month 8: reflections

Mason,

Our little baby has grown out of his infant car seat.

You've graduated to a convertible car seat that stays in the car.

You rolled from your back to your belly this month. You flip three-quarters or even all the way over, grab the toy, and then . . .

immediately flip back onto your back. You won't stay on your belly for more than three seconds. Why would you? Being on your belly is an awful, terrible thing.

You cruise the stores,

and go nuts at the sight of plants and flowers. You love to pick Mommy big handfuls of flowers, which, may be endearing as you get older, unless you steal them from the neighbors' yards or tear up Mommy's own flower beds.

You've become best friends with Sprout, one of Mommy's beloved houseplants. You love to sit near the front window and yank incessantly on Sprout's leaves.

You know your mommy and daddy, and writhe with excitement when you see us, especially if we've been away from you for several hours. Good boy!

You're starting to show signs of separation anxiety. Although this clinginess may get annoying over time, right now, we secretly love it. You know us! You prefer us! And you love us. Our hearts are full. For a tiny baby who didn't like to be held, you certainly love to be held now. 

But you also love to play. You go back and forth all day long: whimpering and throwing your arms in the air to be picked up, and then lunging out of our arms to get down and play. Some days, you can't make up your mind which option you like best.

You're an active, spirited, and healthy little guy. Just in the past two weeks, your babbling has exploded. This age is a fun stage--you're full of life and personality, but aren't moving or talking yet. We're a little scared for you to start crawling or walking and saying real words!

Each day with you continues to be a blessing, sweet Mason. We love you very much. Happy eight months!

Mommy and Daddy

eight-month sticker

Mason,

You're eight months old!

 
 You weigh 19 pounds, 6 ounces, exactly 10 pounds more than your weight at birth.

The only reason I know your weight is because of your visit to the pediatrician's office for an ear infection a couple days ago.

This month, you discovered your sticker.

And you were determined to chew and mangle it!

I love you!

Mommy

baby friends

Mason,

You've seen several baby friends this past month. Davis came over to play while his parents went out to dinner.

You two interacted. Kind of.

We all went over to Nona Lee and Holden's house for dinner. You are two days older than Holden. Nona Lee, Holden's older sister, gave you a ton of attention. You loved her!

We went for a stroll with Caroline and her mommy, and ended up in Lincoln Park. 

Caroline's mommy and I missed capturing the moment with the camera, but you grabbed Caroline's hand and held it for a few seconds. It was so sweet!! Are you ready for your first date, Honey?

Finally, you got to meet Janie, who lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

Janie and her mommy and daddy came to DC for a visit.

Janie's mommy is one of my oldest and dearest friends. May you one day have a true blue friend like Janie's mommy is to me.

Love you and all your little baby friends!

Hugs and kisses,

Mommy

Mother's Day

Mason,

From our first picture together

to our official Mother's Day photo, taken today,

you've filled my days with joy and thankfulness.

We had a fun Mother's Day celebration. About a month ago, we shopped at Home Depot for my gift: hanging flower baskets for the deck. It was your first time riding like a big boy in a shopping cart, and you had a ball! You amused us and the other customers by smiling, laughing, babbling, and shouting as we shopped.

Yesterday, we enjoyed a family trip to the zoo and came home via Eastern Market so that you and Daddy could buy me some flowers. This morning after church and cards, we went on a picnic in Lincoln Park.

Sweet cupcake, the day you were born, I fell in love like I never have before. Being your mommy is a great privilege, and it's not something I take for granted. These past nearly eight months have involved many changes that have not always been easy, but my life is now richer in unexpected ways. I thank God for giving me such a sweet, spirited, and healthy little guy. You're an endearing little grouch, and you've captured my whole heart!

Thanks to you and Daddy for making my first Mother's Day so special. I love you both bunches!

XOXO,

Mommy

metro and zoo

Mason,

We kicked off Mother's Day weekend with two firsts: a ride on the metro and a trip to the zoo.

We saw the pandas, but you were more interested in the people than the animals.

I love the apes. We saw a baby gorilla!

The cheetahs are Daddy's favorite zoo animal.

It was a day filled with lots of walking, and we all needed a nap when we got home. But what a blessing to have a beautiful, free zoo so close to where we live. We're looking forward to many more trips there. Which animal will be your favorite?

Love,

Mommy

Grandmom and Grandad Visit

Mason,

Your Grandmom and Grandad recently visited to watch you for a few days. I think you all enjoyed hanging out together. 

Getting you to smile at just the right moment for the pictures is a work in progress, but you're still awfully cute.

Mommy and I also attended a wedding one of those days. We got a picture of the three of us with Mommy and me both dressed up. That hasn't happened often since you were born. And I have to say, your Mommy and I look pretty good if I do say so myself. You're going to have to step it up.

Anyway, help from the grandparents is most appreciated. And I know they love spending time with you and getting to know you. And yes, you wear them out just as much as you wear us out. 

Love,
Daddy

month 7: reflections

Mason,

This month has been full of changes and activities. At the beginning of the month, you needed a little support while sitting.

Now, you're pretty stable on your own.

Learning to eat solids was a struggle at first, but now you're all over it. You clamp your eight--yes, EIGHT!-teeth down on the spoon and won't let go. You also pound the tray, demanding more, when we don't feed you fast enough. To date, you've eaten rice cereal, bananas, avocados, asparagus, zucchini, applesauce, peas, sweet potatoes, pears, carrots, and mangoes. Sweet potatoes, pears, and mangoes were instant hits. The others, you've warmed up to. You like some foods more than others, but when it comes down to it, you eat anything and everything. You love to eat, just like you always have. We're thankful for that!

This month, you've started working from  home. It's a pretty good gig!

You also learned how to navigate the jumper that hangs in the doorway between our living room and kitchen. Jumping is a favorite activity. You could do it all day!

Sitting on the couch and playing the piano entertains you.

The photos on our refrigerator fascinate you, especially the ones of our little family.

We've started taking you down the slide at the park. You're still getting used to it.

Six months seems to be a real turning point in the lives of babes. Now, we see many more glimpses of what you'll be like as a little boy than we do of the newborn bundle we brought home back in September. We are both joyful and sad about this. Each stage with you only grows more fun and we are incredibly thankful for your good health and development. But these moments and memories are fleeting. You're growing up so fast. Our hearts can barely take it.

We love you, Mason.

Mommy and Daddy