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...