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

Rain Rain....DON'T Go Away!!!!

What does 13 hours of sleep look like you might ask? Or at least I wondered for the past 6 months. Yes, I am getting old: in bed by 8:30 some nights!! In "BABY" land sleeping through the night is a complete 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep which Mason has been doing since 2 months old. However, when he started to roll over he would wake himself up rolling from one end of the bed to the other. Well, last night into the wee early morning we had HORRIBLE storming weather. Thunder so loud it shook the house. Did that wake my lil man??? Not quite...he slept through the whole storm and then some. He did not wake until 9:30am and that was because I was trying to wake him up. I think he would have slept another hour if I let him. Well it is 12:30 now and guess who is taking a nap? That's right Mason!!! I guess all the running around and playing we do throughout the week wears the little guy out. So RAIN, THUNDER......come anytime you want if this means a GREAT night sleep for Mason......and ofcourse his mom and dad :)

Watching You.......

Marcus is soooo cute!!! The song "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins came on the radio the other day and he said...."That's mine and Mason's song!" SO...I started listening to it. Here is the chorus from the song if you have not heard it.......

Chorus:
He said, I’ve been watching you, dad ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo; I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixin’ things and holding moma’s hand
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we dad.
I want to do everything you do; so I’ve been watching you.

here is the link if you want to listen and watch the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqYUns2YQik

Only....they won't really be fixin' things since Marcus is not too much of the handy man :) Anyways, the other morning I heard the song playing. Marcus and Mason were listening to the song and watching the music video on the computer. It was so precious. I know Mason already looks up to his dad. When Marcus gets home from work he just lights up with a huge smile on his face. I love "Watching Them" and would love for my son to GROW UP JUST LIKE HIS DAD!!

Half Year Birthday!!!

Mason 6 months ago just after delivery.....my precious son! After taking him to NICU I was worried about the health of Mason....does he have an infection, why was his temp. 104??

All bundled up to regulate his temp.

My lil guy at 6 months!!! He's a big little boy :) Healthy and PERFECT!!

Well this past 6 months has come and gone in a blink of an eye. Mason is now 6 months and just as fun as ever. Every stage you think "this is the best" and it just amazes me how each day, week, month gets better and better. Mason is sitting up on his own (for longer periods of time), trying to crawl, talking more and more, and rolling all over the place. If the next 6 months go by as fast as I think they will I don't know what I will do. As I sit here typing I am listening to his infectious laugh that I absolutely love.....he is such a happy baby. Here are a few recent pics.

WHAT A WEEKEND....

This weekend was packed full of FIRSTS!!! Mason, my mom and I headed to Austin to visit my sister this weekend. Aunt Jenny was missing her little nephew so we had to go visit. On Thursday evening we went out to dinner with cousins aunts and uncles for my mom's birthday. Mason was a trooper.....he was up way past his bed time with only one nap for the whole day!! He loves to look at his surroundings and just take in everything around him.....very observant :) Friday was a day of relaxing, and meeting new friends of Mason's. We went to lunch with my friend Angie and her little angel Ava. Ava is 6 months older than Mason. SHE was absolutely a beautiful little girl. After that we drug Mason to the Mall to buy HIM some more clothes. We got him a swimsuit for the summer, shoes (2 pair), jeans, a few shirts and some shorts......it is so much fun buying for a baby :) Then after a long afternoon we went back to Jenny's to rest. We put Mason on the floor and low and behold......he rolled right on over from his back to his belly!!! He has been rolling over from belly to back now he is really MOVING!!! I better watch out :) Later that evening I was on the phone with Marcus....since he had to work.....and Mason just started babbling baby talk. All of the sudden he babbled out DADA DADA DADA DADA.....a million times in a row!! It was SO CUTE!!!! I know......some may say they don't say their first words for a while, but I am COUNTING IT!! Mason said his first word DADA and Marcus heard every syllable :) I was laughing, crying from laughing, and just thinking.....my little boy is almost 6 months old!! He is such the talker now.....well....babbler always yelling out DADA DADA.....Marcus just grins ear to ear every time he hears it. I can't wait to carry on a conversation with my little blue eyed boy. We then headed home and have been talking non stop every since. What a wonderful ride Mason takes us one each day!! Here are a few pictures of this weekend. I just love my little boy!!

Jenny and Mason at lunch....just look at those dimples :) Me, Mason, Angie, Ava: Mason was ready for his lunch....he was tired of watching us eat!!

Feeding Mason a puff thingie.....did not know what to think....it ended up on his chin :)
Pictures of Mason in his new kicks, jeans and a shirt we got this weekend :) He sure is a Momma's boy :)

Mason's new summer swimsuit outfit!! HOW cute will my beach baby be??

My Dad....The Author

My dad's passion has always been writing. The past couple of years he has written different pieces in his leisure time. He has written poetry, non-fiction, and horror. Last year he had his first book, Mind's Diary, published. We were so excited for him and anxious to see the book all finished. Mind's Diary is a collection of poetry he has written. His recent book The Release is HOT OFF THE PRESS . I can't wait to get my signed copy to read....even though I get to read bits and pieces before it goes to the publisher :) The other two pieces are Short Stories he has published on Amazon Shorts. One is about life as a Manager and the other is a Horror story. Everytime I go home my dad has many other pieces he is working on. I can't wait for more of his awesome work to be published for the world to read. We are very proud of him. Dad, keep writing! We look forward to the next book you will have published.

Sorry the pictures of the books are so little :(