Thirteen Months!

Okay, so I thought at 1 year I would probably stop writing monthly updates about Mason. Why? I guess because I have always thought it was weird to say your child is "13 months". When people ask me I say, he is 1. But the reality is that nothing has changed. Last month he was 12 months old and I wanted to write down everything new, exciting, and interesting that had happened that month, and I still want to do that now. So even though Mason is 13 months, or 1, or 1.0833333 years old, I still want to keep writing down all of these little details until I get tired of doing it. I don't think I will ever regret writing down too much. So anyways, here is what our little boy has been up to. 

Month Thirteen

Weight:

21.5 pounds 34% (birth: 8lbs .3oz)

Length:

29.5 inches 17% (birth: 21 inches)

Diapers:

Size 3 daytime and Size 4 nighttime.

Clothes:

12 months.

Feedings:

The biggest change this month regarding food is really just that Mason loves to use his fork. He is not great at it, of course, but he loves using it to stab his food and feed himself. I also noticed that he uses his right hand 90% of the time, but still tries out his left hand occasionally. Definitely exciting to have an eager child. However, with that, Mason has started to become a little more picky about what he eats. Mostly this is just a product of exposure. As we have given Mason more types of food, i.e. what we are eating as opposed to bland baby food with low salt, butter, etc. he has become a little more fickle with what he eats. We have definitely figured out that we have to give him the veggies and meat before the dairy, fruit, or bread/pasta or else he will refuse them and want more of the latter.

Mason now has 6 teeth, 4 up top and 2 below and he loves using his teeth to bite his food, especially crackers, cheerios, etc.

We have definitely been struggling with how much to feed Mason. Some days, no lie, he eats more than I do. We have been told that as long as he is eating healthy and getting enough fat in his diet that we shouldn't restrict his intake. However, there is something to be said for a 21.5 pound baby eating more than his mom, and I like food. So we laugh about it, but we also find ourselves a little concerned about his Buddah belly at the end of the day.

Nights:

At this point, the nap thing is a little hit and miss. This is the first time we have not really been able to predict Mason's nap schedule. Some days he really needs 2, and some days he will only take 1 but have to put him to bed early because he is exhausted. I have a feeling this next month Mason will transition himself to just 1 nap.

Personality:
Mason makes us laugh nonstop. He is really starting to think of things on his own. What I mean by that is, most of the time he is replicating something we have shown him or he has seen a friend do, but lately he has started creating ways to play on his own and we just can't stop laughing and smiling at his curiosity and excitement.

I was the nerdy kid growing up that loved to read books. Even as an adult I love to read more than most. My sister and brother use to pick on me when we were growing up. Everyone always tells you to start reading to your children at a young age and I remember feeling weird reading to Mason when he was tiny, but it amazes me how much he loves to read books. He really only sits still for a few things during the day: food, books, and bath. There is not much better than seeing your child pick out a book, bring it over to you, and crawl in your lap on their own. Melts my heart.

Mason has really started to show us his personality these last few months. He loves all things bubble related, cars, trains, animals, food and still has zero interest in watching TV. Lately his newest little quirks include walking on his toes, drinking out of his cup with no hands, playing with everyone's shoes and trying to put them on, shaking his head no, and blowing big bubbles with his mouth. This kid cracks me up and is definitely keeping me young!

 Development:

Mason's biggest development this month has been his "talking" and his "climbing".

Even though he is super shy and rarely says much around others, Mason just talks and talks and talks around me and Chris. His vocabulary now includes: Mama, Dada, Dutty (Dusty), Dog, Ball, Bubble, Bye Bye, Bu (Bird). Some days he is incredibly vocal just talking up a storm and some days he rarely talks.

And now that he has the walking and running down, Mason is really into climbing. He loves to go to the playground, but lately he is wanting to climb everything at our house: the couch, the dining chairs, his play table, the walker, even his little people safari jungle. His favorite thing to do is act like our house is an obstacle course. He will climb on top of boxes and stomp on them (with supervision of course). Luckily for us he is still pretty short, so we do not foresee him crawling out of his crib anytime soon, but wouldn't be surprised in the least if he figures it out.

13 months is such a fun age. Mason is really a happy, interactive and curious kid. He hasn't really started to question us yet even though he will shake his head no when we ask him to do things sometimes, but he is still young enough to be sweet and old enough to be interacting with us. We think this is such a fun age and feel so blessed to have such a healthy, outgoing child.

Bedtime Prayers!

Now that Mason is old enough to actually have a "bedtime routine" and is no longer taking a bottle, I have been trying to think of a way to get him more involved (if that's the right word?) in our nightly prayer. I thought if we started to say the same prayer every night he might start to recognize it and eventually look forward to hearing it, and then later want to say it himself. The only problem with that is the prayer I remember saying as a kid was quite long, with difficult words (straight from the bible), so I took to the internet and found some amazing bedtime prayers! I did include the one I said as a kid very last in case anyone was curious or wants to use it, I still love it and it doesn't get more biblical than that, but for a one year old it may not be a show stopper. Some of the ones listed are still long, and some still worded a lot like the bible, but they have great truths in them. Some people have suggested teaching your child one verse at a time (one each year?) or have each kid learn a verse and have the whole family recite the prayer in pieces. There are lots of great ways to break up the long prayers. Anyways, enjoy and please let me know which one is your favorite!!!!

1. Now the light has gone away;

Christ, listen while I pray.

Asking Thee to watch and keep

And to send me quietly to sleep.

Jesus, Savior, wash away

All that has been wrong today;

Help me every day to be

Good and gentle, more like Thee.

Let my near and dear ones be

Always near and dear to Thee.

O bring me and all you love

To Thy happy home above.

Amen.

2.  Lord, send me sleep that I may live;

The wrongs I've done this day please forgive.

Bless every deed and thought and word

I've rightly done, or said, or heard.

Bless relatives and friends alway;

Teach all the world to watch and pray.

My thanks for all my blessings take

And hear my prayer for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

3.  Father, we thank thee for the night,

And for the pleasant morning light;

For rest and food and loving care,

And all that makes the day so fair.

Help us to do the things we should,

To be to others kind and good;

In all we do, in work or play,

To grow more loving every day.

4.   Dear Father in heaven look down from above,

Bless Mommy and Daddy and those who I love.

May angels watch over my slumber and when,

The morning is breaking, awake me. Amen.

5.   Gentle Jesus hear my prayer.

Keep me in your tender care.

Be my guide in all I do,

and Help me live my life to you

Bless ….(family members and pets!)

And now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

Thy angels watch me through the night,

And keep me safe 'til morning Light

Teach me to always say what's true.

Be willing in each task I do.

Help me to be good each day,

and lead me in thy holy way.

I pray whatever wrongs I've done,

You will forgive me every one.

Be near me when I wake again, and

Bless all of those I love. Amen.

6.   God our father I come to say

thank you for your love today

thank you for my family

and all the love you give to me

guard me in the dark of night

and in the morning send your light

7.    Father, now the night has come,

all my work and play are done.

This has been a happy day,

now I come to you and pray.

Bless the children everywhere,

keep us in your loving care,

while we sleep and while we wake,

bless us all for Jesus' sake.

8.    With all that I do,

and all that I say,

help me to walk

in Jesus' way.

9.    Time has come for me to sleep,
And I thank Thee for Thy keep.

Watch this night well over me

Teach me Lord to trust in Thee.

Many sins I've done today

Please, Lord take them all away.

Look upon me in Thy grace

Make me pure before Thy face.

Care for children sick and poor,

Grant them Lord Thy blessing more

Care for Mom and Dad the same

This I pray in Jesus' Name.

Amen

10.    Now I lay me down to rest

Angels guard my little nest

Like the wee birds in the tree

Loving Father care for me

Glad and well may I awake

This I ask for Jesus sake.

Amen

11.    Dear God, I thank You for Your care

You've been right with me everywhere

At school, at play, You're by my side

My special Friend, my loving Guide

And when the sun has said goodbye

And little stars shine in the sky

You're still with me, not far above

Right in my heart, for You are Love.

Amen

12.    Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

And if He should give me one more day,

I pray I will walk in His Way.

And when my days are at an end,

I pray at Heaven's Gate, He will invite me in.

13.     Five little angels round my bed.

One to the foot and one to the head.

One to sing and one to pray, and one to take my sins away. Amen.

14. The day is done;

O God the Son,

Look down upon

Thy little one!

O Light of Light,

Keep me this night,

And shed round me

Thy presence bright.

I need not fear

If Thou art near;

Thou art my Savior

Kind and dear.

 

15.  Our Father, Who art in Heaven

Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.