Miscellany Mason Monday

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I am dedicating this Miscellany Monday to my little man...

1. Mason was baptized on Sunday!  I don't have many pictures because I was a part of it, obviously, but my aunt took lots and once I get them I will share!  However, his great-grandma was able to make it in from Chicago!  He also had a fabulous cake...sadly, he didn't get to partake in the eating part.

2. The Dr. is pretty sure that he has acid reflux.  Not horrible, no medication required, she just said that the flap on his esophagus doesn't close all the way and that is why he sometimes has some spit-up issues.  This all means that after he eats we have to keep him up right or at an angle for 30-60 mins after he eats. It isn't so bad except for the late night/early morning feedings when we just want to go back to bed.


3. He is starting to enjoy his play mat.  It is fun to watch him swat at and grab things and just stare.  He also loves to be in just a diaper during the day!  Also, as the picture shows, his new thing is sticking his tongue out.  I love this boy!

4. He is already holding his own bottle!  Well...kind of.  He puts his hands on either side and tries to hold it, but since his hands are in little fists he can't always actually hold it up.  If he would open up his hands he could totally hold it!  Nick got a picture of him truly holding it on his own though!

5.  I think I may have a red head on my hands!  He started with one spot of red hair, and I'm talking orange, carrot top red.  It now seems to be spreading and a lot of his roots have a red tint or are for real orange/red.  I can't believe I'm going to have a red headed kid...for a little while at least!  My dad is a carrot top so it isn't completely crazy, but I never thought Mason would be a red head.

Food Truck!

So, I had previously mentioned that Nick and I were on the hunt to try some of the Houston food trucks.  This weekend we successfully tried three more!

First up was Oh My Pocket Pies.  They were so good!  We got salisbury steak and chicken relleno  pocket pies.  It was fun, easy to eat, and delicious!

Next we grabbed some cupcakes from Frosted Betty.  We actually took these home and tried them.  Wow, these cupcakes were amazing...Crave has nothing on these guys!

Last up we tried Phamily bites.  Awesome Vietnamese food!

We had a very successful food truck dinner and some of the proceeds went to a good cause.  We can't wait to try several more food trucks in the area.  The one I am on the hunt for is called Cut and Fry...traditional, Belgian style pom frittes, aka french fries!

One Month!

Please excuse the crazy hair.

We survived the first month!  Mason has been apart of our lives for a full month, and I think it has been one the most challenging, rewarding, and tiring months we have ever experienced.  Overall we really can't complain about this wonderful boy.  He is such a happy baby who generally doesn't cry.  He has only had about 3-4 nights that were long, hard and leaving us without much sleep.  We are learning more from everyday and trying to give him exactly what he needs.

Sleep:

• At night we had been getting anywhere from 2-4 hours of sleep.
• As you are getting older it seems to be getting longer, and we are often more at the 4 hour mark before he wakes up to eat.
• The feeding that happens between 11-12 is great and he usually goes to sleep right after.
• The 2-4 feeding is when he is not so cooperative about going right back to sleep.
• He sleeps pretty good during the day, and now he is starting to stay awake longer to play!
• He does better at night when swaddled, but will fight having his arms swaddles.  Sometimes we when the battle and sometimes he definitely does!
• He has some intense dreams...he scream once and be completely asleep and he will also get huge smiles while he is sleeping.

Feeding:

• During the day he is very consistent about eating every 3 hours.  This last week though, there were a few times that he would go 3 1/2.
• At night there are times when he likes to stick to every three hours and times that he will go a little longer.  Again, as he gets older he goes longer at night.  He went 5 hours between feedings the other night, which meant 4 hours of sleep for us!
• Breastfeeding isn't quite as successful as I had hoped.  I mostly just pump and my supply isn't enough for Mason; therefore, he gets formula.  He typically always feeds from a bottle.  He is a champ though when it comes to eating!
• He is now at about 5oz. every feeding.

Diapers and Clothes:

• He is still wearing newborn sized diapers and probably will for a few more weeks.
• We have decided that when it comes to newborn diapers we like Huggies the best.
• Clothes are newborn as well.  We have, maybe, two things that are 0-3 month that fit.
• Mason is a string bean so he needs clothes that are long and narrow.  A lot of clothes are really wide and that doesn't work for him.

Personality/likes:

• Mason is a grunter!  He grunts before he will cry...it takes a lot for him to cry.  He will grunt in his sleep too.
• He is starting to watch people a lot more, and might even be trying to smile.
• Not a huge fan of tummy time.  He will use his legs to push himself over the Boppy instead of holding his head most of the time.
• However, when he lays on Daddy's chest he will push up and look around.  He is actually pretty good at holding his head up and looking around when he wants too.
• Generally he is a very happy and content baby!  Doesn't take much to please him, and he doesn't really cry or get fussy unless something is wrong.

Weight/Length:

• We don't have a one month check-up, but we are thinking he has gained anywhere from 1/2-1 pound making 7-71/2 lb.  He is probably close to 20" now too.

Newborn Photos

I am in love with the way Mason's newborn pictures turned out.  I have already ordered a photo book from Walgreens that was free, a picture on canvas from Canvas People because it was free, and his birth announcements from Shutterfly which we got all kinds of discounts on!  Perfect timing for his pictures to be ready!  Here are a few of our favorites...

Mason Birth Announcement

Storytime Blue Baby Announcements

Create photo birth announcements by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

First Family Fourth

We enjoyed our long weekend by being extra lazy and cuddly with our new little man!  We also had our parents over on Sunday to celebrate the fourth.  Unfortunately, Mason had a rough night with some tummy/gas issues and slept most of the day.  However, we enjoyed our family time and Mason got lots of love!

Mason in his festive onsie!

Family photo...it had been a long day and we all look a little rough.

Nick and I made s'more cups...they were a huge crowd pleaser.  Needless to say there were no leftovers!

My firecracker cake!

Too fast...

My little man is already two weeks, and the time has just flown by!  This was an eventful week for us, well as eventful as it can be with a newborn.  Mason had his first Dr. appt.  He peed through his diaper onto his outfit as soon as we got there, screamed as soon as we took his clothes off, pooped right before the Dr. walked in, but is doing awesome!  We went in at 11 days instead of 14 and his stats were:
- weight: 6lb. 7.5oz. only a half ounce below birth weight, and the Dr. said she had no worries that he could gain that half ounce in 3 days
- height: 19.5", he grew 3/4 of an inch!  He is my little string bean.
His umbilical cord was just barely hanging on so she helped it off...which means he can get real baths now!

His official shirt from the Dr.

So, Mason got an actual bath in his spa tub and loved it.  Well, he at least enjoyed it more than the sponge bath.  He screamed for the majority of the sponge baths, and this time he was pretty chill and seemed to enjoy some of it!

His social security card came in the mail!  He is official...we are just waiting on his birth certificate.

Nick's best friend from Dallas came in to visit.  It was great to see him and his girlfriend, and the best part was on his way out he held Mason one last time and Mason totally peed on him!  It was hilarious!


Sadly, Nick has to go back to work today!  It has been fabulous having him home, and I am beyond thankful for the two weeks of paternity.  At least my best friend, Mason's godmother, is coming to visit!