Mason's First Turkey Day

M was at Nanny C's for the first of the week while I was in New Jersey for business. We had one night at home and then turned around and traveled to Aunt Mary and Uncle Josh's for the rest of Thanksgiving week. I am so very proud of my little guy as he was either happy or sleeping the entire ride there and back {a little over 2 hours each way}. He was also a very well-behaved baby for the week too...gotta love a kiddo who enjoys lots of people and partying!

Thanksgiving Day

Mr. Al mellowed my little guy out before dinner's commencement.

But all was not lost. Mason woke shortly after the "big people" finished our feast, and Gigi and Grandadder fed him some turkey so he wouldn't feel left out.

Aunt Mary {and Baby Sophie} and Josh enjoyed getting their parenting practice in.

And Grandadder enjoyed lots of time with M, "flying" him over the house...

...and having deep philosophical talks about existentialism and the importance of "being." It was way over my head.

Aunt BeeBee made sure to sneak in a turkey-induced nap. M was pleased to oblige.

Oh and in case anyone really wondered, Aunt Mary's brother John mentioned that Mason is such a happy baby and that he couldn't imagine him upset...oh yes, my child has his moments! See, here's his pouty face. It's difficult to not think it's cute!

But we were very happy the entire trip in general. Mason loved soaking up the attention. I'm concerned this week he may have center-of-attention withdrawals.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Start of Thanksgiving Week

We've had a whirlwind of a week so far...and it's only going to get crazier better!

This past weekend, Uncle Sean & Batman came in town to meet up with Aunt BeeBee, her girlfriend Amy and her daughter Jasmine (Jazzy). Poor Baby Mason must have sensed that I was a little out of sorts over the weekend trying to balance a houseguest (Uncle Sean), packing for Mason to go to the Nanny's, and me getting ready for New Jersey at the beginning of the work week. Of course all this right before Thanksgiving and our trip into Florence to see family. {WHEW!}

But what a blessing to have everyone together in one place! Our blessings abound...God has shown us much favor. In whatever small minute way we can, we give our Thanks!Aunt BeeBee often takes lovely candids of me...like this. But it's somehow reflective of how I felt over the weekend and the beginning of the week.

But we're really excited to spend the week surrounded with family and friends.

And Mason's going to love being surrounded by everyone loving on him. He basks in being the center of attention...spotlight hog!

Uncle Sean & M

And our ever elusive uncle Batman & M. I think that's even a half-smile from Ashton too!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for...so many blessings.

Thank you Lord for this child...You have taught me to be more patient, to live selflessly, to understand from a baby's perspective, to care with humor, to extend grace to others and myself, to live with great joy, and to love deeper.

Mason Tinsley Smith, you are the biggest blessing in my life {after God}!

Monumental Milestone: Mason's First Steps

Yes this is an older picture, but it simulates Mason...taking his first steps! Yep, at 9.5 months my child took his first two steps on his own. He was upstairs with Nanny C and her daughter. They have a blast squealing and crawling around and then when Mason was at his nursery door, he just decided to pull up on Nanny C and turned towards the door to test out this whole walking thing out. Two weeks ago, I'd witnessed Mason trying to take his first step at the stair landing, but he fell immediately so that doesn't count. He's still figuring out balance, momentum, and has no fear!

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Mason took another couple of steps for me and Uncle Josh {yay! I got to see it}. Mason kind of just does things on his own though. So there's not much I can do to encourage or discourage walking {well technically I could discourage it by pushing him down everytime he stands up, but that's just cruel!} My little guy is starting to walk!

Happy Weekend

My little lumberjack really enjoys the weekends...

He gets excited to chill out with fabulous friends like Susie Mc and her baby Lena Belle (dachshund puppy- look how sweet they are!)...

And he's also happy because he gets Mommy all to himself...

I have some upcoming work travels and I'm really going to miss this little guy, but am excited about Thanksgiving on Thursday because Gigi, Grandadder, and Aunt BeeBee are all coming in from Oklahoma...yay!

We're Pretty Happy Over Here

Hope it sticks for a while...better yet, hope it's contagious!

Mace laughed straight for a little more than an hour on Sunday afternoon. He just caught a case of the Giggles...and then he gave them to me!

If we're spreading germs over here, I'm just glad they're Joyful germs...

Teeny Tiny Tider

Mason cheered on the Tide for yet another win Saturday night. He sported his elephant jammies especially for the occassion.

Mason says, "Roll Tide Roll!" He really gets into the game too. He makes it impossible for me to take pictures of him standing. As soon as he hears the camera turn on, he takes off for it. But here I gave him one camera to play with while I took the photo with another...goofy little boy.

9-Months Old

just a day late...

Happy "Inside-Out Day" Mason Tinsley! At 9 months, you've been on the "outside" as long as you were cooking on the "inside."

At 9-months, Mason's...

...all over the place. Here he is shaking his booty while holding onto the swing. He's still cruising everywhere and will stand momentarily. He actually tried to take a step once, but fell immediately. He'll walk while holding onto my fingers, but he definitely has to work on balance.

...a mischievious kiddo! I've already caught him on the 3rd step of the stairs (baby gate is on the 4th step); he continually finds some cabinet to open; and he knows where to look for the doorstops on every door because he likes to play with the spring (which is now rubber-less since they're choking hazards).
...already wanting his own cell. Or at least he wants Mommy's cell, although his favorite toy is the bouncy seat because he can climb and use it as a support stand as it plays cool music and sounds.

...averaging 24 oz of baby food daily (5-7 jars) and he just started taking a trainer sippy cup.

...language and cognitive skills are progressing. He definitely knows his name and the word "No" and "Yay." He's said "Ba Ba Ba" a few times after I told him to say "Bye Bye." And he'll call out "Mama" when he's upset and wants me. Some of his other words are "Dada", "Hi Yah" (like the karate noise...seriously he's done this 3 times-it definitely counts as a word!), and "Ga Ga" (although I'll admit that's not really a word).

...interacting and playing games. He'll cover his head with a blanket to play peek-a-boo. He'll even give me a flat high-five, when I hold my hand out flat towards him. When he's in his high chair and wants more food, he'll hit his hands on the tray to signal he's still hungry. And every morning he lets me know he's awake by standing in his crib and reaching up to turn his musical aquarium on.

Here he is using the laundry bucket as a walker; I caught the tail end of his kitchen-floor travels. What a goofy baby!

*EDIT*
At our 9-month well visit, Mason's stats are...
Length: 26.5 in
Weight: 16 lbs 15 oz
Head Circumference: 17.25 in
Mason's dropped significantly in both length and weight percentiles- low teens for length and single-digit for weight. Dr C says it's of no concern as I'm only 5' 4.5" and Mason's birthfather is 5' 9.5" so he will likely be petite {the weight doesn't bother me much as he's super active}.

Psalm 131: Be Still and Quiet

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD,

my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters

or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with its mother,

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD

both now and forevermore.

It's time. I have a bevy of emotions piled up, but it's time. I don't think it's mutual either...sorry Mace. But we've made it 9 months so I'm so thankful you've had all natural things stuffed into your little body (well...minus the Gerber yogurt bites I gave you when I couldn't special-order the organic ones even from the manufacturer, I tried).

Yes, my son it is time for us to CELEBRATE your milestone of WEANING!

*sniff*

And it's interesting as Psalm 131 describes, a weaned child with its mother is "stilled and quieted."

You're a big boy now and while it's just tough for me (I really wanted to make it to 1 year), I know we aren't defeated. This just means you're growing up so fast and Mommy knows it's time for you to start on the mass manufactured, chemically altered (lecithin, carrageenan, and mono- and diglycerides added to prevent shelf-life separation) reconstituted powder known as formula. YAY! Plus Mommy's milk is just not cutting it for you anymore. You're so much more hungry and work travels have me going to 5 different states through the rest of this month...Zoinks! I have a feeling you'll be a happier baby with a full tummy and gaining more independence as you feed yourself the bottle. Now if only you would take a sippy cup or a cup...

Tomorrow we see Dr. C for your 9-month Well Visit so we'll see what crazy ole doc has to say about you growing up so quickly.