One Year Old!

Well it happened, Mason turned a year old on Friday.

Some things that are new this month are:

He:
-gets back up without pulling on objects
-kneels on the floor to play with things
-pretends to eat food with a spoon out of an empty bowl
-when I ask him to say "ma...ma...ma" he says "da...da...da
-Finally understands high fives-Will pull Christopher's hand up to high five it
-Will laugh randomly when he is playing with toys-We think he's having some sort of conversation with the toys
-Gets in and flushes the toilet if we leave the bathroom door open
-Loves to play with plastic serving spoons

So many things happen everyday it's hard to keep up with him learning and exploring.

For his first birthday we decorated with a few streamers, a birthday banner, and a picture timeline the night before so he was excited in the morning when he woke up.  He tried to grab them and thought it was funny when we put him through them.

 We took some pictures before lunch, he wasn't the most cooperative but at least I got a couple good ones.

After pictures we gave him the presents that Grandma B had sent.  They were wrapped in tissue paper so we were hoping that he would get enough practice that he would be pro by his party later.  He pulled the wrapping off a little, but once he saw the toy inside all his focus was on the toy and not so much getting the paper off the toy.  He loved the train and book that Grandma B sent.

We also brought out one of the toys we got for him. He loves the vacuum so we thought he might like the little popper toy that you push around. We were right, he LOVED it.  Every morning since then when he sees it he runs to it and plays with it right away.

We had a small get together with a few of our friends the Owens and Durrants and had Mason open the last couple presents.  He was a little better with tearing off the wrapping paper but still required lots of help. He loved the book that my parents, Paka and Grammie, got for him. 

At least he understood the concept of presents because once the book was out he went on to the next gift.  It's a good thing he is only one and couldn't guess what his next present was, the wrapping job was a dead give away. 

  He thought the basketball was awesome, he even picked it out himself a few weeks earlier.  We were picking Christopher's books up at the book store and were deciding between an all blue or a blue and red stripped ball. When we held them out he patted the all blue one. Even after we switched which hand the balls were in he picked the all blue one, I was glad he was still surprised.

His last present we couldn't really wrap so we wheeled it out to him and he got all excited and started doing his exited breathing. He pulled it over to himself and started emptying the wagon right away.  It was the entertainment for the other kids for the rest of the night as well.  At least we know he'll like it when he's older too.

Then it was cake time!  Because he's allergic to dairy I had to try my best and make a dairy free cake.  It turned out pretty good but we all know it's just not the same.  

When we tried to get him to eat his cake he would just pull it out of his mouth.  He wasn't very entertaining and was surprisingly quiet with his cake.  We did give him some sorbet and at least he loved that. (I think he'll take after Paka and love ice cream...he already loves cold stuff like shaved ice, and otter pops)  

After a few minutes we gave him a spoon and then he was back to his normal self, being loud and tearing into the cake with the spoon.  He did end up eating some of his cake but was more tidy than I had expected.

It was a fun night celebrating his first birthday.  Thanks to everyone for the gifts and birthday wishes, it made the day that much better!  I can't believe how fast it has gone by and how quick he is growing.  He is learning so much everyday and keeping me happy with his laugh and amazing smile.