Ride A Little Horsey

Today, Paxton rode Strike for the first time. He was pretty tired, but was very content up in the saddle. However, he seemed more excited about the dog's ball in the pasture than riding the horse. I enjoyed having him ride with me! We don't have him a riding helmet, so we just used his bike helmet.

A Hike and A Horse

Sarah and Suzie (Don't they both look great?)

Pops, Pax, and Strike



Pops and Pax playing with Wilson

This afternoon, Pax stayed with Brad, and then Suzie and I headed to see Sarah. She is doing so much better, and is even cleared to go back to work. Sarah is on blood thinners and has several bruises but was up for a hike/walk this beautiful afternoon. We walked for over 3 miles, so I would say that Sarah is doing remarkably well! I think I was more worn out than she was!! We saw three snakes on our hike, and we all freaked out!! We had a lot of fun hanging out and talking, while exercising! I'm so glad to see her up and about! Sarah also gave me Paxton's birthday present that she was so excited about giving him at his party. She gave him an adorable zoo animals book with 2 tickets to the Atlanta Zoo in the back of the book!! Such a cute gift!!! Brad and I can't wait to take Pax there, possibly even this weekend!!

Yesterday we brought Strike back home and today I took these pictures of Pax and Pops. Pax absolutely loves seeing his horse out in the pasture. As soon as he woke up from his nap, Mom brought him out on the front porch, and he immediately spotted Strike and started pointing. He was so excited to see him.

On another note, Pax went for his one-year check-up on Friday, and is looking good. He weighs 24.9 pounds (75th percentile), and is 31 1/4 inches long (90th percentile). So, he's not as chunky as 25% of babies his age!! Dr. Kaufman talked to Brad about the switch to whole milk. We'll be starting that soon, and I hope that he isn't lactose intolerant like I was!

One-Year Photo Shoot

I love this one with all the props! We had a hard time getting him to look at the camera instead of the balloons (or "boo", as Pax calls them)!

There are bubbles in this picture that are hard to see.

Typical Paxton pose--the pointer

Sweet face

He loved the "One"

These are some pictures from his one-year photo shoot. They are tons better in person, but I just thought I'd share anyway! Enjoy!

Flip Floppin' for a Cure

Kellie, Marisa, and me with our banner under the tent

Alison and Pax

Me and Brad

Avery and me

Avery's luminary bag

Mrs. Tracey's luminary

A blurry picture of my 2 survivors walking during the survivor's lap:-)

Our team with the banner

Mrs. Tracey, me, and Pax (in the outfit she got him for his birthday)

A precious picture of these 2!

They were so cute playing with the balloon!

Pax hated the Well-Bee. He was literaly climbing up me! This picture is just too funny!

Our banner with the first place ribbon!!

Tonight we had Relay for Life at the high school. We went with the theme "Flip Floppin' for a cure" and wore flip flops with our t-shirts. We had a really great turn-out from our school, and our team did a great job with fundraising. We raised $1000 more than last year, for a total of over $6500 last time I checked! Yeah!!!! AND, our beautiful banner won first place in the banner competition! Great job, team!

Pax and Brad came for a while, and then I stayed until about 1:30 am. They were late delivering the pizza that they promised for midnight, and I was NOT leaving until I had some! :-)

I am sure it was difficult for her, but Mrs. Tracey came and spent the evening, too. We honored her with a luminary, and I had one of my students make it with the names of the kids she babysits. Also, one of my students this year is a one-year cancer survivor, and he came with his mom. We also honored Avery with a luminary that the rest of the students in the class signed. We also had luminaries for my Dad's 2 sisters that are cancer survivors as well, but for some reason I didn't get a picture of those bags. :-( I also wish I had a taken a picture during the luminary service when all the bags were lit up. It looks so cool. Relay is such a moving and awesome experience, and I am thankful that we have the opportunity to honor the survivors and raise money to help those that are still fighting in something as big as this event! The whole community comes out to support this and it's just so neat to see! It's very hard to keep a dry eye as you see the survivors walk around the track being supported and cheered on by everyone around!

Weebles Wobble, But Won't Fall Down

Pax (making a sad face while eating) and Katie

Katie would tap Pax on the shoulder and he would give her the sweetest little smile

Today I captured lots of steps on this video that were a little wobbly, but he did really well, especially the second time he came to me. He is walking from one side of the room to the other now--so big!!

Katie, a student from my class my very first year, came over to play with Pax today. She is so good with him, and watches out for corners, too! He really likes playing with her! She got to witness all these steps, too.

Please continue to pray for Sarah. Last I heard, the catheter was still in, and the blood clot is not breaking up as quickly as they'd like. They have to decide if they're doing a stint, angioplasty, or something else. When Stephanie and I went to visit her last night, her spirits were really high, though! She is so positive about this whole thing! That is certainly one thing that I love about Sarah:-)

Please pray

Yesterday was a wonderful day, but somewhat bittersweet because we were missing two of my best friends: Sarah and Jenny. Sarah was admitted to the hospital late Friday night for a blood clot in a vein under the main artery of her heart. She was experiencing some tingling and her right arm began swelling, so she went to the ER. Suzie has posted a better description on her blog, so check that out. Sarah will be having surgery tomorrow (Monday) morning, and I am requesting that you keep her in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. We love you, Sarah, and know that you'll bounce back in no time!

After receiving the sad news about Sarah, my group of friends (the B's) had some more news yesterday afternoon. On the way to Paxton's birthday party, Jenny and Brandon had an accident. They were very close to the house, and Summer went and helped them out. Their car is most likely totalled, and they are both very lucky that they only suffered some soreness and minor cuts. We are very thankful that they are alright, but please keep them in your prayers as well. So sorry about your accident and your car; we love you both!

You Know I'm Uno

The shirt made by Jenny--I just love it!

Mrs. Tracey telling Pax a secret

Birthday boy sporting his sombrero-I had to hold his hands down so he wouldn't take it off

Fun with Daddy on the slide

Fun with Mommy on the slide

Both Paxton's Great-grandmothers

an adorable framed picture of Micah and Pax

his first car from Grandma and Pops

The Imagine-It Museum pass

Steph and Amy

Giving one of the party favors to Mrs. Tracey

Steph, me, Summer, Suzie

Aunt Tori holding Pax

Family picture

Family picture with Pax taking the sombrero off

Mimi and Pax

The food tent-Yummy Moe's

Pops and Pax with matching sombreros

Pax and Uncle Mick with Caroline looking on

me, Brandi, and Brody (Happy 1 month!)

All the kids and moms-take 1 (where is Kyle?)

Take 10! Sorry Steph:-)

the party favors

Pax and Grandma (Maaa-ma, as he calls her)

he must think he's a dog-carrying his shoe in his mouth:-)

Caroline doing a great job with Pax and the other kiddos

Having fun on the inflatable

Pax-with Micah in the background

Pax and Aunt Shell going down the slide

Mick and Micah

Mommy and Pax

Jake whacking the pinata

Micah's turn

Kyle finishing it off

for real!

getting the candy

weeble wobble taking a step

and another

and yet another

Dig in!

The beautiful sombrero cake Brad made!

some of the B's-Jami, Lauren, Amy, Pax, Lauryn, Caroline, and Suzie

The Dobbs Family

The Herendeen Family (minus the 2 uncles--we missed yall)

We had quite a fiesta yesterday for Little Man's Birthday! We had Moe's catered for about 50 people, a giant inflatable, a pinata, plenty of decorations, and we had a wonderful time with friends and family. Pax is one lucky kid to have all these people that love him at his party.

The party started at 1:00, and we all hung out and played on the inflatable slide until we ate. Caroline and Kyle took care of all the little ones on the slide. Paxton had a blast going down the slide by himself. Once we finally got them off the slide, we went and busted the pinata that was filled with gummy snacks and cheez its for the little ones, and nerds and airheads for the big kids. Micah and Jake took some swings, and then Kyle finished it off and popped it open. The kids had fun getting the candy, and Pax showed off some weeble-wobble skills as he took several steps with the candy and an audience all around to cheer him on. It was so cute! Then it was time for the cake. Brad made Paxton's "smash" cake out of yellow cake and cool-whip topping because he loves cool-whip so much. Plus, it was the somewhat healthy kind. Brad also made a sombrero cake out of a giant cookie and a yellow cake mix for the top. It turned out SOOO beautiful. After we sang happy birthday, we let Pax at his cake. He had a blast!! It was an 8 inch cake and he probably ate a fourth of it, and wasn't happy when we took it away! It stuffed and stuffed cake in his mouth, and really liked the cake part. He's just like his momma! At one point, I picked up a big chunk off his lap, and placed it on the tray part of his high-chair. He immediately took that chunk and stuffed it in his mouth. It was so funny how he didn't want to see any cake go to waste! Then we opened presents. Wow-was this fun! He received some really exciting gifts, and we appreciate everyone's generosity. Some of them were: MONEY, gift cards, a water table from us, a slide from Mimi and Papa, an inch worm and his first car from Grandma and Pops, a beautiful photo book from Aunt Suzie and Uncle Brad, a photo album full of pictures from his first year from Uncle Brooks and Aunt Shell, lots of books, an annual pass to the Imagine-It museum from Aunt Summer, Uncle Josh, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Brandon, Aunt Caroline, and Uncle Blake, a giant frog tent and other goodies from Aunt Steph, Mick, and Micah, a wagon from Jayden, a cool turtle that lights up the ceiling from Aunt Kathy in Texas, a lap desk from Jake, a bunch of really cool toys (a "green" truck from his girlfriend, Reagan, who couldn't make it, a safari van from some of the B's), some cute outfits (overalls from Aunt Tori, a cute sailor outfit from Mrs. Tracey, an Adidas outfit from the Greba's, and a cute outfit from Aunt Cindy, just to name a few). There were many more--these are just some!

Thank you to everyone who came to his first birthday party! We appreciate you being there to help make this day special for him (and me, too)! It means so much to be surrounded by loved ones at a time like this. A special thanks to Grandma and Pops for letting us have the party at their house, and all the work that went with that; and to Mimi and Papa for all their help with the food and set-up! Thank you to both sets of grandparents for their help in all areas! A special thanks to both great-grandmothers who made the trip, too! We love you all!