Mason's first Birthday

Before his haircut...

Both of my boys were blessed with lots of hair, some how Mike and I decided to let the boy's hair grow till their first birthday and give them their big boy haircuts. They go to a kid salon sit in a race car, watch cartoons, and get first haircut memorabilia. The morning of Masons birthday we took a friend/photographer with us and got Masons haircut so we could capture the big moment. Mason was less then amused. He started off calm we put him in a race car the lady started to get a little rough with him he was not impressed. I held him through the last of the haircut trying to keep him calm. When the haircut was done with he reached for dad. Ha Ha dad loved that.

During his haircut

After his haircut snugglin with dad...

When I was pregnant with Dylan I had a theme picked out. Everything was Winnie the Pooh. Baby shower, bedroom theme, first birthday, car seat, strollers, clothes...ect. But for Mason with all the medical, and moving from Alaska to Colorado a theme didn't seem to matter. So for a birthday party it seemed quite difficult to figure out for decorations. I came to the conclusion it was less about a theme or a color for a party and more about the celebration of this beautiful baby's first birthday. I decided to go with Thomas the Train cake because it seemed to be our theme for the year

 "I THINK I CAN I THINK I CAN" 

I bought Mason a smash cake so he could dig in and get as messy as he wanted. I have read about kids who have downs not being able to eat their first cake, having to put it in a blender, or not wanting it. Masons eating hasn't been a problem and he eats all kinds of food so I didn't have my doubts he wasn't going to destroy this cake. As we sat the cake in front of him he didn't care about it as much as he cared about a room full of people looking at him to eat his cake.

Dad stuck his finger in his cake to get him started. He was unsure at first.

but its safe to say... HE FIGURED IT OUT. He loved it.

After cake we took a brief break to clean him up then started opening presents.  His friends bought him toys and cheetos (his favorite) but he only cared about the tissue paper and wrapping paper.

  

I was talking to his therapist about presents and what she would suggest  would help Mason. I told everyone that was coming to the party anything that was cause and effect, vibrates, or has texture would be beneficial toys. He had great gifts.
 Everyday we try to go for a walk and Mason is lounged in his stroller not working a single muscle, sooooo I saw this first trike that had a harness for support, plastic around him, handles to grab onto and a place to put his feet I WAS SOLD. He works his core, holds his head, basically works all muscles in his body but has fun. He loves it.

Now my baby is one. This morning I went in his room like any other morning and looked at him smiling up at me with his short hair and big brown eyes. I couldn't love this boy anymore. 

       Along with the first haircut Mike and I decided we ditch the bottles the day after their first birthday. After the age of one they get used to having them and they become a habit they aren't necessary. So several months ago I started introducing him to sippy cups (not the ones that are soft  like a nipple on a bottle, kinda defeats the purpose of switching) and big boy cups to prepare him for losing his bottle.

       I had a lady message me and asked if I was pushing Mason to hard and I have to say no I'm not. I am doing everything the same way as I did his older brother and if his doctor tells me there is a medical reason of not being able to push him then I wont but until then I look at this little boy wanting to learn and not his disability giving him a reason not to. The bottles are packed up and he has his cups now. He does great and I am so proud of him.

Mason is one!!!! He has two teeth and several more trying to come through, he can sit on his own with no support, and can crawl (well his style of a crawl) but manages to get around my entire house. We are working on sign language and talking but hasn't done or said anything just yet. I am looking into a speech therapist at a clinic to push it a little more. Mason LOVES music, his brother, and the chipmunk movie. His favorite thing to eat is Cheetos, and pudding. He loves to swim, go for walks, swing, and be rocked. 

Mason has come a long way and I couldn't be more proud! Thanks for all the support!