Much Ado About Mason....All About My Boy

Sweet kisses for my buddy.

This post is for Mason and about Mason.

With two kiddos in the house, it's pretty easy to sometimes forget that one of them is doing many, many things for the first time. As most Moms can tell you, the second kid is different. In our house, that means that we deliberately try to pay equal attention to both kids -- all the time. This isn't realistic, and frankly, sometimes one kid needs more attention. Like when that kid is walking and talking for the very first times.

Mason is so much fun right now. He's walking everywhere, which is funny in itself. He does the Mason shuffle into the kitchen to see what "Da-dee" (Daddy) is doing. He does the Mason shuffle into the living room to see what Maddie is watching on TV. He climbs the stairs when he sees someone heading that way. He pries open the bathroom door when someone doesn't want it to be opened! He is really pleased with himself and warms our hearts with his cheeky smile. No kidding -- this kid is cheeky!

To think that he learned how to crawl while we were in Germany in early June is truly amazing. He has come so far in such a short time. In October, he was walking 8-12 steps on his own and in the last two weeks, he's just walking all over the place.

Enjoying gifts from Mommy's trip to Pennsylvania -- sausages and pretzels.
Who's the happier guy here????

Mason also has been climbing to the top of the stairs for more than a month now. He usually climbs one or two steps and then turns around to see who, if anyone, is looking. If someone is watching, he grins his cheeky grin and starts climbing again. Sometimes I really believe he sits on the stairs and waits until someone sees that he's there, so he can show them how he can climb to the top like a big boy.

Maddie is often in charge of watching for stair-bound Mason. We tell her she's the "little mommy" for a while and to let us know if he gets on the stairs. Unless Dora or Shrek has Mason completely immobile, which happens a lot, we'll hear a cry from Maddie soon. "Mason's on the stairs again." There's something to be said for tattling.


Grandaddy pretends the Mouso puppet is going to eat Mason's snack. Mason seems unconcerned that the mouse will actually be able to pry the snack from his chubby little fingers.

Mason and Big Sis Maddie in their Thanksgiving finest -- bewitched by the TV.

One of his favorite things to do is body slam. He shuffles over to said thing or person and lifts his arms high in the air and just drops his whole body on them/it. It is so funny and he loves doing it. He laughs and smiles and hasn't a care in the world about whether or not he is hurt -- uh, or whether or not the person's back is dislocated!! He especially likes doing this to pillows and Da-dee. Mommy (me) doesn't really spend a lot of time lying on the floor for this punishment. But Da-dee obliges and Mason is thankful.

Roll of Paper Towels = Big Time Fun for a One-Year Old

Mo' Sketti, Mo Smiles!

Speaking of Da-dee, this is Mason's new word. It is the most used word in his small but ever-expanding vocabulary. He says it when he wants his Daddy. He says it when he wants anything. He is very much a Daddy's boy, but we have noticed lately that Mason points and cries "Da-dee" whenever he wants his sippy cup, more food, you name it. So.....we have been teaching him the names of things.

So far, he has said the following in the correct way more than once:
water
kitty cat
a cat
ball
bowl
more
all done (a-duh)
thank you (this sounds like tha-du, but we'll take it)
bottle (ba)
cracker

I think that's about it.