Happy New Year

Our 3rd Christmas celebration
Mommy & MasonAfter his bath...I love to spike his hair


Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

what a week

Finally, I am able to sit down and get online for a minute. It has been very busy the last few days at the Kaye household. We celebrated my Aunt Karen's birthday, went to Christmas Eve service and spent the evening at my sister's house, opened gifts Christmas morning and spent most of the day with Adam's family and then spent the evening at my Gram's. I tried to soak up every minute with our families because I know it will be awhile before we see them again, possibly next Christmas. I didn't expect to get emotional saying goodbye's, but it hit me all at once and I started to cry as I hugged my cousin Taylor. I know I will see them all again, but it is still hard knowing that I won't be able to drive up to Dallas anytime I want.

For Christmas Mason got a Baby Einstein Playstation (Exersaucer) and he loves it. He took a long nap this afternoon and after he woke up, we took him out to the living room and showed it to him. The boy was smiling from ear to ear and wanted to taste everything (all of his toys get a taste test these days). Once he realized he could turn around, he didn't stop. I have great video footage of it and a few pics. Nothing better then seeing your son discover new things.

Speaking of new things, Mason also received a new car seat for Christmas from his Mimi & Granddad. Mason is way too big for his infant carseat and we got the go ahead to turn him around. The new seat looks so comfortable and he looks like such a big boy in his new ride. The best part is watching his face as he looks outside at the world around him. His face lights up now that he can see Mommy & Daddy driving. Actually, now that he can see us while we are driving, he doesn't get upset when the vehicle is stopped. Our little boy is growing up.

Mason in his new Exersaucer

The Kaye's Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas!

under the weather

I have been under the weather this week. Wednesday night, I started to feel queezy and a little dizzy. I took some tums hoping that would solve the problem. Since the feeling didn't subside, I laid on the couch and took it easy all day on Thursday. I knew I had some kind of stomach bug by the middle of the night and decided to spend all evening and Friday in bed. I hated not being able to hold Mason and kiss on him. I know Adam is exhausted from playing Mr. Mom. He has been terrific and made sure Mason was well entertained and didn't make too much noise to disturb mommy. He even took him on an outing to see all of the grandparents yesterday. Luckily, I am starting to feel better and can finish some last minute details before our Christmas celebrations begin with our families. Thanks Babe for everyhing!

welcome to the blog world

My husband has a blog! Check it out.

shop til you drop

A little over a week until Christmas and I still have some shopping left to do. I was able to get plenty of ideas this past week of great gifts for everyone. However, since Adam was out of town all week, I opted to wait until he returned to start shopping. It's a little difficult to get it all done with a 5 month old.

Saturday evening, we braved Memorial City Mall, and it was very cold and windy outside. During this time of year, I hate the parking at all the shopping malls. The best bet is to just park far away and walk. I made a list before we left and knew exactly what we were looking for. Four stores and two hours later, we were on our merry way. I was so proud of myself, although I take pride in being a quick and smart shopper. I think it's the only way Adam will go with me.

Today we decided to try and finish the rest of our shopping and we only have one more person to buy for, besides our gifts to each other. I'm looking forward to Mason's first Christmas. Although he doesn't really understand what Christmas means, I can't wait to see him play with the wrapping paper and look adorable as he always does. We leave for our house hunting trip this week, which will make it hard to finish up the shopping, but I love a challenge.

Daddy's and their babies

Mason and his future wife, Lilly (look he is waving hello)

5 months

After a busy weekend, I finally have some time to sit down and catch up. Saturday, we spent the evening with my friend Molly. I have known Molly since we were in high school and I actually led her in a biblestudy when she was a freshmen. We lived together after I moved back to Katy and she was a bridesmaid in our wedding. I haven't seen her since my baby shower, due to busy schedules on both parts, but we finally had a chance to meet up. She hosted a fabulous Christmas party where we played my favorite game, Apples to Apples, sat around talking and having drinks. All the guys were out numbered by the girls and by the end of the night, Adam & Colin (Molly's brother), were the only gentlemen left. We had a great time and it was a much needed night out with friends.

Last night, I dropped Adam off at the airport to catch his flight to Chicago. The poor guy was not looking forward to landing in 20 degree weather with snow, especially since it has been abnormally warm this last week. After a brief delay, he boarded the plane and landed around 10pm last night. Once I arrived home and put Mason down to bed, I found a bunch of notes that he had written me and Mason before he left. He tends to do this every time he goes out of town, but I never know where he will leave them, so it was a fun scavenger hunt.

I was a little nervous that I would have a sick child, while Adam was away all week, but Mason is doing much better. He still has a little congestion and a slight cough, but it doesn't stop him from flirting and laughing all the time.

I figurerd while Adam was gone, I would do a little minor packing, even though I don't need to. I know the movers will do everything for us, but I really will go stir crazy if I can't do some of it myself. I will probably just pack most of Mason's room, that way I won't be bored all week.

Btw, Mason is 5 months old today. He is such an active little boy. I am constantly watching him roll to each side, or get on his knees but not go anywhere. It will be any day before he starts to crawl. I gave him a teething biscuit today and it made a huge mess, but was so much fun to watch him eat it. He has the best personality and I look forward to seeing him develop into a little boy.

a kiss to the forehead...

Mason is sick. He has had some minor drainage the last couple of days. I did the usual bulb syringe and nasal saline drops, which he hates, to help him breathe. Last night after putting him down, I realized he was breathing really hard and tossing and turning. I had Adam put the pack-in-play together in our room and had Mason sleep in the bedroom with us, so that I could keep a closer eye on him. (We already took apart the Bassinet and he is too big for it anyway) All night long, I could hear him tossing and turning and wheezing.He didn't get any sleep and neither did I.

This morning I kissed his forehead and realized it was warm. His temperature was 100.2. After calling our doctor, they suggested bringing him in for a checkup. Once Miss Helen took a look at him and discussed his symptoms, she announced that he has a sinus infection. Poor guy! He is on a decongestant and antibiotics for the next 10 days and hopefully that will clear everything up. Even when our little guy feels crummy, he still smiles and flirts with all the ladies. I have such a happy baby.

Adam leaves for on boarding orientation Sunday. He will be gone for a week and then following that will be our house hunting trip. We will be home for Christmas and for New Years. The movers will come January 2nd and we have decided to stay with my parents until we fly out on the 4th to meet the movers. Hopefully we will be able to see all of our family and friends before the move. Let me know if you will be in town for Christmas and hopefully we can work out a time to get together.

Here is a pic of Mason at the hotel a few weeks ago.

give thanks

This was probably one of my favorite Thanksgiving's. Partly due to the fact that it was Mason's first, but also because we were able to spend so much time with our family and friends. We have so much to be thankful for this year and I have been giving thanks to God for all of our blessings. This year we have added a beautiful son to our family, who has enriched our lives. Also, we are so blessed by Adam's new job, which is an answer to our prayers.

It's finally starting to hit home that we won't be in Katy much longer and I'm not sure how to handle that. Of course I'm excited about the new chapter in our lives, but saying goodbye to family and friends that you probably won't see again for some time is hard to grasp. I'm used to driving only a few minutes to see our parents, or my sister. Also, we tried to make it a point to visit with all of our friends this week, because we don't know when we will see them again. It really started to hit home, when our friend Jill, said goodbye to Mason one last time before they left to go home to Grapevine. She was sad because she knew the next time she saw Mason, he could be crawing or walking. Tears....

I can't help but be thankful for all that God has done in our lives and count my blessings. We always seem to go to God in the hard times, but what about when life is good? I am reminded that we need to give thanks for good and bad, because without the suffering, there would be no joy.

We elfed ourselves

We ELFED ourselves! Check it out.

Eating sweet potatoes for the first time!

new beginnings

I love this time of the year. The smell of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie brings a smile to my face. Every year, families and friends come together to fellowship, eat good food, and give thanks. This will be Mason's first Thanksgiving and even though he won't remember any of it, I know I will cherish those memories.

Our little munchkin has started eating solid foods. He has been eating cereal at night in a cereal bottle feeder and loves it. After his checkup this week, they told me that I could start giving him solids. We set the high chair up and at first he wasn't exactly sure what to do in it, so he started to suck on the tray. After we got him strapped in, I pulled out the sweet potatoes and attempted to feed him with a spoon. Apparently I wasn't feeding him fast enough, because as soon as I pulled the spoon away, he would let out a cry for more and pull my hand towards his mouth. He loves it.

On another note, Adam has received the official offer with Nalco. We were so excited when we heard the news and couldn't be more thankful for this new opportunity in our lives. He will be heading to Naperville, Illinois December 10th for training, paperwork, and to get set up with everything he will need for work. After that, we will take a trip to Bakersfield to look for a house, followed by Christmas back home, and then the movers will come and pack us up and we will be heading west to California.

We have alot to be thankful for this year. God has blessed us so much by giving us a beautiful little boy who lights up our lives. I always wanted to be a mom, but I never knew it would be this good. We will be home for the holidays, so if any of you are in Houston and want to get together over the week, let me know.

4 Month Checkup

Mason went for his 4 month checkup today. He was such a brave little boy and only let out one cry when he received his vaccinations. He has grown alot since he was born:

DOB: 8lbs 10oz and 20.5 inches long

2 Weeks: 9lbs 10oz and 21.75 inches long

1 month: 11lbs 15oz and 23 inches long

2 months: 14lbs 11oz and 24.75 inches long

4 months: 18lbs 8oz and 27.25 inches long

The doctor said we could start him on solids as soon as we want and she explained how to introduce them. I can't wait to see his reaction to food. If he is anything like his mom and dad, he will love it. Also, our little boy is rolling over now. He first rolled over on Thursday afternoon, right before I went to pick Adam up from the airport. He started on his back and went to his tummy. Then on Monday, he rolled from his tummy to his back. He was very proud of his accomplishments and just smiled away. Also, he has been holding his own bottle for some time now. Occasionally, I have to help him out otherwise it gets all over his chin and neck. Our little boy is growing up.

counting sheep

It's official, I'm exhausted! Sunday night, I noticed Mason was breathing really heavy in the monitor. When I went in his room to check on him, he was congested and had the sniffles. I felt so bad for the little guy. There isn't much I could do. He wasn't running a fever and didn't seem like he was in pain, so I just did my best to ease his comfort. His sniffles continued thru the night Monday too. Unfortunately, Mason & I had to take Adam to the airport to catch his flight to Bakersfield at 3:30am. I hated getting Mason out of the house that early, but he slept the entire way to the airport and back. Once we got home around 5am, he was wide awake. I was trying everything to get him to go back to sleep, but he still had the sniffles and wanted to play. It was a very long day, but luckily he got back on his sleep schedule and slept from 7pm to 4am this morning and back to sleep until 8am. His sniffles are gone and he is back to his normal self. He was never cranky, even though we knew he didn't feel good.

Adam returns home from Bakersfield tomorrorw afternoon. I can't wait. On top of not getting much sleep the last couple of nights, I have a hard time sleeping when Adam is out of town. I miss him so much and I know it breaks his heart to be away from Mason. He doesn't want to miss a minute and he is so worried he will learn to roll over, while he is on the trip. Mason has come very close to rolling over. I pull the video camera out every time he gets to his side. As much as I want him to roll over, I just hope he can wait until his daddy gets home.

Finally pictures

Mason had a terrific Halloween. We decided to go to the Harvest Festival that First Baptist Katy was holding at the Merrell Center, rather than go to the Fall Festival at Kingsland. They had alot more activities and games for the kids to do and since we went with my sister and the boys, it made more sense. We decided we would put Mason's costume on at the festival, rather than drive with it on. He was such a good sport and didn't mind wearing the costume. I was worried he would get over heated and tug at the costume, but he was the happiest little boy.

My sister and her husband brought the boys and we walked around the festival together. I was amazed at how many games, floats, and rides they had. I have never been to a Harvest Festival with that much stuff to do. Of course Mason raked in a ton of candy, but since he is too little to eat it, we decided we would help out. Adam & I sat down and divided up the candy and we each have our own bags full of candy. I'm sure Adam's will be gone before I finish mine.

Adam leaves for Bakersfield next Tuesday and won't return until Thursday evening. He is very excited about the trip. I'm sure he will have so much to tell me when he retuns. After that, they will schedule for all of us to go out to Bakersfield for a week to look for a house. We already have a bunch of listings we are interested in and have contacted a few already. Hopefully we will find something we love within our price range. I'm not really worried about it too much, because like I said, there are alot of listings. I don't think we will officially be on the west coast until after Christmas. I want to stay in Katy for a bit and finalize things before going out there permanently. Adam will go before us and start working and stay in a hotel until the movers pack up here and we drive out west.

I finally have a bunch of pictures to share of Mason during his 3rd month and Halloween.

Mommy & Mason at the Harvest Festival

Daddy & Mason at the Harvest Festival

Mason with his cousins Jared & Connor

Daddy & Mason without his banana & ears

Daddy with Mason the Monkey

Mommy & Mason without his ears & banana

Mommy & Mason the Monkey

Mason the Monkey

Mommy couldn't stop taking pictures

Mimi bought Mason a hat that says "I love my Grandma" on her trip

Mason in his board shorts and the only time he will be wearing burnt orange

Mason has his own personal stylist

Mason hanging out during the Katy vs. Taylor Football game

Mason meeting his Great Grandma aka Mamma for the first time

Mason napping with his snugglie

Mason trying to get his fingers and snugglie in his mouth at the same time

Connor bowling for the first time with his Granddad

our little monkey

PLEASE PRAY

I was on Facebook earlier this evening and came across a group asking for prayer for a young family, The Sherrill's. I started reading their blog and couldn't stop. My heart and prayers go out to all of them and I ask that you do the same.

The Sherrill's Story

It's gorgeous outside

I love this weather! This past week has been gorgeous outside, with temps in the low 70s during the day and lows in the 50's at night. We took full advantage of the weather Friday and decided to take Mason for a walk around the Cinco Ranch lakes. Cinco Ranch is a neighborhood here in Katy that has it's own beach club, next to two pretty large man-made lakes. Adam & I loaded Mason in the stroller and took in the beautiful sunshine. It put Mason to sleep and he slept the rest of the afternoon away.

Yesterday, we went to my nephews football game. Jared will be 8 in November and he plays flag football for one of the Katy football leagues. Last year his team didn't do to well, but this year, they actually contended for a playoff spot. After that, we drove up to Kingwood to see our good friend Larissa. Larissa and Wesley are getting married next May and she has become a very close friend to me over the last year (her Adam were good friends at Baylor). We enjoyed good conversation, grilled some steaks and snacked on food all day, and watched college football. We had a fantastic time and Mason loves seeing his "Aunt Rissa."

It's going to be hard to leave our families and friends here in Houston, but I know God will bring new friends our way in Bakersfield. If any of you head out to California, you are welcome to stay with us anytime. Bakersfield is only 2 hours from L.A., and 3 hours from San Diego. It's about 5 hours to San Franciso and the Nappa Valley, and only about 4 hours from Tahoe and 3 hours from Vegas. We are definitely going to explore California on the weekends, and take advantage of the location. I'm very excited!

This just in...

I finally have some news! This past week, Adam met with the district managers at NalcO. One of the guys he met with, Steve, is in charge of the California region. The meeting went extremely well and Adam left pleased and hopeful for an offer. Today he received a call from Steve letting him know that he wants Adam to come out to Bakersfield next week to see the city and learn more about the business. It was also mentioned shortly after that, they would fly us out to look for housing. After talking with Steve, he spoke with our friends dad, Ron, and he said that Steve told him that he plans on making Adam an offer. This is fantastic news. An answer to prayer. We won't have official news until after he goes to California next week, but it is very promising that we could be in Bakersfield by the end of November. Adam & I discussed it further and he will probably go out to California first and start working, while I pack things up here in Katy. I figured it would be best to wait until after Thanksgiving to move. Thanks for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray that God will prepare our hearts for this change and the hearts of our family members, as I know it will be hard to leave Texas.

My Nephews

Jared getting ready to go to the pool
Jared & Branson going tubing down the Comal River

Jared eating watermellon

Connor's 1st Birthday

Connor was a Tootsie Roll last year for Halloween

Connor either seriously pondering life or giving my mom a poopy diaper

a little of this and a little of that

It's beginning to feel like Fall. This morning I walked outside and it was 77 degrees. Within an hour it was down into the 50s, with winds blowing about 40mph. In honor of the weather, I decided to cook chili all day in the slow cooker. I love the smell of food in the house. It reminds me of my house growing up. My mom loves to cook and my family always made it a point to have breakfast together every morning and dinner every night. We would gather around the table, eat delicious food and have great conversations. Not many families eat together anymore around the dinner table. Either they sit in front of the TV, or half of the family isn't home. I have some of the best memories from dinners I've had with my family.

Speaking of dinner, I also love dinner parties. I love to entertain. I also like to go out to eat with friends. It's funny how most of our fellowship time with our family and friends revolve around food. There is nothing better than great food and good company.

Some of my favorite things in no particular order: coffee and bagels in the morning (even better if it's at Bagel Cafe); mexican food; sunrises and sunsets; walks on the beach; watching some of my favorite shows like Friends, Greys Anatomy or Sex & the City; sunglasses and handbags; Charming Charlies because they have the cutest earrings; James Avery; Bare Minerals makeup; buying cute baby clothes for Mason; dates with Adam; sappy love movies; the summer time; the fall but only for it's clothes; pictures; candles; hawaii; the lake; traveling; my friends & family.

cat nap

partial update

Sorry for the lack of blog entries the last couple of weeks. We have been very busy in the Kaye household. I have tons of pictures to post, but unfortunately, my computer needs some work and Adam's is currently getting a new hard drive, so you will have to wait a little longer.

Last week, we visited my grandma, who finally got to meet her great grandson for the first time. She said the same thing everyone has commented on lately, "he's a big boy!" Yes, this is very true. Mason celebrated his 3 month birthday last week and we weighed him Sunday and he is 17lbs. He has grown a few inches too.

Adam is still talking to Nalco and is supposed to meet with a few district managers next week. After that, we should find out more details on where we could be relocated to. God has given me patience through everything, but I have to admit that I'm getting anxious.

busy weekend

Football games, more football games, and friends getting together equals out to a great weekend. Saturday night we went to the Katy vs. Taylor high school football game. Adam graduated from Katy and I graduated from Taylor and we have attended this game ever since we have been together. We usually alternate what side we sit on, and this year it was Taylor's side. My sister and her family joined us. Mason was a great sport the entire game. He sat in my lap and looked out onto the field and watched the game. He was so content and happy. By the end of the game he fell asleep in his carseat. Btw, the final score was 48-0 Katy. Katy has a strong team this year and has only given up 21 points total and have won all of their games.

Sunday, we went over to my friend David Clark's house. He grilled chicken, sausage, hot dogs and baked potatoes for everyone. We watched the Texans game, which turned out to be an exciting game with a field goal to win the game in the last 6 seconds. Our friends Brad & Emily also came over and brought Mason's girlfriend, Lilly. She caught up on her beauty sleep the entire time and didn't feel like socializing yesterday, but Mason can't wait to see her again.

After the game, we headed out to Kingwood, to see our friend Larissa. She has been out to our place a couple of times and came to the hospital hours after Mason was born. We love her to death. She has an adorable house and was such a great hostess. We had a great visit and were glad that we could keep her company, while Wesley was out of town.

I've been a busy bee today, doing 8 loads of laundry, yes I said 8! I also washed a bunch of dishes, cleaned the bathroom and packed up some of Mason's clothes that he doesn't fit into anymore. I guess I should start gathering boxes and packing some stuff up, so I don't have to save it all for when we find out where we will be relocating to.

New Pictures

I have updated pictures on our picture site. The link is listed under our favorites. Here is something to tie you over until you check it out.

still waiting...

God is good! That is the best way to start this entry. He has blessed us with so much the last year. After Mason was born, we had been praying for a new direction in Adam's career. He has been researching and looking to get in the oil & gas business for a couple months now. He has applied for a couple of jobs and spoken with a few people regarding getting in the business. Adam loves working in the mortgage industry, but with the insecurity of the market right now, it isn't the place for him. A couple weeks ago, our friends dad approached him regarding a job. Last week Adam met with him and it went very well. He told Adam they would call him sometime soon regarding a second interview.

Yesterday, Adam had his second interview. It went very well and he received positive feedback. Last night, Ron (our friends dad), called and asked Adam if he would be interested in going to one of the sites to learn what a typical day is like for the position he is applying for. Next week he will be flying to Midland to learn some of the ins and outs of the business. After that, he will have one last interview. They told him that he has alot to offer and would be a good fit with the company. Everything seems promising.

We still don't know where we would get relocated to just yet. So many towns and cities have been thrown out there, but we won't know for sure until they present him with an offer. They asked him about a little town in Lander, Wyoming yesterday. Adam came home and discussed it with me and I reminded him that my grandfather used to live in that town and I have some bad memories of the town. Plus, it only has a population of 6,000 people. We were worried about telling Ron today, but luckily he was understanding. Like I told Adam, if they want him bad enough, they will find a place for him.

Please pray that God will guide and direct us over the next few weeks and give all of our concerns to Him. That He will provide a community of friends with the same beliefs as us and most of all a church community that we can get involved in. This is a huge deciding factor regarding everything. Since we will be away from all of our friends and family, we want to make sure that our family has a good support network within the church. Thank you and I will let you know as soon as we hear anything.

Bye Biggio

Today is a sad day in baseball. The Houston Astros said goodbye to one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Craig Biggio. Adam & I both grew up watching Biggio as kids and have followed him his entire career with the Astros. We took Mason to his first baseball game and it was only fitting that his first game be Biggio's last. He looked so adorable in his Astros jersey onesie, his Astros bib, and Astros hat. Pics to follow soon.

This past week, Adam went out of town for the first time since Mason was born. He got in late at night and was so excited to feed Mason for his late night feeding. I know he missed him so much and it wasn't the same without him. Also Mason had his first fever, stuffy nose, and a slight cough. He is ok, but it's never fun seeing your kid feeling icky.

On another note, please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers this week. Adam had an interview with Nalco, an oil and gas company, this last week and there is a good possibility that he will get the job. Our friend Larissa's dad works for the company and asked Adam to come in for an interview. He was impressed with what Adam has to offer the company and Adam will go back this next week to meet with him again and some other executives. It is very likely that we will have to relocate. The cities would either be Odessa-Texas, Farmington-New Mexico, or Casper-Wyoming. It's only going to be for anywhere from 3 to 5 years and it will be hard to leave our families behind. At the same time, it will be a growing experience for our family. We won't find anything further out until Adam meets with the other executives. I will be sure to keep everyone posted. In the meantime, please pray that God will direct us to where He wants us to be.

Mason's Halloween Costume

We finally bought Mason's costume. What do you think? I can't wait to see him in it.

I've been Tagged Again

I've been tagged again by Kristen. This time it is all about Adam.



1. Who is your man? Adam

2. How long have you been together? Been together for a total of 2.5 years

3. How long dated? we dated for 4.5 months and were engaged for 7.5 months and have been married for 19 months

4. How old is your man? 27...we are only 15 days apart

5. Who eats more? usually adam unless it's dessert

6. Who said "I love you" first? Actually me

7. Who is taller? Adam

8. Who sings better? Adam has a good voice, but he doesn't sing much. i on the other hand love to sing and used to sing in the church choir

9. Who is smarter? i think adam is

10. Whose temper is worse? unfortunately, mine

11. Who does the laundry? I do most of the time, but Adam volunteers to help

12. Who takes out the garbage? Adam

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? if we are laying in the bed, then i'm on the right

14. Who pays the bills? i do, but we go over the finances together

15. Who is better with the computer? This is a toss up. My dad is a computer programer and I have grown up with computers since I was 6. Adam used to be a technical writer, so he is pretty good with computers as well.

16. Who mows the lawn? we are currently in an apartment, so a lawm mowing service

17. Who cooks dinner? I do a majority of the cooking. Adam can cook, but doesn't like to as much as I do

18. Who drives when you are together? Adam

19. Who pays when you go out? Adam but it all comes from the same place

20. Who is most stubborn? We are both pretty stubborn, but I think that I would take this one

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I feel like I do more, Adam admits when he is wrong...it just takes awhile

22. Whose parents do you see the most? We are very fortunate to have both sets of parents 5 minutes from us, so I would say it's a tie

23. Who kissed who first? Adam kissed me first

24. Who asked who out? He did, to an Astros game

25. Who proposed? Definitely Adam - he actually caught me off guard for once

26. Who is more sensitive? Me

27. Who has more friends? We both have been blessed with such good friends and lifelong friendships

28. Who has more siblings? Adam, he is the oldest of 4

29. Who wears the pants in the family? He does, I prefer a skirt or a dress these days...more comfy and cuter!

Ok...Abby, Courtney, Grace, Kathleen & Summer

Accepting Applications...

PARENT - Job DescriptionThis is hysterical. If it had been presented this way, I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION: Mum, Mummy, Mama, MaDad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updat ing your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that university will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


Thank you mom and dad for applying!

I've Been Tagged

Summer tagged me, so here are my answers to 10 questions:

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
September 1997 ... That was a very long time ago. It was the beginning of my senior year in high school and I was busy visiting colleges and deciding where I would attend. On the weekends, I would go to the football games, hang out with friends, and go on retreats with our church.

2. What were you doing 5 years ago?
September 2002 ... I was in college and working at the Red Lobster in College Station. I did a lot of weekend road trips visiting friends all over Texas. After college, everyone was scattered all over the place.

3. What were you doing 1 year ago?
September 2006 ... I had just decided to leave my job at Probstfeld & Associates and was in the process of looking for something else. Adam & I enjoyed the days when we were both at home at the same time. On the weekends, we were usually in Waco visiting his brother David and going to the Baylor football games.

4. What did you do yesterday?
Woke up really early and went into work. I work part-time at The Spa at Cinco Ranch. After I got home, I played with Mason before I had to get ready for the benefit we attended that evening. We dropped Mason off at my sister's house and drove to the Houstonian Club for a benefit hosted by George Foreman, Sr. After a fun evening with our friends Larissa & Wesley and Adam's sister & her boyfriend, we headed back out to Katy to pick up Mason. I fed him and put him down for bed and went to sleep.

5. Snacks I enjoy ... Nectarines, Apples with peanut butter, Chips & Ranch (Chuy's Cilantro Ranch), Cheese & Crackers, Everything Bagels from Bagel Cafe, Non-fat Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks, Coffee, Tortillas & Queso

6. Things I would do with $100 million dollars ...
-Tithe 10%
-Live debt free
-Buy and decorate my dream house
-Buy a whole new wardrobe with accessories
-Purchase a vacation house on Lake Travis, Lanikai Hawaii, and on Laguna Beach
-Buy my dream car...a silver Range Rover
-Invest
-Set aside trust funds for all of our children
-Set aside college funds for all of our children
-Purchase Season Tickets to the Astros games...next to Drayton McClain
-Spend some of it on family & friends

7. Locations I would run to ... Hawaii, but that would be more like swimming

8. Bad habits I have ...I worry too much and can be a bit uptight (I'm copying Summer's answer here, but it's exactly what I would say!). I have a hard time saying no.

9. Things I like to do:- Spend time with my family, play with Mason, SHOP, eat out, watch my shows...Grey's Anatomy, The Office, Desperate Housewives, Dr. 90210, The Hills, Friends, Sex & The City, run, crafts, & interior design

10. Biggest joy of the moment:Spending time with Mason! I love seeing him get excited and smile & learn new things everyday

Ok ....Abby, Allison, Amy, Jill, Courtney, Kathleen & Kristen ... YOU'RE IT!

Baby Dedication

This past Sunday, we had Mason's Baby Dedication. In case you don't know what that entails, I will tell you. Adam & I went before our church and presented this beautiful gift God has given us, Mason, and promise to be his primary spiritual teachers. Our pastor then reads the meaning of his name and the bible verse they picked out for him. It was very beautiful and intimate, even though we shared it with our church family. I took a bunch of pictures, but have yet to upload them. For now, I will share with you one of the pictures of Mason & I with his cousins, Jared & Connor. Mason is lucky to have loving older cousins in his life, especially boys, that he will one day look up to. Everytime we get together with my sister and her boys, they just want to love on Mason and give him kisses and lots of them. I think this picture is just precious!

21 ways to bless your child

This past weekend, Adam & I attended the Parent Summit at our church. We took a class on the first milestone in our child's life, dedicating our child to the Lord. In that class we learned about "21 Ways to Bless Your Child." I thought I would share with all of you, especially since I have alot of friends that are new mom's to little ones.

1. Renew the commitment to each other as husband & wife. When you grow together as husband & wife, you provide a loving, stable, and secure environment which is needed for your child to mature.

2. Recognize that your children belong to God and have been born to experience His love and to serve Him.

3. Affirm your own faith and spiritual growth. Research shows that Behavioral Modelings is the most powerful component in a parent's efforts to influence a child's spiritual development.

4. Commit to have a Family Devotional time each week. The Bible mandates that parents be the primary spiritual teachers for their children.

5. Teach your child about Worship on Sunday as a family. Develop a positive attitude toward church, and never underestimate the power of example.

6. Love your child with affection & discipline. Guide your child with respect and authority, the child learns that God is loving and respectful. He is my authority. They learn that God is in control.

7. Be a Parenting Team! You may divide other tasks as you manage your household, but you must stand together to guide your child and work together to guide your child and develop spiritual growth in your child.

8. Seek God's wisdom and guidance. Parenting is a full time job and can be challenging! We find our identity as parents in the nature of Jesus Christ. He is available at all hours! He provides whatever you need! He understands your way of communicating! He holds you when you need comforting! He is there!

9. Avoid becoming overwhelmed by your daily responsibilities of parenting. Take one step at a time and ask for help when needed.

10. Commit to pray for you child every day.

11. Pray with your child. Pray that your child will grow in understanding of the Lord and his love for God's word.

12. Be familiar with the stages of growth and development and normal behaviors of each stage of your child's life.

13. Whisper Bible Truths as he/she works and plays.

14. Teach your child to trust. Development of trust is basic to trusting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior later in life. He will learn to trust and feel secure as you meet his needs in a prompt and loving way.

15. Be in the Front Lines of Fatherhood! Caring fory ou baby is challenging and an adventure. Don't miss out on your baby's first months! Do the dirty work, it helps you appreciate parenting! Care for your wife, she needs support and care too! Bond with your baby, don't wait until he can play catch! Take care of your own spiritual health! Ask for help, ask other fathers for advice and support and don't forget to rely on the "helper who is always found in times of trouble."

16. Let your child see Jesus in your attitudes and actions...teaching by word and example.

17. Resist over-scheduling your child. Although children enjoy and learn from organized extra curriculars, allowing time for your child to play helps her learn to process and understand things.

18. Play WITH your child. Become a child yourself, forget being a mature adult and think of ways to pretend with your child.

19. Love your child unconditionally.

20. Establish a routine for your child. It is a simple way to help children learn and feel secure.

21. The first place to go for wisdom is our parenting is in the Bible. God's Word is the filter through which you should evaluate all other parenting information.

his stats...

Today we payed a visit to Dr. Lentsch for Mason's 2 month checkup. Part of me was looking forward to this day, so that I could learn how much our little guy has grown. However, most of me has been dreading this day since our last visit due in part to his vaccinations. No one wants to see their child in pain or upset and I knew once Mason would get his shots, that would be exactly what I would see.

This morning he woke up in such a good mood. He was smiling and flirting...that was before the visit. We loaded him in the car and headed off to the doctor. I really do love his pediatrician. The staff is so nice and we are always in and out so quickly.

As of 2 months, he weighs 14lbs 11oz and is 24.75 inches long. He is in the 93 percentile for his weight and 92 percentile for his height. Helen, the P.A., loves Mason and was getting to make all kinds of sweet noises. Then the needles came and caught him off guard. He cried like I've never seen him cry and his face was so red. Luckily, it was very fast and I was able to calm him down quickly. Yes, I cried. It broke my heart to see him upset and know that there was nothing I could do. Once we got home, he was all settled and back to his flirty self.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to my brother-in-law, David, and his now fiance, Emily on their engagement! Last night, David proposed to Emily and they are getting married next summer! We are so happy for the two of them and can't wait to have Emily in our family. Here is a picture of the happy couple holding Mason.

2 Months

Our little boy is 2 months today! He has changed so much in the past two months and we are starting to see his personality. Bath time is starting to be one of his favorite activities. Actually, if it's getting late and he hasn't had his bath yet, he starts to get cranky. Once he has his bath, he starts to smile and coo in the tub. I love when he smiles:)

This past weekend, Mason stayed with someone other than Adam & I for the first time. His Mimi came over to watch him Saturday for a few hours, while Adam went to our friend, Chris', Diaper shower. When I got home, Granddad decided to join Mimi & Mason for some quality time. Mason was sleeping on his Granddad's chest, one of his favorite things to do.

I met up with Adam at the Diaper party, where most of the guys were outside playing on a huge blowup slide that was slicked down with water. The guys had a blast, but Adam is still sore from the activities. Our friends Chris & Katy are expecting their first child any day now and we can't wait for Mason to have another playmate.

After the party, we headed to Rhodes Stadium for the Katy Football game. It was Mason's first football game and he was a trooper. I was worried he would be fussy, given that it was very humid and warm outside. Luckily it was an evening game, but I still would have prefered a breeze. Here is Mason sleeping during the game.

Our friends Brad & Jill were in town for the diaper shower, so we were able to visit with them more after the game. Sunday we relaxed around the house and took it easy. It was nice not having any plans. Last night, Mason slept thru the night for the first time. He ate around 8pm and didn't wake up to eat again until 4:15 and was back down until 9am. I was so proud of him and thrilled to get a good nights sleep. He has always been a great sleeper and hopefully this is the start of something great. Until this happens a couple more times, we will just consider ourselves lucky.

Pictures from Labor Day weekend

Mason & Granny...her youngest great great grandchild

Mason sitting on the floor with Adam

Mason and his girlfriend, Lilly...they couldn't take their eyes off of each other

Brad & Lilly & Adam & Mason

* more pictures have been uploaded to our picture site

Labor Day Weekend

We stayed very busy over the Labor Day weekend. Friday afternoon, we went over to our friends Brad & Emily's for lunch. They have a little girl, Lilly, who is 2 weeks younger then Mason and she is absolutely adorable! We joke that Lilly and Mason will get married. They couldn't stop watching each other. It was so great to talk with friends who are at the same stage of life as us and understand what we are going through.

That evening, we went over to my sister's house to play with my nephews. I love being an aunt and Jared & Connor are a huge part of our lives. Both boys are in love with Mason. We worried that Connor would be jealous of Mason, but it's the complete opposite. Anytime Mason would get a little restless, Connor would drop what he was doing and run over and kiss Mason on the head. It was so sweet.

Saturday, Adam helped our friend David move, while Mason & I caught up on laundry at home. In the evening, we went out to The Woodlands for dinner. My best friend Jeanna celebrated a birthday earlier in the week and we all gathered to celebrate once more at The Cheesecake Factory(my fav). Her husband Trevor has always been nervous about babies, but Mason won him over very quickly with his smiles and good nature. I enjoy anytime I get to spend with Jeanna and her family and I know they were thrilled to meet Mason.

Sunday, we went out to Needville for our niece, Faith's, baptism. Adam's great uncle & aunt were in town from Pennsylvania and the last time we saw both of them, was our wedding. It was nice to have more time to visit with them and the rest of our family. One of Adam's little cousin's, Tommy, fell in love with Mason. He said that boy babies are cuter then girl babies...I think that has alot to do with the fact that he is a boy.

Monday we drove to Georgetown to visit my Great Grandma. My mom & dad drove up with Jared & Connor and Adam & I followed in our car. Granny was so excited to finally meet her great-great-grandson. Granny introduced all of us to all of her friends and just glowed everytime she got to hold Mason. I know it made her day and I'm glad that I got to spend time with her.

By the end of the weekend, I was ready for a long nap. It was nice to finally sit and relax Monday evening and not have any obligations. It's always good spending time with friends and family and after weekends like this past one, I can't help but consider myself blessed to have so many great people in my life.

doodle bug