month 5: reflections

Mason,

Happy five months! Your development has exploded during the past 30 days. We took away the swaddle and you learned to sleep without it. We upgraded several of your necessities. You began sucking your thumb. You also found your feet. With your long torso and average size legs, we wonder if you'll ever get your toes in your mouth. You haven't gotten anywhere close yet, so we'll see. You do, however, pull off your socks now, rather than kick them off. Socks are just not meant to stay on your feet, are they?

When we read books, you pant with excitement. You reach out and try to turn the pages. You'll be reading Anna Karenina with Mommy before you know it!

You love the exersaucer more each day.

As of today, you have four, yes FOUR, teeth! We found the first one on your 19-week birthday, January 28th. The second one soon followed on February 4th. This week, you've developed a white cap on either side of your two, front, bottom teeth. You're drowning in drool and chomping on everything. You're gearing up to eat some real food in a month or so. You can't wait for a big old steak or a thick slice of pizza!

To you, Daddy is the funniest person ever. No one can make you laugh or squeal with delight like he can.

Mommy is your safe space. No one can comfort you like she can.

We've been encouraged by your becoming Mr. Personality for strangers on a few occasions this month. But, you also grouched at some of our friends who came over to meet you and welcomed a new babysitter by looking her straight in the eye and screaming in her face as soon as she walked in the door. You were ready for bed and didn't want any company and weren't afraid to say so. You are a fabulous communicator. We know when you're happy, excited, delighted, impatient, angry, tired, hungry, and scared.

Since starting your baby job, you've been sent home twice for sickness: a bad cough/cold/congestion and eye discharge that signified a double ear infection. Your beginning work has been tough on all of us. We're concerned that you're still not sleeping much or well there. Most nights, you're a hot mess when one of us picks you up, and we spend our only hour or so together trying to soothe you as you fuss and cry and beg for an early night-night. Having such little time with you during the week when you're awake and in a good mood is both frustrating and disappointing, but we try to make the most of our time together as a little family on Saturdays and Sundays. We're also trying to work with your teachers to figure out why you're not sleeping. Either you're being obstinate or they're not trying hard enough. We suspect it's a combination of both. But don't you worry, honey. We'll keep after them. Your health and well being are our top priorities.

Sunday night blues have taken on a new meaning because all three of us go our separate ways on Monday mornings. We miss you all day, every day. Such is life in a busy city--you're experiencing the rat race at an early age. We're sorry about that!

These days with you continue to grow more fun. You entertain us with your squeals, squeaks, shrieks, jabbers, and giggles. Your energy knows no end. You lobby for our attention, and you fuss when we leave the room, which makes us feel good. You beam beatific smiles at us as if we're the center of your world. But one thing we know is true: you're the center of ours.

We love you, little sugar. Cheers to another month!

Mommy and Daddy 

five month sticker

Mason,

You're five months old!

And you have crazy hair these days.

Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't have visited the pediatrician this month. But yesterday, you had to leave your baby job early because of excessive discharge from both eyes. Daddy took you to the doctor, and we learned that, in addition to a bad cough/congestion, you have a double ear infection.  Sorry, little honey. Ear aches are no fun, although you don't act as though you're in pain. You slurp down your penicillin like it's dessert, and beam at us after we give it to you. 

Yesterday you weighed a touch over 17 pounds with your clothes on.

These months are flying by, little sugar. You certainly keep things interesting!

Love you bunches!

Mommy

growing up

Mason,

We've had a big month of upgrading products to accommodate your growing up.

You've gone from a little baby in the bassinet of the pack 'n play

to a big kid stuck in the bottom because he's too heavy for the bassinet.

You're too big to swaddle now, so you wear a sleep sack, which, much to Daddy's chagrin, I lovingly refer to as your nightie. We went cold turkey and took away the swaddle about two weeks ago. Much to our amazement, you didn't miss it at bedtime and still slept soundly through the night. Naps, however, were a different story.

 You used to ride in the stroller in your car seat.

Now you sit up in the stroller like a big boy.

You started out getting sponge baths near the kitchen sink.

Once your umbilical cord fell off, you moved up to the Puj tub in the bathroom sink.

And now you've graduated to a little tub that sits in the big tub.

You still enjoy your baths, unless it's been a long day on the job, and then you suck your thumb and whimper through it. The first time we put you in the new tub was on a weekend, and therefore a happy day, as evidenced in the picture below.

We can barely keep up with you, Sweetie. As soon as we figure out and get comfortable using one product, you're ready to upgrade. Slow down a little, okay? Your contraptions only keep getting bigger, and more complicated.

I love you!

Mommy

Valentine's Day

Mason,

Valentine's Day was just another busy day for us, but I did manage to snap a few pictures of you posing with my box of candy before we all went our separate ways.

You tried your best to unwrap my chocolate.

You leaned a little too far and lost your balance, but that didn't phase you.

Your location changed, but your determination did not waver.

I finally took the candy away and gave you your own present, some larger-sized onesies and feeding supplies. This gift wasn't nearly as exciting as my heart-shaped box of chocolates, but you'll need all of these things in the next month.

I now know to guard my candy next year. You're intense.

So glad to have two sweeties this year: Daddy and you!

XOXO,

Mommy

Mommy's birthday

Mason,

So, yesterday was Mommy's birthday. Unfortunately, Mommy was attacked by a little stomach bug, so our celebration was delayed by a day. And we missed our dinner reservations, but that's less important to you. Anyway, you thoroughly enjoyed the celebration. Better late than never, right?  

Wow, that's a lot of candles, huh!? :) Mommy normally blows them all out at once with no problem, but this year was more of a struggle. Maybe it's that obstacle in her lap!

It wasn't the birthday party we had planned, but we had fun celebrating Mommy's birthday anyway. You were so excited your hair stood straight up!

Happy birthday Mommy! And Mason, perhaps next year you'll provide extra help eating the cake.

Love,
Daddy

comp day

Mason,

You and I had a comp day from our respective jobs, so we went to story time at the Library of Congress.

It was a little crazy! There were probably close to 40 kids there.

But it was a great, interactive program.

Because we were in Daddy's neighborhood, we visited him for lunch.

We had a fun day together. It was almost like old times, before work got in the way!

Here's to many more story times together. Happy reading!

XOXO,

Mommy

four month photos

Mason,

You were stingy with your smiles at your most recent photo shoot. I guess our photographer is still a stranger to you, so of course you wouldn't smile at her. She did a great job of capturing some of your typical expressions, though, and she managed to coax a couple little smiles out of you. Here are some of our favorite photos.

You keep getting cuter!

Love you!

Mommy

best friend

Mason,

You've made a special friend.

This friendship began in earnest the week you started your baby job. The coincidence of the timing is not lost on Daddy and me.

Oh, how you love him! He accompanies you everywhere. He is never more than an arm's reach away.

To be honest, Daddy and I are not crazy about this little friend. Yes, the raw, obsessive nature of your relationship is cute now, but it will be anything but cute when you're older. We briefly considered nipping this dependence in the bud from the beginning. But our guilt at shipping you out into the world alone at such a young age broke our resolve. You need comfort at your baby job. We would, too.

This little friend has come in handy. He made weaning you from the swaddle much less traumatic than we expected it to be. You fuss less when he's close by.

Everyone needs a special friend, Sweetie. We're glad you've found yours. But this friendship must end eventually. Someday, you'll be so brave you won't need him anymore. I promise.

I love you!

Mommy