Family Vacation 2010

We took a quick family vacation last weekend to Hutchinson Island/Jensen Beach. It was so great just to be a family of four on vacation together! Although the beach was not as nice as our usual spot, Siesta Key, it was great waking up in the morning with a view of the ocean. What was even better is that the entire vacation was less than $100! Gotta love those Marriott rewards points Joe's earning through work!
When we began to plan this vacation, I don't think we considered the amount of work involved when staying in a hotel room with an 18 month old and 8 week old! We were just giddy about taking a much needed break from the normal routine. So, on the day we left I was talking to Beverly and some how she mentioned the stress that could be involved with putting Owen and Mason to bed each night and for naps! Why had we not thought of that!! I suppose we didn't think of how difficult it could be because Owen has always done great when we've stayed in hotels...we just didn't consider how adding Mason to the mix could change things. Well, weren't we surprised when we put the boys down that night for bed...they were both perfect! Owen actually fell asleep laying on the bed with Joe (for the first time ever!), and he transitioned nicely into the pack-n-play (which he barely fit in)! Mason continued his trend of sleeping through the night (8:30-7am...with a feeding I wake him for at 11pm)! Can I just say we were thrilled they both did so well!
They were also great when we went out to eat each night. Owen usually becomes a bit restless at a restaurant but he was great (probably because we sat outside and he was able to watch cars and motorcycles drive by)! And Mason just sat in his seat wide awake taking in the new scene!
Although it may have been a quick vacation, and it may not have been to any fancy resort, theme park, or destination-- it was our first family vacation of four and I'll never forget it!
Our view...wish I could have this view every morning!!

Mason's first trip to the beach!

Owen and his shoes! These happen to be Owen's favorite shoes (his hand-me-down green Crocs) We just about lost these shoes on the first day of our vacation when a giant wave (as a result of Hurricane Earl who had just past), came up and swept away all of our stuff on the beach! Thanks to Joe, the shoes were saved!

Joe and his boys!

Owen's first taste of lemon! (sorry not the best picture)!

Me and my boys! I'm so blessed....

Me and Owen having fun at the restaurant

Gator Boys!

Did I mention that our boys are great travelers too! We are so blessed!

Sweet Owen! He walked down this ramp so slowly and carefully!

Probably Joe's highlight of the entire vacation:

Lately...

I finally have a chance to blog, and I'm almost too tired to keep my eyes open! The only reason I have a chance to blog right now is because both boys are sound asleep, Joe is out of town, and the load of laundry next to me is being ignored!
Life the past few weeks has been great...just full...not busy, but full. I am seriously loving my life as a momma of two beautiful boys. Owen is such a great big brother and an awesome helper. If I'm feeding Mason, Owen brings me a burp cloth...and the phone when it rings (only if I ask him to though, because he knows the phone is a "no no")! Mason is a good baby! He's still a good eater and a good sleeper (sleeping 8 hrs straight at night -good for baby and mommy). Although he still spits up, it doesn't seem to bother him...it just means more laundry for me (like the pile next to me)! Mason has really started to smile a lot and he started cooing last week! I forgot how sweet those first noises are that babies make...melts my heart! It's neat having one son who's just starting to make intentional sounds and another son who is expanding his vocabulary daily! Funny how I wanted Owen to learn the words "milk" and "more"...now I kinda wish he didn't learn them! :-)
I'm not saying anything worth reading (probably because I'm half asleep)...so here are some pictures:
Happy Mason

Staying home with my boys is the best job EVER! We have so much fun together...even if all we do is play in a box!

Story time!

Sweet brothers! (Owen 18.5 months Mason 7 weeks)

Our Great friends the Criders came to visit! We had so much fun (doing nothing)!

Lining up his cars!

New Car track!

Me and my baby Mason!

Sweet Mason!

Owen sleeping...

Mason Sleeping...

Oh, the spit up! I always smell it..becasue it's constantly in my clothes and in my hair! Yum!

Owen got up on the couch and laid like this all on his own! He loves his bubba! Which he now thinks every baby we see is "bubba"!-He pointed to a picture frame at Kirklands (which had a "fake" display picture in it of a woman and a baby), and said "Momma! Bubba!" :-) We walked past a baby at Walmart today and he pointed and said "Bubba!"

Silly boy wanted the soft blanket wrapped around him so I had to clip it with a clothes pin!

While Joe cut the grass one evening, I thought it was the perfect time for a bubble bath outside! Fun!

Mason napping with Dada (well, Joe's faking cause I asked him to!)

Our Boys!

Joe and his boys!---It stinks how Moms hardly have any pictures with their children, because the dads hardly ever think to get the camera..not fair!

Mason and his paci...so cute!

I'm too tired to go on...more later!

Mason is 1 Month!

Then...

And now!!

1 Month Stats-
11 pounds 10 ounces (90th percentile)
22.5 inches (90th percentile)
He's averaging a gain of 2.5 ounces a day!!!! (the national average is 1!!)
My baby is already one month old today!! I cannot believe how quickly this past month has flown by. I think between the rough c-section recovery and 3 weeks of out-of-town guests, it's made the past month a blur.
Mason has grown so much!! He has been gaining a little over a pound a week! We go tomorrow for his one month check-up so I will post his stats then...but I'm pretty sure he's close to 12pounds already! Here are a few tidbits on our baby Mason:
-He has very distinct eyebrow ridges, that make him look a little grumpy or confused!
-He has impeccable timing as he usually pees on his mommy at least twice a day!
-Baths relax him!

-His first big outing was to Chuck E. Cheese's...I hope we're not preparing him to think all outings are that fun!
-The boy loves to eat...and he eats fast!
-Doc thinks he has reflux...I'm not sure what to call it...all I know is I have to do lots of laundry because he spits up SOOOO much!
-He's adored by his big brother!


-He's a good sleeper...only wakes up 1-2 times at night to eat!
-He sleeps with one hand close to his face and the other arm straight out!

-He may only be one month old, but he already has a receding hair line!
-He goes through at least 18 diapers a day!!!!!$$$$$
-He grunts so so much!!!
-He has the most adorable chin...and some BIG cheeks!

It has been so wonderful adjusting to being a family of four! Owen has pleased us with how well he has adjusted to having a baby in the family! He loves to lean over Mason and stare at him! Whenever Mason cries, Owen shows his concern by either saying "Bubba!" or he will take my hand and walk me over to where ever Mason is! So sweet!
Mason-5 days old

1 week old Mason!

2 week old Mason with his cousin Lawson!

Owen being silly!

His left arm is always by his face!

Joe and his boys!

Momma and Mason

Full body shot!

The Brothers!

Big Yawn!