Getting So Big!

Wow! It's amazing how much Mason has picked up on this week. He now shakes his head no. It started off as no meaning. We would watch him on his video monitor and he's just be in his crib shaking his head no. Now he's starting to use it in the right context. We should probably teach him how to shake it yes:) But it was fun because I was singing 5 Little Monkeys and when it got to the part where "teasing Mr. Alligator, can't catch me" he shakes his head no. He loves to give high fives too. It's amazing how much kids can pick up on and just use those skills. He is just a typical boy loving to play with his cars and that can usually keep him entertained for hours, ok, well maybe minutes:) His teeth are bothering him again, but he has been acting fine, he just gnaws on everything and I can feel the teeth about to poke through. He isn't walking yet, but I'm ok with that:) He likes to just stand up on his own now. He did take his first step without falling, so I'll consider that a move in the walking direction. We are so excited to have our family pictures next week and Mason's 1 year pictures. How in the world did time go so quickly!? I will never know, but I've enjoyed this past year and the great changes that have come to it. We are blessed beyond belief to have such a fun, loving, smart little guy. We love our little Bugaboo!!

Holidays:)

Our little M man turned 11 months old on December 31 (48 weeks). It is hard to believe that in just 1 month he will have his 1st birthday. It makes me so grateful to have him but so sad on how fast he is growing up. We love him more than words can even express. We have been super busy with the holidays. Let's just say Mason was slightly spoiled with all 5 Christmases we had to go to. But we are very thankful for the family time and for the gifts that were received. I am most excited about one of my gifts---a zoo membership. Now Mason and I will have lots of fun this summer with that and all his new outside toys and activities. Is it summer yet? It makes me so happy that I am a teacher so that I do get my summers off.

This past weekend while we were at my parents' house, we were looking through some pictures and found some of me as a baby. I never really thought Mason looked like me, besides his chin. Well, we found this picture of me in the bathtub and put one of Mason right next to it. Holy moly, I think he's my little twin baby!!

Mason's friend, Tegan, and my friend Holly came to visit us which was fun because it's been a little while since we've gotten together. We had a great time playing and catching up:)

Today it seems like Mason has learned so many things. His front teeth or now big enough to touch his bottom ones and he has started experimenting with them and grinding. It drives me nuts because I cannot stand the sound. He is also standing all by himself as long as I don't draw too much attention to it, otherwise he is a scaredy cat. He takes a step but then falls, so I am not considering that a first step just yet. He is also starting to open and close his fist as a wave. He never ceases to amaze me. I just cannot believe he is growing up so fast. I think it's interesting talking to my friends to see how different boys and girls are at this age. :)

Always busy!

Well Mason is officially 46 weeks old this week. Where has time gone? In 6 weeks, my little baby will be 1. What a year we have had too! With the loss of 2 grandparents and the birth of Mason and my niece Alexis, it's been a crazy year. It's been a busy week this week with Mason's great-grandma Christensen's funeral, but at least we got to have some family time:) Then Aunt Jamie and Cousin Alexis came and stayed at our house for a few days which was really fun.

Mason is such a funny guy these days. He is just starting to balance on his own, but gets very nervous when he realizes what he is doing. He loves walking his puppy though. He is getting really good at giving "high fives". He thinks he is pretty cool. It's going to be exciting with Christmas events starting next weekend for us. Mason gets to have 5 different Christmases, can you say spoiled?

Some of Mason's favorites this week are:
-mandarin oranges
-bananas
-green beans
-pretty much any meat, veggie, and fruit pleases this child
-his blankie
-his puppy (walking)
-trucks/cars--anything with wheels really
-balls
-jingles bells--he loves dancing to the Christmas music and shaking the bells
-Mauer and Mattie

Our lives!

Well one of my most amazing friends, Tessie, inspired me to start a blog.  This has been a crazy week for our house. My grandma (dad's mom) passed away on Saturday. It was expected but it's still a hard time for my dad especially. So we will be traveling home this week to say our goodbyes. It's been a bittersweet year with the birth of Mason in January, the loss of my grandpa on mine and Brandon's 4th wedding anniversary, birth of Alexis, our niece, and then the loss of my grandma so close to Christmas. God has a way of working and He knows exactly what he is doing and I trust in Him completely. Life is full of miracles and blessings. We have been so blessed with such a wonderful family to help get through the wonderful and tough times together.