And so it begins...

Mason was laying on the bed while Paige watched a movie.  Next thing I know, he has a pink hair clip in his hair.  Didn't seem to phase him as he was just giggling away!!  I can only imagine the things she is going to do to him!

Cowgirl up

Thursday was Take your Kid to Work day.  This was the first year we were able to bring Paige.  She got to see mommy's work (which consists of a desk and computer!), get fingerprinted (that she thought was finger painting!), see daddy's new office (get to that later) and RIDE A HORSE (Or seahorse, as she called it)!!  First things first, Joe got a new job!!!!  Well, it's still with the police department, but he will no longer be answering calls for service, working the streets.  He will now working in the Employment unit recruiting new police officers!  We are beyond excited for his new adventure!  Now on to the fun stuff!  Paige actually rode a horse!  At first, she was pretty scared of them, but eventually warmed up and actually got on one and rode it.  She was just adorable!!  All night she kept talking about how she rode a "seahorse".  I think she got confused because I kept telling her she was going to see a horse, so she kept calling them seahorses!! LOL.

Death of me

So Paige has definitely been testing our patience lately.  I don't know what it is, but for some reason the questions have been more and more frequent!  She literally follows me around the house..."What are you doing momma? Why?  Can I do it?  What's that?  Can I play your ipad?  Can I go outside?  Can I hold him?  What can I have?"  And the questions never stop!!  I distinctly remember saying "I can't wait until she can talk." And I most certainly regret saying that!! 

Funny Paige story #1:

Lately, Paige has been saying "What the hell" (I know, I know...where did she learn that right?) Anyway, she was changing into her pj's and said, "This is too tight. What the hell?"  I (holding back the laughter) tell her that was a bad word and we don't say that.  So she smiles and says, "Well, damnit!"  Again, holding back the laughter, I tell her that was not nice and that is a bad word.  Guess we need to start watching our mouths, huh?

Funny Paige story #2:

I send Paige to her room for not listening to me.  When I go get her, I ask "Do you know why you were in your room?"  She says, "Yes, because I wasn't listening.  Mom, do I need to shape up?"  And this time I couldn't hold back the laughter!  Guess she has heard that a time or two!!

Funny Paige story #3:

By 8am the other day, she was truly wearing on my patience.  So I tell her, "Paige, you are wearing on my patience."  She says, "That's hilarious.  You are my buddy.  You are my best momma!"  Sometimes, I think they know when they are in trouble!  And just like that, she was back in my good graces!

Every day she asks me to paint her nails.  I guess she got tired of asking and decided to "paint her own nails".  Luckily, she was just pretending!

Good Morning

I love waking Paige up with Mason.  She just lights up as soon as she sees him and just wants to hug and kiss him!  This morning she started reading him a book and he was just intently watching her every move.  It was adorable!  So I grabbed the camera and took some pics.  Then of course, Paige wanted to take pics too.  Forgive me, I was still in my pj's but I didn't want to miss out on this memory.



Bath Time Fun

We decided to give the kids a bath together!  Paige was just beside herself with excitement!  Mason, as you can see, was not quite sure what to think of everything!  He did enjoy it though and kicked his little chubby legs, splashing his big sister!  She truly loves her little brother!

Rollin

Mason rolled over!!!!!  Paige rolled over when she was 4 months and 10 days old so we have been waiting for Mason.  We didn't think he was even interested in rolling since he never even rolled to his side.  Then on Monday (4/16/2012) he rolled from his back to his belly!  I was able to get it on video too!  He's growing up so fast!



Latest trick

We have Parents As Teachers come over a few times a year to evaluate Paige and her learning progress.  She is doing awesome.  The teacher suggested we get her a pair of scissors and help her learn how to use them.  She's a pro!!  She loves cutting the paper, but we still have to keep a close eye on her.  Don't want her cutting her or Mason's hair! 

On another note...Paige will be starting pre-school next school year!  We are pretty excited about it.  She will be going half days, Monday-Friday!  I think it will be a great experience for her!



Hours of entertainment

OK so maybe it's more like, five minutes of entertainment, but to a baby that's like a lifetime!  It's so fun to watch him grab and actually play with the toys.  He has realized he has hands now and will just stare at them then bring them straight to his mouth.  We are in full on drool mode in our house!  Not sure if it's teething or what, but all I know is we are covered in drool. 



What mom?

Mason looks so annoyed with me in the picture!  He's like "Mom, would you get me off my tummy already?"



Easter Bunny

Joe had to work this year for Easter, but I was off.  So, I got the pleasure of getting us all to church by 9:30am!!  And get this...I was 10 minutes early!!!!!! Go me!  I got us got ready, got the kids up and fed.  Then got them ready and out the door by 8:35am!  Pretty impressive, if I must say!  The kids did great in church with the exception of one comment from Paige.  Church was just about over and it was silent.  Paige says, "Mom, is it over?" pretty loudly!!!  Everyone laughed and my face got red.  After church, they had an Easter egg hunt and there was an "Easter Bunny" there.  For the record, Paige is still terrified of mascot type things!!

Back in the day

Back in the day, these were pretty cool!!  We were going through some of Joe's stuff that he wore when he was a baby.  We found his baptism outfit that Mason will wear.  We found Joe's blue leisure suits that I can't wait for Mason to wear and these shoes!  He's such a stud!!

Our growing boy

It's like you blink your eyes and they just grow up!  We had Mason's four month check up today with the pediatrician.  He now weighs 14lbs 1oz and his 24.5" tall.  That puts him in the 25% for both (which is pretty typically for our kiddos).  His head, however is 16.5" which is in the 50-75%.  I say, it's all his brains!  He did have to get a few shots and, get this...I held him!!!  This is a first for me.  Broke my heart when he started screaming, but I loved being able to comfort him. 

Here are some recent pics of our happy little man! him. 



Melting heart

These two seriously melt my heart.  Every time she talks to him, he lights up.  The first person Paige asks for when she wakes up is Mason.  We got blessed with these two!!



You can call off DFS!

HAHA!!  So a few of our friends joke with us all the time that we abuse Paige because we don't have sweets in the house.  They say that they are calling DFS (Division of Family Services) on us!  So I made some chocolate chip cookies for a friend's party and had to document the fact that I did give Paige a cookie! 

The funny part is one night after dinner, I asked Paige if she wanted a cookie.  She looked at me with this confused look and said, "We don't have cookies!"  I said, "Yes, honey, we do."  She said, "Um, no.  I'll take a banana with peanut butter!"  We teach healthy food habits in the Merino Household!!! :)



Gelly Make-up Times

Paige has taken a fascination in my make-up, gel and hairspray products lately.  I had to put a child lock on my bathroom cabinet because she kept getting into my stuff.  You would think I have learned by now that if she's quite...it's NOT good!  So, I dont' hear her for a while and go to investigate.  This is what I find:

Her hair was full of gel and hairspray.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but she had put lipstick, blush and eye shadow on!!!  Again, hard to tell her to stop when I"M laughing!!  She keeps us on our toes.



Long time, no see....

So, um, yeah, I realize it has been FOREVER since I last posted.  WOW, things have been just absolutely crazy busy.  I swear as soon as I got back to work things just got CRAZY!!!  So, I truly apologize and will try my very best to do much better!

Paige and Mason are doing great!  Mason is growing like crazy and him and Paige continue to get along.  It seriously warms my heart to see how they interact.  I wish I could bottle this up and have it forever!

I put Mason on his activity mat and the next thing I know, Paige is covering him up like they are in some type of fort!  It's kinda hard to tell Paige to stop when Mason is literally giggling!!