Mason's First Halloween

We celebrated Mason's first Halloween with lots of family and friends!
My little pumpkin was a cutie!

Mason was not thrilled with his costume

Trick-or-treating...

...with Daddy

Kennidy as an American Girl doll, "Kit"

Family picture

Luke as a"Cowboy"

Some of the crew...Trick-or-Treating

Mason was tuckered out!

The babes of 2010 (minus Keagan):
Mia, Mason and Joseph

Best buddies:)

Bre and Joseph

The Trick-or-Treaters

Luke decided to get started on his candy

Grandma and Mason

(I love this picture:)

One of my best friends, Wendy and her two little boys, Cameron and Cooper

Cooper loves Mason

Cameron loves Mason

Mason's candy that Mommy and Daddy get to eat!

Bedtime for our little pumpkin:)

Warmest,

1 Month (Oct. 17, 2010)

I really can not believe that my little man is already 1 month old. Jeff thinks it's funny, but every time I look at the pictures from the day he was born I get teary eyed. I wonder how bad I will be when he is 1 year old...or even when he gets married?.?.? I love this little guy more than I even thought was possible.

1 MONTH With Mason
Weight: 10 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 21 inches long

*Mason had his first bath
*Mason smiles...and I don't think it is gas:)
*He is starting to "coo"
*He is sleeping in his crib
*He gets up to eat 3-4 times a night
*Nursing like a pro:)
*Usually doesn't take a paci
*Loves his swing
*Likes to be rocked to sleep
*Likes for Mommy to read "Goodnight Moon" before bed
*Loves, loves, loves his mobile
*We use a sound machine at night and he seems to like it!
*He likes to play on his playmat
*Grunts and stretches more than any kid I have ever been around
*He will be celebrating his first Halloween at the end of this month
*He met his younger cousin Joseph (5 days younger:), his other cousin Avery, and his 91 year old great-grandmother for the first time
*Mason got to go to church for the first time at Mommy's church she grew up in and also Mommy and Daddy's current church
*Celebrated with Mommy on her first birthday as a mother:)

Warmest,

The Story of Mason's Entrance Into the World

Okay...so every soon-to-be mother probably thinks a lot about D-day. I was definitely one of those women, however, it was hard to prepare for something that I had never experienced. So, being the planner that I am, Jeff and I attended birthing classes, asked other mothers for advice and even asked very specific questions about signs of labor. I thought that I was pretty well prepared, but there was one little thing no one told me about...here is the story...

So, it was Thursday (Sept. 16th) and Jeff and I were on our way back from our last doctor's appointment. We had talked with the doc and were all set for an induction early Monday morning. I dropped Jeff off at baseball practice and headed home to use my new Shark Steam Mop! When I got home I was so tired that I decided to take a short nap. After my nap one of my best friends called me and I remember telling her that I didn't feel so well. After I got off the phone with her I called my mom and asked her to come over and sit with me because I believed I had been food poisoned from something I had eaten for lunch. As I was waiting on my mom to get to my house I decided to see if the tightness and stomach cramps were consistent enough to maybe be contractions. I timed the pain for about 30 minutes and the stomach cramps were about 13 minutes apart. After that, I just thought that I was getting a stomach virus. When my mom finally arrived I became sicker and sicker. After about an hour I began throwing up and we decided to call Jeff at practice (this was about 8:00 PM). I started timing the pain again and this time they were 4-5 minutes apart and lasting for about a minute. When I talked to Jeff and told him what was going on he told me to call the doctor. Needless to say, after talking to the doctor he concluded that I was in labor. So, I called Jeff back and told him to come home that I needed to go to the hospital (which was about 2 hours away). When Jeff got home, my dad came and joined my mom and we were on our way to the hospital. The trip there was one of the worse ever. I don't ever remember being that sick in my entire life. I lost count of the number of times I got sick on our way...the 2 hours felt like 4! Finally, we made it there and they took me straight to Triage. Still, I was not convinced I was in labor...I continued to believe I had been food poisoned or I was getting a stomach virus. After the nurse hooked me up to the monitors it became a fact that I was in labor. To make a long story short, Mason's heartbeat dropped several times while I was in Triage and one of the doctors on call came in and told us that we would be staying the night (this was 1:00 AM). Jeff and I didn't mind because we were worried about Mason and I was dehydrated from being so sick. They moved me into a Labor and Delivery room and saw my regular doctor the next morning. Throughout the night Mason's heartbeat dropped several more times and everyone seemed to be concerned. When me doctor arrived promptly at 7:00 AM he weighed the pros and cons of a normal birth verses and C-section and told us that a C-section would be better for Mason. So without hesitation, Jeff and I decided that would be what we would do. At 10:45 AM they took me in to do a spinal block and at 11:28 AM Jeff and I heard the most beautiful sound we have ever heard...our son crying.

Truly, there are no words to describe the feeling when you hear your child for the first time. He was beautiful...and perfect. I remember Jeff telling me that he was ours...I will never forget that moment. The best moment of my life:)

BTW...no one told me that labor could feel like you have a stomach virus!

Warmest,

Baby Mason Is Here!

Introducing...

MASON ANDREW SZIKSAI
Born September 17, 2010 at 11:28 am
weighing in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 19.25 inches long

We love him more than we ever thought possible:)

Mason and his Daddy:)

Warmest,

New Pics of Mason's Nursery

Here are a few pictures of Mason's nursery as of last night! Jeff has been busy putting up wall art and shelves the past couple of nights! He is an awesome husband and I know he will be a great Dad! I can't wait to see him with Mason!

Before Jeff hung the artwork...

after...

I love them! I just hope Mason doesn't pee on them:)

The curtain valances that mom made...she's awesome!

New shelves

Almost complete!

Warmest,

Induction and Baby Showers

Jeff and I went to another doctor's appointment on Wednesday and the doc and I set an induction date. Jeff and I will check into the hospital next Sunday night at midnight (actually Monday morning the 20th). I am excited, nervous and scared to death! The crazy thing is that my cousin who is also pregnant is being induced Monday morning at 8:00 am. Our family is going to be running around crazy trying to see both babies. I thought it was going to be a long shot that they would be born the same week...and now...the same day!!! Crazy! Please pray for both Deanna and I and our baby boys...and that everything will go well and we will have two healthy baby boys to bring home!

I was uploading some pictures today and just remembered that I never posted any pics of our baby showers. We were blessed to have had 3 and are still amazed how good our family, friends and church have been to us. Just last Sunday we had a shower at church...and were blown away! The ladies of the church cooked a huge Italian meal and had a cake made for Mason. There were about 60-70 people there and we received a ton of gifts, gift cards and not to mention all the money people gave as a love offering. Jeff and I couldn't quit talking about how amazing our church has been to us. It will take me forever to send everyone a "Thank you" card! A couple of weeks ago the ladies that I work with also gave me a shower complete with food, cake, gifts and enough money to buy our monitors and other things for Mason. The first shower back in July was the shower that our family gave us and again, we were blessed. Mason already has so many people who loves him and are very eager to meet him. I know Jeff and I can't wait!

I plan on staying busy this week cleaning and doing last minute "nesting" before Mason gets here! We have two doctor's appointments this week...our last one is on Thursday...and I don't have to go back to work until after Christmas!

Here are some pictures from the shower given by our family and then some pics from the shower at work.

I loved the diaper cake! Thanks Kim!

Work baby shower

Loved the cake that one of my co-workers made...Thanks Jennifer!

Warmest,

FULL TERM!!!

Today we are celebrating because we are officially FULL TERM!!! I am extremely blessed to have had an A+ pregnancy thus far...considering everything Jeff and I went through before getting pregnant with sweet little Mason. I've held onto the saying on my key-chain that hangs on my rear-view mirror that "God keeps His promises." He has done that and more for us. I went to the doctor on Monday and my fluid levels were 12, no protein in my urine, and my blood pressure was great! Even better...Mason is doing wonderful and now we are just praying that labor and delivery goes as smoothly:) My last day of work is the 10th and then Mason and I will enjoy several months of "mother-son time." (I love the sound of that:) I will not be going back to work until after Christmas! Jeff and I are blessed to be able to do this financially and also knowing that I will be able to return to my awesome job is a huge comfort!

Please continue to pray for us...I have an appointment tomorrow and hopefully Mason will be arriving soon!


Warmest,

36 WEEKS

Mommy and Mason Update:

Yesterday was my 36 week appointment
Total weight gain is 25 lbs.
Blood pressure was good
Small trace of protein in my urine (no concern)
Mason's heartbeat was great! He is still growing and weighs approx. 6 lbs 6oz.
My fluid level was still at 9 (normal for 36 weeks)

We start seeing the doctor 2x a week now because I am considered "high risk." We have appointments on Monday and Thursday. It's crazy to think we have 3-4 weeks until we meet Mason!



PREGNANCY HIGHLIGHTS

WEEK: 36 weeks
TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN/LOSS: 25 lbs.
MATERNITY CLOTHES: At this point in the pregnancy I love anything that is cool and loose. I just bought some yoga pants and they are so comfy! I also bought another pair of Yellowbox flip-flops...which are great for my feet when they swell.
BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: When we got to see Mason again on the u/s and feeling him kick his little feet!
GENDER: It's still a BOY!
MOVEMENT: I think Mason is running out of room because I can feel EVERY movement he makes...but I wouldn't change it and I'm loving every minute of it! It's been pretty easy to get all of his kick counts.
FOOD CRAVING: Mexican!
WHAT I MISS: Being able to bend over or get up easily...being 5'4 and having all this extra weight is hard!
SLEEP: I'm used to Mason's nightly movement so sleep is going pretty good. However, Jeff says that I have started snoring! I don't believe him;)
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO: Seeing our baby boy
BELLY BUTTON: What belly button? My belly button is numb.
STRETCH MARKS: Still none
SHOTS: Just changed back to heparin because the shelf life is 12 hours vs. Lovenox's 24 hours. Now, we have to pray that we can time it to where I will be able to get an epidural and not do this naturally.
PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS: Heartburn!!! Some swelling in my feet a couple of times a week.
PET PEEVE(S): I hate it when a person locks their car just as I am walking by...the horn scares Mason...and quite frankly...scares me too!

Warmest,