Oh, and one more thing...

So, I never finished my "giving thanks" blogging.  I am actually shocked that I made it 26 days though!!  I was saving day 30 for something really exciting, but then I chickend out. 

Soooo...today I will do my day 30 thankful post.

I am thankful for the little tiny baby growing in my belly.  :)  Yesterday marked the end of the first trimester so I feel a little more comfortable announcing it.  Plus if you see my belly it is kind of obvious.  I actually look much further along than 13 weeks.

Because of the complications with Mason, I was told I would be monitored more closely.  So far though, things have been normal so I have not had much extra care at this point.  I am just keeping my fingers crossed that I can make it to 36 weeks.  Sometimes I think ANYTHING over 30 weeks will be a blessing, but I really want to make it to what they call "full term" at 36 weeks.  I highly doubt I will make it further than that, but I hope that I am pleasantly suprised.  I would even take 41 weeks if it meant a healthy non-NICU baby (even if I am miserable!!). 

Anyway, I ask for prayers for this pregnancy.  IT has taken me 2 years of wanting a baby for me to get to this point.  We talked adoption and other options as well, and finally one day a few months ago I finally felt an incredible peace about having another one and literally less than a month later I found out I was pregnant.  I pray that I can keep my nerves calm and the stress of life at a minimum right now.  I am super anxious about what is to come, but I have to control all of those feelings to keep my blood pressure down.

Right now I am just so thankful that I have the chance to be the Mommy to another little punkin!  :)

Giving Thanks- Day 20 thru 26

Okay, so I am a little bit behind here!  HA.

Day 20, 21- I am thankful for days when I am so wrapped up in other things that I don't even get on the computer to write a "thankful" post!  Vacation from work so that I can spend time with my family instead.  Being lazy and watching movies together, playing games with Mason, etc.  Being away from the computer for 5-6 days is much needed sometimes!

Day 22- Thankful for pilgrims and good harvest back in the 1600's.  Without that we probably would not celebrate Thanksgiving.  Did you know that it was declared a national celebration in 1789 by George Washington?  He declared it "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God".  We have been giving thanks ever since in November.  So much to be thankful for each year.  I am glad that we have this day to remind us while celebrating with loved ones.

Day 23-  Thankful for Christmas.  Traditionally the day after Thanksgiving is when we decorate our home for Christmas.  This year was no different other than the fact that Mason was REALLY in to it this time.  Thankful for the excitement of little children around this time of year.  Our tree is up and decorated.  Lightning the Elf flew in with his Christmas magic.  The manger scene is played with daily on the coffee table.  The outside lights are sparkling.  Good day! 

Day 24- Thankful for the HUGE smile on Mason's face at any given moment.  Luckily he is a glass half full kinda kid and he is generally always happy.  BUT...but the smile on his face when he opened his new bike on Saturday was priceless!  For his birthday we got him a bike and he just lit up.  He could not say "thank you" enough and the hugs and smiles and thankfulness of this little guy just melts me.  He is just a good kid with huge smile.   Thankful that he recognizes when to be happy and thankful. Love that little guy! 

Day 25- Yep, you guessed it.  Thankful for Mason Layne...not just his smile as above but everything about him.  Today is his birthday.  He had a rough start in this world.  He is definitely my little miracle boy.  He lights up my day and makes me smile and laugh constantly.  He isn't perfect, but he is the perfect child for me.  I love that he is a Daddy's boy right now, but he can't go to sleep without his mommy.  He doesn't go long without wanting to pat me and tell me he loves me or give me a random hug, even when I have not been the best parent ever.  He has such a sweet heart.  I am just so thankful that God gave me such a great little guy to watch over here on this earth.  Wow, I am blessed.  Happy birthday little man!

Day 26- Thankful for heaters.  It's a simple thing but I would freeze at my office desk if I didnt have a heater by me!  And along the same lines...in the summer I am thankful for the fans and A/C's.  It wasn't too long ago that heat and cool air were not an option.  I am not sure how people managed back then.  we are pretty spoiled now, but I am thankful.

Giving Thanks- Day 17, Day 18, and Day 19

Whew...busy weekend!

Day 17- I am thankful for beautiful weather.  Saturday afternoon we took a long walk and played outside for a while.  This time of year just makes me happy!  The beautiful trees, the little bit of coolness in the air, the cloudless skies.  I do appreciate rain and cloudy days too, but this weekend was just perfect weather for me!

Day 18- I am thankful for all of the entertainment we have access to!  We spent the day with my family at the Gaylord Texan to kick off the Christmas season.  We are so fortunate in this country to have access to so many entertaining venues.  I think that sometimes I take for granted how much I am able to do for my entertainment.  A random thing to be thankful for perhaps, but I am thankful for movies and musicals and hotels and games and sporting events, etc.

Day 19-I am thanfkful for doctors and hospitals and nursing homes and hospice and all of the others that take care of my family members when ill.  Right now we are sort of having a hard time with a few close family members and without these people helping out we would have already lost them.  It is sort of depressing how things are going for my grandmother and uncle right now, but I am just glad we have people to help them when we can't.  Please pray for them. 

Giving Thanks-Day 16

Today I am thankful for another year on this planet earth!  :)  I am also so thankful for all of the wonderful birthday wishes from family and friends today...and it is only 10:30AM.  I am truly blessed with great people in my life!  Hoping that year # 33 will be a great one!  :)

Giving Thanks- Day 15

Today marks the middle of November---half way---can't believe it!  Because it is the "high point" in the month...the top of the hill so to speak, I have a special Thanks to give! 

Today I am thankful for my God!  I am so thankful for that time several years ago that I went to Bible School and could not shake the guilty sick feeling I had.  I remember sitting in my parents bed eating fried chicken and could not stop crying.  God was tugging on my heart and I finally got brave enough to go tell my mom what was happening.  It was then that I fully committed to having God in my life and I am so glad that I did. 

I am thankful that He forgives me.  That he sent his son just for that reason.  Gosh, I mess up a lot...A LOT...yet, I am always forgiven.  I am glad that when I feel uneasy I can pray to God with my troubles and I feel at ease afterward.

Thank you God for the life you have given me!  I am so blessed!

Giving Thanks- Day 14

Today seems like a good day to talk about friends.  Mostly because it has been a while since I have seen a lot of my friends.  Life is busy...sooo busy!
But I am very thankful for all of my friends, old and new!  God has blessed me with some great girls--women?-- in my life.  From a best friend that I met when I was 4 years old to some of the mom's that I have met recently at Mason's school...I am thankful!  They each fill a different role in my life and I miss the times when it was much easier to hang out at a moments notice. Hopefully over the holidays I will get a chance to have some fun nights out with my girls!  Thank you God for them!!  :)

Giving Thanks- Day 12 and Day 13

Day 12-  Thankful for the men and women in our military!  Thankful for their spouses and children and families that give so much so that their loved ones can go fight for my freedom.  Thankful that these brave men and women are willing to sacrifice so much so that I can sit here and have a voice in this nation.  Amazing!  I could never do it!  May God Bless them!

 

 

Day 13- I am so very thankful for Mason's school and so glad he LOVES it.  Last year he cried literally everyday when I dropped him off.  This year he skips in to his classroom with a big smile.  He learns so much and just adores his teachers.  I am thankful that not only does he learn how to write, different letters and numbers, etc., but also that they teach them memory versus and sing songs about God and have Bible lessons in chapel.  Just so thankful that this year is a good experience for Mason.  He gets to do crafts everyday and that is one of his favorite things. 
One funny thing is that he would much rather hold an adult conversation than to play with his peers during play time.  At any given moment I can walk in during activity time and he is sitting and telling stories with the teachers.  He doesn't have time for that preschool play!  It's so beneath him!  HA.  He's a funny little guy!

Giving Thanks- Day 11

I am so very thankful for my wonderful husband!!  On this evening 6 years ago we said our vows and became husband and wife.  Goodness, I can't believe it has been that long in some ways, but in others it seems like we have been together forever---in a good way!  I have been so fortunate to spend this time with my best friend.  We have had good times, better times, and awesome times.  Luckily, I can say we have had hardly any "rough" times.   Even in our most stressful life events (Mason being in NICU, dad's knee/heart attack situation, us being stressed at our jobs, etc) we have stuck by each other with ease.   I am super glad that we get along so well and that we love and respect each other always.  I really lucked out because fighting and arguing is NOT my thing!  Ha.  I am glad that after 6 years there is no other place we'd rather be hanging out than with each other.  :)

Some photos from 6 years ago tonight!!  :)

Giving Thanks- Day 10

I am so thankful that Mason has such a great Daddy!!  I have not been feeling super today, so I have been pretty lazy.  In the background I hear Mason and Brady playing all kinds of silly made up games.  Mason just adores his Daddy.  I am so thankful that Brady has the next 2.5 weeks away from work and will have a lot of time with Mason (since I have to work).  God blessed me with these guys!!  :)

Giving Thanks- Day 9

I am thankful for my parents...both mine and Brady's!  Earlier I said I was thankful for family time, but this time I want to focus on how much our parents do for us.  We ALWAYS have a baby-sitter if needed.  We are always getting invites for dinner.  My mom and mother-in-law take turns keeping Mason when he is not in school, so that I don't have to pay for a daycare.  I think we take for granted sometimes how much they do for us.  Just thankful that we are close to them both proximity and relationship-wise too! 

Giving Thanks- Day 8

Today I am thankful for doctors!  Random, but I just got back from taking Mason to his eye doctor.  I am just thankful that there are men and women out there that are able to diagnose and fix our problems.  I consider ourselves SUPER lucky to have only eye problems as a result of Mason being 10 weeks early.  I will take it over some of the things that could have gone wrong early on.  Mason has an amazing pediatric eye specialist that is considered one of the top in DFW area.  Luckily I think his little face just looks super adorable in glasses.  Maybe I am just biased though!  :) 

Giving Thanks- Day 7

I am thankful for my nieces and nephew. Ah, they are all sweethearts! I am keeping my niece Ruby today, 7 months, and she is sooooo happy and sweet! Mason sure has some good buddies to hang out with too!! They are all just so special to me! :)

 

 

 

Jaret, Jalie, Emma and Mason on the boat this summer

 

Mason Emma and Ruby posing for a photo

Giving Thanks- Day 6

Today I am thankful that I live in a free country.  Thankful that I can voice my opinions and worship how I choose.  Thankful that I am not told what to do on a daily basis.  Thankful that I have the right to vote, right to work, right to live how I want.  Thankful for all of the men and women in uniform that have fought for those rights and freedoms so selflessly. 
One request---I just wish we could all get along.  I hate to see how divided our country is becoming.  I wish everyone realized just how lucky we are.  I wish there was no division as a people based on race, sexual orientation, religion, etc.  I wish we could all love as Christ loves and not judge one another. 

Giving Thanks Day 4 and 5

I was not on my computer at all yesterday, sooooo:

Day 4- I am thankful for family time.  I feel so fortunate to live close to my parents (like next door) and pretty close to my in-laws.  One thing that my family does EVERY week is eat lunch together on Sunday after church.  We usually go to my parents house or sometimes out to a restaurant.  A lot of times when it is nice outside, like yesterday, we hang around outside with the kids while they play or take gator/4 wheeler rides out in the pasture or go fishing at the ponds behind our homes. 
On Saturday we spent the day with my husband's parents, my brother-in-law and his wife and went and walked around at a nature reserve in Plano.  It's just nice to have a family that enjoys spending time together.

Day 5- I am thankful for my grandparents.  Today would have been my Nanny's 94th birthday.  She passed away in March, but I think of her often.  Both of my grandfather's passed away years ago, but I do still remember a lot of fun times with them.  I do still have one grandmother living, however, she has completely lost her mind and her only memories are of her childhood.  All this to say, they were ALL great role models for me.  Both sets had strong marriages and they all worked hard to provide for their family.  I had the priviledge to stay with them during the summers when I was young so I got to spend a lot of time with them.  Some favorite memories:
Nanny- her chicken fried steak, going to the beauty shop with her, watching Price is Right, and the stories she told me before bed when I spent the night
Papa- teaching me to ride horses, taking SLoooooooW drives with him through the country roads, his dogs that he would train to do tricks, watching him milk the cows
Grandmommy- her fried chicken, going shopping with her, "performing" for her out on their patio, singing silly songs together
Granddaddy- riding around in his truck with him, him popping out his fake teeth to be funny, the overalls he'd wear when he was working, teaching me how to fish.

Giving Thanks- Day 3

I am thankful for music class/mommy time with Mason.  Every Saturday Mason and I go to music class and he LOVES it.  Afterward, we always go on a mini date to Chick-fil-a.  We have done other activities regularly, but he especially has a good time in music.  In fact, we will be heading there soon!!  :)  I don't want  to ever take precious moments like these for granted.

Giving Thanks! Day 1 AND Day 2

So it seems like everyone is on the "Give Thanks Everyday in November" kick this year.  Annnnnd, I like it!  I love reading all of the blogs and all of the Facebook posts daily.  It's nice to think about all the reasons we should be thankful and boy oh boy do I have a lot of reasons.

By the way, these are in no particular order.  Just because I don't mention, God or my husband or my child first does not mean that I am less thankful for them than other things.  I just have special days reserved for them!! ;)

Day One -(since I didn't get on board yesterday)- I am thankful for my job.  Sometimes I take it for granted big time.  I am SO fortunate to have a full time job, but at the same time it is so flexible that I can get here late, leave early, take off half days, attend all of Mason's events at school and playdates, days off with my husband, etc.  One of the perks of working with family and not having a system that I have to "clock-in" to everyday.  Wow, I am blessed!!

Day Two- I am thankful for sunsets. One thing I look forward to while living out in the country is sitting on the back patio and watching the sunsets. Oh my goodness!! God sure paints a pretty picture in the sky every single evening. It NEVER gets old and I can't stop taking pictures of the beautiful sky. Sometimes I want to invite city friends over for a sunset watching party. It's just different out on open land!! :) So peaceful!  Here are a couple I took on my phone.

Bring on the crazy!

This summer has been SUPER DUPER busy.  Mason has had play-dates and adventures galore and I was terrible at blogging about any of them.  The last I blogged was the library in July.  Since then we have been to the museum in Ft Worth, bowling, Indoor safari parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, aquariums, etc etc.
 Summertime is hard for me.  All my close friends with kiddos are stay at home moms or teachers and being a working mom I feel left out a lot.  This summer I tried to spend every Wednesday afternoon with friends and take Mason on some sort of adventure with his friends.  We made the best of it for sure!!  I also realized that it's good that I work because otherwise I would take him places all the time and spend WAY too much money!  ;)
Here are some photos from a few adventures:

Museum with friends

 Bowling

 Kiddie pools are the best!

 Dress-up with cousins

 On safari at the safari park

 With friends at the safari park

 Sea Life Aquarium

 Aquarium again

 Another photo at the museum

 Every year, we gather with my husbands family for Labor Day.  His mom and her roomates from college made a pact to meet up at least once a year for a reunion.  This was the 40th year and all their kids and grandkids came out.  I think we had 50+ in attendance this year.  It's always a good time.  This year we met up at Inks Lake.

Getting his feet wet.

 The whole group minus a few

 Relaxing in his bed for rest time.

 Playing in the lake.  Mason and I both have this fear of lakes.  Just the unknown of what the heck is in there and not to mention it's just nasty.  BUT after sitting in 100+ degree heat for a day we decided to be brave and play in the water for a while.  We did not join the folks behind Mason though...they were a little too far out for comfort!  ha.

 And lastly, the MESS.  We sold our house.  After 2.5 years on the market, it sold!!  We'll be closing soon and moving in to my Grandmother's home while we build.  That means cleaning out 2 houses from top to bottom.  It is driving me CRAZY.  The stacks and messes and stuff everywhere.  I get a little more insane everytime I step in either home.  I feel like there is no end in sight and the amount of THINGS we have is completely rediculous.  We are having the biggest garage sale in the history of the universe this weekend and I can promise you that more things are being sold or given away or trashed than we are taking with us.  This process has completely opened my eyes to the amount of material items I have and how I want to cut back A TON.  And organization will be a big thing from now on.  Geeeeez!!  Here are a few photos of my crazy.  I may end up in the crazy bin be the end of next week!!!!

 

This stack is one of the ones at the house we are moving in to.   The difference is that she has 92 years of collected items and we have more than her in our 6 years.  Dumb!

 

Anyway, that is our update.  As if that is not enough, I have over-committed as usual.  Bible study on Monday's in my office, blastball practice for Mason on Tuesday's, teaching Mission friends at church on Wednesday's and Saturday's Mason has games and music class.  Not to mention everything else this time of year brings.

 

Bring on the crazy!!!!  HA.

The library

The library is one of our new adventures. 

When I was little, my aunt took me to a certain library and I took Mason there for his first library experience...MEMORIES!  Man, it took me back!!

Mason loves books, so it makes sense that we get a library membership.  I think he was a little overwhelmed at first with so many books, plus the other activities offered.  On our first visit he joined a book club and we are excited to go back this evening and redeem our first reading chart for a free book.  Also, tonight will be our first story time.  We will hear stories, and do activities and crafts about farm animals.

Here are a few photos from our trips to the library. 

We have also been busy this summer with music class, museum visits, bowling, and fun times with friends.  Mason even had his first Omni experience and loved it.  So far we've had a great summer!

Sometimes...

Sometimes I feel like a terrible housekeeper/meal maker/etc.  I feel like all of the other moms out there have it all together whether they are working moms, like me, or not.  Everything is perfect all the time...and I mean EVERYTHING.  I ran across a blog the other day discussing this exact thing and a couple of people left comments that I really liked a lot.  I am just posting them here to remind me that a clean house, organic food, working out 200 times a day, and being Miss Crafty Pants isn't what is important and I need to get over it!!

They probably don't have it as together as they make it seem anyway, right?!

Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those windowpanes
Will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?
I held a baby till she slept,
I held a toddler while he wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess that's s true.
Unless you think that what I've done,
Might be important to someone
With deep green eyes and soft brown hair,
If that is true... I've done my share.

And...

"Don't compare your everyday to everyone else's highlight reel!"

A little time away, San Antonio style... (Warning: It's LONG)

(Sorry this is a long and picture-y post)
Last week we loaded up for a little family vacation.  Mason is 3 1/2 and we have never gone on a vacation, just the 3 of us.  We did an overnight trip a few months ago to see how it would go, and we had a blast, so we decided that we could handle a 4-5 day trip.  Plus, I have just really needed a vacation!

We packed a lot in to the time we were there.  Maybe too much for a little guy?  He had some trouble listening and obeying at times.  I tried to remember that we were in an unfamiliar place with SO MUCH to see and do and hear and take in.  I was a little overloaded, so I am sure his little senses were way over-stimulated.  Taking that in to account he did AWESOME and we had a blast! :)

A little about the trip:

First and foremost, we bid for a hotel in priceline.  There was ONE hotel I didnt really want to stay at because it was apparently VERY haunted (not that I really believe in ghosts, but the thought of all the stories and sightings still weirds me out!).  I knew I wanted to be near downtown and close to the river walk without paying an arm and a leg, so we bid.  We got a GREAT deal and right accross the street from the Alamo and Riverwalk...only it was THE haunted hotel.  I survived...didnt think about the "ghosts" too much until the last day when I got brave and googled "most haunted room in the Menger" and our room number popped up.  Seriously!! Of course, Sallie the friendly ghost made a few weird noises that kept me awake for a few minutes, but then I was too tired to care!  HA. 

DAY 1:

When we arrived we rested and then headed over to the Alamo.  I knew that we wouldnt have a lot of time to go see it later in our trip, even being accross the street, and I wanted to get the token "in front of the Alamo" shot!  Lucky for us all of the field trippers and tourist fanatics were done for the day I guess, and I got a shot of the Alamo with NO people in the background!!

Afterward, we headed over to the riverwalk because we were starving.  I did my research for this trip and wanted to do as much as possible, but not pay a lot.  I was pretty successful actually!!  I used our credit card rewards to get dining gift cards for some of our meals.  This night we went to the Rainforest Cafe on the riverwalk and then we went on a riverboat tour! 

DAY 2:

We spent the morning at the San Antonio Children's museum.  I could go on and on about how cool it was and how much Mason loved it!  The grocery store was his favorite, and I can totally see why.  It was amazing!!  You could get a cart, grocery shop, scan the groceries with a real scanner and computer, etc.  Not to mention the bank, the airplane, the science center, etc.  SO. MUCH. FUN.  He started getting pretty grumpy toward noon and so we went accross to the Buckhorn Saloon for lunch and then back for one more round of grocery shopping.

That evening we went to Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne, about 30 minutes away.  It is a replica Wild West town that is in several movies sets.  We walked around the ranch, rode on a wagon ride and had a chuck wagon dinner.  Brady was "arrested" with the crime of not spanking Mason and had to dance to "I'm a Little Teapot" in order to be released!  HA.  Such a fun time!

DAY 3:

Sea World!  I have never ever been, so I wanted to see what it was all about, and I thought Mason would enjoy it as well.  He did! He had a blast.  He loved the shows and of course liked the Sesame Street play area/rides/characters.  He has been afraid of aquariums lately, but for some reason came out of his shell this trip and decided they are pretty cool and that he likes them now.  Silly guy!  It was like 95 and humid so we were hot and sweaty, but still had a great day!  We cleand up afterward and went to eat on the Riverwalk(the one with the colorful umbrellas- forget the name)...had to get in our one Tex-Mex meal!!

Day 4:

San Antonio Zoo and Train + Swimming at the hotel

We started the day at the San Antonio zoo.  We figured out when we got there that Mason was Mr. Grumpy-pants and it was not going to be an enjoyable day.  He was NOT into the zoo at all and it was HOT.  After about 45 minutes I asked him if he wanted some Gatorade...to see if maybe it would give him his "power" back.  He always talks about losing our power!  It worked and from then on we had a great time.  Thank goodness.  :)  He loved the toddler area of the zoo.  Afterward we took a little train ride around the park and headed back to the hotel for packing and a little swim. 

That concludes our trip...we had a fabulous time!!  I didn't want to come home and can not wait to go back!!  On our way out of the hotel I tried to take photos of the haunted hotel and catch a ghost or an orb trying to get in the photo...no such luck, but the hotel is beautiful!  :)