Mason Shoma

I’m still eagerly trying new foods. And liking them! Look at how wide I open my mouth to eat new foods. It’s almost as if I already know I’ll like them.

Mommy and Daddy have been blocking my way to the kitchen with cushions. I broke through. I guess they have to think of a better barrier. I’m not your average 7-month-old baby.

I think I mentioned how fascinated I am with the ornaments on the Christmas tree and how Mommy and Daddy are always stopping me, worried that I’ll topple the tree. Well, it seems that they were right to worry, but not fast enough to stop me. Oops.

I was bit surprised, but not hurt at all. Daddy saw it happen in slow motion and was not fast enough to catch the tree, but was fast enough to take a picture before rescuing me.

And of course after fixing the tree and putting everything back in place I was back at trying to pull the ornaments off again. I’m sure this is going to happen again.

We went to the community play event again today. I don’t know if I mentioned the name before. It is called Sukusuku Hiroba (Growing Square). Today we had a Christmas event for our last gathering of the year. We started off with some singing, crafts, and then story time. I wasn’t used to the crowd at the beginning so I wasn’t that into the singing. The crafts were a bit challenging for me at my age. We were making wreaths and Mommy and Daddy had to help me out a lot. By then I was feeling more adventurous and started to mingle. By story time I was more interested in exploration than the story.

After that we had free play. By then I was used to my surroundings and I was very eager to go play. I didn’t need Mommy and Daddy nearby and just crawled off into the midst of the playtime.

There was one point where Mommy and Daddy had to jump in to get me. I found a new friend and tried to show my friendship by feeling his face. Since I am a baby who doesn’t know his own strength, Mommy and Daddy had to stop me. He was fine but they didn’t want me to accidentally scratch him or anything. His mother was okay with the affection, but Mommy and Daddy thought it would be better for me to greet him in a gentler way. So I started shouting at him. No words, just shouting “AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhH!” while still trying to touch his face. Mommy and Daddy were surprised. I guess they didn’t understand that shouting was my way of showing friendship. My new friend was unfazed by my unique offer of friendship, but Mommy and Daddy were a bit embarrassed by my behavior. Maybe I should think of a new way to say “Hi”.

Sometimes I like playing on the couch. But there is always the danger of me falling off. So I’m allowed on the couch when someone is there to keep me safe and stop me from falling off.

This is Daddy keeping me safe.

And enjoying his morning coffee and the news.

I still love playing with my cups. They are so much fun! But they have seen better days. I’ve been playing with them every day that it is understandable that they would get all chewed up like this.

I don’t know if it is just me, but the above picture looks like a doggy with his favorite toy begging someone to play with him.

Mommy and Daddy tried to cover it up, but I found it. The panel floor mat that we used to have is still here, it is just under our new mat. Besides the fact that the top layer of the panel floor mat was peeling off, they wanted a new mat because I kept chewing on the edges of the old one. Well, now that I found the old mat, I can still do just that.

Sleep training is going well. Most nights I go to sleep quietly, but every so often I cry a bit before I fall asleep. It doesn’t take me very long to fall asleep these days. I’m usually asleep within 30 minutes. One thing that doesn’t change is that now I always sleep on my tummy. When Mommy and Daddy check in on me I’m always asleep on my tummy. It is the most comfortable way for me to sleep.

Being able to crawl creates so many opportunities for exploration, discovery, and adventure. It also creates new problems for me. I was exploring near the couch and when reaching up to touch everything within my reach I lost my balanced and rolled over onto my back. And there I remained for a bit. My head fit right in between the couch and the magazine box. I was stuck. Luckily Daddy was monitoring me and watching this whole adventure unfold. He helped me out of my predicament. I was not hurt at all, not even a scratch. But I did not like not being able to move. I think I had better be more careful next time. Oh yes, there will be a next time. I’m not going to stop exploring just because of one little predicament.

We were in the supermarket picking up some groceries and I was being carried by Daddy. It was just about the time for my nap and I was feeling so comfortable and soothed by Daddy’ rocking that I drifted off to sleep. You can actually see the moment I fall asleep.

Remember when I was really really little and Daddy played rocket with me? Here is a reminder:

Well, I still love playing rocket, and we do it all the time. Of course, some things have changed. First of all, it requires a bit more effort from Daddy. And I move and laugh a lot more now. But the main thing is that I still love playing rocket!

Every day I practice getting up on all fours. Sure, the army crawl works well for me. (You should see how fast I can shuffle around.) But I know that I should be crawling on my hands and knees, so I practice whenever I can. Getting up on all fours is no problem. The hard thing is moving after that.

When babies nurse, you usually think of them being relaxed and comforted. It is a time to be fed and feel connected to mommies. I do that too, sometimes. At other times I’m all business. I’m here for the breast milk and need to concentrate to get as much as I can.

…and then easy into cat pose. Control your breathing. Feel that curl travel up from your tailbone through your spine and to your neck.

Then push forward so that your shoulders are over your hands in a plank pose. Feel free to bring one knee forward for a modified pigeon pose.

Hold for a breath. Then slowly back down to your knees. Lower your head and curve your back up into the cow pose. Feel the tension release as you stretch your spine.

Next let’s transition into downward dog. Keep your head lowered and straighten your legs and back. Focus on your balance as you raise your bottom.

Then step one foot forward next to your hands, then the other. Roll up to standing and finish with mountain pose. Namaste.

We were on our way back from some Christmas shopping and Daddy decided to give me a head massage on the subway. It was very relaxing. It really helped take the stress out of Christmas shopping.

When I get my hair dried after my bath it naturally stands up. We don’t know why. It sticks up in a way that it looks like I’m a cartoon character that is surprised. Oh, kind of like this↓

I am an eating machine. Mommy and Daddy have not had any trouble feeding me. I have a good appetite, I’m an eager eater, and a more than cooperative eater. Also I make it easy for the person operating the spoon. I give them a big target to put the food in, impossible to miss.

Once that food is in there it stays there and down it goes. I don’t spit food out and I don’t even spit food up. Once in my mouth the food is there to stay, that is unless there is an untimely sneeze, which has happened a few times. I’ve even gagged a bit on some large pieces/portions of food but I keep it in my mouth and swallow it right down. No food escapes me!