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| From left to right we have Josh, Austin (wise men), Kenzie (Camel), Tanner (Joseph), Mason (not very happy Baby Jesus), Jessica (Mary), TayLynn (Angel), Keyana, and Karissa (sheperds). Rachel and Janessa were just baby holders. |
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| "Baby Jesus" Mason |
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| Shepard Mason at Allred Family Party |
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| Mason got a big boy car seat for Christmas. |
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| Mason playing with toys at Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Val's house.Mason enjoying Christmas morning. |
These are just a few of the things on my list. Now that I am graduated I will return to the Intermediate Care Unit where I worked as a secretary for 2 years prior to having Mason. I will work 2 night shifts a week. I am so excited to finally be doing my second most favorite thing to do (being a mom to Mason is by far what I love to do the most). I do have to thank my wonderful and supportive husband Scott for helping me through the last 3 years of this adventure and my parents for all of their support especially all of my mom's help with Mason while I finished school. Now that I am kind of sounding like I have won an award I will end this post. The picture below is actually from August's convocation when Scott and I both walked. 
sin. 
At about 4 1/2 months Mason started doing a little inchworm crawl where he would bury his face in the ground, pull his knees up and then push forward along the ground. It didn't take long for him to perfect this method of movement and soon he was army crawling all over. Even at 6 months when he could get up on his hands and knees and pull himself up on furniture, if he wanted to go somewhere he would drop to his belly and army crawl away. It was funny to watch because it looked like he was swimming across the floor. He was so fast getting around with his army crawl that normal crawl just took too long. He is just now starting to crawl on his hands and knees and actually I'm really going to miss laughing at his speedy arm crawl. It has definitely been one of my favorite things about Mason.
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| Grandma and Grandpa holding Kennedy and Mason |
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| Mason with his Aunt Keyana and Aunt Karissa |
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| Hale Cousins. Kennedy, Cannon and Mason. |
Mason has the most incredible big eyes! Never in a million years did I think we would have a blue eyed baby, but it sure looks like that's what we got. Top them off with his beautiful, long, dark eyelashes and he's got eyes some amazing eyes. Let just hope our daughters get the same genes. Here are some of the many pictures we have that highlight his eyes with the deer in headlights look that seems to be his favorite look for the camera these days. 
Today was Mason's blessing day. I never would have guessed what a stressful day this can be for a mother. Worrying about all the family who has traveled from far away to be there. Worrying about keeping the white outfit you meticulously picked out white (aka no diaper blowouts). Worrying about having baby fed and happy for the blessing. Worrying about the lunch you are providing for 30+ people. And all of the other things you have absolutely no control over, but worry about it anyway. Apparently all of the worrying paid off, though, because the whole day went smoothly. Mason looked perfectly sweet in his blessing outfit. Most importantly, Scott gave Mason the correct name and didn't accidentally say Mason Jar Murray like he was afraid he would. Not to mention the wonderful blessing that accompanied it.
Mason has a lot of people who love him and who made a lot effort to be there for his big day.
Grandpa Mike and Grandma Linda came with their 8 kids. Steve came up from Arizona and Vance made the trek all the way from Provo. 
Chris, Kacie, and Cannon came back from a family reunion early to be there. 
Mason even had his Great-Grandma and Grandpa Thompson and Great-Grandma and Grandpa Allred there. His extended cousins, the Jenkins, all were there as well.
And of course Grandma Nancy was the gracious host of our little lunch and honestly did pretty much all of the work for it. Thanks Mom. Thanks Whit for taking pictures since I never thought to pull out a camera.
Speaking of blessings, have I mentioned what a blessing Mason has been. He has been the most wonderful baby. I don't know if I could have made it through those 5 weeks of school if he hadn't been such a good boy. I honestly believe that Heavenly Father lined up all the spirits headed for our home and picked the best one to send down first to help us get through school. We love you Mason!!
This post is not exactly showing off my best parenting, but it's a part of Mason's life I feel the need to document. Mason has always been a good sleeper at night, but just cat naps during the day taking 20-30 minute naps. Until we discovered a new place for Mason to take his naps. A place where he magically sleeps better and longer. We just lay him down and he doesn't stir or make a peep for hours. The only problem is, it's not exactly approved by the American Pediatric Association or whoever makes all the safe sleeping rules. This new place is our Love Sac. It all started when Scott and I realized that the Love Sac provided a comfortable resting place for us to snuggle up with Mason. 
At some point, one of us got up and left Mason sleeping comfortably on the Love Sac and watched him while he took the longest and best nap he had ever had. Now, even though we know it is frowned upon, we are all hooked. In our defense we are always within a few feet of him (one benefit of a small apartment) as we sit at the table or on the couch doing homework and such. He doesn't take all of his naps there, just when we need him to nap for a guaranteed chunk of time so we can get something done. We absolutely never let him sleep there at night or when we are not there to monitor him. We know we will have to end this practice as soon as he starts rolling or becoming more mobile, but for the time being, it works for us, and so we are enjoying his wonderful love sac naps. Please don't judge us. Just look enjoy looking at the peacefully sleeping baby like we do.
Mason has never been timid about eating. The kid will take whatever I have to give him and believe me when I say, it's a lot. Proof of his eating habits lies in the rolls from his cheeks to his toes. My favorite thing is his popeye arms that get smaller at the elbow and the wrist and bulge in between. He has some serious cankles and I have to watch his circulation carefully when he has socks on. What can I say, the kid is a tank! At his two month check up Mason weighed in at 13 lbs 15 oz (94%) and 24.6 inches (95%), making him the size of all the 6 month old babies around us. No one believes his age when I tell them because not only is he to size of a 6 month old, but he acts like one too. He is so alert and very strong. He prefers to be carried on my hip, facing out so he can look around, which I've been told most 2 month old babies don't do yet. All I have to say is a chubby baby is a happy baby which makes for one very happy mama. 
