Mason: Month 11 {Update} + {Photos}

Our Sweet Boy will be ONE next Month!! 

Weight: Uncertain; I am guessing 25 pounds

Height: No idea;

Nicknames: Mase, Mase Mase, Bud, Buddy, BuhBuhs

Eating (Milk): Mason is still getting three - 9 ounce bottles at 7a, 11a, 6:45p. He has varied some this month with drinking between 7-9 for each bottle. We will start whole milk trials by mid-October.

Eating (Solids): Our little one is still such a good eater. This month, Mason ate lots of popsicles. He tried Chick-Fil-A for the first time, soft pretzels and other fun foods. Mason got his first taste of ICEE and loved it! Also, Mason started eating grilled cheese sandwiches.

 

Sleeping: Night time sleep schedule is the same but we have cut 30-45 minutes from the morning nap so he is sleeping 9:00-10:15 or 10:30 and then from 1-3 in the afternoon. We cut the morning nap down a bit because it was affecting his afternoon nap which is the most important one to us. So now, Mason is getting a better afternoon nap and that works well for us.

Diapers: We use disposable diapers (LUVS size 6) in the nighttime and still love our Sunbaby cloth diapers during the day.

Clothes: This month, Mason is wearing some 18 month clothes with several 24 month and 2T clothes. 18 month footed PJ's are too small but 24 month are too big. Weird.
Little guy even wore a 3T Bailey Boys outfit!!

Social: Mason is now waving "hey" and "bye". He also loves to talk to people driving by while we are in the car.



Mason is blowing kisses as well!

 

New/fun things from this month: 
Matt and Mason are playing "Don't Wake Daddy" now and it is so cute!

Mason is now signing "more" pretty consistently, "finished" most of the time with model and is working on "please" and "thank you"

Mason has learned how to close a few of the doors in the house. Pretty proud of it too!

Said "Dada" on 9/19 while looking at Matt; said "Mama" while looking at me on 9/20 and then said "Hey" and "Bye" on 9/20 while waving!!



By the 23rd, Mason was signing "more"  and "Finished" independently for food and ending meal time.

We all took a trip to the mountains to celebrate Matt's mom's 50th birthday. It was Mason's first night in a cabin.

Mason had his first experience with stairs and he quickly demonstrated his ability to crawl up them without problem!

Likes:  Bubbles
Bath
"Helping" to clean
Long sleeves
Light switches
Blowing Kisses

Dislikes: At times, having his diaper changed. I more think this has to do with having to lay down when he wants to be moving!

 

Funnies: Mason scared me this month. I thought he had gone further into the kitchen from the living room and I followed behind him. He was standing right behind the wall dividing the living room and dining room. I looked down and saw him unexpectedly and I said "ah" and he laughed so hard!!

Mommy: Mason pulled my face to his and gave me a big kiss on 9/22.

Daddy: 
Daddy and Mason have been practicing their "ugga muggas" or as I call them eskimo kisses. Mason will get real still when you say "ugga mugga" and let you rub your nose with his and then he gives you a big kiss!

Comparison Pictures:

Newborn:

One Month:

Two Months:

Three Months:

Four Months:

Five Months:

Six Months:

Seven Months:

Eight Months: 


Nine months: 


Ten Months:  


Eleven Months: 
 

31 Days: Letters To Mason: Day 5

 Mason, 

Today is a Sunday and I was just thinking about (not to sound cliche') what I love about Sundays. When I was in college and graduate school and before I got married to your Dad, I spent almost every Sunday the same. I got up and got dressed, went to church, went to lunch either alone or with friends and then came home and took a nap. That was the life and I'm going to be honest, I hope you get to do that on many a Sunday in your life. 

Since your Dad and I were married, every Sunday looks different to us. Your Dad works for a company who gives him an ever changing schedule every week. When your Dad is off on Sundays both before you and now since we have had you, we go to church together and then we have Sunday Fundays! We might go shopping or go for a walk. We might go out to eat lunch or supper. We might take a nap or watch our favorite TV shows. We might play a lot at home with you or we may go to the park. No matter what, if your Dad is home from work with us on a Sunday, we enjoy that day to the fullest. 

If your Dad isn't off, you and I will go to church and then come home and have a low-key day. For most families, Moms and Dads work Monday-Friday and always have the weekends off. For us, weekends off are a luxury so we try to live it up! 

All of that to say, I'm looking forward to when you are able to notice one day being different from another and telling us what you love about Sundays. :)

And also, you, you Dad and Jesus time at Church are my favorite things about Sundays. 

I love you! 

Mom

31 Days: Letters To Mason: Day 4

Dearest Mason, 

Today the topic on my mind is comparison. Right now in your short life time, you haven't learned yet what comparison is and what it can mean. You march to your own drum (and I honestly hope you always will). You don't care what others are doing. You don't care if the 18 month old in the nursery is spouting sentences. You don't care if your friend crawls slower than you. Etc. 

You take each day in stride and you do what you want/need to do. As a mom, there are so many times that I am faced with the opportunity to compare myself, you and even your Dad to others and what they are doing. Trust me, I try my hardest to avoid this but there are times when Satan wants nothing more than to stop us or slow us down so he gives us a picture of what others are doing in life so that our comparison of ourselves against them will hinder us. 

Here's my prayer for you: Don't compare yourself to others. Look to God who is your creator and in him, find your strength and identity. Only then can one be truly satisfied. I'm so proud of you and who you are and I promise to support you all the days of your life. 

Love, Mom

Messy Beautiful Love by Darlene Schacht {A Book Review}

When I saw this book, Messy Beautiful Love,  up for review from BookLook Bloggers, it immediately caught my eye because I recognized the author's name. I wasn't sure where I recognized it from so I did a little research. Darlene co-wrote a book with Candace Cameron-Bure that I had read reviews on etc. and that's where I recognized her name from. She also writes a blog which I've happened upon now and then.  

Anyway, I had been reading a lot of fiction books lately and thought this would be a change of pace and I always enjoy reading books that can help us to better our marriage and/or help us to avoid tough situations in marriage. This book was incredible. 

Darlene and her husband have been through tough times and have come out on the other side of them. Darlene uses their life situations coupled with scripture to really drive home ways to re-ignite/ignite hope in your marriage. I loved that Darlene was not afraid to share about their struggles. She also was honest that marriage is hard. It was so easy for me to read her words knowing that she has dealt with tough times. She was not preaching at me, she was counseling me given her life experiences. 

I enjoyed the sections in the book because each offered a challenge to the reader as a way to help strengthen their marriage. Darlene responded to questions she has received over the years. She ended the book with a challenge for 31 days of prayer for marriages. It's such an encouragement. 

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to strengthen their marriage. Well done, Darlene! 

About the Author: 

Darlene Schacht is the original founder of Christian Women Online Magazine and The Internet Café Devotions and writes the popular blog Time-Warp Wife. She is coauthor of Candace Cameron Bure’s New York Time’s best-selling book, Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness. Darlene has been married to Michael Schacht for more than 25 years. They have four children.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

31 Days: Letters To Mason: Day 3

MMM, 

Today, I have been thinking about what a joy and privilege it is to be a Mom. As you'll learn one day (when you're 30 ;-)), God created man and woman to pro-create but sometimes, life deals difficult hands to people and they aren't able to have children. Your Dad and I were super fortunate and blessed that having you came pretty easily. I had a great pregnancy and although our 24 hours of labor/induction etc ended in a c-section, we couldn't have been happier. 

All of that to say, being a Mom is hard work. For us, getting here was the easy part but raising you to be a Godly man is a whole new ballgame! Your Dad and I don't want to just go with the flow of society and raise you like the world sees fit. We want to raise you in a home who loves the Lord. In a home where we go to church as a family. In a home where women (and men) are respected. In a home where joy and love are present. In a home where you are encouraged to learn more about Jesus and trust him as your Savior and Lord. In a home where you can feel safe. In a home where hard times draw us closer together not pull us apart. 

You already have such a sweet spirit and your Dad and I know that is just a pure blessing from the Lord. You are funny always laughing when you give kisses or when you sneak up on us. You are loving and are always giving kisses and hugs. You are patient (most of the time). You are the extra joy of our hearts!

Mason, your Dad and I love you so much. And like I said, it's a privilege to be your Mom. 

Love, Mom

Mason: Week 48 {Photos}

Day 330: Sleeping boy on the drive to the mountains

Day 331: Trying on a hat in Children's Place

Day 332: I'm a big boy! 

Day 333: Blowing Kisses! 

Day 334: Playing with the train table at Barnes and Noble while on a date with Dad

Day 335: Helping Mom sort through the mail (while eating a snack)

Day 336: Love this guy who will be 1 in less than a month! 

Flour + Water: Pasta by Thomas McNaugton {A Cookbook Review}

This is my 50th book review!!!! 

Matt, my husband, received a pasta extruder for his birthday this year and he has been experimenting with it whenever he can. When we saw this book/cookbook, flour +water: pasta up for review, we knew it was something we wanted to check out and read. 

This amazing book did not disappoint! At first look, the pictures are absolutely incredible which immediately draws you in to want to read the book further. The first bit of the book tells the story about the author which is pretty neat just by itself. 

Then, recipes for pasta dough are shared and while there is a basic recipe, the book shares more than just that recipe and gives details about how to roll the dough and specific thicknesses as well as the importance of the dough resting. There is then information on how to cook the pasta as well as how to store fresh pasta. It is extremely detailed and well written. This was my favorite part of the book. 

The remaining portion of the book (which is large) gives pasta recipes for every season. To me, the recipes are unique and not all of something we would make here at home but they are all beautiful and definitely had my mouth watering while I read! 

This book is incredible and I am so glad we were able to receive it. We will be making pasta from this book ASAP! 

You can find more Book Info here. 

As a reminder, please be sure to use the FTC disclaimer copy at the end of your blog post which says, "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

31 Days: Letters To Mason: Day 2

Dear Mason, 

After I write the last letter to you this month, you will be a big one year old! Your Dad and I cannot believe that you are going to be ONE! This last year has been so fun! We have watched you grow from a 7 pound, 10 ounce baby boy to a nearly 25 pound big boy who is talking and trying to walk. 

Each day you amaze us. You are signing some words. You love books and love storytime at the library. You can clap your hands and give kisses. You like to laugh and scrunch up your nose. 

I hope to share some fun things for you over the next month and some insightful things and to just let you know that I love you to pieces! :)

Love, Mom 

31 Days: Letters To Mason: Day 1

I have decided to link up with 31 day of blogging this year! #write31days. Since Mason will turn 1 on November 1st, I thought this could be something fun to do to honor his first year of life. Over the rest of the days of this month, I will take time to write letters to Mason. I haven't decided exactly what I'll write each day but I thought it would be fun and meaningful to do. So, here goes!