12 months

I thought I was busy before... HA! I started school in late August and I haven't stopped to breathe just yet. Most of my days are filled with driving an hour and some to school, attending classes, driving home from school (another hour and some), cooking dinner, soaking up as much time with Mason as possible, cleaning up, putting him to bed, spending time with Joel doing homework, and then crashing zzzzzzzzzzz. I get tired just reading it. I have been really trying hard to not focus on it all or I will get so depressed about it all. But! I should be happy I am finishing school, so I try not to think about the daily routine and how little time I am spending with my family :(

I didn't forget to post Mason's 12 months stats... I just have.not.have.any.time. So, here it is!! 

This month, Mason is RUNNING! He is hilarious and so entertaining. I can literally just sit and watch him play and I will be fully amused. He thrives on laughter and repeat things over and over if he knows you will laugh. He is also getting quite saucy and knows the word NO, and how to do it anyway ;) 

He has so many teeth but he makes it impossible to count them all. He can now climb stairs and it is the scariest thing. He climbs his book shelf in his room. He chases the dog with sticks and thinks he is the world's strongest baby. Then there are times where he grabs me and kisses me or hugs me and says mama and I know he is the sweetest baby alive. <3 

 Age: 12 months

Length: 74 cm's

Weight: 20 lbs, 7oz.

Clothes: Mostly 12 month clothes but some 12-18. 

Food: He loves all food and he is drinking whole milk throughout the day out of his cup like a big, big boy. He lost the bottle at probably.... 11 months I would say! Transitions with him are EASY! 

Hair: blonde, one curl in the back but mostly straight on top

Eyes: big and blue!

I will probably stick to yearly or half-year updates since he won't be changing as quick and I am having a hard time just keeping up with my everyday life. I will post exciting events such as holidays and fun things we do as a family. :) 

Mason's Superman Birthday Party!

My baby boy, who was just a little wee one in my arms not that long ago, is ONE whole year old......... I don't know where I was this entire year, but it does not seem possible. I loved every minute of the past year, and it is a bittersweet moment when you realize your baby is one, and not so little anymore. I am glad he is healthy, and growing, and that I get to experience new things with him at every stage of life, but I will miss the newborn/baby cuddles, and all of those experiences. 

He is such a big boy now! He is walking running around the house like he owns the place, chasing the dog, eating pretty much everything that we eat (unless it's unhealthy of course), and he is by far the funniest child ever! The things he does are so hilarious and we are constantly laughing. We love every moment with him and he is the best part of every day for us. 

For his first birthday party... I knew what I wanted to do about a month or so after he was born. I had almost the entire party planned in my head and on Pinterest before Christmas, so it was easy to figure out the details. We decided to go with a Superman theme, since we all call him SuperMason. It wasn't easy to find Superman party items, so I planned to make most of it. I started gathering supplies and making things weeks before so I wouldn't be swamped and unable to enjoy the last little bit of my maternity leave with him. I am sooo happy with how everything turned out... enjoy the photos! :)

 A banner displaying his monthly photos I took from 1-11, ending with his cake smash photo and a banner I made by cutting triangles out of comic books.

His highchair, backdrop (for photos of course!), and his birthday crown (made with felt and a glue gun)! The canvas will be used in his big boy room in the future, but I thought it made a cute addition to a blank wall! 

This is my cake table backdrop... yes, that is a baby Mason flying in the sky (from his newborn photoshoot). It took awhile to glue and cut all of this, but I am so glad we did it :)

I saw this idea on Pinterest and had to have it at his party! It's a guestbook, which I think is a GREAT idea, so he can look back and see who was at his first birthday party :)

 I chose to use Mason jars as part of the theme... and I think it turned out really well. Fun fact: The "table runner" is from an old pair of pj pants I had as a kid! :)

 Rock candy as Kryptonite. I made little signs for all the food with Superman related titles like "Smallville Sandwiches", "Krypton Kabobs", and "Super Strength Salads". 

Mason's very own Smash Cake. He really smashed it. 

The cake for the rest of the party guests! 

Keeping with our chalkboard theme to record all of his details before and after birth, here are Mason's 1 year old stats! Plus, I was excited to use my new chalkboard :)

My sister-in-law made Mason his very own Superman cape! It was so so so so cute. I die. 

All of the sweets and a Happy Birthday banner I made.

I cannot believe my Super Mason is ONE! Ah! 

11 months!

WAY behind on posting this... but here it is!! 

Mason is 11 months old. Crazy, crazy, crazy! It just blows my mind on a new level every single month. He gets older, he can do more, and it's just craziness all around!! 

This month, Mason took his first steps! I knew this boy would be walking before he turned 1. He also grew FOUR teeth in four weeks! I don't know if that is normal or not, but woah. The best part is, you would have never even known he was teething and he was growing four of those bad boys! 

Mason said mama FINALLY... and it.melted.my.heart. I love him so much! Sometimes I look at him and just think, I have the BEST baby ever, I am the LUCKIEST mom ever! :) 

 Age: 11 months

Length: 74 cm's

Weight: 20 lbs

Clothes: Mostly 12 month clothes

Food: He loves all food and he is drinking whole milk throughout the day

Hair: blonde

Eyes: blue

I love this big boy!!

Family Photos!

My sister-in-law Vanessa took our family photos a week or so ago. I AM IN LOVE with them. We went during the golden hour right before the sun sets and the photos are so amazing. Check them out!! 

CHECK OUT HER BLOG POST AND OTHER PHOTOS! Vanessa Lee Photography  

THANK YOU SO MUCH Vanessa!!! <3 

10 Months!

Mason is 10 months old........... Wow! This month he has learned so many new things that it is amazing to watch. He can wave hi & goodbye, he can stand up holding onto things and takes some steps holding onto his toy music table (without knowing he is!). He is quite the little dancer. When one his tunes comes on he dances up a storm. He flaps his arms and gets up on one knee and bounces, it is hilarious. He really loves to dance to two songs in particular: 1-This Is How We Roll-Florida Georgia Line, and 2-Fancy-Iggy Azalea. Funny kid. 

This month, another tooth came in for a total of 2 bottom teeth! He is eating lots of chunky foods and a lot less purees (other than his cereal and the odd fruit or veggie). 

This month, summer is here... and it has been fun to get out and do things with him. We have gone on walks, a trip to the zoo with Nanny, played in his baby pool... it is great to not be stuck inside or be bundle up to go out!! We're so excited to go camping and take him to the beach this Summer. 

 Age: 10 months

Length: 73 cm's

Weight: 19 lbs, 3 oz.

Clothes: Some 9 month, some 12 month.

Food: He loves all food. 

Hair: blonde

Eyes: blue

This month, Mason even got to go to Prom! 

Stay tuned for 1st birthday party planning posts!! It's soon!! 

My First Mother's Day

It's getting hard to keep up with these posts on time... but I do always manage to get them here eventually ;)

This Mother's Day was special because it was my first! It was such a great day. My hubby made me breakfast and let me sleep in while he fed Mason. Then they surprised me with this little set up. 

It was so thoughtful and I just loved it all. The rest of the day was spent taking my mom out to dinner and visiting my mother-in-law. 

Overall, it was a fantastic day! 

9 months old!

3/4 of a year has passed since our sweet boy came into the world. Unbelievable! This month he has learned quite a bit of new things... he is now clapping his hands... he will wave goodbye to people when they leave... he eats lots of chunky food (and peanut butter)... gets up on one foot and I believe he will be going in no time. I predict walking before his first birthday (I would be extremely surprised if he wasn't!). He finally got his first tooth, it cut through and it's growing bigger by the day (you can sort of see it in this picture- it is on our bottom right). 

I amazed at everything he can do and how quickly he learns to do something.    

Age: 9 months

Length: 73 cm's

Weight: 19 lbs

Clothes: Mostly 9 month, but some 12 month stuff. 

Food: He loves peanut butter, toast, pasta, grapes, blueberries, bananas... pretty much anything and he LOVES water. LOVES, LOVES it. 

Hair: blonde

Eyes: blue

Easter

Mason's first Easter was successful! He got to have dinner at both his Nanny's, and the Easter bunny brought him his first basket. In the morning when he woke up, we set him down and he motored it to the livingroom and crawled straight to his basket. He looked up quickly to see if it was okay for him to touch it (that's a first), and ripped into it. Pulled everything out and quickly destroyed played with it all. 

In his basket I included a two books, some snack cups, big plastic easter eggs filled with a bib and a sun hat, carrot baby food, and a stuffed bunny. 

His favorite things of course were the two plastic eggs that were $1. He likes to take them apart and then hit them together to hear the sound... which is pretty much what he does with all of his toys anyway. 

Hoppy Easter!

It is soooo difficult to take photos of a moving baby.... now throw in a moving pet.... impossible... BUT, it was too good to pass up! My friend has a pet bunny, and it's Easter... so it was perfect! Enjoy the cuteness!!! 

We're spending our Easter weekend headed to some family dinners! It will be nice to relax and spend it with family :) 

HAPPY EASTER!!!

8 Months Old!

Mason is 8 months old! Oh dear. Only 4 months until he is one year old... I don't understand how time goes so much quicker with a baby in your life!!! Maybe because I'm always so busy that it seems to pass much faster, I don't know!

This month has been exciting... watching him pull himself around until he finally took off crawling. It happened SO fast. Wednesday we went to play group (he couldn't crawl)... Thursday he started doing a little bit of the one arm, one leg at a time.. and by Friday he was crawling! By Saturday night he was hot on our heels following us from room to room. So crazy how fast they can learn to do something. Once he has a feel for it, he just goes!! Now there is no stopping him, he's into everything. It definitely keeps me on my toes.

His little personality emerges more and more each month and it is so fun to watch. He is now "kissing" us sometimes (open mouth licks to the cheek). He fake laughs "ha." "ha." "ha."'s and realizes what is funny and what is not. He is way too smart for his own good!

...I just realized that I skipped over 7 months and never posted anything. Oops. Baby brain ;)
There wasn't much of a change from 6 to 7 months so I will just post some photos of him when he was 7 months. Bad mommy (haha).

Age: 8 months

Length: 71 cm's

Weight: 17 lbs, 13 oz.

Clothes: Mostly 9 month, but some 6 month stuff still fits. 6-9 is the best fit.

Food: He eats anything not nailed down. He is starting to eat more than purees... he has had pasta, toast, cheese, some chunky fruits. He LOVES to eat (almost as much as he loves to sleep lol).

Hair: blonde

HAPPY 8 MONTHS MASON!