Back to the Blog for a Palmer Family Update

After what's been a very busy month or so, I've finally found a few minutes to update the blog.  

As many of you know, we've just bought our first house and we're all moved in, which is NOT to say we are done unpacking.  I fear the boxes won't all be unpacked by the end of 2011!  

Daddy/Tony rolled out the tripod for a couple of family pictures in front of the house after closing.

Tony is quite the photographer...he got us all smiling at the same time!  A small victory, I say!

Mason is an eager subject in our many photography sessions.  He knows when the camera comes out it's time to smile.  He actually will make himself laugh/smile for the camera.  Wonder where he learned that from...?  ;-)

With Mason and I both being sick a time or two a piece in the month/week leading up to closing, I had to enlist the help of my mama for some last-minute packing and moving preparation.  During a break from the packing, cousin Leo came over for a visit with his mommy and daddy.  Look how sweetly Leo looks at his older cousin.  It's so cute to see him watch Mason.  He's getting so big and is very adorable.

Leo looks like he's already camera-ready like big cousin Mason.  Since all we can see is the back of Mason's head, it's hard telling if he's checking out the cell phone or his baby cousin.  Or maybe it's grandma.  Probably the cell phone, haha.  He's already technology-obssessed!

 Mason loves hanging out at the windows in the house.  When Tony's out mowing, he gets especially excited and bangs on the windows and scream/talks in an attempt to get his daddy's attention.  Boy, will it be nice when he can talk and stop the shrieky screams!  He's got a big voice, and his high-pitched screams can be hard on the ears.  They are multi-purpose screams--sometimes happy, sometimes irritated.

Daddy came up with the fun idea of putting Mason in our laundry organizer.  Mason was a BIG fan.  Tony pushed him around the kitchen, and Mason was loving it.  

He would squat down almost hidden...


and then pop up.

If I could keep the thing empty (and not half-full with laundry at all times), it might be a great baby-entertainer.  Most restricting toys (like the play pen or his exersaucer) are no longer favorite toys.  Mason likes to move...and he can't be far from walking.  He already walks along and between things as long as he has a hand on them.

Here's a picture out our front window.  I just LOVE my Japanese Maple.  The former home owners had quite a green thumb, and our landscaping is just beautiful.  It will take some work to keep it nice, but we are excited to do just that.  Maybe I'll get out and buy some plants this weekend and add a few flowers to our flower bed.  We've got so many shrubs and perennials, that there really isn't too much space to fill, so I may buy some pots.

We were happy to make it to church on Easter morning.  Daddy got up EXTRA early to make sure he was done with work in time for us to go to church as a family.  Mason was a VERY good boy at church.  We didn't get any pre-church photos, but we did get a few later that afternoon when we gave Mason his first Easter basket...had to be a sports theme!

Mason got the football-shaped Easter basket, a new fleece sleeper, and some miniature athletic balls - a couple footballs, a baseball and a basketball.

One day, he'll know just what to do with a football.  But here, you can see that Mason is looking at it a bit confused.  haha

Mason definitely knows what to do with a rattle--make lots of noise!  This wasn't part of his Easter basket (it's a rattle borrowed from Aunt Kirsten), but it's a favorite of Mason's.

Well, hope everyone is having a lovely spring!  And Happy Mother's Day to our mamas, mama friends, mama relatives, etc.

When Will Winter End?

This has been a weird weather week in the midwest.  We had a 70+ degree day and a barely greater than freezing day this week.  With the crumby weather, I suppose it was only appropriate that our poor kid would come down with a case of RSV and pneumonia.  Thankfully, he is quickly on the mend and nearly back to brand new.

Here are a bunch of pictures from the month of March...including a few from today!


Mason is a pro at standing up.  Once in a while he lets go with both hands and is able to remain standing for a short moment before kerplunking onto his diaper-laden behind!

My family came for a quick visit this past weekend.  Note the exciting new 'do Alex is sporting, courtesy of Tony.  Why they thought those lines on the side of his head were a good idea, I'll never know.

Look at those lashes...Martha and Mason's!

Happy in grandma's arms...

Checking grandpa out...

Oh, no!  Grandpa got too close!

Mason's cousin Leo isn't scared of grandpa.

Leo checks Mason out...too cute.

Getting cozy with Aunt Kirtie...

A new toy from Grandma and Grandpa!  Mason pushes it around and walks with it without falling!  Pretty impressive for 8 months old!

Mason's all-time favorite non-toy--the plastic bottle.

Uncle Al babysat for Mason for a few hours today...it was a successful arrangement!  Mason was diapered, fed and put to bed (well, nap...but I like rhyming).

And here Mason is again exhibiting his standing ability.  He's already looking like he feels great despite being home "sick" from daycare.

And for good measure, a picture of the delicious stuffed chicken breast dinner my wonderful husband prepared tonight.  He's showing me up!  I've got to break out some new dinner tricks!

Back to the Daily Grind

After a lovely week of vacation for both Tony and I, we've been back at it [boo, work] this week.  It was so nice to get to spend so many consecutive days with my guys!

During our vacation, Tony and I took Mason on what I would consider his first "major" road trip.  We went to see Grandma and Grandpa Gaines in Oklahoma.  Mason was a pretty good traveller.  The ride down was fairly uneventful with only two stops.  The way back was a bit rougher, but I think that's our fault since we left mid-morning (instead of middle-of-the-night).

Here are a few pictures of Mason, the now CRAWLING baby, during our time off.  Seven months and crawling.  I fear 9 months and walking could be a reality...eek!

Mason seems to be teething and working on some more teeth.  The teething may have made him a little less smiley than usual.  But he's always expressive.  Just check out his little facial expressions with his eyebrows.

Grandpa Gaines got some good bonding time with Mason.  Although Mason gets a case of "stranger danger" with some non-strangers who aren't seen often, Mason was content to sit with Grandpa Gaines for a good while, but not without giving him quite the funny look.

In case you're wondering who he's turning his head looking at, it's his mommy, of course.  Haha!

Grandpa time over!

Here's a few pictures of Mason getting kisses from Grandma.

While we were in Oklahoma, it became apparent that the bassinet insert in Mason's Pack n Play was no longer safe.  The little wild man was trying to pull himself up and out, so we ended up removing the bassinet in Oklahoma.  Mason enjoys playing in the Pack n Play.  Mommy enjoys it too...it allows me to worry a bit less about what he's getting into!

It was definitely a fun, restful and productive week.  Productive, you say?  How was it productive?  Well, when we got back from Oklahoma, we found a house we love and put it under contract!  Assuming inspections go well, and closing goes through [on April 15], our first home will surely be the subject of many a blog entry.  Stay tuned!