A LOOONG Thanksgiving week

Well, let me start by saying that we have had a GI bug at our house that has certainly kept me busy. Bridgette and Trav started it off the night before Thanksgiving (which was at our house), and we were up for HOURS cleaning it up and taking care of Bridgette, who was so pitiful and sweet. She kept apologizing. :( So we were exhausted that day. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving though! We had such a nice time with family. We ate and ate, then watched football and relaxed. What a great day.
The next day, we went to the Fantasy of Trees. Bri really enjoyed it, even though she was a little tired and fussy. She loved the carousel and the craft stations and trees. Mason was enamored with the lights!
Mason is basically sitting up. He tries so hard to pull himself into a seated position and when he gets there, he very easily balances himself for close to 30 seconds. It will not be long before he is sitting unassisted.
Last week, he was diagnosed with his first ear infection. :( He has been on antibiotics. he does seem to be doing better.
Travis and I are doing so great. We went to see the Nutcracker this weekend, and surprisingly we both loved it. It was really neat to enjoy the "arts" together. We definitely need to do more things like that together.
Just a quick note- I am 3 lbs away from my normal weight! YAY!! I certainly have some toning to do... :)

SO MUCH TO SAY!!!

Warning: this will be a LOOOONG one!
Bridgette has really started up with the imagination! I love it so much. She tells me that the big bad wolf or the wicked witch are trying to steal her "goodies" so she is hiding them somewhere for "safe keeping". Hilarious. She also "grrrrrs" at the witch to get her to go away. Too funny. She loves to tell me stories and read what she perceives a book to say or mean. She labels EVERY character as "he's nice" or "she's mean". She also really gets going and talks out of the side of her mouth. She bobs her head like she really means what she is saying, but she will catch my eye and grin, as if she knows she is being really cute. :) Her favorite stories right now are "The 3 Little Pigs" "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", "Jasmine (Aladdin)", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Llama Llama, Red Pajama", and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Adventures". We read them over and over.
Something hilarious she said this week: Her daddy had just woken up and was a bit groggy. He came into the living room and sat on the couch. Bridgette was so excited to see her daddy was awake and said, "Let's go to the playroom!!". Travis said "Honey, let daddy sit down for a few minutes and wake up." She quickly responded with, "There is a couch in the playroom you can sit down on." So needless to say, he got up and took her to the playroom. Too funny.
A few nights ago, Bridgette, Mason, and I were sitting on the couch watching "winnie the Pooh" and Bridgette was snuggled up to me, Mason on my lap, and Bridgette was holding Masons hand. Precious moments.
Something else Bridgette is doing is dancing a lot and gallopping around and jumping. I really hope to catch this soon on video as it is something I desperately want to remember her doing. It is so sweet and genuinely joyful.
Ok on to Mason:
He is really working his tongue around and wants to talk so badly. He watches his sister talk and he just tries to make words to tell her something back. He is also trying very hard to sit up. He pulls himself easily if you hold his hand and he just leans forward constantly. He is developing the sweetest and calmest personality. However, he can really belt it out if he is upset. It's strange to see him be so calm 90% of the time, but then scream bloody murder if he is upset. Our family has a minor cold at the moment, and he screamed something terrible this AM. I could not believe it. This has been his first cold, and for this, I am so thankful.
He is still sleeping about 5-7 hrs straight at night, with a terrific nap in the daytime, 2-3 hours. He sleeps more of course, but those are the long stretches.
I keep hearing about these babies and children who love to be in the car. Where exactly are these children???? My sweet son screamed at least an hour of our drive each way to Nashville this weekend for Mal's bachelorette party!! I got a girls night out this weekend- went to Spaghetti Factory (fabulous), then out to the Wild Horse Saloon for a little line dancing and live music. I truly had a fantastic time out with my 2 sisters and Mal's friends. Travis watched baby Mason and Mimi Kay had Bri. It was great.
Mason is still nursing very often during the day, and really has some incredible toots. I am trying to see if my diet is causing it. Whew. :)

Some Mason videos

My big boy!

Mason has made so many changes lately. He is just growing up. He holds his head up really well. He is talking all the time "ah goo" "mmmm". :) He has also started sucking his thumb pretty often! Just like big sister, who he seems to idolize :). We had his 3 month pictures taken and so far I LOVE THEM. Don't have them all back yet, though. I love that little boy so much. He holds my heart in his palm.
Bridgette has done some pretty sweet and cute things lately. She tells me that she is going to "workout" and proceeds to get on her hands and do mountain climbers. Hilarious. She also has started to cry when I leave her at Mothers Day Out...but she says that she likes school, but she just doesn't want Mommy to leave. Thankfully the teachers tell me she has a blast at school. WHEW. I really like the half day to get some things done!
Here are some of Mason's pics.

the aquarium :)

We spent a fantastic afternoon at the aquarium! I loved it, and Bridgette really loved it! :) Mason followed the jellyfish around. It was amazing how much he could see and follow. Mimi Kay went with us and played. Bridgette really was amazed by the sharks. Afterwards we went to eat at Best Italian...YUM.
I love this time of year, when the air is crisp, the leaves are gorgeous, the sun is shining. The best time of year brings the best holidays of the year! Yay Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!
Mason is smiling and cooing so much. He picks up his head and follows voices, especially mine. He is getting really good at nursing (finally) and sleeping 5-7 hours still at night, then another 2-3. It's very nice.I love my little babies.
Travis and I had a great date night at Market Square. We have so much fun together and it was much needed. :)
Last, my little Halloween pumpkins got dressed up to trick-or-treat, and Mommy got the day wrong haha (we were going to a church function and got the day wrong). So we dressed up, drove to Newport, got treats by our Buda/Sparks family, then came back home. Here are some pics of my little Minnie mouse and Buzz Lightyear. I would have assumed that a 3-6 mo costume would fit a 2.5 month old...but it was a tight little muscle shirt. WHOOPS.
Last, Bridgette decided that she was "fart" ("Smart") and I caught it on tape. HILARIOUS.

Loving life

Life is so good. I hope I always am reminded of my blessings. My family is so special to me. God has blessed us in incredible ways. Bridgette is growing up to be this sweet, loving, gentle girl. Mason smiles all the time and exhibits the sweetest disposition. Travis enjoys his job, and I feel like I was made to raise these children.
Bridgette speaks so well, and surprises us so often with what she knows. The funniest moments though are the true "rugrats" moments where she says a word that is so funny and remarkably close to the actual word-- it just makes sense to her. Her latest word that I still haven't figure out is: "gokie-gokie". Anyone? Haha. She mostly says it In reference to certain pink necklaces she has, but also refers to a teddy bear rattle as this. Hilarious.
She loves her baby brother- this am while getting ready for preschool, she wanted to be sure he was comfortable, so she brought him a toy and covered his toes with a blanket (saying "keep your tosies warm"). Kissed him then said she will miss him today. Precious girl. Then she loved on me :)
Mason is holding his head up really well when on my shoulder. He is also following my face around, then turning towards people when they talk. He smiles all of the time. Such an easy baby. He will sit in a swing and look at the mobile while I get work done. He goes to sleep on his own-- amazing. I just wish he would nurse without fussing. Why couldnt I have babies that nursed calmly and enjoyed it? Neither have. Always fussing.
We had a pleasant visit with Travis's dad, stepmother, and sister Gina this weekend. They played so much with the babies. Bridgette had a blast and was truly enamored with Pappy Jim. She just went in step with Gina and Nana Lee like she had always played with them. It was great to see them.
Travis and I had a much needed date night last night at markets square. I love that man so much. We always have such fun together-- it was nice to relax. Thanks to Mimi Nina and pawpaw Marshall for keeping the babes. :)
Tonight Bridgette is with her Mimi Kay and papaw billy. She has a blast with them. Just got back from gparents farm. I'm spending the evening loving on my son. Love having some one on one time with him. Always miss Bridgette though. Here's some pics!!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY BRIDGETTE

Well, 2 years ago 2 was the most exciting, scary, and wonderful day of my life at that point. Getting married was wonderful and exciting, but not scary to me. Having a darling daughter was all of those things and more. I was very nervous and had a difficult delivery (but a wonderful pregnancy). But when I FINALLY got to hold our sweet baby...there are no words about the level of love that I was experiencing. It was soooo good. I cried, I laughed. I was swelling inside. Travis and I felt like our life had just been completed and our love increased amazingly.
Bridgette- we are so happy and our lives are so much better now that you are here. We love you with all our hearts. Your smile and laugh makes our day. THe sweet and funny things you say are so amusing and very often way too smart! I look back over these last two years and I just wish you would have the capacity to remember some of the sweet moments. When I was nursing you late at night and it was just the two of us. Quiet and so happy. When you took your first steps. When you truly became a daddy's girl (and need to help him fix things all over the house). Reading "booka-bookas" at night. When you saw your baby brother for the first time and commented on his "little toes, little eyes, little nose" and told him you loved him. As I am writing this I am tearing up. So many good times. When you were learning to talk you would wake up and say all of your words "puppy, milk, daddy, mommy!" in no particular order haha. The first time we took you to Disney and you just were amazed by the animation. There are so many moments I cannot begin to name them all. I am just so proud of you and who you are becoming.

Ok a little about your party- you had a blast! It was Dora themed (shocking) and you LOVED the cake :). There was a singing Dora balloon that sang Happy Birthday when you touched it and that became a very fun activity for you. The amount of gifts you received was insane haha, and you have played with them all so far! You got a red trike that you have climbed all over and played with. Perhaps the most exciting part though was the bounce house we bought for the basement. you and your friend Carys Bible jumped and laughed for a very long time. You were worn out after haha.
I loved watching you :). You would jump so excitedly, then run and dive face first off the slide and scream "slide!!". Too funny. You spent the night with your Mimi Kay and PaPaw Billy. You had a wonderful time, then the next AM you went to your Grandad and Grandmoms

Aunt Momo was your first birthday phone call today. :)