Bath Time!

Mason LOVES bathtime :) Here are some pictures of him right after a bath the other night!

Merry Christmas!

Mason's first Christmas was so exciting! This year, we did lunch at Nana's house in Blythewood, then made our way back to Irmo to do dinner with Brandon's family at his Aunt Brenda's house.
We had a very eventful day needless to say! We slept very well that night :)
Now having a son, I better grasp the real reason behind Christmas. I love all the new things I'm learning being a Mother, and Brandon and I working together.
Mason was the best early Christmas gift anyone could ask for! I can't wait to spend many more Christmas's with our little family we have now!

Christmas Eve!

Tonight, we went to a Christmas play at East Lake with Brandon's family. It was an amazing play, we really enjoyed it! Mason was GREAT through-out the whole thing, even with the loud music and clapping!!
Now, we are just waiting on Santa to arrive!!! We are so excited to be celebrating Mason's first Christmas tomorrow :)

Mommy and Mason Matching Shirts :)

Okay, so I was a little jealous Brandon and Mason got matching shirts and they didn't have any that fit me left!
So, I made sure Mason and I matched the other day, and we got a pic together too! haha :)

Mason and Daddy's Christmas Shirts :)

Today we found matching shirts for Mason and Brandon at Old Navy!! They were just too cute not to buy :) (even though the only size they had left for Mason was 3-6 month, so it's a kind of big on him!)
We are so excited to celebrate mine and Brandon's 3rd Christmas together, and Mason's very first Christmas this year! I can't believe Christmas is next week! This year has flown by, I think because I was pregnant most of the year! :)

Mommy & Daddy Pics :)

Here are a couple of Brandon and I that I just love :)

Family Photos!

We had family pictures made today! We were so happy at how great they came out :) Here are a couple of our favorite shots, we will be mailing them out as soon as we get them back next week! So, be expecting them soon!

2 Weeks Old Today!

Our little Man is already 2 weeks old!!

Daddy and Mason

Here are some cute pics I got of Brandon and Mason :)

Alona's 4th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Alona!
We love you soo much and hope you had a wonderful day :)

More & More Pics!!

Mommy & Mason

1 WEEK OLD!!!

I can't believe that Mason is a week old already, he is just so amazing! I never thought I could love someone this much, or this unconditionally! (except for Brandon). I love waking up every morning and seeing his little face, and his little hands and feet. I feel so blessed to have such a healthy baby boy!

Mason with his Eyes Open!

5 days old!

Our baby is now 5 days old!!! I can't believe it :) Being a Mother is the most amazing feeling in the world. Mason is such a wonderful baby, we couldn't be more blessed!

Hiccups :)

This is a video Brandon took while we were still in the hospital of Mason only a few hours old with hiccups!!!

Mason has arrived!

Mason arrived on November 30, 2008 @ 2:02 p.m., he weighed 8lbs 8oz, and completely healthy.
Brandon and I went to the hospital Saturday night/Sunday morning at about 3:30 a.m., I was having contractions every 2 minutes! When we arrived, we met one of our wonderful nurses Heather, so told us to walk around the hosptial for about an hour to try and stir up my cervix, and get it to contract...Brandon and I started our journey around, and had fun, laughing, and just so anxious and excited that our son would be born soon!
My contractions went from tolerable, to HURTING in that hour of walking..Heather gave me a "happy" shot, and told Brandon and I to rest for a couple hours while we could..So, we did. We were both cuddled up, and watched informercials (that's all that is on at 4:30 am)
I got some sleep, but not much..I was just sooo anxious! Mom and Dad (Grandma & Grandaddy) arrived to sit with us, my Nana and Pa came also, but they left to go back to Florida Sunday too, they had been here all week for Thanksgiving).
Next time I was checked I was about 6 cm dilated. Brandon was starving, so Dad made the suggestion that Brandon should go eat now, while he still could. While Brandon go food, I got my epidural (it was amazing), and 30 min later the doctor came in, and was kind of worried bc everytime I would have a contraction, the babies heart rate would go down. So, he checked me, and informed me I was 10 cm dilated, and started telling me how to push!! The next wonderful nurse Linda, grabbed my cell phone off the table, and said call Brandon because this baby is coming soooon!!
I called Brandon, and all I had to say was "get in here NOW", 30 seconds later Brandon arrived, and we wasted no time in pushing! He was an amazing partner, kept telling me what a great job I was doing! :) 15 minutes later little Mason arrived in this world at 2:02 p.m.!!!! We were just overwhelmed with emotion, no one can ever describe the feelings you get once your child is born!
Brandon and I are so in love with our son, and we can't wait for Mason to be apart of all our friends and families lives, and for you to fall in love with him too :) Here are some pics!!

Thanksgiving Day Pics :)

Brandon and I, my brother Cody and I, and my Dad and I :)

3cm DIALATED!!!

I went to the Cardiologist and the OBGYN Monday morning. The Cardiologist said to keep taking my heart medication Lopressor, that they prescribed me in the hospital.. I'm taking that twice a day, it makes me feel a little nauseated.. but my breathing is better.
Also, he said I would not need a c-section, because they could give me the Lopressor through and IV drip while I'm in labor, so that way my heart rate would stay normal.
Dr. Silverio examined me, and told me I was negative for the Group B-Strep virus I got tested for last visit! After the examination, he informed me I was 3 CM dialated!!!! Such great news! He said it won't be any longer then two weeks until Little Mason will be here, (maybe sooner) I'm hoping sooner!!!! My next appointment is Tuesday, and Brandon will be here Tuesday afternoon for a week for Thanksgiving!!

2nd Trip to the Hospital...

My breathing got so bad tonight that I was in tears, and struggling to even catch my breath. I had to be completely standing up straight just to breath!! Ugh, it is so scary..On top of that I have anxiety/stress so that makes it ten times worse!

After they evaluated me for a while (Mason, of course looks fabulous still) I am now on daily heart medication, and daily anxiety medication.. (THANKS BRANDON'S FAMILY) The doctor stated NO ONE needs to be causing me any kind of stress or anxiety what-so-ever!

Monday is all the doctors appointments, so hopefully we will figure out when Mason will come! Here are some pics of Mom and I while we were in the hospital! (we got bored) haha

It is getting very close!

Thursday night, I realized at about 8:30 pm that I had not felt the baby move pretty much all day, and they say if you don't feel him move at least once an hour to go to the hospital. So Mom and I went.
They wheeled me straight up to labor and delivery this time, bc I am 36 weeks along now, and they were PACKED with babies, and pregnant people everywhere..(a little overwhelming.) They hooked Mason and I up to monitors and of course Mason is completely fine! The OBGYN said she wished all babies looked as great as Mason did on the monitor! :)
Me on the otherhand! I started having contractions, and that's not even what I went in there for!! Some would last for 10 minutes straight :( So, I explained to the OBGYN how much UNEEDED stress I have been under and she said that stress can definetly cause contractions...
She gave me this lovely shot called Nubain, which made me feel like I loved everyone!! haha and of course, I got a wonderful, full nights sleep in MONTHS!!
I go to the Cardiologist and OBGYN Monday!

*Picniking is addicting!!!*

Some of you may have heard...

Brandon's family has been saying some horrible things to my parents and I, and they have also told me that Mason is not Brandon's son, and also told my parents that. Which of course was just horrible.. All I can do is pray for them. Due to my heart condition I am unable to have useless and un-needed drama in mine and Mason's life right now.
It is sad that Brandon's family will never know their grandchild, but it is also a blessing I see the real people now, and not later.God does really work in ways that are for the best. Brandon and I are very excited to have our family all together soon :)

Cardiologist & OBGYN Today!

I had my cardiologist appointment this morning @ 9:00 am, I am having to wear a heart monitor for 48 hours, and I also had an echo cardio gram this morning.
I don't get my results back from the monitor or ECG until Monday at 8:45 am when I go back to see him. The heart monitor is quite a sight! and very annoying!!! But, as long as it's helping to resolve all my issues then I am just going to deal with it.
My OBGYN appointment went well, I'm scheduled to go every week now. this was my 36 week appointment, (I will be 37 weeks next Monday). He did a beta strep test on me, which was yuck! and then measured the baby, and felt to make sure I wasn't dialated or anything.. I might be having a c-section due to my heart condition.. But I will keep everyone posted!
Also, work might have to be cut short, due to my heart :( Which is a sacrifice I will have to take to make sure Mason and I are healthy!

Some Signs of Labor tonight!!!

I have had some signs of labor happen tonight, (I won't go into detail, bc some of them are a little inappropriate to put on here!) But none the less, it has started!!
Of course, I had to google everything, and it said when these signs happen it could be hours, or it could be a couple weeks!!

Either way, Mr. Mason Sykes will be here sooner then we know!!! I am beginning to get more and more nervous as the days go by...But also excited.. Brandon will be coming into town Thursday, so maybe this is God's way of having him here for his son being born, and not having to miss any class ;) haha

I will definetly be keeping everyone posted! Everyone keep your phones on at all times!!!

Trying to do things on my own!

Okay, most of you who know me, know I am not a very constructive or mathematical person... I have never put together anything in my life besides Legos!! haha

But, today I decided to reorganize a lot of things to get ready for Mason! I went to Target and bought this Adorable cube organizer thingy.. and I bought navy blue, and light blue organizing cubes to go into it. Totally cute :)

Well, I knew the box weighed about 50 lbs, bc I couldn't get it in my car very well...I was struggling indeed! Then, when I got home I opened the box, and out came about 500 pieces, along with about 200 screws, and washers, and all kinds of weird little trinkets.. I thought to myself, okay, I am going to try and do it myself... I mean, the instructions said "all you need is a phillips head screw driver and a hammer" I totally didn't even know we had both of those things at my house! haha

I called my Dad to ask him where abouts I would find these things.. he told me to wait for him, and he would help me later on during the day after he finished his errands. Of course, me being my impatient self, I assured him that I was taking on this project on my own, and it would turn out great!! He laughed of course, and said well call me later and let me know how it goes!

After finding a electric screwdriver and hammer, I went to work!! Following the step-by-step directions, making sure to get it right! Finally, I got to my last two peices left, and realized I put one on backwards!!! After that little fiasco, I had a finished product!!! :) I have never built anything in my life, so little Mason, you better be proud of your Mommy for buliding this for you!! haha I had to take pics, and share my story!!

*So precious :) *

I totally was just playing around with the camera, not thinking I was going to get anything professional looking, and we got the most precious shot :) I just love it...

Brandon came into town this weekend, and we had an amazing time... I just miss him so much. And love him with all my heart. I can't wait until he graduates!!

Life has many twist and turns...

When I talk to many of you, or blog on here, I am indeed a complainer about pregnancy... All of you who are around me on a daily basis know this! I really have not enjoyed being pregnant one bit. And, this is why I wanted to share this with all of you...
I have a friend Heather, who I went to high school with. She is engaged to Brett, who I also went to high school with. They are both wonderful, nice, great people :)
I found out through this wonderful internet world that they were expecting a baby, and that Heather was about 8 weeks behind me. I was so excited when I found out! I love hearing that other people I know are pregnant! So much fun to pregnant people for some reason.
We have been following each others pregnancies, and we also go to the same OBGYN. I would inform Heather of what was to come with future visits, and she would ask how my baby was doing after every appointment!
I knew that this past Tuesday they were going to find out the sex of their baby! Which of course, is very exciting!! After Tuesday passed, I didn't see any posts about a boy or girl..So I asked!!
Heather sent me an email that I will never forget...explaining how when they went to the doctor, (the same doctor I go to every other week now). And they found out the baby has no amniotic fluid, and never produced any kidneys or a bladder. Of course, tears were just filling my eyes at this point. Then, after explaining this disease to me. She still had the strength to be so humble in that email, and explain how it is not genetic, and they know that God has plans for their little baby.
Then, after all that, she ends the email asking how my little baby is doing? And hoping he's doing wonderful! At this point I am very much so crying... And I just couldn't imagine to put myself in her shoes, and she still wanted to make sure, my healthy baby, was still doing great! She is such a wonderful person!!! They are having to induce labor on Wednesday, and she will deliver her little angel... Please Please pray for her and Brett to be strong :)
After I read that, it made me feel so bad for complaining so much, about my back, and my nausea I get every now and then, and my sleepless nights.. Because in all that complaining, I have a healthy baby boy, that will be here in 8 weeks..healthy, and here to stay.... I realized those problems don't matter. It is all about my baby now...not how I feel.

31 weeks.....

Okay, it is getting sooo close until baby sykes-crawford will be here! and it is freaking me out a little!! I went to the doctor for my 31 weeks appointment Monday, and everything is fine, his heartbeat is SO much louder now, because he is SO much bigger :) But it is amazing to hear his little heart beating away!!
Baby is healthy, I seem to be the only one with problems! My feet keep getting sooo swollen, and it hurts like crazy. Also, I've been having some breathing troubles, like shortness of breath due to my blood pressure! yuck! AND I found a cist under my armpit by my breast the other week, it was HUGE, we were definetly nervous. The doctor said it looks okay right now, but we have to keep an eye on it! so please please keep that in your prayers :)
Other then that, I have got all baby's stuff organized and ready to go, all we need now is him! I have even got a couple pages in a scrapbook done for him! Yay! My next doctor appointment is going to be when I'm 34 weeks :) Can't wait!

Baby Shower!

Saturday was my baby shower! I had a TON of cancellations last minute :( But, it all worked out great! It was held at my Nana's house in Blythewood, some people had some trouble finding it, luckily Brandon and I hung up balloons at all the turns.
I was so glad Brandon was able to make it into town for the shower, and we got to spend a great weekend together! Everyone got us all the things we needed. Brandon and I put some things together when we got home, and that was a funny thing to watch! haha You can tell we are def first time parents :)
I am so greatful for the gifts for baby Mason, and so greatful for all the great family Brandon and I have. Thank you everyone!