Summer Reads

I just finished...Wonderful story and a quick read.

Now I am on to...

Have your read this yet? I have heard wonderful things about it. And just saw a preview for a movie.

A few books on my list:
Gone with the Wind
Harry Potter (I read them but it's been years)
The Hunger Games
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Water for Elephants
Sarah's Key

What have you been reading?

Look How I've Grown

I got this idea from my brother to start taking pictures of Mason every week next to a stuffed animal to see how much he grows. I didn't start doing it, though, until two weeks.

Here he is at two weeks old...and here he is at six weeks old (today!) Can you see a difference?!?!

He definitely looks chubbier, that's for sure! It will be fun to see how he grows week after week next to the stuffed animal.

In honor of turning 6 weeks old today Mason gave us his first real social smile (or at least I think it was). I was just getting done feeding him and was smiling and talking to him and he looked right up at me and gave me a big grin. Priceless.

First Road Trip

{Really long post. Don't blame you if you don't finish it}

Ryan and I attempted our first road trip with Mason. We went to Salt Lake City for my sister-in-law's bridal shower. It took us 8 hours to get there (should have taken 6) since we had to stop and feed him twice. I had visions of him crying for hours while sitting in his seat, but he did great! It was so nice to get out of town for a few days and spend some time with family. I wish we could all live closer to each other.

{these pictures are totally out of order -sorry}

Monica and Bailee -the brides to be

The three Fox cousins -now that all the siblings are married, we better start getting some more :)

Kruz and Mason meet for the first time

This was adorable. We put Mason and Kruz down next to each other. Mason was out like a light and Kruz was wide awake. But their hands were locked together. (There is a better one below.)

Kaysi, Kruz, Megan and Livi at the shower

Tell me other moms do this too!!!

This is my favorite of these two

Credit goes to Kaysi for some of these pics, including this one.

These little men are just like their mommies and like laying out in the sun. Mason didn't last too long. Ryan took him home and let me enjoy a few hours by the pool kid free!

While in Utah we drove down to Provo to see my brother Brett for a few hours.

The whole trip was great until the drive home. We left early Monday morning to drive home. The drive was going great and we were making great time. We stopped in St. George to feed Mason and get some breakfast at McDonald's. As we were walking out of the restaurant Ryan handed me his cell phone since he was holding Mason. We got out to the car and still needed to change Mason's diaper so Ryan set Mason down on the seat and I put his cell phone on the roof of the car so I could change the diaper. After I got the diaper changed and Mason strapped in we drove off. About 20 minutes down the road Ryan asked for his cell phone. I left his new Blackberry on the roof of the car!! I was expecting Ryan to get mad, upset, yell. And he didn't! We decided to turn around. I called his phone and someone answered. I guess some guy saw it fly off the roof as we were driving off. He picked it up but not before 2 cars ran over it. The screen was totally cracked and ruined but some how it was still receiving calls. This wouldn't be a huge deal, but Ryan uses that phone for work and since it was a work day was needing to makes calls on our way home. Luckily he sill had his old Blackberry at home so he didn't have to buy a whole new phone! At least it wasn't Mason we left on top of the car :)

Three Weeks Later...

...and he's still alive. Ryan and I haven't screwed him up...yet, anyway!

{I can't get enough of those chubby cheeks}

Mason LOVES his pootie (that's what we call his pacifier). He won't go down for a nap without it, and if it falls out he cries and cries. Sometimes I'm nice and put it back in and sometimes I'm mean and let him cry himself to sleep :)

Mason is such a good sleeper. I have to wake him up from pretty much every nap during the day to feed him. I am trying to get him on a feed/wake/sleep cycle. Eating usually puts him right to sleep, so sometimes I have to fight to keep him awake after a feeding. He does great at night. Seriously, I think I have the best kid ever. We usually feed him between 9:30 and 10. He goes right to sleep and then doesn't wake up for 5, sometimes even 6 hours. I hope he keeps this up. I'm enjoying the sleep it gives me.

I've been putting more effort into breast feeding then I ever thought I would. I've been to a lactation consultant a few times, got a nipple shield, and rented a pump. I'm even taking herbal supplements like 5 times a day. But all to no avail. He still eats formula at every feeding. I'm still hoping that one of these days there will just be enough to feed him. Funny how things change. I never thought giving my kid formula would make me feel guilty. Actually, breast feeding didn't appeal to me at all. But now that I'm a mother the thought of him being on formula makes me want to cry. I know he will grow to be perfectly healthy on formula, and just like the doctor told us, all that matters is that he is gaining weight. But why do I feel so guilty??

New Born Photos

Mason was exactly one week old when these were taken. Almost two weeks later and he looks so different. I love, love, love the little newborn look! Here are a few of the good ones. Last night we had some taken with all three of us. I will post those once they are edited. {I love their little fake smiles}

Photos by {the talented} Eliz Goodfellow