Birthdays and Babysitting!

My Daddy is how old?!?!

We have been celebrating birthdays in the Mason family since January and this month it was Travis' turn. Lucy Mills and I had fun fixing him a special birthday breakfast and decorating the house before he woke up. I think we did a pretty good job surprising him.

Travis, I am so thankful for your birth and I look forward to sharing many more birthdays with you!

Happy Birthday Trav!

helping daddy open presents

better start planning my birthday mom!

Lucy Mills gave me a present on her daddy's birthday. She started saying ma ma ma mum, which of course equals Mama. :)

just being her sweet self

Also this week I had the pleasure to babysit my neighbor/friend Brenna's little boy. Brenna and I were in the same Bible study my freshman year at Clemson and lost touch when I transferred. Low and behold we became neighbors two years ago, and are now raising babies at the same time. She needed to run an errand with one child and asked me to keep her 14 month old Quinn. I willingly agreed because Quinn is a delightful and ultra laid back child. Lucy Mills and I had a blast playing with him and even ventured out on a walk. Trav was just getting home from work and he stopped to give the children some "direction." As I was running inside to get the camera I actually heard him say Quinn, my boy, I am her Daddy so don't get too close to her there." Flash forward that statement in about 15 years!

Maggie giving her stamp of approval too

"Guess we better listen to him Quinn"

"Yeah, for now anyways"

Life is good.

Lately

Does it get any sweeter than this face?

Oh where does the time seem to go? My little girl continues to grow up way too fast. I know all moms say that, but I truly am enjoying the stage in life that we are in right now. At 7 1/2 months old Lucy Mills is still young enough to be considered a baby, but I can tell that the sands of time are quickly slipping through my fingers with each week that passes. Her little personality is coming out for sure! She is a very sweet and loving child but can also display some diva-like moments knowing exactly what she wants and does not want. (hmmm...where does she get that from?) So far she is a mama's girl but lights up when her daddy walks in the room. She is "talking" all the time now, teething and chewing on anything she can get her hands on, sitting up on her own, riding in the grocery cart like a big girl, and on the brink of crawling (gulp!).

She laughs incessantly when I blow kisses on her tummy and also when she swings at the playground. Lucy Mills continues to take Maggie's chew toys and thinks it's hysterical when Maggie snatches them back. Even after a long day and she has gone to bed for the night, I find myself missing her as I clean up her toys. What joy you have added to our lives sweet one!

talking to her Easter bunny from Grandmother and Grandad

"I love you bunny!"

sitting up like a big girl! "This no hands thing is easy Mom!"

and the personality starts to come out!

worn out from a big day and sleeping with that cutie booty up in the air

PS notice the bow from her bumper loosely untied in this picture. I think it's her mission to untie all six bows by morning each day. What a stinker!

Jump Jump for Joy!

What the Easter bunny brought Lucy Mills...

It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt :)

Isle of Palms and Easter Sunday

Here comes Peter Cottontail...or rather Lucy Mills!

After everything we have had going on - reunions, baby dedication, stomach bug, colds, taxes, Trav's crazy work schedule - we were looking forward to a vacation with Mom and Susan, aka Suggie and Aunt Susu, at the Isle of Palms.

what a perfect weather week to be at the beach!

We enjoyed daily walks on the beach, visits from Auntie Lainie, chowing down on seafood, soaking up the sun, coffee on the front porch, watching American Idol, and having free babysitters so we could have a date night!

Lucy Mills had a blast pursuing her own interests...

I can play too!

doing some aerobics to burn off that Easter candy!

lets go to the beach!

Travis and I laughed when we figured out that Lucy Mills is only seven months old and has been to the beach three times already! We may have a little beach bum on our hands.

Daddy showing Lucy Mills the ocean

my hottie hubby and precious baby girl!

putting her toes in the Atlantic for the 1st time!

not too sure about those waves...

this water is too cold!

but we still got some sweet pictures

Mommy loving on Lucy

Daddy's turn

high five!

Suggie and Lucy Mills enjoying some beach time

back at the house

How did I not get any pictures of my sister?!? Susan, next time you are in town you WILL be photographed! Both Lucy Mills and Maggie Mae could not get enough of their Aunt Susu. I think Maggie is ready to pack her bags and head to Greenville so she can be the one and only baby in the house again. :) And Lucy Mills was mesmerized by Susu's coral colored finger nails. Her aunt is obviously much more fun and trendy than her momma!

We journeyed home on Easter Sunday to find a thoughtful package on the front steps. Grandmother & Grandaddy Mason sent Lucy Mills her own jumping Peter Cottontail and she LOVES it. The bunny sings, dances, and hops much to her delight.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Seven Months Old!

Yep, that's me - the 7 month old!

I am curious about everything these days!

Lucy Mills is growing up before our very eyes! She is an absolute delight and a very loved little girl. As a 7 month old she can roll over with ease, is a pro at eating baby food, and responds when we tell her to "dance, dance." Her dance moves include shaking her head back and forth, which eventually turns into a full body wiggle and foot tap. Dancing with the Stars has nothing on Lucy Mills Mason!

She still sleeps through the night - we usually put her down around 6:30pm and she rises with the sun at 7am. (Yes, I know how lucky we are!)

She enjoys her bouncy swing, exersaucer, rides in the stroller, Maggie kissing her toes, sucking her thumb, and listening to music. This month we have experienced some separation anxiety when Mommy leaves the room. I think part of that had to do with not feeling well from the dreaded stomach bug, but mostly from being a Momma's girl. :)

We still have not mastered sitting up by ourselves yet. Lucy Mills can sit up for a good while without assistance but still needs some more practice before I can walk away and not worry about her tipping over. We'll get there soon!

The 8th month milestone will be here before we know it!

See my toes??

Baby Dedication

On March 21st we had Lucy Mills' baby dedication service at Radius. I tried to upload the video from that morning but for some reason I am having a hard time loading it. So instead I am sharing (the few) pictures we took that day along with a snippet from the prayer journal Travis and I keep for her.

Sweet girl made it on the big screen!

Can you see us up there?

Mom was there to enjoy the day with us

Sweet Lucy Mills,

Today was your baby dedication service at Radius Church. I didn't realize it until now but it was one of the proudest moments in my life. To be able to hold my precious baby in my arms, stand next to Daddy and praise God for what He will do in your life.

You were such a good girl today too! You were perfectly content being held in my arms. During the prayer, Daddy put his arm around us and you reached up and stroked his face and grabbed his chin. What a sweet moment it was for me to see you look up to the spiritual leader of our family as you were being dedicated. God has blessed us so much. The three of us are tightly bound together. Lucy Mills, being your mom is an awesome and holy privilege.

Love, Mommy