From a pumpkin to a Jack O Lantern

Last night we FINALLY carved our pumpkin. :) I guess we are a little slow on the get go this year. Anywho, Daddy, Mason and Mommy headed out to the garage to carve the pumpkin that Mason picked out at the pumpkin patch. Daddy basically did all the work but it was still a fun time for everyone. Here is the play by play of the event:

Daddy and Mason drawing out the face on our pumpkin

Mason showing off his cool Halloween BOO shirt

Daddy scooping out the inside of the pumpkin

Daddy carving out the face of the pumpkin which is soon to be a Jack O Lantern

Daddy and Mason with the finished product!!

Imagination Movers and a Fall festival

On Sunday October 18th Derrek and Mason had a DAY OF FUN!!! They weren't alone though so that made it all the better. They were joined by our friends Roger and Barrett Smith. The day started with a fun filled lunch at Chuck E Cheese. Mason LOVES C-E-C!! He had a blast riding on all the little rides and playing with his buddy Barrett and eating some yummy pizza. I do have to admit myself that C-E-C has some great pizza. After their fun filled lunch it was off to see the IMAGINATION MOVERS!!! For those who dont know who the Movers are they are a group of 4 men that sing and dance and solve problems (aka idea emergency's). Their show is on the Disney channel in the morning and Mason is OBSESSED with them. :) When we found out they were on tour and coming to Houston I immediately bought tickets for him. The big bummer of the whole day was that they were not allowed to take camera's into the Toyota Center during the show. Derrek said that Mason had a blast!! He was up and dancing and yelling and jumping and singing along with the Movers. The woman sitting in front of the daddy's and the boys even turned around to pay them the compliment that she was so impressed with them for taking their kids to the show. They were very literally the only daddy's in the place. :) I am so glad that Mason got to go and enjoy this show but I was very sad that I didnt get to see him in action for myself. It was some great Daddy and Mason time though!!!

The daddy's and the boys getting ready for the IMAGINATION MOVERS

Mason at Chuck E Cheese

Yesterday we took Mason and Samantha to the little fall festival at our church. They had jumping houses, carnival games, hot dogs and trick o treating for the kids. We dressed the two of them up in their costumes and set off for a fun evening. It took Mason a little while to warm up to playing all the games but by the end of the evening he was a pro at all of them. He looked so cute in his superman costume. Samantha was adorable in her flower costume too but being the bad parents that we are we didn't get a pic of her in it. Oops!!

A picture of Samantha from earlier in the day. She is so dramatic isn't she? This is her " No pictures please"

Our little Superman at the festival

The pumpkin patch

Today we took a trip to a local pumpkin patch here in Pearland. The weather was perfect for this little outing. I dressed both kids in Halloween outfits just for the occasion. Initially Mason was not very into it but eventually he warmed up and we ended up leaving with a beautiful pumpkin that daddy will get to carve with Mason very soon. Samantha had a great time too.

Samantha all dressed and ready to go in her pumpkin onesie and her baby legs with matching bow.

Mason loved the tractor

My two precious children together. Poor Samantha is sort of just hanging there but at least he didn't drop her :)

The Park

Last week we ventured out for our first family outing. Poor Mason has been so great at home that we decided we needed to get him out of the house. So, we took him to the park and Samantha came too. He had a great time swinging and climbing and both mommy and daddy got some playtime with him. The weather was even agreeable. We parked Samantha under the shade and there was a breeze which was great for all the running around that Mason was doing. A good time was had by all and hopefully we will get to do it again soon.

Daddy and Mason on the bridge

Mason swinging like a big boy

My brave little climber

Samantha enjoying her time at the park in her stroller

Life as a family of 4

Well it has been a week since The LeRouax clan became a family of 4 and I have to personally say that I think we are doing an okay job with the transition. Mason has been such a champ about having his little sister in the house. He is so sweet and he is the best helper ever!! If he sees one of her paci's just sitting around he immediately picks it up and brings it to her. If she is having her diaper changed he will go and get the new diaper for her AND he even throws away the dirty one. He is always up for giving her a hug and kiss when she is near by and when he hasn't seen her in a while he will go around the house looking for her just so that he can say hi to her. It is the most adorable thing ever!! He truly loves his baby sister. Samantha has decided to cut mom and dad some slack these past few nights. She goes to bed at about 10:45ish and wakes at 3:30am. She gets her diaper changed and her belly full then goes back down by 4:30 am. She will then sleep until about 7:30ish. How wonderful to only have her get up once in the middle of the night. I wont hold my breath about it but I am hoping that she can keep up the good work. To actually still be getting a combined 6 hours or more at night is FABULOUS!! She really is a very sweet baby. Oh, she had her first Dr appt yesterday and after leaving the hospital weighing 6 pounds 1 ounce she is now weighing in at 6 pounds 5.5 ounces. She gained 4.5 ounces in 4 days. Hooray!! Mama is feeding her good :) Derrek has been an amazing help while he has been home and I am a wee bit worried about being on my own next week but I am trying to keep the faith that I can get it done. My recovery from the c-section is going well. i am no longer on my pain medicine and can now get in and out of my bed with out the help of a step stool (aka Masons toddler potty) haha. I am hoping the carpal tunnel will be gone by next week and then I will really be back in full mommy mode.

Mason and daddy. Notice Mason is wearing Derrek's work boots which is what makes him look so shorty in this picture.

Baby Samantha at 1 week old

The amazing birthing gift I got from my hubby. 3/4 carat diamond studs. He gave these to me the day before I had Samantha and I never got a chance to blog about it separately. What a fabulous hubby I have. :)

Samantha Ryan LeRouax

Our baby girl has arrived!! On Tuesday September 29th 2009 Derrek and I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 am to begin the preparation for the arrival of our daughter. This was all very new to us for a couple of reasons: 1. With Mason I went into labor on my own and it was all very hectic and last minute and 2. This was going to be my first c-section. It was all very odd to just be walking into the hospital to have a baby and not be in any sort of pain what so ever. It was like I was going in just to pick out the one I wanted haha. So we get there and get put into the c-section prepping room. I get asked a ton of questions and get some blood drawn and an IV put in (I hate those) etc, etc... I kept asking Derrek what time it was b/c I was getting so anxious and felt like I had been there forever. So after two hours of prep (which felt like 50) my Dr arrives and we are ready to go. They gave Derrek his scrubs and sent him to the waiting area as I walked my happy self back to the OR. I get my epidural (which was not as painful the first time with Mason probably b/c the contractions were so much worse) and they lay me down to get this show on the road. I started to feel sick before they even started (now I know why they dont let you eat or drink anything after midnight the night before) but after some adjustments and oxygen I was good to go. They bring Derrek in and we get started at about 7:30 am. Then by 7:46 am I hear a little squealy cry and she is here!!! Derrek was so funny running back and forth between me and the baby. He wanted to see her and he wanted to tell me all about her at the same time since I couldn't see what was going on. He was so excited!! I do have to admit that overall the procedure part was pretty easy cheesy its the recovery that I have NOT been a big fan of. BUT, in the end it is a small sacrifice for the gift I have been given and this to shall pass. Mommy, Daddy and Mason are so in love with the newest member of our family. When we got home today Mason asked to see "amantha" and the first thing he did was give her a hug and a kiss and say " Hi amantha". Her name may never have the S in front of it again :) He has been so helpful in the short time that we have been here and it gives me hope that he will not have any huge difficulty adjusting to having her in the house. I guess only time will tell if I am right about that one or not. BUT, so far so good.

Samantha Ryan LeRouax

September 29, 2009 @ 7:46 am

6 pounds 9 ounces

19.25 inches long

Here is our little princess 24 hours after delivery.