Just like Daddy

There's a Christian song that has the phrase "walk a little straighter daddy for little eyes are watching every step." It's a great reminder of our impact as parents. I've been noticing how Mason really has been modeling after his daddy. While he spends lots of time with me during the day, he's developing into such a little man.

He looks to his dad in the morning to start his day just right. They share a pillow and watch the morning news together while I get dressed. Any time JP is outside working and Mason is indoors, he works his way to the closest window to watch what his dad is doing. And when in a new situation, I've noticed that Mason waits for his dad's response to set his comfort level...he gathers a lot of his security from his daddy.

I've been lucky to have caught a few great photos of my two boys together. My question to you, do you think Mason is watching his daddy like a hawk?



By the way, this last picture was NOT posed. They were actually watching TV together just like that without any prompting from me. The only thing I said to JP was "don't move!"

Speed Racer

In preparation for a party at our house, we got busy and straightened up our back deck. We are like so many other people, if we don't know where to put it at that moment, it gets stacked. So we organized the plants, we contained the outside tools, swept and cleaned to the point that the main body of the deck is completely clear. So a few nights ago, we decided to spend some family time outdoors while the mosquitoes were napping.

We had Mason sitting down playing with some toys, when I had the bright idea to bring out the walker. We loaded him in it, blocked the stairway and let him wander around. Before long, he figured out he had a major area to explore, so he started walking back and forth along the deck. After a few passes, he kicked in the afterburners and started running back and forth...always stopping short of the end railing, carefully turning around and running for the opposite end.

As a joke, I started "chasing" him and before long, we started racing. It pains me to say that my 1 year old son kicked my butt in his tot rider. I think he "let" me win a few races as a tease to get his daddy involved. Before long, he was leaving his daddy in the dust. We raced back and forth for a good 30 minutes and had a great time. Take a look.

Mason's birthday party

First off, let me apologize for taking so long to post these pictures...I've been politely hounded and I was listening. We tried having the party at our house on April 17, but after 5 inches of rain in two days, we opted to move the party to the Black Hill community building. Everyone had a great time although Mason was a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. He settled down later in the evening at home and caught a sugar-second wind, enjoying his personal cake before collapsing.

Mason's personal cake and the cake for everyone else. I had so much fun making those cakes. GiGi (John Paul's grandma) had the plate and it was passed to us...what a neat way to celebrate a birthday.

Mason's not sure what the fuss is all about. What you can't see is that Mason is looking at about 25 people standing around him singing.

Mason opening up his gifts with help from Mama, Kenzie and Madison (friends from the neighborhood).

Sitting in the new swimming pool with McKenzie and cousin Layton.

Late night snack as an after-party.

Latest Beach Trip

Thanks to Steve and Debbie Hill, we (Mom, Maureen & I) got a quick trip to the coast for a few days two weeks ago. Mason came along for the ride and for entertainment. He's been a real trooper with the trips to the coast (this was his third), but on this trip, he got is first real taste of the beach, ocean water and the swimming pool. And I'm proud to report that baby-strength sunblock and mama's prudence allowed for our pale, blond boy to return home without a sunny glow (ie: sunburn).

Walking in the courtyard with his Aunt Mo (Maureen)

Getting over the shock of sand on his feet...three generations enjoying the ocean

Grammy D getting a private moment with one of her boyfriends...PRECIOUS

Working on his water legs in the kiddie pool at the condo. He did this for well over an hour both days.

Mama and her little man in the big pool. He loved the water. This trip gave a whole new meaning to bath time for Mason. Now he HAS to splash as hard as he can.

And it wouldn't be a vacation without a little treat...his first french fry. I know, horrible for a baby diet, but he takes after his Grammy D (her favorite snack), so the legacy continues!! And notice the big-boy chair...he got his birthday present early for this trip and was able to ride facing forward. That is big news in a baby's world...he could actually see the world fly by as we drove.

I'm 1 today!!!

My how time flies. Our little boy Mason was delivered into our lives a year ago today. He has been an absolute blast and a never-ending supply of laughs and love. We held a mini-celebration today with singing in bed, a birthday breakfast and some cake after dinner.

The bigger party is this weekend with family and friends coming over to celebrate. He helped me unpack his decorations for this weekend and is totally taken with the bag of balloons. Can't wait to watch his reaction this weekend.

Interesting side note: Feeding a One year old a mini-chocolate cupcake with icing requires 25 minutes of running, at top speed back and forth down a hallway, in a walker, to come down from the sugar high. No kidding.

Happy First Easter

Mason's first Easter...what a great time. He couldn't understand all the excitement, but we made some fun memories anyway. JP and I couldn't resist dying a few eggs for the boy. Mason was fascinated with the stark white eggs (tried to pick them up and throw them down...bad idea, lots of cracks). And he couldn't understand why he couldn't touch the freshly dyed eggs.

Grammy D (mom) continued her tradition of spring sugar cookies. Mason and I ventured up to her house and made it a family affair. We baked and decorated over 6 dozen cookies. And as usual, we went over the top with our sugar icing. At one point, Mason scooted into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around my calf and rested his head on my leg like he was exhausted. It took us almost 4 hours, but we were so proud of the end result...and they were extra tasty.

Then we woke up early Easter Sunday to have a little family time before we went to church. Mason joined me on stage during Praise Team practice and he had a blast listening to the drums and bass guitar. He was such a trooper during service but gave out before it was time for Communion. Mason really put the Easter season in perspective for me. I'm grateful that Jesus gives us the opportunity to have a Great eternal life of blessing in heaven and I'm excited for Mason to make that connection in his own life.

We entertained Aunt Mo (Maureen) and Grammy D for a late afternoon Easter BBQ and egg hunt. The girls were so excited to find that they had chocolate-filled eggs to hunt for. And Mason had no idea what to think or do when I showed him the eggs that were his to find. (Great big Thank You to Grammy D for finding the camo basket that far surpassed anything that I could have found for him myself).

As I mentioned before, the girls were motivated by their chocolate-filled eggs. Mason, however was so surprised to find the treasures within his eggs. I hid some of his favorite snacks in the eggs (cherry puffs and veggie crackers). After opening a few eggs for him, he got so excited and started snacking.

It was a great celebration of such an important holiday in our lives. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice, for without it, we would be without an eternal hope.

Daddy's boy

Mason's has always been attached to his mama. Let's face it, I'm his playmate most days, so he's going to reach for me regularly. But over the course of the past few weeks, Mason has been watching his daddy closer and closer, wanting to learn from JP. He's been relaxing in dad's lap, taking naps in him and letting JP rock him down when he's having a rough evening (yea for mama). A few days ago, Mason was just too tired to keep playing so he cried out for his daddy. After, only a few minutes in JP's arms, Mason passed out in this exact position...talk about comfort!?!?!


Mason has also been very aware of what Dad does when he goes outside. When JP was mowing the lawn to get ready for Easter, Mason sat in his walker and watched out the window for 20 minutes while JP made round after round. He is watching and taking it all in...I'm sure he's dreaming of the day when he gets to follow in his daddy's footsteps because the Lord knows he enjoys every toy that has a steering wheel.

Spring through JP's eyes