Happy Birthday Mason!

Happy Birthday Mason! This time last year I had no idea how much a little, tiny person could so easily and lovingly become the center of our universe. He is the world to us. His smile brightens our day, his laughter makes our worries go away. He adores us and we adore him. He is such a happy little guy. So easy going, easy to smile, clap his hands, giggle and throw his arms up. It's like he picks up something new each and every day. It's amazing to see him grow.

I just wish time would slow down just a tiny bit. It's all going by way to fast.

I can't believe this time last year he was just a few hours old. I remember a time when I had no clue what I was going to do with this tiny baby boy. I had no idea how to change a diaper, give a bath, make a bottle, soothe a tummy ache or a bad dream. I was clueless on how to care for another human. Now I feel like it's second nature. It's almost if I can read little Mason's mind. I know when he has a fever just by looking at his eyes, I know if he's sleepy by the way he pulls his ear. I know his different cries, so I can tell when he is scared, hungry, teething or just tired and wanting his mommy.

Travis has been the best father. He's changed more diapers than I have and not once has he ever complained about getting up in the middle of the night, either to sit and talk while I was breastfeeding, or give a bottle or just hold little Mason. He spends so much time with Mason and I could not have asked for a more supportive father. This past year has been both the best and most challenging of our marriage. Mason has made us a family and that is an amazing feeling. However, handling a new little person and figuring out how to be husband and wife not just mommy and daddy is difficult, especially when you are just exhausted cause you aren't getting a lot of sleep. Travis and I are so very different and stubborn. We like to get our way, especially when it comes to what we think is best for Mason. There's not a lot of compromising going on, but we are getting better. We are not often on the same page and that has taken some getting used to.

Bottom line, we both love Mason more than life itself, and that's a pretty awesome feeling. I guess that's really the only thing we need to have in common in order to raise a wonderful young man. That plus our faith, which has carried us both through hard times and made the good times, the wonderful times that much more special. God you are AWESOME. I prayed to you every night when I was pregnant. Most often times I was sitting on the shower floor, begging you to help me be a good mom. I also selfishly begged you to help me loose the 80+ pounds I had gained during the pregnancy. I said Your name over and over during our c-section, thanking you for this gift, thanking you for a miracle we had waited three years for. Well, God, thank you for answering my prayers and for our little man, Mason. Happy Birthday, little baby boy!!!

From Crawling to Walking!

Mason took several first steps today! I was about to take a nap. Travis was playing with him before giving him a bottle and putting him down for his afternoon nap. All of a sudden Travis bursts into our room and says you better come in here if you want to see your son walk for the first time. I was like, no way. I mean he had been kinda taking some steps, but they were really wobbly. He just started crawling, I kept thinking. Well, Travis put his truck in front of Mason and he just took off, literally taking between 6 and 12 steps to get to his truck and push it! It was AMAZING to experience this amazing first as a family. I mean this is a start of a whole new journey for our little man and our family. Travis has been working with Mason on walking and his balance before our nighttime bottle and it looks like his dedication has paid off. Mason is very close to mastering this amazing skill and he's not even 10 months old. Travis is so excited, he says he just wants Mason to run out to meet him when he gets home from work shouting, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy." Well, my dears, you are literally one step closer to making that dream a reality.

On a side note, Mason is starting to get his top teeth in! Wow, they really do grow up so fast!

Zoom...Zoom...Zoom!

Mason is officially crawling and we are so excited! We were starting to wonder if it was every going to happen. He is now zooming and zipping all over the place. We are realizing very quickly that it's going to be twice as hard to keep up with him now. When he wants something, he takes off and gets it, which is already starting to exhaust mommy and daddy. At first he would kinda scoot around using one leg to propel his body forward while moaning and groaning in protest. He just didn't like to do it. He would crawl just far enough to reach the object then collapse on his belly and bury his head on the floor. But now he's on all fours and seems to enjoy his new mobility. When he reaches the object of his desire, he can grab it and sit back up and start playing with it. He smiles and laughs when he finally reaches his destination. It is so fulfilling to see him accomplish this new task. It is so incredible to witness these baby steps.

We are in the process of baby-proofing the home. Lamps, candlesticks, plants and all other decorations will soon be put up. Light sockets are being plugged up and the hardwood floors will soon be covered up with a big rug. We are concerned that we might miss something. So, if you have any suggestions that may help, we are all for them!

He still LOVES to eat! He is now feeing himself the Gerber stars and yogurt bites, it's so cute to see him concentrate on picking the star up and then quickly get it to his mouth! It's amazing how his hand-eye coordination and crawling skills improve by the hour. When we eat at home, we usually invite my Mom and Dad to i-chat with us. Mason loves seeing his grandma and granddad on the computer while he eats. We love having the Mac technology to share his milestones with my parents in Atlanta! If you have loved ones who live far away, the mac i-chat program is priceless!

Mason's personality continues to blossom. He is such a happy little man, quick to smile and giggle. He loves peek-a-boo, Lexi's bumper, his truck and baseballs. He is starting to like to sit and have me read him books, but they have to be the cardboard page kind, because he likes to eat the thin paper kind. He loves his baby can read video's and will throw his arms high in the air when you say, "Put your arms up Mason, put your arms up." We of course think this is because he is brilliant! I think all parents think that. The only thing he isn't doing is saying Mama or Dada. But that will come in time. It's just another memory we have to look forward to in this remarkable journey. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful little boy!