A lotta talk and some smiles / visiting the Platts

Well, Here is a video of our little Mason. He's getting SO big! He's barely 3 months old, but he's as big as his cousin, Toby, who is already 6 months! We don't say Mason is chubby. We say he's "thriving." haha.

Last week I was able to take the boys and make a trip to Utah to see my family. What a fun time that was! I spent SO much time with my mommy and got to see almost everyone. The only people who didn't make it out were Jon and Randi, but they were here in Washington! :) We got to meet Damien and Toby, and Andrew had SO much fun playing with Hannah, Josslyn and Katherine! It was really such a fun trip! On Monday, Ben stayed home from school for a full day to spend time with all of us. Greg and Ilene went apartment hunting and I had the DELIGHTFUL pleasure of helping to watch Toby while they were gone! What a ham! Donovan and Olya came by that day, too, so Damien and Hannah were there to play and show off! It was So nice being able to catch up with Olya and Ilene again. They are such a wonderful part of our family! Tanya made it over, too, and Doug came Monday with his new girlfriend, Sarah. (Thurday he brought Josslyn and Kathy to see us.) Julie had an honor choir concert on Wednesday night (in which, I must say, she did a FANTASTIC job!), and we got lots of game and talk time in! Andrew just LOVED being with Grandma and Grandpa and he gave the BEST hugs, complete with good pats on the back! :) It was a LONG drive to spend just a few days, but it was SO worth it. The kids were fantastic, but they were sure happy to see Daddy when we got home!! What a blessing! We are so happy to be back on the Western side of the U.S. again. This drive is actually possible with two children! :) Thanks, Mom and Dad, for letting us impose again! We sure loved being there! We'll see you all again in July! :)

Grandma and Mason
Grandma and Andrew

Grandma is GOOD at getting babies to sleep!

Andrew LOVED the stairs!
All the cousins that could make it down!
Hannah, Damien, Toby, Andrew and Mason
Grandpa and Andrew
Grandpa and Mason

There is NOTHING better than family members getting together and enjoying each other!

Cindy Turns The Big 2-5!

So My birthday was fun. JJ's parents came on the 5th and watched Mason and Andrew for us so we could go out as a couple to celebrate! We got all dressed up fancy and JJ took me to a local Italian restaurant (Leonardo's) which had FABULOUS food! Then we went driving and just spent time together as a couple...it's been a LONG time since we were able to do that! After a long drive we stopped by Dairy Queen for a yummy snack and then headed home. What a wonderful evening! On our way home we crossed the Odabashian bridge on the North end of town coming home. As we started onto the bridge, a car sped past us at about 100 mph (no exaggeration) and threw a BEER BOTTLE at our car. Luckily nothing was broken but the bottle, but we ended up with two dents, scratched paint and scratched glass. I am relatively irritated and JJ was so mad that we ended up speeding to catch up with the car, to no avail. If it were up to JJ, we would have followed the car and probably gotten into a fight, so I'm glad that I told him NO and we went home to our family. I swear, the drama never ends! But, the birthday celebration was fun! :) So, now I'm 25 years... a whole quarter of a century! It's amazing the things that we see and accomplish in our lifetimes. I have a whole lot more to do, though! Looking forward to the rest of my life! "I plan to live forever.... so far so good!"

Our Easter

This year was the first year Andrew could really enjoy his Easter. We had so much fun getting AJ and Mason dressed up and handsome for church! John's parents were able to drop by for a couple of hours for dinner and for an Easter egg hunt. The weather was pretty nice, but we had a few rain drops during the hunt. Andrew was so cute reaching down and finding eggs that we hid in plain sight. Next year he'll have to really search for them! JJ's buddy, KC, was up visiting before his move to Phoenix, so we had a full house and it was SO fun! In fact, since JJ had to work that day, KC and I went to church together with the boys. The Chapel was full, so we were sitting on metal chairs in the cultural hall. One moment Andrew was sitting next to me and the next he was on the floor behind the chairs. He almost landed on the people behind us as he slid THROUGH the back of the chair and onto the floor. That was a moment I had wished for a camera! He was such a trooper that he didn't even cry, though I was terrified that he would! What a good kid!

March Madness!

Well, Well, Well! It's MARCH! Can you believe how time is FLYING this year!? It's been quite an adventure for all of us here in the Cross Household.


JJ is still going to school. Almost finished with his first quarter. He's cut hours at work to part time and is going to school full time. He's taking a FULL load of 18 credits and it's been a challenge. I'm sure that next quarter will be easier.

Andrew is getting bigger, but not gaining much weight. In November he weighed 3 ounces more than he does now, but he's grown 2 inches. He's in the 75th percentile for height and the 10th percentile for weight. He's healthy, he's just slender! Lately he's learned how to throw fits and has spent some time in time-out because of it. Poor kid. Learning and being disciplined is so hard! :) He might start in to the terrible twos a little early. Oh joy!

Mason is holding his head up for quite a while now. He's getting bigger. He's up to 11 lbs 4 oz as of last week, which means he's gained a pound a week since birth. Good for him! We love our "Chunky Monkey"

My life is relatively boring. No, it's pretty busy. I watch a little boy named Hunter Monday through Friday for 10 hours. It's fun because he's a month younger than Andrew and they enjoy playing together. He weighs 10 lbs MORE than Andrew and is about 2" shorter, so it's a whole different situation when I pick HIM up! He's a cutie, though. We have a lot of fun.

Well, here are the latest photos. Hope you enjoy them! Love you all.

Cindy and the rest of the Cross Family

Helping Daddy In The Garage

Sleepy Time With Daddy

Passed Out!

An Indoor Camp out!

Just The Boys (Daddy and Andrew are PLOTTING something!)

Andrew is learning to comb his hair!

He's well-fed, wouldn't you agree?

Brothers share EVERYTHING (right mommy?!)

Spit Up and String Cheese

Mason laughed today. What a beautiful sound! And, like his brother, he laughed in his sleep, so he must have been having a good dream. Surely something about throwing things at Andrew or sitting on his head. Seems appropriate for a little brother to want to start the rivalry already! There's something magical about a baby's laugh or smile, wouldn't you agree? It melts my heart and reminds me how thankful I am for sleep-deprivation and no chance of a moment to myself! What a wonderful gift! (Sure, laugh, but as a parent, somewhere inside you, you understand exactly what I mean!) Blessings....

JJ feels blessed, to a degree. Well, maybe more like relieved! I moved Mason out of the bedroom and into his own room last weekend (Feb 9th), as per JJ's request. Boy, that was difficult for me... only 3 weeks old. JJ gets more sleep. Sure he wakes up when I get in and out of bed, but he sleeps while I'm gone, which is more sleep than I've been getting lately. I cross the house and head into Mason's room for feedings and changings. I am always PRAYING that Andrew doesn't wake up while Mason fusses, and somehow we've been able to keep Andrew sleeping through the night. (Thanks for the tip, Mom. Andrew is baby monitor-less! It was hard, but I did it!) Andrew was having a hard time during teething...more molars. So, JJ sleeps and AJ sleeps. 2 less people to take care of! haha. Blessings again!

So, overall, I'm pretty content. Sleep-deprivation isn't so bad when you have two beautiful children that love you and adore you. I always say "Andrew takes good care of his mommy" and I mean it. Andrew really makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING right. Whether it's just a new word or a great big hug, he's always surprising me and making me feel good. I love that little boy! I hope Mason is at least half of what Andrew has been for JJ and I. Last night, after bath, Andrew hugged me and hugged me and hugged me! It was SO sweet! JJ has had his share of surprise kisses and hugs lately, and even Mason has gotten a few kisses on the head. Andrew is such a sweet boy! Blessings, Blessings, Blessings!

So there are my thoughts for today. Nothing really profound, as you all know, I'm not the type. I'll probably be writing more shortly, if I don't forget! xoxo

Welcome Baby Mason!

Well, It finally happened! The moment we had long awaited has arrived! Mason James Cross was born on January 21st, 2008 at 10:32 am! He was 7 lbs 2 oz and 18 1/2 inches long! Although arriving 3 weeks early, Mason is happy and healthy and giving us all a new reason to smile!!

Mommy's labor was quick and easy (aside from painful contractions, but we expected that!) and everything went really well! Mason came out a boy, just like we had been promised, so we were all ready for him! :)



Andrew is relatively fond of baby brother. Aside from a good knock to the noggin and a music box to the forehead, he's been really nice to Mason. :) He's really becoming quite the helper and protector and I can use all the help I can get! AJ doesn't really like to touch Mason, but he's warming up. He touched his hair and ear today. It's going to take some time.

JJ is doing a great job, too. Poor guy has to be my support system as well as a daddy to two crazy boys! He's so wonderful and wants to make sure that AJ knows he hasn't been replaced. He walks around the house talking to his "buddy" and they play together a lot.


My mom, dad, Julie and Ben all came out when Mason was born. We had such a great visit and really enjoyed having them here! Dad was able to bless Mason in church on the 27th, the day President Hinckley died. A bittersweet day. He looked so handsome and JJ's parents attended with us. This has all been such a positive experience, though JJ is anxious to move Mason into his own room.


Overall, life is pretty good. JJ just started a new job at Sears in the automotive shop. He's also enrolled in 18 credits of classes, which keeps him pretty busy and up late! He's a very hard-working guy and he's doing great. After we get a little more settled in with Mason's schedule, I'll start babysitting a little boy just one month younger than AJ. Andrew will love having a friend around to play with. Mommy gets a little boring at times. We are looking forward to that.


Okay that's the update for now! We'll write again soon! Hope you all are well! xoxo

The Cross Family (all 4 of us!!)

Welcome To Wenatchee

Hello Everyone!

Well, well, well! It has been WAY too long since I last updated. Let's see what I can fill you in on really quick-like.

We made the move from North Carolina to Washington state without a hitch! :) We had a little trouble with Andrew adjusting to the car ride, but who would want to sit in a chair for that long without any time to run around!? We stopped briefly in Kentucky to let him out and enjoy the sunshine and grass, but it was soon time to get back on the road. We made it to Utah in great time! Perfection!! By the way, the day we left Jacksonville, we took a pregnancy test and, that's right, we're PREGNANT! I'm sure most of you know that already.

JJ flew back to N. Carolina to finish up the Marines and then made the trek back across in his truck in Mid-August. He made it all the way in something like 62 hours. Crazy guy...he could have stopped and slept more, but he chose to drive all the way through and find his way to his family (who were waiting as patiently as possible). We had a great reunion with daddy. Andrew sure loves his daddy! JJ is now completely separated from the Marines and is starting school on Jan 7th in the Automotive Tech program. He's working at Les Schwab and really loves it. He's all boy, what can I say?

I've just been busy with Andrew and gearing up for a new one... another BOY. Mason James is due on February 13th (please don't let him be a day late!) and we are really excited to meet him and welcome him to our family. Andrew points at my tummy whenever I ask him where "Baby Mason" is but I'm not sure he understands fully what that is. He'll understand when baby brother comes home. But life has been a lot of fun.

We have been living outside of Leavenworth at JJ's parent's cabin for the last few months while we got all settled in, but after 36 inches of snow, and JJ's hour commute to work (each way) we decided we'd had enough. We bought a house out in East Wenatchee and are LOVING being close to work and town. We are MUCH closer to doctors now, too, and that is a blessing in and of itself. We are enjoying our time here and will be here for at least a few years while JJ is going to school...maybe longer...depending on where he gets his job afterward.

Andrew is 16 months today. He's growing like crazy...looking more and more like a boy instead of a baby. He's enjoying the snow, as long as it isn't past his knees. He will be moving out of his crib and into a twin bed in March...we hope that will go well. He says well over 50 words and picks up a new one every day. Today's word is "dishes." We are pretty proud of him... He knows the difference between a triangle and a circle, can make different animal sounds, and is learning colors now. He will show you stripes and polka-dots, too! :) He's going to be getting his first haircut this week, too.

We had JJ's parents over for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas. It has been a wonderful end to our year and we are looking forward to 2008! We have been so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family--on both sides. Everyone has been so generous to us and we are so thankful. I have attached a few pictures of our endeavors and will try to be better about updating on here as often as possible. We love you all and can't wait to see you again at the family reunion 2008! xoxoxoxo

The Cross Family