Dancing Queen!

Lexi loves music! Shocking, I know. ha! For a couple weeks anytime she heard music, she had to dance. It's not normal "dancing" though... She isn't standing up. She is actually sitting down. And it might be one of the funnier things we've since her do yet.

Birthday at Home

We decided to spend Lexi's actual birthday (Jan. 19th) at home, just the 3 of us. We already had a big party in Iowa, and she is too young to understand what's going on. Next year we'll do something more special. It was fun to just be home that evening, as a family. It is so hard for me to believe, that my little baby is 1. The past year seriously flew by! We are so thankful to the Lord, that He chose to bless us with this sweet baby girl!

"Oohh... this could be fun!"

Learning to push her new doll stroller.

1st tumble with it.

She learned that it doesn't go over people.

It also doesn't go through the couch.

Didn't take her long to get the hang of it.

Alexia Joy, we love you more than you could possibly know! We are continually praying for your salvation. There would be no greater joy than to see you come to know & love the Lord.

Birthday Party in Iowa

This post is long over-due! We had Lexi's "big" 1st birthday party while we were back in Iowa. It was very important to Mike & I that our families were apart of her big day! I didn't get many pictures on our camera. Hopefully I'll get copies from anyone else who took pictures that day! :)

Getting ready to head out

The set-up

The cake/cupcake table

The pretty flower cake!

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Lexi's birthday. Even though we live far away, we still want Lexi to know her extended family. Which also means... we think Nashville is a great vacation spot for anyone in our families!! :) And we will soon be in a house, so you are more than welcome to visit any time!

Happy 1st Birthday Lexi!

I cannot believe how fast this past year has flown by. Our baby is 1! Neither of us knew what to expect the 1st year on this amazing journey of parenthood. We are continually blown away by God's goodness to us. Mike & I are so thankful for this life that was given to us. We look forward to watching this beautiful child grow and being able to teach her about our wonderful Savior!
We love you Lexi Bear!

Christmas in Iowa

We traveled up to Iowa a couple days after Christmas and spent about a week & a half there. It was crazy busy as usual, but we are so thankful to be able to see all of our families every time we visit! This trip was pretty hard on Lexi though. We were going to split up the drive both ways and stay at Chad's in St. Louis. Well, we decided to drive the whole 12 hours, no stopping at Chad's, both ways. What were we thinking???? On the way back home, we were thinking we wanted to get home so she could see her doctor in the morning. The day before we left, we took her to a doctor and found out she had ear infection. Then, when we got back and took her to her doctor, we found out she had croup. Our drive home was pretty miserable. She couldn't breath well and kept coughing. She is all better now, but those few days when we got home were pretty sad. We'll have to take it a little easier on her next time!

At Papa Jason & Grandma Nean's

So cute!!

Papa and the girls

Helping Grandma win a game!

Lexi loved playing w/her cousins.

Painting w/pudding. She was such a girly girl about it. I guess she doesn't like to get her hands dirty.

Lexi learned how to climb stairs. We tried to block off the stairs when we were all in the basement. She thought she could still manage to get through. She got stuck. :)

Blocking off the other set of stairs. She loved climbing them... thought she was pretty big stuff!

Just doing what Grandma showed her to.

At Papa Steve & Grandma Shell's.

A drawer full of lids!! What could be more exciting?!?!!

playing w/Valerie

All 3 of the little blond-headed girls! :)

Natalie & Lexi loved playing together!! Wish they could play together more often!

Lexi stood up and grab Uncle Chad's finger before she realized who it was. The look on her face says it all.

"A box!!! How did Grandma know what I wanted for Christmas???"

Lexi enjoyed watching me open her gifts. Hopefully next year she'll be ready to do it by herself.

Family Picture (Lexi is trying to blow Natalie kisses!)

Grandma Shell & Papa Steve w/their beautiful grandbabies!

Cousins!

(two out of three looking is pretty good.)

While we were there, Grandpa got out his banjos. He & Mike spent an evening playing for us. Lexi of course, thought she needed in on the actions!

I love this picture!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Even though Lexi didn't really have a clue what was going on this year, it was still fun to spoil her a little. :) We very much enjoyed getting to spend our 1st Christmas with her at home, just the 3 of us!

Watching dad open his gift on Christmas Eve

All dressed up & ready for the Christmas Eve service at church
all the presents under the tree

Christmas morning!

cute!!!

a pretty bow!

talking on her new phone

checking out all her clothes

playing w/her new music tabledoing some more talking. she is such a girl! :)