Are you a Warrior?

www.warriordash.com

The Warrior Dash 2011 is coming to Arizona this weekend and we (my cousins Ruth & Kim, and I) are particpating. I think we are in for a real adventure, I say this as I initial and sign a waiver whose first line reads "I understand that entering the Warrior Dash is a hazardous acitvity". It appears we get to conquer fire, water, mud, junk cars, and cargo climbs just to name a few.
I have been trying to prepare for the "3.4 hellish mile" course with 12 obstacles, but lets face it, I have 2 children, a husband, a career, and a house to keep up with, all of which has left me with little time to train.
I never realized how much I miss running and it's hard to realize that it has been over two years since I was regularly exercising (having babies is very time consuming, I've come to realize). Even though I may be spending a few hours away from home, I will still be bring the breast pump with me...never truely without my children...
I am excited to get out there and have a good time. I am also looking forward to spending a little quality time with my cousins...seems like it has been years and years since we have done anything (besides family get togethers).
Wish me luck.

32nd Birthday

Happy Birthday to Mommy. No better gift than getting to cuddle with the boys!!!

Easter #2

Thanks to everyone for all the Easter goods both kids got this year.
Discovering his Easter goodies!
I was too chicken to get the real finger paints but he seemed to like the No Mess Color Wonder finger paints the Easter Bunny brought.



We spent Easter Sunday with Grandma Payne and Great-Grandma Dudley (we missed Brian, Peggy, and the kids). Brandon had a blast seeing his grandma's, running around the grassy area, and finding eggs!

Easter #1

Brandon always comes home with the cutest holiday items from Catherine's house. Does he look cute in his bunny ears?




We spent Saturday at my mom's house, celebrating both Easter and my 32nd birthday! We had lots of fun looking for eggs, eating lunch, and playing with the kids.

Rockin'

Mason is finally taking the first "steps" to crawling!!!

2 yr old honesty

There is a point in life when you develop a "filter", when you don't immediately say exactly what is on your mind. My 2 year old is obvisouly far from having that social filter, as evidenced by our conversation the other night. We had just finished dinner and Brandon was supposed to be drinking his milk on couch. When I looked over, I saw him putting something in his mouth.

Mommy: "Brandon, what are you eating?"
Brandon: "Boogers!!!" (said with a big smile on his face)

There are some things in life, I just don't need to know. It was my fault really, I asked!

6 month follow up

Mason weighed in at a tubby 19 lbs, 9 ounces and 27.5 inches long, 75th percentile across the board!!! I have accepted the fact that I grow large children, no dainty little boys for us.
He is now sleeping through the night, after just 4-5 nights of "tough-love". He will still occasionally wake ~1:30 am but after a few minutes of fussing, he'll fall back alseep. This morning he actually slept until 5:30am!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa returns...

Grandpa returns for a 1-2 week visit!
The boys playing together.

"Look at me looking left!!!" Charlene (PT) would be so proud.

Happy 6 months Mason

Mason update:
We have finally decided that 6 months of sleep deprivation is long enough. We are attempting the "cold turkey" method of sleep training at bedtime and naptime. He has done pretty good, crying for less and less each night and now usually only waking once at night. We are hopeful that we will all be sleeping for 7-8 hrs each night!
As I mentioned before, we held off on starting stage 1 foods at 4 months as I was in no hurry for the mess. But now that he is 6 months, we have started the rice cereal, peas, and sweet potatoes. He likes the vegetables but is often more fond of chewing on the bib or trying to wrestle the spoon from your hand.
His hair is now almost lighter than mine and has big brown eyes like Brandon and I.
He is rolling all over the room, turning in circles on his tummy, sitting while unassisted for periods of time, and is still chewing on everything! No teeth yet but I am sure they will poke through soon.
Physical Therapy is going well, Mason is right on track. We have new exercises to do after each visit and will plan on being seen in May. Charlene (PT) is still planning for us to return once a month (likely until he is a year) to make sure all is well. Thank goodness for good health insurance!!!

Playing at the Park

Eegee's drinks and fries with ranch are a couple of Brandon's favorite treats!



This is how Mason choose to spend his time at the park, all cozy and content! The weather has been so varied lately, 90's a few weeks ago and then cold and rainy this weekend.
They are finally done with the up-graded play area at Arthur Pack Park!!! It is beautiful, clean, and there is plenty of room for all the kids. Maybe we will have Mason's 1st b-day here, to keep with the tradition.
Brandon is no longer fearful of the climbing, he just went right up the stairs and then right down the slide (over, and over, and over).

Time outside

Brandon is going through a "Daddy phase" these past few weeks, which is driving me crazy. Only "Daddy" will do...he just follows Kevin around the house like his shadow. It's really very cute. Don't they all look alike???
The boys hanging out together! Brandon loves to be outside. He was quite the little helper a few weekends ago when Grandpa was down to help fix the porch.

Mason loves to sit up, although I don't think he knew what to think of the grass...I just love this age as there is always something new to discover!