Year in Review

Posted on December 31, 2014January 1, 2015 by kelliwarren

Seeing as today is the last day of 2014, I’ve obviously been reflecting over the year and my first thought is “2014 has been the best year yet!” But when I look closer, it was actually a pretty crappy year since I spent most of it over the toilet throwing up! However, 2014 did produce the best result I could ever dream of! Our baby Mason has improved our lives beyond words. Yes, we are tired. Yes, there are moments every day that are really hard. But I’ve never felt more fulfilled. I truly believe this is what I am meant to do.

Enough of the sappy stuff! Here’s to wrapping up a year full of vomit and welcoming a year full of firsts (with a baby there is a new first almost every day and it’s so fun to watch Mason discover the world!)

Here’s my year in review via my iPhone:

January– We started the year on a cruise to the Caribbean with our friends Jenn & Scott. We had so much fun!

February- We met up with my cousin Natasha and her husband Wes in the city before they moved to NYC. This was also the night we found out we were pregnant!

March- We celebrated our 25th birthdays (I was sick as a dog) and we announced we were pregnant.

April- We went to a Giants game and they went on to win the World Series!

May- We found out that we were having a boy. Also, my college roommate, Glenna, and her husband Ioua came to visit! I unfortunately don’t have any pictures of all of us, Glenna took them on her camera. Hopefully one day I can get some of those pictures, but she just had a baby girl!! So I can wait 🙂

June- We were invited to Scott & Jenn’s family cabin in Tahoe and had a wonderful time paddle boarding around lake Angora and playing games in the cabin. Thank you so much for inviting us Blatters!

We also had the privilege to go back to Rexburg, ID for Chris & Cambry’s wedding!

July- We went to the Warren’s cabin one last time for the 4th of July before it was sold. We also got to go visit Seattle! We love traveling, especially together, so it was fun to explore a new city together.

August- This summer was full of travels before the baby came. We went to Hawaii and I spent all my time on the beach tanning my large, round belly. I got lots of stares but I didn’t care!

September- I was spoiled rotten and was thrown beautiful baby showers! Thank you so much to those that hosted and those that came, I love you all!

October- The month I had been waiting so long for finally came and we got to meet our sweet baby boy that changed our lives! No words will ever adequately describe that experience.

We celebrated our first Halloween with a baby. He did not enjoy dressing up…

We also went on our first date post-baby and my dad watched Mason for us when he was just 17 days old! Grandpa was Mason’s first babysitter and he did a fantastic job! Thanks dad!

nov

November- We blessed Mason the Sunday following Thanksgiving. It was so special to have so many family members there for it, including Mason’s 100 year old Great-great grandfather.

December- Christmas was so magical with a baby this year and I can’t wait for the coming years when Mason can open presents and get excited and understand Christmas a little more.

I’m not sure what 2015 has in store for us, but with Mark & Mason by my side, and the love and support of our families, I know it will be a great year and I’m excited to see what lies ahead! I’m excited for my sister Rachel to get home from her mission in Spain at the end of January and meet Mason!

Changes

Posted on December 16, 2014 by kelliwarren

I’ve noticed recently that having a baby has changed me in unexpected ways.

The first thing I noticed was that I’m more prepared: leaving the house and running to the store is way more difficult to do so now when I do have a chance to go to the store, I stock up! For instance, I use to buy make up remover wipes just whenever I needed them, now I buy 4 packs at a time. It may not sound like a big deal but trust me, it is.

I’ve also been much better at being on time since having Mason. Now this is a big deal, just ask my dad who’s been trying to get me to be on time since day one! Whenever we have to go somewhere now I get a little anxious because it can be overwhelming to get ready, I never know if Mason will cooperate and let me shower (if you can call 45 seconds in water a shower) and throw some makeup on. And then I have to feed him and get him dressed. And then as soon as he’s dressed he’s sure to poop! And once he’s in his car seat there’s no messing around, we have to get him in the car stat before he starts screaming because he’s not moving. So now I give myself more time than I could possibly need to get us ready and out the door. And so far it’s paid off (except for his blessing day, of course…)

I’d have to say the biggest change for me is that I now don’t mind waking up early in the morning! I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I am a ‘morning person’, let’s be real. But before I had Mason I dreaded getting up in the morning, no matter what time it was. I was the prime case of waiting until the very last possible second to get out of bed. Mark would literally have to push me out of bed. So obviously I was worried about how I would be able to wake up with a baby. But surprisingly I’ve had no problem getting up early with him. I’m so excited to see his sweet little face and snuggle him each morning. And now he gives me big smiles when I walk into his room. So no I’m not a morning person, but mornings aren’t so bad anymore 🙂

2month stats

Posted on December 16, 2014January 7, 2015 by kelliwarren

We were a little over due on Mason’s two month check up because of issues with insurance but we went today and I was really anxious to find out Mason’s stats and see how he’s grown over the past month. Looks like we are going to have a mini Mark: tall and slender! He weighs 13lbs 1oz (50th percentile) and is 25 inches long (97th percentile!). He is a tall boy! No wonder his onesies always seem so tight and he’s always got a little ankle showing ;). His dr looked at me with a very confused look on her face and asked “is his dad tall?” While I was pregnant and even before I was pregnant we always joked that we would probably have really tall girls and short boys hahah. I’m glad that’s not the case!

It was tough watching Mason get his shots and clearly be in pain. I guess the only good thing about shots (besides the fact that they will help keep Mason healthy!) is that he’s taken really good naps today. I have been thinking since our appointment how extremely grateful I am for a healthy baby. It would be so hard to have to watch your baby be sick or in constant pain and spend all your time in a doctors office. I feel truly blessed that Mason is healthy and happy.

I’m so grateful for this sweet spirit that fills our home with so much joy. I’m grateful for Mark and his undeniable love for our baby and for all he does to take care of me and Mason. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve these two but I sure am blessed.

2 months

Posted on December 8, 2014January 7, 2015 by kelliwarren

Yesterday Mason turned 2 months! His little personality has come out a lot over this month, and we love it. He’s so sweet and easy going. He started giving us intentional smiles at week 5. He makes us work for this smiles though, I sound like such an idiot trying to get him to smile and he holds out for a while. I sometimes think he’s just trying to see how stupid he can make me sound before he pities me and gives me a big gummy smile. He also nails his expressions with his eyebrows, it kills me!

He’s gotten nice and chubby this past month and his hair is coming in. He’s a round fluffy butterball right now, it’s fantastic!

A couple of days ago we got our first bathtub smile, so I guess it’s safe to say he finally decided that he likes bath time.

He’s now really good at following our voices and finding who is talking. As soon as Mark walks in the door after work Mason gets so alert and looks around the room for him.

Mason has recently discovered his voice and babbles to us and himself. A few days ago he woke up and instead of crying he just laid there talking to himself. It was so cute!

He’s found the tv and loves to watch the colors and movement on it, it’s hilarious. He gets so mesmerized by it. And yes, a couple of times I have sat him down in his swing to watch “Doc McStuffins” so I can try to get a shower in. I’m a bad mom!

We blessed Mason the Sunday after Thanksgiving at 7 weeks. It was beautiful and we were so lucky to have so many family members be there. Mark blessed Mason with his dad Brad, my dad Ron, Mark’s brother Matt, Mason’s great grandpa Bob, and Mason’s 100 year old great great grandpa Flenniken, Mark’s friends Kyle & Chris, Bishop Hair and Stake President Cooper. It was a wonderful day and thankfully Mason didn’t participate in the tradition of having a blowout all over his blessing outfit 🙂

He’s still a great sleeper, not so much of a napper unless I’m holding him. He loves to snuggle in the morning and nap on my shoulder, and I absolutely love it! Last night he slept in his crib for the first time and he loved it! He slept from 9:30-6:30!

We really couldn’t ask for a happier baby. We feel so blessed and lucky to be his parents. He is so sweet and love his mom and dad. He loves watching Mark and could stare at him for hours. He’s such a good, sweet baby. I’ve never been happier.

warning: photo overload!