7 months old

Mason,


I can't believe that 7 months ago at 9:25 this morning, I gave birth to you. I remember it was such a great experience and I was SO happy to finally meet you. It really doesn't feel like it has been that long. Only 5 more months and we will be celebrating the big 1!
You have been pretty grouchy today and the cause is pretty cool. You are getting your first 2 teeth! I can feel the tip (spikey!) of one of the bottom ones and see the white in your gums from both. I gave you some Tylenol (generic brand since the original was recalled) and you are taking a nap (Tylenol didn't seem to help much. Bought some teething tablets so we'll try that). You started putting your feet in your mouth a few days ago (Dad said you did it a while ago but I don't believe him). You scoot backwards when you get mad but you aren't interested in scooting anymore. We have been giving you more showers than baths lately since we have had issues with the water. You don't mind them but you LOVE the bath a lot more. You still get fussy once a night but are put back to sleep with a position change (you like your belly and side) and paci. Last night, we had great family time. Here are some pics (gotta love the "jean" diapers):

Love,Mom

So much fun!

Mason,


We really have a lot of fun together. To be honest, I thought I wasn't made to be a stay at home mom. But just the past 2 weeks, I have really come to treasure every little moment and love spending time with you. Yesterday, I took you to Target and Publix for the first time by myself. It was so nice just me and you. You even sat in the cart for the first time!
You also put your foot in your mouth yesterday (while laying on your back, you do it all the time when you sit up). Speaking of sitting up, just in the past 4 days, you have mastered sitting upright. You love playing sitting "like a big boy." 

You have also become very attached to your "lovies." As far as sleeping in your crib goes, you still are not a big fan of all the space and sometimes you roll into a position Dad and I need to move you out of. You seem to like your new car seat. I love hearing you sing with me (when you aren't screaming your head off of course) in the back seat.
Random but this morning you woke up WAY too early (I LOVE that 7:00 is early now) and Daddy and I put you in bed with us. As you like to do, you began playing with my face. Then you shoved your finger up my nose and made it bleed (lol).
You also found your tongue earlier this week. You will have to see the video to know what I am talking about. You pull up in your high chair and open you mouth really wide for food. I am teaching you to say, "ahh" and you do it sometimes.
Today was your first day in NMC's KCRG. I am guessing you liked it because you pooped and took a short nap. Mommy is still having a hard time letting go; I thought about you the whole time.
We are working on teaching you the following words: dog, hi and bye bye, book, and mama. So far dog seems like it may be the next word. You say "do" and "g" but not together. 
You continue to love reading books before bed. Your favorites include: That's not my Pirate, Black on White, Baby's First Words, Farm Animals (Baby Einstein). 


Love you forever,
Momma

What a difference!

Mason, 

Thought this was funny. Here is Mommy Daddy while we were boyfriend and girlfriend in September of 2007 by a wood pole at The Playground of Dreams

Here was us in May 2010 by the same pole

LOL. Time changes everything. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Love ya Buddy,

Mom

Strike a Pose

Dear Mason,

On Wednesday, I took you for a test photo shoot for the company KidsII. They are looking for models and you got a call back! No cost to us and you had a great time. They only had to take 5 shots and all of them were great. You really are a happy kid.

You love to sleep with  "lovies" (your spit up rags). I loved to sleep with 2 blankets growing up so I figured I'd start you on it.

Daddy and I took you to the animal shelter on his day off. We figured since you love Sicily so much that you'd love the shelter; and you did! You got mad at Daddy becuase you wanted to touch a puppy and when that puppy barked at you, you smiled then giggled. Then a larger puppy barked at you and you did it again! We took you into the big dog room and lo and behold, you fell asleep. You are a strange fella.

Love ya to pieces,
Mom

Product Review

Doodlebug,
I know when you become a Daddy things will have changed but I wanted to let you know my thoughts on some things I love, and some I could do without:


LOVE
Fisher Price Jumperoo Baby Gymnastics
Bumbo chair
Boppy high chair/shopping cart cover
Fresh Food Feeder
Fisher Price Nature's Touch Papsan Swing
Blow up Munchkin brand duck bath tub - for the beach and pool especially
Johnson & Johnson foaming head-to-toe wash
Safety 1st ultrasonic 360 humidifier


HATE
Chicco high chair - hard to clean
Dr. Brown's bottles - good for baby, bad for cleaning
Fisher Price Whale of a Tub - hard to clean and not good for baby sitting up
Vicks cool mist humidifier


I will probably update this as I think of more.
LOvE yA,
mOM

AHH!

Mason,
Sorry I have not updated in a while AGAIN! Here are some notes about the past 2 weeks:

• The night of the last post I wrote we started putting you to sleep without the positioner. You are now sleeping on your side in the crib!
• Friday, May 21st was your 6 month check up (although you were technically 6 1/2 months).

         15 lbs. 4 ounces - 50th percentile
          25 inches in length - 50th percentile
          I cant remember what your head circumference was but I know you were in the 50th  
          percentile
          So basically, you are perfect...not that we didn't already know that!

• The following Tuesday, you weighed 15 lbs. 10 ounces. Growing like a weed!
• Everything is "da da"
• You are getting better at sitting up unassisted but definitely not independent yet
• You no longer shake your body to walk. You straight up bend your knee and put one foot in front of the other. Not much interest in crawling; you still roll too much. 
• You fell asleep on Grandma in the pool
• We are moving you into a big boy car seat today (Britax Roundabout 50)
• We started giving you a fresh food feeder and you tried strawberries and kiwi. The first day with the strawberry, you though it was a bit tart; you could tell by your expression (you would just look at it and make a face!). The following day, I ate strawberries with you and you sucked on it just fine. As for kiwi, negative. You tried it but it was way too tart (I laughed a lot).
• You wake up happy and play in your crib
• Last night, you played with Raegan and you were putting your hands on her and she was doing the same. Then you tried to eat her foot and you guys were cute. Then, Raegan got excited and screamed. Yeah, you cried. After you calmed down and started playing again, she screamed again, and you cried again. You don't even blink hearing dogs bark....hmmm....
• You spent the night with Grandma and Pop Saturday after Daddy's surprise 25th birthday party. 
• You started doing this thing where you look like you are chewing gum
• You can't see your bottle or else you will want it
• Your current schedule:

         8:00 - wake up and breakfast (4 oz. jar and 4 oz. bottle)
        11:30 - 6 oz. bottle
         2:30 - lunch (4 oz. jar and 4 oz. bottle)
         6:00 - dinner (4 oz. jar and 4 oz. bottle)
         9:15 - 6 oz. bottle
         9:45-10:00 - bed


As far as naps go, you usually take 3 1 hour snoozes.


Love Always,
Momma


Pictures from playing with Jordan at the park

So many firsts!

Mason,

I deeply apologize for not writing recently. A LOT has happened. I found out on Tuesday that I am being laid off from myt teaching job. Thank God you and Daddy are in my life to help lift me up. Also on Tuesday, Daddy hung the rocket swing I got for you. It took you a minute to figure out what was going on but you had a great time swinging. We are looking forward to many days and nights playing with you in it.

On Wednesday to get my mind off of my impending job loss, A.K, Grandma, and Pepaw, and I took you to the pool for the first time. You LOVED it! Splashing and talking the whole time. You didn't even make a face when we got deeper and it was cold (I did though!). Michael Phelps look out!

You are eating stage 2 food now (yeah for variety) and we are phasing you into 6-9 month clothes.
Then, your first real word. I know, early right? Yesterday (5/17) while at school with Grandma and A.K., you were in a talkative mood (surprise, surprise) and all of the sudden, they heard you say, "da da." After debating whether or not they really heard that, you said it again, "da da." Of course that evening, Daddy and I hear about it and while we believed their claim, we wanted to hear it for ourselves. Before bedtime, you and I were in the kitchen watching Daddy wash the dishes (yes, your Dad is awesome) and out of the blue we heard, "da" and shortly after, clear as a bell, "da da." Unbelievable!
A few days ago, you just did not want to be held. So like I always do, I held your hands and let you walk. Well, you must have been seriously motivated because you walked in a full circle. Now I have a talker and a walker. What's next?

Now for some other updates:

• Saturday you spent the night with Grandma and Pepaw for the second time and did wonderful as expected. As for you and that darn positioner, we are still using it. We are honestly dreading weening you from it but we know you need to because you always roll out of it (at night but not for naps). I know once school ends, my lost sleep won't be as much of a big deal.
• You grab everything. Store clerks fingers, your paci, really anything in your line of vision or near you. I was holding you paci in my hand and holding you in the other while chatting with someone (my mind is a tad fried) and you took the paci out of my hand and put it into your mouth. Bottle holding and self-feeding solid food are going great too (you aren't choking yourself). You make the funniest noises. When you get grouchy or are trying to talk to us, you make this, "ahh" sound in a low voice. The sippy cup is challenging for you but you are trying to get the hang of it.

I only have one request: STOP GROWING UP! It seems like you hit 5 months and you haven't stopped since! AHH!

Love you,
Mommy