First Smile!

Mason turned two weeks old today! His daddy was playing with him when all of a sudden Mason smiled and held that smile long enough for Travis to take this picture! I mean I know all mothers think their children are adorable....but pleasseee....have you ever seen such cuteness?

I'm so in love with him.

Travis and I are gaining confidence every day. My mom will be leaving in a few days and I'm absolutely devastated that our time is over. Still, she thinks we are ready to be on our own and is nudging us out of the nest. It's so funny to see how she gently pushes me to do stuff that I'm still freaked out about, like driving with him in the car. Today she insisted we go for a weigh in at Dr. Greer's and stood back as I got him ready and put him in his car seat. (BTW, our little man weighs a whopping 9 pounds already!) I feel like Rockey and she's Mickey. She pushes me to get out and walk, eat healthy and take naps. 40 pounds have already fallen off and I now have the confidence that the final 30 will come off too, if I continue to work at it. I can't tell you how many times I have snapped at her (I'm so blaming the hormones) and how many times we have absolutely fallen out in tears laughing over something (mostly my National Geographic Boobs)I mean I could put someones eye out with these things. Gotta love breast feeding. Anyway, we have really had a wonderful time and I feel closer to her than ever. What would we do without our moms. Mason, I hope you love me half as much as I love your grandma. Thanks Mom, for the laughter, tears, encouragement and love.

Merry Christmas

What an amazing time to bring new life into the world. Mom and Dad are here from Atlanta. My mom is staying with us for a month to help out. I feel closer to her than ever, which is amazing because she has always been my very best friend. Alan and his wife Tracey are also visiting. And my dad drove four hours back and forth from Atlanta to bring my grandmother's over for the holiday. Travis's parents, Tracy and William, Adam and Russell came for Christmas morning. Once again, everyone did way to much for us and our little Mason. I took five rolls of film of Mason, dressed in his Santa outfit! Super cute stuff.























Mason is a little angel. Does every mom say that? Mom....I'm a MOM! Anyway, he really is a good baby. He hardly ever cries. He loves to be cuddled and rocked. The only thing that seems to upset him is when he looses a sock. Travis can swaddle him in two seconds flat and I'm enjoying nursing. He has gained back almost all the weight he lost after he was born. We are having to supplement with formula along with nursing. Travis and the grandma enjoys giving him a bottle and Mason isn't picky, as long as he gets his dinner. He grew almost an inch in four days and is already holding up his head by himself.







We are slowly getting more comfortable handling him and transitioning from nervous parents into somewhat confident ones. As long as my mom is near, she is really a baby whisperer. I love being a mother. I can just stare at him for hours at a time, I'd rather be spending time with him that doing anything else.

I will never forget the feeling of pure love that washed over me when I first sang Mason The Itsy Bitsy Spider, I balled like a baby. We were rocking after I had nursed him he was falling asleep and I started singing, and barely choked my way through it. It was at that moment I realized I was someones mother. I wasn't overwhelmed, just satisfied with my place in the world. Thank you God.












Travis is an incredible father. He is so supportive of me, during those hormonal moments. Sometimes you will just cry for no reason at all!!!! He's up for every feeding, every diaper change and usually is the one picking out outfits for him and coordinating his socks and hats. During those first days Travis really took the lead as I followed, not as confident in my new role as he was. Plus, the c-section was no joy ride and I was not feeling physically like myself. I love that about Travis, he knows when to let me be...well....me. Strong, confident and full of myself. But he also knows when I'm feeling unsure of myself, and steps in and takes care of everything until I'm ready to be me again. I love leaning on him and he always shoulders the responsibility.


As I type, little Mason is swaddled and sleeping in his crib. In about an hour I will hear soft coos and maybe a few grunts and it's time to start our routine of feeding, rocking, changing and singing. I have never been so at peace, so content with my place in the universe, as a mom, a wife and a daughter. There is no greater joy. The reason for this season has never been more clear to me. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our family and friends. We love you.

Mason is here

Mason Alan Spratlin is here! He was born Dec. 16th, at 9:01 am. He weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces and is 21 inches. He is beautiful and we already can't imagine life without him. So we are super busy, feeding him, changing diapers and taking pictures. Here are a few that Uncle Russel took at the hospital.

Thank you for all the cards, flowers, outfits, food and other gifts from our friends and family. We love you all!

I hope.....

This time tomorrow I will be a mom. What an amazing, scary, exciting feeling. We are leaving bright and early for a quick drive to East Alabama Medical Center. I need to be there at 6:30 to be prepped for our c-section at 9. Travis and I are so excited. My mom and dad are driving in from Atlanta. They too are excited. My mom will be staying with us for a month to make sure all we have to worry about is taking care of Mason. She is superwoman, supermom, everything to me. I hope I can be half the mother to Mason that she's always been to me.

Now a note to my son.....

Dear my little Mason,

I can't wait to hold you in my arms. To see your face, the color of your eyes (I hope you have your daddy's eyes) your hair (we are in big trouble if you have my red hair). I can't wait to count your ten fingers and your ten toes. I know you are perfect. I can't wait to smell you and cuddle with you. I can't wait to see your dad stare in awe at you. I can't wait to hear the reactions from your grandparents as they see you for the first time. I'm so ready for you to be here. So are they.

I pray that I will be the best mom I can be for you. I hope to raise you in a home filled with love for both Christ and family. I hope you love dogs as much as I do and experience that type of pure love. I hope when you are a grown man that I'm the first person you have to tell when something fantastic happens. I hope I'm the first person you turn to when you are scared or something bad happens. I hope I can be a great mother-in-law to the woman you love.....just like I've had a great mother-in-law who loves me. I hope you love sports and hunting with your dad. I hope you love bugs and dirt and trucks. I hope you love books like your Uncle Alan and space ships and science like your Uncle Russell. I hope you are kind at heart like your Aunt Tracy Spratlin and sweet and loving and spirited like your other Aunt Tracey White. I hope you are strong like you Aunt Gayle. I hope you love your cousins, Kate and Campbell. I hope you have Kate's quiet strength and Campbell's spunk. I mostly hope you are like your dad, his dad and my dad. There are no other men on this earth like them or equal to them.

So little Mason, sleep well tonight. Tomorrow our life begins.

Love,
Mom

Quick Update

Hi Everyone!

Okay, so I'm one week away from my due date and I haven't dilated or dropped. Boo!
So, Monday they did an ultrasound. We found out Mason is heads down. Yay!
The measurements indicate he weighs about 7 lbs. 15 ounces Ouch!

At this point they could pull Mason out of my nose or ears and I wouldn't care. I'm just ready to have him. We are hoping I dilate some by the 16th, our due date. The doctor said if I had he could try to induce to speed things up a bit. If not, it looks like we will have a c-section.

I guess it all hit me about five minutes ago when the hospital called me on my cell phone to remind me that Dr. Alverson had me scheduled for a c-section on Tuesday, the 16th. It was like, wow, this is going to happen! Soon! Our baby, our son, is almost here, with us. We will be able to hold him and see him and love him and read to him and feed him and rock him. I'm overwhelmed. My heart just feels so full, with love for him, my husband and our family. Thank you God for this blessing.