Caymans and Mason Walking EVERYWHERE!!

The past week Marcus and I took a little vacation to the Cayman Islands. It was very relaxing, beautiful, but we missed our lil guy so much!! The weather was AWESOME the whole time we were there and the water was AMAZING!! While we were there we took a couple of excursions. We rode waverunners for 2 hours and went snorkeling at two different spots along seven mile beach. I have not had those pics developed from the water camera so I will have none of those to post. Then for our second excursion we took a catamaran boat out to stingray city sandbar where we fed and swam with the HUGE stingrays. I was amazed at how BIG they were. The first day at the beach at our hotel a stingray swam up to us, but it was not near as big as the ones at the sandbar!!! That was pretty amazing....the guides showed us their stingers....they did not look as bad as they are :) We also fed the Tarpons at the Wharf restaurant. Here are a few pics of our vacation! ****Did I mention....We came home a day early because we missed our lil guy so much!!!

The view from our hotel room......LOOK AT THAT AMAZING WATER!!
Being lazy on the beach!
Stand out side our hotel room on the beach....we just opened our door and we were right on the beach!! The room was GREAT!
Our lil friend (crab) we met while sitting on our porch.
The sunset at the Wharf restaurant

On the catamaran at stingray sandbar
I took this picture of the stingray from the catamaran....they were HUGE
Me holding a baby stingray
Marcus holding a Momma stingray....the girls are bigger than the males :)

Well after many international phone calls we decided to hop on a plane and come home a day earlier. It was all worth it to see my lil guy. I missed him soooo very much. I held him and kissed him all day. As I posted earlier....Mason took his first steps on Saturday the day before Father's day and now there is NO stopping him....he is walking EVERYWHERE!!! I will for sure loose the extra LB's i gained on the vacation :) chasing Mason around. Here are a few pictures of him walking. I love this boy more and more each day.....what an amazing gift I have been given, Mason, my precious son!

Mason playing with bubbles...you can hardly see them :)

"I am coming for you daddy!"
"Ok mom....are you ready cuz here I come!"
"Daddy and I will fight over this for many years to come!"
One more time....I'm a comin'
YEAH!!!! Mason! What a big boy walking :)

Packed FULL Weekend

This weekend was packed full of fun, family, and firsts. Here are a few things that went on this weekend:

1. Mason's second plane ride, but FIRST to Abilene

2. Laura's baby shower for Laney

3. Mason's FIRST steps (Yes he took 7 steps to Marcus on Saturday afternoon, but I was not quick enough to get the camera :(...I will get some since he is walking ALOT now....my running shoes are on and probably won't come off!!)

4. Marcus' First Father's Day: it was special because my parents, his parents and we got to spend time together on Saturday. Mike, Marcus' dad, cooked out steaks then we all got to whitness Mason take his first steps toward his Daddy....it was AMAZING...I was in AWE..he is only 9 months...my baby is growing up FAST!

*Here are a few fun pics of this weekend:

The new face Mason loves to make :)

With his daddy on Father's Day
Laney's Shower Hostesses
The Diaper cake my friend Kelly made
The wreath Kelly made also

On the plane back to Houston on Father's Day

The Past Month........

WOW!! It's been a LONG time since my last post!! The past month has been very relaxing yet very busy. We were gone for three weekends in a row and then for a month straight we were finally home to relax!! These past few weeks have been full even though we were home. We have relaxed at the pool, took Mason to his first Astro's game, met new friends, turned 9 months, crawling all over the place, pulling up, and even taking few steps followed by a fall on the bottom, getting his first tooth, flew for the first time......AND MUCH MUCH MORE!! These next few weeks however we will be very busy traveling AGAIN....to a baby shower, and Marcus and I to the Caymans for a little relaxation by the beach. I will miss my lil guy soooooo sooooo very much :( Here are a few pictures of the past month to show you what we have been up to! Hope to post again very soon with some other exciting NEWS!

And Down The Stretch They Come.....

I have always loved watching the Kentucky Derby to hear the announcer say "And down the stretch they come" when the horses were on their final stretch to the finish line. We watched every Saturday in May for the longest time to see the winners. I always liked to choose the horses with the best names.....even though those were usually LAST place. This year was a little different. I had a different view of the Derby. I WAS THERE!!! Marcus has been before last year when Barbaro won. One of Marcus' brokers who works for a company in Kentucky invited us down to the races, The Oaks and The Derby. It was the most amazing thing....being there in person experiencing the races. The anticipation leading up to the Derby race was so exciting. Seeing all the people in their hats and dresses was half the fun. I had my hat made by a teacher friend. She did an amazing job!! When you go to the Derby you have experience it all....even the MINT JULEPS. I did not quite know what these were, but soon discovered I did not like them. Mint Juleps are the "Drink" of the Derby. It is straight burbon with a hint of mint!! I did have to get one during the Derby race to fit in....it really was not too bad when it was watered down ;) I have been to many major sporting events....World Series games, Basketball Playoffs, Football games, but there was just something about the Kentucky Derby that will always stand out on top for me. We will be going again next year so it is something I can look forward to next May. Until then I will have to settle for the Sam Houston race tracks and making my own Mint Juleps. I guess it is a good thing it is only once a year.....we were not so lucky with picking the horses to win....we LOST :) The number 7 horse won ALL weekend!! Good thing we picked up on that and bet that Street Sense (the #7 horse)would win the Derby and HE DID!! That was about the only race we won!! On a sad note, we did not get to see the Queen or any stars. Darn :( Maybe next year :) Here are a few pics of the eventfull weekend.

The ooohhhh soooo yummy Mint Juleps :)

Port Aransas

This past weekend Mason had his first trip to the beach. We went to visit Marcus' parents for his mom's birthday. Marcus' parents own a condo in Port A. We have visited there since we were in college. It is a fun place to relax in the sun. Mason will visit Port A many more times in his life!! At first we thought the weather was going to be cloudy and rainy, but Saturday turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. We took Mason to the pool for his first swim, except the water was WAYYYY too cold for him to swim. I would stick his feet in.....he did not know what to think. I can't wait till the water warms and we can swim all day long. Daddio and Ganny-D took him for a walk on the beach and stuck his feet in the sand......the boy LOVES his walks outside.

I'm ready for the beach Mom!!

Mason loved the breeze from the coast while we were taking the ferry to Port A.

About to make the trip to the pool

Having fun in the sun with Daddy!!

BRRRRR, we just stuck our feet in the water was way too cold to swim :)

I'm pooped...that sun can wear you out.

Army crawl & Funfilled Weekend

These past few weeks Mason has started to "army" crawl. He gets on all fours rocks back and forth then plops back on his belly. He uses his forarms to crawl to get around. It is so cute. He can "real" crawl, but I think he likes army crawling much better. He now sits up from a lying position and pulls himself up to a standing position. He is getting to be a BIG BOY!!! I have my running shoes on...ready to try to catch the lil man :) It is so much fun watching my lil boy discover and learn new things.

You think you can catch me!!!

This past weekend Marcus and I went to Las Vegas. We met some college friends up there for a funfilled weekend. I will not get into all the details, but it was the most fun Vegas trip I have had. We shopped, laid by the pool, got facials and makeovers, and WON some money. (Well Whitney and I won some money.....the guys however did not have such good luck) I only played black jack a total of a couple of hours the whole time were were there and came home with $600.00!!!!! Yeah!! It was so much fun seeing friends and relaxing by the pool.

Happy Easter........and.......Mason's Famous

Mason's First Easter

Mason's 6 month pictures: These were taken right when he turned 6 months and I can't believe it has already been ANOTHER month!!

My son is FAMOUS!!!! Marcus and I went into The Picture People where we had Mason's last pictures taken. I was ordering more pictures. While we were waiting to pick them up I glanced around the studio. Right in front of my eyes.........MY BOY!!!!! They took a picture they had taken of Mason and framed it and put it on display. I did not know they were going to do this. If I would not have gone back into the studio this weekend I would have never know. I took pictures of the display below. He may not be the gerber baby yet....but there is still time :)

Travel Agent.....

I absolutely LOVE to travel!!! I also love looking up vacations for friends and family. Recently my friend Whitney, from college, got me a job as a travel agent. She works for Bell Travel in Lubbock and her boss has hired me on for outside sales. I am so excited. I can now book you on your next vacation, or if you know anyone getting married I can book their honeymoon....I CAN BOOK ANYTHING. Good thing is I am FREE of charge. Even if you need airfare or just a hotel I can book that too!!!! But, the BEST thing about my new position is........I work from HOME and work on my own time or when I want to work. It is great!!! So next time you need help with travel or know of someone who needs help please contact me I would love to help.

My new work email is: andrea@belltravelservices.net