Mommy's 30th Birthday

Yes, I am now 30 years old and feel like it has been the best year of my life. My family threw me a party back in February to celebrate all these years that I have been alive. :) Mike, Gray, and I made the trek to Dalton, GA. We first headed to Pop Pop and Meemaw's house to spend some quality time with them. Meemaw gave Gray his first "real" haircut. I had given him a few snips back when he was about 5 or 6 months old but it was time for another. We headed to Grandma Sharon's house on Saturday morning and she hosted an all day bash. It was Gray's first time celebrating his Mommy's birthday! I truly felt special. Thanks to everyone that joined us that day. Graylon got to visit with a lot of our family and had a great day. He took NO naps and was an angel! He was so busy chasing his cousins and playing with them all day. Check out the pictures from this great birthday weekend.


Jocey wanted Gray right by her side.


Meemaw cutting Gray's hair.


"Hey guys, does my hair look okay?"


Gray in his "Gray" overalls.


Newest cousin William and Gray playing together.


Gray and Pop Pop are best buds!


Gray, Grandma Sharon, and Granny Franny are just hanging out.


Averie, William, Gray, Michaela, and Jocey all together...this is the first time that Gray has had all of his cousins together at the same time!


Uncle Brandon was bobbing for pacis and came up with Gray's.


Jocey and Gray having fun in the bathtub. I think he was about to sneeze.


Granna and Pop love making a Gray sandwich!


Uncle J and Aunt Caryn gave Gray a squeeze before they said goodbye.

Christmas Morning (more catch up)

Gray loved his first Christmas and our first Christmas together as a family was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Seeing Graylon all sleepy-eyed on on Christmas morning and trying to figure out what all the wrapped and upwrapped gifts were, was so much fun. We decided that being away from our home was okay until Gray gets a little older and we begin our own Christmas morning tradition.

We woke up at Grandma Sharon's house. Gray came out into the living room where Santa had left his gifts. He got a red Radio Flyer wagon, a stuffed puppy that sings and teaches him stuff, a swing, and a Little People train with blocks. Grandma Frances and Paul came over that morning and we had brunch. It was such a special morning.

After we left Grandma Sharon's house, we headed to Granna and Pop's house to visit with the LaBarbera family. Averie showed Gray and William how to open presents since it was both their first Christmas. We ate a wonderful dinner and spent the night with Granna and Pop.

Check out the pictures from this day below.



Mommy and Daddy showing Gray his new stuff.



Daddy teaching Gray how to build with his blocks.



Gray taking a ride with his puppy in his new wagon.



After playing with his toys, Gray had to take a break to eat breakfast.



Taking a another break after playing for soooo long.



Too cute not to put on here...who needs a diaper on Christmas Day!?!



This is an actual blanket. Gray's our little bulldog fan!



Hanging out with Granna and Aunt Caryn. This is like one of three pictures that we have from their house on our camera.

Birthday Party and Winterville Community Christmas and Santa

I know that we haven't posted any pictures or talked about Thanksgiving yet, but since I wasn't with Mike or Gray in Kentucky, I will let Mike blog about Thanksgiving.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving was a fun filled day, not to mention a very anticipated day. When I got back from my trip from Hattiesburg, MS with the team on Sunday morning at 4 a.m., I immediately got in my car and drove to White, GA to see my two favorite people, Mike and Gray. It was the longest time I had ever been away from my baby boy and it was no easy task. I will never forget how happy I was to have Graylon in my arms again.

Once Graylon got up that morning from a nap, we all headed to Dalton for a 75th surprise birthday party for my Grandma Frances. She was so surprised! We got to visit with a lot of our family and friends. Graylon got to meet several people for the first time too. This day was also my Grandma Ophia's 71st birthday and we got to visit with her as well. Here are some photos from that day.


The birthday girl and her great grandson...Happy 75th birthday Granny Franny!


Jolie, Jordan, Gray, Jocey, Michaela, Grandma Frances, and Paul all hanging out on the couch.


This doesn't happen too often. Grandma Sharon is lovin' being with all three of her grandbabies.


Jocey watches Gray with his first balloon experience.


Anna Kate Swiney, Gray, and Jocey...how cute!?!


The other birthday girl and two of her grandkids...Happy 71st birthday Grandma Ophia!


Uncle Brandon cracks Gray up all the time.


Jocey is so attached to Baby Gray and she likes to help out whenever she can.


Granna was in the middle of telling Gray something important.


Gray loves his big cousin Michaela. She is so good with him.


The Crew (Jocey's expression is priceless!)


I couldn't resist this picture. Where does Jocey get her smile you ask? She gets it from her mama!


Gray and cousin Jocey playing together in Grandma Sharon's toy box.

This past Friday, we heard that Winterville was having a Christmas gathering in "downtown" with free food, train rides, and a visit with Santa Claus. We thought we would get bundled up and go see what all the hype was about. There was defintely hype. When we got there, everyone else had already arrived. I bet there was about 1000 people there and for the little town of Winterville, this was a lot. We got in line to see Santa but quickly realized that the line was barely moving and Gray would only last until about 8:30 or 9, so we took some pictures and took in the atmosphere and then headed back home. It was a great evening and it really got us in the Christmas spirit. Below are some pictures from that evening.


Gray was bundled up tight.


My sweet baby boy and I love the color green.


Gray was taking in all the Winterville festivities.

On Saturday, we headed to Georgia Square Mall bright and early hoping to beat the crowd to see Santa Claus. We did. We only had to wait a few minutes, and Graylon did so great with Santa. He kept looking up at him trying to figure him out. It was so cute. Gray also had his first shopping experience at Toys 'R Us. I had to take his and Mike's picture outside of the store. It is below as well as the picture of Gray and Santa.


That's Gray in the stroller.


He looks so big and so proud.

Henry turned 1!

Last Saturday, Graylon got to experience his very first 1 year old birthday party. Our great friends Jon and Ashley threw their son Henry one of the coolest parties filled with all kinds of jungle animals, balloons, great food, and fun. We not only got to visit with the Lane's but also with Granna, Pop, Aunt Caryn, Uncle J, Aunt Kelly, Uncle Rick, and cousins Averie and William. That's right...we stopped by and hung out with the newest member of the LaBarbera family...William Anthony. I did not get any pictures which I was pretty bummed about but just getting to see him and Averie was so much fun. Graylon got a first class tour from Averie of her play area. I think he was a little overwhelmed with all the toys and puzzles and stuffed animals and baby dolls.

On Sunday, Gray, Mike, and Grandma Sharon made their way to the Lady Dogs home game against Rutgers. Before the game, Teresa Edwards, a five time Olympian and former Lady Dog was honored for her induction into the Olympic Hall of Fame and also the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. We also unveiled a display case of just her things in the training facility. During this ceremony and later the reception, Graylon got to meet lots of people even Teresa herself. He loved her. The Lady Dogs beat the Scarlet Knights by 1 point and Gray's record went to 2-0.

As Monday was a furlough day for me at work, Grandma Sharon, Gray, and I spent the day shopping in Commerce. It was a enjoyable day and Gray did great. Grandma Sharon bought him his first pair of Stride Rite shoes. They are adorable on him.

I am getting ready to go with the team to Hattiesburg, MS for a Thanksgiving tournament. We leave tomorrow after a home game against Alabama State. Gray and Mike will be in Dalton tomorrow and then heading to Kentucky to visit family. I will be reunited with my two boys on Sunday when we head to Dalton for a special day. Stay tuned to see pictures and hear details from the rest of this week.

Enjoy some pictures below...


Graylon got to meet two VIP in the women's basketball program...Hunter and Melvin.


Gray and Uncle Rick hanging out at the party in their stripes.


The birthday boy, Henry, and his Mama posing for a pic.


Gray chillin out at about 6 ft. 7 in. right before he had cake and ice cream.


So we are trying to get Gray interested in drinking out of a sippy cup. He is getting better.


It was cold on Monday for our shopping spree. We had to bundle Gray up.


This is one of several Christmas sleepers that Gray has. Too cute!


Gray can't get enough of this play wall.


"Hello?"


Daddy and Gray have sooo much fun together.