He may not crawl yet...

...but Mason is definitely mobile. I swear to you that this is how I lay him down for bed at night:

In the MIDDLE of his crib.

And yet, somehow, this is how I find him the next morning:

That is his arm hanging out there.

Between the crib bars.

Shoved out beneath the crib bumper.

Every. Single. Time.

I thought maybe I should be concerned that his arm is going to fall off or something, but he doesn't seem to mind it.

Want to be a better parent?

Work retail. Better yet, work retail in a middle class neighborhood. There isn't a single shift I work that I don't walk away with at least once having said, "I do not want to be that mom." Whether it is a mom who barks at her teenager for walking too slowly in front of her and "being in her way" or the mother who shouts in an irritated voice at her toddler who just wants her attention at the check out counter, there are constant examples of our societies lack of patience and tolerance for our children.

It breaks my heart to see an elementary-aged child swearing at a store employee simply because he is accustomed to hearing vulgar language at home and thinks it's normal. And don't even get me started on the mom who is a regular shoplifter and uses her child's stroller to smuggle clothes for herself out of the store. Did I mention the baby, who is barely old enough to walk, is right along side of her?

There is so much to be thankful for in life. I am thankful for our families who help out each week in caring for Mason. I am so thankful that both Tage and I have jobs and a place to live. I am ever so thankful that each day is a new opportunity to be a better mother to Mason.

Who would have thought working a side job could have such great benefits? I mean, besides the obvious benefit that allowed me to pick up this polo for Tage for 73 cents. (No kidding!)

Saturday Smile

"Hi Mom!"
"Wait a second..."
"What's this?"

"I look good!"

Baby push ups

On Tuesday during Mason's 4 month check up I had asked the doctor if I should be concerned that, while he can hold his head up and look around while laying on his belly, he doesn't use his arms to help prop himself up. They lay by his sides so he looks much like a beached whale. Of course she assured me he was doing fine.

Last night Mase didn't feel like going to bed right away so he lay awake in his crib, checking out the dots on his sheets. I peeked in to check on him and discovered that he could see me over the crib bumper. His little arms were extended in front of him and he was loving that fact that he could see so much more.

I ran downstairs to get Tage so he could see the progress our Peanut had made. Tage's comment? "This is the beginning of the end."

I think it's the beginning of great things for our Baby Valone.

So. Much. Stuff.

These are the things I leave the house with each morning:

• Mason in his car seat, remembering to throw a pacifier, bib, burp cloth and receiving blanket in there with him.
• Purse, making sure my cell phone, car keys, and work keys are in there.
• Work bag, including my lunch, bills that need to be paid, mail that has to go out, and my To-Do list(s).
• Diaper bag, ensuring it is complete with clean diapers, a plastic bag for the dirty ones, milk (premeasured per feeding), two extra sets of clothing, an extra bib, burp cloth and pacifier, book, DVD, notebook, extra receiving blanket, emergency formula (premeasured in a bottle), sunblock, lotion, baby wipes and hand sanitizer.
• Breast pump. (Thank you for reminding me Suzy!) Accompanied by all the pieces (and back ups, just in case) and a few storage containers.
• Green tea. A big giant travel cup full of it.

Whew.

How in the WORLD do people do this with more than one child?

Before and After: Birthdays

Before: Weekend in Tahoe with the girls!
After: Week night pizza at home with the family.

Before: My wish list includes new Joe's, Clinique make up, a great pair of shoes...
After: My wish list includes time off with Mason and Tage. Period.

Before: At least a month before, making plans for the entire birthday week.
After: Not even realizing I have a birthday coming up until June 1st.

Before: Identifying with my age (early-20's, mid-20's, late-mid-20's...)
After: Identifying more with my status: Mom

Before: Cheesecake!
After: Cheesecake! (Okay that hasn't changed, my birthdays will ALWAYS mean cheesecake. :)

4 Months

Somehow Mason is 4 months old already. He is strong enough to hold his head up and is enjoying the Jump-A-Roo passed down to him from his Auntie Jaime. I put a pillow beneath his feet though, because he can just barely reach the floor.

I tried uploading a video of Mason at the doctor's office this morning but it won't work for whatever reason. He thought that paper he was laying on was the greatest thing EVER. He discovered that the harder and faster he kicked, the more noise the paper made. By the time the pediatrician found her way to our room he had torn the paper to shreds beneath his feet.

Our little guy weighed in at 15.12 pounds which put him in the 65th percentile for his weight, and measured 26 inches which is in the 80th percentile for a 4-month old. That is an enormous jump from the 10th and 65th percentiles he was in just two months ago during his two month check up.

Mason is at the point where he is putting everything in his mouth, including his thumb (which he prefers over the pacifier.) He can grasp objects now and hold his head up while on his tummy for several minutes at a time. Each morning he watches a few minutes of a My Baby Can Talk DVD and finds it highly entertaining. When Tage comes home in the evenings Mason loves to babble on to him about his day, which is oh-so-cute. I'm sure my little peanut will be talking and walking in no time.