Thanksgiving 2012

Sarah & Reese (2), Jamie & Mason (2)

Mason & Reese Visit the Zoo!

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Mason is 2 already!!!

Mason is 2!!!!  So....is this the terrible twos???  Yikes!!!!  We had a fun weekend of celebrating! On Friday (Mason's actual birthday), we went out to dinner at Mellow Mushroom for some pizza then came home for cake.  Then Sunday we enjoyed a nice family birthday party.  He got some fabulous presents including a Harley Davidson big wheel (thanks, Aunt Sarah!), a motorized motorcycle (thanks, grandma & papa and aunt Kelly & gang), Ohio Bobcats clothes (thanks, grandma & grandpa) and more!

It's amazing how much can happen in the two short years of a little one!  While Mason has been a challenge for us in many ways (hehehe!!), he has also caused laughter, joy, and much happiness in our lives!  He continues to be curious, destructive, strong, and a definite BOY.  But he is also very happy, friendly and kind.  I yelled out "ouch" the other day when I cut myself with a knife and he came over and said "Mommy, are you ok?"!!  When I'm walking him in the stroller, and he sees neighbors outside, he waves and yells "Hi, I'm Mason!"!!  He runs up and hugs some of the moms that wait outside Mya's school every day.  He says many more words than I can even count, and sentences too.  It's still a little hard for other people to understand him, but I'm hoping his speech will improve quickly.

He was so consistent with his afternoon naps while Mya was at school, then all of a sudden a couple weeks ago, around 10AM, he started telling that he wanted to go to bed.  So now he will wake up around 7:30, take a nap from 10-Noon and be up the rest of the day.  He uses up so much energy in the morning, that I guess he needs an early nap!!!

Height: 38.5" (99%)
Weight: 37 lbs (99%)

We love you, Mister!!!

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Reese visits Mason & Mya

While Sarah was out of town last weekend, Reesie got to spend the day with us!!!  She is such a doll!  Mya and I missed her soooo much when she left. (MR was asleep when I took most of these pictures!)

Mason is 23 Months!!!

Wow, MR is almost one!!!!

He is a little red-faced in this pic because he had been crying about something but yet wanted me to take his picture!!!

I can't believe this is my last post before he finishes his second year of life!!!!  We have seen such a huge change in him the last few weeks.  First of all, he talks sooooo much more now!!  I just can't believe how quickly he went from saying only a few words to saying at least 100 or more words and even phrases and short sentences.  I'm going to try to remember some of my faves so I have documentation: sissy's at school, I don't know, where is it, I'm not a monkey, and night night mommy love you.  He also sings along to many of the Nick Jr. songs, which is exactly like what Mya did!!!

He is still busier than ever!! I still have to clean up toothpaste out of the carpet, wash my white sheets and comforter waaaaay more than I need to because of dirty fingers touching them, and the destruction of electronics and other valuables continues!!  But it's just "stuff," and is all replaceable.  He is a very, very happy guy and loves people.  He says hi to little kids almost everywhere we go, waves goodbye to strangers, and warms up to other moms outside Mya's school very quickly (we usually arrive a little early so I can socialize with everyone!!!).

I ordered him a new pair of athletic shoes the other day in a 9W.  Mya wears an 11, so I can almost see him passing her by the time winter rolls around!!!  Yikes!!!  Is this boy going to slow down his super-sized growth spurt soon??!!!  I don't get much time away from the house by myself, but when I do, Mason always come screaming "Mommyyyyyyyy!!!" in the happiest voice ever!  You'd think I'd been gone for months!!  I love it!!!
My Mister is almost 2!  Wow, thank you Lord for this strong-willed child that I prayed specifically for over 2 years ago.  I can't imagine my life without him!!!

(P.S. Speaking of Strong-Willed, I have started reading a book by Dr. James Dobson titled The Strong-Willed Child......I hope to finish it by Mason's 2-year birthday and will share my thoughts on it!!)

Mason is 22 Months!!!

Another month has gone by, and Mason is closer to his second birthday!  We've had a busy summer including our big vacation to Virginia Beach a couple weeks ago.  Mason wasn't as excited about the ocean or the pool as I had expected...he had more fun getting into all the stuff at the hotel.  One day, he pulled a watermelon out of the fridge (talk about strong!!!!) and another day he came out with Grandpa's electric shaver in his hand (Yikes!!!)!!  He took most of his naps in his stroller.  It got soooo hot by the end of the week, that we kept him inside most of the time during the day.

He is starting to use more phrases now....Here You Go, Thank You, I'm Sorry, and copies most of what we say!  He weighs 36 lbs (Mya weighs 40!!) and wears 3T shirts and shorts and 2T pants.  He is somewhat of a bully to sissy....he pulls her hair and tackles her!!!  It's all in fun of course!!!  He is very strong-willed and when he doesn't get his way, he cries....VERY loudly!! If we hold his hand to take him someplace he doesn't want to go, he will just sit himself down! I have been reading up on how to handle this type of child, so my approach is different these days.  The good news is that usually this personality ends up to be very successful in life, as they are determined and won't give up!!! Hmmmm....maybe the NFL???

Mya starts kindergarten on Aug 17th!!!!  Wow, it makes me cry just to type that!!  She is so excited!  I had never expected that she would enter kindergarten already reading so well.  In fact, she took one of her favorite books, Caps for Sale, to Sunday School and read it to our whole class and they were so attentive to her!  I get asked by moms what I am doing or what I've done to teach her to read.  Truthfully, I haven't done much of anything except read to her!!  She has always had an interest in books and writing, so in Preschool, she continued to soak up all the knowledge.  And I think she learns a lot from Nick Jr!!!  One time she asked me about the silent "e", but that is the only time I have ever really explained to her about reading.  I guess she just figured it out?!!!!  I'm anxious for her to go to kindergarten in hopes that it will improve some of her whining and sensitivity issues, so we will see!!! Today, we are going to go shopping for school supplies!

Mason is 21 Months!!!

by Jamie

Here I am again....writing about another month gone by!!!  4th of July is over and we will be headed to the beach in a few weeks!!!  Mason is saying many more words, although I am probably the only one who can understand them (and Mya too!!).  He can now reach all the door knobs and light switches. He hates brushing his teeth.  He won't call Mya by her name....only says Sissy.  He still uses a paci at night and for naps (we gotta get rid of that thing soon!!!).  He loves the sandbox and the little roller coaster that we now keep in the great room!  He weighs almost what Mya weighs and wears a size 8 shoe and 3T tops now.  His favorite shows are Yo Gabba Gabba, Dora and the Fresh Beat Band....and sometimes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.   

Here is my latest dilemma: Usually I wake up fairly early and get myself ready before the kids wake up.  But Mason has been waking up early...before 7:00.  So I keep my makeup in a bag and then I also have a giant compact that stores all my shadows, mineral powders, bronzing and highlighting powders, and brushes.  That way,  I can carry around my makeup and put it on when Mason is eating breakfast or watching TV.  Today, Mason climbed up on the table and grabbed my giant compact.  By the time I could get to him, of course he destroyed an entire highlighting powder and my faaaaavorite eye shadow trio that was a Mary Kay limited edition from a few years back:(  I learned my lesson.....set my alarm to 6am, get ready BEFORE the kids wake up...and put away ALL my products in a safe, secure place!!!! I'm thankful for my Mary Kay 50% off discount!!

He looks so innocent, doesn't he??

(a little fun with Photoshop!!)

Mason is 20 Months...

...And Reesie isn't far behind!

by Jamie

Wow, in just 4 months, Mason & Reese will be 2!!!  Sarah had her annual end-of-school party yesterday and the kids had a blast!  http://therathbunfamilyphotos.shutterfly.com/pictures/11700

Mason (who is very particular about sleeping in his own crib) took an hour and a half nap in Reesie's crib during the party!!!  There were almost 40 kids from the neighborhood playing games, eating cake, and celebrating the beginning of summer!!!!  Way to go, Sarah, on another successful celebration! Cake, prizes, snacks....and great memories!!!!

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Mason is 19 Months!!!

Praise the Lord for the fabulous spring weather!!!  Mason loves being outside!  I got the kids a little pool that connects to a bigger pool and he loves it!  We also got a water hopscotch game that he thinks is a drinking fountain!!

Mason is 18 Months!!!

By Jamie

It's hard to believe that Mason is 18 months! He weighs 31 lbs. (97%) and is 35.5 inches (99%). He is saying more words now (more, Mya, grandpa, grandma, car, ball, and Oooo for the Ohio Bobcats O-H-I-O chant!). He rotates between two naps and one nap per day, depending on when Mya goes to school. He usually goes to bed at 8:00 and wakes up around 7:30. He continues to be soooo happy!!! He wears a size 8 shoe and mostly 2t tops. He is soooooo active, loves playing outside, and even climbed out of his crib a few weeks ago (yikes!!!).  His doctor talked about potty-training, so we have decided to get started.  We put Mya's old little pink potty in the bathroom, so he sits on it a couple times a day.  I will probably wait until summer to actively work on potty training him and Jim insists we get him a boy potty soon!  Poor Mason....our garage is full of pink cars, pink bikes, pink scooters and everything girly.  We have to start buying some outdoor boy stuff for him!!

In just 6 short months, our little Mister will be 2!!!!! ( For those who don't know, we call him Mister for his initials MR!)