Happy Birthday little man!!

It's hard to believe that Austin Jace arrived in our lives one year ago today...what an amazing experience it has been!! There is so much I could and want to write but I think for now I will leave these pictures!

Happy Birthday Austin! Daddy and I love you!

March 31st, 2008
March 31st, 2009

Our new family...what a wonderful moment!

A year later...we never knew we could love someone so much and continue to grow in our love each day! We feel so blessed to have Austin in our lives and marvel every day!

Austin's 1st haircut!!!

Austin turned ONE today!!! We can hardly believe it!! Where does the time go? Anyway, we got his first haircut today among other things...more pics to follow! But wanted to share the 1st haircut pics!

Daddy getting me strapped in!

1st cut

Mommy loves this picture of me!

Can't we be done?? Really???

Look at me with my new do!

Austin and Daddy!

Austin LOVES his Daddy!! We had a showing on Sunday so we took Daddy lunch...which was perfect as the course was closed because of the snow and he was doing inventory!!!

What do you think about these golf balls, Daddy??

Here, I'll help you scan the inventory Daddy!

Daddy spinning Austin around in the chair!!

Spring Break in Albuquerque!

Austin and I traveled to Albuquerque for spring break! Julie had been in Denver for a conference so she drove down with me last Tuesday and then Austin and I drove back on Saturday! We hadn't been to see them since they had moved there and we had a great time visiting!

Uncle Ray reading to Austin.

At lunch on Thursday before we toured the University of New Mexico where both Julie and Ray work.

Reading with Aunt JuJu! Can you tell I love to read?

On Friday we went to the aquarium where I also met up with Kirsten, a friend from Texas, and her three girls!! I hadn't seen her since college!

Julie, Austin, and I at the aquarium!

Austin LOVES to help with laundry!

We celebrated Austin's birthday with Ray and Julie so Austin got to open some presents!

A monkey!!! Thanks for spoiling me Aunt JuJu and Uncle Ray-Ray!

I found the stash of Tupperware...watch out!

Sleeping on the way home! Austin was a trooper!

Celebrating a little early...

We headed to Ft. Collins to see the Browns since we hadn't been able to see them in a while! The Browns are Austin's adopted grandparents and great-grandparents! I think great-grandpa Ross was the one who said it was Austin's birthday so they sang to him at Red Robin and he got an ice cream sundae!

A family picture!

"Grandma" Kelly holding Austin while he gets a little bite of ice cream!

Aunt JuJu holding Austin after he opened his animal crackers!

Climbing around after dinner!

All worn out!

Growing up....

Austin is growing up so fast!! We figured out why Austin wasn't feeling well...poor little man had an ear infection! But he did a good job of taking the antibiotics. We moved him into his new big boy car seat not too long ago too...enjoy a few random pics!

Hanging with Grandma Hunt after my visit to the doctor!! Still a happy little man!

Our little monkey!! He loves his new towel Grandma Leaycraft bought him!

My little monkey and me!

Austin's 1st time in his new big boy car seat!!

He seems to enjoy seeing us and I know we enjoy seeing him while we're on the road...just in time for our trip!

A little under the weather...

Austin's hasn't been feeling his best since early Tuesday morning although you'd never know other than at night! He's such a little trooper!

Mommy's a sucker for taking pictures of me sleeping...and I love cuddling with my monkey!

This one was taken last night while sitting in the steaming bathroom after Austin's bath....so sleepy!

But still SO happy!!!

The shirt says it all!!!!

Our big helper!

Austin is becoming quite the big boy....he likes to "help" a lot...emptying the refrigerator, emptying the trash, pulling the toilet paper off the roll, and as of yesterday, we're thinking he might start dressing himself...or at least undressing!! I went in to get Austin from his nap yesterday and he had taken his pants off!!!! Needless to say, he keeps us on our toes!!!

Usually he takes the liquid smoke out...our future griller!!

I think I'll try the teriyaki tonight though...

I'll take the trash out if you want!

Did you need some toilet paper?

Sleeping at the table....and sleeping!

It seems as if every parent has pictures of their child asleep at the table!!! Rob got our first ones on Monday. Austin wouldn't take his morning nap...seems as though he's trying to drop a nap some days so needless to say, by lunch he was exhausted!!!

Couldn't resist this sleeping picture...don't you love the crossed feet!!!

Lunch...doesn't it just wear you out?!?!?

Rob said he never moved as he got him out!

I just love this face!!!!!

February fun!!

We had a fun end to February! Austin and I headed to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science one Saturday afternoon!! It's so fun to watch him look at all the animals and take it all in! We're going to have to head back again soon!

What a ham!! And always full of smiles!

Austin seems to get his love of laundry from me...always pushing the baskets back and forth and trying to get in them!

We've been "eating out" more these days with Austin! We try to go places where we know we can order him something we know he'll eat. Our first place to try was Panera which was easy but we've also ordered for him at Outback, a BBQ place nearby, and last weekend Grandma Leaycraft and I took him to Chick-fil-a!! I LOVE it! He did well with his charbroiled chicken sandwich and fruit!!

That smile is going to be our downfall....

Aunt Deb as well as cousins Paul and Abigail came over for dinner last Sunday! It's exciting to watch the cousins all together as Austin gets older although I'm not really sure that Abigail understands that we just can't hold Austin like we used too!! Austin had a great time watching his cousins and trying to play with them a little too!

Aunt Deb is SO much fun!!

Cousin Paul enjoying his brownie!

Abigail feeding Austin his favorite food at dinner...yogurt!

Me and my little man!! I just can't get enough of him...I had someone at the grocery store ask me today if he was my first. I said yes, and she said she could tell....

Our monthly pic on the chair...hard to believe Austin is already 11 months old!!!