Lesson Learned

Its Friday of Memorial Day weekend...gotta love holiday weekends...Chris should be home early...I hope!

This seems like the first moment I've stopped since we came back from vacation. I had enjoyed blogging so much that I had planned to keep it going when I came back but cleaning, cooking, playing, feeding,...LIFE and reality...took over. Alas, here I am while Mason has "quiet time" (which sounds alot like regular play time, only he stays in his room or the bonus room and talks to his toys vs. me) And Micah is taking his second nap.

This week I've had some first time moments twice in the same week. The first first was coming home from my parents house... Behind my seat two little feet started kicking and his little mouth started chattering faster and faster, that's what he dose when he needs to go but really doesn't want to stop playing...I began the conversation in my head, " I mean really...NOW?, will he be able to hold it? Maybe if I don't say anything he will continue to ignore what his body is trying to tell him and keep coping with chatter and fidgeting, on the other hand if he cant ...wow... what a mess!" SO I said the words with a scowl of hope on my face, "Mason do you need to go potty?" He responded, not with his usual "no, not at all" But, with a desperate plea for help, "YES, Mommy really, really bad! But we don't have a potty in the car"...So I told him the only thing we could do is make it home or go behind a bush or tree and he said, "Well I guess we are going to have to go behind a bush or tree then" So even though we were only about 3 mins from the house I pulled the car over, he quickly got out, relieved himself and upon returning to the car said, "Sorry to make you wait Micah, I just had to go Really Bad!"

So you think I would have learned my lesson...make the kid try to go before you get in the car. Yesterday, we went to visit Grammy and as I was putting Masons shoes on he let out some gas...
Me- "Do you think you might have some poopy?"
Mason- "Not at all, just gas"
Me- (conversation in my head) "maybe I should make him try, I've already used the extra shorts we had in the bag because of the cake he sat in, and we have a long ride back and if he needs to poop there's not a chance he'll take a nap in the car"

I didn't feel like the battle so we got in the car...and he began his chatter,I was wishing I would have chosen the battle... this time we found a gas station and even though we were in the car like an hour he didn't fall asleep until we were pulling into the neighborhood. So Micah nursed in the car and Mason ended up napping in the garage for an hour. Lesson Learned, even if there is a battle...always try before you get in the car!

ITS OVER...BOOHOO

The first Haynes Family Vacation is officially seeing its last day! I’m actually sitting in the car typing in Word, hoping that I will be able to just copy and paste this into the blog. This morning we began our day at 6:54 when Micah cried from his pack n play that we had set up in our bathroom…we put him in there so he could sleep and we could sleep and he did great sleeping this week! In fact, we are gonna try to find some kind of room darkening shades for both of the boys rooms. Packing up to go home is never as fun as packing to leave for your trip…but we somehow managed to have plenty of room again for all of our stuff…however I do need to keep looking up at the cartop carrier to make sure it dosent fly open (we lost our bungee cord driving down the road, I’m sure we will stop to get another one) Right now Micah is snoozing, clutching his little yellow duck that really needs a bath while sucking his clear paci, which by the way is a horrible invention…if that thing falls on the ground its extremely difficult to find, and Mason is watching his DVD of Curious George, and its quite fun to watch Mason watch anything on tv…he makes the most hilarious facial expressions, sometimes laughs or even talks back to the show as if he is actually in the movie…he gets so wrapped up in it! Chris is just driving…there are no sounds really loud, just the “white noise” of the tires on the road. As I sit listening to the tires drive on the road I’m trying to go back through the week and think of the memories we made and they are so fresh in my mind that I can even hear sounds with the images that I see. I Loved how Mason and Micah responded to their first look at the ocean…the sound of the wind is so strong that it causes you to take a deep breath and squint your eyes. I love how Micah started to kick his legs every time he’d see the ocean and flash one of his wide silent- laugh smiles. I guess its safe to say that we all loved our beach experience! We are discovering that from now on what vacations will consist of is trying our best to provide opportunities for our boys to have the most fun possible. Doing things we know they will smile and laugh at…thankfully the giant sandbox we had in our backyard was a hit! We had awesome weather and our beach tent was another great investment for the Haynes family! We had one day where our tent was in the middle of two families. To our left was a Brazilian family and there was a little five year old boy that Mason mustered up the courage to ask if he wanted to come play with him…the boy was very excited to have some new toys to play with and so was Mason…the boy built a castle while Mason played with his new friends trucks. Not much time went by when the boy to the right, Conner, 2 yrs old, came to play too. Chris and I looked at each other as we were now able to relax in our chairs and look at the ocean and said, “well we always say we want our house to be the fun house that the kids wanna come play at” and that day it was! Vacation or not, I hope that Mason and Micah will always want to be with us the way we want to be with them, that other friends that they have will also want to be with us, that we will be the “fun” family with the “cool” parents! I’m not sure where next years vacation will take us but I am certain that it will be something that I look forward to every year. An opportunity to get away as a family and focus on each other and just enjoy spending time together!
As the trip home has progressed we have had to make several stops…not for the nursing 6 month old, not for the 3 year old needing to go potty, not for gas or coffee…for that lovely broken car top carrier that caused us to sing the theme song of Samford and Son! Two stops …no bungees or rope or tie downs, third stop a bungee but not as big as we needed, fourth stop to adjust the bungee, 5th stop to adjust the bungee, 6th stop duck tape and Chris was pleased to take my advice since I had “more redneck experience” He’s right I had thought about using duck tape back at stop 2 but figured he must be trying to think ahead and want bungees or tie downs so we could reuse them or something? We laughed as I looked back at my child hood and could recall the use of duck tape on just about anything! And the many “redneck” moments too. Oh the fun and wonder what our boys will laugh at us about? Redneck or not, the duck tape held, we made it home. Back to life back to reality…go ahead, sing it out loud…you know you want to!

Day 5

Our LAST full day on Vacation started with Mason and I going down to the pool. We played in the tree that had concrete birds spitting water on us, warmed up in the hot spa, climbed in the mouth of the “hipomumpotamus”, warmed up in the hot spa, Mason practiced jumping in to my arms without wearing his Spiderman Water Wings, we warmed up in the hot spa…and repeated this several times until Daddy and Micah came down to join us. Then Chris and I did the parent swap and he and Mason went down the big green water slide probably like 50 times (I’m not exaggerating) while I did one of my most favorite things about vacation. I know you’re probably thinking, “hmm…what was her favorite part? Laying out? Taking a nap? Going for a run?”...no, rocking Micah to sleep. He would barely start to let out his sounds of crank and I’d pick him up, give him his paci, place him in my left arm, hold him close, say “shh” and he’d be OUT, in that same position for like 30 to 45 mins. I don’t usually get the opportunity to hold Micah that long in such a peaceful state, I loved it…going into family vacation I wouldn’t have thought that I would have said that would have been my favorite part, but it was, I just know he is going to be too big for me to hold like that so soon and I am really going to miss how cuddly he is.

After the pool time we went up to the room to clean out the fridge for lunch, showered and headed back to Alligator Adventure for our “Free 2nd Day Pass” Then we went back to the great park where Mason flew the air plane/rocket, and Micah had some daddy time and a little swing in the swing. We brought some popcorn for the ducks but they didn’t like it. Whoever invented parks must have had family time in mind too! I love parks, especially this one with HUGE shade trees, a pond, walking trail, toddler playground area and an older kid play area with the foam floor (a mother probably invented the foam ground cover) After the park we found some yummy Japanese Hibachi then headed back to the ocean for our last trip to the water.
We took the popcorn the ducks didn’t like and hoped that there would be some seagulls or some kind of bird that would want to eat some but I wasn’t too worried that the popcorn would go to waste because with every throw of popcorn Mason ate some for himself too! I had hoped this last little trip to the ocean would be really enjoyable for all of us but Micah was really sleepy so I quickly took some of my favorite pictures of the weekend of Mason running alongside the ocean, the sun was at the most perfect spot to cast a reflection so it looked as if he was walking on water. After he was done feeding the birds he just decided to take a little seat in the ocean and let the waves wash over him one last time. I smiled as I took pictures and looked back up to where Chris was holding Micah and I wished so badly that Micah would have been in a better mood because I would have loved for Micah to share that same moment with Mason (plus I really would have liked those pictures) but …sigh…I’ll keep my little Micah as long as I can. Once again Chris and I did the parent swap and He and Mason stayed behind to build one last castle and I whispered in Micah’s ear, “its okay buddy, momma’s here, and I don’t want you to ever grow up!” Then he grabbed my face and gave me the most wonderful slobbery kiss ever! Really I do want him to grow up but he is just sooo sweet, I just LOVE to hold him.
After the boys went to bed Chris and I finished off our ice cream and decided that once vacation was over we HAD to get back to eating right and exercising!

Day 3

Cover me up Mommy! Mason asked to be covered up in the sand today...this was as far as he wanted to be covered though.

Micah had no trouble napping on the beach!

I wish I had my external drive with me because we have a picture of Mason wearing the exact same thing sitting in the bumbo...I Really want to compare the two...they look so much the same but so different too!

Best investment EVER was a tent for the beach...However, with two boys I'm sure we will put it to use at some ball fields too!

Today, day 3, was another great day for the Haynes Family Vacation! Beach, naps, Outback, Wendy's for Ice Cream, park, hide n seek, bed! The beach weather is perfect! Micah is doing great and Mason had an extra cooperative day. We love it when he has days like this they give us the proud parent faces, you know the kind, when you look at your kid, smile with your eyes and grin...that face often is accompanied by a glance at your spouse and a glance back at your kid, followed with... sigh...,"we have such a good little boy." We had lots of those moments today. My favorite was when Chris was giving Mason the choice of going to get vanilla ice cream at Chick fila and playing in their play place or going to an ice cream shop for chocolate ice cream (his favorite)

Mason-"How about chocowate ice cream in a cone ...they dont have that at Chick Fila so wets try to find somewhere that has chocowate ice cream in a cone."

He had been so good all day so we were really excited to be able to get the boy some chocolate ice cream in a cone.

Chris- "okay Mason we will keep driving and looking for somewhere that might have chocolate ice cream in a cone"

Mason- "Its okay daddy wif you cant find some chocowate ice cream in a cone we can just go back to chick fila"

Chris and Mandy- Proud parent face, sigh, we have such a sweet little boy!

We ended up at Wendy's for a chocolate frosty in a cup and then a visit to the great park near the O.D. Pavilion where Mason loved playing, and Micah fell asleep in my arms and then Mason said "I wove vacation, its fun on vacation" This is the perfect family vacation spot!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Pool, Pier and Problem Solving

POOL: The pool has a lazy river, hot tub, covered shaded splash play area, heated pool and a spa pool. Did I mention that Chris is really GREAT at planning trips? Chris and Mason played in the pool after the beach and Micah and I laid on the pool chairs in the shade. Mason had a blast and Micah and I did too! Micah just kicked his feet and looked up at the fake leaves on a really lame looking fake palm tree swaying in the room and started babbling new sounds...its so fun to watch Micah growing and changing and its fulfilling to see Mason eager to try new things and I just love watching him play and smile and laugh... if that's what vacation is about... having fun... then Mason has got that part down!

Here he is looking up at the lame tree (I say lame because I know my dad could make some really awesome looking palm trees) He didn't mind or maybe that's what the new sounds were? After Beach and pool time we headed up for some quiet time. Mason watched a little Barney and Dinosaur Train, Micah and I napped and Chris had some afternoon coffee...I love vacation! Then we decided to take a walk on the Cherry Grove Pier.

PIER: Mason was very excited about walking out on the pier he started his walk to the end and you know hes really enjoying himself when he starts swinging his little arms, its so cute and always brings a smile to my face to watch him! So, the arms started swinging, his mouth had a grin and he was off to the end of the pier! Chris and I were enjoying the walk and we tried, like most parents do when you're giving your child a new experience, to point things out like..."Look, there are surfers" (who knew you could surf at Myrtle Beach?) Mason wasn't too impressed with the surfers he just started looking around for something to throw into the ocean...he reached down and pulled up a little piece of the pier and threw it in! We said, "Ooh watch, that man caught a fish!" Mason responded with, "what man" I knew the fisherman could hear me but I was at a loss for how to describe to Mason the man because all that was coming to my mind was "the fat old man with gray hair and a pony tail right over there yanking on his fishing pole, I bet its a big fish, oh but what if it isn't and I hurt the mans feelings" ...that would never do so I just kept pointing and let Chris come up with a description, "the fisherman"...Mason wasn't impressed with the fisherman either, he just said, "that's a little fish"..."GREAT" I thought...lets hurry and get to the end of the pier. We made it to the end and suddenly the pier became Masons ship out in the water! Mason and I went up on the top of the ship and Micah and Chris stayed below....(I love the pictures that Chris took of Mason and I) Chris then became Masons Capetian and I picked Micah up and rocked him to sleep and the two of us stayed in that position, Micah sleeping in my arms, for the next 40 mins! So glad we made it to the pier! ILVDIT!

PROBLEM SOLVING: After returning from the pier we (well, Chris, Micah and Myself) ate dinner. After dinner we took a family walk to the grocery store. While there Mason picked out some Cheez-its. When we got back the problem solving began...or maybe I should say, the negotiating. Its amazing what a kid will do for something he wants. Chris wanted Mason to eat his dinner, Mason wanted some Cheez-its. When I came into the room Mason had already eaten his carrots, and noodles all that was left was his meat. Mason said, "Daddy, how many bites of meat...3?" Chris said, "Sure, you've eaten most of your food" So Mason ate the bites and I gave him a little baggie of like 4 Cheez-its to which Mason said he wanted more cheezits. Chris said, "How about that for every bite of meat you eat, I'll put a cheez it in your baggie" SO, Mason started eating and eating, suddenly the meat must have miraculously tasted good to Mason or maybe he just so desperately wanted more Cheez its in his bag that he would do anything? He ate his meat, his dinner plate was empty and the bag of Cheez its was full. Mason said, "wow, look at all my Cheez its!" To which Chris responded, "if you're too full from eating all your meat you can just save your cheez its for tomorrow" Mason thought that was a perfect plan and in the end they both had what they wanted. Chris got Mason to eat his meat and Mason got a full baggie of Chees-its! Actually I guess Chris really "won" because we didn't really want Mason to eat a bunch of Cheez its anyway. Wonder how many times my parents "won" when I thought I had "won"???

The Ocean

Before we left for the beach we made a Wal-Mart run (Mason thought we said Lawn-Mart) we let him pick out some sand toys and when I got down to the beach this morning with Micah I was glad to see that Chris and Mason had put the toys to good use! You gotta love the beach for kids, especially Mason...he loves dirt and sand and unfortunately, most times he wants to put his hands in the dirt are not times that I want him to. For example, every time I go to Gateway to teach music he reaches his hands down to pick up the dirt that is still left from their new construction and runs it through his fingers. The first night we were here and were on our way in to eat at a restaurant, as soon as we got out of the car he reached down and put his hands in the dirt...yuck... when we leave church by the sidewalk is a place where no grass is growing so Mason has to reach down and rub his little hands in the dirt. Each time he does it my eyes roll and my face squishes in disgust...but really why does this bother me so badly? After all its just dirt. Today he LOVED having so much sand to dig in!

A high pitched squeal followed by lots of laughs and an occasional roar is what I heard as Chris lifted Mason over the crashing waves. The waves are so strong and could probably knock Mason down but he wasn't afraid of them at all. But why should he have been, he knew his daddy wouldn't let the waves knock him down, instead Mason seemed to feel as if he was a champion of the waves!

Micah is the happiest, most easy going baby ever! He woke up this morning and I put him back down for an early nap before we went out to the beach. We were on the beach and he loved it LOVED IT! He'd laugh, babble play with his toes and the little mesh bag the sand toys came in. And whoever invented the Bumbo was a genius! A great little chair that you can take in the sand in the ocean on your table...wherever! When we noticed he was a little sleepy looking Chris just held him and he drifted right off to sleep for another nap in his daddy's arms. When he woke up he ate some sweet potatoes and just sat and played with a little tag from one of the toys...he is so happy! He might be one of the easiest babies ever!

My dad used to always make cars out of the sand for us so in honor of him Mason and I made two cars out of the sand! So these cars are for you dad!

Momma Lemar

I've said it before and I'll say it again...One of the most miraculous things about life to me is how God created a mother with the ability to be a child's life line through milk for an entire year and in other places longer than that if needed. Yesterday at alligator adventures we had the chance to watch a mother Lemar nurse her tiny infant...it was so miraculous and human like too! God is so awesome to create nutrition especially designed for the offspring of a mother so that she can sustain her baby. The Lemar mother was just sitting there holding her infant looking around and at one point she looked down and seemed to give her baby a little kiss and looked back up. In that moment I connected with that Lemar for I've done that same thing many times while nursing. She would stroke his little head and he would pull off and look around then nestle back close to his mothers chest as she held him close. Then came another lamer with what looked more like the toddler hanging on his back and again I connected, this "toddler Lemar" was hanging on the back of his parent. He still needed him but not like the infant did. As I photographed these animals and watched their little family I thought about my little family, how Micah is surviving on my milk, being comforted by our kisses and touch and how Mason is hanging on to our every move and we are showing him the world and how to respond and react to each and every situation. I just pray that as our boys begin to grow and need us less and less to survive that they will somehow gain the wisdom and knowledge they need to not only survive, but to thrive and become men that will know how to be kind and care for other people just like this little momma Lemar is caring for her infant! And as tiresome as it can be trying to be the best model for them, in the moments we wish they weren't "on our backs" I pray that Chris and I will have the wisdom and knowledge to know how to parent: Care for them, love them, discipline them, and train them in the way they should go so when they are older they will not depart from the love they know God has for them. So while Micah needs me in his life to be his "lifeline" of nutrition I hope that just as I am sustaining him that he and Mason will learn to be fully alive and sustained in Christ! That at an early age they will come to know how miraculous Jesus Christ and his Love for them is and that they will have moments like I had where they can connect with something else in creation and it will bring them back to God and his AWESOMENESS!