Feeding the calves

We went to Richfield for Janett's wedding and reception. There was a lot to do. Even when there is a lot to do the cows still need to eat.
Here's Mason with his mom, dad, and Papa Starr.

A Horse of Course

Thanks Uncle Andy for taking us to see the horses. Mason was making such...unusual...horse noises when we pulled up and saw them out the window. He was very excited! Mason wasn't scared and tried walking right to them.

I spy FOUR horses, do you?

Tub Creature

Is that a...????

My brother stopped by today at about the same moment I was about to lose my sanity. I had a million things to do and needed to be on the road to Richfield in less than two hours. Nate offered to take Mason so I could focus. My normal hesitancy about parting with Mason was forgotten and I practically pushed them out the door.

Not long after that, he sent me this photo.
Yes, that is a snake wrapped around Mason's arm.
No, he doesn't seem to mind.

Shake it

Mason was holding this home made snow globe. He was trying really hard to get the lid off. Since it's hot glued shut I reminded him, "This doesn't open. It's a toy. Remember? Shake it!"

His response was the cutest full body groovy shake I've ever seen.

MOE

Mason has at last entered the world of NO. Ask him anything and the answer is NO. Do you want to go to bed? NO. Do you want some ice cream? NO.

Most kids have hit this stage long ago. I was hoping we could just skip over it. Oh well.

The cute thing is that he says it "MOE". It cracks me up. And he says it so seriously. Picture him shaking his head with big serious eyes saying "Moe!"

MOE is also the sound he says for MORE. Things are starting to get really confusing. Do you want more apple? MOE. I'm baffled. Was that NO or MORE???

Luckily he signs so I can ask him to show me with his hands. But MORE and SHOES in sign language is pretty close. And since he always wants to go outside, he is often asking for his shoes.

Speaking of shoes he found his old flip flops from last summer. I found him walking around the house like this today.I'm all about letting him make lots of decisions and letting him choose what he wears. But this? This is where I draw the line.

And speaking of drawing the line, he's learning I have a soft spot. When I go to put him down for a nap or for bed at night we read a few books. If he asks for another book I'll read another. So lately when he realizes he's headed for bed he reallyreallyreally wants to read. I try to limit the procrastination and have resorted to letting him take one (ok...one or two) with him to bed. This makes for a crowded crib. Two dolls, a fake doll bottle, a dog, a giraffe, a blanket, his pillow, some books, plus random toys that he likes to throw in there during the day. This morning Jason went to get him and found Mace quietly reading in bed. Um...how is this bad? I love it and couldn't be MOE pleased.

Mason's birdie

Dear Grandma Heaton,
Thank you so much for buying me my yellow chick. I was about to die of boredom in that antique store. Then you LET me TOUCH something. I haven't let go of the birdie yet.

I take it with me to the bath, I give it lots of kisses, and I gave it a mud bath in the backyard. I thought maybe spring was here, but then it snowed again. Good thing I have my yellow bird to cheer me up.

Kind regards,
Your buddy Mason

PS: My birdie lost it's feet. Mom keeps saying "Uh Oh! All gone!" Let me know if you find them somewhere.

Splish Splash!

What do you do when the cold weather and constant snow gives you a serious case of the winter blues? We head to our local top secret swimming hole!

Mason spent most of the summer in the pool or at the beach. I hoped he hadn't forgotten how fun water can be in the six month hiatus we took from swimming. Luckily he is still fine with putting his face in the water, and tolerates me dunking him a few times.

Oh how I wish winter was over.

Da Da?

Jason was out of town for a few days this past week. It seemed like a lot longer. Mason was really good for me, but neither of us liked how quiet the house was. A few different times Mason would wander around asking for "Da Da?". He'd look in the shower, in the office, and in the kitchen.

We went to the Bravo Opera for kids (THANKS MARY) to keep us occupied. We had a wonderful time- Mason was really well behaved. He clapped like his life depended on it. There was a tall male singer, so I whispered to Mason, "hey, that looks like dad."

He looked left...looked right...looked at me as if to ask, hey-yeah! Where's Dad? And then started asking for him, loudly and repeatedly.

Mason likes to look out our front window lately. He spots the cars, the dogs, and the birds. We were excited when he spotted DAD!

He squealed in delight when he saw him, but if Jason tried to pick him up he'd shriek. This went on for quite a while. Mason would run up and hug attack his leg, but if Jason even looked at him he'd run away upset. I think this was his little boy way of saying "I missed you!"

Because I never want to forget...

These little moments:
Mason gets "Cheese" and "Cheeks" confused. I tell him to say "Cheese" for the camera, he grabs his cheeks.

He is very into dipping. I've always wanted a little Samoan baby...
I often find Mason quietly reading in his room. It makes me so proud.
He's becoming such a big boy. I can't believe how old he looks here.

Zombie Boy

Mason was sick with a little cold for about a week. We put a humidifier in his room and he seemed to get better quickly. On Saturday, I went to do baskets while the boys stayed home. Jason said Mace was playing for a little while and seemed normal. Jason checked his email and then went to check on Mason. He was sitting on the floor holding a football. Just staring at it. Not moving. He went downhill from there. Jason was able to just hold him and cuddle him. Sweet but very unusual for our boy. By the time I got home his temperature was crazy high. He'd never been sick like this before, so I didn't know that a high fever can change little kid's breathing so much. Poor Mason was taking short, fast, gaspy little breaths.

We went straight to InstaCare and were seen right away. His temp was 104.6! The doc said his ears and lungs were fine, but there was a infection somewhere that was making him so sick. We got an antibiotic and went home for a large dose of TLC. All of Saturday and Sunday were spent holding him while he slept. I've always admitted that I like when kids get cuddly when they are sick. Well, I didn't like this illness at all. Too scary.


(I have a morbid fascination with zombies. He makes me so proud :))

He's doing a lot better now. I am thankful I live in a time where the doctors are easily accessible and the drugs are too. I knew he was going to be okay when he woke up enough to walk on his own. Then he kept asking to go "out". I bundled us up in coats and blankets and walked up and down our street. Then he asked to "dip" so I got out the cookies and milk. Finally he asked to brush his teeth. If he wants "out", "dip" and clean teeth I think he'll be just fine.

(Yes, he has two tooth brushes and MUST use them both)

It's all how you look at it

This picture is from the summer in Virginia. I really love this picture. Not sure why.

I also love this version. This is how I see our life with Mason.

bAbY LOvE

Introducing EeBee and Baby.

Meet Mason's dolls. He likes to have BOTH of them around most of the time. He takes them to breakfast, he packs them in his church bag, takes them for car rides, and he sleeps with them at night. Mason has Eebee fold his arms when it's prayer time, and like Mason, Eebee says "AAAAmen" with his hands outstretched when we're done. When Mason doesn't want to get his diaper changed, I put one of the dolls on the floor and pretend to put a diaper on them. Then Mason will cooperate. I want Mason to be a nurturing person and someday dad, so I've encouraged all of this. We bought some toy baby bottles at the store so that he would stop dunking their heads in cups of milk. Mason likes to get a blanket, put both dolls in together, give them each a bottle, and wrap them up and give them kisses. Then he does the sign for song. So I sing while he energetically rocks the babies. When I stop he stops, signs "song" again and we repeat.

(Eebee is a laundry monster/puppet thing that Aunt Lisa gave him about a year ago. We gave him the glow worm for Christmas.)

Finger Painting

I've been psyching myself up for this for a long time. I want to be a good mom, and good moms let things get messy sometimes. I finally found the courage, the paint, and the time to do some serious finger painting. Imagine my dismay when Mason was...not so enthusiastic. He kept asking for more napkins and had a hard time getting his hands dirty. Notice, there is only one picture where he is smiling. Mason tried cleaning up the newspaper, and asked for a bath about a million times. He made me a few masterpieces, and then found the joy of body art. So...hands can't get dirty but legs and faces can?

Over all, not the memorable bonding moment I was going for. I probably made him more cranky than happy. Points for trying???

Reverence

Yesterday in church there was a musical number halfway the meeting. Two young women sang a beautiful duet. When they finished there was the usual respectful silence as the audience showed their appreciation with hushed reverence.

Then Mason stood up on the bench, started clapping, and yelled "YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!"