A Little Exhausted

I'm sure you have seen all the mommy posts about how Day Light Savings is kicking their butt this week!  Well my friends our family isn't any different....however we might be battling a few other sleep issues at the Murray house.

Mason has always been good at making the transition with the time change but this year seems to be different.  Not only is he getting up an hour earlier then usual he is struggling with going to be bed.  Is he over tired?  Have we hit the 24 month traditional sleep regression (I know another one)? Or has he suddenly become afraid of the dark?  He spent the better part of Sunday night turning the light on from his crib, saying "turn light on." We are now sleeping with the closet light on and closet door open slightly.  This seems to have helped and we have made bedtime progress throughout the week.  This too shall pass but we are just a little extra tried in our household....all of us.

Oh, and 32 weeks of pregnancy has hit me like a brick wall.  Pregnancy insomnia has crept in and exhaustion by the end of the day is what I am feeling.  With a little over 7 weeks to go I can only hope this too shall pass.  My growing belly might just be getting the best of me this week and I am keeping my fingers crossed my energy will be restored soon.


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On a total side note, have you seen the sales going on?  Hello, Christmas shopping from my computer.  I'm totally getting a jump on Christmas gifts this year due to the potential timing of baby girl's arrival.

Mint Arrow is a great blog that will keep you updated on the best sales and sale items but if you want my two cents this is what is keeping my busy at night:

Nordstrom up to 40% off
Gap 40% off your entire purchase with code FFSALE
Tiny Prints 25% off  (their pillows are calling my name) & if you get their coupons you should be getting a 30% off in the mail
Carter's 50% off

Ringing in the New Year; Welcome 2013!

Every year my family and I head to Florida between Christmas and New Years; it is one of my favorite places on earth! Over the years Matt has become very fond of the trip as well; hello he can get some extra golf games in before the end of the year.  When we found out we were expecting we both decided we were going to book our flight down there as usual and if all went well I would stay a few extra days with mom and the baby.  So, on Friday December 28th Mason took the his first plane ride as we headed down to FL.  It so happened that mom, Mia and I were pretty sick for the flight, so in that regard it was miserable.  However, Mason was a champ!

This trip was similar to years past but yet so different (I didn't even bring a book down there to occupy my time, knowing that Mason would do a good job of that).  I'm not going to lie; between being sick and adjusting to "vacation" with a baby it took me awhile to relax.  The lesson I learned here is that mommies don't get a vacation; however I much appreciated being a mom in the warm FL weather (not having to bundle him up was a huge plus).  One of the more special aspects of our trip was that Mason got to meet his Aunt Megan!  Megan, lives in Orlando and took the drive to come see us and hang with Mase Man.  We all truly enjoyed our visit with Megan and Dave and so look forward to seeing them again soon at their wedding in May.

Mason with Aunt Megan

We have one family tradition on our annual trip to FL and that is outlet mall shopping New Years Day! Dad had a plan and boy did it work....while we all speed shopped Dad held Mason the entire time (I'm talking hours).  Mason may look small but that isn't the case... Dad is still recovering from holding our 15 plus pound 3 month old.  The shopping trip was a success mainly for Mason because were able to pick up some really cute outfits for him.

While on our trip we took Mason swimming!  Not only he is the cutest pool bound baby I've ever seen but he truly enjoyed the water.  My mom took him in the water and really got him to love kicking and floating around.  We also discovered that Mason loves being outside; we took lots of walks while we were done there; I'm pretty sure he is missing those walks now.  Just not that doable in the cold Chicago weather. 

Worn out after a few minutes in the pool

Mom and Dad watched Mason while Mia, Marc, Matt and I went to dinner and to play some mini golf!  It was great to go on a double date with my sister and have some adult time!

Sisters

I really got spoiled while I was in FL; having so many extra hands was nice!  They aren't kidding when they say "it takes a village." I really didn't want to come home but I wasn't so sure I was up for the challenge of flying with Mason alone (more so handling all the equipment the little guy comes with).  I feel extremely lucky to have had the time down in FL, for my parents and sister for all their help and for my husband who allowed me to stay down there without him. Next year I plan to stay the entire month of January and I'm hoping some of my friends come take the trip down to hang in the sunny FL weather.

Mase and Aunt Mia

Morning sunshine!

The last couple years have been VERY busy for us; wedding, baby, move and job change!  We will look back on 2012 with fond memories but we are hoping to slow down a bit in 2013 and enjoy each other and Mason as well as get settled in our new house.