FYI, I'm off the grid for a bit. I have no internet. TTYL

Newsflash

I see why people have a second child. I was looking through my camera at Mason's pictures. I miss him. He was so cute and tiny...actually he is still those two things. But I do miss the first couple of months he was home and Pat and I were new parents. Now, I love how he is growing and changing everyday, but gees. I miss the 'lil fella who used to sleep most of the day. The kid who didn't mind lying on my chest in the mornings. The one who took the bottle throughout the day. My little guy who could happily lay on the bed as I got dressed or brushed my teeth. Gone are those days. He has gotten into the habit of taking only a thirty minute nap at least once a day. He is so full of himself now that he can pop up when he's on his belly that he never wants to rest on me. I've been around so much this summer, 99% of the time he refuses a bottle and prefers his milk from the source. I've even tried a sippy cup to no avail. And DO NOT leave him on the bed. (I learned the hard way...well actually he learned the hard way when he fell). So where does that leave me? Wanting to have another child immediately? Nope! All I'm saying is that I understand why people have another. I'd love to savor the moments of a newborn again. I guess with your first baby you don't miss your milk 'til your bottle runs dry.

Apologies

So...I've been on a bit of a hiatus. I could blame it on the demands of my job towards the end of the year, but why do that. I'll just tell the truth. It's Mason's fault! The kid is mesmerizing. He pulls me in and before I know it, too much time has slipped away. Not that I'm complaining. I just wanted you to know the truth. I figure that I should offer a "What's he up to" entry today. I plan on doing a much better job, but I know I'll have to fight his spell he has put me under. Since my entry about his appointment at Duke things have gone well. He is always with his feet in his hands, which was one of the things that we needed to work on with him. This means his curling muscles are doing well. He still prefers to stand, however. He weighs about thirteen pounds, though we have not been to the doctor. We just stand on the bathroom scale then plop him in our arms. A 'lil math...and that's his weight. He had an ophthalmology appointment a couple of weeks ago. Two hours! In the end it was discovered that he has an astigmatism in both eyes. (Courtesy of Mom and Dad.) The good thing is that it is not weak in one eye, which would lead him to want to stop using that eye altogether. We will go back in December to see if it has improved. Worst case scenario would be glasses. How cute, our own 'lil nerd! FYI- nerdy is in! In the meantime, we'll "keep an eye on it", those are the doctors humorous words.  I have been giving him food, and he has taken to it. I didn't think I'd be psycho-mom, but I've done a lot of organic with him. It's partly because I get all these parent emails, and they suggest it. It's also because in some cases it's not that much more expensive. Why not? And I've made some of his baby food! Look at me...all domesticated and whatnot.  I think he likes sweet potatoes the best. My 'lil Southerner! Of course he is still working on sitting up. He can't quite get himself in the position on his on, but he is doing well sitting there if someone is with him. This summer he has been to the pool twice! He likes it. And he looks darn cute in his too long trunks. He's even spent a couple of days with Karson. I think Karson finds Mason a bit immature and unruly, however. The coos continue and sound so coo-ute. Get it?!  Anyhow, Mas and I are gonna go for a walk in his new set of wheels. A City Mini (blame KR on the spell which made me purchase a "high end" umbrella stroller). I'll keep my audience, all 6 of y'all, posted.

Oh pretty baby

Yes, Frankie Valli was the original, but Lauryn perfected it. I couldn't say it any better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3cUGkZ1WM

You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.
You'd be like heaven to touch. I wanna
hold you so much. At long last love has
arrived. And I thank God I'm alive. You're
just too good to be true. Can't take my
eyes off of you.

Pardon the way that I stare. There's nothing
else to compare. The sight of you leaves me
weak. There are no words left to speak.
But if you feel like I feel. Please let me know
that it's real. You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.

I need you baby, if it's quite all right,
I love you baby, you warm a lonely night. I love
you baby. Trust in me when I say It's OK: Oh pretty
baby, don't let me down I pray. Oh pretty
baby, now that I found you, stay. And let me
love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby....

You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.
You'd be like heaven to touch. I wanna
hold you so much. At long last love has
arrived. And I thank God I'm alive. You're
just too good to be true. Can't take my
eyes off of you.

I need you baby, and if it's quite all right,
I love you baby, you warm a lonely night. I love
you baby. Trust in me when I say: It's OK Oh pretty
baby, don't let me down I pray. Oh pretty
baby, now that I found you, stay. And let me
love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby....

I need you baby, and if it's quite all right,
I love you baby, you warm a lonely night. I love
you baby. Trust in me when I say: It's OK Oh pretty
baby, don't let me down I pray. Oh pretty
baby, now that I found you, stay. And let me
love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby....

My 4 month old

Please note, this was written on 5/31/11, but for some reason I just logged in and noticed it was not posted.
On Tuesday we went to Mas's "big" appointment at Duke Children's Hospital. The purpose of this appointment was to check on his development since he's a preemie; he was considered a 4 month old at the appointment . It went fairly well. We learned a lot, I feel. So, babies enter fetal position around 33 weeks. Mason came at 30 weeks, so he never curled inside of me. As a result he does not have strong curling muscles. Well, curling muscles are responsible for lots. It helps him meet his feet, reach for things and get ready to crawl. Of course Pat and I heard "Mason can't..."  and went into psycho parent mode. That night I went to Babies R Us to purchase some items that will aid in his curling development. I bought a tray for his Bumbo, this allows us to sit toys on the tray for him to reach for. I also got a mirror that we put either in the crib or on the floor. We sit him in a position on his tummy, and he can look at himself while doing so. We're also supposed to put him on his back and give his feet to him. All these things are going to put our Lil Man where he should be developmentally. He also had to get some lab work done. I was so scared because I don't like seeing him get pricked. Well...he proved me so wrong. I guess after having his heel pricked umpteen times in his life, it's really nothing. He didn't flinch or cry. Took it like a 6 month old! Oh yeah, he's also 11 pounds 7 ounces and 23.5 inches long. We love him. Lots.

I want my baby back

I'm not talking baby back ribs. I want Mason to be a baby. It is so cliche, but oh so true. Where does the time go? Kids do grow up fast. I don't like it. Mason is six months! That means in another six months he will be one! I'm not ready for that. People say they want to freeze time. I used to think it was crazy. Why freeze time and we want to progress were my thoughts. Now, I would not mind keeping Mason at this stage for an extra six months. You can never go back to your baby. And I know that you get to experience new things like first steps and first words and first day of school. Yet, I'm just not sold on it yet. I like being able to toss him in my arms and go. Soon, he is not gonna want to have me kiss on him or hold him. He will want to go over a friends house and play video games. Or worse...he is going to want to go with Pat! Then I will have no Pat and no Mason! I will be all alone. So this is why people have kids again? I guess Mason is not going to be an only child after all. I am going to have to have at least one more just so I will have someone to kiss and cuddle. Well Mason is waking up from his nap. I better go shower him with kisses now.

Trust me....

Someone asked me how I knew what to do with Mason. I replied, "I just do." And that is the truth. People always tell you that your maternal instincts will kick in when you have a baby. I was skeptical when I heard this, but it is true. Although I must say some of parenting is just common sense. But let's not forget...sense ain't common. Which is why some folk don't excel at it. Generally, I do not doubt what I am doing with Mason. However, this could be in part because he is still a baby and I don't have much to do. The dude doesn't ask for much. Some milk. To be held. Played with. Or sleep. It is not hard. Occasionally he'll throw in something just to make sure I'm alert. Perhaps he will get fussy because he is hot, I can figure that out. Or if he wants you to walk him around he may give a lil attitude. So, right now I think I have good maternal instincts. I know that when he get older I am gonna grapple over what to do. That is when the hard stuff arises. Do I call the doctor? Is it an allergy? Can he go to a sleepover? Which college should I choose? Now, that is scary. He never questions my decision making and he seems happy, so I must be doing something right.