9:25

My son,  
Yesterday at 9:25 a.m. you burst on the scene. Today, we celebrated you, our precious gift from God.
Our day began with scrambled eggs with cheese and banana pancakes. 

Cheese face!

Then to the doctor's office to have your ears checked. All was clear but as usual (the doctor said she remembered your strong will) you didn't go easy (lol). You weighed 21 pounds 1 ounce fully clothed.

After a nap, Daddy and I took you to one of his favorite spots at the Kennesaw Mountain battefield. We got a few good pictures before....well, before you fell in the creek. I turned away so Dad could get a picture and when I turned around, you were floating in the water. I scopped you up (not even phased), took off your shirt, Daddy put on your jacket and we headed for the bath tub.

La Parilla for a celebratory lunch, Monkey Joes for a celebratory run, and Texas Roadhouse for a celebratory ride.

A.K. thinks you walk silly

Then home to open presents with the Spinners.

G and P got you an awesome ride-on horse (that you are afraid of) and some other awesome toys. Daddy and I got you two sing-a-ma-jigs and a pirate ship water table!

At 12 months, you are,

- walking: unassited majority
- talking: no, moe (more), na na (hungry/thirsty), Mom, Mommy, Ma Ma, Dad, Da Da, ball (sometimes), ow (in the right context too), dog, and whoa
- singing: you love to "sing" in the car and when you play
- pulling and pushing: you open and close everything and pull Wyatt and Mommy's hair
- loving, cuddling (only when you are tired), and tickling: hot points - thighs, sides, under your chin, and belly
- playing: you love to go, go, go but when you stop to play, your favorites are your tunnels and ball pits, tool toy, Weebles tree house, cardboard blocks, gumball machine, and Mommy (the human jungle gym)
- standing: You have been able to stand from a baby squat for a while but today, you stood from a seated position twice!
- eating: here we go with a new schedule! This time change and impending trip to a different time zone has us a little off but here is what we are working towards so far.

• 8:00 wake and breakfast (eggs w/ or /out cheese, toast, oatmeal/cream of wheat/grits, you know...breakfast foods) with about 4 oz. of milk (which you started yesterday and not totally diggin' yet)
• 10:30  nap
• milk when you wake up
• 1:30 lunch
• 3:30 nap
• 6:00 dinner
• 9:00 bed time

- growing: seems your cheeks are getting chunkier and hair, longer

- drinking: per the doctor's recommendation, we went cold turkey to whole milk. You aren't to fond of the taste but drink it anyway. We are giving it to you in a sippy twice a day then in a bottle mixed with formula before bed. 
- sleeping: thanks to your aquarium in your crib making the sounds of waves, you fall asleep by yourself and when Dadyy or I have go into your room when you are randomly crying at night (usually only once), we turn it on (sometimes you take the paci too), and you are asleep again.

It is hard to believe you are already a year old. Here are two verses from our beloved Bible I found that we can talk about. I chose them because of your birth time and I feel they are great reminders that we are not of this world, we are of Christ.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

John 9:25

And every man who takes part in the sports has self-control in all things. Now they do it to get a crown which is of this world, but we for an eternal crown.
1 Corinthians 9:25


Glorify God in all you do. I promise it will be worth it (and so does He).


Love,
Mommy

'Twas the night before Christmas

Mason,


Tonight was the night. Last year, this was me...drunk as a skunk.

Totally kidding. Since I had been contracting for 4 days, I was in a cooky mood and figure this would be a pretty silly pic (it was A.K.'s friends). After La Pa (surprise, surprise), Mom and A.K. wanted to take me to Marshall's (I wanted a Juicy Couture purse) but I just wasn't feeling totally up to it so Daddy took me home and I walked in circles for 3 hours while he laid thresholds. I was timing what I thought were contractions (I was right) and they seemed erratic so I didn't say anything to Dad. Since I knew something was up, before I went up to bed, I told him to kiss the belly goodbye (remember that big belly picture?). 
I never made it to bed. 
I went to the bathroom and lo and behold, I had lost my mucus plug (sorry if that's TMI buddy). Since I was 38 weeks along (turns out just at 37), I called the Dr. and it was my favorite one in the group. She told me to just go to the hospital. Since all of our friends were sent home with false labor and I was in no pain, we just grabbed our bag and left. Had I know an hour later I would be admitted, I totally would have spruced up. 
I titled this letter perfectly. Your birth was like Christmas! The best present I have ever received.


Love, 
Mommy


This was me on 10/30/2009 then us today

Pretty fly for a Wy Guy

Mason,


Yesterday and today we celebrated of your bestest buddy in the universe, Wyatt Charles. You and everyone else had a great time at the airplane themed bash on Saturday. It was funny seeing you walking amongst all of the adults. Of course, your buddy Jaks was there to help celebrate.

The best part of the party by far was cake time. After we sung to dear Wyatt, you began to smash his cake. You got wind of the fun and toddled right over and started eating icing. It then came to Jakson's attention that he was missing out and he then crawled over and you fed him icing. 

Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub

Today the two of us went with Wy, A.J., A.J.'s cousin and her girls (who LOVE you) and A.J.'s mommy to the aquarium. You walked 98% of the time and wouldn't have had it any other way.  We had the best time at the penguin exhibit. I was teasing a penguin with a blanket just because I wanted you to see him (lol).

Laying on the floor...

Then we went out to lunch. You two boys stink at sharing! The minute A.J. or I would put food down, you would both grab giant handfuls as to say, "dude, don't hog the puffs!"

Love you buddy,

Mommy

When mom is away, the boys will play

While out celebrating Wyatt's grandmother's 25th birthday (lol), you and Daddy had some fun. Daddy said before he started taping, you were dancing and laughing like crazy. Even though you calmed down a bit, the video is still precious.

Mommy and Daddy

Mason, 


I wanted to take some time and tell you a little more about the crazy people you call Ma Ma and Da Da.

First, some introductions


Mommy is a fiesty, pizza lover who loves the beach. I love Disney movies. My favorites so far are Monsters Inc., Cinderella, and Toy Story 3. I was born in Queens, NY and raised in Melbourne, FL. We moved to Georgia right before I started the eighth grade. I still talk to my best friend, Ryan, who I have known since preschool (funny story). Running away was (and still is) a way I would get out of dealing with issues (you'll have to see videos G and P took). Ryan and I used to play paper dolls and magazine people and I would always use a little boy with blonde hair as my son. Planes, airports, and trains (specifically passenger trains) fascinate me. If I could go anywhere in the world, it would be to NJ to be with Grammy and Pop, go to the lake, and eat pizza on the shore. I am a terrible driver with a tendency to tailgate. Sports and I do not go together unless I am at the game and stuffing my face throughout it. I was raised Catholic with a Jewish, now converted, father. I was baptized in May 2008 by your Daddy who helped me begin my journey as a Christ follower with a real relationship with Jesus.

Daddy is a God-fearing, sports loving, meat and potatoes guy. Born in Cobb hospital, he is not the most worldly guy but he is working on it (since Mommy's family lives all over the country it helps). Daddy is a dependable, steady, and patient dude who loves being silly. He hates loosing board games and loves comedy and adventure films. His favorite genre of food is Mexican and he orders the same thing every time he goes to a restaurant (afraid of change?). I think if your Dad could be anywhere it would be at a Georgia football game or Braves baseball game with a beer and a La Pa burrito. Daddy has been blessed to have had the same group of friends since middle school (except for Uncle Chris which he met teaching ASP in college). He loves antiques, is very good at math, and would love to become a realtor one day. 

Now for us. There are a few different stories about the first time we met but I am going to talk about the one I remember. CCA (Daddy's high school) was having an alumni vs. the current students basketball game. My friend at the time, Allison, was dating an alum and invited me to go. When we got there, friendly me sat next to what looked like friends of Josh (the alum she was dating). I put out my hand to the guy sitting next to me and said, "hey I'm Jenny." The guy looked at me and said, "yeah, I already knew that." I knew I was cool but what a weirdo (lol)! After the game, the friends, Allison, and I went out to eat and I had to sit next to that guy.

Once the margarita (he barely would share with me) and a little something extra kicked in, we went back to his friends house (the Currys as I now know them). There, I talked with the guy for quite a while and really started to like him. When Josh, Allison, and I got in the car I told them, "I think your plan worked." And it did.

The guy, Scott aka Dad, asked me to be his girlfriend a month later in March. I said no as I wasn't quite ready for a commitment. Then on June 6th, I asked him to be my boyfriend. That October, he asked me to be his wife.

We set our wedding date for the following November 23rd then got ants in our pants and moved it to September 27th.

We moved into a crazy apartment then 4 months later, decided to house hunt. We put in an offer on 685 Falls Church then big news came, we were having a baby! You know the rest.

Love,

Mom

This video is of you trying to answer the phone (you only do it when the music is playing). In the video I took right after, you walked to the futon. This is probably half the distance of the places you were goin' to today. It was crazy! You walked through the Spinners kitchen, into the hall, and to the front door to get Pop. Bringing the video camera everywhere from now on!

Baby you are the world

Mason,


You are my world and the light of my life. I feel so blessed to have spent so much time with you. Out of necessity, I will be heading back to work when we return from California. A.J. was able to hire me at Whole Foods (I am so thankful). It is a double edged sword for sure. I get to hang out with my best friend at work, but I will be away from you four days a week. Thankfully, I like getting up early so if I work the morning shifts normally, I'll only be away from you about 24 hours.
Anyway, every Tuesday, we leave you from 7:30-8:30 with the Spinner family. This week was particularly funny. Apparently Pop put you near the shelving at their house and you walked clear across the room to get to Grandma. Then when Grandma got you to our house, you confirmed what I already told her, you can crank the Weebles treehouse. 
There are a couple other things I think I have neglected to mention in my previous letters. You have become shy around strangers. Remember how I said you sometimes lean your head? Well, when a stranger comes up to us (especially when we voted on Tuesday), you lean your head on my shoulder. Of course you are smiling and I imagine if someone put their hands out, you would go to them but it is so cute. You are a lot like A.K. I think you resemble her when she was a baby. You sleep with lovies just like she did does and you like to rub it with the tips of your fingers like she does. Since you started crawling, you have been able to go up stairs. Both us and the Spinners now have gate at the top and bottom because you climb fast. Speaking of, you are a climber. You lift up your leg any chance you can climb on something.
Haven and Mrs. Lisa popped in yesterday (so did Memaw). It is weird seeing you both walking. You are walking about 85% of the time and about 60% of that is unassisted! You walked almost everywhere today. It is impossible to count steps. From room to room, you were just unassisted walkin' around!
We made your car seat forward facing. You are totally diggin' it!


Love you,
Mommy