Starrs, Moon, and SUNSHINE

BTS (Before the summer. Our lives are divided into clear sections of BTS, Summer, and ATS), Jason would take Mason outside and show him the moon. They would stare at the sky and have a special father-son time looking for airplanes, stars, and clouds.

When Jason left Mason would spot the moon and say "Dada, Moon!". Yes, kiddo, that's the moon that you looked at with Dad. It was darling that he never forgot.

When we sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" I say "twinkle twinkle mason starr" to teach him his name. When he spots a star in the sky he thumps his chest and says "Me! Starr!".

Lately he's been putting it all together. He'll say "Me Starr", "Mama Starr", and "Dada Starr". But whenever he sees the moon he changes it up to say "Dada Moon", "Mama Starr", "Me Starr" and even "baby Starr".

A few days ago he added sunshine. So now we've got "Dada Moon", "Mama Starr", and "me Sunshine" (of course with his funny ASL sign for sunshine added).

Last night Mason was saying the blessing for our food (which means repeating after me...sometimes VERY quietly). We asked for Heavenly Father to bless Dad, Mom, Mason and baby. We moved on to something else but he went back to that topic and fixed the names. "Bless Dada Moon, Mama Starr....."

Sun, moon, or stars...whatever celestial body you choose... you'll always be the light of my life, Mace.

BiG bRoThEr

Mason has some news:

For more about his little brother check out littleluckystarr.blogspot.com
Mason acts happy, I think because we are so happy.
Wait until I tell him he's going to have to share his room :)

The Gator Farm

(love this picture. There were signs like this all over the place. It was pretty much my theme for the day anyway, so I paid attention.)

We went to a Gator Farm with Jason's employees. Here's the adventure through Mason's eyes. Starting at Top Right: Mason got to touch a baby alligator. When they first brought it out he started crying. I thought that he was freaked out, but then I realized it was because David got to hold it first and Mason wanted a turn. Bottom Right: This is how close the alligators were from the boat. Mason said that alligator was his and then he really fought me to get into the water. It was actually worrisome how determined he was to get out of the boat. Bottom Middle: This fake gator was just on the path. Before he touched it Mason said, "me scared. I touch? please?". Bottom Left: Checking out the alligators in the pit. Mason's cheeks are starting to get rosy. By the end of the outing his hair was in little waves from the heat and humidity. Top Left: Our funny boy. He never seems to mind lots of noise and stimulus. We were cruising around in the air boat when he fell asleep for a few minutes. Only Mason could find the loud noise and strong wind in our faces soothing. He does this on planes and four wheelers too.

The Great Escape

Today we had a horrible, horrible experience. Our Alabama apartment is on the second story with an outside entrance. Also, the door doesn't latch very well. Also, Mason is old enough that he plays on his own pretty well, sometimes in another room. You know where I'm headed with this...

I was in the master bathroom getting ready for the day. Mason came in a gave me his diaper (he's been taking off his diaper and telling the closest adult "I peed"). I told him thanks and changed my shirt. Some time here Jason left to go to an outside garage where he stores equipment for work. When I came out with my new shirt on I called for Mason to put a new diaper on. I came out in the hall and saw the door open. Our apartment is small enough that I knew in 5 seconds that he was gone. I ran out the door and he wasn't there. I ran to the far staircase. He wasn't there. I ran back and Jason was crossing the parking lot. I yelled to him that I couldn't find Mason and he instantly knew I was serious.

Jason ran straight to the pool and I double checked the closets (because Mason really does like to hide in closets and cupboards). Jason ran to Dan and Jessica's apartment because that's the only place Mason really knows. I think at that point I was checking the staircases and running around the parking lot. I was absolutely panicked. I think my heart just froze during these few frantic moments.

Then I heard Mason's voice. "Mama. Mama! I peed". I could tell the general direction the sound it was coming from and ran. I think it was this point, even before I saw him, that tears came to my eyes. He was in the apartment staircase across the parking area from ours. He was still diaperless, barefoot, wearing a hand-me-down oversized Spider Man T-shirt, and had Jason's toothbrush in hand. And yes, he did pee on the cement stairs, thank heavens. I don't know why he left the house, or why he went somewhere we've never taken him, I am just so grateful the ordeal ended the way that it did.

We had a busy day of adventures, swimming at the pool, crafts, a goodbye dinner for Jessica, and a visit from the handy man to fix the door. I was more grateful, more aware, more in love with my little guy every minute of it. I certainly learned how quickly things can go wrong.

ROAR!

Today Jason fell asleep in church. When Mason noticed he made the sign for sleep. Then took a deep breath and woke his dad up with a loud "ROAR!".

be NICE

We've been trying to teach the principle of being nice. I would be much happier being told my boy is "nice and well mannered", than "sharp and brilliant" or "shockingly handsome". Since he has the handsome, brilliant thing mastered already, it's time to focus all our energy on being nice.

We told him that it's not just good to be nice, but it's something that Jesus has asked us to do. He wants us to be nice. Sometimes we remind Mason by asking "What does Jesus want you to do?" and he'll respond "Be nice".

Yesterday we were in Target and I asked an employee for help. The employee had longer hair and a full beard. After thanking him for his time, I started walking away. Mason yelled to him "Hey Jesus! Be Nice!"

a bed time story

Mason did not sleep well last night. So I did not sleep well last night. I think it's his molars but I can't tell. I spent a few hours in his bed with him keeping him calm and still had to get up three or four other times to console him. He'd shout NO!NO!NO! and MAMA and wail. It was pretty sad.

This morning Jason took over so I could sleep for a couple hours. When I got up J and Mason were watching cartoons. Mason quickly got up, ran over and grabbed my hand, led me down the hall to my room, and told me to go back to bed!

I made the bed and came back out. "You can't tell Mama to go to bed" I said.
He replied "Shhhhhh!"

Pensacola and the Blue Angels

We went to Pensacola, FL to check out their famous beach and we were treated to a "dress rehearsal" of the Blue Angels. The sand was very white and fluffy and there was no sign of the oil spill problems. The jets were cool, although they made us get out of the water every time they were passing over head. Mason thinks that every airplane and helicopter has Aunt Amy in it so he spent a good part of the time saying "Hi Mamie, bye Mamie" when the jets went by. When the aircraft flew low they were pretty loud so Mason would plug his ears.

I adore that Mason loves water as much as I do. He let me take him out in the surf and would squeal and laugh as it splashed us. We hunted for seashells, played in the sand, and Mason chased seagulls.

.

States by Number

These are the states Mason has been to: (I think in order even!)

1. Utah
2. Minnesota
3. Washington
4. Nevada
5. Arizona
6. Virginia
7. North Carolina
8. South Carolina
9. Georgia
10. Tennessee
11. Kentucky
12. Illinois
13. Missouri
14. Kansas
15. Colorado
16. New Mexico
17. Texas
18. Louisiana
19. Mississippi
20. Alabama
21. Florida
    

Our new 'Mobile' home

It's hard to trade a front and back yard for our new 3x3 patio, but don't let Mason's expression fool you.
It's not all doom and gloom. Now we have a pool!

Fun with Aunt Jessica

Not only did Mason get reunited with his dad, but also Joe, Jessica and Dan, and our tech friends.

Jessica will draw, play cars, shoot hoops, play hide and go seek, and build blanket forts with Mason.
She's going to be an awesome mom.

4th of July

Happy Independence Day from Mason! (yes, this is the best picture we could get).

We drove over to the battleship earlier in the day to see where they were going to have fireworks and decided against the crazy crowds and traffic. Good thing too because it rained a lot. After Mason was in bed and after the rain stopped we could hear some firework noises. Jason turned on the TV and found a firework show, went and got Mace out of bed, and showed him. Since then Mason continues to say Boom Boom Boom for no reason and won't stop until I say, Yes Mason. Fireworks go boom.

All is right in the world...

When father and son are together again... watching Saturday morning cartoons.

UT to AL

It went like this:

Mason is a super star and did really well. When we'd stop for a break he'd just run for it. Good thing Grandma Heaton was along to help keep him from getting ran over by semi trucks. It helped that we had all sorts of toys in the back seat for him. Also, like the trip home from Virginia last year, we listened to A LOT of "wheels on the bus". I would also recommend glow sticks for when the sun goes down. He took over my iPod Touch and played games on it and listened to Grammar Girl pod casts. The iPod probably made the biggest difference. That and prayer.

cleaning out the freezer

There is a lot of really hard work that has to be done when you get ready to move.
Mason was a very big help.