25 weeks...

So baby Mason has definitely been growing since my last update.  He is officially kicking me and letting us both know he's in there.  I have to say, these little nudges and movements have me constantly smiling. During those few times a day when he's kicking, it feels like time just freezes and ALL i can focus on is grabbing my belly and feeling him move.  The last few days have brought some new fun: seeing my belly actually move when he does...honestly..i'm LOVING it !!

So let's see...he's about 1-1/2 pounds and roughly the length of a small cantaloupe. Of course...the food reference.  So i'm thinking with a little more fertilization these next few weeks, he may just become the perfect pumpkin size. Probably not by halloween, but i'm thinking more like a really large gourd.  Either way - he'll reap all the benefits of mama j's holiday candy-spree. So here's my 25 week reveal, complete with a new haircut and some fiery red highlights (compliments of auntie jenn). 

Also, Daddy gets a big shout-out for all of his hard work this weekend.  While away with my cousin & Grams in VT - he moved ALL of the guest furniture by himself,  painted baby Mason's bedroom floor, and setup the crib. He's pretty much a rockin' dad already and we're so lucky to have him!!! 

So here's to the growing gourd this halloween and all of his ever-increasing energy!!!

Kickin' it,

mama j

Lucky Number 23...

23 of what you ask?  Well let me just walk you through this miracle of life. 

Imagine giving birth to nine babies (7 girls, 2 boys) and living long enough to watch them grow and together have 19 of their own children.…and it doesn’t end there. Then imagine being 85 years old, full of energy and spunk, and being a proud grandmother to 22 GREAT-grandchildren.  That my friends is a miracle, and I’m proud to call her my Meme .  We also like to call her “Queen Bee” of the family.

What Mason is about to embark on is something many families can’t even imagine, and at his first family event, he’ll realize why his mother is so loud.  He will also be lucky great-grandchild number 23. 

What really blows my mind about our family is that the majority of us (besides my cousin’s serving in the military) all live within 20-30 miles of each other.  We’re all a YELL away..haha.  I’m excited for Mason to take part in our family adventures and the many “cousin nights” that we plan.  As lucky grandchild #12 myself, I cannot imagine a life without my crazy (in the best way possible) family, and most of my cousins are some of my best friends.  I hope that Mason will share this same bond with his own cousins.

We celebrated Meme’s 85th birthday last week and she said something that couldn’t be any truer.  She said that people thought she was the crazy one for having all these children, but now – she’s really the LUCKY one.  Now that is what I call the “miracle of life.”

Feeling Lucky,
mama j

Life is a highway...

There comes a time when we must surrender some of our youthful possessions, to make room for some of our grown up things. In my situation, the "trade-in" comes in the form of a sporty car..in exchange for a bouncing baby boy.  After the harsh realization that a standard infant car seat wouldn't comfortably fit in the back seat of my speed racer, it was time for us to make the family-friendly upgrade.  So off with the BLUE and in with the NEW.  Say hello to our new family addition:

The irony of the story, is that in 16 years from now, my son will probably look at this and say "Mom, why'd you get rid of that cool car?".  and my foreseen reply "Hmmmmm...I wonder son." [insert smirk here]

Thankfully this "grown-up sacrifice" was just a possession, because what i promise to never surrender my friends...is the youthful spirit that lives within - that's staying for the long haul. 

 
So many life changes already, before our baby boy even gets here.  I think i can end this transitional phase, with a quote from our musical friend Tom Cochrane:

 

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

Sing it with me my friends (you know you want to..) "Life is a highway.  I want to ride it all night long..."

Ready for the ride,
mama j