Ducks at the park

Sunday, after his little meltdown when I took him out of the stroller and put him in his carseat, I made an impromptu stop on the way home and took Mason to a new park. I have only been to this park once. Mom, Doug, Auburn, and I walked over to it right before we went to the hospital to deliver Mason. I looked like I was about to pop and was as big as a house! We didn't walk around much but it was a nice, quite park. Not really sure why we haven't been back but I hope to go more now that Mason is older.

He loved looking at the ducks and, of course, the airplanes that flew over us. We walked around the little pond they have and went over to the playground area. Mason's face lit up when he saw it. That kid loves getting sweaty and dirty! They had two areas, one for younger and one for older kids. He was the youngest one and really wanted to play with the bigger kids but he sucked it up and played with Mommy. He did good and didn't fuss when it was time to go home. I think he worked up an appetite and was ready for snack time when we got home.

Sitting with mommy looking at the ducks

What's that? Duck. Dat dat (aka quack quack)

The ducks came over to say hello

Walking around the pond

Looking at the water flowing up under the bridge

Taking a juice break

His face when he saw the playground

Big boy on the playground

Look at those curls!

He ran back and forth, back and forth...

Our big boy is getting bigger

I have been putting it off. I kept saying I would do it next weekend then I never would. It wasn't that it was hard to do, it was just another major milestone I was not ready for. This one little action solidified that our little boy was no longer a baby but officially a toddler.

Today I turned Mason's carseat around to face forward.

I may or may not have shed a tear or two when I did it...

I am sure the neighbors got a show as my ass was up in the air for about half an hour while I tried to figure out where all the straps went. The sun was shining and it was humid so I kept all the car doors open so the breeze would keep me cool as I worked. Thankfully it wasn't too hard and the directions were fairly understandable.

After I was done and he woke up from his nap we ran to the store to test out my hard work. I had brought the stroller in to clean after a dusty day at Ren Fest. I put Mason in their to roll him out to the car. Poor thing thought we were going for a walk. He screamed when I took him out and put him in the car. I felt so bad. The kid loves being outside.

Once we got going it finally clicked with him that he was facing forward. He was giggling, jibbering, pointing at everything, and going "OHHH!" It was great. He loved being able to see me and see out all the windows. I think our trips to school and home everyday will be much more fun.

With all those happy things said, he looks so big sitting forward! My baby is growing too fast! Breaks this mommy's heart.

Ren Fest 2016

Last year Mason was still a baby when we went to Ren Fest. We didn't stay long and I don't really remember much from it. This year he was mobile and wanting to see everything. He rode, ran, slid, climbed, and eventually passed out. And he ate... a lot! He ate his snacks, our snacks, then his lunch, and our lunch. I guess all that playing made him hungry. His nap at the festival was a short one due to all the noise. We would have stayed longer if he napped longer and we weren't so tired from pushing his stroller around. But 10 am to 2 was long enough for us. He didn't go down for a second nap until 5. When he did, he slept hard. It took me about 15 minutes to wake him up. Since he had a late nap and Auburn had a night game he got to stay up late. Hopefully that means mommy gets to sleep in tomorrow morning.

Sippin milk in his chair

Every night before bed I ask Mason, "Do you want your milk?" When he is tired and ready to go to bed, he wants his milk. It's my little bedtime indicator. So if he wants it he will look at me, smile and giggle, then run into the kitchen with me to get his cup. I love how excited he gets over something as simple as a cup of milk.

Once I hand it to him I will tell him to go into the living room and drink his milk. Well, he has developed a preference for exactly how he does this. If I do not already have it set out, he will go over to where we keep his chair and reach for it while making his "I want that" noise. I will set it up against the front of the couch, facing the tv. I always pat the seat to create a spot for his behind, which he now does each time before he sits down. He will kick back and drink his bottle, straight chilling. When he is done I will ask him, "Are you ready to go to bed?" He will get up and toddle into the bedroom to start the bedtime routine. (I am so thankful to have a good sleeper and not one who fights it or screams when you say bed or nap.)

Of course, bath nights are a little different. Sometimes we do milk before bath and others we do after bath. But no matter what, he has to sit in his chair.

Sick baby

As I mentioned on Facebook, Mason got a little sick last Thursday night. It was the oddest thing. He was fine all evening, didn't have a fever, and sure wasn't acting like he didn't feel good. The only hint he gave me was his lack of appetite. He wouldn't eat dinner or any fruit. I gave him a bath, he drank his bottle before bed, and was fine when I put him down.

It wasn't 15 minutes later after he went to bed that he started crying. I did not have his video monitor pulled up so I couldn't see what was going on. Doug thought he was just being fussy and told me to let him cry it out. But my mommy intuition told me to go check.

I walked in and saw his pacifier on the floor so I figured that was why he was crying. I picked it up and went to give it to him, then I saw it.... everywhere! I called for Doug and told him to get the bed and I would get the kid.

After everything was cleaned and new sheets/clothes were in place, I layed my sleepy boy back down and went back into the living room. This time we pulled up the camera. A few minutes later, I heard an unusual yack/cough/yuck sound and then crying. So we went back in for cleanup round 2.

This time, I decided to keep him up so we didn't have to change the sheets again. I brought him into the living room with me and got him some water to hydrate. He started playing and running around like nothing was wrong.

Let's take a moment to note it is now going on 10 pm and we are on our 2nd load of throw up laundry...

Well, you guessed it. A few minutes later yack #3 happened. All over him, his clean clothes, and the carpet. At this point his bath was pointless. For some reason, toddler puke has the most wretched smell and it sticks to anything it touches. His room smelled god awful and now so did Mason and the living room carpet. So I got a rag and some soap and did a quick head to toe wipe down. And I opted for diaper only until we were done.

After Doug was finished cleaning the carpet, we went back into the living room. He threw up one more time but I was close by and able to catch it on a towel. (Laundry load #3) He finally got tired from his little puking rally around 10:30 and snuggled on the couch with me. He was so sweet. He fell asleep curled up next to me.

Thankfully he slept through the night and didn't ever get a fever. He went to daycare on Friday and was fine except for a very small appetite. Today was the first day he ate close to normal. I am guessing he ate something that didn't agree with him but I have no clue on what since he ate his typical stuff that day. I am sure the allergist will love to hear of this.

Fire alarm

I got home this evening and started my normal routine of getting dinner ready for everyone. Doug and I decided on hotdogs so, since Mason doesn't eat hotdogs, I made him something really quick. I fed Mason while our hotdogs cooked then cleaned him up and put him in the living room to play. As soon as Doug and I sat down to eat our dinner, the fire alarm started wailing. We already know Auburn hates the alarm so I went to console her while Doug checked on the alarm. Well, after a few moments Mason decided he too did not like the alarms and started screaming. I went and scooped him up and headed towards the door. Doug came in and confirmed there was no fire but that a kid pulled the alarm.

We put Auburn's leash and headed outside to get some relief from the loud alarm. We were greeted by half the building. Kids, adults, and pets were all hanging out in the parking lot doing exactly what we were going out there to do. Auburn was super excited to see everyone and Mason was mesmerized by the dogs. I was looking down at myself hoping I had on something appropriate. I ran out of the house, escaping the screetching alarm, without thinking about what I had on or seeing other humans.

The mom of the little boy who pulled the alarm made him go around and apologize to everyone. It was so sweet! I think he learned his lesson. Thankfully the office manager lives in our building and was able to call the fire department to get the alarm code. We went back in the cool house to finally eat our dinner. About halfway through we heard the fire truck pull up. If I had been thinking I would have waited outside so Mason could have seen the truck. I guess I could let him pull the alarm again so it would come back... :)

Mason pointing out all the dogs outside

FL beach videos

Air & Space Museum

A few weeks ago we took Mason to the Air & Space Museum in VA, Mason loved it! They were not very busy so we let Mason run around. He gave us quite the workout chasing him around but did really good not going under the ropes to the "no go" zones.

New classroom at daycare

Mason was moved to a new classroom at daycare today. He is growing up so fast! They are doing a great job with helping us to get him talking. He will jabber on more for them than he will us. He will also go all day without a paci (minus nap time) there. When he is at home he wants it all the time. We are close to saying "Bye Bye" and the throwing out the pacifiers!