A Visit With Santa

We took Mason to see Santa last night. I just knew he would cry and scream and reach for mommy to take him back from this weird man in the red suit saying "Ho Ho Ho". He proved me wrong...he didn't exactly smile, but he was very content in Santa's lap and we got some great pictures. This one is actually the one the store took that I scanned in and edited. The other ones are at home right now. I think Mason will be getting something other than coal this year in his stocking. :)

Cousin Christmas

Emma, Jalie, Mason and Jaret at my parents house for a mini-Christmas before my dad's surgery.

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Turkey Oh My!

Here are some updates for the 1 of you...or maybe zero of you that read this blog. November was incredibly busy for us, therefore it flew by. Is it really the 11th of December today...NO WAY!!

The first week in November I decided to get rid of all the "junk" in my house, so I actually cleaned out all closets, drawers, cabinets, under the bed, etc. and had a garage sale the first weekend. It was VERY successful and we made a lot more money than we thought, which is always a good thing. The rest we hauled off to Goodwill and the crisis center for those who are need. It was SO nice to have it all done and gone and a sort of clean house for once. That night I had the chance to hang out with my sister in law and Aarons g/f in Fort Worth...we went to see the Von Trapp grandchildren perform some tunes from Sound of Music and tell stories of their grandfather. Very interesting.

The next week on the 11th, my husband and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. We did not have a babysitter so we took Mason to the park and I took some of his 1 year photos. We had a lot of fun and it was a beautiful day!!

By the weekend we found a babysitter for a couple of hours and went to dinner at Genghis Grill (YUM-O!) and Cabela's on a mini-date. Yes...I said Cabela's. We had never been and we had some time to kill, so we went and walked around. That place is crazy and has a lot of dead animals!! The next day we celebrated my birthday with Brady's family. I got tickets to go see the Radio City Christmas with the Rockette's...it was last night!! Lots of fun and a double-date with the brother and sister-in-law.

The next week was filled with lots of cleaning and preparing for Mason's FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY. Seriously...he is one folks. Does not seem possible!! He was incredibly good and energetic and happy. I was expecting fussy and whiny and tired, but he proved me wrong...thank goodness!! He hated the cake, but loved opening presents. He will officially be getting tissue paper and empty boxes for Christmas. Loves it. We only took 450 photos...sorry I have none to share. Just kidding...they are down at the bottom.

On the 25th...his actual birthday Brady and I both took off work early and hung out with the birthday boy...only he slept most of the afternoon, which was fine. We opened more presents that night and just chilled and played. It was a fun day.

The next day was Thanksgiving at the Graham's. We had a good time with family and stuffed ourselves full of turkey and dressing. I tried a baby food version of turkey dinner for Mason and he gagged and threw up for everyone...it was fabulous. The boy is so stuck in his ways of eating only veggies...and they have to be smooth, no texture or chunks or we gag. Ahhhh...the joys of having a preemie with texture issues...now to the therapist next week to work on that eating.

On the 30th we took Mason in for his One year appointment where he got FIVE shots...FIVE. Plus a not so nice procedure done. He was miserable for a few hours and I was miserable for a couple of days...it just breaks my heart for my baby to hurt. :( He is very healthy...almost 19 pounds. I know, small, but he is on the charts and that is all we care about at this point. It is great for a baby that went home from the hospital at 10 weeks old, 6 pounds. He is TOO healthy for RSV shots this year...he still should have gotten them, but the insurance company says NO. UGH! So another year of being as careful as possible, which is probably good for all of us.

Things are mostly good, but some bad news about my dad. He has an infection in his knee and will have to have his replacement taken out and put on antibiotic for at least 6 weeks. Does it not gross you out to think about not having a knee for 6 weeks...because it does me. Ewww and painful!! Anyway, he will be bed/wheelchair bound for that time, but hopefully it will cure him and he'll be good as new in a few months...pray!

Well, that was November in a nutshell...I am sure I am forgetting TONS about Mason's first this and that...but I am scattered brained this time of year. It is already December 11th and I am writing about November...where oh where is the time going??

Okay...pictures...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Mason was a farmer (even though everyone called him a cowboy) for Halloween. And a VERY cute one at that. Happy Halloween!

Lots of Random Stuff

Wow...time seems to be flying by. I guess the old saying "time flies when you're having fun" is true. Can it really be the middle of October? I meant to put out my fall decor weeks ago and here we are almost ready for Christmas...well according to the stores anyway.

As I have said before I have about 20 birthday's, the holidays, anniversary, several other events, Christmas parties etc to attend in the next 5 months. My weekends are filled with parties here and there and everywhere. My waistline has already started busting out of my pants...in OCTOBER. I still have Halloween candy, birthday cakes, turkey/dressing, and Christmas treats to go. OH NO!! What to do? Bigger pants or miss out? I know it seems like an easy choice, but for someone that loves food...it isn't!! Hmmmm...

Mason is doing super...he is becoming a little stinker and he knows it!! Not in a bad way...he just thinks he is super hilarious. And...he is!! He eats his socks and falls backwards unannounced and then giggles at himself. He now says MAMA!! Love it! :) His new thing is to say "eh" and then I say it and we go back and forth until we are both laughing uncontrollably. You would think it'd get old, but it doesn't. I love making that boy laugh. He also laughs SO hard if I pretend to hiccup. The really funny part about it is that if Brady is sitting there and does the EXACT same thing as me, Mason looks at him like he is crazy...then I do it and all giggles again.

His little tooth FINALLY broke through the gums yesterday. YAY! I am hoping that means several to follow. I am ready for this boy to be able to chew...he has to be sick of mushed food. Still no crawling...although he will scoot or turn in circle on his belly now. It is like he doesnt realize his legs will move. He can get where he needs to go as long as it isnt too far away. Now walking...he LOVES holding on to us to walk. He can hold to tables and chairs by himself and take a few steps before losing balance. We are practicing standing alone and trying to gain balance. He is getting better each time. He is climbing on us and on the furniture (with guidance). So even without the crawling he is a mess. Ha. He weighs between 18 and 18.5 pounds now. Still small, but catching up.

We got a new camera a few weeks ago and already have about 500 pictures on it. All but about 20 are of just Mason...playing in his playroom. Poor kid. I really don't know what to do with all of them. Just too cute! ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Anyway, I leave you with the cuteness that is Mason Layne! Enjoy! :)

TEN months old...

Mason is 10 months old now...SO hard to believe!! I have always heard time flies when you have a child, and it is no joke! He is catching up very fast to the other 10 month babies. We were told it would take around 2 years for him to totally catch up physically and mentally. He is currently on ALL of the height and weight charts(for those that don't know...they usually have to adjust a preemie to their due date rather than actual birthdate so that they will be on the chart at all) On our first visit to the doctor he didnt even make it on the chart ADJUSTED let alone actual age...now he is 25% on height and about 7% on weight without the adjustment. YAY!
Mason refuses to crawl...REFUSES! He finally decided it is okay to roll on his tummy sometimes, but prefers the back and will scoot to where he needs to get that way. He sits like a pro and can stand holding on to tables and such...one handed even and sometimes no hands for a few seconds. He'll take steps holding our hands. I am very convinced he'll walk before he crawls. Yikes!
He has no teeth, but wants to eat real food SO bad. I think he would attempt a steak IF I would let him. But for now mushed food it is...he loves his food! They say by this time he should be down to 4-5 bottles a day...yeah right. Still every 3 hours...besides night night time! Speaking of which, he is a good sleeper. He even let me sleep in until 9-9:30 this weekend. :)
Besides his everyday "talking" that he does, he says a few words with purpose..."dada" (daddy), "ba-ba" (bottle), "pa" (paci- but he'll only whisper this one- HA!), "ay" (yay), and an occasional "boo-ah" (book). He says "ma-ma" but only when he is crying or in his ramblings. Ahhhh!
What else...we are about to start his second year of RSV shots...poor guy has to get a shot every month for the next 7-8 months. Not looking forward to that, but much better than getting RSV.
Anyway, that is an update on Mason...he is doing great and just the cutest little guy i have ever laid eyes on. How can you love someone that much?
Everything else is busy busy busy. Lots going on until January so don't expect me here much...not that I am anyway.
Mason's new play-room!!

These are some photos from when we went to Great Wolf Lodge about a month ago. We had a blast!!

With all of the cousins

Just some recent photos!

Love this boy!

I need to post a new blog soon...but until I do...

Gosh, I love him!!!

Colorado Vacation

We recently took a vacation to Colorado with my entire family and Brady's parents. We went to Durango and had a fabulous time. Mason rode in the car for 14 hours both ways and was SUCH a good baby. Gosh, how did I get so lucky? He is laid back like his Pappy!! He just went with the flow the entire trip and the only time he got upset was the last night we were there. He was ready to come home!

While there we watched July 4th fireworks, hiked some small trails, fished, canoed, rafted, went sight-seeing, attended a Chuckwagon dinner place, went to Durango Mountain where we did the Alpine slide, and rode the Durango/Silverton train, etc.

Brady and I had a cabin the overlooked a creek and you could hear the water trickling as we sat on the porch. It was SO relaxing and pretty!!

It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to take Mason back when he is older.

Here are some photos from our trip...

Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge- we rode one way and Mason met us in Silverton!
On the mini-train at the Bar-D Chuckwagon
Photo-op at our camp ground

Happy boy...he was SO good!

Rafting...this was the only big rapid, but it was still fun

Mason exploring

Lime Creek...SO beautiful, but the ride to get to it is VERY bumpy!

Honeyville...anything you could ever want with honey in it

Lake Havelin- cousin picture

Canoeing at Lake Havelin

All the cousins at the Bar-D Chuckwagon

My son is SUCH a good sport...

Here are some pictures that I have taken of Mason lately. I promise not to dress him up like this all of the time. HA! I just have to get these kinds of pictures out of the way while he'll still let me. Most of these were Father's Day gifts. :)