I need to brag on my Anna just a little...

Anna won several awards this year at school!  She won two class awards that were presented last Friday.  One being the Sweet Spirit award.  Her teacher is always saying how kind Anna is to everyone, and how she has such a sweet spirit.  She says that she loves to see Anna with the little ones, and that God has big plans for her and that her sweet spirit is a gift.

Anna also won the "Gentleness" award voted on by her class.  The class has been learning about the Fruits of the Spirit, and they each had to vote for a person that represented each of the nine fruits. I thought it was such an honor for Anna to be voted for one of these awards.  She is new to the school, and it touches my heart to know that these kids care about her.

On Monday Anna was late to the pick up line. As she got in the van, she apologized for being late, and said that she was in the principals office.  My heart sank. I couldn't imagine what she had done. ;) She said, "I won another award, Mom!" I was beyond belief! This time she had won a school award.  The Principal's award was only given out to 2 students per grade.  I know there are at least 80 kids in the fourth grade alone.  I think I said "what, are you kidding me?" twenty times. Only 12 kids in the whole school got this award!!! Anna, my Anna won this most awesome award!  I am beyond proud! I am the proudest mom in the world!  Anna struggled this year with the demands of A LOT of homework and tests, tests, tests! She needed this, and I am so happy for her!

I can't believe that the school year is over! I have mixed feelings.  I'm happy, excited, sad, and scared!  Did I mention this next year the girls are homeschooling?  Eek!  Wish us Luck! Say some prayers! ;)

Mason's First Birthday and Easter

This past year has flown by so fast!  Life with Mason has been such a smooth transition. He is so peaceful, patient and content.  It almost seems unreal.

With Bub, his first year was full of crying and reflux and sleepless nights.  With Anna, we were fearful, and on edge about her hydrocephalus and what kind of life she would live. She was not a good sleeper.  With Trin, she was demanding, unpredictable, hated the car and cried A LOT!  They each brought joy to our lives, but had their own challenges.  Mason, well...he's just fit in.  No big adjustments, few sleepless nights, and minimal crying.  He has truly been a dream, and we are so grateful for him! We have loved getting to know him, and sharing our lives with him this past year.

Mason got to celebrate his first birthday on Easter!  My mom came in town, and we just had a small celebration at home.

Every morning when Mason wakes up, he comes to my room to drink his bottle.  The girls got up early this day and came to my room, so they could share this time with him, and be the first ones to wish him a happy birthday!

After looking in his Easter basket, he decided he would rather have the candy from the girl's baskets.

After Easter baskets, Nana made us dairy free (he is still allergic) cocoa and biscuits.  This was Mason's first time to have this breakfast and he LOVED it!  After breakfast, Mason was pretty grumpy the rest of the day.  I joked with Casey that Mason gave us a great first year, and that it was his party and he could cry if he wanted too. ;)

We had a pretty relaxed morning, and  let Mason open his gifts after our Easter lunch.

For Mason's birthday, we gave him a water table for outside.  Nana gave him books, a fire truck, a slide, a picnic table, and bath toys.  I told Amanda that Mason needed some bath toys, so she picked out a lot of Miles favorite bath toys, and bought them for Mason. They also gave him an awesome Vtech helicopter.

After presents, we went outside for some pictures before our Easter egg hunt.

I could tell that Mason was not feeling well. He was just not himself most of the day. He was very attached, and cried a lot.  I felt so bad for him, and wanted him to enjoy his day.

I really love this picture. It's us.  It is our family. Four kids, with four very different personalities. I had no clue that when my mom took the pictures that the kids looked like this.  I knew Mason was crying, and I told my mom to just take the picture.  It was the moment, and what Mason was doing that day. He was crying.

 The rest of the kids...that is "the moment" for them too.  Anna is always trying to look older, drawing attention to herself.  Neen is very sensory sensitive, and Bub is looking at the ink stains on his hand. Casey and I are living it...just in that moment, loving our family.

 

Mason entertained all of us while eating his birthday cake.

He dug his hands in right away.

He didn't eat much, but he flung the cake everywhere.  He would dig in with his hands, grab it, and fling it around trying to get it off his hands.  It was so funny, and such a mess.

I love the icing on his head in this picture.

When he was all done, and we took the cake away, I asked Anna to take a picture of us.  When I got close to him he decided to share the cake with me, and wiped it on my face!

He was very proud of himself, and gave himself around of applause.

Happy First Birthday sweet boy! Mama and Daddy love you!

Mason loves Nana's necklace. I think this is such a sweet picture of him and my mom.

I wanted to get one more picture of my Mister boy before bed.

I thank God each day for choosing me to be Mason's mom.  He means the world to me, and I feel privileged to have him!

Sleeping pictures are some of my favorites. I try to soak in these tiny moments, because I know that with each day these moments change. I never want to forget them.

About a week later we realized that Mason had been crying the whole day because he is allergic to wheat.  We fed him biscuits with wheat, and his cake also had wheat in it.  Unknowingly, I caused him to be miserable on his special day! Sorry Mister boy, we didn't know!

More...

This picture isn't from today, but it's still super cute!

This is one of those days, and moments I don't want to forget.

Today was an exciting day! After two months of me consistently using the sign for more, Mason got it!! He signed more, and used the sign to tell me more at lunch. He also signed more in the car for more music. He was bobbing his head with the song and I turned it down to hear Trin in the back seat. Mason signed more and Anna excitedly said "mom, he just signed more. Turn the music back up!" I did, and he went back to bobbing his head.
 
We repeatedly asked him "more" all night! We are so proud of him.  He is pretty excited himself. I honestly just didn't think he was going to sign at all. Anna and Trin both already had a handful of signs at this age that they were using.
 
I think this little boy is going to be the type that sits back and soaks it all in. When he figures it out by himself he's just going to do it. No practicing just going to go full force :).
 
As I was holding him tonight in his room in our favorite chair we did our usual bedtime routine. We read 3 books. I sang him a song with the lights out, and said a prayer. When he had finished what he wanted from his bottle he looked up and smiled at me. I smiled back not knowing what had pulled him from his lulled state, but right after the smile, still looking into my eyes he slowly took his tiny little hands with his pointers slightly out and  he rhythmically tapped his hands together. He was showing me once more that he was happy and proud of his new "trick" that he had been working on for months inside his head.
 
 That folks is the reward of being a mom. It's nothing fancy...just a smile and a sign for more. :) I sure do love this little Mister Boy!

Mason 12 months old

I know I promised a birthday post, but life is so busy right now. I will have it up soon!

In the meantime... here is Mason's 12 month post.

Isn't he the cutest?

I think so! He's a year old now, and starting to look like a big boy! :)

I'm still trying to work on a birthday post. It should be done soon!

 

And yes...he's as sweet as he looks!

My last first birthday...

A week from today, on Easter Sunday, my Mason will turn a year old.  He's my last first birthday, and I am sad!  It makes me want to cry, and be reminiscent for a bit. Sunday will be a glorious day for several reason, but it will be bittersweet, and I am sure a few tears will fall.

As the day gets closer I finally decided to think about what Mason will wear for his special day.  I pulled out the outfit that Bub wore for his first birthday and Easter. I had forgotten that it was an 18 month, but I tried it on Mason just for fun. It swallowed him! I know these two boys look nothing alike, but it brought back memories of my first 1st birthday!! (tears)

I ordered Mason an outfit of his own for his birthday and Easter, but it is very similar to Bubs! And by luck, the rest of the kids have outfits they can wear for Easter to match.

Here is a picture of my first 1st birthday and my last first birthday.

(Casey keeps telling me to stop saying that, because we will have grand kids one day! ;) Knowing my kiddos...there will be many more first birthdays!

Anna's 10th birthday!!

Anna celebrated her 10th birthday this past week.  It was a big one for her!  She's in the double digits now! ;)  I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday! Her entrance to the world was definitely a roller coaster ride that we are still on, but in a totally different good kind of way!  We are so grateful to have her, and to have her wholly in our lives! She is spirited, and definitely an Aries!

 We are blessed by her in so many ways!