Stetsons and Stilettos

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Last night Drew and I got the opportunity to venture out and attend the annual Livestock Committe Gala and Auction - Stetsons and Stilettos. Proceeds benefit the Livestock Committee Junior Exhibitor and Awards Programs. We bid on several items in the silent auction but literally, got outbid at the last second, and the live auction for the big ticket items is always fun. Hunting trips, diamond bracelets, and chute seats for the Jonas Brothers concert were just a few of the things auctioned during the live auction that brought in big bucks! Needless to say, it was nice to get dressed up and out and about. We had a great time. My mom came down to watch the boys.

Ian & Gran C

Time Flies

Today Mason had his two year checkup. He currently weighs 28.5 pounds (50th percentile) and is 36.5 inches tall (90th percentile). The doc said that he looks great. He had to get just one shot today, and it was hard because he could actually articulate, "It huuuurrrrts!"

Ian also went in for his 6 month checkup and immunizations. He currently weighs 15 pounds 12 ounces (25th percentile) and he is 27.5 inches long (90th percentile). He only began eating rice cereal a couple of weeks ago, and he was only getting one serving a day until this week. Doc says he looks great too, and I'm confident he'll pack on the pounds as he begins to eat more solids.

As I look at both Mason and Ian I can hardly believe how quickly they are changing. I've posted short videos of photos of the boys from just the past year. They have both changed so much.

Mason's 2nd Year

Ian's First 6 Months

Whose kid is this?

Terrible twos - oh I won't have to worry about that - not with Mason anyway, he's so laid back. Boy was I WRONG! He is very much into asserting some authority these days, and on more days that not I am emotionally and physically drained!! I know what I'm supposed to do - I did get paid to teach people how to parent at one time. I'm finding out just how clueless I really was. So I'm trying my best to give him more age appropriate power - milk or juice, red shirt or blue shirt, spiderman or batman pjs, etc. etc. etc. Once he sets his mind to something he is like a wild mustang that can't be broken. It's like a switch went off when he turned two. It really began at Christmas when he began proclaiming, "Mine" or "Mas'." He has come to the conclusion that every toy in the house is his, and doesn't really like sharing with this brother yet. He'll take toys from Ian just to take them - he'll have no intention of playing with them. He'll just take them and throw them (something else he never used to do).

The other day we loaded up as a family and drove to Bellville to pick up the deer that Drew had processed at Bellville Meat Market. On the way we passed a drive-in theater that actually still shows new releases so we decided to check it out. It's called The Showboat Drive In Theater and it's in Hockley off of FM 2920. We took the deer meat back home, and changed the boys into their pjs, and headed over to see Marley and Me. Yeah, we have a way to see the movies without having to stress about a sitter - or so I thought.

Mason was HORRIBLE! He screamed the entire time. He wanted to drive (sit in Drew's lap and play with the steering wheel) that was fine, but then he wanted to play with the windshield wipers and headlights. Not cool! We had packed some toys for him to play with and had folded down the back seats of the Expedition so that he had a play area, but it was too dark for him to play back there. And the dome light was too bright to turn on - it would have bothered those around us. Of course, we have flashlights that would've been perfect for him, but they were all at home. At one point, Drew even tried to take him for a walk but that didn't help either. I could hear them as they got closer to the vehicle. I must admit that he hadn't had a nap earlier that day since we had been out and about, and that was probably the root of the problem. We haven't completely given up hope of enjoying a movie at the drive-in, but next time we will be much better prepared! And in the meantime, I will continue to pray that my sweet baby boy's disposition returns!

At Grammy's house on Christmas Eve - sporting the fairy wand and Mickey cap.

Those dreaded pengs!

We stayed at my mother's house for Christmas this year and let me remind you that her bedroom is currently decorated in penguins for the holidays. Mason loves to follow his Gran C throughout the house, and did so one afternoon shortly after we got there. Now when I say her room is decorated in penguins keep in mind that she has like two dozen 10 inch penguins on her tree alone, a few 18 inch penguins scattered about, and two 3 foot tall penguins (one of which is close to her bedroom door). Well, Mason accidentally bumped into one of the big penguins, and in his little two year old mind he came to the conclusion that the penguin bit him! He began declaring that the "pengs" (as he calls them) are bad and they bite. I thought maybe if he could hold one of the baby "pengs" he would be okay, but it was a no go. We even tried showing him the penguin having fun in the firetruck, and even let him see Ian holding it. This elicited a strong reaction as well. "Ian, pengs! Pengs bite. Pengs bite. IAN!!" He was terrified to go near any of them for most of the week. Finally, at the end of the week he wanted to see the baby penguin but not touch it. I must say that they are very weird feeling so it may be a textural thing. He would, however, hit it with his toy cars, and laugh maniacally while doing so! He will still occasionally mention the pengs, especially if I'm talking to mom on the phone! I'm hoping he doesn't forever associate them with her.

Baby pengs like to drive the firetruck!

Ian has no problems with the pengs!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mason!

Mason turned two years old while we home for the holidays. Because he and his cousin, Bella, share the same birthday, and we knew we'd be pinched for time, we decided to have a joint birthday party with the family for them. She had a Strawberry Shortcake theme and Mason had a Blue's Clues theme. He's very much into Blue's Clues these days.

Cakes & Cookies done by Carrie in Beckville.

Mason's cake was adorable, and I assume it tasted good.
I didn't even get a piece! I do know that the cookies were delicious!

A Very Merry Christmas

Here are a few pics of the boys from Christmas. We went to Carthage to spend Christmas with our families, and had a great time, with the exception of the stomach bug Drew and I picked up on our last day. Good times!

Ian was all smiles most of the weekend

Mason was very much into opening presents this year.

Helping to clean up after the festivities

Drawing with his cousins Ashlynn & Bella