Mason's four months and one week old and he's on his way to Australia with Mommy to go to Auntie Shea and Auntie Tatiana's weddings!  Mason's gotten much better at his standing trick and he gets to enjoy an American Airlines International First Class Flagship Suite.  Also, Daddy & Mason have lunch in Santa Monica.

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29 and you know that it destroyed most everything, but Mason and Leesa were safely in Australia.  Rick was in France and was also spared living through it.  Here are some pictures from Mason's first week in Oz.  In addition to a tea party, Mason has finally met all of his grandparents!  He's also impressed with his Uncle Mark.

Mason is five months old and loving his time in Australia.  He's completely unfazed by Katrina, of course, and he's getting better control of his motor skills.

Daddy finally made it to Australia after mopping up after Katrina.  Mason's five and a half months old.  He's gotten taller and heavier and he's able to rollover whenever he wants.  He also gets really excited when he sees lights or anything that's red, his current favorite color.  In these pictures, Rick sees Mason minutes after arriving in Brisbane and Mason takes Daddy's BlackBerry.  Mason was in the middle of a meltdown, but when we pulled out the camera, he stopped wailing and got really happy.  Mason holds Daddy's wine glass, Daddy gives Mason a ride while Mason pulls out what's left of Daddy's hair and as usual, Mommy and Mason make a beautiful picture.

We haven't really been all that slack, but we have been so busy!  Aside from the Katrina thing, we were also getting ready for Tanya's wedding (and this is the first time that Mason hasn't gotten ALL of the attention)!  Here Mason practices standing with Nana; struggles to get the camera; gets ready for a walk with Mommy and is thrilled that he didn't have to dress for Tanya's wedding.

As Mason gets closer to six months old, Mommy and Daddy try to get him on a sleeping schedule.  He immediately figured out that entering into a meltdown would get Mommy's attention!  Otherwise, Mason loves his first trip to the beach, even though Daddy is so scared of sunburn, it was almost sunset before we went.

Six months old!  Mason gets his first taste of solids and he's not impressed, while Daddy wishes the photographer got less of his thinning hair.  Mason smiles (and drools) for the camera.  The happy family at a winery and Mason thinks he's about to crawl (but he's not)!

In early November, Mason and Leesa came back to the States!  Mason checks in for his flight; Nana and Mason rough it in a Qantas Skybed; Mason plays with his blanket; and plays with his new bear that's about as big as he is.

He has also decided that he likes food more than a couple of weeks ago, especially pumpkin; or maybe not.  the poor guy has also been suffering from jetlag, so he has been napping during the day (only to stay up all night).  At seven months, he's 17 pounds 8 ounces (50th percentile) and 27 1/2 inches (80th percentile).  He's still a tall, thin guy!

At seven months, Mason makes his first visit to New Orleans post-Katrina.  He meets up with his friend Riley, who is his age; makes a mess when he gets to see his pediatrician; pretends to ride in a limo; helps Mommy & Nana pack up the second floor of the house; and learns to scrunch up his nose on the flight back to Dallas.