She's Here!!!!!!

Our baby girl, Ashlyn is finally here. She is absolutely beautiful and healthy as can be. We are all doing very good. Tommy and I are tired from lack of sleep but we are so excited that she is here and we now have our sweet family of four. Here are a few pictures.

Check out that head full of hair.

I love this hat that my Aunt Kathy made for Ashlyn, it's so adorable!!!!!

Here's part of our family. This was right after she was born. Grayson had not met her yet.

Grayson is so very very prouf of his baby sister. I think he's in love. It's the sweetest thing ever. I will never forget that beautiful smile on his face when he saw her for the first time.

Grayson holding baby sister for the first time. Look at the twinkle in his eyes!

Our first family of four picture.

Waiting and Wondering.....

I'm waiting and wondering when baby Ashlyn is going to make her grand appearance. I can tell things are changing and it's getting close but when! I can't wait to see her and hold her in my arms. I can't wait for her to meet her Daddy and big brother. We were hoping to be at the hospital today, since today is my sister's birthday and she will be named after my sister, but I don't think she will be born today.....things would have to start moving really really fast for that to happen today. I guess she is already a lil diva and wants her own birthday. I finally got the hospital bags packed yesterday and tied up some loss ends around the house, so I think we are ready.
So I am waiting and wondering....what is she going to look like? How big will she be? How will Grayson do with everything? I have tried to explain things to him as best as I can for a 2 yr old to understand. He seems to understand a lot but you never know. I hope it doesn't scare him when he sees the IV in my arm. I tried to explain that to him too.
.....I'm waiting and wondering.......and piddling around the house until she gives me the sign that it is time. But please Baby Ashlyn don't leave us waiting for too long, we can't wait to meet you and hold you and love you forever.



P.S. Christmas Pictures are coming, I promise!

P.S.S. I'm typing this post on MY new laptop computer that I got for Christmas from Tommy and the kids. I have never had a computer of my very own. It's so nice!!!!!!!!!

December Catch Up Part 1

OK, I have been a bad blogger this month. You would think since I'm a Stay At Home Mom now that I would have more time to blog, but not so much. I don't know if it's because I'm getting used to staying home with a toddler or it's Christmas time or the fact that I'm very very pregnant.....could be a combo of all three. I would say that I will try to do better but I can't make any promises. Maybe when Ashlyn gets here I will post more, we'll have to wait and see.
So, here goes the update starting with Thanksgiving. We had a small family Thanksgiving at our house this year. My sister and her family came and my Daddy came. We ordered the Turkey and dressing from a local grocery store so we didn't have to cook that part but I cooked everything else. I cooked sweet potatoe casserole, squash casserole, green bean casserole, peas and mac and cheese. My sister brought the dessert and corn cassarole. I think that's everything we had. I thought it turned out very good but I cooked and ordered way too much food. So we had leftovers for days and days. I hate to say it but I ended up throwing alot away. This was my first time to cook most of the casseroles so I wasn't sure how much each made, I will know better next time.
Here's a few pictures from our day together.

Tommy carving the turkey.

Part of the food.

Paw Paw and Uncle Tim playing outside with the boys. They had such a good time.

Paw Paw with his Grandsons....so sweet
Connor on the left and Parker on the right.

Grayson was fasinated with this Christmas tree, it has a train that goes around inside of it. Granny smith gave this to him for Christmas last year. He has really enjoyed it this year and so far he hasn't broke it yet.

After the family left and we rested for a little while, we decided to pull out the Christmas decorations. I think Tommy and I had a false sense of energy that faded realllly fast. But Tommy did get the tree up. This was our first year ever to have a artificial tree and I think we were both nervous about how it would look. We bought it the day after Christmas last year. After Tommy fluffed the tree, Grayson and I started putting ornaments on the tree. Grayson really enjoyed it and he was such a big helper.

Giving my sweet Christmas helper some thank you sugar.

Grayson got a nativity set as an early Christmas gift. He has really enjoyed playing with it.

Grayson checking out the ornaments on the tree. He loved climbing on my step ladder.

Grayson helping Daddy push the tree back into the corner. He's such a big helper.

December Catch Up Part 2

here's part 2 of the catch up posts. We actually got snow in Alabama, can you believe it. It was Very very little but Grayson was excited to see it. He enjoyed playing with it for a few minutes but it was melting so fast.

So far this month we have been to two Christmas parades, the Gardendale Parade and the Morris Parade. Grayson seemed too really enjoy both. The Gardendale parade was really long and he kept asking what's next what's next. The Morris parade was really short but it is a small town. They threw out candy, so Grayson was excited about that. We also visited the McWane Center, which is a science museum in Birmingham. They were having a huge train exhibit and we thought Grayson would enjoy it, but when we got there the train exhibit was closed for a private party (just our luck) but we were able to see the rest of the museum and Grayson had a blast. I think he is still a little young but by this summer he will be old enough.

Grayson playing in the snow.

Watching the Morris parade.

Watching the Gardendale Parade.

Yes, I am very pregnant with a 30 pound child on my shoulders....don't worry he wasn't up there long.

We were waiting for the parade to start. You have to get your spot at the Gardendale parade early. We usually try to get there at least 45 minutes early, which is like an eternity for a 2 yr old.

Silly Granna saw a float coming down the parade route with a "snow" blower.....little did she realize it was soap bubbles. They were both pretty much soaked and it was very very very cold.

Grayson and Daddy playing at the McWane Center.

Our Christmas Tree.

I think it turned out really pretty this year. Without my Little Christmas Helper (Grayson) it never would have turned out this pretty. He is very proud of it and he has been telling every body even stranger when we go shopping that Christmas is at he's house.

Here are a few of our new ornaments for this year.

These hand print ornaments aren't really new but they are my absolute favorites....I can't wait to get Ashlyn's made, her's will be in hot pink.

Grayson painted this choo choo train this year. I think it's so sweet and I will treasure it forever.

Every year we get a family ornament, I thought this one was perfect for this year!

I love this one too. I'm going to start getting the Santa pics turned into an ornament every year so that I can enjoy all of them on the tree.

Grayson and Daddy snuggling on the couch watching polar express.

Grayson wanted to have his picture taken by the tree with his puppy. Notice the mix-matched PJ's, this was not a planned photo shoot for sure.....but it turned out cute.

We had our Christmas with Tommy's Mom and Granny early this year. They came up last we and Grayson was so excited to see them. He loved all of his presents.

He had so much fun opening his gifts and everyone Else's gift too.

Giving his Grandma Thank you sugar.

Giving his Granny Great thank you sugar. It is the sweet thing when he calls her Granny Great. It just melts my heart.

Playing with his new Thomas the Train set from Grandma.

We also celebrated Christmas early with the Ammons side of Tommy's family. We also have their Christmas the weekend before Christmas. So on Saturday we traveled to Troy, Alabama. We had a great time visiting with everybody and the food was Delicious. Tommy's Aunt Lori and Pam can cook some food. My month is watering just thinking about it. Yummmmmo! Grayson got a Buzz Light year and Spider man from his Aunt Lolo and Pam. He was so excited to get both. He has been asking for a buzz all month. He loves them so much that they have to sleep with him. It's very cute.

Sunday before church we had to take a picture in front of the Christmas tree with Buzz.

Now he is asking for a Woody. Don't worry Woody is on the way.

Sunday evening we had Chilli at Granna and Papa T's house. PapaT makes the best Chili EVER!

After we stuffed out faces, Papa T helped the boys build a Gingerbread house and they loved it. I think we have started a new tradition. Great memories were made.

Yeah, the gingerbread house is complete now it's time to eat it!!!! Connor didn't waste anytime digging in. (Connor on Left Parker on Right) I think Parker had 10 gumballs in his month when we finally took the house away. They were all very very sugared up. I think next year we will build it earlier in the day and not at 7:30 at night but great fun was had by all.

I decided I wanted a few maternity pictures since this may be my last pregnancy. So yesterday my Mom took a few pictures of my. Here's a couple of them. We took more but this is all that I'm going to share on the blog. Sorry but I'm just not going to share too many pics of my bare belly. At 38 weeks it's just not a pretty sight any more.

So that's pretty much our December so far. I'm sure I left a few things out. But we have had a busy month. Now we are waiting on Christmas and Santa Clause and Ashlyn. I guess Ashlyn could come at anytime now, but I have a feeling she's going to wait until 2010 gets here first. Thank goodness Tommy is off of work until after New Year's so it will be so nice to have him home. Maybe Ashyln will come in 2009 but I hope she waits until after Christmas.

Merry Christmas to everyone in case I don't make it back for a post before then. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and remember Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas!!!!!