Happy Birthday, Lexi Grae!

 

Four years ago today, Ryan and I helped host the WillowBridge Thanksgiving dinner. I was sidelined from helping with much of the cooking, because I had a fresh dog bite on my hand and couldn’t grip much of anything. I was in a fair amount of pain and still really, really irritated that a random dog on the street chomped down on my hand.

                And I had no idea that about two hours away, this sweet little peanut had just been born.

                We met Lexi not quite three weeks later, and I wanted to bring her home with me that very night. Obviously that was much too soon, but she did come home with us a few weeks later, and we have loved the joy and entertainment she has brought to our household.

                I don’t even know how to condense a year of our sweet girl’s life into a single blog post, but I thought I’d show you some of our favorite Lexi pictures from the last twelve months.

This is a common Lexi pose. Whether she is on the couch, our bed, or in her little bed in the kitchen, if she sees us walk in the room, she immediately assumes this pose, which means, “Please come scratch my belly.”

Holidays with Lexi really are a lot of fun. She jumped right in to all the Christmas and New Year’s festivities and was so happy to be part of them. She’s all about the food, the treats, the pictures, the celebrations!

That sweet face. We both love her with our entire hearts.

Lexi has some friends around the lake. One of her little dogs lost his grandma, and he loved visiting his grandma so much. Lexi got him a little sympathy gift, and he sent her a thank you note. (It’s a dog parent thing…)

For the first time in Lexi’s whole life, I was sick enough to stay in bed for an entire day. I got hit hard with a random flu bug that knocked me out for a full 24 hours. I never left the bed, and Lexi never left my side. Sweet girl. She’s not usually one to sit calmly in a bed, but she did that day, and it was so comforting!

The many faces of Lexi. She’s loaded with personality!

Always up for a good game!

This was one of her last grooms with her beloved groomer. (She left for another place that is, unfortunately, too far away for us to go.) Those two had quite the bond, and every single time Lexi came out, she was simultaneously proud to show off her bow (or bandana) but also nervous about her new cut. Sweet baby.

Remember how I had my first bout of the flu in a long time? So did Lexi. She was so sick. Her vet couldn’t get her in and we had to take her to a new-to-us clinic. She was so brave and we ended up really loving the vet. (The fact that she is willingly sitting in my lap in this picture tells you she doesn't feel well.)

She loves, loves, loves being outside and can’t stand it if she thinks she might be missing something. She loves to help us plant flowers, garden, sit by the fire pit, you name it!

She is a boat girl through and through. She loves a boat ride. She loves sitting on the boat even if it’s docked. It really might be her boat, and we just get to drive it.

She is in her happiest place on earth when she can go for a walk. We had some new dogs move to the lake this summer, and they’re really intimidating. She’s worked so hard on her courage and actually does much better passing their house now than I do! She lives for squirrels, sightings of her friends (particularly Ace, Winnie, and Georgie), and hugsies from her friends Miss Joan and Miss Janis.

She loves her dad with her WHOLE heart.

She loves car rides (but not windshield wipers, cows, or horses…which makes it fun to drive in rain in Amish farm country) and ANY visit to see her grandpa. He thinks she’s pretty great, too.

She loves her mama, too.

She does NOT love going to bed at night. I mean…she loves her actual bed. She is just very much a toddler about bedtime. ANY other time of day, she’s immediately on our heels when we leave the room. But when we get up from the couch to go to bed, she suddenly has every intention of sitting perfectly still and pretending to not hear the bedtime call.

                Sweet Lexi Grae, you have changed our lives and brightened our home. We love you, we are glad you are ours, and we are excited to celebrate you today as you turn FOUR years old! Happy birthday, little girl!