Blog Link-Up

A lot has happened since my last post (obviously).  I am awful about keeping this (or my previous blogs) updated, but I couldn't resist a chance to take part in Kelly's Korner's special Friday link-up.  I read her blog faithfully, and think it would be neat to meet people in our area!

We currently live in Spartanburg, SC.  I am 28, and a former teacher, turned stay-at-home mom to Meredith, who is 4.5 and Mason, who just turned 1 last month.  I grew up in this area, and we moved back last year after living in North Carolina, Ohio and Georgia in the past 5 years.

I'll update with posts from Mason's first birthday (and tidbits from the last 6 months) soon! For my 2 readers! :)

For now, here are some recent pictures of my two babies!

He looks so serious in this one!

"Take my picture, Mama!"

This is what Mason's face looks like when he says "bubbles", which sounds like "BUH-BOO!!"

The two sweetest little ones in the world!

Mason - Six months old!

 So, I attempted a 6 month "photoshoot" with Mason today, since (I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!) he's six months old.

It took about 2 seconds for him to remove one shoe.

This was the best picture we got with the blocks.  Meredith didn't want Mason "playing" with her blocks, unless she could build too. (We're working on sharing.) Sooo.. big sissy scooted in to build blocks.

Mason mostly ate them.

There were hugs.

And Mommy admiring her baby's eyelashes.

...More building by Meredith.

...and some knocking over by Mason.

...And more block eating.

We took some pictures of Mere, because she is FOUR!! (Can't believe that either.)

I love my babies!

Tomorrow, we'll attempt a more structured 6 month "Mommy photoshoot".

In the meantime...

Mason, you are SIX months old.

You haven't had a well check-up yet, but I imagine you're about 17 lbs.  

Maybe 27 inches long?

You wear a size 3 diaper.

You wear size 12 month/12-18 month shirts, onesies, and one piece pj's.

You wear size 6 month, or 6-9 month pants.

You wear a size 3 shoe. (We found that out today when Dada bought you some boots!  Mama told him to get a size 2 and it was too small!)

You have eaten rice cereal, peas, and carrots so far.  You aren't super crazy about either!  You'd rather nurse.  You eat about every 2 hours during the day, but go 3 hours sometimes!  

At night you usually have one long stretch of 3-4 hours and eat every hour or two before and after that.  Mama is in no hurry for you to sleep through - you're growing too fast in all the other ways as it is!

You love your jumperoo.

You aren't content sitting on my lap for more than a few minutes.  You want to get down to roll and scoot around!  You roll places in no time.

You are sitting up on your own - for exactly one week today - and you're already a pro!  You can reach down and grab toys and sit back up!

You get on your hands and knees and rock back and forth but haven't "officially" crawled yet.

You put EVERYTHING in your mouth.  Anything you find, you have to taste.  Mama cannot turn around for a second!!

We love you SO, SO much Mason!!

Carrots!

Today, Mason had his second vegetable... carrots!  We started solid foods right at five months with rice cereal and he wasn't a fan, so we waited a while and tried peas.  He wasn't much happier about the peas, but after a few days seemed to like them.  So, today we tried carrots.  (Random cute side note:  When Meredith saw me preparing Mason's food, she said "You gonna feed Mason?" I told her "yes" and she said "You not gonna feed him out of your tummy this time?"  Funny how sweet little minds work! And this first picture is here just because it's adorable.)

The pictures below don't really do the experience justice.  He gagged!  Not a fan of carrots, it seems!  I'm beginning to think it's the texture of the purees, because when he has mashed up food, that isn't as thin, he seems to love to eat! 

 I also gave him his mesh feeder today with carrots in it, to see if he liked it any better than the purees.  He chewed on it for a second and threw it in the floor.  Oh well, try again next time! :)

I can't believe he will be 6 months old tomorrow!

Meredith - FOUR years old!

We celebrated Meredith's fourth birthday a couple of weeks ago with some small parties with family.  She had a blast, even though it wasn't the "big" party we've had for her in the past!  She got PLENTY of new toys, DVDs, and some new Fall clothes!  I also hit up Old Navy's Buy One, Get One 75% off sale last weekend and got Meredith and Mason a few new Fall outfits each!  Of course they'd both grown out of everything! The weather is much warmer now, so it'll probably be a while until they can wear them!

Meredith had her 4 year well check-up yesterday at her new pediatrician.  Mason had seen him before and he was so great!  He didn't make Mere nervous at all (which she gets, easily - guess it's genetic!) and he is very thorough and explains everything!  We have to go back in a while for some more vaccinations because it was TOO many for one day!  She did very well, but did cry some during her shots and told the nurse, "BUT I DON'T WANNA TAKE A SHOT!!"  I couldn't help but laugh at how she words it!  She is 39" tall, which is in the 35th percentile, and 32.2 pounds, which is in the 27th percentile.  She may end up short like me, after all!

Here are some pictures I took yesterday: (Look who can sit up by himself now!!!)

Mason - Five Months Old

Mason, at FIVE months, you are...

16 pounds, 4 oz. (50th percentile)

26 inches long (62nd percentile) 

Your head circumference was in the 57th percentile at 16.5 inches.

You were SO good at your doctor's appointment this month.  The doctor commented on how good you were several times!  He found a hip click in your right hip at your appointment, so we have to see an orthopedist to make sure everything is okay with that, but Mama knows you're perfect! :)*

You wear size 6 months and 6-9 month clothes and we have moved up to a size 3 diaper.  It's a little big, but your little belly is too round for the size 2's! 

You are in a size 2 shoe, but you don't really ever wear shoes!

We started you on solids at 5 months, but you aren't crazy about them.  You are a pro at eating, but just don't seem half interested while you're eating, so we are taking it slow.  You've had rice cereal and peas so far.  I can't tell whether you like them or not b/c you're never thrilled about eating solids. (But you DO act like you want a bite of everything we eat!)

You are getting more hair and it looks like it'll be straight!

You get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth, but haven't crawled yet.  One day soon I know you're going to take off.

You drool A LOT - and have since 2 months - but still have no teeth!  You like to chew on EVERYTHING, so it may not be long, though!

Your favorite toys are your keys and your sister's Slinky.  (That Mama has to untangle multiple times a day after you play with it, but she doesn't mind a bit!)

You LOVE playing with your sister.   You smile and laugh at EVERYTHING she does!!  You want EVERY toy she has.  If she's near you, you want her to give you one of her toys so you can play too!  We're still working on her with letting you play with it for more than 30 seconds after she hands it to you, but you don't mind as long as she's nearby!

Mama could watch your sweet little hands play with toys all day!

Your favorite toy to "steal" of your sister's is her mini Lalaloopsy dolls.  There could be 10 baby safe toys and 1 Lalaloopsy 10 feet further away and you will roll for the Lalaloopsy!  I don't know what it is about those things (except that your sister always has one!)

You can sit up on your own for a few seconds and sit up great next to your boppy pillow.  

You "talk" all the time and it is PRECIOUS! You are starting to use consonant sounds (especially "MA" which I love!!!).  You say "Maaa Maaa" a lot, and I like to imagine you know what you're saying.

Your aunt April started calling you "Koala Bear" because you will grip tight on us with your arms when we hold you!

It has been SUCH a fun month.  You are growing up entirely too fast.  I wish I could slow down time and just enjoy you as a baby longer, but I know that I will enjoy you as you grow just as much!  You are just the perfect addition to our family.  Before you were born, I couldn't imagine loving anyone as much as I love your sister, but I do!  You are just the most wonderful baby we could as for.  Your sweet toothless grin makes everything better!! I am so thankful for you, Mason!  Your mama, dada and sister love you SO VERY much!!

*The orthopedist appointment went great and Mason's hip is JUST FINE!! Praise the Lord! :)

Side Note: I promise Meredith will be in more posts from now on!  Just trying to get Mason's monthly posts up to date!

Mason - Four Months Old!

Mason, at FOUR months (I can't believe it!)...

(I couldn't decide which "4 months" picture to use, so I put both!)

No well-check up yet, so we'll have stats at five months.

You wear mostly size 6 months clothes.  You wear a size 2 diaper.

Your eyelashes seem to get longer every day.

You are starting to go a LITTLE longer between feedings. You usually eat at least every 2 hours during the day and every 3 or so at night.

You have started rolling on your tummy in your sleep.  You also stick your feet through the bars of your crib.  Mommy has LOTS of pictures of your precious toes doing this.

You are starting to like riding in the car better and it has made going anywhere MUCH less stressful!

You go after toys on the floor and grab them to play with!  You can pass toys from one hand to the other.  

You are so curious about everything!  I love watching you observe things! Everything you pick up goes STRAIGHT to your mouth.  Your sister didn't put things in her mouth (besides food) ever, so this will be a new challenge for your Mama!  I think I'm up for it, though!!

You tried your jumperoo out this month, but you are not a fan yet.

You've been sitting in your Bumbo awhile.  You don't mind it, but I have to sit right with you because you like to lean back and to the side and all over trying to get toys off the floor and what-not.  Your sweet, chunky thighs always get stuck in the seat!

It's about time to retire the bouncy seat because you try to lean all the way to the side or all the way forward! 

You like to talk to us and it is so sweet.  You just "ooh" and "ahh" all the time and make the sweetest noises!

You are growing up SO, SO fast.  I can't believe how quickly you learn and pick up on things.  We love you SO, SO much, Mason Andrew!

Mason - Three Months Old!

Mason, at three months...

You haven't had a well-check up, so I'm not sure how much you weigh or how tall you are, but boy you are growing fast!!

You wear a size 3-6 months or 6 months in clothes.

You wear a size 2 diaper.

Your hair is still blonde.

Your eyes are definitely blue!

You eat every hour or two during the day and usually go 3-4 hours at night, with an occasional 5 hour stretch thrown in. You're ready for bed early every night!  I LOVE that you love your schedule!

You still haven't had formula! 

You don't take a paci at all or suck your thumb or fingers!

You only like your swing if you're napping!

You still love your bouncy seat, and love playing with the toys on it.

You roll EVERYWHERE.  You started rolling tummy to back on June 17 and back to tummy on June 22 and have not slowed down!

You are SUCH a content baby! (Except in the car.  We're working on that, though!)

You have started laughing and it is ADORABLE!

We just love you SO much!!