Mason is ONE!

I remember about two weeks after we brought Mason home from the hospital I began to think about the day he would turn one. I remember this because as a new parent you worry constantly and you feel that somehow, if you can survive the first year, everything will be "okay". In a way, this is true. With Mason we were quick at learning what worked and what did not; by the time the first month had passed we were on a routine and we knew that, although exhausted, we were making it work.
By month three, we felt like champions! Sleeping 4 consecutive hours at a time (the life); things were going back to a semi normal state, Mason was being dropped off at my parent's house and we were going back to work. By month six, we were invincible, Mason was sleeping through the night (waking up here and there for a feeding), we were going out of the house for extended periods of time (required us to pack half our house) and going out to eat. By month 9 it felt as though Mason had been here the whole time, we did some much required "sleep training" that turned into Mason sleeping 10 plus hours a night and on a solid schedule. Pros!

                                                

Today, Mason turns the big ONE and we could not be prouder of the son that God has given us or happier that we were chosen to be his parents. I understand why parents choose to have more kids; you just can't buy happiness like this. Our most joyous moments come from experiencing that first smile or their first steps.

Mason rounded off his first year by showing off a little of his new found toddlerhood, he walks very well now- still encounters the occasional balance fight but these are less so each week. He also walks well with shoes and he's desperate to run and jump (in fact, the only times he falls is when he's trying to run).
During the twelve month doctor check up we were advised that we had a tall boy in our hands, Mason is in the 100th percentile for height and I fully expect him to be tall and probably surpass me by the time he's 10- I'll still be his dad.

What amazes me about going through this experience is realizing how much our life has changed over the past year and yet it takes a force that exist in becoming parents to make it happen. We find ourselves not caring about a single thing we used to do prior to Mason being born (i.e., sleeping in, having time to relax, watching tv as loud as we wanted, free time, social time). We also found ourselves wanting to be healthy because Mason needs us to be healthy and to be here in his life to protect him and love him for as long as possible.

We celebrated Mason's first birthday with friends and family. Mason enjoyed having cake, getting loved on and more! His birthday party was a Mickey mouse club house type theme with a great cake that everyone loved. We catered chick-fil a because Mason loves chicken nuggets. We hung pictures of his first year throughout. Although Mason will never remember this day, he will know that we celebrated his life and all of his accomplishments.

We are so thankful for this first year of Mason's life.

The day after his party we went to get pictures taken with the amazing Becky Danzenbaker. What was even more amazing is that she also did Mason's newborn shots.