Love...

this boy.

A Milestone...

Mason was born one month ago today. Beyond all odds, he survived :) So did his parents. We have decided not to let the hospital repossess him. Love this kid.

P.S.- We won't celebrate a birthday each month... I promise :)

Mason- One Month Later!

Life with our little boy has been so fun! Mason fits in so perfectly in our lives, I cannot imagine life without him in it! I honestly don't know how we went so long without him here! He is also offically one month old! How time went by so quickly, I have no idea... I feel like we just had him, but also like he's been here forever! Time needs to slow down. I love this cuddly baby!

At one month old Mason loves:

Bath time! Thanks to Grandma Rich for showing his inexperienced parents the right way to let him "swim" in the tub. He loves to kick around in the water, and stare up at us with those big blue eyes!

Shoulders! He is my shoulder baby. He loves to snuggle in, and be all wrapped up in a cozy blanket. It is the best feeling to have him there, and look down to see him looking right back at you, completely content with cuddling. I love it.

His Mama! Goodness. I love him too, but I tell you, this baby will not let me put him down all day long! Haha. I know there are worse things to complain about than a lovey baby. So I am gratefull for the time I get to snuggle up with him now. I am sure I'll be begging for some attention from him in a few years, so I'll take it!

Sonic Bev Runs! Okay. So the bevs are actually for me, but he loves to ride in the car! He can be fussing up a storm, we get in the car, turn on some Kris Allen, and the kid is out like a light! So, we make it a point to go almost every day. Diet Coke with Vanilla=Yum.

A selection of pictures from his first month with us can be found below. I loaded the pictures backwards, so the ones at the top are the most recent... Enjoy!

The Little Man

Life has been a little crazy around the Whicker house the last few weeks... We have been adjusting to being Mom and Dad, and loving the heck out of our new little man! He is so handsome, yes I am biased, but I am sorry. This fella is handsome! It has been a learning experience, but luckily we were blessed with a patient son. He is teaching us more about him every day; and it boggles my mind how much he changes on a daily basis. He has his fussy moments, but when Mason cuddles up on my shoulder and falls asleep, my heart seriously melts in a single instant. He's adorable. We're keeping him. And yes, I am gushing, because dang it, I am one proud mama!

Here are some of the great pictures Nate's sister Camille took of the little heart breaker. She and Brand came over on Christmas Eve to take these. We are so grateful to have such talent in the family. She captured him perfectly. I am so glad we have these to show how small he really was.

That is just a small selection of the pictures she took. I will post more later. They are all so good!

Christmas was wonderful, I will have to post some pictures soon. For now I leave you with the promise that this blog will be so stuffed full of pictures it may make you crazy... But I cannot help but take endless pictures of my little boy. I apologize in advance :) Come back often for more!

He's here!

Mason Dean Whicker

December 15th, 2009

5:25 AM

6 pounds 2 ounces - 18.5 inches long

More to come later!

Stubborn... The Whicker Way.

The little man definitely has some of his Daddy in him... Mason is showing me early on that he is the boss around here! (Which Nate thinks he is as well, it will be interesting to have two bossy boys around my house!) And yes, my bossy little man does have this onesie. It was a must have.

Yeah, Mason's not budging. We aren't "Fort Knox" anymore as my doctor told me, (Haha... So funny to hear a doctor be so sarcastic! I love it!) but we aren't getting anywhere quickly either. So as of right now, we will be heading to the hospital at 6:00pm on Sunday, December 20th to get started with all their baby enticing magic tricks. That's only eight days after his due date... Not too bad, right?! Haha. I am sure I'll be begging by then! So for now folks, that's where we stand! Here's to hoping the new little boss will want to come earlier just to prove he can!

6 days, and counting.

Let the countdown begin. Mason's "official" due date is in six days. Yes, six. I have to tell myself that multiple times a day as it gets closer... A baby will be here soon! It's crazy to think about, but man am I ready to be a more normal person again! Plus, Nate only asks me on a daily basis when I am going to let Mason come out and play, as if I am keeping him here for fun at this point!

Unfortunately, my son is stubborn. As of last week, he had no intentions of going anywhere. So, here I wait. My last day of work will be Tuesday. I am excited to spend some time at home catching up on all the things I am too tired to do after work at night. I am hoping that my appointment this week will come bearing excellent news so that I can have the option to be induced sometime next weekend. If no progress is still where we sit after that appointment, I am stuck until I am at least 41 weeks (which will be the 19th, or 20th), when Ma Kay Dee will "assist" me in coaxing Mason out with whatever magic they have in store. Dr. Boheen promised she wouldn't make me stay pregnant forever, and that he would definitely be here by Christmas. We'll just bring him home in the stocking Nate was brought home in 23 years before! (This isn't Nate, his stocking picture is taped up here on my computer... But it is this cute!)

In response to my son's already stubborn nature, I have decided to issue him this eviction notice. I had Nate read this and it cracked him up, so here we are. I have always been one to share!

"I am issuing 7 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 7 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property. He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances. After 7 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion."

Hopefully everyone has a wonderful week... Don't worry readers, (because I know there are droves of you!) I won't keep you hanging. Especially since I will soon have some optimal blogging time on my hands waiting for the little man. Check back for updates :)

The Nursery

I am pretty much considering Mason's nursery a done deal. It is pretty much exactly the way I wanted it to be... I am just putting a few finshing touches here and there, but for the most part, I love it the way it is. We are still finding homes from all the awesome stuff we got at the shower, so forgive the full crib! But minus that, this is the boy's room!

His crib, which has super cute bedding you really can't see because it is packed full of gifts that need to be put away! I have to get on that this weekend!

The shelf is probably my very favorite part of his room. The picture frame on it has a poem by Shel Silverstein called "The Mustn'ts". I love this poem, and have always told Nate I want it in each of my children's bedrooms. It is everything I want my children to know wrapped up in a single paragraph. We are still decorating the shelf. The jars will eventually be filled. The giraffe was the perfect addition, added by my great friend Kamie. It looks perfect.

This is his stroller, parked in the corner. With some gifts hanging around the crib.

In my imaginary world that all new moms probably have, this is the place I see Mason and I spending most of our time. Cuddled up in the comfy glider, wrapped up in that cute blanket Aunt Ranell made, reading books. (It was Bedtime Stories themed shower, so people brought books instead of cards! He got some really cute, and fun books we can't wait to read to him.)

The changing table, which is packed full of diapers, burp clothes, wipes, and lotioney items. Not the most gamerous part of his room, but definitely very important!

His room is great... Now I just need a baby to put in it! We are on the "less than one month" countdown... 29 days as of today! My doctor said she wouldn't make me go past my due date of December 12th... But that's my birthday! So everyone do some wishing and praying that he will be an anxious baby that comes a little early, haha! Or I may stun my doctor and request an induction a few days after!

Bedtime Stories and a Baby Shower

Nate and I have amazing family and friends. Seriously. That could honestly be the name of this post, and that would say it all. Mason had his baby shower last Saturday, and I am here to tell you, this kid is going to be spoiled from the get go! Thank you to all the people who came out last Saturday. It was a beautiful day, probably the last really nice one we will have in awhile! Here are some pictures from the event!

The "theme" of the shower was "Bedtime Stories". This was a little bed my Mom set up that the gifts went on. It was really cute.

This is a diaper cake my Aunt Wendy made for Mason.

Some of the party goers. It was a full house down here in the basement!

The gift table. The kid is spoiled rotten I tell ya!

The cake. Always delish.

...WARNING...

So, the following pictures you must forgive. They are mostly of me, my huge self, and the cute gifts Mason got. I, as you can tell by lack of self portraits on my blog, am not a huge fan of pictures. BUT- As a good sport, I am going to post a few of myself in the not so flattering positions of kneeling on the floor, and uncomfortably situated on a foot stool opening gifts. Please, hold all laughter until the end.

It really was a fun day, and Mason got alot of great things! Thanks again to everyone who came! Nate and I appreciate your kindness so much!

About a month left and counting...

It has been quite some time since I drug myself on to make a new post! Lots has been going on and happening around here... Mostly getting ready for Mason to make his grand appearance and get out of me! All I know is I feel like I double in size about every morning, and that if he doesn't cooperate and make a prompt exit when he's supposed to, I will be serving him an eviction noice! It will go a little something like this:

"I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 30 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property. He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! After 30 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Love, Mom "

Haha! I found that online and could not stop laughing. Okay, so he won't be removed at my discretion, but my fabulous doctor said she sees no reason why I would have to wait after my due date to have him, so he will be removed at hers! So we are expecting the little man to get here no later than the 12th, but any earlier would be "A okay" with me, and Nate too I'm sure! (Everyone say a little prayer that he will come even a day early! I want the poor kid to have his own birthday and not share one with his mama! Yes, that's right. My birthday is also December 12th. Talk about amazing timing?!)

His nursery is pretty much complete. We're just putting the finishing touches on everything, and getting as organized as possible. I will post some pictures of his nursery, and from my baby shower Saturday later this week! (Promise)

Shopping- It's not just for us girls!

Mason is seriously a pretty lucky kid. I mean honestly, the previous post shows some of the small piles of loot the little man already has waiting for him. And here I thought it would be the women of the family who would be shopping like crazy... Well. I sure wasn't thinking clearly. You see, Mason's grandpa, my Dad, runs an Old Navy. And apparently, grandpa just can't pass up a good deal. Or alot of good deals :)

My Dad has always been an embarrassing lover of Hawaiian button up shirts. His favorite from the stack? The Hawaiian shirt that he "wished came in big sizes". He is living vicariously through the little man and is jealous of the one Hawaiian shirt on the planet he doesn't own.

My favorite was a shirt that says something like "Mr. Fix It". Any son of ours will have to be a Mr. Fix It, or at least learn from the master. Nate can fix anything, I'm convinced. If he doesn't know how to fix it or do it off hand, he will research it to death until he has figured it out, and can tackle it like a pro. I'm sure he'll teach Mason all that he knows. I am really excited for Nate to have a little friend to teach and hang out with while he fixes things, (usually things that involve dirt, or grime, neither of which I am not a fan of!) because that means I don't have to! I can be clean, bring them drinks, and read a book!

And last but not least, the monkey outfit, as promised. Seriously. So cute I can hardly stand it. Check out the monkey feet... I love it.

Spoiled Rotten... Already.

Yes, I am making it known that my dear son is spoiled already. Mason is going to come into this world with a wardrobe handsome enough to get him in the pages of People. Nate's mom has found him some really cute clothes! She got him this bounty last weekend at a garage sale... Lots of clothes, and a really cute bouncer.

Here is my favorite from her find, I mean what boy wouldn't look cute in this outfit!

Nate was telling me the other day that Mason was going to need some basketball shorts so he could be "comfy" like Daddy. Well, Nate asked, and received!

Not to say he has enough clothes... Because this boy has a mom who loves clothes! (I may have already hit up Old Navy clearance sales and stocked him up on some essentials for his first years of life!) But, he sure does have a stockpile, and he isn't even here yet! My mom spoiles him too. She got him the cutest little outfit that I would love for him to wear home from the hospital. It is a little shirt with blue and brown stripes, and a pair of brown pants that have monkey feet! It is so cute! She wouldn't want me to forget the beanie hat that has a monkey on it too... It's an adorable ensemble. Where is the picture? I know that's what you're asking yourself... Well, my mom got him the "Newborn" size. I am not anticipating this boy to be a small baby. Why? At my last appointment, this little guy is already weighing in at 1lb 10oz. He consistently measures more, and more ahead each time I go in. So I think Mason will be more of a beefcake linebacker, and less of a speedy running back. Go figure :) So my mom is exchanging it for a bigger size, after which, I will post a picture. Because honestly, it's too cute not to!

Last but not least, we found another good deal. Nate found a used glider on Ksl.com for cheap! And it is nice, and comfy. It will be my pleasure to lounge and rock Mason in this little find!