10 months

Our boy is just weeks away from his first birthday. In the early days, I couldn't wait for these days- this is my favorite stage. Now I'm begging them to slow down. Mike and I both have whispered to Mason to slow down. If only we could freeze time! We can't...but I do my best to preserve time in photos. Here's a few of our baby

Playing with his trains

His favorite person is still his sister. Even when
she talks to him like a puppy.

A train that was Mike's and has been handed down to Mason

Mason is still the busiest little baby. He doesn't slow down long enough to fully get balanced so he's usually sporting a mass of bruises on his poor little head. I could sit and listen to him chattering to himself all day long. Just as he's never still unless he's sleeping, he's also never quit until then. Words just can't express the adoration I have for this boy!

Party in Mason's crib

Last week I needed to vacuum but the kids were playing together in Mason's room so I just scooped them both into Mason's crib and took care of the upstairs carpets. When I came back, they were both giggling and having the best time. Since then, I can't tell Mack "no" when she asks if she and Mason can play in his crib. I only wish there was room for one more so I could join the fun!

On the road again!

I mentioned a few months back that Mike was interviewing for a job with an ambulance company. This job would combine two of Mike's passions- nursing and EMS. The interviewers took one look at Mike's resume, full of years of ambulance experience as well as 5.5 years working the the Burn/Trauma units at two major universities and couldn't believe their luck! They offered, and Mike accepted, a job working a single 12 hour shift a week, working around Mike's shift as UCH. Not only will Mike be back on the ambulance , but he'll be part of a specialized team that transports critically ill ICU patients from one facility to another,depending on the type of treatment they need. Mike will be working under his nursing license but also gets his EMS fix. He really likes the crew he'll be working with and is already acknowledged for his expertise.  Mike finishes up training this weekend and will be on the road again next week! It would be great if this could somehow work into a career that combines to things Mike is passionate about. Only time will tell!

The nearly perfect day

Snuggled in

Today was a great day! We all went to bed with a hint of anticipation. Mike and I had gotten blizzard warnings on our phones from the national weather service. We went to bed with clear roads but woke up to about three inches of the white stuff on the ground and fiercely falling snow. Since it was a bit too windy to go out , Mack and I put Mason down for a nap and she helped me fold the laundry before we put on a movie and cuddled up on the couch while the flakes flew.

After Mason woke up, we had lunch and I tossed together a chicken noodle soup. The kids and I played for a while before Mack had some quiet time and Mason a nap. By then, the wind had died down but the snow was still falling. Mack and I suited up and headed out!  I measured about 7 inches of snow but during the hour we were outside playing, another inch and a half fell . Mack and I shoveled as much snow as we could into a huge pile ( that Ellie intermittently traipsed through as she ran laps in the snow) . Once it was packed down, it was ready for sledding! 

"Ready, Steady, GO! "

When we could no longer feel our fingers, we came in for coffee and cocoa and fed Mason a warm bottle before we dressed him in his warm clothes and all three headed outside. Mason wasn't very impressed with the snow although he did giggle as the flakes fell on our heads and he munched on a tiny handful of snow . Then he was ready to come inside where he watched Mackenzie from the window, enjoying his afternoon snack.

Snow dog!

Soon the sun was setting so I plopped my two popsicles into a warm bath  before dinner. After dinner, Mack wanted to play " Chase and crawl" which also happens to be Mason's favorite game ( we basically just crawl around chasing each other. Both kids retreat in peels of laughter as you had toward them at a freakishly fast crawl). Before we knew it, it was time for Mason to head to bed which left a peacefully quiet house as we played a board game together.

It was such a great day. The only thing that kept it from being perfect was that Mike was working on the ambulance and had to miss our fun day. As it turns out, though, Mack has a snow day tomorrow and Mike has the morning off. Here's hoping for a repeat!

Mush mouth

How many pieces of lemon gum can one
little mouth hold ?

At least five

My new favorite thing

Being read to by Mackenzie :

Reading a book sent to us by Aunt Janet

Mason gets to listen in, too!

Bruise

Bruise

Mason has gone from crawling, to pulling up, to now cruising and occasionally letting go for a split second to stand solo. He's got a bit of a clutzy side to start but being more mobile has earned him the nick name " Bruise"

Ohhh Fish!

The hard knock life

When Mike's at work Ellie takes claim to his side of the king sized bed ( and half of mine , too!). It sure is a hard life...

Dog show

Mackenzie is the worlds best ( self proclaimed) dog trainer. You wouldn't know it by looking at our mangy, slightly spoiled ( and well loved ) mutt, Ellie. Still, when there's food up for grabs, Ellie minds her manners pretty well. With Mack's love for dogs, we thought a trip to the Colorado dog show was in order! We had so much fun watching the agility competition and also the judging of the Australian shepherds ( the breed that I grew up with) as well as walking around watching groomings and petting dogs as we encountered them. One dog trainer complimented Mackenzie on the way she approached the dogs, letting them sniff her first after asking permission from the owner. That dog went on to win the best of it's breed! Mike thinks Mackenzie was a good luck charm.

Mack especially loved riding to and from the even on the shuttle bus

Mike and Mason watching agility competitions

Mack was a great cheerleader for the Border Collies

Here's a clip of the dog trainer extraordinaire :

Dance!

How sweet it is....

Another Valentines day has come and gone. Mackenzie enjoyed her first Valentines party. I was able to help out since my mom could stay with Mason while he was ( supposed to be) napping. Mack and I made heart shaped crayons to send along with her valentines for her classmates. 

Our crayon hearts.

My girl was the only one to write out all her own Valentine's.

Mack with a few friends at her class party

We celebrated at home in our usual way- little trinkets to show our love. Mack was pleased as punch at the invention of Silly Putty. Her chocolates didn't last the morning.  Mason was ready for some big boy sippy cups as we start to look toward the transition off of formula and the bottle onto whole milk. Grammy introduced him to yogurt melts and those are " must haves" for him.  Mike , having just gotten off of a double shift, surprised me with Hammons chocolates made by hand in Denver. As usual, the sweet card was my favorite part. He enjoyed his candies and an iPhone app card, too. Another valentines day passes and now we're thinking of birthdays!

Mackenzie's goodies

Mason's goodies

Mason's kazoo

Mack found Mike's kazoo and harmonica and wandered around the house alternating which one she'd play. Of course, this caught the attention of Mason. Check out his musical stylings:

Midnight meeting

Mason is no stranger to the midnight wakings and he doesn't like to endure them alone so, of course, that means I am no stranger to midnight wakings, either. Thankfully, they're happening less and less these days and I *hope* that means consistent sleeping through the night isn't far away. 

The thing is, I kinda don't mind a midnight date with my boy now and again. Last night, he woke at 2 am with, I presumed, teething pain. I carried him down stairs , flipped on a dim light and got a dose of Tylenol ready. In the mean time, Mason spied the freshly baked banana muffins I'd made a few hours prior for our playdate. I just couldn't help it. I caved and gave him one. The way he looked at me and smiled as he chomped down that muffin was just pure love and a conversation with no words. As he polished off two more midnight muffins, he chattered on , giggled at the cat and just all around had a great time. This ordinary moment- a late night date over banana muffins- will be one I treasure forever.

My sweet baby and a bleary eyed me

Nice to meet you....don't I know you?

I had the chance to meet two more March 2008 moms from my on line group.  I have known Chelsey and Tammi both virtually for 6 years in June ( when we all found out we were pregnant ) .  Chelsey is from Gaylord, Michigan but we never had the chance to meet up while we lived in Michigan, too. Coincidentilly, Tammi lives just ten minutes away in neighboring Brighton!  She and I actually have two kids the same age since she has 7 month old, Emmersyn.

Chelsey is here visiting family so it was the perfect time to organize a big meet up. We thought meeting at my house was the best idea since there are both baby and older kid toys and would provide a better chance to chat. With a 7 year old, three four ( almost five) year olds and two babies, this place was hoppin'! No toy went untouched , no puzzle undone, not a corner of the yard unexplored. The older kids played so well together and the babies had fun scooting around on the floor.

The four older kids having a blast

Mason and Emmersyn

The best part of the whole day was just sitting down and chatting over coffee with these two wonderful women whom I count as good friends and it being totally naturally...like we've known each other for years- because we have!  I look forward to meeting up with my best girl, Angie along with Chelsey and another March mama or two for playdates when we are in Michigan this spring.

We weren't fast enough with our cameras before Lucan and Mason
escaped the photo. Declan and Mack were trapped under babies or they
may have tried to split, too

The sign of a good photographer- willing to climb

Tammi and Chelsey are both professional ( and self taught ) photographers and their work is beautiful. We all had a good laugh at how the photos turn out when all the photographers are in the picture ( Declan and Mackenzie served as stand in photographers)

This is the best we got

This is among the not so good but it got a good laugh. Ellie insists
on being apart of EVERYTHING

I'm too far away!

Over the last 10 years, I've become pretty accustomed to being far away. Thanks to technology , I don't notice the distance as much as I would if this were 20 years ago and I had to spend my days like I did over long summer breaks as a kid, waiting for the mail carrier to bring a juicy, hand written letter from a pen pal.  Still, there are times when I just want to scream " I'm TOO far away!!!"   It's hard to be away when my mom had her appendix out or my sisters had their babies , a friend needs a hug and a cup of coffee , Grammy had emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder and Aunt Janet with her medical treatments.  No matter how quickly I can send a text or email or pick up the phone , it's just not as good as being there.  This is how I'm feeling right now as my dear friend ,Angie is on the brink of labor with their third baby and her husband, her partner in crime, is down and out with an illness. I just want to drive , settle her on the couch with her feet up ( and plate propped on her belly) and take care of all those normally easy things that are just exhausting when you're carrying a 39 week old baby around.  So since I can't do that, I'll lament the distance and think happy thoughts of the newborn snuggles she and Mike be enjoying and the looks on the faces of Hannah and Mia as they meet their new sister in just few days ( if not sooner. Hopefully not sooner! )

You're early!

Mack found the first Crocus of the ....winter? Seems those sunshiney buds are a bit confused by our spring like temps. Even the trees have started to bud. Like Angie said, " Go back to bed, plants!" We're due for some snow today and tomorrow so they'll be covered up under a nice blanket of it for some more winter time snoozing.

Fuzzy footed sleepers

 Mack has always loved footed pajamas. She was pretty bummed when she out grew the 5t sizes because that's when most brands stop making them. Thankfully, Target recognizes a girls love for footies and they carry them all the way up to size 14!

                                           Mack and Mason all cozied up in their polar fleece footies.

Mack constructed a " cozy corner during rest time.
It's pretty creative and , from personal experience, quite cozy
Night, night, Mack!

 

 

Mason's treasure trove

                                   All things that Mason loves somehow end up beneath the chair.

Smartie pants

Last week , while at the doctor's office waiting for Karen, Mack and I used the table paper to play a game we made up. I write a word and, if she can read it, she gets to write a word. We took turns until Karen came in. By that time, we've filled the paper with words and Mack had even write the sentence " Mason please stop" . Karen noticed it immediately and was amazed by it. She asked Mackenzie to show her other things she knew. Mack told her that she has learned to read and showed her how she writes her name and knows math. Karen said " This isn't normal!" and  suggested that I seek out a gifted and talented program for Mackenzie. I took her advice and we're now exploring Ft. Lupton school districts Quest Academy. I'm so excited for Mackenzie to be around kids with her similar interests and abilities!

Photo a day -January

Another month is in the books for the Photo a Day challenge. I lost a few pics here and there but managed to keep most of them together. It was so much fun having my sisters and mom play along this time. Every day I'm excited to see their funny and creative takes on the days assignment ( including a snapshot of Coley in the corner and a picture of Kaleb's tonsils for " t" day)! Next up, February!  ( click collage to enlarge)

Breathe deep

I was so excited for Mason's 9 month well child exam because this visit is usually a break from vaccines and is just a fun age. Unfortunately, this visit wasn't as fun as anticipated. Don't get me wrong, it's always good to see Karen and Mason's visit was mostly good. But we've been battling one illness after another for three months. Sprinkle in teething and crawling and you have a little boy who's dropping on his weight growth curve. Karen wasn't super concerned but she does want to keep an eye on him and make sure that Mason gets all the good fats he can. He's still on the tall side and the top of the charts developmentally so I'm confident that his weight will catch back up with him. Karen did mention that Mason is one of the busiest babies she's ever met. This is nothing new to us!

Battling the latest round of crud, Mason's lungs were congested and this prompted Karen to try out an alubeterol nebulizer treatment in the office. The treatment helped his lungs a ton ( but didn't do much for Mason's mood) so we left the office shot-free but toting our own nebulizer and a prescription for albuterol. 

Next check up is after his birthday! My how the time flies!

Here we are again

Didn't I just post about Mack's birthday countdown? It hardly seems fair that we've skipped through a whole year and are now on the brink of Mackenzie Claire's 5th birthday. No birthday preparation is complete with out a proper countdown. Mack's going for a small birthday party this year but , with her love of marine biology, we though a sea themed get together would be fun. Here's our birthday countdown banner to match:

34 days and counting!

Mike, Mack and I all had fun coloring the fish in while
Mason napped

10 gallons of fun

Mack and Ellie checkin' out the tank

Mack had a piggy bank full of coins and cash. It never occurred to her to actually spend it! One day she had mentioned wanting something and I told her that some kids use their own money to buy things they want when it's not their birthday or a holiday. This set the wheels in motion and a few days later , the epiphany came to her; she wanted to buy fish with her savings.

It didn't take very long before Mike and Mack had researched fish and knew which kind would work best in our tank. They returned from Petsmart with Neon Tetra fish, snails, Denali's and a friendly tank cleaning ,plecostomus.

Mike and the gang

It's now common place to find Mike and me on the steps, Mack on her bench and Mason in his high chair watching the antics of our tankful of fish. Not only does Mack have new pets but also a new responsibility. Those are good things for a soon to be five year old in my book!

So much fun