Fallyn // 10 Months

Fallyn, you turned 10 months old on February 27th. You have turned into THE most cuddly baby ever.. more so than you have been. You are one spunky little into everything! You love the water and you don't care if it smashes in your face (so different than Finley). You are loving crawling and pulling up on everything you can grab a hold to, you are eating table foods so well but you are NOT a fan of bananas.. you can throw down some food tho! You love your blank La La made you -- you are even grabbing for it when I come get you from your crib. 

(In March, you started making a new clicking sound with your mouth and your hair is getting so long over your ears and curly in the back! You and Fin Fin have your own language and have been "talking" more to each other. I love to hear you cackle and see that huge grin with your 1 tooth! So precious! You are having a hard time with your teething these days. You clap for yourself -- Yay Sissy! -- And you love watching Elmo with Fin Fin.)

Early morning snuggles.

Feeding Kyli again! You two crack me up!

The night before I left for Charleston for a training weekend. I hate to always leave y'all.

Fin Fin just wants to hold you!

This is one of your newer things to do. Pull up on the door and bang your hand on the window.

Happy baby all over the place! Love that little bow in your hair with all that hair! 

You can't resist the Tupperware drawer while in the kitchen.

We should just forget all the toys.. you love to play on the changing table with the wipes, pull the diapers out of the baskets, and you love to spin these knobs. Finley will try and tell you -- "No No Sissy! Lea'e alone!"

Sweet sisters. I hope y'all stay this close and love each other for years to come!

F22-F28

Fallyn // Baby Dedication

And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. 

Mark 10:16

It was a BIG day for ACTS on March 11, 2018.. we had Partnership, Baptisms (I think I cried the whole time doing this part), and Baby Dedication.

Fallyn slept the WHOLE time! Much different than what Finley did -- Ha! She screamed the whole entire time!

Sadly, our Pastor was with her Mother who is in transition right now going to be with the Lord, so we had a co pastor that prayed over Fallyn. It was a beautiful prayer and I'm so glad they recorded the service so we can go back and listen again.  

 Finley did so well during all the praying! We were the first ones to go and she was so patient with everything! She truly is such an angel.. so sweet, loving, caring, and loves when her family is all together. 

And, she loves giving her Sissy kisses. I thought she was going to wake Fallyn up but she slept right thru it and almost thru the entire service!

She was being a little rambunctious but quietly -- "stealing" her Daddy's nose and eating it. She is a mess y'all!

Fallyn, we are SO THANKFUL for you and all the joy that you bring our family. We are thankful and blessed that the Lord entrusted us with YOU! I pray the He will guide us and give us wisdom to be the best parents for you and Finley as well.. I pray a hedge of protection over you and that you will always look to the Lord and stay on the path that He already has paved for you.

May The Lord bless you

    and keep you;

25 

the Lord make his face shine on you

    and be gracious to you;

26 

the Lord turn his face toward you

    and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 We love you sweet Fallyn!

Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail // Mommy and Finley Day

"You'll always be my first" is what I keep hearing in my head...  I always wonder if I am giving enough of one on one time with my Fin Fin. The days go by so quickly and I think, "When was the last time it was just me and her?"
I can always tell when she is craving that time together.. She starts acting out and not being herself and if she FINALLY DOES get that one on one, if I am holding Fallyn and she wants me, she will cry out to whoever is near for them to "take Sissy!". Completely breaks my heart. But she is so patient still and even patiently waits her turn.
This past Tuesday, Shane kept Fallyn at home, and Fin and I set out for Athens. Our first stop was my checkup at the doctors office. Which she did so good while we were there! Then we made it for breakfast at "Chickaway", a quick stop at the beauty supply store, and off to a new adventure to see some "aminals".

It was a GORGEOUS day that started out a little chilly but got warmer as the day went on to the point I had to shed my jacket. We had never been there before and I wasn't quite sure where to start but after asking someone we made our way! I didn't realize that it was free too! Bonus.

We made our way into the park and there was an otter that Finley loved! It was already swimming and doing flips over and over... like he knew that we were there and put on a show for us... then off to an alligator and the owls -- Finley loved these too, so much that we had to come back and visit them for a second and third time. 

We saw turtles, a bob cat, turkeys, a deer that I would've bet it was a donkey, an eagle and hawk, and bears. I'm so glad that we went back a second time because the first time the bears were hibernating and when we came back they were out and roaming a little bit! This is all Fin even talked about on the way there. I think because she has a book called Brown bear brown bear that she reads all the time.

After we saw the animals, we walked thru another trail and found the pond and the ducks. Y'all. These ducks KNOW when somebody is there to feed them. They started out in the water and swam up to the bridge waiting for us to drop food and then they made their way out and walked right up to us. I think I went thru almost $2 in quarters getting food and what a wonderful $2 well spent to see Finley's face light up! The only time that she got nervous -- and I am not going to lie I did too -- is when the geese started coming SO CLOSE to us!! They started pecking at the ducks hogging all the food. I've heard geese are mean in general!

We slowed down on the food and sat on the bench awhile and even watched the turtles that were swimming at the bridge. We threw food in the water to see if they would eat it too and fish started jumping up which just got Finley all excited! 

We really took our time and walked a ways around the pond and back, feeding the ducks again and just sitting and watching. The sunshine felt AMAZING and the fresh air and just SLOWING DOWN and enjoying ourselves. That was good for the soul.

This was mid dance! She is all about dancing and sashaying since she has learned that and gotten so good at that!

Waving at the ducks! Everything is "hey Mr duck!" "hey mr bear". So sweet.

And she loves to run too.

Twirling and dancing.

Dance your little heart out precious one.

Finley, you will ALWAYS be Mommy's first and I love you with all my heart. You are the one that made me a Mommy, the one that made your Daddy a daddy, the one that has taught me so much more than you even realize. The one that first grew my heart so big I thought it may burst out of my chest.. my first newborn, my first infant and toddler who taught me a whole new world of learning and excitement in all that you experienced thru your "firsts".. you surprise me everyday in all that you do and how smart you are.. you are brave, strong, you are so very loving and caring, already nurturing, and have a confidence about you that Mommy even wishes she had. 

You are Mommy's first.. my sweet Fin Fin.. I love you dearly and these one on one's with you, I cherish with all my heart and I pray you feel just how much I DO cherish these moments.