18 Months!

This adorable toddler turned 18-months old last Friday!  I don't think Mason has become less busy, but maybe I've adjusted to it some because keeping up with him has been a little easier lately.  He's getting more confident and will sneak up the stairs if they're not gated.  He knows how to get up and down safely, but our stairs are really steep and it makes me nervous.

Mason still isn't talking much, but he's added, "doggie," "kitty," and "nose" to "daddy," "mommy," and "no."  He knows all of his major body parts and understands most of what we say to him know.  I just wish he could communicate back a little more.

Sleep is still good - about 12.5 hours at night with a 1-2 hour nap after lunch most days.

Mason is obsessed with screens.  Playing with Alan's and my phones is a rare privilege reserved for haircuts and appointments, but Mason has spent the last several months attending Sunday School with Alan and everyone there is much nicer than we are.  :)  He walks around the room using phones and getting snacks from anyone who is friendly.  Taking pictures of Mason has become a lot harder because he just runs for my phone or camera whenever he sees it out.  I settled for these selfies one day.

 

I've been waiting for Mason to discover the joy of vehicles and he's just starting to really play with them.  I think planes are his favorite right now. 

 

Spencer used to play cars in the windowsill just like this.

Mason loves to be a helper!  He likes to unload groceries, put toys away, push the dryer button, and get rid of dirty diapers.  I hope this stage lasts a long time!

 

Daddy can still make him laugh the hardest.

Alan has actually been taking Mason into nursery at Church for part of the time for a couple of months now.  Last Sunday was his first official day though!  Alan checked on him several times and said he did alright.  There was some crying, but not as much as we thought there might be.  Mason has been having a little bit of separation anxiety the past couple of weeks.  He used to go right to sleep without any fussing, but now he cries hard for just a minute or two after we leave.  It's really sad and I'm not sure how to make him feel better.

I LOVE being a mom of little boys, especially THIS little boy!  Everything about him and the way he joined our family is so special and testifies of its rightness.

Early Spring

Spring comes really early in Oregon, like in January.  We love getting outside on those dry, mild afternoons.  Spencer has been really into basketball lately so we've spent a lot of time shooting hoops in the driveway.  Some of the neighbor kids have been coming outside more often and they've had a lot of fun playing together.  It's been a couple of years since Spencer has had neighbors to play with and these kids are really nice.  It makes my heart happy to watch them laughing and playing together.  Mason trails the big kids and I trail him to try to keep him out of trouble.  :)

2nd Grade Music Program

Spencer's 2nd grade Music Program was on March 1st. All three of the 2nd grade classes at Edy Ridge preformed the 30-minute program.  Spencer's class was featured during Larry the Lobster and Spencer got to play the bells (it was more like a xylophone).  He did a great job on that song and with singing all of the words on the other songs.

I should probably just be grateful that Spencer gets music in school, but I have not been impressed with his music teacher.  He's nothing like the music teacher I had during elementary school who had tons of energy, played the piano and guitar, and had a genuine love for music.  Spencer likes singing in Primary each week and taking piano lessons from me at home, but music is his least favorite subject in school.  Sad.  I hope it doesn't turn him off from music in middle and high school.