Mason Says

Oh Mason. May-May. Macey. 

You guys, seriously. This dude is the funniest, smartest, silliest, loving-est baby around. 

He sings constantly. Happy Birthday to You, the ABCs, Rock-A-Baby (more on that in a minute), I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, M-M-M-Mason (K-K-K-Katy), This Little Light of Mine, and on and on the list goes. He was even singing CC's Timeline song yesterday. It's amazing how recognizable his tunes are. 

He'd been asking me for a few days to sing Rock-A-Baby, which I assumed was Rockaby Baby. Then I hear him singing, to the tune of Rock of Ages, "rock-a-baby, clap for me..."

When I put him down for his nap or at night, I ask him what he wants me to sing. These days, he usually picks Bubbles. Sometimes he'll just choose a word and I will try to think of a song for it. (Ears? Do Your Ears Hang Low.) Whenever I sing a new song to him, he gets the biggest grin on his face like he's thinking, there are more songs? There's a song about THAT? 

He asks me every afternoon if he can, "jump-on-da-trampoline? Get muddy?" His two favorite things to do. 

In the morning, when he sees me, he says "good morning Mama! Happy birthday Mama!" Every single time. Then sometimes he adds, "How you doin' Mama?" And then, he asks for "more boppas?" Translated: more breakfast. Meaning cereal from my bowl. Because he never stops eating.

Honestly, more than half the time, he calls me Nom or Nama. On purpose. When I correct him, he laughs and does it again.

His favorite things are his stuffed monkey Banamana, his stuffed bunny Bonny, and his blanket Banket.

He comes into the kitchen when someone is cooking and says, "Making? Doing?" until he gets his answer.

He is the KING of silly faces. And he knows it.

He likes to list off the kids in his class at church. Randomly he'll yell out, "Max! Luke! Asher! Martin!" This is him and his buddy Max. They were born a week apart to the day, and they're so sweet together.

Just in the past two weeks or so, he's learned to say "I no like it" or "I like it," and sometimes he adds in "I love it!" These phrases usually apply to food or something he does or doesn't want to do. Or sometimes people. "I like Aunt Curtis!" "I like Karolina!"

Cucumbers are "cumbers." Bananas are still "banamanas." He still loves pretzels, which used to be called "fesh-tools" but are now ordinary pretzels.

Mason was a very early talker. And he talks a lot. But my very, very favorite is when he says "I love you too, Mama." Sometimes it's after I tell him I love him. Other times, like last night in the car, just him and me after we dropped the kids off at AWANA, he says it before I do. "I love you too, Mama," from the backseat. And all is right in the world.

My Big Girl Turns Four

We were in Florida for Laina's birthday--went down south for my sister-in-law's baby shower, and Laina was thrilled that she got to celebrate her birthday with Grammy and Papa at the beach! She decided on a Little Mermaid party, though she hasn't seen the movie, because she felt it was beach-appropriate. :)

Last day as a three, in her new dress and ready to go to church:

And first day as a four, in another new dress! (Laina is quite the dress-wearer. She almost never wears anything else.)

Making cupcakes with Grammy.

Party time! We spent some time down by the ocean, and then found a great place for dinner, cupcakes, and presents. 

(at the party: all of us, Grammy and Papa, Phil and Kelly, and Kelly's mom) 

(Legos! A gift from Cory, and not the only Legos she got that day. Also present: lots of Tinkerbell stuff. And more dresses.)

 (bubbles!) 

Turning four is a big deal at our house. It marks and important rite of passage: being allowed to play with Legos. Laina got some great ones for her birthday, including some special ones from her brothers. The next morning, before they were even out of pajamas, Laina and Iain were trying them out. Love these sweet pictures.

Although we didn't light a candle this year (since the party was at the beach), this day in my girl's life did not pass without me thinking of and praying for her birth mama. How I wish she could see sweet, happy, full-of-life Laina turn four. 

Laina Bug, you are a delight. All it takes to make your face break into a beautiful smile is someone catching your eye and smiling at you. You are so eager to embrace life, to enjoy it, to laugh and play and have fun with your brothers. Your moods might be a little more prone to drama than the boys, but your return to joy is so fast. We are so very blessed to have you in our family. We love you, four-year-old girl!

(See Laina turn one [and here], two, [and here] and three!)