Baby Sprinkle for Max

My sweet friend Ruthie, My Mom, and Sister-in-law Angie threw me a Baby Sprinkle recently.

They held it at Canvas and Cocktails in Cherry Creek, it was a blast! Girl time and channeling our inner artist:-)

Grandma Bert even got in on the fun....

I am not artistic in the least bit but this was painted with love! It was funny because my Mom painted hers for Mason and it looks almost identical to mine, even though we did not sit close to each other. Give us a straight edge and a protractor and we can make things happen but free-hand not so much.  

The Canvas Crew...some of my friends/family are very talented artists.

A close up of my attempt at the "Whimsical tree"

My Mom made Grandma June's chocolate cream and sour cream lemon pies...Good Lord those are delicious.

I received a nice quantity of baby essentials and adorable clothes, thank you!

Fun memory board made by my sweet sister-in-law Angie....and most of you know this but to keep with the "M" trend we decided on Max William Gilbreath. He will just be Max...not Maxwell or Maximus and the William is after my Dad who is very special to us M's. 

Such a fun way to celebrate this new life, thank you Ruthie for suggesting this fun event, Love you.

I have such awesome girlfriends in my life (those who were there and those far away too) and each of you will hold a piece of my heart always! XOXO

Part 2:A day at the beach and time on the Banning Bench

After we left Mickey's house we headed south to Coronado.

On the way we stopped a few times. Once to view the Marines loading a Ship via helicopter

and another to gain some family history on my Mom's side.

My Mom's grandparents lived in Encinitas when it was a sleepy farming community and she has always told us great memories of her times here as a kid...it was really fun to see that the "Stone Steps" they helped build and lived next to were still there.

This would have been their front yard...but of course the simple house that once stood there was replaced by a million dollar home. After a major meltdown from Mason we decided it was time to get to the beach.

The long car ride paired with two non-stop days at Disney made Mason's other personality come out...My Dad calls him

It was chilly in San Diego but that doesn't stop us Colorado kids from dipping out toes in the Big Blue.

The boys felt creative too and whipped up a little Sand Castle

Impressive huh :-)???

Our overnight beach stay was a little too short but we soaked up every minute we could. I highly recommend the Hotel Coronado if you are headed to the San Diego area. Lots of history, great cuisine, and nice accommodations.

California trip Part 1: Mickey's house

My husband has been chastising me about updating the blog. Its all the bon bon eating and couch laying that has prevented me from doing so:-) Life has been busy and in my free moments recently I have fallen victim to the book series Fifty Shades of Grey...I will be in church for the next year repenting for reading those.

Our fun CA trip started at Mickey's house...aka the California Grand Hotel

I have been to Disneyland quite a few times in my life because my family lives in Southern CA but this was our first time staying at the park and I have to say with a little one it was quite a treat to be so close. The hotel is very nice with an abundance of kid activities and direct access to California adventure, Disney's sister park.

As soon as we checked in and did our routine bed jumping we headed to dinner.

A client of my parents had recommended the Napa Rose Restaurant at the hotel, we were a little skeptical of the white table cloths but than we were reminded "its Disneyland" we cater to kids. So my spoiled three year old dined on filet Mignon and mashed potatoes. And we dined on the best salad I have ever had...."Smiling Tiger Salad" - Tempura Fried Lobster, Spicy Beef, Asian Greens and Coconut-Lime Vinaigrette

With our stomachs and taste buds more than satisfied we headed into the park for some late night rides.

We walked onto every ride...Awesome!

we started with Pirates of the Caribbean, than the Haunted House, than decided we should get soaked on Splash Mountain!

We caught a glimpse of Mickey in a late night parade

and wrapped up the night with "Its a small world" which is really mild compared to the other rides we went on. The music put us in a trance and we staggered back to the hotel exhausted and excited for the upcoming day.

What else do you start your day with at Disneyland?

While we waited for my sweet family to arrive, Mason got in on some Pluto action.

As soon as my cousins Kelsie and Kate, their families/Husbands and my Aunt Kelly arrived we were ready to hit this Disney thing running. Mason and Karly are only 6 weeks apart and were instant buds. She is such a free spirit like Mason and their energy levels were well matched.

Mason after his first roller coaster, Big Thunder. He was more interested in the rides than the characters.

Cutie pie cousins

and baby cousin Abby June, this one is a Monkey. Started walking at 8 months and hasn't stopped but man is she cute....

So after 8 hours of rides and walking we stopped for some dinner and Mason finally gave out for a 10 minute power nap...Isn't his Papa nice to cover him with the napkin?

We finished out our fun Disney day with the World of Color water show....pretty spectacular. Brought a tear to my ear with all the music and animation...Love Disney.

and Disney Churros...it was my one request on our visit.

Favorite Rides (I couldn't ride a good majority of them):

Matt- California Screamin Rollercoaster

Micah - California Soarin

Mason - Splash Mountain

Grandma - Pirates of the Caribbean

Papa - California Soarin

We packed a lot in to our few days at the resort and this pregnant Mom definitely felt it at night but all in all being with family, the weather, the light crowds, and seeing such a fun place through your child's eyes made our visit one we will never forget.

The next morning Mason was seriously bummed we were leaving for the beach, so we tried to distract with a little pool time.

and of course souvenirs...this is Matt's impression of a "Disney Dad" loaded up with all the crap you buy your kids while there:-)

Mason talks about Disneyland everyday and some days all day...I have to ask him to find another topic because he is obsessed with the rides he went on and the ones he was still too short to go on. Maybe when baby Max is 3.5 we will return for round 2.

5 months down and a baby brother

We had the best trip to California recently and I am almost done sorting and posting all those pictures.

5 Months down and 4 long ones to go:-)

I think everyone who reads this, already knows we are having a boy but if you needed visual evidence, here it is:-)

He is a mover, thus it is hard to get a decent image. A banana with legs and arms is how they describe a 20- week old fetus.

Walking into the Doctor my Mom asked Mason what he thought the baby was. He has always said girl and that day he said "A baby boy"-)

The ultra-sound was awesome, well fairly awesome, after I broke the table in the first room and they had to move the machine and us to another,  it will be a moment I will never forget. I had my Matty, my Mason, and my Mom all in there eagerly waiting to see this sweet baby. The ultra sound tech announced the sex fairly quickly and Mason said "I am going to have a baby boy and I think he is going to look like me!!!" Pure Love.

So I am sure after you read my 4 month blog where I stated my desire to have a girl, you are wondering how I am feeling? I am going to be honest; I am excited and sad at the same time. I feel guilty saying that. I know my feelings are not a reflection of how I/we will feel for this beautiful gift of a baby boy, they are just my selfish want for a daughter. I know the pure love I will feel for him and the bond he and Mason will share is going to be awesome, far more awesome than I can even imagine. At first the news was like "OK, I know how to do this baby boy thing" and than in the middle of the night I woke immensely sad as if I was mourning the loss of some little girl I never knew. I just kept thinking of all the things I share with my mom, all the things a mother and daughter have, and that when my boys someday marry and leave....I would be all alone. Pretty stupid to worry about right? So in the wee hours of the mourning I called my Mom. She just kept saying "we have to trust his plan" and that she was sad too but after she prayed about it, she just felt at peace, that all these boys were going to be a grand part of our lives....and they are.  She said "the doors in our life our never closed and I know you and Matt have always planned two kids but who knows what the future holds!"

My dad's reaction "well at least the wedding budget will be small and who knows maybe we have a pair of Manning's on our hands:-)" Love my Dad!

So I am not saying one way or the other if a third will happen but for the first time I am open to it. I am sure a large percent of families with three kids have the third for this reason:-) BUT for now we are just going to focus on this great gift we are being given and look forward to all the wonderful things ahead with two healthy boys....

Another energetic and creative boy to own my heart.

Plus the bond of brothers is so special and all around me: 

My Dad and his older brother Mike. Best friends, they moved all the time as kids because my Grandpa was in the air force and my Dad said "he never had to worry about making friends because he had Mike."

Matt and Nick, only 20 months apart and though Matt thought we were having a girl he stated "I think its really cool that Mason gets to have a brother like I do, I wouldn't change that for anything."

and my nephews Keegan and Cormic; totally buddies and playmates!

I found this cute quote that is a little out of date for the times but still describes the brotherly love I can imagine:

It snowed last year too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea. ~Dylan Thomas