Flat Stanley

Mason,


This weekend, we went to California for your Great Pappy's 80th birthday. You have now been to two states other than Georgia and you got the privilege of taking your first plane rides. Since the trip included milestones and loads of fun, I am going to break it down for ya!


Grandpa made mention that you are like Flat Stanley. Having been to the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean in just your first year of life, you are becoming quite the traveler (and we plan to take you up NJ, NY, and to CO next year!). Our trip began on the 12th at 4:30 a.m. (yuck!). You woke up in the car on the way to the park and ride and were totally confused. Once we got on the bus and you realized we were on an adventure, it was on! We got the the airport, went through security,

then onto the plane. We took advice from many people and squirted nasal spray up your nose and let you drink (or suck your paci) and the plane ride was a dream. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better ride. A.J. recommended bringing a bag of toys and while you only played with the same five toys, you really weren't too phased by the whole thing.

You napped when you normally napped

and ate when you normally eat. After a 3.5 hour flight we had a 30 minute lay over in Arizona. While the girls (Grandma, A.K., and I) got food, you, Pop, and Daddy walked around. I really think the lay overs were good for you because you are walking, you were able to burn off some energy. Then off to San Diego!
We stayed at the Hilton and really enjoyed the adjoining rooms.

We arrived at Pappy's dinner time for them, bed time for you (yeah for a 3 hour time difference). You played a bit a Pappy's house (killer view right? you can't tell in the picture but they overlook the Pacific!)

Uncle Glenn and awesome girlfriend, Mary

then you sort of became a diva. I forgot the one bottle you drink before bed at the house and bought a cheap one at Albertsons. When it came time for bed, no way Jose! Thank God CVS carries Dr. Brown's.At dinner, me and you fell asleep :)
Next day was a little rough as you woke up at 6:00 CA time (which is really sleeping in for you). You were a real trooper with the time change. When you ate depicted when you slept and we were able to extend you meals so that you went to bed around 8:00 CA time. 
We spent the second day of our trip down by the bay (where the watermelon's grow lol). You slept for most of the walk but when you woke up, we thrust you into pictures and fun ness. 

Milestone alert! You are now walking unassisted everywhere. You push hands away and rarely use the wall, door, or furniture to cruise. You also mastered standing from sitting. We now cal you Godzilla.

You are a climber!

Off to In and Out burger!

Then to the big bash!

Your second cousin Samantha

Sooo big

You had had it by this point. I took you and you drank your bottle and were down for the count.

Milestone alert! On this night, your bottle was straight whole milk and you downed it. Now you have a sippy that I am constantly filling with milk until 1:00 then water for the rest of the day until bed which is 6 oz. whole milk in a bottle.

You fussed a little at night but we put you in bed with us and you slept in! The next day was beautiful (as it was the whole vacation).  We ate brunch at Pappy's and Mommy got to look through a lot of old pictures. Then, we took some new ones.

Family tree time. Alright, so check out the first picture. Pappy is your great grandpa and beside him is his girlfriend, Ronnie. Your great grandmother passed away in 2002. Pappy and Grandma Z (that is what A.K., Sam, and I called her) had four children. Russell who is in the middle in the back, then Pop, then Valerie who is next to Ronnie (Sam is on her lap), then 8 years later, Glenn, who you know quite well. Speaking of, you and Glenn had a blast. You are both total goof balls! Valerie is married to Jack who is in the black shirt and Glenn is dating Ms. Mary who loves you to pieces.

Second picture. Your Great Pappy has two sisters. On the right you see Paula and her husband Roy and on the left is Phyllis and her husband Jerry. There parents were Adolph and Ester Spinner. 

Third picture. This is all of us with Ronnie's family. She has three children, all married with children (who you LOVED playing with at the party the night before!). 

Trip down memory lane. Pappy and Grandma Z were a funny couple. Now that I look back, they seriously remind me of Daddy and I. I am Grandma. I look like her and have her attitude for sure. She was feisty, opinionated, and loved to take pictures. Before I was born, Z was diagnosed with breast cancer and melanoma. Around '95 she developed skin cancer which was a fighter until the end of in 2002. When we would head up north every summer, we would visit them in New York. When we lived up there, Pappy was my pediatrician. The trip was bittersweet for the Spinner clan. While you didn't get to meet Z, I am very happy you were able to spend time with Pappy and Ronnie this weekend. He is a good guy and I am glad he found a nice lady who loves you to be with.

We ended the day at the beach.

You kept saying, "ew" and had to warm up to the sand

The water was freezing and when it hit you, you fell in it!

When the water hit us, we freaked too!

Milestone alert! You can now make the indian noise.

Serious

Cute!

Our trip concluded after breakfast the next morning. You again did marvelous until we reached our lay over in Charolette where you ate and played. Thankfully the flight home was only 30 minutes because it was rocky. I fed you at baggage claim and you were out until 8:45 this morning. Great trip, buddy. 

Love you,

Mommy

One year pictures

Mason,


Today, A.J. and I took you and Wy to the Marietta square to take some pictures. You would not sit still! As always, you wanted to go, go, go. Walking everywhere of course. You loved the fountain. The four us had lunch (yet again, would not be still) then set out again. After A.J. and Wyatt left, I took a few videos of you walking around and playing with/like the big kids. I told a grandmother there today that I am so sad, my little boy really thinks he's a big boy....

GO YANKEES!

When I returned from the store this evening, you greeted me with a, "hi ma ma." Melted my heart. Yesterday at Publix, a man giving out samples handed me one and said, "this is for your little brother." Nice.


Love you BABY,
Mommy

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