Happy First Birthday, Huxley.

Katherine, Gabe and Huxley returned home on June 23, so we were not actually with them to celebrate Huxley's birthday on the day itself - June 24.

But Katherine and Gabe planned a party - a cookout in their own back yard - and invited their friends over to celebrate Huxley's first birthday.

Wedding visit at Fernandina Beach

Gabe, Katherine and Huxley came to Florida for David and Kati's wedding. We spent several days before the wedding enjoying Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island.

We had a great view of the beach from our balcony. We really enjoyed Amelia Island where there were no cars on on the beach and where they left much of the natural sand dunes in tact.

This time at the beach Huxley got to play in the waves with both his Daddy and his Poppy 

This furrowed brow was a new facial expression for Huxley. He looks so much like Stephen in this picture.

Huxley loved the water and laughed when the waves lapped against his face. 

Spring visit

I can't believe I never wrote anything about the spring visit we had when Katherine and Huxley came to Florida. The original plan was for them to come when Gabe was on an Alaska ski trip, which was to be part of his fortieth birthday celebration. But this year the snow where Gabe planned to go was not safe (I later learned that there had been a fatality due to an avalanche). But since we had already purchased a ticket for Katherine and Huxley to come, Gabe did a ski trip but closer to home and Katherine still came with Huxley so that family in Florida could meet him and we could celebrate Katherine's 32nd birthday. Eating avocado was till high on Huxley's favorite things to do.

It also was Huxley's first visit to the beach.

It's clear that Huxley's first love is his Momma.

Huxley does everything with such passion and commitment.

The little guy was definitely working on standing up and moving around on two legs, not four. 

I love this picture. His eyes and beautiful angelic face are perfection.

The best moments

Before I left Idaho in January, Katherine took some great pictures of me with Huxley. He is such a happy little guy it is easy to get him to smile. Someone asked me, how do you get him to smile, and I had to laugh. For our little guy, it just happens automatically.

Not sure if Huxley's face indicates that all of the kisses I want to shower on him are welcome or not. But I know this is the best time to get as many in as I can.