We moved!

With another child on the way it didn't seem fair to keep a blog exclusively dedicated to Mason...although I doubt he would ever argue the idea of everything remaining entirely about him.

Please follow us at: collinsfamilyga.blogspot.com

Jam Session

Here's Mason in his usual "jam session" seat, strumming along to Eric Clapton.  He's also a fan of BB King, Diana Krall, Modest Mouse, Barenaked Ladies, and most recently Kings of Leon.

 

It's a Girl

We're adding one more to our crazy home. Baby girl Collins is due on August 20th!

The first ultrasound was taken at 8 weeks...not much to see but a little lima bean.

The second ultrasound was taken around 20 weeks.  You can at least make out facial features and limbs in these pictures.

Mason Turns 2

We celebrated Mason's 2nd birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Melissa flew home for the weekend, our friend Chris was in town visiting, and Nanny and Evelyn drove up from Macon. And of course, Bob, Anna, Granny, Papa, and Nana joined the party too.

I think Mason was most interested in the cake and was delighted when it was finally time to eat it.  

The favorite presents of the evening were his black and red checkered vans from Uncle Bob!

Just after the first of the year, Mason decided he wanted a helmet "like daddy".  It was a Monday night, close to dinner time, when Mason's mind was made up.  We all loaded into the car and headed to the local bike shop.  After scouring the limited supply of children's helmets (and he was picky), Mason found one he liked.  In fact, he liked the helmet so much he refused to take it off.  He even ate dinner in his helmet! 

A few days later, Mason was showing off his new helmet for the camera.

Late January, after quite a bit of rain, the dogs were restless, Mason was restless, and we all needed to get out of the house for a bit.  We loaded up the car and took a walk on the nearby greenway.  Mason, wearing his helmet and his sunglasses, thought he was the coolest kid.

He isn't pedaling yet and if you ask him why he won't pedal, he simply replies "I'm driving."

Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was a blast!  Mason was old enough to understand giving and receiving presents.  We celebrated Christmas Eve at Grandma Doris' house, as usual.  The front room overflowed with the presents, the kitchen was filled with food, and the kids ran around all night long.  Mason loved playing with his cousins.  Vivian bounced on the giant trampoline with him and his cousins Miller and Harold built (and destroyed) block towers for hours.

Mason helped hand out presents to everyone and then sat down and dug into his own loot.

  

  

We spent Christmas morning at Grandma's house, where Mason once again helped hand out presents before ripping into his own pile.

Granny, Papa, Nana, Uncle Bob, and Anna joined us at our house for Christmas dinner.  However, by Christmas night, Mason was far more interested in opening presents and wasn't much help in handing them out.  

The only piece to the Christmas puzzle that didn't make too much sense to Mason was Santa.  Perhaps we'll work Santa in to the equation next year. 

The Zoo

It was a very cold day at the zoo, but the animals didn't seem to mind much.  Once you've been to the San Diego Zoo it's difficult to be impressed by any other, but the Atlanta Zoo was perfect for Mason.  He was able to walk the entire thing without one of us having to carry him (although once we were out of the park, we did carry him back to the car).

Mason was in awe of the big gorillas!

We saw flamingos, lions, rhinos, meerkats, kangaroos, and then it was off to the petting zoo.

We ended the day at the zoo playground.  No outing is complete without a stop in the playground. And he's picking up the "ladies" already.