Showing posts with label Christmas tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas tree. Show all posts

Monday, December 17, 2012

life at 15 months

Mason,

At 15 months, you are in constant motion.


What would we do without nearby parks to stroll to each day? Spending time outdoors trumps any toy you have.

You can now pick up items in the middle of the floor without grasping anything for support. You also recently learned how to stand up independently, without using people or furniture to pull yourself up. Watch out, world--Mason's fully mobile!

You were too busy to stand still for a picture when we picked out our Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend.


We captured you for about five seconds before you yelled to get down.


At home, after multiple attempts to take your picture in front of the tree, this was the best we could do. We adore this picture though because it perfectly captures other characteristics of life at 15 months: disobedience and temper tantrums.


Speaking of tantrums, you had a fit when Daddy passed you over to Santa Claus.


Rather than continue to cry and carry on like a baby, you instead turned your back and ignored the man in the red suit. You'll smarten up in a year or two if you continue to snub Santa.


In the last couple of weeks, you've begun making a concerted effort to talk. You're now up to about 12 words that you use in the appropriate context. Two of our favorites, besides Mama and Dada of course, are read (ree-ree) and night night (nut-nut). You also learned to sign the word please and you've begun putting two words together in sign language.

At your 15-month checkup, you weighed 23 pounds, 12 ounces and were 32 inches long. You're still in the same percentile ranges as the last couple of appointments, 25th-50th for weight and 75th for height. We're thankful for your good health and consistent growth!

Unfortunately, carsickness has begun, so your rear-facing days in the carseat are numbered. We hope, for your sake as well as our sakes, that turning your seat around will help.


Even on no-nap days, you go and go and go. Your energy knows no bounds. We suspect you get these traits from Mama, and the two of you compete with each other every day to see who can wear out the other one first. You win a lot, but Mommy's a pretty good match for you. Daddy recently acknowledged how exhausting it was for the two most important people in his life to need such little down time.:)


Through these stages of running, talking, kissing, discovering, learning, disobeying, throwing fits, getting into everything, and destroying most things in sight, you continue to be the light of our lives. We love you, sweet Mason!

XOXO,

Mommy and Daddy

Friday, December 23, 2011

trees

Mason,

One of Daddy's and my favorite DC Christmas traditions involves visiting the national and capitol trees. Maybe someday you will enjoy this outing, too--not this year, though!


Even though we lucked out and snagged a nearby parking place, which meant a short walk to the National Tree, you were in a rage by the time we arrived. Daddy and I hemmed and hawed on whether to go in and see the tree or go home.

We decided that you needed to buck up and tough it out. We'd never get such a close parking spot again!

We encountered Santa's twin.


And then we went to find your home state tree: The District of Columbia. How many people can say that they were born and raised in the nation's capital?


Far superior to the disappointing, chintzy National Tree is the Capitol Tree. Parking is easy, the tree is deserted and not at all touristy, and what can beat this view?


You still screamed your head off. Seriously, sweetheart, do you know how many people would love to have this attraction in their back yard?


As soon as we arrived home, your grumpiness dissipated. You kicked and flailed and cooed and smiled. Trees schmees. You have your own tree at your favorite place: home.

We'll try again next year!

Love you,

Mommy

Saturday, November 26, 2011

first tree

Mason,

Thank goodness we got the tree on the Friday after Thanksgiving because we didn't finish setting up and decorating it until Saturday night. Before you arrived, Daddy and I could select, transport, and decorate the tree in a couple hours tops. Even simple tasks take so much longer with you around!

We gave you three early Christmas gifts this year: two ornaments and a stocking. One ornament arrived the day we bought the tree, so we gave you the honor of placing it on the tree before the others. Your first ornament got the front and center position.


Daddy and I got new stockings, too.


You seemed to like the lights when we held you close to the tree.



Overall, Daddy and I are quite pleased with how the tree turned out this year.


But we're far more thankful for the gift beside it.


I love you!

Mommy

Friday, November 25, 2011

tree shopping

Mason,

One highlight of the Christmas season is selecting and enjoying our fresh Christmas tree. No fake trees are allowed in our house! We buy our tree each year from the same farmer at Eastern Market.


When we arrived, the tree farmer, who remembers Daddy and me from previous years, came over to say hello and congratulate us on your arrival. He said, "How old is he? Four months?" He was surprised when we told him you were only two months old.


You do look quite mature for your age.

We also bought a fresh wreath for our front door.


Despite your calm appearance in these pictures, you were quite fussy on this excursion. You're just not a shopper, are you? We'll keep working on it!

Hugs and kisses,

Mommy