4 months later.... I emerge

So, last post was Dylan's birth.  He turned 4 months last Friday.  Been busy to say the least.  If I ever have a minute to sit down, its usually to watch one of the 1,000 DVR'd shows I'll never have time to watch (cancelling that because of this reason) or to check facebook.  I want to blog more but its just not looking good, so every quarter is my new goal. 
Updates: Chuck quit his job after 6 years at the credit union.  We decided with cost of child care and him trying to finish his master's degree it would be better that he stayed home with the boys while I returned to work.  So far the boys love him being home it appears, Chuck gets frustrated with them at times (as every stay-at-home mom in the world just nodded) but think its a good arragement. 
I've been back at work for over a month now, getting back into the swing of things, catching up on what I missed but its going to get a whole lot busier soon as I take on another person's role while she goes on leave.  Not looking forward to the extra stress but that's life.
Mason started Preschool the end of August.  He goes 4x a week from 8a-11:30a.  He cries every morning but then when he gets home says he had fun.  He likes his teacher and wants to sit by him.  He's made a friend or two, and most recently told us a girl at school and him "hold hands carefully", whatever that means.  He also learned a new phrase at school "Shake your booty".  Yikes.
Dylan is growing fast.  He rolls over, coos at us, smiles, and started rice cereal last night.  I always thought parents were lying that claimed they had 'good babies' because I thought that couldn't be true.  But Dylan is a good baby.  He wakes up a few times at night to eat, then goes right back to sleep.  He rarely cries unless its for a reason (hungry, tired, wet) and he's mellow.  He loves to watch and smile at Mason, and tries to grab at him and at toys.  I think he's teething or will soon, he's chewing on everything and goes through 10 bibs full of drool a day.
Mason had his third birthday party the end of July, Angry Birds themed.  Aunt Chelsey made a great cake and he had some friends go swimming.  That same week Dylan was blessed by Chuck and all his grandparents came.
This past conference weekend we went camping in Cedar City with my mom, her husband and Chuck's dad and a family friend as well as my two sisters.  It was nice to get out of the heat and the boys did good.  We go to Utah in a couple weeks for my work, and now Dylan has travelled 3 times out of state and does well with long car rides.  Hopefully we can get him used to it because he does not like his car seat. 
Overall we're doing good, just trying to adjust to switching roles, having two kids and being on one income! I like to race home to see my boys and we are moving along. Excited for upcoming holidays, now that Mason understands Halloween and Christmas more it'll be fun. Mason already got his Red Power Ranger costume for Halloween, he's talked about being one for a month now and hasn't changed his mind so we got him the costume. We might not get him out of it! Below are some pictures from the last few months...

 

 Mason's third birthday party and awesome Angry Birds cake made by Auntie Chelsey

 Dylan's blessing

 Camping in Cedar City

Dylan Matthew's Arrival

So... we have been home from the hospital a week now.  I had a scheduled repeat cesarean on June 5th.  I am feeling pretty good, didn't really need pain meds once home and the baby is sleeping (pretty) well at night, waking every couple hours to eat then back to sleep.  That could change... I'm bracing myself for colic nights.  Mason had colic every night from about 11p-2 or 3am.  Anyway, wanted to post some pictures from our camera at the hospital, lots of the pics from my phone are on my facebook page.  Here is Dylan's birth:

 This is how awesome you look 9 months pregnant at 5:30am.  Getting ready to get the IV in, blood tests done and drink that anti throw up stuff that makes you throw up.

 Minutes before the delivery, Chuck is suited up and ready to go. 

 Here is Dylan Matthew Smith, just seconds old.

 Daddy cutting the umbilical cord.  I watched from the operating table I was on.  Don't mind the bucket of bloody rags behind Chuck.  That's mine.

 Me meeting Dylan and kissing him.  Don't mind the doctor's hands to the right sewing me together.

 The nurses asked Chuck how much Dylan would weigh, he said 7 lb 14 oz.  Guess who was right on the money?  Dylan was 7lb 14oz and 19.25 inches long.  Just 3oz bigger and .75 inch longer than Mason.

 Hello world!  All dressed and ready to come see me in the recovery room.

 In the recovery room with mom, this hospital (St. Rose Siena) keeps the baby with you at all times, and allows you to start feeding them right away.  The nurses were all wonderful too.

 Holding grandma's hand.

 Grandma Rhodes (Meemo) and Dylan, just about a half hour old.

 Later that morning Mason came up to the hospital to meet Dylan.  Here he is taking off his hat to check out his hair.  Dylan has a full head of dark hair, Mason was bald for a year and blond.  The baby "brought" Mason a gift.  A Power Ranger toy and Angry Birds shirt.  We were hoping he'd warm up to him this way.

 Aunt Chelsey stopped by on her lunch break to meet her second nephew.

 Aunt Vanessa stopped by to visit.

 Uncle Carson came over after work to meet the new lil guy.

 Mason checking out Dylan the second day, he kissed his head but is resistant to hold him.

 Great Grandma Seki (Chuck's grandma) came the second day to visit.  Aunt Nikki also stopped by (we didn't get a photo) and Keresa Whitney and two of her sons (no photo either)! 

 Grandpa Perry with Dylan, Grandma Nancy came too, forgot a photo as well as Grandpa and Grandma Wiley, again, I wasn't really thinking clearly and forgot to grab pics!

 All dressed and ready to go home, he doesn't like his car seat and his feet and hands were blurry from moving so much.

 Second day home, ready to go to his doctor's appointment.

This picture is out of order but this is the second day at the hospital.  I felt pretty good because they let you shower and get up and you can change into your own clothes and feel human somewhat.  I got sicker after this csection, nauseated for a few hours after but the recovery has been good.  A week later you feel pretty good, just tired and sore.  Chuck took two weeks off work so he's been home with us to help with Mason, which has been great.  He's taken Mason on outings and played with him while me and Dylan catch up on sleep, and allows me to feed Dylan and shower in peace.  Nervous that he goes back to work next week and I'll have two boys all day by myself!  We are glad Dylan arrived safe and healthy, he's been a joy!

Really behind...

I haven't blogged since before Christmas.  Oops.  Been busy.  Always busy.  Since Christmas we had lots of birthdays, went to Sea World/San Diego Zoo in March, Easter, went to Provo for a few days for my work, more birthdays, had a surprise baby shower, my sister's college graduation and mother's day.  Maybe I'll go back and blog about some of the holidays and trips but wanted to post some pictures from this weekend (at least they'll be current, right?) and Chuck's birthday.  Then I probably won't blog for like 5 years because in 3 weeks we are having our second baby.  Yup, we will see ;-)  I tried right?

 Chuck had his 30th birthday on April 30th.  He refused to have a party or do anything or go anywhere.  So this is us 'not' having a party.  It was a Sunday dinner with family that happened to have some 30-themed items.  Chuck got to order wrestling, which I hate since its on twice a week anyway I don't see the need for the pay per view show too.  We had dinner, gifts and dessert for his non-party party.

 May 12th my younger sister Chelsey graduated from UNLV with her Bachelor's in Arts!  She worked very hard the last few years and graduated Magna Cum Laude, she thinks her GPA was 3.8ish.  We had a celebratory brunch, then went to her grad then afterward met for dinner and had a surprise of about 30 of her friends and their families meet at the restaurant.  It was a fun day and so glad she accomplished her goal!

This is mother's day, May 13th right before church.  I have like 2 or 3 pictures pregnant so we snapped one on the way out the door.  Not that anyone wants to take pictures pregnant, you feel like a house.  I'm about 36 weeks here, having a csection at 39 weeks so 3 weeks to go!  Mason is 2 years 9 months here and has a cracker in his mouth.  Mason woke me up by screaming "Happy Mother's Day!" so it was a good day!

Thanksgiving and Tree Decorating

For Thanksgiving we lounged around in the morning then went to Meemo's house for dinner.  There was WAY too much food and we ate it for a week.  After eating with my siblings there, we went to Papa Perry's house for dessert.  Mason loves seeing his cousin Brayden and had fun playing. 

We did NOT go Black Friday shopping, you couldn't PAY me to do that.  I did do some shopping online, got all the SAME doorbuster deals with free shipping!  Then we did some online shopping for Cyber Monday, free shipping as well and don't have to leave the home which is great with morning sickness and a two year old, who wants to fight crowds?  We did some more shopping the next weekend and are almost done, this is probably the earliest I've been almost done shopping but most of it was online.  I need a few more gifts for those hard to shop for people, but luckily drew names for siblings so that makes it easier.  

On Dec 3rd we went to Chuck's work to see Santa.  We were the only ones there, so Mason spent lots of time with Santa, he wouldn't sit on his lap, but did talk to him and let him hold his blanket (which he doesn't do with just anyone!)  However, I sat on Santa's lap WITH him, much to my horror.  I told Santa I'd break him (he looked great, real beard, but was a smaller man with a stuffed belly) and he leaned over and said "honey, these knees are titanium, take a sit".  Mason asked Santa for a new car, and when he got home got out his crayons and drew several pictures of cars for Santa.  We've never really talked about Santa but he caught on REAL quick that Santa will bring him gifts, after Santa gave him a toy frog and candy cane.  The kid literally would be happy with a hot wheels car for Christmas, so he's really easy to shop for this year.

On Sunday the 4th after church we FINALLY put up the tree, it was planned to be done Thanksgiving weekend but didn't work out.  We put on a Christmas movie, had baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies before and then decorated the tree together. 

Below are some pictures from Thanksgiving and putting up the tree, unfortunately we forgot the camera when Mason saw Santa, bummer!  Chuck got a pic on his phone though.  We're excited for lots of parties at work, church, and family's homes.  Unfortunately Chuck woke me up from my nap this afternoon telling me we got a call to speak in Church next Sunday!  Gah!  I hate public speaking SO bad!  That's why I play the piano so I can sit behind it and no one will bother me!  Oh well, its only a few minutes as long as I don't pass out it'll be a success. 

 Mason at Thanksgiving dinner at Meemo's.  He took a nap shortly after and looks tired!

 Found Mason in the bathroom, his face was covered in candy cane and he was washing up and making faces.

 Helping put up the tree, he was fascinated with all the little lights.

 Vader and Mandy got haircuts, she walked away from the photo, but they were watching us decorate.

 Mason posing with his truck, he would not take a picture without it.

 Mason came up to the camera to make a 'funny face'.  He put his truck to 'sleep' under the tree.

 Checking out the ornaments, we only broke one this year (that means a trip to Hobby Lobby to replenish right?)

 He was saying "night night truck" and put it to sleep.  Thanksgiving weekend we put up the Nativity on top of the wall unit.  That's my favorite Christmas decoration and Mason was gentle with the baby Jesus and other porcelain figurines.  I just hope he doesn't break anything by throwing toys/balls int he house! 

JDRF 5K Walk and Suprise Party Nov 19th 2011

I've probably mentioned before, my youngest sister, Vanessa, was diagnosed around her 16th birthday this year with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes.  Good news is she's doing really well, takes care of herself and is not injecting insulin anymore!  She's on a cool new pump and some of us may, or may not, call her Vanessa 2.0.  As a joke.  Basically the pump is like a pancreas and she tells it how much insulin she needs.  This means she doesn't have to have 5 or more shots a day.  Anyway, her boyfriend is also Type 1 and his family invited our family to do a walk with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Chuck wasn't feeling well so I took Mason and we did the 5K walk at UNLV.  It was pretty fun, but I see why people have BRIGHT colored matching shirts, there was 4,000 people there.  We got lots of cool free stuff from Vendors there and had lunch after the walk.  Later in the day (after our naps, we were tired!) we went to Papa Perry's surprise 50th Birthday party and Retirement party.  He had lots of friends and family come and we pulled off the surprise!  Here are pics from the walk and the party.

 Getting geared up and ready to walk!  Mason wore a few of these throughout the walk.

 Vanessa and her boyfriend in their matching Sadie's shirts.

 Mason and Aunt Vanessa getting ready for the walk, Nessa and Jacob's team was the "Diabetic Duo" and they raised about $1,000 between them for research!

 My dad, me, Mason, my mom, Vanessa and Jacob before starting the walk.

 The mob of people at the starting line, Vanessa holding her sign

 Us walking, somehow I got the sign and mason played in his stroller, luckily there were a lot of dogs there he could watch while walking the 3 miles.

 Eating lunch after the walk, Mason did such a good job we'll do it again next year!  With a double stroller this time!

 Perry walking in to his surprise party, the Cassidy's gave him an inflatable walker to help him get in the door.

 Chuck with some long time family friends, the Henderson's.

 Mason trying out a truck on Papa's head.  Its the perfect shape.

Papa opening cards, the kids 'helped' bring him presents!