Friday, January 29, 2010

Poopy

Mason,

I had to write today. Yesterday, you looked SO cute for your Granddaddy and Grandma's birthday dinner.
 You also looked cute in your outfit this morning....apparently, you didn't think so. That's right Mason, you pooped on Mommy while eating for the third time this week! You have some seriously explosive poop! So guess what? You and Mommy took a shower together :) It was so cute. You didn't seem to mind at all (of course reading it now, you probably are minding...a lot). Anyway, had to share that.

Love you,
Mommy

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

11 weeks

Mason, 

So you are about 11 1/2 weeks now. I fall more in love with you each day. You smile constantly and love to coo. Laying flat, you can now lift your head. A few days ago, you started rubbing your eyes when you get tired. I retired all of your newborn clothes this week. 0-3 in all but Old Navy clothes; you are in 3-6 months in their clothes. You are in size 2 diapers now too. Mommy figured that out the hard way...It is so much fun watching you become a big boy. 

Night time has changed since I wrote last. Eating once at night only lasted a few days. You eat two or three times a night but you are continuing to sleep through transitions so I am thankful for 3 segments of 3 hour sleep! 

Love,
Momma

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Night time

Mason,
It has been about a week since your night time light bulb turned on. You have been going to sleep around 10:30 and not waking to eat until 3:00-4:00 in the morning, then waking again 3-4 hours later for your first feeding. 

Our night time ritual begins with you eating around 9:30, then a bath (3 nights a week), diaper and pajamas, then a story. Once you start getting fussy, I will turn off the lamp and sing to you until you get tired. Then I will lay you down still awake and you fall asleep all by yourself! Daddy and I are super proud of you. Because I have been going to sleep within 30 minutes, I have been getting about 4-4 1/2 hours of consecutive sleep! Daddy and I wonder what did it for you. Age? Temperature turn down? Lavendar room scent? Who knows, but who cares. We are all sleeping better and could not be more thankful. 

In other news, you are talking and smiling up a storm. I wish my eyes were a camcorder because I can never grab it fast enough! My eyes get all teary when you look at me and smile and start gabbing (so the camcorder would be broken anyway). You are so much fun to play with!

Talk to you later,
Mom

Friday, January 15, 2010

Random Name Facts

Mason, 

Where did we get your name you ask? Well, Mason we choose after looking at top 1000 names. Frankly, it was the only name we could agree on. 2 other contenders were Jack and Rhett. Based on your 3D ultrasound, you looked like neither of those. Daddy also liked Jax. Mommy will consider it for a future sibling (if we have a boy). It just so happens your granddaddy was a mason. Warren is after you great grandpa which I can only tell you in words why I wanted to name you after him. 

In Ohio, there is a town named Mason in Warren County.

There is a Mason High School in Falls Church, VA. Our house is off of Falls Church Road.

A B list celebrity Kourtney Kardashian has a son born a month after you named Mason and he boyfriend's name is Scott. Kourtney also has a sister named Kimmy, meaning Kourtney's son Mason also has an Aunt Kimmy.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

2 month check up

Mason,

You did better than Mommy yesterday! You had 2 shots in your left leg, one in your right, and an oral "shot." I wanted to cry when you turned strawberry red and started screaming but thankfully, it was time for you to eat so you forgot about it immediately after you started eating. After the appointment, you only woke up to eat until night time and even at night, you slept fairly well (for you that means eating twice and mommy or daddy putting you back to bed 3 times). Your pediatrician has no advice for us on how to help you teach yourself to fall asleep. Initially, you will fall asleep on your own (yeah!) but after about an hour, you wake up and cannot put yourself back. It stinks for all of us because we all just want sleep. Daddy and I are just praying you grow out of it by the time I go back to work in 4 weeks.

Exactly 10 pounds 21 1/2 inches long with a head circumference of 38 cm, you are a peanut. 10th percentile in height and 15th in weight! Sorry baby boy but you are probably not going to be the next LeBron James. She said you were strong and when I told you how good you were doing holding your head up, she was happy.














Practicing lifting your head. At this point, you do it the best when you are on someone chest or over their shoulder.

Today is the day we met for the first time. I was changing you on your pack and play and you locked eyes with me and smiled and made noise for about a minute. It was wonderful! Of course, I grabbed the video camera as soon as I could. I didn't catch that moment but I caught you smiling and talking!














You smiling when playing with Daddy

A little over a week ago, you started producing a lot of saliva. You love to lick now, especially my arm! You blow bubbles all the time, just like your Aunt Kimmy did. Earlier this week, we went to breakfast with your friend Summer and her mommy Jenny. It is fascinating to see the differences between you two. You are such an active baby.














Feeling blessed by the Lord,
Mommy

Friday, January 8, 2010

Flashback to your delivery















Mason,
Now this was the fun part. Not being sarcastic!

I received the epidural about 45 minutes after I was admitted and it was a piece of cake. Your Grammy, Pop, and Aunt Kimmy arrived very shortly after we called to to them (2:30 am) and at that point, they decided we should get some sleep since we never did sleep (3:30 am). Since I wasn't sleeping, the nurse went ahead and started me on Pitocin and when that only got me from 4 cm to 6 cm, she called the doctor in to break my water. Dr. Ruffin (Mommy's favorite!) told me that first babies take longer but that she hoped I delivered before she went off call at 7:00 that night. Well, Mommy went from 6 cm to 9 cm in about an hour and from 9 cm to 10 cm in about 30 minutes. So about 8:30 after I told the nurse I wanted to push, I got the go ahead. 


Mommy was in no pain. There was a window in our room and the sun had just come up and it was a beautiful fall day. The nurses, doctor, Daddy, and I were laughing and smiling and I remember saying as I was pushing, "this is actually fun." I know I am very blessed to have had it so easy. Dr. Ruffin came in around 9:15 and you were delivered at 9:25. I admit, your head coming out made me feel like I was on fire but it was only more of an incentive to get you out of there (sorry if TMI). I got to hold you for only a second since you were so tiny. In fact the first thing I said to you was, "he is so tiny." 
Seeing you for the first time was magical. I couldn't believe the baby I had talked about and dreamed about having my whole life was finally here. This is his body, his eyes. These are the noises and faces he makes. You were just as amazing then as you are now!

Love always,
Mom



Flashback to when we found out we were in labor!


Mason,
So you may not have been happy in the above picture but your Mommy and Daddy were! Delivering you was one of the greatest experiences I will ever have. Your labor show us that you wanted to meet us just as bad as we wanted to meet you. Here is the story, Wee One...

Tuesday, the two of us went to the doctor because I was cramping. The doctor decided to check to see how far along I was in the early labor process. Turns out I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. The doctor said, ""well, I'll see you next week." I said, "of course because I come to see you every week." He proceeded to point toward the hospital and say, "no, over there." I was a bit stunned because we were only 37 1/2 weeks. For the remainder of the week, I had what I believed to be contractions (I had no clue). On Wednesday, Dad
dy and I went to Scalinis for their eggplant since it a rumor that it brings on labor within 48 hours (I ate my leftovers on Friday so we kinda did). 

Then comes Saturday night. We choose La Parilla for dinner since my principal advised me that spicy food may also induce labor. Well...once we got home, I noticed the contractions were coming more frequently. I timed them and they weren't consistent and I wasn't in any pain at all so I figured it was false labor. Daddy was completing the fini
shing touches on the hardwood floors when I decided to hit the hay. While in the bathroom, I noticed I was bleeding substantially so I called Daddy upstairs. He advised we call the doctor who advise we come in to the hospital to make sure all was good. Since we didn't see the urgency, we finished packing our hospital bag and changed clothes. I remember singing in the car on the way. Still in no pain at all (1:00 am). 
After watching Daddy sleep and waiting an hour in the waiting room since they were full, we were sent to the area where they decide to admit you or not. At that point, my contractions seemed like they were 4 minutes apart but since I was still in no pain, I knew, as well as Daddy, that we were going to be sent home. WRONG! 4 cm dilated, fully effaced, with a bulging bag...we were in labor! 

Contractions 3 minutes apart
Right when we found out we were going to have you that day

2 months old


Whoa! I have a 2 month old. Mason, you are so fun and awesome! The past 3 nights have been great too. You are still eating twice at night but you have been sleeping through most of your transitions! You get more handsome by the day. I think you look like me but Daddy swears you look like him. We both hope you look like us because you are so beautiful. 
Yesterday, you went to Benjamin's house and he loved playing with you! He grabbed you and kept wanting to touch you. His mommy and I are looking forward to when you two can play together. 
Love you,
Mommy

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Sorry

Dear Mason,

I don't mean to write every day but I just see things in you each day that are amazing enough to note! Since Monday night, your grunt-like talking has turned into real cooing. Sometimes you even smile while doing it! It is so wonderful hearing you and I am so glad that you started cooing when your great pop (namesake) and great grammy where singing to you.

You are also doing a great job holding your head up, especially when we hold you over our shoulder. Aunt Kimmy wanted me to mention that you enjoy when she rocks you to John Mayer. I think you enjoy when she runs around the house with you more!

Talk to you soon baby boy,
Mom

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Nicknames

Current nicknames:
Mae, Mae Mae, Sha Mae Mae (Daddy hates that one), Wee One, Wee Man, Nugget, Wubbie, Honey Bunny, Boo Boo Bunny, and Boogie Woogie (sometimes I will go as far as to add Choo Choo at the end)

Aunt Kimmy calls you Pooze...also what she calls the dog so I am not sure about that one

Based on this picture, we should call you outlaw!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

8 weeks

Sweet Mason,

You are crying in your swing because you are super overtired :( Too bad the Mariachi band isn't still playing. We went to La Parilla for dinner tonight and you feel asleep to the live Mariachi band; they even played "rock a bye baby" for you. The minute they stopped playing, you started crying and once they started again, you fell back to sleep. I told you that you loved music! Ok, I am going to pick you up....

So it is Monday morning. when you get upset, all you want is Mommy. Something about the way I hold you, I guess. You fall asleep the minute I hold you. Last night, you were screaming in your crib and Daddy was trying so hard to put you "back nigh night" and once he gave you to me, you were asleep. Your connection to me is fascinating and amazing. What a privilege it is to be your mommy. Of course, you love your Daddy too. He is the fun guy. I swear he is going to have issues disciplining you when you get older.

Anyway, you were 8 weeks yesterday and will be 2 months old this week! Whoa! You get your shots next week and I can promise I will cry. Yesterday was a great day for you. You rolled over AND smiled at me. You officially are out of your preemie clothes. You are just t
oo tall now. Your legs have really filled out too. The picture on the left was taken when you were one week old. The picture on the right in from today!
 













The doctor started you on a new reflux medicine and I hope it starts working soon. I change your outfits twice a day because of your spit up and sometimes you cry when you eat :(
Mason, you are a talker! At night, we can hear you in your room talking to yourself. I will send Daddy in to make sure you aren't awake and about to fuss and he said your eyes are closed! You talk yourself to sleep. I can't wait until you have words and I know what you are saying :)
Oh, HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is now 2010 and to celebrate, we went to a bar and grille with your friends Benjamin and Raegan and listened to live music. You were so distracted, you wouldn't even eat. 
You in your new year's outfit! So handsome in a tux!

I love you baby and am looking forward to watching you grow this new year,
Momma