Mason is 2!!!

We can hardly believe it. Where does the time go? I can recall the events of his Birthday two years ago like it was yesterday and all of those same emotions come flooding back every time I think back to that special day. My little boy all slippery and wet placed skin to skin on my chest and Mike and I looking at him and back to each other with tears coming down our cheeks. I have been sooo blessed to be his mom these past two years and I'm looking forward to the next one-hundred and two.

There have been so many milestones that he has met in such a short amount of time. It's kinda funny how we moms get soo excited when our babies roll over from tummy to back and then back to tummy. Or when they transfer an object from hand to hand. Never mind when they start playing with their toes. Their first words, their first crawl, their first steps, their first tooth, their first solid food are all things that mean so much. Not sure if I'm in the minority or majority in recalling the exact dates of each of those events. Oh well. But whatever the date may be, the emotion that encapsulated that moment were all the same, pure joy!

Mason began his second year of life learning to take his first steps and shortly there after his steps became running strides. His one worded means of communication became complete "little man" sentences. The chairs in the kitchen no longer were just for sitting but also to be used as a jungle gym. The doors I was once able to shut to keep his tiny tornado hands out of, now have knob guards to prevent him from twisting and opening them. He has learned to color and color he does on everything (except the walls, hasn't done that yet, knock on wood) unless you watch him like a hawk. Loves stickers, his felt broad and magnets. In typical little boy fashion, he also loves any and everything transportation related (i.e. cars, trains, buses, planes). For awhile we took a toy car where ever we would go. Second to Mommy, Daddy and little sister Zoe, Mason has LOVED Mickey Mouse the most during his second year of life. Just talking about Mickey Mouse would help to bring him out of a temper tantrum (yes, those started this year too, my least favorite).

Mason has had a lot of life changes this past year, all of which he has coped with quite well I might add. Mason started school two days a week and loves playing with his "new friends" and in the sandbox. Mason has also had to make the adjustment to a new nanny. He had been with the same one since he was 3 months old but do to health related circumstances she had to be replaced. The biggest adjustment of all however, has to have been the adjustment of little sister Zoe's arrival. Mason is the best big brother. He is very attentive to her needs. Constantly telling her that he loves her and giving her kisses. She is just as fascinated with him as he is of her. I look forward to seeing them grow up together and watching their relationship grow as my brother's and I have.

Mason, I love to wake up to your pitter patter feet coming down the hallway each morning followed by your tiny little voice saying "Mommy what you doing here? Come back this way. Time eat breakfast." I love when you get scared and you come running back to to me with arms stretched out wide saying "Mommy uppy". I love that you keep an eye on me to always know where I'm at, be it at the playground, the store or the house. I love that you try and try until you get it. I love that you help me unload the grocery cart when it's time to check out at the grocery store. I love that you give your hugs and kisses to freely to Mommy, Daddy and Zoe. I love that you can make me laugh and that you can continue to surprise and wow me everyday. You make me so proud to be your mom. I love you buddy.



For Mason's actual birthday day we decided to keep it low key since the day before we had the big Mickey birthday party bash followed by the county fair later that night. So we ended up at the park that morning, Skype with family in the afternoon, pumpkin patch later and the Cracker Barrel for dinner. Check out the pictures for that day....

 

       

   

Life of a mommy of two kids

I love it!!! That really sums it up but I guess I will elaborate a little bit more. I think having two has made me a better Mommy. It's about being organized and having good time management skills. Not to toot my own horn, but those are both qualities I've never had a problem with. Don't get me wrong, it's not all roses and I'm definitely not perfect. There are times when my patience are tried and I crave a shower but all and all I really do love it.

Mason is a wonderful big brother. He truly does love his little sister. At times it is a little too much. He loves to give her hugs and kisses. He'll even turn her swing on it's side in order to get just the right angle on her cheek. He loves to pat her tummy when she cries and says "it's okay Zoe, no cry." Too cute. It's just sometimes he's not aware of her fragility and his strength so I have to keep a constant on eye on the two of them. Even when she's in her crib. He has been known to throw in a toy or two. I think he can't wait for her to be big enough to really play with. He already is driving his cars up and down her arms and legs!

I couldn't ask for a better son. Mason is always entertaining and makes me laugh at least once a day. He loves all things transportation and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Loves to dance anywhere: store, car seat, bath, you name it he'll shake it. Terrible two's started early. They rear their ugly head more so when he is tired. seems like he has been teething forever. The 2 year old molars are taking forever to come through. One of four down. Until then, constant fist in mouth and extra drool kisses. Recently he'll randomly refuse his whole or part of a nap. boy, I'll be sad when nap time goes away. He is insistent about looking through a magazine or book while eating breakfast. Hilarious! His vocabulary doubles by the day. He knows bits and pieces of his and ABC's and numbers. He'll randomly say "seven, eight" or "three four". He just needs to put it all together in the right order. Colors are hit or miss depending on the day but he knows his basic shapes. Mason is due to start "preschool" in a couple of weeks. I can hardly believe my baby boy will be turning two shortly thereafter. He already talks about his birthday cake and is learning how to sing Happy Birthday. He loves to carry his own "pack pack" AKA backpack in preparation for school. It seems not that long ago when he was learning how to roll over like his baby sister is doing now.

Zoe. Aw my beautiful baby girl. She is amazing and everything I could have hoped for a daughter. She has always been a very alert baby. Her piercing blue eyes make it difficult not to stare into all day long. She developed her social smile early at about 2 months and started babbling and cooing shortly there after. She only cries when she wants something (i.e put me in my crib so I can sleep). Even then it's not a full on scream it's like a talking cry. Like she is trying to communicate with words but comes out as a cry. She has been sleeping through the night since she was 6 weeks old. currently she is sleeping 10 hours at night. Lucky me, she naps when Mason naps usually, so I have a few hours to get things done or to nap myself. She is pretty content. I love it and her!

In fact, I love being a mommy. Everyday I learn something new. Everyday is a challenge. Everyday is a blessing. Love you Mason and Zoe!

OBX...

dressed for the beach

Happy 4th of July!

Good view of the fireworks from Daddy's shoulders

sharks at the aquarium

Don't worry the gator is not real but Mason didn't know it

Zoe dressed for the beach... babies her age aren't suppose to wear sunscreen

Bike ride. Mason loved it, fell asleep 1/2 way through

So cute!

Horses on the beach in Corolla, NC! What!?!

Little man...Big chair

For those of you who don't know what the OBX is, it is short for the Outter Banks. North Carolina has a chain of barrier islands. Some you can drive over bridges to and other you have to take a ferry. Some are also known for the best beaches in the world (true look it up). Duck, a quaint little town, was voted best family beach by Travel Channel, so of course we had to check it out. If you all remember we took Mason to Asheville NC for a week when he was just 7 weeks old. It became a sort of family bonding experience. So we decided that it was only fair Zoe should have one too at the ripe old age of 6 weeks. And bonded we did in an awesome beach house that sat on a lake/pond with turtles and was only stroll away from the sand. Great views!!! Oh and it was 4th of July week too, so of course we watched fire works over the water. Mason LOVED it!!!

Kiemeney Family Visit

The Kiemeney Clan all came out for a week to see their new niece/granddaughter, nephew/ grandson and to celebrate Mike's graduation/completion ceremony from residency. We did a lot of hanging out. Spent a little bit of time down on the inner banks in little Washington. Opa helped with research in purchasing our new car that arrived in our driveway two days after they left. Good times. Good memories. Here's a couple of pix we captured.

Mike's Graduation

Graduation!?! Wait what? Yeah people, Graduation. A momentous day. A long awaited day. A day that took 11 years to complete ( I guess technically 29). I was "lucky" enough to join him on it during his second year in. It's been tough. Not all roses you might say. The time and sacrifice on both our parts has been difficult at times. We've always lived in the future, striving to complete the next goal which usually entailed some sort of graduation. Now that all graduations are done and careers are in full swing we can now concentrate on our family and living in the moment rather than in the future.

One of my favorite Mike quotes ever... After just receiving his first "real" pay check and noticing that the government took 40% of his wages Mike was heard saying, " Well I guess I just became a Republican." Never short on laughter in our house hold.

Bringing home baby

Here are some moments captured at home with our beautiful new baby girl...

Daddy showing Mason how to hold baby sister...









Daddy doing daddy duty...










2 days old... on the way to her first doctor's visit...













Baby blue eyes...melt your heart


















Mason peeping over the edge of Zoe's bassinet... so precious...

Mason getting a good look at baby sister. Funny thing though, she's just as fascinated by him as he is with her:)

Staring contest...

Gave into a kiss...

so cute... on the way to church

posing with big brother

being cute... so fun to dress girls

Zoe's newborn photo shoot

Go to http://www.elizabethcayton.com/, click on her blog and you can find more of Zoe's photo shoot under the Newborn section. Beautiful work to capture our beautiful baby girl during her first week of life. Thank you Elizabeth!

Zoe's birth

Mike and I had one final date night planned before our second child arrived. Shortly before our babysitter arrived I started to have irregular contractions. Mild really. We decided we would try and go ahead with our date. So off we went to test drive more cars. I remember sitting in the back seat and timing that them a perfect 10 minutes apart. By the time we got to dinner I was having regular contractions 7-8 minutes apart. Not excruciating pain but enough to stop me in my tracks. We made it through the appetizer before we decided to take our meal to go. We went home and my contractions were a steady five minutes apart but still not as bad as I thought they were going to be. so we called my doctor to see what she wanted us to do. I went to the hospital to be checked, with the intention that I probably would be staying. I was right. I was 4 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Got checked in by midnight. Got an epidural and spinal block by 1:30 am. My blood pressure dropped again, like with Mason. Scary. Doctor broke my water at 3 am. Scary moment because they couldn't find Zoe's heart beat for a little while. They were prepping me for the OR when the doctor found her heart beat internally. Thank you God. Got a little bit of sleep and then delivered Zoe after pushing through three contractions. I remember my nurse saying that she bet she would be out by three and I remember thinking "yeah that'd be nice. I pushed for 1.5 hours with Mason." She was totally right! Thank God. It was the easiest delivery ever. Guess I only have one other to compare it to and that wasn't that bad either.

So everybody was right, sort of. People told me that you develop and instant connection and immediate place in your heart is created when you hold your child for the first time. As some of you know I was having a difficult time adjusting to the idea of two so close together. That all disappeared when they told me they couldn't find Zoe's heart beat and was solidified when I got the hold her. I think the picture of us right after her delivery captures that. It's a little graphic but I thought it was a beautiful moment and should be shared. Love you baby girl.

melt my heart moment...

AWHHHH!

Smile

DON'T CRY BECAUSE IT"S OVER...

SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED!

I recently came across this quote and it changed my perspective on my life changes. As you know, I have have had a difficult time adjusting mentally and emotionally to the idea of having a second child. Mostly because I feel like I'm going to miss out on something with Mason. What it really boils down to is that I don't like change. I get comfortable and set in a routine that works. You know that saying, if it's not broke don't fix it? I live by that! Kinda contradicts our idea of having four kids though.

So anyway, when I read this I was like huh, yeah I guess so. In the recent past (like the last eight months) every time I think about the change that is about to happen it brings tears to my eyes. Selfish! What I need to be is grateful for the moments that I have experienced. 18 months of healthy, happy moments, the majority of which make me SMILE. If there are tears now, they are there out of pure and utter happiness. Thank you Mason for making mommy so happy and thank you in advance Zoe for all the happiness you're about to bring us. It all just makes me SMILE!

Big Boy Mason (18 months)

Hard to believe that my little man is already 18 months old! He seems so big yet so small all at the same time. He's vocabulary doubles by the day or so it seems. He has found a new love in all things transportation (i.e. cars, buses, trains, trucks, etc. ). Now that we have most of the house child proofed I feel more comfortable letting him play wherever throughout the house with little supervision. He was being extra quiet one day, which usually means he is up to something. I found him in his room, curled up under a blanket in the rocker with a book. To top it off, he stayed there long enough for me to grab the camera and when I returned he said, "picture" and then smiled one of those heart throbbing Mason smiles that I'm sure he will one day capture lots of lady's attention with. Another precious moment I was able to capture... daddy and Mason hand in hand walking down the sidewalk. So ordinary yet so extraordinary all at the same time when we think back to the little baby blob he use to be.