Match Day

 The wait is finally over!  Clint found out he was accepted into the Waco residency program.  We are so excited as it was our first choice.  We know residency will be very challenging on our family so ultimately we decided it would be best to stay in Texas and be close to family. 

 All smiles after finding out where we were headed!

Our very good friends Brad Barham and Daniel Townsend.  They also got their first choices.  

The school had a small celebration for everyone.  (L to R) Joanna and Colby Brownlee, Daniel and Claire Townsend, me and Clint, Stephanie and Brad Barham.

Finn's First Vacation

In February, Clint had an entire month for vacation.  This is because the school tries to give students time to visit residency programs and this can be a very time consuming activity.  Since he only looked at programs in Texas, it didn't take quite as long. We decided to go visit Beth, Nick and the kids who are living in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.  Finn is seven months old and is starting to get around.  He is crawling, eating pureed food that I make at home and loving life!

Lillie (5) and Finn.  Lillie loves playing with Finn and making him laugh.  

 Finn and William (2) 

 Lillie and Connor (10) playing a game at the carnival.

 Finn fell asleep in the baby carrier after the parade downtown.

 At the Cloudcroft parade!

Clint, Nick, Connor and I were able to go skiing at Apache, near Red River one day.

We had so much fun getting to spend time with Clint's family.  It was that much more special because it was Finn's first vacation.  He did so well and we look forward to many more vacations.

Santa Came!

Santa came to see Finn and boy did he have fun playing with his toys!  He got a basketball goal and a racetrack.  He immediately started throwing the ball in the basket. (The wooden horse in front of the tree was made by someone from our church in Fort Worth before Finn was born.)

 From mom and dad he got a golf club set.  

Hitting the golf ball with his club!

This Christmas was our favorite by far.  It is so much fun watching Finn play and get excited about all of his gifts.  It was also special to spend Christmas Eve together.  We just hung around the house all day and then went to a Christmas Eve service at a local church.  Finn loved listening to the band play Christmas songs and the lesson was very uplifting.  It's always refreshing to hear why we celebrate Christmas.  I hope as our children grow, we can remind them always of who we are and why we do the things we do.  It's not about giving presents, but about celebrating the birth of our Savior.

My Two Favorite Guys

I took this picture the day Clint was going on nights.  Finn loves his dad and asks him to play as soon as he walks through the door.  It is so sweet and as the mom, it sure warms my heart.  Clint's schedule can be long and takes him away so much.  We all treasure these peaceful nights spent together as a family. Residency just makes us that much more thankful.

It's A...

BOY!!

Clint and I found out at the end of November that we are going to have a precious baby boy.  We are both so happy!  

We found out on a Friday afternoon.  Clint had been working nights so he woke up in the "middle of the night" to come watch the ultrasound.  I was going to have my normal appointment afterwards so Jennee came to watch Finn.  I just knew it was going to be a girl but I'm so glad Finn and baby M will be close in age and have so much in common as brothers.  I wasn't sure what my reaction was going to be but I cried when the ultrasound tech showed us.  I would have cried either way.  To see the little heart beating...

 and catch a glimpse of a tiny little foot all formed with little toes...the same little foot that I feel kicking around...is nothing short of a miracle.

All babies are a gift from God.  I believe that more than ever now that I have one and can see the wonderment as he grows and learns.  I can't wait to welcome this second little guy into our lives.

New Mexico Trip

This weekend, Finn, Jennee and I flew to New Mexico to watch the Abay children because Nick and Beth were going to Austin for his big company Christmas party.  Finn did so well traveling.  I was so proud of him and how well he naturally adjusted to situations without fussing or getting anxious.  He did not get that from his mother!

Highlights from the weekend include: movie night, a trip to the zoo (that also had a large playground inside of it) and the older kids went to a Christmas parade in Cloudcroft complete with hot chocolate, popcorn and lighting the Christmas tree.

 William and Finn literally rolling around on the floor.  Finn got a taste of being the little brother!

 One of Finn's favorite animals is ducks.  He loves making the "quack" sound.  The zoo had probably 50 ducks or so on its pond and Finn loved it!  Lillie was scaring the birds and ducks so they would fly up.  Finn and Lillie laughed so hard when she did that.

 William and Finn posing on a rock at the zoo. 

 I loved this mountain lion.  He was napping on his back in the sun with his huge tail falling down the side of his perch.  It's so funny how they can look so cuddly.

Lillie wanted her picture taken on top of "Simba".

We had a lot of fun this weekend and the kids did really well together.  Jennee is such a good Grams.  Patient, kind and loving to all her grandchildren.  I am so blessed to have joined such a loving family.

Thanksgiving

 This Thanksgiving was a lot of fun.  We were able to spend a full day with each of our family's.  Thanksgiving Day was at mom's house.  The boys put up swing set for all the grand kids.  It was nice to get outside and not sit around inside all day.

 Finn helped get the tools for the men.

 The women talking and watching the guys.

 Dad and son.

 Friday we went to Corsicana and spent the day with Clint's family.  The little guys (William(3), JR( 19 mos.) and Finn (17 mos.)) playing some baseball.

Not the best picture of Finn (taken on my phone).  Can't believe how big he is getting.