Desert Snow

The Tortolita Mountains just a few miles from our house.
The Tucson Mountains.

The Catalina Mountains. It doesn't snow very often in the desert, but it sure is beautiful when it does!!!

Busiest room in the house

Brandon has been more agreeable to using the potty this weekend, much to our surprise. He sometimes needs a little encouragement but loves the "reward" after doing his business...chocolate morsels (not clean underwear). It's the first step but I think we have quite a chore ahead of us.
Just a little light reading for potty time.

Mason still loves bath time, especially when he has sometime to chew on. I think we are almost ready for the ducky tub, since he likes to be in a sitting position. I can't wait until we are able to bathe both kids in the regular tub.

"I got you crazy toes!"

Soaking up the sun

Brandon still loves to play in the sandbox and Mason loves to spend time outside. I am looking forward to this spring when we can take the boys for hikes with Grandma Payne and spend time in Sabino Canyon with the Thome family (and the Seppala's too).

Can't resist sharing a little popcorn with Jake.
Hopefully this bond lasts for many years.


"Mommy, don't you just want to kiss my checks?"

Sooo tired

This past weekend, while Kevin was hunting and with Brandon finally getting over being sick for 3 weeks (topped off by getting an ear infection), Mason decided being sick would add to my fun. Poor little guy, he kept us both up at night and by Monday was diagnosed with RSV (bronchiolitis, for which we are giving him breathing treatments) and an ear infection (gotta love the hot pink amoxicillin, this stuff hasn't change since I was a child...). I am pretty sure that I only slept for about 3 hours on Monday night.

Parenthood is the toughest job I have had, some days I feel as though I am clocking out of the hospital and should be "clocking in" at home for my second job. But having said that NOTHING is better than having Brandon come up to me, give me a hug, a kiss and tell me "Love you Mommy" and to see Mason's smiling face. Now, if I could just figure out a way to get paid for being "Mommy"!!! Maybe if I add a fancy job title or two..."Mommy, CFO, CEO".

4 month & 2 year MD appointments

Mason's 4 month ckeck-up:
height: 25in (50%ile)
weight: 17 lbs 6 oz (90%ile)
head cir: 43cm (75%ile)
Mason is on track, definitely in the "oral" phase, is trying to sit up, can stand (with assistance, of course), starting to roll over and doing better with tummy time, and loves to be a social butterfly! He is mostly smiles and laughs from deep in the belly when played with.

Brandon's 2 year check-up:
height: 36.5 in (90%ile)
weight: 33.5 lbs (95%ile)
Brandon is doing well. He is able to string together 5-6 word sentences, has a vocabulary of 100's words, and always seems to have something to say. He knows colors, some shapes, and is able to correctly label pictures in all the books we read. He has perfected tantrums, running, climbing, and dancing to the music.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

In the past I have retitled this day, "Single Awareness Day", as I really can't think of another day that makes those without a significant other more aware of it!!! And who's bright idea was it that my valentine should only shower me with love and affection on just one day of the year? This is why I have discouraged my valentine from the usual flowers and candy on this day, after all, shouldn't he shower me with this type of affection & attention every day of the year??? Enough said.

We are really starting to see progress with our home physical therapy routine. Mason is more often looking left and is starting to make more of an effort to roll onto his stomach. Hopefully Charlene (our PT) will think so to.

Mason-4 months

Too cute, huh?
Just trying to get those crazy toes!!!

too funny

Play time

I absolutely live for my day off with the kids...we have so much fun just hanging out and playing.

Super Bowl Sunday

Grandma Payne with Ashley and Mason.
Kevin and Brandon.
Great-Grandma Dudley and Melanie.
Uncle Brian and Easton.

Taylor.
Diane (Grandma Payne) hosted Super Bowl XLV Sunday (Packers vs Steelers) this year. We had lots of fun with all the kids and the food was delicious. We will miss hanging out with Brian's family, as they will soon be starting a new adventure in Alamogordo, NM!

Watch Brandon Grow

Watch Mason Grow

Memories

Brandon:
"Mommy hold you", what he says when he wants to be held
"Rotator mouth", what he says when asking for a multivitamin
"Brandon hurts", when he's not feeling well
Brandon is getting better at throwing a ball, kicking a ball, and of course has already mastered running.

Mason:
His "shy" smile when he stops nursing to look at me
The way his face looks with his arms stretched up by his head after a nap (Brandon made this same face as an infant).
Mason has kept use guessing at night over the past couple weeks, he is waking up often at night, which makes for tired parents the next day. So we have been offering additional formula at night to see if that helps (it seems to be).

I can't wait to decorate the walls (or at least a wall in each of their rooms) with the kids artwork when they get older! Thanks to Aunt Sharon for the great idea for displaying it all.

"Left Torticollis"

We had our initial PT eval this am. It's official, Mason has a "mild" case of left torticollis. This means we will be seeing our physical therapist, most likely on a monthly basis, but we will know more in two weeks (at our next appointment).
I can't help but feel as if I have failed my son, despite being reassured by Charlene, our therapist, that is likely not the case. It seems we are making up for all the good health that Brandon had with poor little Mason.

Baby Couponista

Did a few hours spent clipping coupons, scouring the ads, and making my list pay off? Yes, but there is still room for improvement. I spent $89.63 and saved $64.66 at Fry's!!! Not too bad for my first attempt. I did get quite a bit of product, even items I wouldn't normaaly buy at the grocery store!