We have a 12.5 Pounder

No, I'm not talking about a fish we caught. It is Mason, he is huge! This boy can already put away some milk. He is just packing on the pounds. All the boy wants to do is eat and eat and eat and oh yeah, eat some more. I can only imagine how much he will love his first taste of cereal and baby foods. I'm not ready for all that just yet. I will keep my sweet little baby for as long as I can.
I love my little boyfriend. He is so sweet and just so smily.
I love our "alone time" in the mornings we talk , and smile, and make noises at each other and listen to Dave Stone and Kyle. Sissy usually wakes us up in the morning and we get up and begin our day. Trust me I stay in bed as long as I can. He is doing really well through the night. He is almost doubled his birth weight and that is when they start sleeping through the nights. I have begun to notice a pattern. He will nurse every hour starting about six or seven until about ten or eleven and then he can make it most of the night. He like a night cap and a pick me up here or there but, he does pretty good through the night.
I can't believe he is going to be two months. I look back and wonder where the last two months went. Mason is already wearing 3 month clothes quite the opposite of Addison. It is funny how different they are not that I thought they were going to be the same. I had picked up a few six months summer clothes and thought about returning them but at the rate he is going he will be in them tomorrow!

Smiling, Cooing, "I don't like you", and too smart for her own good.

Mason is changing so much. The past seven weeks have flown by with the exceptions of night time which used to drag on since I was awake most of it. Things are much better in the sleep department now a days. I tried not to focus on the lack of sleep this time because I knew eventually the child would sleep and sleepless nights would be but a memory. I can't stress how very much I love this little man and how grateful I am to be his Mommy. Addison, Kevin, and I are just in aw over him. He is the perfect addition to our family. I feel like for the moment our family is complete. I'm still unsure if we will have any more children but for now I'm in love with my two perfect children.
I began making this photo montage for Kevin for Father's Day and I got to boo hooing over how my Addison has grown. She is really getting so very big. Looking back over this blog she has changed and grown so much. Seems like yesterday we brought this little blob of pink home and just sat there and starred at her with no clue on what to do with her. And then 3.5 years later we brought home a blob of blue and still didn't know what to do. I guess you just learn as you go and you just have to trust in your self and the decisions you make for your family. I feel like I have really grown and changed throughout this blog. Having kids is wonderful but it does change a person and not always for the better. I can admit to my shortcomings maybe sometime a little to honestly but my patience (of lack there of) has really gotten the best of me. I used to run a classroom full of 13 two year olds and hardly ever lost my patience but now I'm always loosing it. There are times I really question myself as a Mother. I wonder if I'm cut out to do this job at all but then I remember that I am human and make mistakes and I have to pick my battles, and just take some things in stride. I repeat to myself all the time that three is just a phase (so we hope) and my sweet girl will be back very soon. I know that Addison is just trying to express herself and her independence and Kevin and I get in the way of that at times and it frustrates her. We have been dealing with the phrase "I don't like you". Which the first time I heard out of her mouth was devastating but I have learned that it isn't me or Kevin that she doesn't like; it is the choices we are giving her. I try and validate her feelings so she doesn't' feel completely shut down but there are times where I just get tired of hearing it. I have even asked her how many minutes she was going to not like me and that is how long she can be in time out. She always comes back with, "No minutes Mommy, I love you."
Addison is getting too smart for her own good. The questions she asks me and the words she uses to describe things just blow me away. Sometimes it is hard to believe she is only three. Jokingly the other day I asked her to watch Mason while I took a nap and she said without missing a beat, "No Mom you have to watch Mason and Me. You are the one that prayed to God for a baby in your belly, not me."
Another time I was complaining to Kevin about something and Addison looked at me and said "Mom, just go with the flow." She told me in Target that some baby doll was exquisite. She knows what elasticity means and can tell you which balls have good elasticity. She asked me out of the blue what morale means. I just feel like each day she is getting wiser and wiser and has such a hunger to learn all there is to know about life.
Mason on the other hand, is just beginning to smile and coo. He already has a big personality and appetite! The boy loves to eat, like his Momma. Addison get her appetite from her Daddy (Dashy). I love early morning with Mason. It is our one on one time. He is all smiles in the morning. He has the sweetest deep dimples. I love it when he coos at me. I know he already has lots to say; I mean how could he not with Addison as his sister. She still just loves and dotes on him. She prays such sweet prayers for Mason. Kevin got on his iPhone her praying for Mason and Mason just grinning from ear to ear. Mason is just such a happy baby. He already has so much love to give. I just know he is going to be my little cuddle bug. We love to snuggle in close at night and just love each other. I can't stop kissing him much like I did Addison.
Addison has been needing her Mommy more lately. She always seems to need something when I'm feeding Mason. I try to cover all my bases so I don't have to get up and get anything while nursing but somehow she always is in need of something. She has been requesting that I put her to sleep at night which used to be reserved for her and Daddy but I will take what I can get. I do love reading to her and have really missed it the past seven weeks.
All in all life is fantastic. I love God, I love my family, and I'm really starting to settle into this new life. I am no where near having a set schedule or a strict routine but that is all over rated in my opinion, any how. I have a ton of dreams and aspirations to achieve but for now my greatest dreams have come true; I'm a wife to a wonderful husband and father, a Mommy to two wonderful children and daughter to the best parents on the planet. I'm surrounded by God's love and blessings. I could not ask for more.

Meet Boacha

So as you probably have noticed there is no picture that goes along with this post. I figured it wouldn't make sense to post a picture since I have no idea where to point the camera to get a picture of Boacha. I'm sure you are wondering who or what this Boacha character is. He (at least I think Boacha is a he) is Addison's imaginary friend. He comes over every day to play with Addison. I can't understand their relationship very well because it seems like he is always making her mad (which these days is pretty easy to do). Every time I turn around Addison is saying, "No Boacha"! She is constantly tattling on him to me. I am always correcting him and his naughty behaviors despite the fact I can't see him or his behaviors. I'm always asking where he is for fear I may be sitting on him. I have asked Addison to describe what he looks like and she explained that he is black with orange eyes and pink shoes (sounds kinda crazy looking). Anytime I ask Addison where he is and why I can't see him she acts like I'm ignorant. She just keeps pointing and saying he is right over there Mom.
I have always heard that imaginary friends were a sign of intelligence so I hope that is right. I believe Addison to be intelligent but, I'm her Mom so I'm biased. I began to try and think about when Boacha first made his appearance (or lack thereof) around here to see if it was around the same time Mason was born but, Boacha came before Mason. It will be interesting to see how long Boacha is around and if he goes to school with Addison. So far I haven't had to clean up any "Boacha" messes or no real harm has come from having Boacha around so as far as I'm concerned he is welcome here. Be mindful of Boacha when you come to visit and please try not to step on him.

Big Sister Gives the First Bottle

Last week Mason got his very first bottle. And Addison was the one to give it to him. I read that you should try a bottle before six weeks if you are breastfeeding or else the baby may refuse the bottle all together. I also read that Mom shouldn't be the one to give the first bottle because the mom has a scent that baby knows and baby would much rather drink from mom then the bottle. So who better to give him his bottle them big sis. She has been dying to give him a bottle ever since he was in my tummy. I explained it would be awhile. As you can see from the pictures neither of them has an issues. Addison is such a nurturing big sis. She loves her brother and dotes on him so much. He is the first person she wants to say good morning to and the last one she kisses each night. Kevin takes care of her bedtime routine because I'm normally feeding Mason. I love eavesdropping on her prayers for they are absolutely adorable. There is always a sweet segment about her cute brother and how much she loves him. The other night she wanted Mason in her bed and they lay there starring at each other. It was such a sweet moment until she said,"Ewww he puked on my pillow and now my bed is all wet, move him." It was sweet while it lasted!
Mase is a champ at the bottle which pleases me so much. It means freedom for Mommy! I never really could produce enough milk for extra bottles besides the ones for Deanna's house so I was the sole feeder for eight months which made me feel tied down but, it was temporary and I was glad to be able to breastfeed her at all. So far so good with Mason. He loves to eat and I'm glad to provide. Feeling very blessed to have my wonderful babes, and feel blessed to be the one that was able to feed them. It is nice to have that sweet one on one time. I love the feeling of knowing that I can give him what he needs to grow and flourish.

Mason's Pirate Room

So the playroom which is now Mason's room was painted Violet and if we were to have another girl that is how it was going to stay and Violets was going to be my "theme" and most likely her name after my Dad's mother Violet Elaine. But obviously we have little Mason and we decided against purple. A long time ago I found my Dad's old toy box in the attic which had a pirate scene on it. So I thought it would be cool to do a pirate theme in Mason's room. Kevin doesn't ever care on the house decor but he didn't share my enthusiasm on the pirate room. He always kinda questions my judgment and in the end says how much he likes things. I knew I wanted to use a lot of red and black as accents so I wanted the wall color to be pretty plain and not bright. We went to home depot and found several grey swatches we liked and Addison choose the winning color. The color was dolphin fin which actually fits perfectly with a pirate theme.
When I design rooms I try to design on a dime. I have to be practical here, we are a one income family and can't blow a ton of money. I knew the second time around we weren't going to waste money on baby bedding that they aren't even allowed to use. I don't have to have name brand brand new decor I actually prefer to save money and buy from thrift stores or yard sales. I love the thrill of the hunt and the rush of saving money and yet finding good stuff.
We were really blessed that a life long friend Becky, made us the most amazing quilt and changing pad I have ever seen. She used such wonderful colors and patterns. Kevin's Mom made us two pillows and curtain pull backs. We are very lucky to have such talented , generous people in our lives.
Most everything in Mason's room with the exception of his crib which was a gift from my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Roy, the dresser which was my old chest passed down from my grandmother, and rocker were thrift store finds. I absolutely LOVE his room it turned out so adorable.

Life After Birth

So if I was asked to describe my life at this very moment I would have to say- An Abundence. What does she mean by that? Well, I have an abundance of love for both my children, sometimes I feel like my heart could explode with love. I have an abundance of things to do and not an abundance of time to do them in. I change an abundance of diapers each day, feed Mason in abundance, have an abundance of bills to pay, laundry to do, thank you cards to write, and well I feel like God has just blessed me in , yep you guessed it ABUNDANCE.

Life with Mason is wonderful. He is such an amazing baby. I love having one of each. Addison has been so much fun to dress and play dolls,do makeup with, fix her hair and all those good girly things. Mason is also fun to dress, I love him in all things striped. When I was pregnant I just decided that I love him in strips even though I had never seen him in them before (weird I know). I love to snuggle and kiss his neck, I love having long talks with him, which I also did with Addison maybe that is why she talks so much . Even as a tiny baby I would go in stores just having huge conversations with this tiny baby who obviously couldn't talk back. I just figured the more I talked to her, the more word she would hear, and maybe the sooner she would talk. I love to give Mason baths. He so throughly enjoys having his hair washed. His first couple of baths were horrible- he screamed the entire time. Now, he just relaxes and seems so content. This week he started flashing his first real smiles at me. I love seeing his big deep dimples. He still sleeps a lot but only wakes for feeding at night which is nice. I finally feel like I get some sleep at night. Mason definately has the hang of nursing, since day one he just knew exactly what to do. Apparently he is pretty efficient at it because he was 6.14 when we visited the doctor after leaving the hospital and at his one month check up he was up 9 lbs. He is a GOOD eater! Can't complain about anything other then my body and Addison attitude. Things are slowly falling into place and I have only melted down a few times. I'm starting to get the hang of this new venture- mother of two. I look forward to blogging about my son as well as my daughter in hopes that one day they can read about their lives.