Big heart in a small body

Lately, Mason has been showing beautiful signs of empathy.

We've recently started watching Disney's series, "Little Einsteins." One of the episodes that we watched featured the 4 main characters helping a "music pet" named Melody to find her ticket to the pet train. The pet train takes homeless pets to their new families. Well, of course, one of the characters gets very attached to Melody, but, because he loves her so much, he puts her on the pet train to find her new family. Shortly after the 4 characters return home, the pet train arrives at his home and-- lo and behold-- Melody is destined for him!

After watching this episode a few nights ago, it was time for Mason's bath. He was bathing in the master bathroom and I was in our bedroom changing clothes and listening to him play. Suddenly, he burst into tears and I went running into the bathroom to find the source of the tears. He explained that Leo was very sad and missed Melody but she had to leave on the train. Fortunately, I could then remind him of the rest of the story, and that soothed him....until he talked himself back around to the part when Leo had to leave Melody. We've been able to watch that episode since then with less tears... but he always has to mention that Leo really misses Melody.

A few days later, we were watching the 1984 live-action version of Don Freeman's classic, "Corduroy." (Ok... suddenly this post sounds like all we do is watch TV!) We've read the book several times, and he's familiar with the story. However, it's been a while-- we usually read "Corduroy goes to the Doctor"... but that's not the point. We got to the point in the story where Corduroy has popped the button off the mattress and goes flying off the bed, knocking over a lamp. The commotion causes the night watchman to come and he takes Corduroy back to the toy section of the store... without his button. At which point, I hear sniffling and I look over to see a trembling bottom lip and big tears--"But Mommy, Corduroy wanted THAT button!" The next time we watched Corduroy... tears again for the same reason.

It's just one more wonderful aspect of the boy that Mason is becoming. He rough and tumble on the outside, slow to cry because of physical pain... but don't hurt his heart, please, it's pretty tender!

And I didn't even know I was pregnant!

Or... I wouldn't have if I ever read this blog as a source of Campbell family information! So, we didn't blog ANYthing about a pregnancy, birth, or the first few weeks of life as a family of 4.

Here's the info...
I was huge, but all pregnant women think they are huge. And then Nicholas Miller was born... 22.5 inches, and 11 pounds 10 ounces-- and I had proof that he and I were both huge!

And life as a family of 4 is awesome.

I HOPE I'll be better about posting. It's a goal... I'll try!

Travelling Mason

Jen's been on the road now into her third straight week. Mason accompanied her last week to Orlando and this week to Arkansas. Thanks to GG and MarMar for going along on the trips. I'm really glad you are getting great time with the boy this summer.

He's gotten to fly on an airplane - always a big hit! Seen lots of fireworks - including through his bedroom window July 4 & 5. And even leaving Epcot the one last time, riding the Monorail (a week after the WDW accident at the Ticket and Transportation Center), he was satisfied to "ride the big train one more time."

It has been a good summer for Mason. We are settling into the new house. He's gotten to play with Sarah Catherine and John Franklin and spend the time mentioned above with the grandmothers.

Now we just have to get everyone home and settled before little brother or sister comes in September.

We'll try to remember to post the interesting Mason stories here and pictures both here and on Shutterfly.

all the colors of the rainbow

Mason learned colors in the fall, but in true Mason fashion, they're not necessarily the words we use for them. Instead, they correspond with the Sesame Street Characters:

Red= Elmo
Yellow=Big Bird
Green=Oscar
Blue= aaaaaaaagh CRASH! (That's the sound of Super Grover crashing.) Lately, though, this has just been Blue. I guess that's way easier than aaaaaaaaaaaagh CRASH!
Pink= Abby

Orange= Orange-y
Purple=Purple
Brown=Brown

When your shoelaces are untied...

you have to "tight" them. (If you ask Mason, anyway.)

Our baby is growing up

Mason has lots of Mason-isms... and they're transitioning to big boy words.

this week, 2 transitions happened.

Mason was sitting on my lap reading a couple of books with me. In one book, a cat was a "meow"... by the next book, it was a "cat." (That's an easier word anyway, but he held onto "meow".)

Last night at dinner, the television changed, too. Up to that point, it had been the "O.V." Don't know why... I guess, it was just letters to him. Last night, it changed to "T.V."

Sigh!

Who is Cute and Who is Not

Post from the Dad this time since Mom wasn't there.

So let me take you back to the afternoon of Friday, February 13. Dinner is on the stove but several key ingredients are missing to complete the meal. Mason and I volunteer to jump in the car for the fast trip to Kroger and are silly through the store with the race car cart. (Almost ran over another customer as we made the turn around the shredded cheese refrigerated island but that's not part of this story.)

After checking out with Mason hollering "Happy Day" to the woman in front of us with balloons, he and I head to the car.

As I put him into the car seat I ask if we are going back home and who we are going to see.

His response, making perfect and complete sense in Mason world, is "Mason ... cute."

So I ask if Paxon is cute: "Yes."

Is Daddy cute: "Yes."

Is Mommy cute: "No."

Mommy's not cute: "Noooo."

Is Mammy cute: "No."

Is TT cute: "No."

Is Mason cute: "Yes."

Paxon: "Yes."

Daddy: "Yes."

Mommy, Mammy, and TT: "Noooo."

Needless to say that was one of my more triumphant entries back into the house with a story to tell!

Consequently in the retelling on the phone, both Aunt Bubba and MarMar asked to see if they were cute. Sorry ladies, just Mason, Pax, and Daddy.

"He thinks I'm cute, he thinks I'm cuuuuuute!" to borrow a phrase from the well-loved Monker DVD.

From a text message on January 26, 2009

Jamey is peeling an orange.
M: Bubba eat. (Bubba is ALSO the name for Ladybug, our dog.)
JC: No Mason, Ladybug doesn't eat oranges.
M: Masey eat.
JC: Ok, here.
(Mason tastes the orange.)
M: EEwwwww. Spicy Orange.
(Jamey laughs... and sends Jen the conversation via text.)

My sweet little valentine

Today, Mason and I were snuggled up in the chair reading "The Napping House." For those not lucky enough to have memorized that book, the last page (in the board book version, anyway) features the granny, the child, the dog, etc. all playing outside in beautiful sunny weather. Over the house is a rainbow.

I don't know whether Mason really had a concept of a rainbow. But, as we got to that page, I said, "do you see a rainbow?" We pointed at it and talked about the picture. Then I handed him the book to "read" and started talking with Jamey, with Mason still sitting on my lap. I hear him saying something over and over again... "Rainbow Nuckshun, Rainbow Nuckshun. MOMMY! RAINBOW NUCKSHUN!" It dawns on me... The Rainbow Connection. You know, the song brought to us by Kermit the Frog.

I learned the song in elementary school-- we had a spring performance that was rainbow-themed and our music teacher taught us a ton of rainbow songs. I still remember them.

Anyway, I've been singing that song to Mason... well, I don't know how long-- a very long time, most of his life. It's part of my repertoire when he's having trouble settling down at night and needs an extra song. Or sometimes, after we've said prayers, JAMEY wants an extra song. It's almost always "The Rainbow Connection" that I sing.

M: "Rainbow Nuckshun, Mommy!"
JG: "The Rainbow Connection?"
M: Nods. "Rainbow Nuckshun, Mommy! Ni-Night, sing Rainbow Nuckshun!"

So, he's been listening. During all the sweet snuggles, the sleepless struggles, and moments in the dark, he was listening. And now he knows what a rainbow is.

The song includes the lyrics, "Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection..." And today, my sweet boy found it, along with the lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Jen

OK OK! I've been lax about posting!

But I've got about a month of stuff to post here... so I'll try to catch up over the next few days!

Jen

when a child weeps to go on an airplane

Mason has been my traveling partner since... well, since before he was born, really. He's accompanied me all over the country for conferences and meetings. We're leaving for another one in the morning. It's in Tampa. We've been talking about it off and on over the last week.

Last night, (after not sleeping well the night before) he walked through the house sobbing, "Airplane, Airplane" and dragging any bag he could find to the door. He knows the travel routine way too well.

Toddler Wisdom

We live with our sister (Amanda) and brother-in-law (Travis), and their son Pax. Travis has been out of town this week and has been staying with some family (Aunt Fran and Uncle John).
Yeseterday morning, Mason and Jen got out of bed around 6:15 a.m. It was still dark and Mason didn't want to even turn on the TV, so Mom-and-Toddler snuggle time was in effect. The following conversation occured:

M: TT home?! (TT is what Mason calls Travis)
J: No, TT is at Nanny and John's house.
M: TT home!
J: No, TT is at Nanny and John's house. Do you remember Nanny and John.
M: Pause. No, TT! No touch John pants.
J: WHAT?!
M: No, TT! No touch John pants!
J: No touch John's what?
M: PANTS!

And, there you have it, from the mouth of babes. When staying at your aunt and uncle's house... don't touch your uncle's pants.

Jen

Play it again, Monker!

One of the funny happenings, or maybe I should say a series of funny happenings, from the past holiday season is related to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Mason watched it for the first time on DVD at Thanksgiving. The next morning when we awoke the first words were "Monker. Teeth." (Translation- Monster. Teeth.) You know-- the scene when Hermey pulls the Abominable Snowman's (known affectionately in our family as "Monker") teeth. Well, we continued the conversation, about how Monker was nice, not mean and he helped (complete with this quote "Star. Ding!") You know- he puts the star on Santa's tree at the end and doesn't need a step stool. The sound effect when the star goes on the tree= ding! Apparently for Mason, Monker is the star of the show, even the title of the movie!

Anyway, from there, we've never looked back. He received a singing and dancing "Monker" from Aunt Bubba (Jamey's sister, Becca) during that same trip. Mason wasn't sure quite what to make of him for a few days, until Pax decided he really liked him. (The Pax seal of approval means Mason likes it too. After all, they're toddlers and what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine!)

We caught it on TV during ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas (or whatever they call it). After that, the conversation expanded to:
"Monker. Teeth. Nice. HELP- Star- DING. Daddy Deer. Drip Drop. Deer. Nose."

Drip Drop? Drip Drop (complete with tapping on his head) has always meant rain. Well, it was raining that night when I came home and the guys were watching it. So we figured that's what he was associating with the movie.

Until we went shopping a few days later and passed a display of Rudolph stuffed animals. "Mommy, Drip Drop Deer. NOSE!" Then the lightbulb went off-- Rain Deer= Reindeer. Sadly for us, he has switched to saying reindeer sometimes. But the default is still Drip Drop Deer.

Aunt Bubba also gave Mason a copy of "Monker" on DVD for Christmas. He watched it 4 times that day. We still watch it at least once a day.

And singing and dancing Monker still sleeps in Mason's bed.

Jen

The Kick-Off

Thus begins our attempt at a family blog. Jen and I agreed tonight that it might be a fun way for us to chronicle the interesting things that Mason comes up with. Since we've not kept a baby book carefully for his first 23 months, this is the next best option.

As Jen has spent more time reading blogs and web forums, she will probably be a more engaging writer. Jamey will just be long-winded.

Enjoy the journey with us!

Jamey