Daddy Days!!!

It's FINALLY Friday!!!  I have been looking forward to today (well, today at 4:30) since Tuesday morning. Now, I am just 30 minutes away from being set free!!! I survived my first week back to work without a complete mental breakdown (only a couple near misses). This week involved lots of crying, staring at my baby boy's pictures and blogging/talking about him and then in the evenings lots of cuddling with Mason!

Today is Daddy's first day to be home with Mason (alone) all day. So far he has done a wonderful job, but I expected nothing less. Although my heart would love nothing more than to be there with them, I am really happy they are getting to spend this time together. It's a great opportunity for them to bond even more. And also makes me realize even more how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband that is an amazing Daddy to my baby boy!

I've talked to Nate several times through text messages and Mason has been an angel for Daddy! They've hung out and taken a few naps together. 

Thank God for iphone cameras and amazing husbands!!

1st one sent:

2nd:

3rd:

If that doesn't melt a mama's heart, I don't know what will :)

Oh my love!!!

Freeze Frame Time

The first time I heard this song it instantly became my favorite! I could (and have) listen to it over and over and over and never get tired of it. I love every word of it. Reminds me so much of my life; past, present and future. And after hearing this song I've always dreamed of having a son. I am now living my dream and love this song now, more than ever.

Lyrics:

It’s a beautiful morning, to see the sun rise

It’s moments like this that make me wish I could freeze frame time

I got a hot cup of coffee, gonna watch the world come alive

Surrounded by nature likens the innocence of a new born child

CHORUS

Sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we cry

Some days it’s hard to figure out our way in this life

But it’s moments like these that make me wish

I could freeze frame time.

VERSE 2

I got a picture in my pocket, of my baby boy

He’s growing up so fast I swear he thinks he can conquer the world

Just yesterday evening, he come running up to me

He said he made his momma mad and that she said he was just like me

CHORUS 2

And I laughed until I cried, all swallowed up with pride

You should have seen the concern in that little boy’s eyes

Yes it’s moments like this that make me wish

I could freeze frame time

VERSE 3

You are and angel, you taught me how to fly

You picked me up when I was down turned me around and you made me fly high

We’re a little bit older now, together we’ve seen some change

But I love you more now than I did on that very first day

CHORUS 3

Sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we cry

Some days it’s hard to figure out our way in this life

But’s moments like this that make me wish

Yes it’s moments like this that make me wish

Yes it’s moments like this that make me wish

I could freeze frame time

{Being a Mommy...Part two}

...means wearing your hair in a ponytail every day because you don't have time to "fix" it. :)

{Being a Mommy...Part One}

I wanted to start this series soon after I had Mason so that I wouldn't forget anything...but I barely touched a computer during that 6 weeks. I will just have to start now! I wanted to document things I have never done until I became a mom...ya know, mommyisms.

"Being a mommy means...taking a 3 second shower because your baby is fussing and awake. Ya know, just long enough to lather soap, rinse off and get out"

Day 2, evening

Going home to Mason yesterday was wonderful. I was so anxious and ready to see him. Apparently traffic on 360, I20 and I35 didn't get the memo or really understand my situation. When Crystal Hall is on her way home to her son, clear out and move over!!! I love walking in and Nana placing Mason straight into my arms!! Those are the best moments after such a long drive home. Mason was a little fussy because he didn't sleep much that day. As soon as I got him into his carrier and into the cruiser he was fine. Nathan's mom is the sweetest and so thoughtful. She bought us some groceries; things that would be easy to pop into the oven. She knows that most of our time is spent with Mason and we barely have time for anything else. Thank you, Nana!!

Aunt Leslie and Cousin Tanner were waiting on us when we got home. I missed them!! So I asked Leslie if they could come over and visit. :) Mason fell asleep in Leslie's arms for a bit. When he woke up we got some pictures!! The ones of Mason and Tanner did not upload, so I will have to edit this post later!

Leslie and Tanner left sometime around 8:00 and then it was Mommy and Mason time. Daddy had softball games and didn't get home until later. We hung out on the couch and he fell asleep in my arms for a bit. I love spending time with him! We were both in bed by 9:20!! He's usually ready for bed around 9pm. I don't even remember Nate coming in from his games but remember seeing him and talking to him when I woke up at 1:30. Mason slept great. Only woke a couple times, but went right back to bed. He's such a good boy!!!

Mommy and Mason on the couch:

Work day 2

Mason has been so great to mama!!! He slept well again last night. Yay! I know that it's not the best thing to have him in bed with us, but I honestly love it. I love cuddling with him and seeing his face anytime I wake up. I am the luckiest girl in the world to get to go to sleep by the greatest boys and wake up next to them!!

Mason let me get ready for work before he woke up. I looked over and saw him just laying in bed watching me! Aww! I picked him up and held him for a while, loving on him. Then he started going #2. I texted Nana and told her we were going to be a little late! LOL. That was okay with me, though...more time with my baby boy!!

He sent me off with a bunch of smiles and even a couple laughs. That gave me something to smile about all the way to work!!!

Back to work already?!?!

Yesterday I had to face the day I have been dreading for months now! The day I had to go back to work :( And it was harder than I could have ever prepared myself for. I miss my baby boy SOOOOOOOOO much!!!! I cried throughout the day on Monday, and then cried myself to sleep with Mason in my arms. Woke up crying the next morning! Mason slept really good that night, but I didn't because I just kept staring at him and watching him sleep. The only thing that made it easier was knowing that I was leaving him in good hands. His Nana (Nate's mom) is out for summer and is keeping him. She works for a school, so has the perks of summers off. We are so thankful for that. Just not sure what we are going to do come August. I don't even want to think about that. I am already having separation anxiety, seriously. I pray and pray we find someone good to keep him. If you are reading this and have any suggestions/connections, please let us know!!! We want him to be in the best and safest place possible and want to avoid daycare if at all possible.

Work was busy and I had a Dr appt, so that make the day go by fast. Dr. Greve said that I have healed well and that everything was great! Yay. It was nice seeing all the friends I have made at the Dr office. I got to show off pictures of Mason and talk about him. That helped too, but as soon as I left I went back to missing him really bad!

Going home to him was the best!! I practically ran inside. Diesel greeted me at the door and then Nate's mom put Mason straight into my arms. He just laid so peacefully on my chest for a long while. It was so great! We had a nice evening together. I love cuddling with my sweet boy!!!

Mason's 1st 4th of July

For the holiday weekend we camped (and by camping, I mean in a 36+ft travel trailer with AC) at Purtis Creek with the family. Purtis Creek is a place that daddy's family has gone to for a long, long time. We went down Thursday after Daddy got home from work.

Sitting on the porch waiting for Daddy to get home:

We didn't do much that evening but eat and hang out, then it was time for bed. Friday morning we woke up and got ready for Canton. It started pouring rain, so we hung out at the campsites for a while. Then we headed that way. The rain stopped by the time we were ready for our Canton adventure. It wasn't too terribly hot and there weren't many people there. Made for a nice time. We found a couple signs for Mason's room. One is a door hanger that says "Lil Cowboy's Room" and the other is a wall sign that says, "Dear God, please tell Mommy and Daddy that Cowboys don't take baths". They were just too cute to pass up!! Mason was a trooper at Canton!! He slept through most of it.

When we returned from Canton Nate noticed that Diesel's head was bleeding..which led us to find a knot on the side of his head/face. He either scratched it or hit it on something and busted it open. It was bleeding pretty good and looked really bad. :( It was soooo sad to see him that way. We hung out at the campsites for a little while longer and then decided it was probably best if we went home. So we packed us an overnight bag, from our over the weekend bags and headed home. We wanted to get Diesel home to take care of him. He did well throughout the night, but the next morning it was bleeding again and still looked bad. So we called the vet. They were booked, but able to get us in as an emergency visit. We headed to the vet around 9:30 and they were able to see us as soon as we got there. The vet said he had either been bitten by something or had an absess. She took him to the back to flush it out and shave the hair around it. She gave us antibiotics and sent us on our way. He wasn't running fever, so she wasn't too worried about it. He has to take the meds for 10 days and if he's not better we have to take him back. The wound looked tons better the very next day! Yay! So happy because it was really breaking my heart. The wound was horrible looking.

Diesel at the vet:

And Mason slept right through it all:

:)

We went back to Purtis Creek after the vet appt. That evening we just hung out and the boys did some fishing. Nate, Diesel and I went on a walk through the trails and I punctured my new flip flops! Grr! Sunday we all went back to Canton. This Canton experience wasn't as great as the first. It was super hot and humid and I felt like such a bad mother for having Mason out there. Needless to say, we didn't stay long. After Canton we all went to eat dinner. Then back to the campgrounds to hang out.

Pictures:

1 Month

OMG - where is the time going?? I can't believe Mason is already a month old (pretend that I wrote this 2 weeks ago!!). He's growing so fast and amazing us more and more everyday!!!

4-Week-Old Baby - from "What to Expect" website:

Are you talking to me? Yes, he is and your baby wants you to talk back!

Those adorable grunts, gurgles, and coos are his way of chatting about what's going on in his world, and the best way to encourage more communication is to keep the conversation going. (Don't be surprised if you hear plenty of sneezes and hiccups as well — both very common in infants.) At this age, your baby is ready for supervised tummy time, a position that'll allow him to practice important motor skills (like lifting that big noggin, even for a few seconds at a time). He'll also discover his best built-in toys about now — his fingers and toes, which are not only entertaining but potentially comforting as well (thumbsuckers, rejoice!). Also worth rejoicing over: You're an old pro by now at this baby-care thing — who knew it would happen so quickly?

 

Facts about Mason at 1 month old:

 

Weighs approx 10lbs

In size 1 diapers

Loves bathtime

Ready for bed around 9pm

Sleeps anywhere from 3 to 5 hours at a time

Lifts head for long periods of time

Smiling tons

Likes his bedroom and crib, but doesn't sleep in it

Still nursing and supplementing with Enfamil forumla

Using Dr Brown's bottles

Loves to go places and ride in the car

Likes to stare at contrasting colors

Loves to be outdoors

Outgrowing newborn clothes and moving into size 0-3 months

Doesn't like for his diaper to be changed

Sleeps in bed with Mommy and Daddy

Still trying to figure Diesel out (Diesel likes to give him kisses on his head and feet)

Loves to be held ALL the time!

Doesn't mind his picture being taken (and it's a good thing)

Has probably seen more Ranger games than most adults :)

 

 

 

I love you sweet boy!

Yep, still spoiled!!

Before I started back to work I tried introducing Mason to his bouncer, swing and bassinet again. I would put him in them for a few minutes at a time until he got fussy! Each time he stayed in them longer and longer. He even fell asleep in his swing and bouncer once. each We took the swing to Nana's house, so she is practicing putting him in there throughout the day. He's been so spoiled to being in somone's arms at all times that he wants nothing to do with these things!! That's okay with me, though! I could hold my sweet baby boy forever!!!

Thanks to the Hattons, again for this awesome bouncer!!

Am I cute or what??

Mason is starting to fit in some of his 0-3 months clothes!! I love dressing him, especially when something new fits. :) This is an adorable outfit that the Hattons got for him! And he has another one when he gets a little bigger, also from the Hattons!! Look how cute he is!

Ladies....Watch Out!!!!!!!!!

More Bathtime Fun!!

One of our favorite times as a family is bath time!! Mason still enjoys his baths. And let's get real, what is cuter than a naked baby?!?!? Nathan and I give him baths together, and I just love it. I think Mason is going to love water...

Mason's Great Grandma

We we were able to visit Mason's Great Grandmother a couple of times. Mason is so calm and content when she is holding him. It's really sweet. They sit in this rocker that is right under a sky light and Mason loves it. Such a calm and serene sitting!!

I'm back!!!

I am not sure where to even begin! We've done so much in the last couple weeks and it's been great! I have to say that I had an amazing maternity leave and very sad that it's over. Spending so much time with Mason was wonderful. He's such an awesome baby and fills my heart with so much joy. He's the cutest little boy EVER and his smile is contagious! To say the least, I have been very blessed! I have an amazing, caring and loving husband and the sweetest baby boy in the world!! Becoming a mother is one of the greatest gifts God can give. There is nothing quite like it, that's for sure. I can't even remember life before him, nor do I want to! Having a little family is so heartwarming, I just love it. And to see Nathan in the "daddy" role leaves me speechless. He's so great with Mason. I could just sit back and watch him talk to Mason all day long!!!

Thank you sweet baby boy for bring so much happiness and joy into your mommy and daddy's lives!! We love you more than words could ever express.

Mommy and Mason waiting on Daddy to get home from work: