More Pics...

...since I can only upload 5 per post. Still haven't figured it out. :( See my post below for an update on the boys.

First time sitting in the front together. I usually only try to go while Ethan is at school but it wasn't so bad with both of them. :)

I have to entertain Mason in the highchair while I cook.

Ethan after his Mardi Gras parade at school. You can see from his shirt that he also enjoyed some King cake!

Moms' group trip to the fire station. I love that Ethan is front and center. He was INTO it!

My little loves on Valentine's Day. Check out Ethan wearing that same heartbreaker shirt back in 2010. http://www.thegobars.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html Gotta love hand-me-downs.

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Life these Days

Mason in his new "cage", as it is lovingly referred to.

Both boys in the "cage". Ethan likes to play in there with his brother.

Ethan after a haircut. He always remembers to ask for a lollipop!

I like this pic-Mason is wondering what Ethan is doing in his crib!

"Hi Mommy"

Mason is all over the place-even got "kicked" out of the baby room at church because of his "all overness". :) He is pulling up and standing on everything but no steps yet. He won't officially turn 9 months because there is no 30th of February. :( I guess this is the only year that it will matter. I take him to the Dr. on March 5th for his 9 month well-check visit....along with big brother for his 3 year old visit.

Ethan is still working on potty training. He spent all day last Monday in underwear; we even ventured out to the mall and the drugstore and he went to the potty both times while we were out. But he goes to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on goes the diaper since he still isn't telling us he has to go. I just have to be proactive in taking him to the potty. I definitely don't want his teacher to have to take him all the time just to see if he has to go; she has too many other things to do. So we may try with the underwear over Spring Break to see if he has a revelation!

8 Months and Ethan update

Mason is 8 months old now and the words that come to mind are CONSTANT MOTION! Seriously, the only time he is ever still is when he is sleeping. A good thing, I suppose, as he is learning to be more independent but it sure makes it harder to keep up with him! He is such a smiley baby and makes us laugh all the time. We love you, baby!

At 8 months, Mason:
-has 2 teeth (bottom middle) and getting more we think
-weighs 19 lbs!!
-had his first fever/cold and went to the Dr. to rule out an ear infection, especially since we had so many issues with Ethan's ears. No infection, though!
-started pulling up on furniture/his crib
-started eating puffs and baby mum mums
-is better able to sit in a high chair at restaurants and in the front of the grocery cart without wobbling
-enjoys being read to more instead of just eating the pages
-is happiest on the floor rather than cooped up in the exersaucer or jumperoo

Here are some recent pics-all taken with my phone. Really need to do better at pulling out my good camera. Seems as though all of them are of the back of his head!

Learning how to crawl up the stairs. We don't have a baby gate but want to teach him how to do it (always supervised, of course). This is what we did with Ethan and he was really good at the stairs at an early age.


just exploring

checking out the closet

My babies playing!

what a big boy at the grocery store! (Ethan was at school).

Most of my posts lately have been about Mason so let's do an Ethan update!

Ethan is really enjoying preschool and is making lots of friends! He goes twice a week from 9-2. He is a good big brother, always wants to see Mason and play with him. We are working on sharing toys ;)

He will be 3 next month which makes me want to cry. My baby is growing up!! He talks in full sentences now and we have lengthy conversations, especially in the car. He always makes me laugh with that he says. We have been doing better using the potty. I made him a sticker chart-maybe pics to come in another post. He is excited to earn stickers so that's been motivating him. We are definitely not ready to be in underwear yet, but getting closer. I know that he can do it, he just isn't there yet.

I thank God for my 2 little blessings everyday and I'm so thankful to be their Mommy. :)

Time to Lower the Crib?

Ummmmm, YES!

I was getting the boys ready for bed...went to help Ethan brush his teeth and came back to this! Wow, didn't think he was strong enough to pull himself up yet. :)

Mason-7 months!

Mason turned 7 months the day before New Years Eve. We were out of town for 4 days for a wedding in New Orleans and when we came back, he looked huge to me! He definitely went through a growth spurt recently, as he is eating nonstop! What a sweet boy he has turned out to be-we love you so much, Masey!

Here's what my little man is up to this month:

• still army crawling but is so fast! (see video)


• got his FIRST TOOTH at the end of December (bottom right)


• sleeps from 6:30 pm-6:30 am...trying to get him to go later at night so he will sleep in but he won't have it!


• in 9 month clothes


• eats solids 3 times a day and has a bottle 4 times a day


• is now completely weaned and on formula...sad and happy at the same time for Mommy


• 2 naps a day


• loves to read books (chew on them) and go for walks in his stroller


• starting to be able to play with Ethan more-he loves his big brother!

Christmas 2011

Santa came!

Disney World

I'm a little behind on my posts...trying to catch up! We went to Disney World with the boys in mid-December for 6 days. It was all Jake's idea-as I was super nervous to take a 6 month old and a 2 year old on a plane and to a crazy theme park! We ended up having a GREAT time though-with the help of my mother-in-law and sister-in-law who came to help us out with Ethan and Mason.

The flight went better than expected! Ethan just watched cartoons with his headphones the whole time and Mason slept for about an hour. We finally got to our hotel around 7 pm that Sunday so we quickly ate dinner and put the kids to bed. We had 2 pack-n-plays in our bedroom so they didn't disturb Jake's mom and sister when they woke up at the crack of dawn-which they did. Everyday. :(

The next day we hit the ground running-we made it to The Magic Kingdom right as it opened and Ethan's very first ride was Dumbo's Flying Elephant ride with Mommy! It rained that morning but luckily we brought ponchos! We went back for naps and then went to Epcot that night.

Over the next 3 days, we went to The Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and saw Epcot and The Magic Kingdom again. Ethan got to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. It was exciting to see Ethan having so much fun. That was probably my favorite part of the trip-just watching Ethan having a blast!! :)

Mason did ok-but he wasn't very content in his stroller-he enjoys crawling around on the floor and playing with toys....so we had to pass him around a lot. But he did get to go on lots of slow rides and he liked looking around at all the lights.

We will definitely be going back. Jake said he would like to take the kids every couple of years. If you are thinking about going, December was a great time to go. The weather was great-not too hold or cold. We went before kids were out for the holidays so there weren't very many people there. And the best part was that it was decorated so pretty for Christmas!

We had a blast and it was indeed magical! :) Here are a few of my fav pics from the trip:

I love his expression! That kid wore his Mickey Ears the entire time! :)

Pretty Christmas lights!

Getting to meet MICKEY!!!!!

Both boys were OUT!! They were so tired-but we kept on trucking anyway.

The castle at Magic Kingdom.