The Kintz Family: June 2012

For my first mother's day this year Mike and Tyler surprised me with a cruise! I had absolutely no clue at all that I was going to be so spoiled for Mother's Day. I told them this was awfully big and they are going to have to get really good to be able to beat this one.

Mike and I took Tyler to Jupiter Beach to stay with my parents and Grandma Lillian while we were gone. It was very hard to say goodbye. As we were about 10 minutes from my parents house I teared up a bit and said "I dont think I can do this" and then Mike reminded me there was no going back or we would lose lots of money. (Leave it to my husband to think of the money aspect- haha. For those of you that know Mike you know he would never let us lose a penny.)

We boarded our cruise on June 16 from Miami, Florida. We have 5 nights of relaxation, fun, and time to just be husband and wife instead of mommy and daddy. Mike upgraded us to a balcony room and I have now decided I would not have it another way. The rooms were more spacious than I had ever seen on my other cruises!

This was the bed and sofa. Out the window we had two chairs and a table on the balcony.

We went to dinner each night in the main dining room and had a table just the two of us. We, of course, got to know all the people at the tables around us. Mike and I have never been ones to just keep to ourselves.

Our neighbors told us to pose like this and said it was "fabulous". I beg to differ as I think it is very awkard but oh well!

Our first stop was Ochos Rios, Jamaica. We had been there 3 years ago on our honeymoon but we still were excited to go to Margaritaville because last time we were there it was really fun! We had a great time (a little too great actually). Here are the pictures of the beginning of the time in Jamaica. I ended up losing my camera later in the day but the next day on the cruise ship it was found!

The next stop was Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands! We had never been there before so it was a great time! We went on an excursion that took us on a boat ride out to Stingray City Sandbar and then to snorkel in the ocean at a reef. We really enjoyed this!

I screamed when I first got in the water as they come right up to you but I quickly learned they would not hurt me. They were VERY slimy but soft! The last picture I was getting a stingray massage with her sucker. The big stingrays are females, males are tiny. Weird?!?

Overall, the cruise was wonderful and we did exactly what we wanted... RELAXED! It was so good to get back home with Tyler after being away for 5 nights but much needed time away. He was in great hands with my mom, dad and grandma! :) Thank you so much for watching him so we could take this trip!

Cant wait to see what next Mother's Day brings.......... JUST KIDDING!

-- A very lucky wife and mom --

So I am really going to try to get better about this whole blogging business. An entire year has gone by and not a single blog on my part. Oops. I wanted to update on this past year so this one may take a bit of time.

May 10, 2011- Tyler was born at 3:00 pm weighing 7 lbs, 6 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long!
The first few weeks he slept pretty much all the time. The first week of his life we stayed at my mom and dad's house because I was not able to climb the stairs at our house. They helped us (really Mike) get through the first week since I was on pain killers and in tears every night around 7pm. (No, I am not a wimp. Yes, I had some serious complications and pain would not subside.)
By about 3 weeks old, Tyler was sleeping in his own room in his own crib. The first few nights were tough on me as I jumped at every single breath he took. haha.
Tyler started sleeping through the night very early on. I would give him his late bottle (usually around 11pm-12am) and he would wake up when Mike did around 6 am for his next bottle.
He was a gassy little guy. He had to take gas drops in almost every bottle and we finally switched to fussiness and gas formula for a few months. It was so sad because he would just cry and get all red faced but could not do anything about it. :( Not fun.
At about 3 months we started introducing cereal and he LOVED cereal. He would eat about 2 spoonfuls a night and then sleep through the night.
Also at 3 months (or around there) he started rolling over a bit. It was so funny because he could only roll one way at first. It took a few weeks to master the rolling to the left.
At about 6 months we started jar foods. He loved food (and still does)! Especially the orange foods like carrots and sweet potatoes. His face would actually turn orange from eating so much of them. I thought this was a myth but it really does happen! People would stop us and comment on how orange he was. LOL.
Also at 6 months he was crawling. He started with the army crawl and could not figure out how to get up on all fours. We had him ready for the bath one night with just a diaper on crawling on the carpet and it must have hurt because he all of a sudden out of nowhere got up on all fours and took off.
The night before he turned 10 months he took about 11 steps! We were so happy he started walking but then he decided that was it for a few weeks. I think he scared himself. About 2 weeks later he was on the go! He skipped the "walking" and started with "sprinting".
For his first birthday we had a Sesame Street party! It was so fun to decorate and get the presents all wrapped in Sesame Street wrap. My dad's culinary school made the Elmo cake and surprised us! I made character cupcakes and we had a bounce house. We had a great turnout!
At 13 months we went with Aunt Carrie and Abby and Knox to get our first haircut! Pig Tails and Crew Cuts in Little Rock did a wonderful job! He loved it so much he cried when we made him get down. It is amazing how with one haircut he looks like a boy not a baby anymore!!!!
Now, at almost 14 months old he is a boy on a mission. He knows exactly what he wants and when he wants it. He will nod his head yes and no, come pull on your hand if he needs help, uses a spoon (still messy though), holds his own cups, climbs up on things, marches, blows kisses, babbles (dada, mama and yes are three clear words we have heard), blinks, laughs out loud, plays hide and seek, rides his four wheeler, swims and floats on his back, and the list keeps growing everyday!

There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for allowing me the opportunity to raise this little boy. He is such a blessing and I have enjoyed each and every day of being called his mommy! I could not ask for a better husband and father to help as well! He is always playing with him, teaching him new things, reading him books, swimming with him, etc. I truly am blessed!

Thanks for reading this extra long post of the re-cap of the first year. I am sure I missed quite a bit but tried to touch on the most important milestones! Check back more often as I am going to get better but need to be help accountable. Here are some pictures of the first year (in no particular order).

<3 A very proud momma