Mason Porter Brown you are 1 year old today! It does not seem like it was 1 whole year ago that we laid eyes on this perfect little boy that we were so blessed to call our son.
You currently weigh 22.6 pounds (71st percentile) and are 28 inches long (2nd percentile). You are wearing size 3 diapers and wearing a mixture of 9 to 12 month clothes. Your sleepers are 12 months and the majority of your clothes are 9 months. You are fitting into some 12 month things and have outgrown some 9 month things, however, the majority of the 12 months items are still a little big for you.
While last month we discussed how we had said bye bye to the paci during the day, there have been a few times this month where you are teething and just uncomfortable and your paci is the one thing that comforts you. So we have given it to you. I know Dr. Umong says that at 12 months they like to see you say bye bye to the paci for good so I'm hoping she is full of suggestions on how. We tried to cut the tip and that just ticked you off more than anything.
You have another tooth! The second bottom one popped through at the beginning of the month. You did much better when this tooth came in. You woke up a few times for 2 nights mama didn't even consider it could be teething. You don't sleep as well when daddy goes out of town so I just figured you were missing daddy. You are starting to get your top teeth. I know this for sure because Dr. Umong told us. This tooth has been very rough on you. We had quite a few sleepless nights, runny nose, your gums have even bled some & just not feeling good at all. Everyone has said ibuprofen works best for their teething babies but we have found that Tylenol actually gives you the most relief.
We made it to a year nursing! This was my ultimate goal & there were times I didn't think we would make it to a year but we did. Nursing you has been so special to me & something I will cherish forever! You have weaned yourself down to nursing only in the mornings. On the occasional teething nights it does comfort you to nurse so I will allow you to nurse if you wake up. This has been the hardest part for mama to let go of. I felt guilty that you weren't nursing as much like I wasn't producing enough to keep you happy. However, I talked with one mama who is a nursing specialist & she told me once you start to wean yourself there isn't anything I can do to turn it around. That made me feel better & made it easier to let go of the nursing. I've kind of let you just lead the way now. You seem pretty happy with the one nursing session so I will just let you decide when you want to be done with it. Your current feeding schedule now is to nurse at 6:30, take 2-4 ounces of milk from a bottle during the day and 2-4 ounces before bed. You are becoming very particular about who gives you your milk. You drink the most and the best from mama. You will occasionally take it from Miss DD or your daddy but its very rare. Daddy has to be reading "My Truck is Stuck" for you to drink from him. I don't mind it because it just means your mama's baby. :)
Sleeping has been off and on this month. For the most part you are still a pretty good sleeper but when you have those teeth in they just hurt you so much that you are pretty restless and wake up when your pain reliever wears off. You are typically awake for a little bit until the pain reliever kicks in. One evening I thought well I'll just wake you up real quick to get on top of the pain so maybe you'll sleep longer. Rookie mistake you were up for 2 hours after that.
Your favorite foods this month: yogurt, green beans, broccoli, cheese, apples, oranges, tacos, taco soup & thin mints. It's easy to say that yogurt is your favorite food ever. Miss DD joked that you need a port for your yogurt because seriously cannot get it to you fast enough. Another all time favorite is green beans. The other day you ate your lunch, climbed up in my lap and ate all of the green beans off of my plate. That evening we offered them to you again and you refused your steak and potatoes and ate only broccoli & both mama and your serving of green beans.
You are loving books more and more every day. This seriously makes my heart want to explode. Pops always encouraged reading and still reads every day. Mama reads every day too. I'm so glad this love has passed on to you. Before bed you like for us to read "My Truck is Stuck" and "Goodnight Moon." During the day you will crawl or drive your walking toy in to your room and pull all of the books off the shelf and sit there and turn the pages sometimes for 30 + minutes.
Speaking of crawling off to your room. You have started to love to play with yourself in your room. You are so your father's child. Mama is a quality time person big time. Daddy is a independent keep to myself person and my child you are too. Not only do you go in there to read your books you have started dragging your trucks and toys in there and sitting in there playing by yourself. The other day mama wanted to play with you and every time I would follow you to a room you would leave and go to a different room to play. You are just so happy to entertain and play alone.
You are so close to walking! You will let go and take several steps and then fall down. I know you can do it but I can tell something about walking scares you. You have started to bear crawl on your hands and feet. That makes us laugh so hard!!
Daddy has taught you when you are playing with trucks to go "vroom vroom vroom" you now will crawl all over the house driving your trucks saying "vroom vroom vrooom" it is the cutest thing ever!
You have also learned this month when you are driving around your push toy how to turn corners.
Your favorite shows are still Daniel Tiger, Mickey Mouse & Sesame Street. We brought home a rocking chair from Aunt Amy's house and you LOVE when we turn on a show & you climb up in your chair and rock and watch your show. Of course that turns into crawling on it & standing in it.
We have had to start disciplining you and I don't like it one bit. I know this is the not fun part of parenting. However, I feel like if we start teaching you young then maybe it will be easier as you grow. Daddy & I have taken a philosophy that there are going to be lots of "learn by doing" & natural consequence experiences. For example we don't love that you stand on the rocking chair, but it's not something that we can't stand. You probably will fall at some point and at that point you will have the natural consequence of uh oh I shouldn't do that. Basically I don't want to be the no mama. I want to say no to you when I am serious & mean it. You are doing much better listening to us when we do have to say no.
(this is right after mama got you in trouble for this. You have no fear my dear!)
Exciting things this month:
*We went to the drive through zoo
*We took pictures for your birthday
*We enjoyed our 1st Spring Break together
*You still fit in your carrier!
*You ate your first donut
*Trips to target
* You got a new fun tent from Pops & Gammy
*You started playing Patty Cake with me. Of course we turn on the video and you make liars out of us so this is the best we've got.
*We went to brunch together
*You celebrated your first Saint Patrick's Day
*We planted flowers
*You joined us at the dinner table
Mason Porter you are the biggest blessing you our lives. 1 year ago while I was so excited to begin this journey I was so terrified of the unexpected. I never knew what sheer and utter joy and love would come from this journey. Every single day I fall more and more in love with you. Your sweet smile and loving personality melt my heart. I thank God for blessing choosing me to be your Mommy. I pray every day that you always find such joy in everything in your life. I love you forever Mason Porter!
Love, Mommy & Daddy
Snuggling a sleeping baby (I may or may not sneak in every night after he's fallen asleep to steal some baby snuggles)
Jack Jack's birthday party
Grocery shopping with daddy
Daddy's boy
Long overdue date night
Praying over Mama's scale
Doing chores
Valentine's for my class
New Hair
And new outside toys!
Vinyl wrapping the little blue truck
Mason's 1st Valentine's Day
We all spent a week home sick
Cookies & milk before church
First bubble bath
Opera Assembly at school
Pops & Gammy's super fun early birthday gift
Reading "Goodnight Moon" a Webster classic bedtime story tradition
New Bathtub Tray.....it's a spa I'll never leave now!
Besties at the sitter. These boys seriously love each other! Every time I go pick up Mason his buddy Nathan runs toward me waving his arms saying "NO NO NO!!! DON'T TAKE MY BABY, DON'T TAKE MY BABY!!!" Sure melts my heart & makes it easier to go to work everyday knowing that he's loved so much.
11 Months
Uncle Blake's first school lunch at Addy's "Lunch With A Loved One"
When you're sick & your sitter not only keeps your baby so you can rest but also sends home a weeks worth of food so you don't have to cook. Seriously we know we've hit the jackpot with her every day!
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!
Ditching the highchair & joining Mama & Daddy at the table
