The Hunters

Kevin, Brandon, and baby Austin (Mike & Stefanie's baby).

Mike, Kevin, Brandon, Mason, and baby Austin!!! I'm sure the big boys can't wait until the little boys are old enough to hunt. I see lots of camping trips in our future. We opted out of our annual camping this year, thanks to buying a house, the forrest fires, and Mason being at an age that makes me shutter with the thought of camping.

Chef Brandon

My friend, Edina, gave Brandon this adorable apron, so he can be a little chef too! He loves to help mix "ingredients" and loves, loves, loves to smell the spices when we are making dinner together. He usually asks to eat eggs with cheese in the morning, just so he can mix the eggs in the bowl. I think our after lunch habit of watching cooking shows before nap time has contributed to his love for cooking.

Potty training day #6

Brandon is doing great with learning to use the potty, I almost don't believe it !!!!! He had no accidents at Catherine's on Monday, only one accident on Tuesday, and pooped in the potty on Wednesday!!!!!
I haven't yet braved leaving the house with the boys during this "training time" (except to go swimming at my dad's and even then I took the froggie potty with us). The thought of having to find a potty while in a store with Brandon and Mason (without Kevin's help) keeps me content at home for the time being.

Potty update

Day #2 of potty training:
Brandon did well but had a couple accidents today while helping Daddy in the garage (I think he was just too distracted by all the "man-cave" stuff to pay attention to his bladder). He did ask for his diaper at bedtime but other than that he did a great job and seems to like his new under-roo's!!! i can't believe my two and a half year old is wearing 4T in hanes boxer briefs! We'll see how we do at daycare this week, I called Catherine tonight to notify her!
Next weekend we are going to convert his crib to the toddler version....hopefully that goes well, he LOVES his crib (still doesn't climb out).

Hand-me downs

Mason has become quite fond of toys that Brandon has otherwise outgrown. He loves the wind up cars, he'll spend 10-15 minutes winding them up and playing with them. Mason is even learning to sit on Tow Mater on his own, although often backwards. He'll use Tow Mater or one of the kid table chairs to walk around the house with. This morning he walked up and down the halls with a big smile on his face. Whatever keeps them busy, happy, and out of trouble...

Froggie potty, under-roo's & popsicles

We decided this morning that this would be the weekend to start potty training Brandon (at 2 yrs, 7 months). He was pretty resistant to wearing his big boy under-roos this morning but took to the potty in no time...thanks to the incentive of the mighty mini Popsicles he would get for being a big boy. As the day went on, I would realize he was not in the room, only to find him in the bathroom sitting on the potty. We had no accidents our first day!!!!
I am so excited at the thought of only having one little guy in diapers...and doesn't Brandon look cute in his under-roo's???

Favorite places

Another moment of bonding for these guys. This is buy far the favorite spot for playing, lounging, and cuddling.
I have found Mason, on numerous occasions, exploring the fireplace.

Mason just lounging in the chair after a hard day of play and a good bath.

10 month update

Mason is now 10 months and growing so fast. He still only has two bottom teeth and is still cruising along the furniture. I think he will be taking his first steps before he turns one! He is eating a huge variety of table foods, still loves avocado, fruit, and pasta the best. He and Brandon are more often found playing together, it's cute to see them sharing a few moments. He absolutely loves to be where ever Brandon is, and his curiosity is endless. I can see that I will have two little rascals dissembling things, just to figure out what they are/what they do!

Sleepless nights part 2

Here are the boys, bright and early this Monday morning! Mason loves this chair and Brandon is being a great big brother.
Well, perhaps I spoke (posted) too soon, but we have been blessed with four nights of uninterrupted sleep. It is AMAZING how a few good nights of sleep can really affect you!
Now, how do I get Mason to sleep past the 6 o'clock hour....I know don't be greedy right!

Sleepness nights

What is it about sleep deprivation that makes my judgement a little less than good at o'dark thirty??? For all those parents who have seen too many 3 am's...you know what I mean. It seemed like a good idea to feed the baby so we could all go back to sleep but now (at 3pm) I realize that we are not helping our son to learn how to soothe himself at night. Here we are, almost 10 months since Mason came home and I still go to bed every night hoping that he will sleep through the night, hoping that he got enough to eat (although the books say sleep is now independent of eating), but knowing that he is going to wake up. He usually just wants his pacifier (yes another crutch Brandon did not have the pleasure of having), which I gladly stick back in his mouth and then return to bed. Don't get me wrong, every now and then we will get the pleasure of sleeping until ~5:30am, but most nights we are awaken by crying. It makes for a rough day at work, to say the least.
How could I have screwed up this little guy's sleeping habits when I did so well with Brandon's sleep habits?. And yes, I foolishly claim ownership of Brandon being such a good sleeper (from ~4-5 months old, even at 2 and a half years old), after all it was I who had the pleasure of hearing him cry himself to sleep at a couple months old for naps (I remember the sound, something akin to nails down a caulk board for new mothers).
My favorite time of day with the boys is from 6 am to ~9:30am, as we all seem to be the happiest during those hours, even if little sleep was had. The evening hours are the witching hours....the evening seems to be a mad dash to make/eat dinner, clean up, bathe the boys, read books, fight about brushing teeth, and then finally get them into bed. Then finish what else needs to get done (most nights), all so we can go to work the next day feeling just a bit in control of the day!
Okay, enough about me missing sleep....time to do something about it!

Cousins

Brian & Peggy (and the kiddos) came to visit before Easton and Melanie start the school year in Alamogordo. We have missed having them in town but they seem to be thriving in New Mexico.
We had a delicious lasagna dinner tonight, I wish I could figure out how grandparents always cook such good food!!! I suppose it is the years and years of feeding many that helps to prefect recipes. Brandon and Mason had a great time running around the grassy area behind Great-Grandma Dudley's house with their cousins.