Back to Work

Sadly, I had to kiss both my boys goodbye this morning and send them off to Day Care. In some ways, it was easier this time around because I knew what to expect and was better prepared. I think it also helped that we've known Connie, our Day Care provider, for 2 years now and know how good she is with the kids and just how much they love being with her and the other boys, so we know they are well loved and looked after in our absence.

Even with that, it was definitely the longest day ever and there were moments when I felt like I was missing a part of myself (like a limb or something), but it was my little Tubba Wubba that I was lost without.

Here are a few pics of Mason on his first day at Day Care:

Our sweet boys!

I really don't think there are words to describe just how in love we are with these boys! They are so amazing and sweet and funny; we just can't get enough of them!

This is the last week I have off for maternity leave before returning to work, so I'm trying to soak up every single moment with them, especially Mason who is home with me everyday and will be going to Day Care for the first time when I return to work on July 27th.

Mason has started blowing raspberries and bubbles, he also loves gnawing on his fists (or anything else he can stuff in his mouth). Here are some videos showing his new "skills"!

Our little baker...

Hunter just loves helping out in the kitchen, especially when it involves chocolate treats! Here are some pictures of him helping mommy make rice krispy treats dipped in chocolate and his all time favorite...cake balls! (He even made a few without eating them this time.)

After dinner jam session...

After dinner in the Vandrey household, we generally have dance parties, jam session or some other bit of silliness! This particular evening Hunter wanted to jam on the electric guitar with Dad!

As you may gather from Ryan's song, we had corn on the cob for dinner and it was indeed stuck in our teeth! :o)

New House?

Ryan and I are happy to report that our 3 year search for a new home may have finally come to an end! We were very excited when we came across this house in Forest Hill. In addition to being a larger home with more indoor living space, it is set on a 12 acre lot...can't wait to watch the boys running around the property! The neighborhood is awesome and looks to have other children around Hunter and Mason's age. It is also in a great school district. Almost seems too good to be true, but this is exactly what we have been waiting for and we are SOOO glad we didn't settle for some of the other houses we've looked at in the past!!

The next few months will be hectic with inspections and renting our current home, but if all goes well we should settle on September 14th. YEA!!

Back to O.C.

Another trip to visit Mom-mom in Ocean City means lots of water time!

As always we had a wonderful time and hope to make one last trip before the end of summer.

We love you mom!

A sweet moment captured on film...

Hunter joined Mason in his play gym this morning for some play time, then gave him some unexpected love before jetting on to something else.

Our Happy Boy!

Mason continues to be a delight, smiling and cooing any time you make eye contact with him. He is so darn sweet, it's kind of hard to believe he is ours! LOL!

Music Man

As you know from other posts, Hunter loves music. He loves playing various toy instruments, dancing around and even singing. When we go to Opa and Mimi's house it is a special treat because Opa has a drum set and allows Hunter to play.

As you can see from the videos below, Hunter is just tickled, especially since he had an audience of devoted fans dancing in front of him!

2 Months Old on the 4th of July!

Time flies when you're having fun... and it blasts right past you when you have 2 little boys!!!! Mason is already 2 months old and even though it seems like yesterday when we were waiting for him to arrive, he has already assimilated himself into our daily routine. He has managed to keep the full head of long brown hair he was born with and it is as wild as ever, shooting out in all directions.
His 2-month check-up with the doctor confirmed what we already knew, Mason is healthy, happy, and growing at an incredible rate!!! At the check up he weighed 13 lbs 3 ozs (84th percentile), was 24.5 inches long (93rd percentile) and a head circumference of 16.4 inches (87th percentile). If you are like us, you will have gone back to Hunter's 2 month measurements and see that Mason has outgrown his big brother at this stage! The doctor even commented during our visit that he is bigger than most 4 month olds.
Mason is really starting to interact with us these days...he follows us with his eyes all around the room and does lots of cooing and gurgling. He also has one of the best smiles in the world, and all you have to do to get one is make eye contact!! He is indeed a sweetheart! Mason can also bat at and grasp his toys and is even, on occasion, rolling over from front to back when placed on his tummy.
Coinciding with the 2 month anniversary of his birth was 4th of July weekend. It was pretty hot, but our neighbors threw one of the biggest (and longest) backyard parties we have ever witnessed on our block. The party lasted for 2 days and included a 60 foot tent, volleyball net, tons of delicious food and drinks, and a 2-story tall, 67 foot inflatable water slide for the kids (including Ryan) to play on. In addition to seeing the town of Bel Air's fireworks from our backyard, our neighbors also put on a show of their own which was quite spectacular, though it did end with one misfire into an inflatable pool in another neighbors yard, which is now, sadly, no longer inflatable!
All-in-all, we feel very lucky, very happy, and very TIRED these days. It is just hard to believe we have wrapped so much into the first 2 months... the next few should be a wild ride!!!