We have had a LOT going on around here over the past week, so this may be a long one........

First of all, my birthday was Jan. 19th & we just hung out, then went out for a very yummy dinner. My day started with some beautiful flowers from my wonderful Mom & step-dad.

Then, Jimmy comes home with a SPA gift certificate & one of those edible arrangements!! 1 hour massage & pedicure here I come!! I can't wait til this Wed!! The fruit was very good too!

The next day, we headed to Jimmy's parents' house for a little visit. His brother has an 8 mth old & he is a little stud. He's solid as a rock & wearing 24 mth clothes! He wasn't too sure about "his" granny/papa holding another baby...a little jealousy going on. It was really cute.

Unfortunately, our visit was cut short by some VERY sad news.......my brother-in-law's dad took his own life that afternoon. We immediately packed up & headed home to re-pack for a trip to Franklin. If you don't know, my sister & bro-in-law have been together since I was 8! His dad has been family to me ever since & has been a fixture in my life. He was such an amazing man that adored his family & was nothing but good to me. He was family & will be dearly missed. Family gatherings will never be the same without him. He ALWAYS kissed me on the cheek every single time he saw me & I will miss those kisses. Jimmy thought the world of him because he always made him feel welcome & accepted in our family. They had their own connection because they both grew up very poor & made something of themselves. He always had encouraging words & kind words. I loved that man! You will be missed Jimmy Byram! We love you!

Please keep my sister & bro-in-law & his family in your prayers.

7 weeks old already!

I truly understand how time flies now since having Finley. I can't believe she is already 7 weeks old! She is smiling at us, cooing more & more & watches us more now too. She is just so intrigued by the t.v. & will stare at it. We love watching her learn what is around her & just wonder what her little brain is thinking.

We'll be getting her newborn pics this week & I can't wait to show them off! She was only 8 days old when we had them done & it seems like yesterday! Where does time go??? We are cherishing every single moment with her & yes, even the sleepless nights are priceless. She makes life so much sweeter for us!

She gives those open-mouth smiles now & gets all excited when we talk to her! It's soooo cute! Check out the bed head in the 1st pic!! You can imagine how wild her hair is in the mornings...we love it!!

Our favorite pic right now.....LOVE LOVE LOVE this smile!!!

Lots of catching up to do

Here's the last pics we took of me being preggo!! This was Thanksgiving night after going to Jimmy's cousin's for dinner...very last minute. We hadn't planned on doing anything due to the fact I was a cow, had MAJOR cankles, and basically felt like dookie from all the swelling, BUT we ended up having a wonderful turkey day! I was very happy to get to have a nice home-cooked meal, because I was REALLY missing family...little did I know I would get to see some of them 2 days later! So, here's the last preggo pics....

CHRISTMAS 2009

Hopefully you can enlarge this collage (I still don't know why it won't enlarge most of the time???) Finley got to meet the rest of my family & she got TONS & TONS of lovin'. It was sooo sweet when we got to my Dad's because Betty (step-mom) & Steve (bro-in-law) could not wait to meet her! They could not get her out of the carseat fast enough! It was really sweet...guess you had to be there!

Had to include a recent pic of Tate & Tucker....my grown-up niece & nephew! They are such awesome, genuine kids & both drop dead gorgeous too! I miss them all soooo much!

My bro & sis-in-law welcomed their 2nd baby boy, Colten Reese, on Christmas Eve! Poor kid is going to hate his birthday for the rest of his life! Mama, baby, Daddy & big brother Caden are all doing great!

Finley also got to meet her other 2 "aunts" on this trip, Sam & Liz! I am sooo glad we got to see each other! It's very rare for the 3 of us to be able to get together these days, so it's always a treat for us!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!