Emotional

Mason had a fun birthday. I sang Happy Birthday to him throughout the day and every time I started to sing, he would bounce up and down and dance. He was so happy and talkative. As I said before, I was very emotional yesterday. I probably cried a handful of times. It wasn't that I was sad, more so happy and thankful to have spent this past year with my little boy.

So last night, we put Mason down to sleep and some friends of ours came over to hang out. We were sitting around the kitchen table when Adam asked me if the present in the guest room was for Mason. I had completely forgotten about it. My parents had mailed him a package two weeks ago with his gifts and I had already opened the clothes and was leaving the toy for his birthday. When I realized that Mason hadn't opened any presents on his birthday, I started to cry. It was his very first birthday and I forgot to give him the present. (He had already opened a bunch of gifts, while we were in Houston)

I got up and started going towards his bedroom. By this time, it was a little after 9pm. Adam asked what I was doing, and my intent was to wake him up to open his present. All I kept thinking was what kind of mother would I be if he didn't get to open a gift on his birthday, and the first one at that. Adam kept telling me to wait until the morning, but I was determined.

As I walked into his room, I looked into his crib and saw him sleeping so peacefully. I didn't want to wake that boy. I just smiled and ran to get Adam so that he could see how sweet he looked. We stood there silently watching him, when he opened his eyes and smiled. I immediately picked him up, because I figured if he was opening his eyes, we could give him his present. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on until I we sat on the couch and I read him the card and we began to tear open the gift. He loved it and smiled and then I took him back to his crib and he fell back to sleep. I didn't think he would remember it this morning, but after he ate his breakfast, I put him down in the living room and he knew where to look for the toy. I know you aren't supposed to wake a sleeping baby, but my emotions were all over the place and honestly, I knew he would have no problem going back to sleep.

His party is tomorrow and I still need to bake his cupcakes and the smasher cake. We are leaving to go out of town this afternoon for a business dinner in Westlake Village, near LA. Originally, we were going to have someone watch Mason and get home really late, but instead we decided to get a hotel room and bring our friends along that will be watching Mason. It will be an early morning drive back tomorrow, but it will be nice to get out and go on a date, even if it is work related.

Happy 1st Birthday Mason

My baby boy is a year old today. It has been an emotional morning already. A year ago today, we became a family of three. Nothing could have compared me for the emotion I felt the first time I held my son. God has blessed us with this amazing little boy, who is no longer a baby, but now a toddler.

My sweet Mason,

It sounds so cliche, but it feels like yesterday that I held you for the very first time. On this day a year ago, Dr. Friedman placed you on my chest and as tears flowed from your Daddy's face, I kissed your soft head and prayed over you. I continue to pray over you and thank God for you daily.

I have always wanted to by a Mommy and you made that possible. I love everything about you. You have stunning blue eyes and pouty lips and I can proudly say that you get those from your Mommy. Everyone says you resemble your Daddy and I agree. I have two handsome men in my life. I love how you smile every time we walk in the room. I love your sweet kisses you give over and over, and the tight squeezes you give us to show us your love. I love how you get so excited and laugh every time we chase you around the house or we jump out and scare you. I love your personality. I love watching you bounce and dance to music. I love how you smell after bath time. I love how excited you get when Daddy gets home from work. Most importantly, I love you. Happy Birthday doodle bug. My life is so much richer with you in it!

Love,
Mommy

Holding my son for the first time

Our family

getting ready to leave the hospital

one week old

so tiny

One month old and our first dance

with Mommy & Aunt Jill

Mommy kisses

Daddy kisses

still so small

1 year

David & Emily's Wedding

Every time we go home, we have a fantastic ti visiting with friends and family. This trip was no exception. We celebrated my gram's birthday at the Taste of Texas, celebrated Mason's birthday in Georgetown, visited with friends, went swimming, ate Mexican food, visited with my great-grandmother, was surprised by friends visiting from Colorado, and went to David & Emily's wedding. I'm exhausted just remembering everything. Pictures say a thousand words.

Mason with his hair spiked before we cut it

Hanging out with his Granddad in the office

Looking up at his Mimi

Messy face after he had chocolate chip cookie

Mason & his friend Lilly playing

chillin with his Granddad

with Aunt Laura & Uncle Matt at the rehearsal dinner

I love, love, love this picture of Mason with Aunt Emily & Uncle David

Reception - The Palladium Waco, Tx

Our Family

Groom & Best Man

Adam & I before the ceremony

with Laura & Matt

in the lobby of Daysprings Baptist

I was in Larissa's wedding 6 weeks prior

with our niece Faith

Adam giving the Best Man toast

Mr. & Mrs. David Kaye

The Wedding Party

Four Generations

Mason & Mommy

Emily singing to David

First dance as husband & wife

The entire gang

The Kaye's

a year ago today

A year ago today, I was waking up and going to my last prenatal appointment. Dr. Friedman wanted to have another utlrasound done, to see how much Mason had grown since the previous utlrasound two weeks before. Immediately, the ultrasound tech noticed that all of the vernix was off and floating around in the amniotic fluid. This isn't really alarming, but she said it doesn't happen very often.

Dr. Friedman asked us to go into his office and wait. I knew this meant he was planning on inducing. One minute you are waiting to learn of your babies arrival and the next you are given the day. I was so excited and running on adrenaline for the rest of the day. That night, I checked into the hospital and waited for the induction the next morning.

Happy Birthday Blog

Tomorrow will be this blogs birthday, but I will be on a plane and won't have my computer with me in Houston. Last year at this time, I was 37 weeks pregnant and so ready to welcome Mason into this world. It has been a fun year and this blog has been a hit with my family and friends. The main reason I started the blog was to keep everyone posted, but it has turned into a bit of a scrapbook and I love that.

Also, congratulations to my friend Jonathan who is getting married tomorrow to Suzanna. The wedding is in Columbia, South Carolina and I am going to miss it. Both of them drove down for our wedding and drove back in the same weekend and I hate that I'm going to miss their ceremony, but my thoughts will be with you guys. Congratulations!

i'm leaving on a jet plane

Saturday, Mason & I will board the plane and fly home to Houston. It will be another whirl-wind trip, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. It will be nice when we come home around the holidays and not have to rush. Adam saved up most of his vacation time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will have a week each week to spend with our family and friends.

As always, I'm a bit nervous every time we fly. As Mason gets older, he is more mobile and doesn't like to stay seated for a very long time. Our flight leaves at 6:30am, but I don't know if he will sleep on the plane. The only time he sleeps on the plane is usually the flight home and Adam is with me. Please say a prayer for us this next week.

(My hives are still around, but I believe they are slowly going away. I believe it is caused by a food allergy, but I still haven't narrowed it down. I'm hoping the humidity of Houston.)

Waiting

So, for the last 6 days, I have woken up with hives. They don't cover my entire body, in fact, each day the location changes. I have only had hives once before, and it was due to an allergic reaction. This time however, I'm absolutely clueless. I still believe it is some sort of allergy, but not sure from what.

Nothing in my diet has changed, we use die free laundry detergent and it's the same detergent I have used for a long time, and I haven't been exposed to anything out of the ordinary. Every morning, I take my Zyrtec and I'm fine. The hives are usually gone by mid-day, only to reappear the next morning.

From my research, hives are a bit of a mystery. They are brought on by stress, allergies, change of diet, change in location, and so on. Also, hives will last usually for a short period of time and then go away for good. Let's hope that is soon, because I'm so tired of waiting.