Mason

Mason, riding a cement whale at a park during our recent trip to California. Can you tell that Mason LOVES blue whales right now?

Today Mason turned four. Our first baby is four. How did that happen so quickly?!!!! All day long I was torn between feeling so proud of who he is and feeling sad that he is growing so fast!. It sounds silly, but ever since I had him, I have felt sorry for people who's kids were turning four. Four meant to me that they were no longer toddlers. No longer so new to the world that everything was exciting. Four meant something that I was in no rush to realize. And now Mason is four. But what a four-year-old! I feel like the luckiest of all to have him in our family. He is such a sweet little fella and such a champion for goodness. I love him.

Since I'm already feeling so emotional I might as well share a story that best explains the type of guy Mason is. Several months ago, James was asked to speak during a church service at a local convalescent home. Even though the rest of us Siegs had already gone to our three hours of church, we didn't want to miss it and came along for the ride. As we were driving over, I thought about all of the different types of people we would be meeting and all of the mortifying questions/ statements that Mason could ask/loudly tell me in this new environment. In trying to save myself and the residents from any embarresment, I told him how the people that we were going to be visiting were Great grandma's and grandpa's (Mason is smitten by his own) who lived there and didn't get to see their grand kids very much and were lonely. I told him that it was important to be very nice to them because they needed to be loved. Mason lit up and from the moment we walked in the doors, he started waving and beaming at everyone he saw.

Once we were in the sacrament meeting, we sat by a woman in a wheel chair with extreme rheumatoid arthritis that had caused her whole body to be misshapen. Instead of pulling away from her, Mason smiled and then slipped his little hand in her crooked fingers. As the meeting continued, I had to chase Charlie and take care of McCabe in the back of the room. But even with me gone, Mason stayed by his new friend and held her hand. When it was finally time for her to leave, he gave her a hug and a kiss. It was obvious that it meant the world to this woman. I was so proud. Mason came into this world a sweetheart and I hope he never changes.

As much as I have dreaded this day, I sure am glad that it came. He is getting even more and more fun and I have no doubt that we will love our four-year-old as much as ever before.