Catching Up

Well we took a weeklong vacation, returning home refreshed, and it appears that my computer did the same. I'm now able to upload pictures on Blogger, so there are several updates for the Journal.

• Consoling a fussy baby HERE and HERE
• Our Church Dedication HERE
• And then our 4-Month update HERE
• Breaking out the new walker HERE
• Growing up HERE
• And most recently our trip to Gigi and Grand-Dadder's HERE, HERE, and HERE

Yikes, that's a whole lotta photos and video for catching up over the past 2.5 weeks!

I still have some new things to post from another camera, but that will have to wait because I'm working now!

Splish Splash

Mason enjoyed getting to play in the pool at Gigi & Grand-Dadder's. This was his first time dipping in water other than the bathtub.
Gigi motored the float around to get him accustomed to the pool.

Along with sunscreen, we had to put the rashguard (aka surfer shirt) and hat on during the heat of the day.

And by the end of the trip, Mason learned how to splash himself, Gigi, and Mommy by flapping his arms on the surface of the water. I noticed that he also transferred this learned skill to the bathtub once we returned home. Yea.

Grand-Dadder...The Plane

Grand-Dadder "flew" Mason in the air and had us all tickled. Those sweet little baby laughs warm my heart!

Over The River And Through The Woods

"...to Grandmother's house we go."

And to Gigi and Grand-Dadder's house we went!

Mason was a champ for all 4 flights. He stayed true to his charming ways, flirting with people on the plane and eliciting many ohhhs and awwws in the airport as we strutted along in our fancy new Pikkolo carrier. (which by the way was a lifesaver for Mommy traveling alone with an infant)

Although technically this was our 2nd flight, Mason had a souvenir First Flight Certificate presented to him. It was so kind of the attendant to take note and make sure he received one.

Once we arrived in Oklahoma, Mason adored all of the attention. He seemed to soak up being in the limelight.

Grand-Dadder enjoyed showing Mason the joys of Ebay.

And of course Gigi spoiled him rotten, holding him and playing with him every chance she got.

I'd say we had one happy little boy on our hands!

I Just Love You

I've had a couple of people comment that Mason looks like a little boy now...he's starting to loose that newborn baby look. His boyish features are poking through, and so is his sweet personality.

At this stage he's very curious about the world around him. He loves to grab for textured and colorful items. He's also decided to taste most of his world too, stuffing his face with whatever he can. When he's held up on my shoulder, he grabs some strands and even tries to eat Mommy's hair.

Note to self: watch out for dangly earrings. They may be hazardous for the both of us.

Mason's also showing signs of being a social butterfly. He'll stare at random people until they look back and then he'll smile when he catches their attention. Quite the charmer!

Little boy, I just love you!

Little Man Walking

Mason's still a tad too small for his walker, but I figured out a way to lower the adjustable legs and not fully "click" them into place so it's the very lowest it can get to the ground. He's starting to get the hang of it...

4-Months Old

At 4 Months, Mason's...

...sitting up using his arms for balance.

...learning acrobatic tricks (yes, he came pretty close to flipping out of his changing table with elevated sides)
...and he's now "inching", trying so very hard to crawl but just not there yet.

Here he is with his Mommy cojoling him to inch, although we've both learned that the bare belly will stick to the wood floor and that makes it impossible for my little guy to move any way but over.

Here he is just barely inching. It's so very tough just learning to scuttle!

*EDIT*

At our 4-month well visit, Mason's stats are...

Length: 25 inches

Weight: 14 lbs, 1.5 oz

Head Circumference: 16 inches

Church Dedication

Mason's Church-wide Dedication was Sunday, June 7th.

Technology enabled us to broadcast a previously recorded blessing that my Dad prayed when the entire family was in town in March. Mason was presented with a baby blue New Testament with his name engraved. It was a sweet day and Mason and I were truly blessed.

Uncle Sean has the pictures on his camera from the actual Dedication, but here we are eating afterwards at Cheesecake Factory with Uncle Sean, Batman, Ben G. and Aunties Jamie Michele and Betty (who will be having Baby Madi's dedication before we know it!).

Mason and I with his Uncle Sean and Batman.

Yummy ice cream cake, which was a great treat for the hot afternoon. We enjoyed eating Mason's piece for him.

It Breaks My Heart

It breaks my heart as Mason's breaking his gums for a tooth.

I took this one with my camera phone and didn't do the slobber trail justice. He literally soaked my entire sleeve with drool, and then with tears.

Cold washcloths, teething toys, an ice cube in a washcloth, his fingers, my knuckles...all of these will usually ease the hurt. But it doesn't change the fact that it's a slow painful process for us.

Mason's been sticking his tongue out. It kinda bugs me because I want to make sure it's not a sign of developmental delay. But at our last La Leche League meeting, someone pointed out that Mason is actually biting his tongue. Poor baby!

At our 4-month checkup, Dr. C noticed Mason's excessive drooling. He asked if this was new and then he beat me to the punch and said it's a little early, but it looks like he could be teething.

I didn't cut my first tooth until just before 7 months. I'm hoping it won't take that long for Mason's first to actually break through.

Thanks Jack

Thank you Jack...for lulling my son to sleep. He was fussy and fighting, but all it took was a little snack of your "Banana Pancackes."

And out Mason went.

Bathing Beauty

I had a friend call this look the "How You Doin'" smile...oh and P.S. he's NAKED so it'll be a great pic to show the girls he dates (which he can't do until he's 30)!

When Mason was a newborn, he hated getting sponge baths. I'm quite certain it was the shock of cold air that made him despise the clean-up time, but now that he's immersed in water as a big-baby, he loves this time. I have to be extraordinarily careful while bathing him because he's gets excited and becomes active. I keep a watchful eye on him constantly, and I'm glad I do because just the other day Mason got curious and tried to turn his face to dunk it in the water. SHEESH child, you're not going to give Mommy a break!

It's A Balancing Act

For sitting up...

We're still working on dealing with this thing called gravity. We can sit up for about 15-20 seconds on our own and then we topple over because the baby head weighs so much. Gotta build up those muscles...

We'll need to learn balance so we can stand on our own too....but not for many, many, many months down the road. Notice how he's daring to just lean with one arm now?

Mason and Mommy are having some fun time!

Firefighters Are Hot Stuff

Look what Gigi and Grandadder found for my little tyke this past weekend. A vintagey fire engine pedal car...I think he'll like it very much!

Now all he needs is his firehose, a ladder, and hat. Just as long as my little fireman doesn't expect a Dalmation to follow...