My Poor Little Man

Lately Mason hasn't been himself. He is usually the happiest little boy....always smiling and laughing with a hearty appetite! That explains why most people think he's about 7 months old when he just turned 5 months :) But the past couple days he's been off. Nothing scary off, but off. He has been refusing food or eating just a little. A typical bottle would be 6-8 ounces every 4-5 hours or so and lately it's all I can do to get him to eat 4 ounces a few times a day! The only time he's been eating well is at his night feeding. He always gets up around 2am to eat a bottle, change his diaper and go back to sleep until about 8:30am. He's my little sleeper! Then the crying started. Not his normal, I'm hungry or I'm tired cry but a loud "mommy something is wrong with me" cry. During the day it would happen sporadicaly but at night he would be almost inconsolable. It broke my heart to hear my little man cry like that.....knowing I can't help.
Today we went to see his pediatrician, Dr. Ari. His doctor is amazing.....we are so blessed that we found this man. He spent almost an hour with Mason, checking him out, seeing if there was anything more serious than what he was suspecting. Mason was fine at the doctor. Flirting with the nurses and being his usual charming self. And of course while I was glad he was feeling a little better I couldn't help but think to myself that Dr. Ari isn't going to see for himself what I'm talking about. But wouldn't you know it, as soon as the doctor walked in Mason had a melt down! He was crying like he cries at home and all I could say was "that's exactly what he's been doing!" Now don't get me wrong, I was sad that he was upset but relieved that the doctor could see how he has been acting. The pediatrician couldn't console him either. He held Mason and rocked him and tried different positions. He even walked him all around the office trying to distract him.....but Mason would have none of that. He wasn't feeling good and he was letting everyone know!
Once Mason settled a bit (after a nice dose of Tylenol....wonder drug for babies I tell ya), Dr. Ari and I sat down and talked while he examined Mason in short bits, so as to not disturb him. He even turned the lights off in the office so my Lil Man could rest. The doctor thinks it may be heartburn/reflux. He said it usually hits before they start solids and solids make it better but that they can get it just like we can....anytime. He asked questions such as if Mason has been stiffening up his body, arching his back, coughing more, spitting up more.....everything I'm like, yes, yes, yes!!! He checked for hernias, felt his belly, looked physically for any signs of appendicitis and all looked good. No fever.....thank you God :)
At the end his diagnosis made me laugh. He said that our offical diagonosis is "fussy baby". I was like, Dr. Ari.....I could have told you that......can I have your paycheck now? He said that it was probably due to some heartburn/reflux going on so he put my Lil Man on some baby Zantac for a couple weeks and to do smaller more frequent feeds. We're to call him tomorrow to let him know how our night went and see what happens. If this fixes him....great. If he's still not feeling well then we'll look for more.
I gave him one dose of medicine tonight and we started the smaller feeds. Mason doesn't love the smaller amount of food.....he cries a bit but will get used to it until he's feeling better. And the medicine....wow, what a face I got when I gave him that!!! It was a lot of liquid so I did it in 3 little squirts. The first he opened wide and once he got a taste made his icky face. The next time he opened up for me again and made an even ickier face. The 3rd time he was having no more. He would not even open his mouth! It was so funny....he clamped it shut and I had to work the syringe in to get him to take the last bit! He's such a silly little boy. But, he's good and swallowed it all.....didn't spit out a drop. BTW, I tasted it too and see why he made the face....it is nasty! Smells kind of minty but when you taste it......gross!
Mason ate a bottle and went right to sleep tonight, no crying, no fussing. He woke at 1am to eat again and we had no problem again. I'm hoping that my little guy is on the way to mending. He's such a little angel :)

Mason Has a Girlfriend

Can you believe it?! My little, tiny (well, not so tiny) 4 month old son has a little girl that he just loves at Gymboree class!!! He will lay there and just watch her, and last week....he even tried to hold her hand :) Her name is Morgan and you can see Mason's head in the picture....he's wearing the dark blue. How did I ever get so lucky to have such a wonderful little boy! I am so blessed each and every day!

Things to Catch Up On

Mason rolled over for the first time on July 22nd!!! He has been trying for weeks, rolling to his left side but not quite being able to get all the way over. He would get so frustrated and angry that he couldn't do what he wanted and then start crying. But on this particular day, I was making his bed while he played on the floor. I looked down just at the moment he rolled from his back to his belly!!!! I was so proud of him....and he was super proud of himself....he was just smiling from ear to ear!! He's an old pro at it now. If only I could get him to learn how to roll back from his belly to his back, it sure would make night time better. He will often roll onto his belly in his crib and then not knowing how to get back, start crying. He even does it if he's fully swaddled!!! It is too cute but honestly, Mommy needs to get some sleep :)

Next up, Mason visited his Grammy and Grandpa Johnson in West Virginia this past weekend. He had such a good time with them!!! Grammy Pattie spent almost the entire weekend just playing with him and talking to him....I know he loved the attention! They even bought him his very first swing that hangs in their front yard! It is the cutest....they put a sign on it that says "Mason's Swing". I think Mason enjoyed it, I only wish he had more time on it. Stupid rain made it impossible to spend a lot of time with him on the swing. It always makes me happy to see him spend some time with them. Being that they are so far away from us they don't get to see the little man on a regular basis and I want Mason to know them as well as he knows his local grandparents. I can see how much joy he brings them and it makes me so happy.

Well, we're off to Gymboree in a few but I just wanted to catch up on Mason's latest.

4 Months

Mason is 4 months old. I can't believe my little boy is already 4 months old. It seems like just yesterday we were waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more for my Lil Man to come out. He is doing so many great things and it's simply amazing to watch him grow.

We've been going to Gymboree class every Thursday for a couple of weeks now and I think he really likes it. He enjoys the songs and little games we play and he really likes to roll his head around and watch all the other babies. It's so cute to watch them all watching each other! He always falls asleep at the end though, no matter what, he's snoozing by then. I guess it's because it falls right at the same time as I usually put him down for a nap but I feel bad that he never gets to say his goodbyes to Jimbo....he's the Gymboree clown mascot. We have one here at home for him and he loves him.

Let's see what else.....OH, we started Mason on some baby food!!!! He's definitely not a fan of carrots, and I can say that he comes by that honestly because his Mommy doesn't like them either!!! Mushy carrots....YUCK!!! We've tried squash and sweet potatoes and he's done better with them and with cereal mixed with formula or breast milk...but he's still trying to get the hang of it! I know it may be a little early, but I've always jumped the gun on things. He can sit up supported and he's been eating so much that I thought we'd give it a try from time to time. He opens his mouth for the spoon but he doesn't quite seem to know what to do with it once it's in his mouth! He just kind of sits there with it in there....so we help him out by pushing the food off for him using his top lip. Sometimes he swallows it but many times most of the spoonful ends up coming back out his mouth as he spits it out. Watching him is so funny....it's just a treat to see him exploring something new!

DADDY FEEDING MASON

This past weekend we enjoyed a visit to Mason's mom-mom and Aunt Tiffany's for her birthday. We had a nice cookout and everyone was very excited to hold Mason. There is no lack of love for my little boy in our family!!!! Even the children can't wait to hold and feed him!!! I don't even have a problem finding someone to change a diaper!!!

LEXI AND LEXY FEEDING MASON

Yesterday we went to visit my niece Naomi at her house. She has 4 children of her own and they were all so excited to meet Mason for the first time. Mason really enjoyed meeting more of his family.....you can't ever have too many hugs and kisses now can you?! Besides seeing everyone, the best part of the day was when Mason did something he's never done before.....purposefully reached for me!!!! Naomi was holding him and he started to get a little fussy....it was nearing his nap time....and she asked him if he wanted his mommy and he turned to me and reached out his little arms for me to take him!!!!!! I could have just melted into a puddle on the floor to see him do that!

MASON AND NAOMI

Well, that is about all for the moment. Lil Man has been napping for a couple hours now so he will soon be stirring, ready to eat and play some more.

Grandmom

I was holding Mason today as he slept thinking about how much I miss my Mom, Mason's Grandmom.

My Mom died almost 4 years ago on December 13, 2005 after a long battle with complications from an aortic dissection. Life for me has never really been the same since then. I mean sure, it goes on and I'm very happy but such a big part of my heart is missing without her. My Mom was not just a Mom...she was one of my very best friends. Growing up she stayed home to raise us (there are 3 of us, me and 2 older brothers) and until I became a stay at home mom myself, I never realized how important that was. To me, Mom being home was just normal. Little did I realize she was teaching me to become the mother that I am and hope to be. Through out my childhood and teenage years, she was always there for me, guiding me along life's path and showing me what unconditional love is. As I grew into an adult, our relationship changed from simply a mother/daughter to a friendship. I had and have so much respect for her and all that she has given to her family. There is such a void without her here. I know that she is Mason's guardian angel and so many times when he stares into what I perceive to be nothing, and smiles, I wonder if he is smiling at his Grandmom.

Wow, she would simply ADORE Mason and I know Mason would love her to pieces. It hurts to know that he'll never know her love, not like I did. I only hope that I can be a mother to my little man like my Mom was to me. I try to remember all that she taught me over the years about motherhood....never realizing that I would never get the chance to share this experience with her. I feel so blessed to have been given her as a Mom, even if her time with us was too short. I know that her work here on earth was done....even though I feel my time with her was not.

I love you Mom!

4th of July 2009

Mason experienced his first 4th of July this Saturday. I think he enjoyed it...although he did sleep through most of the fireworks :)

Mason, Chris and I went to the Aquarium for their family fun night at the Harbor. We're members so there was chairs and tables and food and drinks for all to have while we waited for the big show...the fireworks! We shared a table with a family from Virginia and another from Montgomery County. Mason was awake for most of the time, until about 9:15 when he started to doze off. The fireworks started around 9:30 and he slept through most of them....which suprised me since they were pretty loud...as were the people around us!

The fireworks were beautiful and Mason woke up just long enough to really see the finale. His eyes were wide but he didn't seem scared. Although his little arm did tighten around mine as he watched. That is the best feeling in the world, to have my beautiful son hold on to me.

I think Mason enjoyed his very first 4th of July celebration.....but I look forward to next year's when he'll be walking and talking.......

It's Official!!

As of Wednesday, July 1, 2009....I'm now a full time, stay at home mommy!!!! Mason and I have big plans for the summer so stay in touch!!!