Looking Back at 2009

2009 has been an amazing year for us! Our lives have changed so much in the last year, and I can't believe how many milestones we have hit with Mason. This time last year, he had just started solids and was barely sitting up by himself. This year, he is eating all table foods, walking, running, talking and getting into everything. Here are some of our favorite highlights!

Mason sitting up by himself for the first time- January

Mason in a high chair for the first time- February

Mason sitting in a shopping cart for the first time- February


Mason and the East bunny- March


Mason with his easter basket- April


Mason was the best man in Uncle Bryan's Wedding (with dad)- April


Mason started crawling- backwards!- May


Celebrating my first Mother's Day at the zoo- May


Celebrating Dad's first Father's Day- June


trip to TN to visit family and celebrate Mason's birthday ( alittle early)- June
Mason enjoying the sun

Mason's birthday in TN!- June


Our little famiy- July


Mason started standing alone- August


Mason and mom graduated from our evergreen parent baby classes! - August


Mason and mom started toddler group and Mason started walking- September


We got a new deck and Mason took off with his walking!- October


Mason made a huge announcement to the world- October


Mason was a shark for halloween -October


Our family at Thanksgiving- November


Our little girl- December


Mason Christmas morning- December



2009 was a blast and we can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for us! Happy New Year!

Dear Baby Girl

I have thought about writing this letter for a very long time. At least 2 1/2 years ago, when I first found out I was pregnant with your brother. I have always known I wanted to be a mommy and growing up with sisters, I always thought I would have a little girl. When I found out your brother was a boy, I was a little sad, but I was also excited at the new adventures ahead of me! Then, when we found out I was pregnant with you- I had zero expectations. I just wanted you to be healthy, plus I thought deep down you were a boy- so when they said you were a girl- I can't even describe my excitement. I can not wait to share so many girlie things with you- so many things that will be our little bond.

I hope you know how excited we are for you to join us in May. I talk to your brother everyday about you and I try to explain where you are. I don't get as much alone time with you as I did with Mason, but when he is asleep and I just sit on the couch, I can feel you and I love these moments we get to share together. You are already so different from Mason, you are much more active , you squirm everytime they try to get a picture of you or hear your heartbeat. You don't like thai food and you like to make mommy's emotions go crazy. I can't wait to meet you, but we still have a lot to do before you arrive- so if you would help mommy by not making me too tired- I'd appreciate it, but I also want you to keep growing- so you do your thing and we'll get everything else ready. Until next time, baby girl. I love you.

Mommy

Christmas Card

We wish everyone a very merry christmas, and a happy new year!

Family Pictures

Our family pictures came in! We had a great photographer, Zach Goodyear, come out and take pictures of our family while we were in Tennessee for Thanksgiving. He was amazing, and I have never seen our family look so good. He photographed the entire Knapper gang- my parents, sisters, myself, and our families. I can't remember the last time we have had our pictures taken together and we couldn't be happier- here are just a few of my favorites.

The Entire Crew together! Our last picture together was when Thomas was about 2 months old so this one was way over due!

Mason has learned to clap (thanks to my dad) and he LOVES to clap for everything. I think it is the cutest thing to watch his clap for himself. At least I know he has high self esteem!




The red head connection. The three amigos. My sisters and I.


I had to end with this one- I can't imagine loving someone so much and I know when #2 comes along, I will learn how much more my heart can grow and love, but for now, there is nothing better than hanging out with this little face everyday!

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

You better watch out,

You better not pout,

You better not cry,

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Back to Reality- Recap of the last 2 weeks

Mason and Steve hanging out at SeaTac before our flight!

On November 17, Steve, Mason and I flew out to Tennessee and that my friends is where we have been for the past 18 days! We had the best time, visiting with family, catching up with old friends, and just enjoying our time together. It was time for a break from Seattle. The sun only shined 1 day the entire month of November in Seattle (and I think it was while we were gone) I was ready to leave- I needed sun, some mom loven, and home cooking! Steve was ready for a break too and we couldn't have asked for a better vacation. We got to spend a few quiet days in Belvidere before the madness began. We met up with my old roomies in Chattanooga where we got to meet baby Cameron and get to see LeAnn's kids as well.

Kaitlyn, Noah and Mason soaking up some rays!

Abby, Cameron, Mason and I before leaving Chatt for the day

Steve and Mason discovering the fountains at Coolidge Park

We spent the next week- celebrating thanksgiving day with 35 families members, running up to Nashville to celebrate Steve's great aunt's 90th birthday, and celebrating two additional thanksgivings with other relatives. (all within 4 days of each other)We also had a family photo shoot and once we get the pictures back I will post them!

Mason on Thanksgiving Day!

Steve left on Tuesday to return to work and Mason and I stayed to get in some extra vacation time. We drove back to Chattanooga to spend the day the Abby and Cameron and that night we met up with two UTC friends for dinner. It was probably one of the best days of my vacation. I haven't had hours to just hang out with old friends in a long time and it is always nice to know you can pick up where you left off! Our friendships are still strong even after 8 long years apart! Mason and I also headed up to Nashville to visit my sister and then we flew out on Friday. Our flights were good- minus the passenger next to me, choking and not being able to breathe. Another passenger performed the Heimlich. I don't think my heart rate has been that high in a long time! We are happy to be back home and our tree is up! I will post more pictures soon- just wanted to give you a quick update on us!

Christmas Cards

I love this time of year- mostly because I love Christmas cards. I LOVE sending them and I love receiving them, more than I enjoy getting presents. Since moving to Seattle, I have made our Christmas cards by hand. I enjoy stamping and so each year I have designed about three cards to use as our family Christmas cards. (I pick 3 since we send out about 150 cards- I get tired of making the same one over and over and over again). I usually start making them right around Halloween, so they will be finished in time to send out the first week of December. This year though, I think I may break tradition and buy them. Why you may ask. Well we find out the sex of the bean on December 14 and I have a cute idea for a Christmas card to let everyone know what we are having but since it is so close to Christmas, I won't have time to make them all. So I think we will just do a photo card this year and go back to handmade next year. What about you? Does anyone else love Christmas cards as much as I do?

Speaking of cards- if you do send them out and you have an extra card, please send it to this address. Our soldiers have sacrificed so much for us and no matter where you stand on the war in Iraq, there is no denying that these men and women have given a lot for us and for our country. The least we can do is send a card to our recovering soldiers. If you agree, please pass this along or post on your blog.

Any Recovering Solider WRAMC
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capital Heights, MD 20791-5456


Also, if you want a Marlowe Christmas card- send me your address and I will add you to my list!

Hello, Bean

Two weeks ago, I went for an ultrasound and we got the first glimpse of the newest Marlowe member. The bean looks really big in this picture, but I promise they just zoomed in. Seeing our new baby has made it all the more real. Every time the tech pushed on my belly to get a better view, the baby would squirm and move around. He/She did not want to be bothered at all! Mason did really well during the ultrasound too, he was entertained by dad and was only a little concerned as to why mommy was laying on a table and I couldn't hold him.

Since H1N1 is running rampant, the hospital where my OB's office is located is discouraging patients from bringing in anyone under the age of 12. So today, Steve and Mason stayed home and I went to my first OB appointment alone. (Steve came with me to every appointment with mason) I think he was bummed he couldn't go, but it was nice for me to have some time alone. One of the sweetest sounds I think a mom can hear is the sound of her unborn baby's heartbeat. I could have listened for hours. It made all the worries, and stress of everyday life go away.

It was just me and the bean. Can't wait to meet you little one. Sleep tight.

Halloween at Toddler Group

Monday is Toddler group day and since it is Halloween week- all the kiddos dressed up! I wasn't sure how Mason was going to do, being a shark for two hours is pretty hard work. But, he was a trooper and really got into playing while wearing his costume. We tried to get some pictures of his friends too, but everyone was so busy. Some highlights were a tiger, a bee, elmo, a pumpkin, a couple of fairys, and Charlie Brown! We are hosting a pumpkin playdate on Thursday and I will post more pictures of a toddler halloween after that!

Mommy and her favorite shark!

Sharks love to play!

Sharks have lots of friends!

15 months later...

(this picture is from today- he was kinda grumpy from his shots but he wanted to play with his cookie jar from cousins Thomas and Mags- it made him smile)

Today, we had Mason's 15 month check up. He weighs 23.4 lbs, is 30 1/4 inches tall (both in the 25 percentile) and his head is 48 (however they measure that) which is the 75 percentile. Which means...he is growing into his head! He has faithfully been in the 95 percentile for his head since the day he was born, but finally it is leveling out. This makes mommy happy!

Besides walking, running, climbing and getting into everything- some other fun things Mason is now doing include talking. He LOVES to hold things out to you (a block, a ball, silverware) and say "what's this? He says it all the time. He has also discovered the word "snack" which he uses to mean any meal or food. He says snack for breakfast, lunch or dinner, but you can see the pride in his eyes when I say "oh your hungry" and get him something to nibble on. I think the new development, Steve and I are most proud of is that you can say to Mason, "are you ready for a nap? (laydown, bed, etc) and he will say "yes" go to the gate and wait for you to open it so he can climb the stairs to his room. My little genius. I know every mom says it, but this is my blog so I can say too :) Those are probably the biggest developments we have had or atleast the ones that stand out to me.

Mason's Big Announcement

There it is! We are having another baby!

So I am the worst at keeping secrets, and yet I have kept this one as best as I could since AUGUST 31! That is 7 weeks. 7 weeks of keeping in one of the happiest moments of our lives. But we wanted to go to the doctor first and make sure everything was okay and it is. We are 12 weeks along, and "the bean" will be making his/her arrival around May 3. Of course, since Mason was 5 weeks early our OB is expecting this one to make an early appearance as well. I have been feeling fairly well, no morning sickness or vomiting. I did have to say goodbye to thai food, the smell doesn't settle well with bean, but other than that we are doing well. I am little more tired, but I try to nap with Mason and this has been proving to help a lot.

We are using the same OB that delivered Mason (she wasn't our original OB just the one on call) but we love her AND my favorite nurse from the office just switched to Dr. E so now we have the best doctor and best nurse a prego lady could ever ask for. Steve, Mason and I went to our first appointment today and they were so surprised how much Mason has grown. He proudly wore his big bro shirt, a mom original, and he did really well considering it was a long appointment. We talked a lot about VBAC vs C-sections and I am just torn as to what to do. We still have months before a decision needs to be made but still my brain is turning. Just wanted to share with you all. Check back in to hear more about our adventures with a 15 month old and one on the way!

Mason Hits the Deck!

Before you can see the new deck- let me give you a tour of the old deck. It had a bench that took up A LOT of room, on the perimeter of the deck. it also had two flower beds, one on each side that again took up room.

deck 2006

deck 2009!

We removed the flower beds, extended the deck 4 ft to the left to touch the side of the house, adding railing, and new trex decking!

Today, the sun came out for a while so we were able to let Mason run free on the deck. Needless to say- he loves it!

Thanks Peapod and Grandma Kathy for coming out to help my mom and dad!

Busy Busy Bees

Sorry it has been so long since I blogged. Things have been going nonstop here! Here are some highlights from the last 3 weeks!

DECK:

We have thought about replacing our deck for a little over 3 years (pretty much since we moved in). Well, this summer, we finally decided it was time. So we called up my folks (aka the GREATEST parents in the world) and asked if they would be willing to help. They of course said yes, which isn't surprising except for the fact that we live in Seattle and they live in TN. So we have planning since July. In late August, Steve and I started tearing it down to make some headway before their week of work in October. We haven't had a deck for over 6 weeks now, and it was starting to get to me. I thought it may never get done, but they arrived on October 9, we worked our tails off and as they flew away today, I was at peace with the work we had done. We have a deck, and railing and a set of stairs. That leaves one set of stairs for Steve and I to do and then it is complete forever! YEAH!!! We were very blessed that the Seattle rain held off for most of their visit and we were able to get so much done. I will post pictures once the rain stops so you can see how awesome it looks.

MASON ACTIVITES:

Mason and I try to stay pretty active. We have a scheduled activity every day but Friday which is our "free day". I love having an activity to get us out of the house especially as the rain begins, but it is also sometimes hectic. Trying to get myself and a 15 month old to anyplace on time, is hard and tiring but we do it! Here is Mason at toddler group- we go once a week to class with 17 other 12-24 month olds. We have snack, do art, sing songs, play with playdo and play with all the different toys, slides, gyms that toddler group offers. We love it! Mason already knew some buddies in class but he has also met some great new friends.

here is Mason in his little chair getting ready for art (we also eat snack in these chairs:

He also really enjoys climbing on the stairs to the slide. He doesn't like to go through the red tunnel so he just smiles as me from the other side!

That is all I can think of for now. After a week of working on the deck I am done! Thanks again, mom and dad, you are the best!