Beach trip

Finally getting around to posting pics of the beach trip. We had a really good time:

First shot is of me, mom and Kendall...I look about 12 for some odd reason. Which is a good thing because lately I've been getting wrinkles. Seriously I notice a new one every week. I also look extremely pale next to the two of them...Kendall I can understand, but why in the world is my mom so tan?

Here's our little family on the beach...mom, Ronnie and Megan were acting like crazy folks trying to get Kendall to smile. They succeeded.

Here's one of Kendall one morning the week after we got back. She was pooped.

Can I help you? She looks like her daddy, or so I'm told by everyone.

Speaking of Daddy, here's a cute one of them studying together.

And one of me and Meg being models in the wind. I like the sand in my toes!!
Kendall and Mommy on the beach.


I have a bajillion more, but it takes forever to upload on this thing, so we'll see if they ever get posted.

Kendall goes for her 4 month checkup Monday. I can't believe how fast she's growing! I'm guessing her weight is around 11 1/2 pounds. We'll see Monday after they totally tick her off by stripping her down and putting her on the cold scale. Seriously, does ANY kid like that?

I started working full time on Monday. So far, so good. I haven't really started learning my job yet. I've been working on getting the filing caught up. Nothing had been filed for all of 2007 and 2008!! So far I only have 2 paper cuts, so I think I'm doing pretty well.

Our realtor is coming by tomorrow night to discuss the possibility of us selling our house. With us both working on the other side of town, church on the other side of town, pretty much EVERYTHING on the other side of town...we figure it's time for US to be on the other side of town. We've only lived here for 2 years, so I know we won't get anything out of the house in the way of profit. We'll see what happens after we get her take on the situation and of course pray and pray some more. Hey - I've got an idea...why don't YOU pray for us too! How neat would that be?

Hope everyone is doing good out there...talk to you soon.

Working mom

Well, it's official. I'm a working mom. I was offered the job that I interviewed for on Monday and I start on the 28th. Will it work out? Who knows. But James and I have decided (after prayer, talking with each other and wise friends/family, me freaking out like I always do) that we'll give it a whirl. If I need to stop and come home, so be it. But I would end up regretting not at least giving it a shot.

Kendall will be at mom's the same amount with me working full time or part time because of James' schedule, so that's cool. They'll get lots of one on one daddy/daughter time (which they both love). I'll keep you guys posted on how things go.

We're heading to the beach this weekend. Mom, Kendall and I leave tonight. Ronnie and Megan follow tomorrow and James will be down Saturday and we'll all come home Monday. I'm really, really excited and can't wait to stick Kendall's toes in the sand!

Talk to you soon!

Facelift

I gave the ole' blog a facelift. Didn't hurt a bit.

Been busy around the Mason household. Kendall had her first pictures taken at Portrait Innovations...they turned out SO WELL! Definitely recommend that place. We did have to wait for a while, which had me in panic mode because when we got there, Kendall was in the PERFECT picture mood. But, it turns out her smiles stuck around through the wait.

She is also a future gymnast. Miss Thang has already rolled over back to front and front to back! No more laying her on the couch while I do laundry (I'm a bad mommy, I know). She's gotten such a cute little personality over the last couple of weeks. Smiling and laughing and talking (loudly!!)...it's so precious. They really do grow so fast!

On the job-front - I had an interview on Thursday for a permanent position at Quintiles (right now I'm still a temp). It went well except for the fact that it was the LONGEST INTERVIEW I'VE EVER HAD!! It lasted an hour and I have to go back for a 2nd interview to meet the "big boss" on Monday. I'm praying that the Lord will slam this door shut on my little fingers if this isn't what He wants for me.

I'm finding it difficult to stop eating. For those of you that haven't seen me, I wound up like 20 pounds lighter than my pre-baby weight...probably due to the diabetic diet I was on while pregnant. However, 6 pounds have already creeped back on and I can't seem to stop stuffing my face. Please pray that I will have self control when it comes to food...I don't want to gain that weight back...in fact, I'd like to lose about 20 more. Why is it so difficult??

Kendall is sleeping through the night every single night now, so that's been great for us. For a while there we were splitting up the night so that each of us could get consecutive hours of sleep...which meant that we weren't sleeping together very often at all. It feels good to sleep with my hubby again...and I do mean sleep. After being sleep deprived, I think you sleep better than you ever did before!! (I said sleep like 95 times in that paragraph...sorry about that).

Hope everyone is doing well!

7 things...why not?

Thought I'd join in on the 7 things fun...here goes:

1. I have joined Weight Watchers like 25 times. No, seriously. As in going into a Weight Watchers center, filling out the paperwork and getting all the new "joining" information. I did it so many times at one center that I shortened my name to "Jenn" so that they wouldn't know me (should have come up with something a bit more different, huh?)...needless to say none of these times have I ever stuck with the program.

2. I used to love to do "commercials" with shampoo bottles, mouthwash bottles...pretty much whatever I could read the back of the label from. I even have a special commercial voice that I use...I mean, used...uh - I don't do this anymore...promise.

3. I like to imitate everyone's dancing. If I've ever seen you dance, I will have my own interpretation of how you dance and I will gladly show everyone. I'm especially good at imitating mom's and my friend Melissa's moves. This is not like I'm making fun of their dancing, because I certainly can't bust a move...it's seriously just me showing you what you look like in case you want to change your style.

4. I always start out cooking everything on high. It's like my hand just refuses to turn the temperature to medium or medium high. Then it either boils over or starts smoking or sticks to the pan and my hand just miraculously learns how to turn it down. But not one second before our dinner is almost ruined.

5. I still LOVE foods that I should have outgrown by now...bagel bites, pizza rolls, ChefBoyRDee ANYTHING, oodles of noodles, those little powdered sweet 16 donuts...yeah - maybe that's the problem with #1. Ya think?

6. I have a huge double standard when it comes to throwing stuff away. Example - I expect James to constantly go through his stuff and get rid of things he doesn't use, right? Well, you can't even open my side of the bathroom cabinet without things falling out because I REFUSE to throw away any girlie bathroom product even though I never use them.

7. I sleep with one hand curled around the bedpost. James has pictures to prove it. If I turn over, the other hand automatically grabs it, even if that means I have to go under James' pillow to get to it. Makes for a restful nights sleep for him, I'm sure.

There you have it, folks. Insight into the crazy world of Jennifer.

Happy Easter!

Hello to all!! Things are great here in the Mason home. Kendall is growing like a weed (she actually moved up to SIZE 1 diapers...wowzers) and we're enjoying every minute of it. Sweet baby girl is sleeping through the night consistently now and boy does that make a woman feel human again! We are battling the worse case of cradle cap known to mankind, so if anyone has any suggestions, send them my way. We've already tried marinating her scalp in baby oil as well as olive oil (that was a pleasant smell), gently scrubbing with a brush, and Selson Blue. So far none of that is working. For a girl like me that loves to pick at things, this is a rare form of torture.

James and I have decided to serve at Cross Culture with the K-5th grade and yesterday was our first Sunday. We loved it! Not only did we both learn something during the lesson (showing how awesome of a director Mrs. Coral is), but we truly enjoyed loving on the children. It just melts my heart not only to see James with Kendall, but to see him with older children playing like a big kid! It's so sweet!

Here are some pictures for ya:

Mommy and Kendall hangin' out

The sweetest smile in the world

All dressed up to celebrate our Risen Savior!! *Which, by the way, I explained the true meaning of Easter to her on the way to church and she didn't have ANY questions...can you believe how smart she is already??*

Our first of many attempts at a family shot with Kendall actually LOOKING at the camera. Everytime James would sit down, she'd look at him...by the 3rd attempt, we were laughing hysterically...good times.

Shots, the Rachels, ghetto

Boy do I have a lot to talk about...so hang on to your hats, faithful readers.

Most importantly, my sweet precious angel baby is doing well. She had her 2 month checkup last week, complete with shots (poor thing). Here are the stats:

Weight 9 pounds, 9 ounces (25%)
Height 23" (75%)
Head circumfrence 39.5 cm (75%)

Kendall got her first dose of the million and one immunizations they recommend and did beautifully. She cried a strange, pitiful cry that I've never heard before and then went to sleep for pretty much the rest of the day. She didn't run a fever, but they may have been because I gave her a couple of doses of Tylenol just in case.

She's really getting a little personality that I just adore. She absolutely melts my heart with her smile. Well, see for yourself:



Here she is with her Nana a while ago...gotta love that pacifier!

And she already loves her Sunday afternoon naps with Granddaddy:

In other news, we recently held "see you soon" parties for my two good friends, the Rachels. Both are getting ready to embark on incredible journeys with their families and while I truly am happy for them, I'm also a little sad in my heart that I won't be able to see them as easily as I can now. Here are a few shots from the par-tays:

All of us crazy gals from the Hopkins-Pittman Sunday School class:

The goofballs cutting their farewell cake...I made them do this:

One of the Rachels and me:

The other Rachel and me...notice the red cry nose...cute, huh?

Let's see...is there anything else exciting going on in my life? Oh yes, I almost forgot...OUR CAR GOT STOLEN!!! Can you believe that? Right out of our driveway Friday night/Saturday morning. So I'm thinking that A) I live in the ghetto and B) Durham in general IS the ghetto, so I'm doomed. No, seriously - the police called Sunday morning and told us that they had "recovered" the car...police lingo for ya. It's in the shop right now getting the ignition fixed since Mr. Grand Theft Auto decided to start it with a screwdriver. Unfortunately James' license was stolen, so please pray that we aren't victims of Grand Theft Identity anytime soon.

I'll leave you on a happier note with more pics of Miss Thang...take care!

Maybe I should be more observant

Tonight was one of those lucky nights when my husband got off work early, so we headed out to have a family date night. First we went to Ross and looked around. Then we decided we'd try to grab a bite to eat. All was well - food was good, service was great, blah blah blah...UNTIL we walked out the door and noticed that the sanitation grade was an 85!! That's right, folks - I ate at a B rated establishment. Now, I don't want to name any names or anything...

but I'm going to have a problem going back to this particular restaurant again. Right now I'm coping with the thought of rats, spiders and unwashed hands by telling myself that the kitchen staff is probably on their best behavior after getting such a bad grade. Here's hoping at least...