Three!

I can't believe it's already been 3 years since we brought this little peanut home.

But it has, and in that peanut's place is a happy, sweet, polite big boy who is one of the funniest people I know.

Mason's birthday was on a Thursday and unfortunately Tristan & I couldn't take the day off from work.  However, I was able to take a 2-hour lunch, so I surprised him, picked him up from school and took him on a lunch date.

We went to Oscar's, his favorite restaurant.  They give you a warm breadstick when you order, which is his favorite.

In true "kid" form, he ordered breadsticks and french fries...so I got a salad with chicken to sneak in some protein & veggis.

After, I gave him the option of a Sees lollipop or a cake pop, and to my surprise he chose the lollipop!  Yum!

Thursday nights he has gymnastics, so that's where we headed after work. Go Mase!

Some balance beam action with daddy.

Madden & I watched from above in the viewing section.  Don't let the expression confuse you, he was actually really happy, this is the face he makes as he's winding up to "talk".  He was amusing everyone in the viewing section with his conversations.

After Gyminity Kids, we headed to Pei Wei for a family birthday dinner.  How cute is our happy little Mad Man??

And, of course, ended the night with ice cream!

We're not having a birthday party this year, we already have plans all Memorial Day weekend with his friends, so didn't feel that we needed to throw a party.  He had a great day though, and loves telling everyone how old he is.

Just had to throw this last picture in there b/c I love this pants-less picture.  His exact reasoning for not wearing pants was "it's ok mama, we're just going in the backyard so I don't need pants.  But I have my Crocks on!" 

He Get It From His Mama

Yup...I think he looks like me :)

Mommy & Madden, both 5 months.

Bring Your Baby to Work!

I worked from home for Mason's first year & a half of life.  Which means I didn't miss a single "first" during that time.  Although it was pretty hard juggling working and a little guy who knew I was on the other side of the door and wanted to hang out with me more than the nanny, I knew how lucky I was to be there.

When I took my current job, I had a minor panic attack because Tristan & I were thinking about having a 2nd child, and although he was still only a figment of our imagination, I couldn't deal with the thought of leaving a 12 week old baby to go back to work full time.  Then I showed up to my first day of work, and during my initial HR meeting, was asked if I had been told about their "Bring Your Baby to Work" program.  

Well, it turns out I work for a pretty amazing company.  The kind that allows women to bring their baby to work with them after their maternity leave is up, until the age of 5 months.  I'm not really sure how I got so lucky to find this job at such a perfect time, but I'm so glad I did (besides the fact I LOVE what I do, and the company itself).

So, after my 12 weeks' maternity leave was up, I packed up Madden, a pack & play, play gym, bouncy seat, white noise maker, diapers, wipes, bottles, pump, various toys and blankets up in the car, and headed back to work.  

The next two months were a blur, where we did everything from:

Take naps

Got some work done 

 Went on walks

Drank a LOT of milk

Played with the other baby who came to work with her mommy (He was obviously not sure how he felt about her, based on his expressions)

And did a lot of hanging out in my office

I don't think I could have survived this past 2 months without the women who became Madden's "work aunties".  These women not only love Madden I swear as much as I do, but were always there to help me out whenever I had a meeting, was swamped with work, or just needed a mental break.

He had a few work uncles, too!

This was by far one of the hardest 2 months of my life...juggling a baby and work at an office full of extremely busy professsionals is a very daunting task, not to mention the fact I of course have another child to get out of the house in the mornings, and feed/bathe/play with every evening.  My days were LONG and non-stop.  But I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am that I was able to have that extra time with Madden.

Last week was his last week at work with me, and so far this week we're both doing great - I'm loving the fact I can go to work and focus, and he's not only doing great with his new nanny and grandparents, but I think he's so happy to be at home, with his brother, napping in his own bed.  

I know there are many "firsts" over the next year that I will most likely miss, but as a working mama who has no choice but to continue working, I am grateful for the opportunity to have had those extra 8 weeks with my baby boy.

Madden - 5 Months

  5Months

14 lbs, 6 oz

Wearing 6 Month clothing

He LOVES his big brother, and never takes his eyes off Mason when he's in the same room.  Mason is warming up to Madden as he gets older and more interactive. 

I obviously had the camera on the wrong setting here, but Madden's face is priceless

Always watching his brother, even from upside down!

This month Madden has gotten even more comfortable on his tummy, and is now rolling easily 360 degrees - front to back, and back to front.  

In my office, I had put him under the play gym with his head facing to the left.  About 5 minutes later I turned around to see this.  Office carpet is clean, right???

 We also started introducing solids this month.  So far he's had carrots, banana, sweet potato, avocado & apples.

Trying carrots for the first time.  I'm pretty sure he was just in a silly mood that night.

In the past month he's really come out of his shell - the very serious and hard to impress baby has been replaced by a giggly, happy little boy.  This video was in his transitional phase, which is hilarious because despite the fact he's laughing out loud, he's not actually smiling.  I don't even know how this is possible??

Month 5 was a good one...you've got a lot to live up to, month 6!  And with that, good night!