was even having a shower at all. Having been on the other side of that equation, I knew just how they were feeling which made me sad & unfortunately their reactions did affect our friendship. I regret now that I unintentionally hurt some of my friends by not going to their baby showers to keep myself from feeling sad, but in the midst of it all, I did not have that clarity of thought at the time.

But just as infertility caused some friendships to get much stronger & others to fall apart, motherhood has done the same. Like infertility, only other mothers know about the ups & downs of motherhood. I used to joke that I felt like moms were in a secret club that I wasn’t allowed into - turns out I was half right. It is kind of like a secret club, because (& I hate to say this) you can’t understand the difficulty of raising a child until you have been a parent. It is by far the hardest job I have ever done but the absolute most rewarding job I have ever done.

Every once in a while, I meet another mom who has been through infertility or miscarriage & it is like an instant bond. Those friends are few & far between, but they are now some of my dearest & bestest friends. And those of them who have turned into Mommies like myself there is even a greater bond & emotional tie that we will share for life.

5. You will survive infertility. 

Back in the day I thought that infertility would be the death of me. I made it through all the sad times, the heartbreak & the emotional roller coaster & managed the best I knew how & after being blessed by our miracle baby, somewhere along the way I realized that I have gotten through it. I got through some of the hardest & most difficult years of my life & came out the better for it.

Infertility shapes you - sometimes it feels like it’s for the worse, but it can be for the better. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself  “How do people who’ve never struggled with infertility stay sane while raising kids?” I mean, really, it is hard to raise children & having that little pocket of extra thankfulness & patience that came only by way of having struggled to become a parent is truly a lifesaver for me.

Like infertility, parenthood has shaped me & changed me into a better version of myself. Being a Mommy has made me a much better person & having infertility has made me a better parent. So I guess in all actuality, I can say there is something good that came from having infertility?!

Operation CIO

*stepping onto my soap-box...

Hi, my name is Heather & I let my son cry so that he could learn to "self soothe" & go to sleep on his own. 

Yes people, I let him "cry-it-out." 

*GASP*

While doing my research on the subject, I have learned that letting babies "cry it out" is a VERY controversial subject. If you spend any time on parenting forums or blogs like I do, you will find that some parents feel that crying-it-out (CIO) is equal to child abuse. Some claim there is scientific evidence that CIO can cause lasting damage to a child’s brain. And some will say it is the best thing they ever did for their child & for their family. 

So what exactly does it mean to CIO you ask? I didn't know the true meaning either so that is why I did a little research on the topic. I found that the phrase has many definitions. The actual definition is "a phrase that refers to any method of training a child to sleep through the night that involves allowing a baby to cry for a given amount of time." 

Other definitions I found are: putting the baby down for bed, shutting the door, & not returning until morning, using the version of the method popularized by Richard Ferber, which involves letting the baby cry but returning to comfort him/her at gradually increasing intervals, & allowing the baby to cry but staying with him/her during this time, gradually removing that presence as the baby becomes more comfortable falling asleep on their own.

There are countless variations of “sleep training”/CIO, & all parents handle this transition differently. It is something that most parents tend to shy away from talking about it. Let's face it, no parent likes to feel judged, & personally I try not to judge the way my siblings or friends parent their kids. 

Unfortunately, I have been judged by others in my short 9 months of being a mom & I spent so much time internalizing the self-doubt of was it the right thing to do or not & then felt such fear that I was making the wrong choices for my child. I hated feeling like this so that is why I am writing about this topic with an open-hearted honesty & hope that it will help other parents out there that are feeling the same or are in the same situation.

Before I share my CIO story, let me just say that the love I have for my son is beyond words. The main goal of my every day is doing the best thing possible for him. As a full-time working mother, some days I am extremely overwhelmed by the weight of this responsibility & when someone tells me or I read that I may have harmed my child I take it very seriously.

While you are reading this, please don't judge or criticize. Remember that it is OUR situation & OUR choice to do what is right for OUR family & what may work for us. I can respect that it may not work for you or be right for you so with that said, here is my own personal story of how Mason CIO & started "sleeping through the night". 

So at Mason's 9 month appointment the Pediatrician had asked me if Mason was sleeping through the night. I was truly unsure what he meant by sleeping through the night as I have heard mixed definitions. Was it from the time I put him to bed until the time he woke up? Or a given stretch of time? 

Well, the Ped told me that he considers "STN" a solid 6-7 hour stretch of time. I didn't even need to answer him because the look on my face told him what he needed to know & that is in Mason's short little 9 months of life, he has never "slept thought the night". Not even once. 

*cue the guilt*

I take full responsibility & have had a lot of guilt over why I didn't take control of the situation sooner & establish a better sleeping pattern for him at 6 months like the Ped had told me to. Honestly, I didn't believe in CIO methods & like a lot of others I didn't want Mason to feel like I was abandoning him. I also didn't have the heart to let/hear him cry that long. I also enjoyed all the extra snuggle-time but unfortunately, I created a little monster who would wake up every 3-4 hours & expect his Mama to come in, pick him up, rock him back to sleep & repeat the whole process over again. I started to just stay up until that 11pm "wake-up" because there was no reason for me to go to bed before that. That little boy had ME trained.

After 9 months of this, I felt that my job was being affected, my relationship with my husband was being affected & I found myself getting short-tempered with Mason more & more. I realized just how tired I really was & that something was going to have to give. Mason needs & deserves a functioning mother during the day & I cannot function without sleep.

need and DESERVE a functioning mother during the day. I can NOT function without sleep - See more at: http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/01/watch-me-break-mommy-blogger-commandment-1/#sthash.r6MSCswf.dpuf

need and DESERVE a functioning mother during the day. I can NOT function without sleep - See more at: http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/01/watch-me-break-mommy-blogger-commandment-1/#sthash.r6MSCswf.dpuf

need and DESERVE a functioning mother during the day. I can NOT function without sleep - See more at: http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/01/watch-me-break-mommy-blogger-commandment-1/#sthash.r6MSCswf.dpuf

The Pediatrician told us the tougher of the two parents needed to be the one to do this & most importantly, follow through with it. Shane is a big softie & won't let Mase cry for any amount of time so I knew I was going to have to be the bad guy :(

So the next night I turned off the monitor in our bedroom & told my husband to wear some earplugs & after I put Mase to bed, Operation CIO (Cry It Out) began. 

Night #1: Put him to bed around 7:30pm. He woke up at 10:30pm crying & as instructed by my Pediatrician I walked into his room, hugged & kissed him, told him I loved him, laid him back down & walked out - while he was still crying.

I walked down the hall & proceeded to sit on the top step of our stairs & listen to him scream cry. I was paranoid he was going to get himself so worked up that he would choke or vomit or stop breathing but he never did. It was simply just crying.

Worst. Thing. Ever.

He cried for 32 minutes (yes I was counting the minutes) & it literally hurt my heart. I sat there listening to him with tears running down my face. I wanted to walk in there so many times but I just kept telling myself I am this far into it so I have to stay committed & follow through with it. 

The crying turned into wimpering & then finally he cried himself to sleep. 
After 5 minutes of silence, I checked in on him, covered him back up & went to bed myself. He ended up sleeping until 4:30am where I gave him a bottle, put him back in his crib & he slept until 7am.

Night #2: Put him to bed around 7:30pm. He woke up twice by 11pm & I was instructed not to go into his room by the Ped so I let him cry & after 10 minutes each time he soothed himself back to sleep. He slept until 3:30am where I gave him a bottle, put him back in his crib & he fell back asleep until 6:30am.

Night #3: Put him to bed around 7pm (a little earlier due to the time change). He awoke two times by 11pm & again I was to let him cry without going in his room. He cried for around 5 minutes each time & fell back asleep until 4:30am, where I gave him a bottle & he slept until 6am.

Night #4 & 5: Put him to bed around 7:30pm & didn't hear a peep from him until 4:30am! 

1st night in 9 months & 1 week that he "slept through the night" - whoop whoop!!

Night #6-7: Put him to bed around 7pm & he slept all the way to 6am without making a sound or waking for a bottle!

AMAZING! Operation CIO is a success!

I am sharing my experience with you all because I think it’s important that we as parents find a way to support each other while making those hard decisions rather than tearing each other down because you either disagree or don’t share the same feelings. Unfortunately, there will always be people who criticize, because that’s their character, but as you read this I am hoping you all won't judge me & will respect what had to be done & the way I went about making that happen.

With any situation, sometimes we need to just bite our tongue & give each other space to experiment & find the parenting method that works best for our individual families & in turn respect that we are only doing the very best that we know how to do.

*stepping off of my soap-box"

Mason's 1st Halloween

May I introduce to you "Captain Stinker" - the cutest little pirate you ever did see...

My husband & I have different views on Halloween. He doesn't like the holiday & thinks the meaning behind it is evil. Me on the other-hand loves Halloween & everything about it. So being that this was Mason's 1st one, I made sure to go a bit overboard & fully decorated the house in all the pumpkins, ghosts & black & orange decor & could get my hands on. To say Shane was thrilled is an understatement but I told him it was for our son & we wouldn't be denying him this super fun holiday as a kid so he would have to eventually get over it.

Mason's 1st Halloween started off by going to daycare & having a little Halloween "party" there. He wore a super cute outfit that had a little Frankenstein on his butt & his shirt said "Mummy's little Monster" :)

Later that morning, all the kids (& babies) dressed up in their costumes & had a little party at lunch-time. Once I picked him up, we made our way home, ate & I put his pirate costume on so I could get some pictures. 

After several pictures I got "the hand" & decided that this was his "no more pictures Mama" look:

Unfortunately, Shane got delayed coming back from Arizona for work so he missed out on Mason's 1st Halloween. He was so very bummed & I felt so bad for him. Mase & I sent him this picture of us but I think that just made it worse :(

Once he was dressed & ready to go, I loaded up the stroller & made our way "trick-or-treating" to a few of our friend's houses around the subdivision. Then we made our way back to our cul-de-sac for our annual gathering in the driveway of our neighbors Dave & Gael.

Mason lasted until 7pm & then the "sleepy monster" got him so I put him to bed & then rejoined my neighbors outside. We all stayed warm & cozy around the fire-pit while enjoying a glass of wine, chit-chatting, handing out candy & sampling the candy that everyone else was handing out. 

We had a great turnout of kids this year & it was so fun seeing all their costumes. The funniest one was a teenage girl who was covered from head to toe in gray paint sample cards & she was "Fifty Shades of Gray" which we all thought was pretty clever. However, given her age I am hoping that she has no idea what the books are about!

By 9pm the trick-or-treater's had died down & this Mama was getting tired so I called it a night. Shane had finally made it home so I filled him in on Mason's day & showed him the cute pics I took.

Even though Mason had no idea what day it was or why he was wearing a costume, it still was a super fun evening. I can't wait until next year when he can help me decorate, carve his 1st pumpkin, & when he is walking/talking & we can all go around the neighborhood trick-or-treating together - just me & our little family of three :)

Hope everyone had a fun & safe Halloween!!

9 months old

Mason James, you are now 9 months old! The holiday's are fast approaching & before we know it we will be celebrating your 1st birthday! The date is set, the place we are having the party at is reserved, & the planning has begun! Mommy is having SO much fun putting your birthday party together! I realize that you won't even remember it, but your Mommy & Daddy will & that is the important thing - we will have survived our 1st year as parents & to me that is definitely worth celebrating!

We are looking SO forward to these upcoming few months & sharing in your 1st Halloween, your 1st Thanksgiving & especially your 1st Christmas! I do believe that Santa may or may not have already began shopping for your gifts under the tree :) 

Weight: You had your 9 mos Dr's appointment this week & you weighed in at 23 lbs (75th percentile) & were 28 1/4" long (50th percentile). This past month you officially moved up to a size 4 diaper as well as started wearing lots more 12 month clothing. It amazes me every week how fast you are growing!

Sleeping: At 9 months old shouldn't you be sleeping through the night by now? For a couple weeks you were omitting your 11pm wake-up & would sleep from 7:30pm - 2am but that was short-lived. Just when we were getting 4-5 straight hours of sleep you started a "sleep regression" & we are now back to waking up at 11pm & 3am. Or maybe it is the "seperation anxiety" phase I have been reading about - you do tend to sleep like an angel when you are in mommy & daddy's bed & know that we are right there?! Your Pediatrician says we need to do the "cry it out" method with you to eliminate that 11pm wake-up so I think I am going to have to cave & give it a try. I am at the point where Mama is tired & needs to get some sleep so I will try anything!!

Eating: You are a fabulous eater - obviously looking at you, you don't go hungry! You continue to LOVE applesauce, carrots & any kind of food you can pick up with your fingers & shove into your mouth. You also have become a pro at sipping water from a sippy cup. We got the green light from your Ped to start eating table foods so I am looking forward to introducing new foods & seeing how you do with it all.

Milestones:
- You are now pulling yourself up on anything & everything you can! You are standing & balancing yourself by holding on to things with one hand, walking while pushing your toy bin around the room & can go from standing to sitting like a pro. You even let go of the furniture for 3 seconds last week & were standing all by yourself but quickly realized it, got scared & dropped down on your butt. I have a feeling you are going to be walking by Christmas - if not sooner - YIKES!
- Crawling has become your mode of "transportation" & you are super fast at it. I am amazed at how quick those little arms & legs move to get you from one place to another.
- You have outgrown your infant carseat so last week I ordered & installed your new Britax convertible carseat. Just one more reminder of how big you are getting :( It fits you much better & you don't look so "cramped" in it! The only negative to it is that it is difficult to reach around & help you with a bottle or putting your pacifier in your mouth. I will be glad when you are finally old enough to be front-facing!
- While out shopping we stopped in to Stride Rite & fitted you for your 1st pair of shoes. You measured 4 1/2 wide (chunky little feet) & so we bought you two pairs of  "early walker" shoes - one brown pair & one white/navy pair. They really help you get around better while crawling & pulling up on things! Daddy says you look so grown up in your "big boy" shoes :)

- You constantly babble, make sounds & try to communicate with us - I just wish I knew what it was you were saying! We practice Ma-Ma & Da-Da on a daily basis & the race is on to see which word you say first. Mommy & Daddy may or may not have money riding on it - lol :)
- This past month you have become a HUGE "mama's boy" & separation anxiety has become a reality for you. As much as I love your new found love for your Mama, it sure makes trying to get anything done around the house impossible. You don't like to be far from me & when anybody else hold's you, you are scanning the room in fear of not being able to find me. What can I say? You love your Mama!

- You cut another tooth this past month. It is your left lateral incisor tooth & now you have a "fang" just like your beloved Bulldog's do!
- You love to stand in front of the window, look outside & feel the "cold" window with your hands. I have lots of fun pointing out the trees, grass, houses, truck & cars in the cul-de-sac to you & love to see you paying close attention to every word I am saying - soaking it all up like a little sponge!

- Our neighbor's have been generous enough to let us use their swing-set & you love to be pushed in the swing! You look like such a little boy in this picture & not like a baby anymore :(

- Mommy has been trying to teach you to wave "bye-bye" & "give-me-five". Needless to say, you do better at "high-fiving" than waving!

- I'm beginning to think that bath-time is your favorite part of the day. You get SO excited when I tell you it's time to take a bath, get you undressed & plop you into the water with all your toys. You love to splash the water & we love to squirt you with your little animal water squirters which you think is so funny!

We love watching you grow, learn & discover new things & are amazed by all you have done this past month. Every month that goes by you do something new or make a new development & we are looking so forward to what the next month brings!

Happy 9 months little man!

 

Wisconsin - Day 4

Monday - Tanner was off to school early in the morning & my sister had a Dr's appointment late morning so I stayed home with Mase, Jensen & Cael. Gave me a whole new perspective of life with 3 kids under 3...not sure I want to make that leap?! I definitely give my sister & her husband kudos for parenting 3 kids under 5 & soon to be 4 come end of November. Although it is a bit chaotic & crazy around their house, they do an amazing job!

Later that afternoon Tanner had swim lessons so my sister took all the kids with her while Mason & I headed to the outlet mall for a bit of shopping. 

 

The Outlet Shoppes at Oshkosh has some great shopping & I always enjoy going there when I visit my sister. It was super cold out so we didn't stay long but we managed to hit several of my favorite stores while there. Mase got some new clothes at Oshkosh B'Gosh (which originated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin back in 1895 - a little history tidbit for you :) & a new winter coat, gloves & cute hat to match at the Children's Place outlet store. Mommy checked out the Coach store but didn't see anything I just HAD to have - which is a first ;)

The rest of the evening was spent packing things up for our departure the next morning & more play-time with the cousins.

Wisconsin - Day 3

Sunday - This morning we loaded up all the kids in the mini-van & made our way to Cuff Farms pumpkin patch. This place was SO cute & there were SO many fun things for the kids to do.

It is a family-owned farm that has been in business for 20+ years. It is open to the public from May-October for asparagus, strawberry & pumpkin picking. In the fall, they have a round-bale climbing area, a straw-bale maze, grass maze, a straw catepillar, & a straw slide for the kids to enjoy. And the best part about it was it was FREE!

Even though it was a foggy, chilly morning, everyone had a ball! Here are some pics of the kiddos enjoying this fun place:

Mason all bundled up!

My cute niece Jensen!

Tanner & Cael on the round bales! You can see in the background how foggy it was!

Jensen & Mason wanted on the round bales too!

Tanner & Cael sliding down the bale slides!

Wagon ride around the farm!

After the kids had checked out all there was to do, they picked out their pumpkins to carve for Halloween. I was amazed at how cheap the pumpkins were - $2 to $4 for huge ones. In Kansas, at the pumpkin patch we went to a couple of weeks ago, they were $12-$16 for big pumpkins! 

Before we left, we all stopped at the snack barn for some hot chocolate, caramel apples, & some popcorn. Once we warmed up & our bellies were full, we decided to make our way back home. So much fun was had by all at Cuff Farms!

Once we got home, we fed the kids, put them to bed & then finally was able to relax on the couch & watch a little bit of TV. 

Great ending to a great day!

Wisconsin - Day 2

Saturday - we had a fairly lazy day. Spent the majority of the day hanging out at the house while Mase had tons of fun playing with his cousins & I enjoyed having nothing to do & nowhere to be. 

 My nephew Tanner insisted we take a picture of us making silly faces :)

Today it was game-day so Mason & I of course had to "represent" our love for the Jayhawks from afar :) Even though they lost yet again.

Later that evening, we all went out to dinner at El Azteca - a yummy Mexican restaurant & stuffed ourselves full of chips & the best bean dip ever!

Before bed it was bath-time - all 4 kiddos. So to save time my sister suggested they all take a bath together & insisted we get a picture of all of them :)

 Tanner (5), Jensen (18 mos), Mason (8 mos) & Cael (3)

Wisconsin - Day 1

Today Mason & I ventured up to Wisconsin to see my sister & her family for 4 days. I was a little nervous flying with Mason by myself but thanks to the fiasco at the airport last time I had all appropriate documentation & check-in/security was easy-peasy. It also helped that Shane dropped us off & picked us back up so traveling with my little man & all his "stuff" wasn't bad at all. I have been amazed at how good of a traveler Mase is. Give that kid a binkie & his Taggie blanket & he is good to go!

Mase & Mommy at the airport

When I booked the flights, I tried to do it around Mason's nap/sleep-times so we ended up leaving late afternoon. During our flight, somewhere over Illinois, between playing with the pretzal bag & thinking it's fun to pinch the ladies arm sitting next to us, Mason starts to grunt & turn bright red which is a look this mommy knows all too well - around here we like to call it "poop-face". I was sweating bullets & praying the entire rest of the trip that the contents stayed "contained" in the diaper. Thank goodness it didn't smell - didn't need that to worry about also. 

45 minutes later we finally landed in Milwaukee. I couldn't get off that plane & into a bathroom fast enough. Once we got to a changing table, I soon discovered poop was coming out the sides of his diaper & up his back - typical "blowout" as other mommies like to call it. So I took a deep breath, got him cleaned up & after 13 wipes, a new diaper & new clothes we were back in business. Thank goodness I packed a pair of jammies in my carry on bag!

After that messy ordeal, we got our bags, loaded up the rental car & Mase & I were on our way. Right before we drove off, I had given Mason a bottle & just as I had planned he fell asleep shortly after we got on the road. It's times like this where I think I am getting this "mommy-gig" down but unfortunately like the "poop-incident" above I am quickly reminded that things can go south in a matter of minutes....literally! Needless to say, it was a quiet, relaxing 1 1/2 hour drive north to my sister's house.

We arrived around 9pm & was greeted by my nephews who were still awake & so very excited to see "Aunt Hedder" & Baby Mason. I haven't seen them since June & am still amazed at how tall they are getting & how much older they look. Definitely growing too fast!

Cider & Pumpkins

Have I told you all how much I LOVE fall & all that comes with it? I may have mentioned it here, here OR here. Imagine how excited I am to share in my love for the season with Mason? He has already helped me make pumpkin bread (which we gave to his daycare providers), helped me decorate the mantle on the fireplace, helped me buy & set up mums & pumpkins on the front steps of the house along with all the other decorations. Okay, maybe he didn't literally "help" but he sure watched me & I could see the twinkle in his eye when I unpacked the pumpkins, gourds & ghosts out of the storage bin ;)

For many years, around October, I would dream about taking my child to a pumpkin patch, going on a wagon ride & watching him/her pick out their own pumpkin. Well, today this long-awaited wish came true. This morning we made our way to the Louisburg Cider Mill & we had SO much fun.

We first toured the mill where they process the apples & watch how they make the apple cider. Then we sat down & enjoyed some fresh hot apple cider with some apple cider donuts - YUM! After our bellies were full of apple-goodness, we made our way over to the pumpkins for some pics. Mase didn't quite know what to think sitting amongst all the pumpkins however, we did manage to get a few good pics of the little guy!

The cutest "pumpkin" in the whole entire patch!

"Can I get this one?"

A "selfie" of Mommy & Mason

My two handsome boys!

We decided not to pay & go through the Corn Maze or on the wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch this year as we felt that Mase wouldn't get anything out of it but we are SO looking forward to going next year when he is walking & can actually understand picking out a pumpkin!

We hope everyone is enjoying the cooler temps, the changing of the leaves & all that comes with the Fall season! I know we are :)

8 months old

Mason - somehow overnight (or so it seems) you turned 8 months old! 

I feel like this is the point in your life where I should be getting teary-eyed about you turning 2/3 of a year old, but instead I am so very happy. We are SO enjoying every stage as it comes & instead of rushing to get to the next milestone, I am heeding the advice given by others - "soak up & enjoy every moment while he is little because he will grow so fast" - & it is SO very true. You are growing too fast my little man :(

Weight: You continue to get heavier by the week! 22 lbs is what the scale said last night but I could swear it is more than that - or at least feels that way! I finally packed up the rest of your 6 month onesies, pants & shorts this past weekend. It aways makes me sad to put your cute little clothes away & move on to the next size :( You are exclusively wearing all 9 month clothes now & at the rate you are growing I have a feeling you will be in 12 month stuff soon! 

You & Mommy went on quite the shopping spree this month stocking your closet with much-needed 12 month onesies, shirts, pants, jammies & some Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas outfits/PJ's! I think it is safe to say that 1)you are indeed spoiled & 2)you are officially set for the winter! You are still wearing size 3 diapers & if I had to guess, you will be moving to size 4's by the end of October.

Yep Mom - it fits!! Let's get it!

Sleeping: There is definitely room for improvement in this department! I am SO ready for you to start sleeping through the night & find myself green with envy when I hear other mom's say their little ones have slept through the night since 4 months old. 

You are still a great nap-taker & continue to take your short early morning & long early afternoon nap. The last couple of weeks you have started to drop that late afternoon cat-nap which makes you a very sleepy & fussy boy by 7pm. You are usually fast asleep by 8pm & go down with no problems. 

You start out sleeping on your back but always flip over to your belly & sleep face down with your cute little butt in the air.

And yes, that is a crib bumper in his crib. Please don't judge - I got tired of Mase getting his little leg caught in the slats of the crib during nap-time & in the middle of the night, screaming when he couldn't get it out & risk injuring himself so the crib bumper was placed in his crib last week.

No matter how many times I turn your head, you turn it back...hand under your forehead & nose buried in the mattress. How you can breathe like this is beyond me!? There are LOTS of prayers said at night that you don't stop breathing on us.

Around 11pm you wake up & want your paci & then become super restless! It takes you forever to get back to sleep & after about 30 minutes of back rubbing, rocking, holding & rolling all over your crib I give up & you end up in the bed with mommy & daddy. You of course fall right asleep & sleep like an angel until around 3am where you wake up for a bottle, fall back asleep & sleep until 6-6:30am. 

Lucky for me, on the weekends you like to sleep in like your mommy & I am SO thankful you take after me in this aspect rather than your daddy - who is always up before the sun rises!

I don't know why or what we are doing wrong but what I wouldn't give for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep! We have tried cereal in your bottle at night, keeping you up later, giving you a last bottle at 10pm & nothing has worked. We have yet to try "crying it out" & as much as I don't want to go there, it might be the only thing that works!?

To be continued...

Eating: Still eating mainly oatmeal cereal, fruits & veggies. You are definitely not a fan of mashed bananas or baby yogurt & you still hate peas. This past week you developed a new love for applesauce & graham crackers. You are getting much better at eating finger foods like yogurt bites, puffs & rice crackers & getting them in your mouth rather than in your lap. The bulldogs love laying under your highchair & can't wait for us to pick you up & catch the food as it falls to the ground. You love to watch the dogs & I dread the day when you figure out that they will eat from your hand. 

Milestones:
- The 1st week of Sept you cut your 1st tooth & then 2 days later you cut your 2nd tooth. I miss your sweet toothless grin but this one is pretty darn cute too :)

- I discovered that you wrinkle your nose when you smile just like your Mommy does :)

- You have mastered the "army crawl" & can get from one end of the room to another in no time flat. For some reason you can’t seem to get the opposite arm/opposite leg concept down & seem pretty satisfied dragging yourself around the room with that one arm! Here is a video...try to ignore my "Mason" voice :)

- I put you down for a nap one afternoon & when I came to check on you this is what I found! You somehow learned to pull yourself up in the crib & you were SO proud of yourself! Unfortunately, you haven't figured out how to sit back down so you get mad & start crying for us to come get you. After seeing your new little "trick" your daddy immediately grabbed his tools & lowered the crib mattress down a notch!

- Your daddy thinks it is the funniest thing to watch you go from an "army" crawl to pushing yourself up to an immediate sitting position. You do it so effortlessly & fast - a real pro!

- Spitting & blowing bubbles are your favorite things to do - especially when you have a mouth full of food! You think it is so funny to spit a shower of green beans & sweet potatoes at your mommy! However, I don't seem to share in your enthusiasm.

- You have now learned how to get something you want. You will spot something from across the room, figure out you want it, crawl over to get it, & pick it up to play with it. Amazing how your little mind works this young.

- You are starting to realize the relationship between cause & effect -- like when you cry in your crib you know that soon mommy or daddy will pick you up or when you drop a toy, Mommy will pick it up & so the game begins....until Mommy gets tired of picking it up after the 10th time!

- Millie & you are becoming fast friends! She has become your little "buddy" & wants to be wherever you are! She absolutely loves to sit with you on the floor & watch you play.

She also loves to sneak kisses & lick the drool off your chin when you least expect it :)

It amazes me everyday the love I have for you. I had NO idea you could love something this much. You are truly the best thing that has ever happened to us & everyday I realize more & more how truly blessed we are & what a miracle you are. 

I want you to grow up having the absolute best that we can give you, to have the feeling that you are so very wanted & loved & protect you with all we have from the evils of the world. I would also love for you to have a sibling as my sister & brother's mean so very much to me but I just don't know if it is in the cards for us. I am leaving that up to higher powers & though I don’t know what God has planned for us in the future, what I do know is that I appreciate & feel so very blessed for our little family of three & if that doesn't ever change than so be it.