Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Real Good Friday

Friday we had a really Good Friday last week. Not only was it the day that we remember our Saviors sacrifice but I got to spend it with my 2 favorites on a beautiful Spring day.

We started off the day by going to The Wonder Place in LR. We had so much fun and Finley was loving every minute of it. I never thought I would have such an active baby, and maybe they are all like this, but I don't think she can sit still unless confined by a car seat or stroller. She loves to be on the go!

After we played out there we went to Richards Favorite BBQ place, Whole Hog Cafe, and did take out and went to a park down by the Arkansas River. Finley didn't see the park.... she had enough fun for a while so she slept in the car (see pic below) . Here are a few photos from our playday:










1st Birthday Party Pics

Okay... so maybe I went a little overboard for Finley's First birthday but a girl only turns one once, right? We had so much fun and here are just a few of the pics we got. We were so blessed to have all of our family and friends here to help celebrate her special day.




Front doors dressed in pink flowers


Chaos while opening presents

Evie Kate enjoying the party

Drewbug


Not wanting to wear her birthday hat

Singing Happy Birthday

Mailbox dressed in Pink balloons

Grandmary and Finley Grace


Entry table with the party favors

Pink goodies and party hats

Finley loves balloons so we made sure we had plenty

More balloons on the mantel


My precious hubby risked his life to hang these pinwheels for me

The table

After Finley decided to sit in the mud in her birthday dress

Daddy and Finley
The guys and their gals
Tom, Brooke and Emily

Decorating the sidewalk with chalk
All the presents

Wednesday, March 19, 2008


Happy Birthday Baby!
"I Prayed for this child and the Lord granted me what I asked of Him." 1 Samuel 1:27

I can't believe that a year ago almost to the hour we were meeting Miss Finley Grace for the first time. I get very emotional when thinking about that day. I was very fortunate to have a scheduled birth so I remember so vividly the feelings I felt leading up to her birth and what exactly we did. It's so cliche to say but it really does go by so fast and it just seems like yesterday we were on our way to the hospital. Oh what a year!!

Finley is such an amazing little girl and so full of personality and energy!! She loves to have all the attention on herself and is a total ham. It is an understatment to say that she is independent. She has been walking since she was 91/2 months and running since 10 months. She is such a happy baby and I love it when random people walk up to us on a plane or grocery store and are amazed at how happy she is.


I want to be the best mother. I have never struggled with wanting to be the best at anything. It's kinda sad but I never cared about excelling in school, career, sports ect. but motherhood is something that I want so badly to be not just good at but great at. I want her to see Christ in all that I do just like I see and have always seen in my own mom. I strive to be a better person everyday for her.
I love to see her excitement when she sees a balloon, gets to pet a puppy, or sees her daddy come in the door. I love that she reaches for me when she wants to feel secure but that she runs in the nursery at church with excitement and doesn't look back. I love how she learns something new everyday it seems and claps with joy when she realizes that she's done something good. She loves to blow kisses and we have never had to teach her to hold her baby doll close. She is already such a nurturer! I love to see her try and get someones attention when they are not looking at her. She loves to dance and take baths. And I love the way that she loves me back and the sound of her lazy giggle. Needless to say I love everything about her.

I am so blessed, not only with a sweet little girl, but also a great and loving husband who strives to be the best father to Finley. He loves her so much and reguardless of how tired he is he will run around the house tirelessley and let her chase him just to hear her giggle. He can make her laugh like no other. I love to hear people say that she looks like her daddy and I hope that she gets his gentleness and patience.


This year has been the best year of our lives . We are constantly reminded of God's mercies. We are so humbled by His grace and pray that she will always desire to keep Him first in her life.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Back to DC

We flew back to DC last weekend for our friend Kelly's baby shower and Katie's 28th birthday and to catch up with everyone else. We had the best time and got to cram in lots of quality time in a little over 48 hours (and with an almost one year old that's full steam ahead!!) Finley did great on the trip and was a hit. Our friends hadn't seen her but in photos since we left so they were really surprised to see Miss Independent walking and trying to talk. We had many mixed feelings being up there. Saturday night we were driving around after we had said our goodbyes and we were talking about how much we missed being up there with our close friends and just all you get to do and see but at the same time we wouldn't leave Arkansas for anything. It's hard to explain but we know we are right where we need to be!



The guys wrapped up in Xbox

Tom loved Finley


The Crew for Katie's birthday Dinner



At the Shower

Finley and Braden....

Grubbin down on the good food


Brandy, Katie, Aimee, Kelly, and me
Evie Kate's Birthday Party

One of Finley's best friends, Evie, had her birthday party at a local gymnasitcs studio. It was so much fun and Finley was in Heaven being able to fun and play at her will. She loved sliding and the big trampoline the best. Here are the pics:


Ready to Party!!!

Evie's Little Cake

Christa, Drew Finley and I

Daddy Helping Fin down the slide

Party Time

Trying to get everyone to pose... HA!!

Lacie, Finley and Josie getting ready for the parachute

Going around the obstacle course



Parachute Time!



Drew sliding down