Time is really flying! 6 months

When I went back to work, I knew I wouldn't have much time for blogging or anything else for that matter other than going to work and then taking care of my sweet Mason in the afternoon/evenings. And I was totally right!!! So sorry to anyone who likes to read my blog...it's really had to take a back seat to life.
I cannot believe I've already been back to work for 3 months!! I was so worried that time would go by so slow while at work, but it really doesn't. Time is going by so fast! Which is good and bad at the same time. On one hand, I want to savor every infant moment with Mason, but on the other hand, I want this school year to be over so I can be home with him all day long.

The past month has been so much fun as he gets older. He is now 6 months old!! So crazy to think that in just 6 more months, he'll be a year old!

These are pictures from a little over a month ago that my wonderful friend, Erin, took while we had a playdate with Mason's best friend Lexi.

Mason is just so fun these days. I have a ton of pictures on my camera that I'm going to upload tonight and then hopefully blog about this week. Until then....his 6 months stats are...

Weight-  17 lbs 9 oz      75%
Height-    28 in.             95%
Accomplishments this month-  Rolling all over the place, two new teeth (bottom), almost crawling, and loves to rattle all of his toys. He's so cute when he's up on his knees and hands rocking back and forth. He's going to learn how to move those knees here pretty soon and crawl all over the place! For now, I will cherish the times when he can stay put in one room and play on the floor without exploring everywhere.

Holidays

Christmas this year was so much fun with little Mason. We went to The Woodlands to visit my family. It was extra special because my brother Scott is home from his mission....so we had EVERYBODY there!! I don't have much time to write a whole lot, due to Mason's nap being very close to being over....so here are pictures documenting the wonderful occasion.

On Christmas Eve. So excited that Santa will visit him soon!

Christmas day. Such a sweetie!

Laughing with Grandma

My cute brother and his wife, Chloe.

All the Trammel/Minium kids PLUS Mason

Family photo

Being silly with mom one afternoon.

I can eat my hand and take off my sock all at one time!

Random pictures of Mason's 4th month...

I'm really not sure what I talked about before I had a baby.

This past month has flown by so fast!! I went back to work on November 4th and now it's already December! I'm glad the days are going by fast so that it is closer to summertime and spending time with my little man, but it's also sad because his little baby days are going by so quickly. I want to cherish every sweet moment and every smile while he's so little....hence all of the pictures....

This month, my good friend Hillary came to visit us. She lived next door to us in College Station and we became great friends. I miss her so much! She lives in Tennessee now and is loving life up there, but I still wish we lived closer.



Just hanging with mom.




Look how high my head/neck can go now!



Mason and his dad right before going to church a few Sundays ago.

The next ones are super cute. This was after church one day and Mark was watching football (I mean, what else do you watch on Sunday???) Mason really likes to watch football for some reason. I don't think he actually has a preference for it, but Mark thinks he does.....

Enjoying some football.



Had to sit up when it got intense!!!



"Hey mom...stop taking pictures!!!"

Thanksgiving in Canyon and Baby Blessing

For Thanksgiving, we drove to Canyon, TX to spend the holiday with Mark's family. We were considering flying there since it is a 6 hour drive, but we ended up just driving. If you have an infant and are considering drive longer than 3 hours, let me just give you a little advice....DO NOT attempt the drive.... spend the money and fly. It took us 9 hours to get there and 8 to drive back. I suppose some babies don't mind being in their car seat, but Mason is stubborn and really doesn't like sitting in his seat when he's not sleeping. It was worth the long drive to see our family, but in the future I think we'll just fly.

We had a great time visiting with his parents as well as Mark's sister, Stephanie and her 2 girls. Unfortunately, my bro-in-law and his family got sick with the flu and couldn't make it. We were so sad that they weren't able to come, especially because we haven't even met their newest addition, Owen, since he was born. Hopefully we'll see them sometime in the spring. We had lots of yummy food, had family pictures done, and just had fun playing with the kiddos.

While we were there, Mark gave Mason his baby blessing. He did a great job and it was just perfect. My parents were able to come up for the blessing as well!!



Grams (Helen) and Ashley




Stephanie with her two pretty girls



Such a sweetie. We had just had family pictures done and he was so tired afterwards.

Best buds!

Ashley LOVED taking pictures with my camera. We had several "picture parties" where I'd let her walk around the house taking pictures of everyone. This is one she snapped of us....and it turned out pretty cute.

Right after we had his baby blessing

All the family that was there for his blessing. My parents are on the far right. They drove up the day before so that they could be there for his blessing.

Aunt Stephanie and little Mason.

I took this right before we left on Saturday. Ella LOVED Mason's paci's. In fact, we called her the "paci police." She loved holding them and carrying them around the house. When Mason had one in his mouth, she would press on it to make sure it stayed in his mouth. It was so sweet and cute!! She definitely loves her some paci!!

Not sure why this is sideways, but it''s a sweet one of Mason. Love him so much! He looks so big!! Can't belive he is going to be 4 months next week!!

Thankful....

I am so thankful for my beautiful family!! Mason has brought so much joy to our lives and words cannot express how thankful we are for him!!

Other things we are thankful for....

1. My wonderful mom who is taking care of Mason while I go back to work. She lives in Houston and comes up during the week to watch him. It's absolutely THE best situation for Mason. I am so grateful for her help and my dad and sister who are sharing her with me for these few weeks.

2. Mark's family for hosting Mason's baby blessing this past week at their house. It was wonderful!

3. Supportive friends and family.

4. Our beautiful new home.

5. Our jobs.

And #6....just thankful for the all blessings we've received this year....healthy baby and happy family.

3 months old on Nov. 4th

Cutie pie!

Playdates and Hanging with Mom

The past two weeks I've really tried to take advantage of my free time and we have visited with Mason's two best friends, Alexis and Avery. Yes, they are girls and I anticipate some competition for his attention in the future.

I didn't get the best pictures of these playdates, but here's what I was able to get...

Hanging out at Avery's house playing with her toys! I'll probably be getting one of these for Christmas!

Little Lexi came to visit last week and took a spin in our swing. She has the exact same one, so she felt right at home. I love this pic because our dog Sadie is just watching from above :)

I also took advantage of our last few days at home by taking lots of cute pictures!! He doesn't look too interested...it's as if he's saying "Ok, mom...enough already...everyone knows how cute I am"



Melts my heart!



Being silly!

Look at the sweet smile:)

I went back to work today and it was seriously THE hardest thing I've done! I'm so glad this day is over and that I got through it. I really didn't think I'd be productive at all today, but I actually was. I was able to work with my long-term sub to get me caught up a little, but I have  A LOT to learn still for this new position. Luckily, little Avery's mommy was the teacher of my class last year, so I can always call her and ask questions!

Hopefully every day will get a little bit easier. Knowing my mom is at home with him makes it easier for me as well. It's the next best thing to his own mommy! Stay tuned for more updates on how being a working mommy is!!

Pumpkin Patch and Mason's 1st Halloween

Yay! I love Halloween. I'm not really into the scary and gross stuff, but the fun, kid stuff. I love watching the old Halloween movies I watched as a child.....Disney's Halloween Treat, Casper, Hocus Pocus, Simpson's Treehouse of Horror I, and Ichabod and Mr. Toad (Sleepy Hollow). My cousin Dawn gave Mason a cute Halloween Sleeper, so he wore it alot!! Here is a pic of how cute it is....

Mark's mom came into town for the weekend to help me with a few projects before I go back to work and to spend Halloween with us!! On Saturday we went to the Pumpkin patch and Mason got his first pumpkin. It was so bright outside so we are all squinting in these pictures.

**Notice that he is wearing The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown onesie. I absolutely love all things Charlie Brown, so when I saw this onesie I had to buy it! So sad that he'll never fit into again!



This is an awful picture of me, but it's the only picture I got with Helen, my mother-in-law. The sun was shining right into our eyes. Even Mason turned his head cause it was so bright.



Erin made this adorable onesie for Mason. I love it!! so cute! Erin-you're going to have to make some kind of Christmas one for him too!!

This is Mason on the morning of his first Halloween!! He seems super excited doesn't he???



This is not related to Halloween , except that I had a Dr. appt ON Halloween. I never had a picture taken of Mason with my Dr. that delivered him! So i snapped a quick one while we were there. I love Dr. Axline! He's the best Dr.! I'm kind of sad that I won't have to go back there for a year for my next visit. After going in SO much when you're preggo, it's weird not to be going in all the time.