Mason Shoma

I started my FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa right after my morning nap so I was eating my lunch with them watching. As usual, they were very impressed by my appetite and gusto for eating.

But after I finished eating, I started blinking in a funny way at them. It was like I was trying to wink. But then I started to push trying to move my bowels. I wanted to play, but there were bodily functions that I had to take care of. It was a very busy time.

Speaking of bowel movements, let me tell what it is like for me nowadays. Often, right after I finish eating, I start to grunt, growl, and my face turns red. That is usually me trying to move my bowels. Sometimes I manage to poo, but other times it seems like all I’m doing is compacting the poo inside me. Then later when I actually move my bowels, it is hard and I start crying. It is hard for Mommy and Daddy to watch me in pain. They keep me hydrated and feed me foods high in fiber, but I think it is the compacting part that makes my bowel movements so painful. I think I’ll try to up my intake of fluids and fiber even more!

I think I mentioned before how I’m using my diaper box as a step stool. Look how high I can get now! Nothing here is out of my reach now. Mommy and Daddy have to worry about more and more things that I might get my hands on now that I’m climbing.

I calmed down after while at Jiiji and Baaba’s house. Within minutes I was back to normal. I showed off to Baaba and Obachan how easily I could pull myself up to standing. Unfortunately, Jiiji wasn’t there because he had work, but I’m sure he’ll hear all about my visit.

Since we were celebrating Baaba’s birthday there was a lot of delicious looking food. I tried to get some of it to eat, but unfortunately the spread that was laid out was not for me. Daddy kept me from reaching the food and then Mommy rearranged the table to put everything out of my arms’ reach.

We all had a nice meal, I ate the food that Mommy and Daddy brought for me. We talked, we laughed, we had a great time. Baaba and Obachan were very impressed with how much I’ve grown since the last time they saw me. They’ve been keeping up through photos and videos that Mommy sends them, but it is much more interesting to watch me in real life.

Except for the first few minutes of crying, I was a very good and happy boy today! I even managed to fit a short nap in. After a nice long visit it was time to head home. I was sad to say goodbye, but I know I’ll be back again soon. Hopefully the next visit won’t start off with tears.

As usual, I cried for the first few minutes of my visit to Jiiji and Baaba’s house. It is nothing personal. It is just that I am wary of people who are not Mommy and Daddy, even if they are family. I’m sure it is just a stage.

It had been a very long time since I had fallen asleep in the car. Well, today on our way to Baaba and Jiiji’s house I peacefully fell asleep. I’m just saving my energy for a our visit.

Anything can be a toy. Even an empty tissue box. It can be so much fun! But I little dangerous. Watch out!

I’m just learning how to operate this sliding door. I think I figured it out. I can open and close it without pinching my fingers. Well, at least so far.

We got a new supply of baby wipes and Daddy made me a little fort with it. I felt very safe and secure behind my great wall of baby wipes. But it is a little smaller than I expected. Maybe we should order more.

I was sitting on the couch admiring Mommy’s hair, so I decided to give it a nice brushing. I was using my hands, which tend to be a bit sticky, so I think I ended up brushing too hard. Mommy was wincing and looked a little bit in pain, so I stopped. Next time I’ll use a real brush to brush her hair.

Daddy tried to block me from taking books off the shelf by putting my diaper container in front of it, but it doesn’t seem to have worked. I still can get to the books and I also can use it as a step to things on higher shelves.

Today is setsubun, the day before the beginning of spring. So as part of tradition we drive away the evil spirits with mamemaki, or bean scattering. The evil spirits are represented by oni, or ogres. It just so happened that one visited our house today. At first I thought he was a bit familiar and funny looking, so I started laughing. But then I started to get scared.

Apparently, the ritual is that you have to chase the oni away with the mamemaki beans. You are supposed to throw the beans at them and say “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi“, which means “Evil out, happiness in.” You are also supposed to eat one bean for every year of your life and one extra. I’m not very good at throwing yet, but I’m good at eating. So I ate mini egg biscuit balls instead. It seemed to work. The oni grew tame and then left peacefully. I’m not so fond of his visit, but I like the eating for luck part of the tradition!

Mommy was gently blowing in my face and the breeze made me smile a lot! It was really refreshing!

Eryngii mushrooms are pretty good! Yum!

I’m a big fan of kids’ shows. I especially like the songs! They are so fun and catchy! I sometimes find Mommy and Daddy singing or humming the songs to themselves. I also find the characters amusing. You can hear me laughing during certain sketches that the characters do. I don’t watch much TV, but when I do, I really enjoy it!

I’m practicing feeding myself, starting with finger foods. Mommy made me baby pancakes and they were really good. I also did really well picking them up and feeding myself. It kind of goes without saying that I do really well with anything having to do with food.

No, I’m not addicted to my Starbucks cups. I can stop chewing on them anytime I want. I just don’t want to stop right now.

I started sleep training for my afternoon nap, and I’ll be honest, I don’t really enjoy it. It is like when I started sleep training last year. I do a lot of crying, but eventually fall asleep. I do think it will get easier, as did my bedtime sleep training did, but it might take a while. It is also tough for Mommy and Daddy. I know they want to pick me up and make it easier for me to fall asleep, but they know it is important for me to learn to put myself to sleep. I don’t make it any easier on them. I sometimes call out for Mommy in every form of the word I know. Ma, Maaa, Maaama, Mamaaa, etc. But rest assured, I do get to sleep and I am a happy and refreshed baby when I wake up.

I usually don’t want to waste any time so I get started playing first thing in the morning. Recently my favorite place to play is on the couch. When I climb up on the couch there is so much more to see. Mommy and Daddy tried to block things off with cushions so that I don’t touch them, but I still find a way to get to them. I also have this new rattle that Mommy made for me. It is the perfect size for my hand it makes a really fun sound! I like to play by myself, but I need to connect with Mommy and Daddy every so often.