Dear Mason

(I wrote this post about 3 weeks ago, just in case Baby R came early. As I read over it again tonight, my eyes filled with tears. I can't believe tomorrow we are meeting our little girl. See you soon, baby.)

Tonight is your last night as our only child. I have said this a million times before, but you have no idea, sweet boy, how much your world is going to change in the next 24 hours. But I want you to know, mommy and daddy love you, and that will never change. You might be worried that grandma Kathy is watching you while mommy and daddy are away- after all tomorrow will be the first night we are away from you. You might be scared when you go to the hospital and see mommy laying in a bed. You might be nervous when we bring in your sister for the first time for you to meet, but just know we will make it through this as a family.



I can promise you there will be times that you wish it was just you, mom and dad again. I can promise you that you and sister will have good times together, but you may also have some rough times. I can promise you, you won't always get along or see eye to eye. But I can also promise you that from now on, you will forever have a friend, a compainon, someone to talk to, and share childhood memories with. Someone who will one day help you make decision concerning me and dad. I can promise you that after tommorow your life will forever change, but I am hopeful that this change will only make your life better!



Get ready to meet your little sister.

All my love-

your mommy!



"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet." Vietnamese Proverb

Mother Daughter Gifts

I don't know how many people read my blog, and those of you who do, how well you know me, so I will add a little background info to this post.

{My mom is legally blind. She has an eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, or RP. She was diagnosed in 198o and then they thought she would be completely blind by now. She can still see, although, she sees very little compared to a normal person and at night or in dark settings she pretty much sees nothing. This has never stopped her from projects, being involved in our lives or her grand kids lives and to be honest, her attitude inspires me. She reminds me to always be able to laugh at yourself and to never take yourself too serious. She amazes me daily. }

In 1996, I wanted to learn to cross stitch (just one of my mom's very many talents) she taught me how, and I began a project. Soon after beginning, I learned I was not a fan of cross stiching. I didn't like the counting and it takes a really long time, so I quit my project and thought very little of it as the years went by. In 2000, my mom surprised me for my birthday with a frame. Inside was the cross stitch I had begun 4 years earlier. I loved how she added both of our initials to the cross stitch, mine for beginning it, hers for finishing it. Today, it hangs in my craft room and is probably one of the most treasured gifts I have ever received.




When I was pregnant with Mason, my mom knitted him a blanket. His yellow blanket that to this day he sleeps with everynight. I know many people worry about SIDS and blankets but it has holes in it and I felt confident that God would never let anything harm my baby while sleeping with his grandma's blanket. I know this will be a treasurer for him when he is older.


When I found out I was pregnant again and we were having a girl, my mom began a blanket for her as well. (she kept this a surprise from me) After beginning the blanket over 4 times (she would find a missed stitch or a mistake and begin again) she called to tell me she was knitting a blanket for baby R was 1/2 done and found a missed stitch. She couldn't bare to rip it out again and was sending me the blanket to see if I could fix the hole. (Side note, I learned to knit 3 years ago, and although I am still a beginner I enjoy it) She said I could fix it and mail it back for her to finish, but I could tell she was frustrated and worried she would drop another stitch. I decided, I would do for her, what she did for me, many years ago- finish a project that was too much to finish.


I have worked on the blanket nonstop for the past two weeks. I wanted it to be complete before baby R arrives. I am happy to say, today during Mason's nap, I finished it. I think this means more to me than anything I could possibly give Baby R because it was made with love by both me and my mom. I can't wait to pass it down to her, along with my cross stitch to show her that whenever you think you can't finish something, your mom (or daughter) is there to help you through it. Although, I won't be able to teach her to cross stitch, I do hope to teach her to knit, so she has a lasting connection to both me and my mom.

Side note: To learn more about RP you can visit: http://www.preventblindness.org/index.html

Mason Driving Home

It's a little long, but I love how Mason is reading his books on the way home from the grocery store. If you make it until the end you can watch him tell you who a big brother is. Only 9 more days!

Tulip Festival

Every year the Skagit Valley has an annual Tulip Festival. We have never made it, but this year I was determined to go. Mason loves flowers, plants, trees, etc. So I thought this would be a trip he would really enjoy. Plus, I wanted one last adventure before Baby R arrived. Originally, I wanted to go as a family, but Steve has had to take a lot of time for Drs. appointments, so when a mom friend asked if we wanted to go, I jumped on the chance. (plus I don't think Steve was super excited about going) I am so glad we went. Mason had a blast. He loved running free in gardens and fields. Here are a few of my favorite moments.

Mason found this frog and kept riding on him. It took a LONG time to get him away from the frog.


Mason and his buddy, Ryan, checking out the tulips. I love how excited Mason is over flowers. It reminds me to appreciate the little things.


They had Llama's. What else can I say. Boy's love animals.
Notice the outfit change. We went to two different fields and right before leaving the first field, Mason fell in a HUGE mud puddle. He had mud all over his back side. Of course, he wanted to be picked up- so I ended up with mud all over me. Luckily, I had packed a second outfit so we were good to go.
Always remember to stop and smell the tulips. Happy Spring!

Baby R's Room FINALLY!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post these, but I wanted the room to be 100% DONE and we finally put the closet doors on the closet this past weekend. So here is your tour of our little girls room. This is the view when you walk into the room and look to the left. I love my glider- it is the same one we used with Mason and I'm so happy we went with green because it matches perfectly.

This is the view when you walk into the room and look straight ahead. I finished her paintings and I love how they turned out. Yes, I know there is an empty picture frame hanging up but I want to pictures of her in there so I just left it blank (except for a picture of Mason wearing his big bro shirt from the day I told Steve we were preggo)

The closet doors!

This is her mobile with the initial painting behind them. This was taken by my sweet friend, Amy! Hence- a great pic.

This is her bedding laying over her crib.

Finally, her heartbeat bear in her crib and a lovely from Kari and Finnley!


I hope it was worth the wait to see her room! Two weeks and she will be here!

the bump

I'm not a fan of pregnancy pictures (let me rephrase that- pictures of ME pregnant!) HA, but a couple of great friends talked me into taking just a few so that I can always remember this time. I was pleasantly surprised that they turned out decent. (the quality of pictures was fantastic just still not a fan of my belly). Here are two of my favorites. Two more weeks, baby R. Can't wait to meet you!

I just love this last one of Mason giving me kisses so I included it as well!

Spring Is here!

Here is one of our last pictures as a family of three! We had a great Easter, going to church, lunch with friends and Mason enjoying his basket of goodies from the bunny! I can't believe 22 days and our baby girl will be here! Can't wait to meet you baby R!

Egg Hunts

Today we spent our morning with hundreds of other families searching for eggs! We didn't take Mason to any egg hunts last year (he wasn't crawling yet) so I was so excited to see how he would do this year. The weather didn't totally cooperate- it was 40 degrees and overcast, but no rain so we couldn't complain. The first place we went was great! They had different sections for each age group and Mason and Steve had a blast finding eggs. I was so glad we were early because it started at 10 am and by 10:15 am we were already back in the car! It was very quick! After that we headed over to a shopping village that was having an egg hunt as well. It turned out to be more like trick or treating- you just went to the stores and they gave you an egg, but it was fun and Mason refused to let go of his basket! We also saw the Easter bunny there, which I could have told you, didn't go over well. Even with Steve holding him, Mason was not excited about the bunny at all! I couldn't have asked for a better Saturday with my little family! We hope you have a great Easter too!

Mason shaking an egg, excited to see what is inside!

Mason and Dad tasting some of their treats!

Mason, Dad and the bunny. Can you tell someone is not happy?

Dad and Mason walking the boardwalk at the shopping village.

Happy Easter from the Marlowes!

Playdate at the Farm

Editor's Note: Our playgroup faithfully meets on Thursdays. Thursday is probably one of my favorite days of the week for this reason. I love getting to watch Mason play with his buddies while I get to chat with all the mama's! We have really become great friends over the last year and I can't imagine a week going by without seeing these ladies. )


Yesterday we headed out to a local farm to let the kiddos see all the animals. I love this farm, because it's kind of a hidden gem on the eastside- it is never crowded and it's free. Two of my favorite things! Needless to say the kids had the best time! They got to see chickens, turkeys, a giant pig, 5 day old piglets, bunnies, goats, sheep, and horses. We were there almost two hours and they ran around the entire time. I brought Mason a second outfit thankfully, the boy spent a lot of time on his knees looking at animals or letting me know he wanted to be carried! He was so excited to see the animals and get to pet some of them. His favorite was probably the pig- he kept running back to her. The weather wasn't the greatest (it was chilly and sprinkled off and on) but we were all prepared and the kids didn't seem to mind the weather. I can't wait for summer so we can go back and have a picnic and bring baby sister!








Mason ready to go!