Back in the Land of the Blogging

December is usually a busy month with most people, and it was no exception with this family. With preschool ending, Christmas and vacation to prepare for, families and friends to visit, a regular routine to get back to when it was all said and done, there was not much time for blog updating. Thus the reason it's been several weeks since my last entry. Since so much time has passed, I thought I'd make it all up by hitting a few bullet points with a picture or two...

Mason finished up the first half of the preschool year with his preschool Christmas program. Dave took the morning off to join us as we watched him actually stand up with his class and participate - in stark contrast to his performance last year where he ran back and forth between his spot and the teachers and didn't sing at all. He learned many songs and has been singing them around the house for several weeks.

Because we were heading out of town to see extended family for Christmas, we celebrated our little family Christmas a few days early. We don't really stress Santa Clause around here, but he did bring the kids a blow-up ball-pit a few days early.

A few days before Christmas, we loaded up and headed south. We spent a few days, including Christmas, with my family in north Florida. Mason loved playing with his cousins. Poor Lauren wasn't herself due to what we think was teething or possibly a little cold. We played games, worked puzzles, exchanged gifts, and went to Christmas Eve service at my home church. I also enjoyed getting to see some long-time friends and laugh about old times. Here are the kids with cousins Kellon and Chandler.

A few days later, it was back in the car to head even farther south to visit Dave's family in Orlando. We really enjoyed our stay there... Who can beat wearing shorts in 80 degree weather on New Years Eve? The highlights for me there (in addition to my mother-in-laws delicious meals - and I'm not just saying that because she reads this blog) was a visit with more dear friends (including a childless double date night!) and a meal with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck! (We took the kids to a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary hotel at Disney, but felt that was as much Disney we could do with two little kids.)

Back home again, we prepared to get back to a routine, but it was a new routine for us. Mason started at a new preschool with the new year. We decided to make a switch which worked better for all of us, and after sailing through the first week, I am very happy with our decision. Mason is now attending a very good school 4 days a week (instead of 3) from 9:00-1:00, including lunch. I was a little worried about how he'd cope with a new environment away from the friends he made in his old school (which he talked about constantly), but he seems to really like it. His teachers say he hit the ground running and is doing great. I'm very excited about the rest of the year and the next school year to come.

I hope to get back in the blogging mood and make a few more updates soon, but for now, I think I'll just pace myself a bit. There must be a load of laundry or some dishes to catch up on somewhere around here...

Over the River and Through the Woods

This past weekend we took a long weekend vacation to Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, and Bat Cave, NC. It was the first vacation we took as a family of four while not visiting extended family.

After doing a little research online, we found a cozy little cabin in Lake Lure at a bed and breakfast called Grafton Lodge. It was about the size of a single wide trailer, but it had two bedrooms and a little kitchen. A very nice place.When we got to town, we stopped at the only gas station we could find. I didn't know these pumps still existed, so I had to take a picture...

The main reason we chose this area was because the Old Cider Mill in Bat Cave. Mason has recently been really into watching a show we recorded off the Food Network that shows how fresh apple cider is made. He's borderline obsessed with it and has asked to watch it daily for the past couple of months now. So we figured it would be a good learning experience for him to see a real cider mill in action.

We stopped here first, but they weren't pressing that day. They told us to come back the next day, so while Lauren was napping, Dave took Mason to watch. You can see the apples lined up to go up the little apple escalator to the grinder, and the 'mash' falling down the chute to the press below. The fresh cider was so delicious, we bought 1.5 gallons of it over the course of the weekend. Dave said Mason was riveted by the whole thing.

Later that afternoon, it was raining, so we headed over to the kids museum called Kid Senses in Rutherfordton about 20 miles away. I wasn't sure what to expect for a little museum in a small town, but it greatly exceeded expectations. I highly recommend you go for a visit with your little ones if you're ever in the area. Here's Mason inside a bubble.

And inside a kaleidoscope of mirrors...

Lauren enjoyed the bananas (her favorite fruit) at the grocery store...

On Sunday before we headed home, the weather cleared a bit, and we went to Chimney Rock Park to enjoy the gorgeous views and beautiful autumn leaves.

This is in the tunnel heading to the elevator that will take us to the top of Chimney Rock. Lauren and Mason enjoyed hearing their echos in there.

On the walkway heading to the top of the rock...

Our family on top of the rock...

Chimney Rock, elevation 2200 ft. I wish I could show in better detail how beautiful the views are here. The leaves were so pretty. We hit it right at the peak time for the changing colors.
After heading down off the rock, we rented a backpack for Lauren and headed out for a little hike to see the Hickory Nut Falls, also in Chimney Rock park. I wasn't sure if Lauren would be up for this, but she did great. It wasn't long after we started walking that she fell asleep.
The path to the falls was so beautiful. It was about a 1.5mile round trip, and I wasn't sure if Mason would make it, especially after walking around on the top of Chimney Rock, but he did great. He got a little tired and whiny at times, but he made it better than I expected.
The bottom of Hickory Nut Falls. Scenes from the movie Last of the Mochicans were filmed here. The picture doesn't do it justice.

By the time we got back to the car after our hike, everyone was tired and hungry. We stopped for some pizza for lunch and headed home. Lauren slept the whole two hour trip.

It was a great little vacation despite the rainy weather we had most of the time, and not getting enough sleep due to Lauren's nighttime antics and the dreaded time change. We've learned it's pretty hard to take two little kids, especially with one that still naps, on a vacation, but even though it's tough, it's worth it to me to expose them to new things and to get away to spend some family time together. I'll be looking forward to visiting this area again sometime.

Best Homecoming Ever

October 20, 2001 - the date Dave and I officially became engaged. Since yesterday was the 8-year "anniversary" of that special date, and since I doubt Dave even remembers it's significance, I thought I'd post a little picture to commemorate it. This was taken by a passer-by right after the big moment.
We met each other in Atlanta for Georgia Tech's homecoming festivities that weekend. At the time, Dave was working in Texas and I was in North Carolina. We had been long distance dating since he graduated in June of 99 except for a few short months when we both worked in Charlotte.

On that beautiful Saturday morning, we joined my parents and brother\sis-in-law\new nephew at the Ramblin Wreck parade on campus. Then we had breakfast at the Silver Skillet right next to campus (featured in a Travis Tritt video as well as a classic episode of Good Eats) and walked around for a bit.

Before the game started that afternoon, we stopped by "our bench" next to the Tech Tower where we used to go when we were dating. It is a very nice courtyard area right next to the football stadium. Once upon a time, Dave carved our initials in that bench, but when we sat down, we saw they had recently replaced it (due probably in part to our vandalism). And that's where he popped the question. I knew it was coming and of course I said yes. (After all, I had been ready to say yes for the last four years.)

Then we went to the game and shared our news with the family. Mom and Dad already knew since Dave had called them ahead of time. After the game (in which Tech beat NC State - the tickets are displayed in our playroom) they surprised us with a little champagne celebration at our hotel.

It was really hard going our separate ways the next day, but we would soon be together again. I moved to Texas a couple of months later, and the rest as they say is history.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

She may be a year old now, but she'll always be my little baby! Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl!

Photo album of Lauren with her favorite Pooh Bear taken the 13th of each month of her life...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Beach Vacation

It's been a couple of weeks, but I finally got a slideshow together of our recent trip to North Myrtle Beach. Thanks to Grandmama and Pooh Pa for always letting us come crash at the condo with them twice a year! We always have a great time.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

She Walks!

September 8, a few days before she turned 11 months old, Lauren took her first steps. She walked three paces from the ottoman in the living room to me sitting on the floor. She didn't walk more than one or two steps for another few days, but it didn't take her long after that to really get moving.


Here's the first walking shots I got on camera, taken on the day she turned 11th months.


Over the last week, she's gotten better and better every day. This past weekend we spent a few days with my parents at the beach, and she went from walking 5 or 6 steps at a time to walking across the room by the end of the trip.

By yesterday, she's walking more than she's crawling and even turning corners without falling.

I don't really remember Mason picking it up so quickly. And it wasn't until his first birthday that he took his first steps. I guess it's true that girls really do walk faster than boys - in this family it is anyway.

Back to School

Year two of preschool has begun!

We had a bit of a rough start today. Just as Dave walked out the door to head to the airport for a two day business trip, and just as I started nursing Lauren, Mason woke up an hour early and was very upset after wetting the bed. I should have predicted this would happen since I changed his sheets yesterday. He only has accidents on fresh sheets. I'm tempted never to change his sheets again.

So I had to put the hungry, crying baby down to help Mason clean up and get the sheets in the laundry room. Then I tried to get Mason in the bath so he wouldn't smell like a potty on his first day of school, but he wouldn't have it. I had to settle for wiping him down with a wet cloth. Finally, I got everything done and was able to nurse Lauren.

After eating Mason's favorite pumpkin muffins we made yesterday for back-to-school breakfast, and a few pictures, we were off.

For the first two days of school, parents are to walk in with their child, so once we arrived, we all headed inside. Mason is definitely familiar with his school since it's at our church and he was in the 2-year-old room last year. We also visited the classroom during open house last week, so he had no problem this morning. We hung up his bookbag in his cubby, I let him work a puzzle with Lauren, and after a quick kiss for Mommy and sister, I left my 'baby' at school.

Last year, I made it back to the car and proceeded to blubber like a little girl. Since I was pregnant at the time, I blamed it on that. This year, no tears whatsoever. I'm excited about the fun Mason is going to have and all the one-on-one time I get to spend with Lauren.

Not long after I got home from dropping Mason off though, Lauren decided to take a morning nap. So much for one-on-one time with her. No matter - I enjoyed my first quiet morning since the last school year instead. Well, as quiet as it can be with wet bed sheets in the washing machine that is.

Happy Birthday Grandmama!

Make a Smilebox postcard

10 Months

I can't believe my baby is 10 months old today! The time certainly does go by even faster with the second child. Here's her 10 month Pooh picture

These days all Lauren seems to want to do is walk behind her push toys. I don't know how many times we walk around the circle of the bottom floor of our house with her little push wagon and airplane each day. She and Mason have gotten pretty good at doing it together...

She's also gotten pretty good at giving kisses and will usually do it when I ask. But watch out, she likes to slip you the tongue!

Porch Redo

For several weekends, Dave has been hard at work on our little porch project. I helped him a little here and there, but my job mostly was to supervise (the kids). He successfully removed all the old screen and horizontal beams, stained all the wood, installed the a whole new screening system, hung and stained a new door, painted the floor, and paid for new chairs and a rug.

As you might remember from a previous post, we've been using the porch over the last couple of weeks, but this past weekend, we finished the floor, and I moved the furniture back in today. I'm excited about our new room and feel like we've expanded our living space in the house. Here are a few pics...

Now if would just cool off a few degrees, we might actually be able to enjoy it again.

Back Porch Cafe

This afternoon while Lauren was napping, I decided to treat myself and make a pot of coffee. (I figured I was justified since I skipped having morning coffee.) Mason has recently enjoyed sips of our iced coffee on the rare occasions that we've had it, so he asked if he could have some cold.

Now, I usually don't let him have his own cup of coffee - in fact I've never done that before - but today I was looking for something fun and different to do while Lauren was sleeping. So I made a cup of hot coffee with a little milk for myself and made a cup of cold milk with a little coffee for Mason. Then we took our cups and a game of Chutes and Ladders out on our spiffy new refurbished back porch (more on that later) and pretended we were at Starbucks.

We enjoyed our little game together. Each time I said , "It's your turn", he would say, "Nope, not yet. It's coffee time!" and take a sip, then he would proceed to spin the spinner. I told him he would make his father proud.

Here he is enjoying our game. He was proud that he won.



In this picture you an see a little preview of the redo of the screen porch we've been working on for several weeks. Dave has done a lot of work and we're almost finished. We just love it, and now we spend a lot more time out there. I think we've had all of our meals out there the last couple of days. The last step will be to paint the floor, and as soon as it's done, I'll post a better description and some more pictures.

9 Months!

My little baby isn't such a little baby anymore. It was nine months ago today that Lauren came into the world. Every day with her gets a little easier and definitely more fun. I love that her personally is coming out more and more, and she's showing interest in particular things.

Today she's crawling like crazy all over the place - including up the stairs as of yesterday! (Time to break out the gate for the bottom of the staircase.) She's also pulling herself up very easily and can cruise around the furniture without falling down.

She's already showing some signs that she's going to be a much better eater than Mason ever was (and still is.) At this age, Mason still only ate a few baby foods, and absolutely nothing resembling regular food except for Puffs. Lauren seems to like everything I've given her and is starting to even refuse some baby food. The more adventurous things she's eaten lately include cherries, cheese, yogurt, pizza crust, banana slices, pancake, and sweet potato chunks. Plus of course her favorite: mommy's milk. We are still happily nursing several times a day. I'm glad she's showing no signs of stopping that any time soon.

All of that eating is definitely making her grow fast! We're not due to go to her next check up at the doctors office for another few weeks (we split her 9-month appointment into an 8 month and a 10 month just to split up the vaccinations) so I just weighed and measured her myself today: she's 19lbs and 27" long. She's outgrown almost all of her 9 month clothes and is into 12 month sizes. I've almost exhausted all of our lovely baby gifts, and I'm enjoying shopping for her myself for a change.

She's making several sounds now and has said her first word: Dada. (Although, she says Dada all the time, so I'm not certain she's actually assigned that to her actual DaDa.) But she's definitely looking at family members when their name is called, and she knows her own name. She can also recognize "Buzz" (Georgia Tech's mascot) thanks to PoohPa during their last visit. I also hear her say "ya ya" and "ba ba" (but probably not meaning you just yet, Baba) quite a bit.

She's also much improved in the sleep department. She's pretty regular in going to bed around 7:30 each night, up around 4:30 for a quick snack, and then back to sleep until around 6:30. Then she'll take two naps a day, each for 1-2 hours. Occasionally she's up another time during the night, but thankfully I can just go in to give her a quick snuggle, put her back down, and she goes back to sleep on her own without a fuss. Another nice thing is that she usually wakes up happy and just plays a bit in her crib before "calling" for me. Mason woke up crying every time until he was at least 2 years old.

Still only two teeth. I can see a couple more trying to come out, but it just ain't happening yet. I can tell that she's pretty uncomfortable with them sometimes. She often has a rash around her mouth from jamming any and everything in there. Including her entire fist.

Her favorite thing to do these days is pull every book off the shelf and proceed to eat them. She does like to read them with me too though. She's gotten very good at turning pages. Her favorite book is one of her big brother's former favorites called Baby Food. (Thanks Aunt Anna!)

She also likes to crawl around in Mason's living room pillow forts and play with her steering wheel driving game which plays music. She's mesmerized my any sort of music. She loves to watch the opening and closing credits of Mason's favorite TV shows. And her faces just lights up whenever she sees Mickey Mouse.

As Dave put it today, she looks like a mini-human now. My baby certainly is growing up fast. Here is her 9 month Pooh Picture. (My Facebook friends can go to my profile to see her Pooh Pictures from each month.)

A Raleigh Fun Time

This past weekend we went up for a quick visit to Raleigh. We've lived in North Carolina for almost 5 years now and figured it was about time we check it out. We left Saturday morning around 9:00 after stopping by the Harris Teeter (grocery store for you out-of-staters) for some breakfast muffins and a DVD to watch on the computer after the kids went to bed. We had a few nursing and potty stops along the way, but we made it up there around 12:00.

Our first stop was the capital building uptown. Dave was somewhat disappointed by the size, but I'm sure he was comparing it to the last capital building we saw in Austin, TX. (Think our nation's capital but bigger.)

After our little walking tour, we headed over to the Marbles Kids Museum for lunch and the exhibits. This turned out to be well worth the trip alone. It was a fantastic place for Mason, and he had a blast. I highly recommend our Charlotte friends to make the drive with their little ones if they haven't yet seen it. There are lots of interactive exhibits and things to climb on and water to play in specifically geared towards the toddler set.

Mason loved the little post office\ package delivery section the best. I think he could have moved those packages down the rolling bars for hours:
He also enjoyed walling himself in with giant lego blocks:

And playing in the "peas and carrots" ball pit:

Lauren wasn't too impressed and she fell asleep:

After the museum, we headed to the hotel which Mason had been looking forward to all week. (He's been playing "hotel" ever since the last time we stayed in one.) We all enjoyed the pool for a little while and then got the kids to bed pretty early.

We got a room with a separate bedroom area so we were able to put Mason to bed and not disturb him while we watched the movie we rented on our laptop (while Lauren slept in her pack-n-play in the kitchen.

The next day we went back uptown to see the NC Museum of Natural Sciences which was right across from the capital. It was well worth the price of admission - it was free. The exhibits were much better than I anticipated for a free museum. There's even a full dinosaur skeleton on display. Mason was mostly interested in riding the elevator to go between floors though.

After the museum, we took our first stab at Geocaching. If you're not familiar, it's a type of world-wide hide and seek game where you use your GPS and some latitude\longitude coordinates to find an object hidden by some other geocacher. I looked up a coordinate and knew there was one right outside the capital, but I'm either not very good with my GPS or the hidden object was not there anymore. It was supposed to be a relatively easy find, so I'm going to have to try this again somewhere else. (There's supposedly one hidden very near my house, so that will be my next try.)

We headed home around 3:00 and were all warn out from our quick trip by the time we got home. All in all, it was a fun way to celebrate Father's Day weekend.

Movin' and Grovin'

Lauren is getting bigger and more mobile every day. The time sure does fly by faster with the second one than with the first. It seems like just yesterday she was my tiny little blob I could just lay on the bed without worrying about her falling off. Not anymore. She'll roll off in just the time it takes to turn around to throw away a diaper (just ask Dave).

Just last week while we were on vacation, she learned how to go from her tummy to sitting up. She can also army-crawl like a champ now. It only took her a few days to master it, so now I have to keep my eyes on her at all times. She can move pretty fast too. In just a couple of minutes, she can make the loop around the bottom floor of our house.

Here she is pulling herself up on her toy box. I think she likes being able to actually see inside to get her own toys out. She's kneeling here, but several times now, she's pulled herself up to standing.

And just this week, I've caught her crawling on her knees. She still mostly does the army-crawl, but she's up on her knees all the time, even if she's not moving.

Another good thing about getting bigger is how much better she is at sleeping. There have been several nights now that she's slept from 7:30 until around 4:30 or 5:00. Then I'll feed her and she'll go back to sleep for another hour or two. And a couple nights ago she slept from 8:30 until 6:30 without waking up. It was the first night I've gotten almost 8 hours of consecutive sleep since I can't remember when.

It's amazing how much they change in so little time.

Seven Years Ago Today...

... I married my best friend.

Happy anniversary, sweetie! I love you!