Lately

We have had a mixture of super slow and super busy over the last couple of weeks. I guess that is to be expected around the holidays. Mason has hit another growth spurt! He has completely outgrown all of his 18 month clothes and is now wearing 24month/2T. His vocabulary has really picked up as well. He listens carefully when I talk to him and then usually repeats the last word I say. It's pretty cute! Yesterday I was putting on deodorant, then I went into the closet to grab a different shirt. When I came out he was sitting on the floor with the deodorant (still capped) and had lifted his shirt to put deodorant in his little armpits. My heart melted!
Mason has also decided he will completely feed himself as well. This has been a messy, fun endeavor. He refuses to eat with the small forks we bought for him. Instead, he wants to be like mom and dad and use the big ones. Thankfully, he will use his toddler spoons - but I am sure that will end soon, too! Here are some pictures of our independant boy:

Having some yogurt

Mmmmmm.

So proud of himself!!

Peanut Butter. His new greatest love.

In Heaven

Last week we went to a friends house for a mommy and kiddo night. We decorated cupcakes, ate some yummy taco soup and enjoyed great fellowship. Mason had fun decorating his cupcake, and more fun eating it!

FROSTING. He pinched the skin right beneath his nose and got a blood blister! I think he pinched it between his pacifier and his nose, because he was rubbing his face on his blanket on the floor and then started crying. It is finally starting to disappear a little!

More!

Hanging out with Elmo in a diaper box. He played with that box for days.

Last Saturday we decided to check out the BLORA Christmas Light Display. We totally underestimated the popularity of this event - which made for a not so fun evening. It took us an hour and a half just to get into the park, and then we sat through 5 miles of lights in stop and go traffic...never even reaching the breakneck speed of 5 mph. Mason fell asleep half way through - and we were not too impressed with the display anyway. Oh well! Here are some pics anyway:

Mason had more fun pushing buttons than looking at the lights.

Down for the count.

We are counting down the days until Christmas!! We are so excited this year, since Mason is now old enough to open presents and get excited about new toys. YAY!!

Sweet Pea has a Gender!

Today we had our big ultrasound appointment! I don't think I slept more than a couple of hours last night - and when I was sleeping I had weird ultrasound dreams. The most memorable of which concerned a long line in the Wal-mart Ultrasound Department. That's right. I dreamed we booked our ultrasound at Wal-mart and were worried we wouldn't get through the appointment before the milk we had in our cart got warm. STRANGE.
The suspense was killing me all morning. I had to sit and wait in the waiting room for about 45 minutes before I got called back to the room. Then, as usual, they take 30 minutes to collect all the images they need for the doctor. Then...it was showtime! They turned the screen so Mike and I could see our little Sweet Pea. The ultrasonographer described what we were seeing - and then asked us if we wanted to know the gender. I think I practically interrupted her when I screamed "YES!". My heart was pounding as she announced....It's a GIRL!!

And just for the record...I'm two for two! I was totally confident Mason was a boy - from the very beginning. And I was totally confident this one was a girl - almost from the moment I found out I was pregnant. Now that's talent. Ha ha. We can't wait to welcome a precious daughter into the world! Now we just have to come up with a name. Any suggestions?!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Last friday we headed out to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out our very first "live" tree! We have a fake tree that we love - but it was just too big to fit in our little house. So, we opted to buy a small real tree instead. We had a blast looking for just the right tree. And Mason had a blast running around and playing on the property. Here are a few pcis!

Mike and Mason check out the farm as we walk in.

Mike in the field of trees

Mason exploring

Mason actually spent most of his time playing in the dog kennel that the farmers had. They got such a big kick out of him playing in there.

Our tree! Mike cuts it down so we can take it home! (Mason was "helping")

Mom and Mason pose for a picture

Mason next to the John Deere - all he needs is a pair of cowboy boots!

Mason helps pull the wagon out to the Jeep

Once we got the tree home - we had to get it all set up.

Decorating the our cute little tree!

And last but not least - a short little video. I just love how Mason grabs Mike's hand so they can go walking through the trees. So cute.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with my family up in the metroplex this year. It was COLD! We had a lot of fun until Thanksgiving day, when Mike and I both came down with some kind of virus. Boo! I was so excited about not having to "count calories" because of the pregnancy - and then once all the food was ready and I sat down to eat I had no appetite! What a waste. I spent most of the rest of the day sleeping and didn't get up until Saturday evening. Mike and I had made plans to do some black friday shopping but we were sick in bed instead!

Thankfully, we had family there to help us take care of Mason. But we were pretty disappointed not to get to do all the things we had planned. (We DID go see the newest Harry Potter on Saturday evening with my brother Mike...SO FUN!)

Here are some pictures from the day...there aren't many - because I wasn't thinking about taking pictures!

Mason was begging to play outside (despite the cold) so Mike decked him out in his winter gear and played outside with him. I think Mason would have stayed out there all day if we had let him. That child feels no cold.

Having fun in frigid temps!

Cutie Pie

My family also celebrated Christmas together since we will be at our in-laws homes for Christmas. Here is Mason checking out his new Tickle Me Elmo!

And his new Elmo Sing Along Microphone

And his new Pillow Pet!

And his new Fire Engine - that has flashing lights and sirens!

We also celebrated my 29th (eek!) birthday at a Mexican Restaurant after church on Sunday. Of course, I didn't think to take pictures of that, either. Oh well!

Marine Corps Ball

A couple of weekends ago we headed up to the Metroplex to attend the Marine Corps Ball. Luckily, the hotel holding the ball was only 10 minutes away from my parent's house. So we dropped Mason off on Friday night and swung back over to pick him up on Sunday morning. I must say, it was a much needed AND deserved getaway for Mike and me. We haven't had one second to spend alone together since we moved from California back in May. We lived it up!

Friday night after we dropped Mason off we headed over to the Mariott and checked in. We loved the hotel. It was beautiful and clean and perfect. We decided to have a snack over at the bar in the hotel. We shared some yummy potato skins and Mike and a drink - then it was back to the room to pick out our room service selections for Saturday morning. That's right! Breakfast in bed!!! I was SO excited. We chose what we wanted, when we wanted it and stuck the slip out on our door. The next morning, Mike set his alarm for just a few minutes earlier than breakfast was to arrive. They knocked on the door, he opened it and brought in the table and woke me up. It was so wonderful waking up to pre-prepared breakfast. We ate our breakfast (I ate in bed!) and the best part was we didn't have to clean it up. I threw towels on the floor, didn't make the bed, etc. - and when I got back that afternoon it was ALL clean. Ah, freedom.

Saturday morning I headed out to get a manicure/pedicure and then went and had my hair done for the ball. After that Mike and I ate lunch at a restaurant called WildWood - which was delicious! - and headed back to the hotel to relax before the ball. I didn't let Mike see my dress until I put it on for the ball - so that was fun. We took some pictures and then celebrated the Marine Corps Birthday at the Ball. All in all it was a memorable, relaxing weekend.

Without further ado...the FIRST Belly Pic: 15 Weeks

Close up on the Belly...I love that bump!

Some of the recruiters Mike works with and their wives

The back of my hair. GORGEOUS! That lady was a pro. She did all of this with a straightening iron! Not one curler or curling iron used. Wow.

Being ridiculous

Our Ball Picture

Halloween!

Our Halloween celebrations began on Thursday when we headed over to the Gunter's house for a Halloween Party! Mason was so cute as Kermit the Frog. He played Halloween games, ate lots of yummy food and even made a few new friends. We had a blast! Here are a few pics:

Here is Mason waving to people on the Today Show. He loves it when they wave back.

Kermit and Dad at the Gunter's. Mason did not like having his Kermit hat velcroed at the neck. So we ended up undoing it later.

Pulling a wagon around the yard at the party.

On Halloween night our small group from church met up at Cameron Park Zoo for Zoo Boo. Mason had a blast! And so did the other kiddos. Here we are in line waiting to head in.

Mason and Madison holding hands before pictures.

And of course it took a few shots to get a keeper. The girls were all perfect angels. My spaz of a son was the one being difficult.

Take One:

Take Two:

Take Three:

Take Four: Finally a decent picture!

Checking out an Orangutan who was right there at the window!

Mom and Mason riding the train

We had a blast, but we are still recovering! It was quite a hike to trick or treat all over the zoo. We didn't get home and get Mason in bed until 9:30. Yikes! Happy Halloween!