The First Sign of Fall

Adam has been jonesing for fall - cool nights, hoodies and football season. It's finally here, and our newest Spartan is ready to go! She wore this little number for the MSU vs. Notre Dame game, but it apparently didn't work as we lost. It was a rare year in which we didn't make the trip to South Bend, but Adam's dad only got two tickets this year and we decided not to buy any separately - mostly for childcare reasons. But we still had fun by inviting over Adam's cousins (Derek & Emily - Mason's godparents) and their kids. Derek has always been a mild Michigan fan, but we've helped to intensify his rooting interests with our anti-Michigan mentality. We usually get together with them to watch the MSU vs. U of M but they couldn't make it this year so we had to switch weekends. They were the surrogate Irish fans for the day and luck was on their side. Thankfully we followed up the loss with a trouncing of Central Michigan (sorry mom & Megan!) but next week we start a nasty stretch that includes games against Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. While we're hoping MSU wins them all, as long as we win the Michigan game we'll be okay. :)

Whirling Weekend

This past weekend was so jam-packed full for fun, it's hard to know where to start. On Saturday we went down to Edwardsburg to celebrate Adam's cousin's marriage. Colin and Christina had a little one in May, so we got to compare chubby babies. :)

Then on Sunday we kicked off the day with Mya's baptism. She was such a good little girl during church, but when it was time for her baptism she cried and cried. (St. Ambrose does baptisms after the normal mass.) We finally got her calmed down for some pictures with Fr. O'Leary and her godparents - Megan and Dan. Yes, she is shoeless in this picture!

After the baptism we returned home for a birthday celebration for Mason, Adam and Colin. Of course the star of the celebration was Mason. He was such a happy kid opening his gifts, especially as he opened more and more Thomas trains! After everyone left and we were getting him ready for bed, he told Adam "I want to say thank you, but everyone's gone already." A moment that makes a mommy's heart melt to be sure. It is hard to believe our little guy is three already. The time just flies and flies.

Summer Wrap Up

We wrapped up the summer by visiting Grandma & Grandpa one weekend and Nana & Papa the next.

Mason was in train heaven (and so was Grandpa) the entire time we were in Bridgeport. The train-lovers hid in the basement a few hours and played with Grandpa's model train set on Saturday. Then on Sunday we all went over to Junction Valley Railroad to ride the trains.

For Labor Day weekend we went down to the lake for the last time of the summer. In a Pure Michigan moment, we went from the searing heat of summer on Saturday to the crisp winds of autumn on Sunday. Yes, summer was officially over. And as you can see from Papa's shirt, football season is upon us. The highlight of our trip to the lake was Adam's luck with fishing. Within 30 minutes he caught three 16" bass just fishing off the end of the dock, and cleaned and cooked them too.

Adventures of Maternity Leave

Adam may have gone back to work weeks ago, but we've managed to pack a lot of fun family activities into my maternity leave. Mya has been a complete trooper through all of these adventures, even when most people believed we were crazy for taking her with us. To start we went to Michigan's Adventure for the day. Mason is 36 1/2 inches, so just tall enough to go on a bunch of rides with us, and some by himself. The day had its ups and downs, but overall it was a fun trip. On the rides that go in circles, he spent most of his time on them looking at the center. "How's it work mama, how?" Maybe we have a little engineer on our hands?



We also took the family over to the Calhoun County Fair. More rides for Mason to enjoy, and more time for Mya to sit in her car seat. Mason's favorite ride at the fair was the train of course. We did walk through the animal barns too, thumbs up on the horses, bunnies, goats and sheep; thumbs down on the cows and pigs. He especially did not care for the hog that was being bathed and sounded more like he was being slaughtered. But another trip on the train and he was happy again.



We've also been able to spend a couple weekends at the lake. Mason just loves splashing in the water with daddy and papa. I love relaxing on the pier or the swing with Mya.



Speaking of Mya, we bundled her up in what must be the most uncomfortable life vest invented and took her on her very first boat ride. Like Mason did when he was little, the rocking motion put her right to sleep. Unlike Mason, Mya isn't a fan of going fast on papa's new boat. I think the wind in her hair startles her awake, but once we slow back down she falls right back to sleep.



It's been so much fun that I'm really glad we unintentionally timed out Mya's arrival with a summer break. I never thought I'd feel like a college kid returning to campus in the fall again, but I'll find myself in just that position in less than two weeks.

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Big Brother, Little Sister

I suppose the fear of ever parent with a second child on the way might be how will the first child react to having a sibling. Let's just say we were mildly concerned about Mason. Even though he gets plenty of interaction with other kids at day care, he has major bouts with mine-itis and hasn't developed an understanding of the word "gentle". Throw in Mason's need for stability and routine plus the usual backlash from the changes a new baby brings, and we thought we might have our hands full.

Thankfully Mason has been an excellent big brother from day one. When he came to the hospital to meet Mya, he seemed to understand what had happened, acknowledged her, and then proceeded to find the buttons on my bed far more interesting. Since then he can't get enough of her. If she's lying in her Boppy on the couch, he wants to lie next to her. If we're holding her, he wants to hold her too or at least hold her hand or kiss her. Before he leaves for day care, he has to give her a kiss just like us. He has, of course, had several melt downs and has been little too rough with her from time to time, but overall it's been a wonderful transition.

Before ending this post, I have to share one big brother Mason story. The first time we took Mya into day care with us to pick him up, another little boy stood and looked at her in her carrier. When Mason noticed this, he put on his "angry eyebrows" and told the other little boy "Hey, that's not your sisser! That's my sisser!" Yes, we know that's the mine-itis sneaking up again, but we couldn't help but believe he was trying to protect her too. I can almost imagine him saying the same thing to a different boy in about 15 years.

Welcome Little One

She wasn't early, she wasn't late, she was right on time. Our due date was June 27th, and I went into labor at 8pm on June 27th. In my last post I talked about how different my pregnancies were - the labors were complete opposites as well. My water broke at home with Mason, and didn't break until we were at the hospital and I was 7 cm dilated with Mya. The contractions with Mya were frequent and fierce, and slow and spaced out with Mason. Finally, and thankfully, labor with Mya lasted only 4 hours, while it lasted 12 with Mason. About the only things that were similar were the epidural and the joy we felt when she arrived.

Mya Carolyn Mattens, born June 28, 2011 at 12:17 am. She checked in at 7 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long. A full head of brown hair and the requesite steel blue eyes. She actually looks just like Mason when he was born. Can you tell who's who?
















Mason is the top picture, Mya is the bottom. Adam and I feel so blessed to have these little sweeties.