A Fam Filled Day!

Reed got an early start to the day. We left Lola and Pop Rox's house to head to meet Reed's great-grandmother, Mimi. Mimi was excited to finally meet Reed. She was really impressed with how happy he is.



Reed enjoyed playing on the floor of her apartment. Mimi kept apologizing that she didn't have any toys for Reed to play with. He didn't have to have toys, everything was a toy to him!





Reed got a special treat when he got to meet his great-aunt Sib and great-uncle Bubbo.




Four Generations



We then headed to my hometown where Reed got to meet his cousin Ginny and great aunt Betty and great uncle Mitch.



Reed also got to meet his cousin Lamar who was all decked out ready to see Ole Miss play Mississippi State. Unfortunately for him, the Bulldogs beat the Rebels.



Reed was impressed by Uncle Mitch's facial hair.



We then headed to see my grandfather and Reed's great-grandfather, Papa. When we got there, we were surprised (as we always are) that our first dog as a couple, Hershey was still alive. Hershey was supposed to be a chocolate lab. Never get a dog from a car salesman. We learned that lesson the hard way. Papa and Mimi inherited Hershey.



As odd as it may seem to most every other family in America, Reed got to meet Papa in the cemetery. He was supervising the digging of a grave. Okay, now let me qualify the preceding statements.

My father is a funeral director, we pretty much grew up in funeral homes and cemeteries. My family has always dug the graves in the cemetery in my hometown. Abbey and I were actually engaged in a cemetery, so it seemed only fitting that Reed met his great-grandfather in a cemetery, although it was completely by accident that this was the way it occurred.

Papa was quite impressed by Reedo and I am sure that my Mimi would have loved him too, but she passed away 1.5 years ago.



Reed's cousin Timothy came by to meet him, too. I can't believe how old Timothy looks! I remember when he was born and now he is about to graduate from high school! AHHH!





Reed was pooped after traveling and meeting so many family members.




Reed had a great time getting to visit with Aunt Ava after his little nap in the van!





Reed has had a great time spending time with Aunt Ava and Uncle Brookie. Tomorrow he gets to meet my brothers and their wives and his cousin Joshi. He is excited that he gets to see his Poppy and Enna too!

Reed's First Thanksgiving

Today is Reed's first Thanksgiving and our first as a family. It's hard to put into words all that we have to be thankful for this year! I am sure that we all-to-often take for granted all that we are thankful for, but I am hoping that this year, our family will be graciously remembering the precious gifts of this year.



Reed's first Thanksgiving started this morning around 2:00 AM, then again around 2:45, again at 6:00 AM (when he got in our bed), and finally really started at 7:20ish AM. Our Thanksgiving also started at the above mentioned times, however, we woke up earlier than Bubber for Abbey to shower and for me to beat the Thanksgiving rush to the carwash. Yes, at 6:45 this morning I was vacuuming out the ole Town & Country!



We did our morning duties and were in the van heading for Lola and Pop Rox's house by 8:19 AM. We stopped briefly for our favorite breakfast stop, Hardee's and were on our way in no time, arriving around 11:45 AM to smiling faces ready to greet us, or should I say, "ready to greet (and grab) Reed."



Reed travelled well for the most part. He slept well thanks to some Christmas Kenny G and when we were getting close everything started unraveling so we threw in some Auntie D (his favorite Mandisa CD). We had a delicious Thanksgiving feast prepared by Lola shortly after arriving.



After lunch, it was time for Thanksgiving naptime. I slept the longest followed by Reed and Lola.



Tonight, Abbey and I snuck to a movie while Lola and Pop Rox put Reed to bed. We saw August Rush. We HIGHLY recommend it. It was wonderful and very clean language-wise.

Tomorrow, Reed will meet his great-grandmother Mimi Drake and his great-grandfather Papa Land. He will also go to see his Aunt Ava (who I think may be a little excited that he is coming). Then, on Saturday, he will go to Enna and Poppy's to stay and we will attend Uncle Trae's (and Aunt Amy) wedding. He also gets to meet Uncle Bobby, Aunt Alyson, and his 1st cousin Joshi.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn't make a short-list of things that I am thankful for tonight.

1. My salvation and my God, may I never take Him for granted. He has so wonderfully provided for us this year as we journeyed into parenthood, providing the finances, patience, love, and support that are necessary at each moment.
2. My wife, my best friend and mother of my son.
3. My precious little boy, as Christmas grows near I feel that I am closely identifying with Joseph this year. Fathering a most-loved little boy who was brought into my life by a Divine miracle.
4. My family, this week we're able to spend time with our family and it is so wonderful to see Reed with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.
5. My friends, both from work and life, ones who I've never met, and ones who I seldom get to spend time with. Each have a special place in my life.

Enna's Visit

For the past several days Enna has been in Tennessee visiting us. It was a wonderful treat to have her spend some of her Thanksgiving break from school with us. She was an extreme help and Reed loved getting to spend time with her.



Enna loves to make and hear Reed laugh.



Reed has started to climb through things, instead of around them.



When Enna said that she was going to get ready to go she bent over to pick Reed up. Nice try Enna, but we're not letting you take him home with you!



Right before the waterworks.



I debated whether or not to put this picture up, because it doesn't do anything for my looks does it? But, I wanted to show three generations. My mom and I have the same birthday, Reed's birthday is a day after his Poppy's, and Abbey's is the same day as my brother Bobby's. We're a close family, eh?



After Enna left, we started decorating Christmas trees. We have four up and decorated. Only one more to go, but we have to wait until the flooring guys come back on Monday.




Happy Thanksgiving!

A Few Before and Afters

Reed's Room Before:





Reed's Room After:









(Reed's room is a very soft blue. We put the Frog Tree in his room for his Christmas Tree this year.)

Master Bedroom Before:





Master Bedroom After:











(Our room is a deep sea blue with dark oak hardwood floors. We are REALLY happy with the way that it turned out. Our tree is a flocked tree with different shades of blue and silver ornaments.)

Then and Now

Reed's Great Great Aunt Ruby sent him this soft little horsey. Reed has really enjoyed getting to hug on him and love on him. Tonight, Enna kept Reed while we got to go on a date for dinner. It was nice. We went to The Depot and had a deliciou meal. But, we were not able to go see a movie because Abbey had to go to handbell practice.

Enna stayed busy at home washing laundry! That's right, our kitchen floors ARE DONE, so she did all of our laundry in between taking care of Reed. It's WONDERFUL!

The hardwoods in our bedroom are done, so we got to set our bedroom up. I had planned on posting pictures today, but I will wait until tomorrow when we get the appliances delivered.

Reed's picture the day after we got him in Taiwan. He was sure cute in this picture. It's hard to believe that all of the joy he has brought into our lives has been packed into two months!



This one was taken tonight. Look at how much our baby boy has grown up. He's still super-cute though! We think he is getting some new teeth, because he's been a agitated today.

A Sofa Filled Day

The flooring men arrived this morning just in time for us to finish up breakfast. We were in the bonus room when all of a sudden a siren began to blow. It was our fire alarm. Apparently the dust from the saw really caused the alarm to stir, and it was at that time that we realized we had a REALLY great fire alarm system! It is LOUD and connected! There is even an alarm in the garage!

After the alarms were silenced, Abbey and I went downstairs to clean up our room to ready it for the flooring crew. Enna and Reed laid down for Reed to take a nap. Abbey and I completed our task and before we knew it, all four of us were asleep.

Once Uncle Bobby's phone call came in to wake Reed up, we got ready and went to order our new sofa for the bonus room. First, we stopped at Cracker Barrel.



Reed loves the fact that they give biscuits at the CB for him to munch on.



On the way out, Reed was feeling like Moses so he sat on the stack of baskets.



Reed's new trick is clapping and clapping loudly! He loves to clap!

We headed to Sofa Express to order the sofa. It was there that we found out that even though SE has not bothered to tell anyone or CHANGE their marketing strategy, they are no longer taking custom orders. That means that Sofa Express is now just an ordinary sofa store! Blah! We quickly informed them that we disagreed with this decision and headed to another furniture store!

We bought a sofa and it was a lot less expensive than the one at SE. We went to EXPO and ordered the countertops. Our trip then took us to the mall, then to Famous Dave's, then Jo-Ann and finally home wher we were ALL worn out!



When we got home, we had a package from Kobi and his parents. In it were 3 cute pairs of shoes and a brand-new outfit for Bubber! One of the great things about the Blogdom are the people you meet, and Kobi, Sherry, and Matthew are some of our favorites!