Austin's ONE!

This feels like the fastest year of our lives.  Our baby Austin is 1!  He is sweet, cuddly, stubborn, lovable, smart, adorable, playful, loves his big brother and sister, and is a mama's boy (for now).  He claps, waves, he's ticklish, laughs,"talks," says "DADA," rolls all over, learning to finger eat, sits up by himself, and now we know he loves cake!  Austin is such a blessing to our family and we hope and pray for his continued progress and good health.  He lights up my day.  Over the last year I have often thought, "What was I ever concerned about taking care of a baby?  Austin is so easy.  It's my other two that argue, disobey and are most difficult at times.  I can just love, clothe, change, and feed Austin and he's so happy."  There's is something wonderful about every age of life, but nothing like having a baby around to bring so much happiness to our home.  Thank you, Austin!  You continue to inspire me and bring joy everyday.  We love you!

We practically had a week-long celebration.  We will start with his TEXAS party....

The morning of the party, Daddy ran his first 1/2 Marathon with Austin's name on the back of his NDSS running shirt.  He did awesome and we all got to see him run in at the finish line.

Then the party started that afternoon.  We had a Texas photo backdrop for everyone to take pics for Austin to see later who came to celebrate his BIG AS TEXAS #1 Birthday with us.  Everyone shared some of their favorite things about Texas with the props they chose. 

Mommy & Austin

Ashley Cheney gets credit for this great shot.  She says she never catches this so she was so excited that she got a good one.  Thanks, Ashley!

Granny Great, Papa Paul & Nana Noi

Grandma Waite & Grandma Great

Tio Marco, Baby Elli & Tia Kimberlina with one of their favorite things about Texas :)

Baby Elliana & Austin

The Mathis Fam - Brandon, Emerson, Felicia & Donaven

We played "Pin the Star on Austin" - Texas, of course, not the baby :)

James' turn

Jade's turn

Jackson's turn

Our winner was....Kaitlin!

Gift Time

Granny Chris made Austin this precious pillow case with all our family pics on it.  I love it and I know he will too!

A new toy to play with from the Mathis Fam!

More toys!

Paper is the best, though.

Our little Texan was ready for his cake.  He is the cutest in his adorable cowboy hat from Papa Paul & Nana Noi.

Wish I had videoed him eating the cake because he really tore into it...

...as you can see :)

Our Texas decor included the party favors made with help from friends and family - THANK YOU!

Cousins - TJ & Kim

Young Cousins - Grayson, Kim & Jason

Jade & Emerson are best buds

Carol & Papa - Native Texans are AWESOME!

Jason, Kim, Uncle Frankie, Grayson & Aunt Debra

Austin was tired after a long party day.

We included some of our favorite Texas traditions:  Bluebell Ice Cream & Texas Sheet Cake

Asleep for Ms. Heather (his Physical Therapist) and...

Happy and awake for Ms. Jessica (his ECI coordinator).

Austin's Birthday with just us.

He has the greatest smile!

He's showing us his cool moves

Gifts from Mom, Dad, James & Jade...

Notice the Texas Flag Bag

A new mini-diaper bag!

He loves to read with James & Jade

More playing time with new toys and the cutest little cowboy around these parts....

Guess what March 21st is every year?  WORLD DOWN  SYNDROME DAY!  So, Jade, Austin & I rocked our socks in honor of Austin's extra chromosome which is the 3rd copy representing the 3rd month of the year and on the 21st day because it's his 21st chromosome.  Not only is it just 3 days after Austin's birthday, it's also his best bud, Lincoln's birthday too who was born the same year. 

AUSTIN IS ROCKING HIS 3 SOCKS BECAUSE HE ROCKS HIS EXTRA CHROMOSOME!

All three of us stacked up together having tons of fun!

This was part of the party decor, but here are the up-close shots of Austin in 12 months:

Birth

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

1-year-old and ready for more adventures!

Prayers

I don't usually like redundant prayers.  I remember how I prayed for many years as a child for meal time:

"Dear Heavenly Father.  We thank thee for this day.  We thank thee for this food.  Please bless it to nourish and strengthen our bodies and minds.  We say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."  

Short.  Purposeful.  Not a lot of meaning, but I guess at least I prayed, right?  I also remember as I got older and started to think of other things to pray for at meal time.  When I would be at my grandparent's, the Hane's house and attempt this my Grandpa Hane would give me his frustrated look at the end of the prayer and say something like, "You must like to eat your spaghetti cold."  He never did like my long prayers, but he always appreciated my faith and dedication.  Granny Hane would say, "Oh, Paul." 

Now I get to enjoy our children learning to pray.  Sometimes we are in a rush (too much of the time) and I feel like they need to move on a little faster.  Yet, I would never say that to them because I feel it's wrong for me to interfere in their communications with their Father in Heaven.  I always want them to feel like that is their time to talk with him so when they have personal prayers they can feel that he is really listening.  Currently, these are how each of them are praying:

James - He's already doing a lot of repetitive prayers, but a couple times a week he thinks of something that's going on right now for him and talks with Heavenly Father about it.  It's usually someone he knows is sick or being thankful for friends or family coming to visit.  He's a tenderhearted kid with so much love to give.

Jade - She is very mindful of everyone always.  She lists people one by one in her prayers she wants to remember and always prays for Daddy to come home safely when he's traveling for work.  My favorite part of her prayers right now is, "Please help us be nice and kind and nursharing and loving and Jesus."  It sounds like she took the word sharing and mixed it with nursery (her class at church).  It's so adorable and sweet.  She also often follows in James' pattern of thanking for visitors that came by or getting to play with friends.

Austin - He is only 8 months old, but he sure prays harder and more often than anyone else in our family.  He is often in this position:

He's doing it so much that I often thank him for praying for me because I always need as many prayers as I can get.  I'm grateful for my three sweet examples that remind me to pray.  I pray they always know He is there for them in the best times and the worst.  I know His open arms have been for me.  Pray always.

This one is just for fun because that lip is just too adorable...

Look Up

I didn't get much sleep last night trying to get stuff ready for girl's camp, but it was nice visiting time with Granny Joy while she was helping me.  I went to bed at 2am-ish and then up at 5am to put the pot-luck together for Shanna and Larisa to take to camp at 6am with the girls.  Just Austin and I running around town from 6am until 10am this morning getting 2 new tires (goodbye, $500 I didn't want to spend), editing and developing picture "tokens" of girls for camp to take to them that afternoon, sheets/bedding for girls who forgot theirs, snacks for girls, and finally back to my house to get a shower (don't know the last time I got one of those) to head to girls camp.  I was lucky enough to get to go to girl's camp for the day with Kimberlina because Felicia was awesome enough to watch James and Jade today.  In all the early morning running around I did get to stop at a few lights and look up.  It's amazing what it changes in you to pause and just look up at the blue sky and white clouds to realize there is still someone above watching out for all of us.  He was watching out for me in all the moments of my phone calls, texts, busy, busy, busy, busy to get it all done.  He loves us and wants everyone to be happy, get along and just enjoy this beautiful world around us.

I'm so grateful I got to go to camp even just for a few hours.  I love camp and know the my girls will grow from the amazing experience it is.  Camp always was a testimony-builder for me.  I did get to pause and look around me more at the wonderful friends and beauties of his creation.  I even got to take a little piece of camp home with me - a cute backpack to remember the 100 years of Young Women Camping and some mosquito bites.

TJ going out of town :(

I hate when TJ has to be gone one or two nights, but FIVE nights?  Not happy.  I will miss him.  He says he will miss us.  Thank goodness for Skype :)

I try to keep myself busy and accomplish things, but I'm so much better when he's closer by and around more.  We'll see how this week of me with 3 kids alone plays outs.  I've already got nights planned to slumber party at the Great Granny's houses.  They are a huge help and we always have fun!  Girls camp starts Tuesday and I'll be headed there with Tia Kimberlina for the day (Austin's coming too).  Yet, I know it will all be a little hectic getting back to life-as-usual at the Angus household since we've been gone for a week.  I've loving my husband,kids, and life.  I just wish all the "other stuff" would stay away for a while (i.e. laundry, dishes, cleaning, bills, organizing, etc.).  I know all these daily care things have a great purpose in teaching us about life, but right now I'm not on that page.  I can't even think about one thing when I think about them all together so I will just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

James asked me this morning if I could teach him how to wash the dishes by hand.  A little shocked I asked where that "activity" idea emerged and he said he just wanted to learn.  Then he says, "Oh yea, Mom.  You've got to teach me how to do laundry too."  What?!  So I say, "Are you planning on moving out on your own soon?"  He says he's not, but I better keep a look out.  I'll be thrilled to teach him these important life skills, but I expect his enthusiasm to wane a little through the years.

I love when I pick up Austin from sleeping and he has his little fists squeezed underneath his chin, head turned, and lips puckered out.  It's my favorite baby-look and I know it won't last forever.  I'll just keep cuddling him as much as possible - even when all the "other stuff" is calling my name.

Blue Jean Eugene

Jade got a new Disney magnet board with cut-outs of Rapunzel and Tiana.  She's putting the scenes together and dressing up the princesses and asks, "Where's Blue Jean?"  It took me a minute and then I realized she meant Eugene.  Fuuuuunny!  I really think she got Blue Jean because James loves the country song, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," and talks about it often.  I love where the kids get these hilarious correlations from.

Jade's Fav Songs

We got into the hotel tonight in West Memphis, Arkansas.  We are on our way back from Wisconsin.  It was after 11pm and Jade was wide awake (crazy!) so I was helping her get ready for bed.  She's singing, "I'll be there for you, this is not a drive by, I...I.I.I."  Gotta love that our daughter knows this song with it's not-so-appropriate lyrics by Train (thanks, Daddy).  Anyway, we had just been listening to the soundtrack from Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? and the song, "You are my Sunshine" is on it.  Jade sings her version "Drive By" and immediately pops out with, "You are my Sunshine and Drive By...those are my favvvvvorite!"  These songs are totally different genres, centuries, etc.  All I can say is at least her tastes are diversified (like mine).  I love my crazy little music lovers and their songs are hilarious.

Getting Back

I've realized after looking back on what I still need to blog about from the last 11 months (pregnancy really put me back on this area of my life), that I have missed some very memorable things I just don't want to forget.  Since my purpose for this was to be our family journal I'm going to make it that way.  There are things still reserved for my personal journal, of course.  Yet, there is so much that the kids say or do or just thoughts that cross my mind that I want to have to look back on when I'm reminiscing.

I was recently inspired from a blog I rediscovered, www.nieniedialogues.com .   Stephanie Nielson is a mom like me just trying to appreciate the daily lives we live.  She has gone through a major trial recently that effects her everyday, but when I read her daily blog posts they are simply about her family, her feelings, etc.  Most of it isn't filled with pictures, but simply a way to remember her family's daily goings-on.  I want to live in the present.  So this is my new quest with the blog.  TJ was also inspiring with his wonderful thoughts about home births and Austin's Down Syndrome diagnosis.  I realized that all my posts before were filled with pictures.  I LOVE pictures!  However, not every post has to have a picture and I can just go back and add one later for my annual books I plan to publish someday for our family to look back on.  So here is the start of a little something new.

This is a funny story about TJ from going to our pediatrician with Austin.  Austin was only 36 hours old so remember that when you read the story (lack of sleep is the major factor :):

Our children's great pediatrician, Dr. McCrory was asking a run-down of questions of Austin's physical health and behaviors.  How long is he sleeping?  Any complications at birth?  You get the idea.  So, she got to the question, "Is he peeing and pooping?"  As TJ describes his thoughts, "She just said 'poop' and my five-year-old brain kicks into gear trying to come up with something funny to say."  I (Tiffany) had already answered "yes" and she's already gone on to ask something else, but TJ hasn't said his funny thing yet.  Well, TJ finally comes up with it in his exhausted slower thinking and doesn't realize he missed the timing.   Dr. McCrory's next question is, "Is he breastfeeding?" to which TJ immediately replies, "Are you talking about me or the baby?"  I wish I had a picture of the looks of me, Dr. McCrory, Nurse Ashley and Nurse Lisa.  I know TJ likes to make funny comments, but I couldn't believe he just said that.  Dr. McCrory came back with the best quick comment, "Well, I know you're not."  TJ immediately explained he was responding to the last question, but by that point I couldn't even remember what the last question was because I was in shock he would say that.  He's at least gotten some sleep since then :)