Happy 1st Birthday Pax! WE LOVE YOU

Then (2days old) Now (1 year)

Pax, I just can Not believe you are turning 1 today! Wow its been an incredible journey. You and I have learned so much together. You truly are the best thing that God could have ever given us. We can't remember what our lives were like without you.

The day we brought you home, I remember being so scared. What do I do with this little thing in my back seat making cooing noises.?.?.?... I remember thinking, "okay, now what?" When we walked in the door and put you in your bed. As the days passed we seemed to make our own routine. I learned your cry for hungry and your cry for "mom, I need my diaper changed!" I figured out you didn't like to go to sleep on your back and that you preferred to sleep on your tummy. I also quickly learned that what I ate directly affected your little tummy so I stopped drinking milk and eating dairy. As you got bigger I began venturing out of the house, which took hours of prep to do. I learned when I could go to the store (directly after nap and feedings) and when I needed to stay home so that you could rest. Your daddy and I began to read to you and realized you loved the sound of our voices and the stories that we chose. We learned that if we sang your poppies famous "frog song" in the car you would stop crying; so we would drive for hours on road trips singing the same words over and over again. At around 6 months you began to express your self in new ways, laughing and pointing at things you liked. At the store you would flirt with the people close by and always get compliments on how sweet you are (this still happens). You also began eating some "real" foods. You chose favorites and refused to eat others. You even began to spit the foods you disliked out! By 9 months you were trying so hard to crawl but just weren't quit there yet. You'd get so frustrated when you'd see Gibby or Edy moving around and weren't able to. By 10 months you began crawling and could follow the big kids around. I had to baby proof everything and you began to hear the infamous words "NO" or "you may not" often. Now you are a year old and nearly walking. You make friends everywhere we go and are always smiling. Your laugh is contagious and fills us with such joy! You are the sweetest little guy and we feel so lucky to call you ours!

Watching you grow and learn about this big world has been such a joy. You have made me realize what is truly important in life. God I praise you for creating our son and giving us the honor to be his parents. Continue to teach us what it means to raise a child in your image. Help us to be good examples of Christ to Paxton. Give us wisdom and discernment as he grows older. Thank you for the gift of our son and thank you for the gift or yours!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAXTON! WE LOVE YOU!

Mom & Dad

Psalm 139:13-14

Eph 6:1-3