Monday, June 6, 2011

Weeks 3 and 4


I was busy last Monday and missed a post, and then I was busy busy busy! And a little lazy lazy lazy too.

Saturday, the 28st of May, our ward had a temple trip to Winter Quarters temple, and we went. We got Tiffany, my sister-in-law, to come with us to help us with Mason-man, since Mike was concerned about him getting lost in the crowd of children waiting for their parents. A couple days before that, I had left Mason with Mike while I went to the store with my friend Tara (YAY Tara!) and he screamed like a banshee when I left, so we decided to be tricky when we left him. We left one at a time, and got him occupied, so in the end he didn't even notice we had left. It helped that he had been in the car with Tiffany all day, so he was used to her and happy. He didn't seem to notice we were gone, and when we got back he didn't notice me right away. When he did, it was like he was saying, "Oh where have you been?" and he wanted me to hold him but he wasn't urgent about it. That was a bit of a disaster though, because since I hadn't nursed him for more than 10 hours, I think I got a breast infection, and I spent the next day nursing him a lot to get it cleared out. Driving home for all that time with chills isn't fun, Mike ended up driving more than he would have liked.

He is still clingy though, especially places he is unfamiliar with, or unoccupied. I can leave him when we are at home, or at my in-laws' place, because he is used to us being there, but even then, he is a bit clingy. I kinda like it, it's nice to be needed.

The other day, Mike and I were folding laundry on the bed, and Mason was playing on the bed. When we were done, Mike put the basket on Mason's head, and here's what happened:


It was funny, the thing isn't that heavy, but he was acting trapped. He wasn't too concerned about it at first either. So cute!

And he is getting very good at walking. The other day, he was walking back and forth between me and Mike at my aunt's house without much prompting, and he did it for 20 minutes tonight, and started walking around the living room too. He seemed to really get the spirit of it tonight, and was so excited that he could do it. I wish I had had a third person to take a video of it. Crazy little boy! He is so smart and so strong!

And so sweet! He likes to climb on me and cuddle.

Our main focus the last little bit has been trying to get him to sleep better. When I was working, I was always so tired at nights, that I couldn't deal with it, so when he woke, I would just nurse him. Well, a few nights ago, he was being contrary, and I lost it. I put him in the crib and left him to cry it out, because I was exhausted. So I am enforcing night weaning. We have a sippy cup of water for when he wakes up screaming, but the rest of the time, we leave him to fuss himself back to sleep. It's already made a difference, he only woke up twice last night, once for a drink, and the other time after he had been sleeping for 8 hours, so I figured he was hungry, and after that point I'm ok to nurse him. Plus, he's gone from going to sleep at 11:30 or so, which he was doing the first couple of weeks I was home, to going to sleep around 8:30. Which makes for a happy mommy!

Oh, and our air conditioning finally got fixed! We turned it on the first Monday I was home, and it didn't work. It wasn't too bad a problem at first, it was cool enough that we could leave the windows open all day and bring down the temperature, but I am very glad it finally got fixed, the temperature was in the 90's this week and Mason did not do well last summer when it was really hot.

I have been having trouble sleeping now though which is very annoying. I have been having what may be restless leg syndrome, which I've never really had before, except when I was several months pregnant. I had one episode in college. I am trying some tricks to alleviate the problem, like not reading in bed. Which one of them is not staying up too late, so I should probably stop writing this, and go to bed. Goodnight all!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Week two SAHM report

Yesterday at church, they announced the birth of a little girl, the third in a family we know. They said she was 8 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches, which is bigger than Mason was. Five minutes later, the family showed up with the baby. I was startled, to say the least, since she just had a baby on Tuesday, but I guess it gets easier over time.

Anyway, she was sitting right behind us holding her little girl. Mason was fascinated by her. And I couldn't get over how small she was! The thing is, she was bigger than Mason was at birth, but I didn't remember him being that small! So crazy!

He has been a happy boy with mommy the last few days, though he has been getting more and more clingy. We were at my sister-in-laws house for a birthday party the other day, and he had two instances when he got a little freaked out by all the people. And Sunday he got nervous when Grandma was holding him and a lady he didn't know started talking to him, so he got insistent that mommy needed to hold him.

I am trying to find ways to keep myself busy during the day, Mason doesn't need me all the time, he is content to play, occasionally coming over for a hug, and playing more. I am working on getting him on a regular schedule of eating and sleeping, and I plan on putting in reading time and maybe walk time as well, he likes going outside. But that still leaves some time open, even with cleaning and laundry, etc. I have a small apartment and there are only three of us, so there isn't much cleaning to do. I am thinking of getting a sewing machine and learning to make cloths. Maybe I'll try writing too, although that is harder. Mason likes the laptop, and he often tries to grab the screen while I am on the computer, which could damage it. So I can only do things on the computer when he is sleeping or really absorbed in his game.

The local library has a summer reading program which includes a version for listeners. The goal is to read 72 books for him, and you can get three free books for him if you do. I signed him up for it today and have started a log, the summer reading program lets you keep track online. It gives me an incentive to read to him, which is surprisingly difficult, apart from the fact that he likes to grab the pages and eat the book.

Here is the obligatory photo, which I know I omitted last week:
Mason didn't like the grass that day, it was tough on his skin. Besides, Mommy is fun!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Week one SAHM report

So this is the first day of my second week home with my baby, and so far it's been pretty good. Mason took his first steps on my last day of work, fortunately to me, so I didn't miss it. He's been doing pretty well with that, standing on his own, walking from person to person. He enjoys it!

Monday, my first day off, I got sick. Good timing right? Mike and I reorganized the living room that day and I did bunches of laundry, which is good, because the rest of the week I didn't have the energy for much of anything. We also discovered our A/C is out, because we turned it on for the first time, and it only got hotter. Our landlord is taking care of it, but fortunately it cooled down the rest of the week. Like down to 50 yesterday.

I made a trip to the library, went shopping on Friday, and spent most of the week watching cartoons, since I was sick. I'm feeling much better now, and have laundry to catch up on, as well as some organizing I wanted to get done.

Mason is doing well, I've seen some changes in him already. He has been a lot less anxious, he still follows me around, but doesn't cry when I'm in the bathroom, etc. This morning though, something funny happened. I had nursed him around 5 and moved him back to the crib ,and when he woke up at 7, he freaked, making the weirdest screaming noise. I really think he thought I had left, and was unhappy about it.

Also, he's getting a bit more clingy. Yesterday we went to my in-laws, and something happened. Mason's grandpa got down on the floor to play with him, and Mason started screaming, like he was afraid. He finally calmed down enough to let others hold him and play with him, but I'm not sure what caused that reaction. My mother-in-law has the theory that he is still a bit anxious that I might leave him, especially when we are at other people's houses. I hope he relaxes soon.

I like the new set up of our living room, we moved the crib into our bedroom so we could open up the living room and make more space for Mason to play. He enjoys it. He's eating more on his own too. We made garlic bread on Saturday and gave him a piece of the Italian bread that didn't have lots of garlic and butter on it and he snarfed it down.

Mike says I seem happier and more relaxed as well. I've actually had more trouble sleeping now, probably partially because I don't go to bed early anymore. Got to go play with my happy little boy now!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Videos!

On March 21st we had a trip to the temple (See previous post.) That was the week of Mike's spring break. That same day, Mason learned a new trick:


As you can see, he wasn't so good yet. This is him today.

He has gotten much better.

He is very active these days, getting into everything. He can climb up to walk the couch now too.


He has a ball he likes to chase around. Two actually.

He likes to climb on Mommy!

Update from Mason

So last month, Mommy and Daddy took me on a big trip! I was stuck in a stupid car seat for hours and hours!

I was bored.

When it was dark we got to a big building and went to a weird room with big beds and I slept in my play pen. Then next morning we discovered a big window!
We could see this big weird thing that Daddy took lots of pictures of.

Then we drove for a little bit to a big pretty building and Mommy and Daddy went inside while I played with my new friend Lauren.

Then Mommy and Daddy played with me and Lauren while Lauren's mommy and daddy went inside. It was fun!

Then we got back in the car and drove and drove some more.

We stopped somewhere where we all got to eat and I played with Daddy.

When we got home it was dark again. I was tired.

I slept through the night. Mommy was very happy.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Mason's Resume

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am applying for the job of cutest 3 month old baby. I will fulfill the age requirement in a week. As part of my application, see the enclosed resume and references. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Mason G. Blake


RESUME FOR MASON BLAKE, DOB 07/28/2010



Skills:

I am an expert in the following:
  • Drooling
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Chewing on hands and Mommy's fingers
  • Saturating and/or blowing out diapers. My specialty is saturating my diaper over night and then, when Mommy is feeding me, or thinks I have fallen asleep again, I poop and it goes everywhere! Hee hee!
  • Target peeing
  • Watching Mommy and Daddy with fascination as they fold laundry and clean the kitchen.
  • Being fascinated by the crazy things Daddy does
  • Keeping Daddy distracted from homework
  • Splashing in the bathtub while Mommy laughs herself sicker
  • Wiggling
  • Grasping things
  • Cuddling
  • Eating, both from bottle and from Mommy
  • Cooing
  • Sneezing
  • Yawning

I am improving in the following skills:

  • Giggling/ laughing- not quite there yet
  • General vocalizing
  • Scooting around in bed so I am not lying straight when Mommy gets me in the morning
  • Playing with rattles with assistance- here is a video of my exercises- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7c28oQXRyI
I will soon be working on rolling over, babbling, putting everything in my mouth, holding things and playing with rattles on my own.

References:

Mommy
Daddy
Auntie Missa
Great-aunt Gina and Liz
Grandma Blake
Tutu

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

My big baby

Mason is 9 weeks old today, two months old as of yesterday. He weighs 14 pounds 11 ounces and he is in the 97th percentile for his weight, the 91st for head size, and 90th for height. He is one big boy! There were a couple of babies at the doctor's office today that are his age, but half his size!

He is such a sweet little boy. He has blue eyes, and his hair, which has mostly fallen out, is starting to grow back in really good. He is already in size two diapers and has outgrown many of the 0 to 3 month clothes.

I started back to work three weeks ago, and I'm noticing a difference in his attitude. He definitely misses me when I'm not here. He cried when I got to my aunt's house to pick him up last Friday, and he was twice as sweet and cuddly over the weekend and better behaved, not getting as crabby in the evening as he usually does. And yesterday he wouldn't go to sleep until I put him on my bed and laid down next to him. It was very cute, but I hope it doesn't become a habit. At least he let me put him in his crib once he was asleep.

He adjusted to the bottle pretty well as long as it's warm, if it's cold he spills it all over the place, but he still prefers to nurse. I'm pumping at work, so he's getting the good stuff.

He loves water and baths, he took one with me the other day, which he really liked. He is sleeping 6 to 8 hours each night, usually waking up around 4 to eat, and then sleeping until 7 or 8. He behaves himself pretty well for his sitters, and he is a very cheerful baby in the morning, which I miss out on. He is a very smiley boy, and cuddly. He obviously loves his mommy and daddy. I love him more everyday, and hate having to leave him for work each morning!