Disney Cruise

The day before Mason's birthday we left for a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. It was Mason's first airplane trip and I was nervous how he would do. Not only did we have to fly to Orlando, but then we had about a 45 minute bus ride to Port Canaveral to board the ship. He did a great job! All the older kids going to Disney World on the plane starting clapping when we landed so Mason did too!

Just after landing in Orlando

Strolling through the airport

Being greeted by Mickey

Our "Welcome Aboard" Photo

Once our family was welcomed onboard by the crew we grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading to our rooms to change for the sail away party and dinner. When the ship leaves there is a big party on the pool deck which was a lot of fun.

Dinner the first night was at the Animator's Palate. It was a really neat restaurant where Crush from Finding Nemo came onto the walls and talked to the guests. We met the family that we would be dining with for the rest of the trip as well as our wait staff for the trip.

Mason at dinner

The next morning our little birthday boy woke up in Nassau. After a quick breakfast in our room we headed off to the Atlantis resort to spend some time at their pools. We also wanted to check out their aquarium since Mason seems to love fish so much! The weather was gorgeous when we arrived, but started to pour after lunch. Luckily we did our swimming first so once it started raining we went in to check out all the aquatic exhibits.

Breakfast on the balcony

Swimming at the Atlantis

Looking at all the fish

Mason on a big chair

The night of Mason's birthday we had dinner at the Enchanted Garden. Our waitstaff brought out a little cake for him and sang, but he wasn't too sure what was going on.

At dinner

Happy Birthday

After dinner

Outside the Walt Disney Theater

So tired

We spent the next day at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. It was so much fun! The weather was perfect too. Devin & I went parasailing while Mason spent some time on the beach with Auntie Erica and Grandma Monica. We all did some swimming in the ocean before lunch and then took Mason to the splash park. After all that swimming he took a nap on the beach while Erica, Devin & I went snorkeling. I think everyone had a blast here but we had to get back on the ship to get ready for the big pirate night!

Heading out to parasail

On our way up

Ocean dip

Playing in the sand with Auntie Erica

Time to swim!

off to the splash park

Pelican Plunge

That night was "Pirate Night" aboard the ship. Dinner was at the Royal Palace that night and all guests were encouraged to dress up in pirate attire. There was a pirate party after dinner and another party with fireworks and more food later that night (Mason was already asleep).

Our little pirate before dinner

Pirate Party

At dinner

After dinner a photographer actually asked us to take some pictures of Mason. He was totally cheesing for the camera.

Waking up for our "day at sea"

Our last day was spent at sea enjoying all the activities on the boat. In the morning Mason won 2nd place in the ship's diaper dash. It was such a funny experience. People were crowded all around these babies screaming at them to crawl. I'll add the video later! The afternoon was spent at the Nemo's Reef splash pad as well as riding the Aqua Duck. We didn't have time to do half of what there was to offer. We definitely need to sail longer next time.

Diaper Dash

Our dasher after the race

Aqua Duck

Devin & I on the Aqua Duck

Erica & I on the Aqua Duck

Nemo's Reef

Relaxing

After dinner our last night

I think we were all sad to go home and can't wait to go back. This was a fantastic, although too short, vacation. Everyone had a great time!

Looking out the plane window on the way home

Happy Birthday Mason!

Just about one year ago our lives changed forever, and most definitely for the better. Mason was born and we were instantly changed. This past year has been filled with many firsts and overwhelming amounts of happiness and love. Being a parent to this wonderful little man is such a privilege. We are truly blessed. We look back and can't believe that he's a year old already. He's grown so much! A look back...

Right after birth

One month

Two months

Three months

Four months

Five months

Six months

Seven months

Eight months

Nine months

Ten months

Eleven months

and finally...ONE YEAR!!

Mason has officially "graduated" to whole milk and continues to explore new foods. Nuts are the only ones still off limits to him so he's having a blast trying new things. He'll sign to tell us "more" and says "all done" when he's done eating. He is still working on his lower molars (we hope they will cut through any day now) and has a total of 8 teeth. He continues to run all over the house with his walkers and has begun to climb up on the couch. He takes some steps on his own, but tends to realize that he can travel faster if he crawls so stops trying to walk. The doctor said that's typical and that he'll walk at his own pace so we nervously await that day. He now walks while only holding on to one of our fingers so it's only a matter of time.

He now weighs 24 pounds, is 30 1/4 inches long, and has a head circumference of 18 1/2 inches.

At the doctor's office

Pumpkin Farm

Today we went to Konow's Corn Maze. I won tickets on the radio so we decided to go and get Mason's pumpkin. It was a beautiful day and Mason seemed to have a great time enjoying all they had to offer.

Free family photo from the sponsoring radio station

Riding a mini John Deere tractor

and then a full size one with Daddy

Playing in the corn pit

Riding the Cow Train Express with Mommy

Family Photo

Time to choose a pumpkin...

How about this one??

Maybe this one??

So many pumpkins, how can I choose just one?

How about I get these two??

Mason & his pumpkins

Eleven Months

It's hard to believe that Mason will be one in just a matter of weeks. The time has sure flown! He is becoming such a big boy. He now has all eight front teeth and talks up a storm. He is such a happy little guy and enjoys mimicking everyone. He is standing well unassisted and is constantly running around the house with his walkers (tearing up anything in his way!). He is getting more comfortable with the idea of walking on his own and will take off while only holding on to someone by one hand. Once he realizes that he can do it by himself we're gonna be in trouble!

He didn't grow that much in the past month. He now weighs about 23 pounds 6 ounces, is 30 inches long, and has a head circumference of 18 1/2 inches.

Mason at eleven months (crossing the finish line with Mommy in his first 5K)

After the race with Daddy (showing off his Disney Marathon shirt)

Dining With Diego

Before Mason was born people kept wanting to know what we were going to name him. We wanted to keep it a secret so it somehow became a joke among many that we were going to name him Diego (Dora if it was a girl). When we found out that the zoo was having a breakfast with Diego we thought it would be fun to take Mason and let him meet the real Diego. He wasn't too interested in Diego and made some strange faces at him, but had a good time eating breakfast and watching all the little girls that were there! He even won one of the gift baskets they raffled off. We stayed at the zoo after breakfast to visit the Fisher Price toy tent as well as visit Stingray Bay and the Dolphin Show.

Meeting Diego with Daddy (as you can see, he wasn't quite sure about this)

We're not quite sure what this face was all about, but we found it to be pretty funny!

Mason "petting" the stingrays

Mommy & Daddy feeding the stingrays

Checking out the Fisher Price gift basket he won

The Aquarium

We've been talking about taking Mason to the aquarium for months and decided to wait until the schools were back in session in the hopes of avoiding the crowds. We took him the week after Labor Day and our timing couldn't have been better. There weren't many people there at all and Mason had a great time getting to see all the different fish.

Waiting for the show to begin

Viewing the penguins from Daddy's shoulders

Hanging out with Daddy in the tent

Having a blast getting close to everything