Happy Birthday Baxter!

Well I finally found my cord to download pictures from my camera!!! We had a wonderful Easter quickly followed by Baxter's first birthday. It is amazing that a year has gone by so quickly since God blessed us with our sweet son. Baxter is growing up so fast and is learning something new everyday. He is such a loveable sweet child and we are thankful every day that he is our son. Baxter was a little under the weather with a cold then followed by an ear infection. All along he was getting teeth and over the past month went from no teeth to 5! We hope you enjoy the pictures!

This boy absolutely loves swinging...

...and his daddy!

The Alexanders drove through Shreveport and it was great to visit with them

For the past year Baxter has been staying with Lisa during the day in her home with her kids and one other child.  Lisa and her family are moving back to the mission field in Africa and will be greatly missed.  This picture is from Baxter's last day with Aunt Lisa.  William and Mariama (left) are Lisa's kids and Nathan (right) is another child that she keeps.

Here is our pitiful attempt at dying Easter eggs!  Baxter was NOT having fun!

Here's the little man with his Easter basket. 

Baxter's 1st birthday cake!

Singing Happy Birthday

He finally got the hang of eating the cake and loved grabbing handfuls

Our friends Mary Linnea and Riley loved helping Baxter open presents

Look at our crazy teeth

He has some big shoes to fill

Here's one more tooth and since this picture one more has come through making 5

Here's little man trying to help put together the table and chairs his GiGi and Grandaddy gave him for his birthday.

We've been having fun!

It has definitely been a while since we posted so I'll have to fill you in on what we've been up to. Work was pretty busy for both Warren and me during January as well as February which made our down time at the end of February much needed. Our friends Mackey and Mickey added a new addition to their family, Brady Michael Quinlan. He is adorable and we are so happy for our dear sweet friends. GiGi came to visit during Feb and while she was here Warren and I found out we had some time to take a vacation. All the grandparents excitingly offered to keep Baxter and so Warren and I headed off to Ambergris Caye, an island off the coast of Belize. We had a blast and highly recommend it to anyone planning a vacation. On our return from Belize it was snowing in Birmingham! This of course was Baxter's first snowfall and we had a blast introducing him to the snow. We were home for about 5 days and then off again to Birmingham for our friends Christi and Chi's WONDERFUL wedding. Following the wedding we visited GiGi and Grandaddy up at their new lakehouse. We can't wait to spend some time there this summer.

We had a great time on New years and let the kids see some fireworks

Warren and I did the Dustbuster Duathlon- at least we finished!

Mackey and Mickey's baby shower!

Brady Michael Quinlan is here!

We saw Pappa while we were in Birmingham

We also got to have dinner with our friends Jan and Kert on their way through Birmingham

Here we are on our boat going from San Pedro, Belize to our resort

This is our room at the resort which was quite romantic!

Here's a shot up the coast of Ambergris Caye- it was absolutely beautiful!

We went snorkeling this day and swam with sharks, sting rays and eels

We then caught a couple fish of our own

The flowers were true to any tropical island paradise, fresh flowers in our room everyday!

This is the front of our resort

Baxter's first snow!

A little tired from traveling but good to see our Baxter

Our friend Dale came to visit for a night- we just wish we could have seen Holly too!

Beautiful Christi Perkins Hu and her handsome groom

Baxter apparently loves giving flowers, we're raising such a gentleman!

Baxter loved playing on the pool table at Gigi and Grandaddy's lake house

The Holidays in Birmingham

I know it's been a month and half since we posted but of course its been crazy busy!  I finally have a day off from work and figured I would update the blog.  We went home to Birmingham for both Thanksgiving (2 days) and Christmas (4 days).  We really enjoyed seeing our families and Baxter enjoyed playing with all of his cousins.  We are so blessed with such loving families and our time in Birmingham was so much fun!  Here are just a few pictures from our trips home. 

Thanksgiving Pictures

Baxter and Pop (Warren's dad)

The Carroll Family 

He had the best time playing in the leaves...we couldn't get him to look at anything else!

Nelson was able to come and spend thanksgiving with us and Warren's family

Baxter and his great grandmother

Christmas Pictures

Baxter picking out his Christmas tree

Mommy, Daddy and Baxter at home in Shreveport before Christmas

The McGough Family down in Montgomery at Pappa's House

Christmas morning, waiting to go downstairs to see what Santa brought!

Emma Kate and Mason gave Baxter a Radio Flyer retro rocket, Thanks!

Baxter with all his grandparents

The McGough, Carroll and Alexander Families

We had a lovely date night with Alice, Matt, Hank and Carrie-  it was so nice to catch up with everyone! (Thanks, Sarah)

Baxter and his Grandaddy

I'm so glad Jan and her husband Kert stopped by on their way to the beach

Uncle Matt helping Baxter practice crawling

Arizona or Bust!

We had a fantastic time on our trip out west. Warren , Baxter and I loaded up in the car and drove to Yuma, AZ to visit my sister Alice, her husband Matt, and their two kids Emma Kate and Mason. It was such an awesome trip and the week we spent together just makes us all wish we lived closer together. Here's some pictures of the kids and all the fun stuff we did. We went to San Diego and visited the zoo one day and then of course we hit the park there in Yuma. We were able to meet several of Alice and Matt's friends and they were so sweet and welcoming. We can't wait for another visit although next time we might fly (not quite as many hours in the car). I will post some videos as soon as I can download them - having technical difficulties.

They had fun playing together although Baxter's still figuring how this whole playground thing works

Baxter and Emma Kate having fun at the park (he's not really that much smaller than her!)

Our family at the pier in San Diego (Seaport Village)- Baxter's first sight of the ocean

Fun at the San Diego Zoo can be so exhausting!

Emma Kate was great about petting the goats - as long as Daddy was nearby

Long day at the zoo!

Alice and Abbey in front of the 17 year old Giant Panda - the exhibit asked for silence and so we rushed the kids through very quickly just waiting for one of them to scream or shout...gotta love having kids

Emma Kate really had fun watching the monkeys - she called everything a "mooonkee"

Getting all 3 children sitting in one place with the eyes open and not crying is DIFFICULT!

Now you can really see how big Baxter is!  He may be her younger cousin but he's definitely not smaller.