Christmas in Spartanburg . . . Part One!

We were in Spartanburg for quite a few days . . . the 20th -25th! We had such a busy and fun time I had to break it up into three posts! Part one is our arrival, visit to First Baptist Church, a visit to see Grandma Betty and the Nettles extended family Christmas party/Lubba's 90th Birthday party!

Grady LOVES Irene and throughout our stay he loved staring at her and copying all her facial expressions! Here you can see how smitten he is with her!

Grady trying on Mason's hat!

Grady in big church with Dad! He thought it was so boring and wondered why we didn't put him in nursery so he could play!

He decided to just sleep until......

Uncle Gene arrived and he was SO excited because he loves to laugh at Uncle Gene and his silly hair! haha!

More giggles with Uncle Gene....church had not started yet. Once it did I had to take Grady out to settle him and get him to stop talking. =) Thankfully he fell asleep!

Grady with his Greatgrandmother Betty!

Grady with Lubba . . . a great-great aunt??? We celebrated her 90th Birthday!

Grady getting a bottle from Aunt Sherry! He always covers his eyes when he eats now as if to block out the light and everyone around him. I guess he wants a peaceful meal!

Happy 90th Lubba!

The annual gingerbread house making contest with the Nettles and Sharpe girls!

Santa comes to visit Grady!

Santa came to visit Grady a few days early since we would be in Spartanburg and Charleston Christmas day. We started with the Christmas story, then sat on the steps and went into the living room to see what Santa brought (he even left a letter)! It was a FUN first Christmas with Grady!

Waiting for the "go" from Dad!

Grady's new chair!

Watching the lights on the muscial toy.

Loving his new high chair!

Wondering how to open the food and probably why he hasn't gotten any yet...soon he will!

You would think he just ate the way he was licking his fingers!

Knees to the Earth

In Sunday School this week our teacher asked us to think of song lyrics that influence our life. Of course there are plenty of songs that have negative influences on us, but the song I kept thinking of was my favorite, "Knees to the Earth." I couldn't think of the song title in class, but I finally remembered it. I heard this song in a few weddings and think it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It should be playing for you as you read this. As we near Jesus' birthday I wanted to share the lyrics with you. It is a time to be in awe of Jesus and how wonderful He is! We are so blessed to have a Saviour that loves us unconditionally and would give His life for us! I hope that we will all glorify Him, treasure Him, love Him always, and remember that He is the reason we celebrate Christmas! We are praising Him for all the wonderful blessings He has given us this year, Grady especially!

Knees to the Earth
Wonderful Savior
My heart belongs to Thee
I will remember always the blood You shed for me
Wonderful Savior
My heart will know Your worth
So I will embrace You always as I walk this earth

Chorus:
Be blessed, be loved, be lifted high
Be treasured here
Be glorified
I owe my life to You my Lord
Here I am....

Beautiful Jesus
How may I bless Your heart?
Knees to the earth I bow down to everything You are
Beautiful Jesus
You are my only worth
So let me embrace You always as I walk this earth

Chorus

Christmas Time is Here!

Christmas is only 9 days away! We hope you all receieved our first family Christmas card! I was very eager to get those out as it was my first time to make and send Christmas cards! We have been very busy and really enjoying this time of year with Grady! He is such a precious miracle and we are so thankful for him!

Grady had his first overnight away from Mama and Dad this past week! Yes, it was HARD for us! We hosted a Christmas party at our house and they wanted to babysit him in Spartanburg. He spent last Thursday and Friday night with Richard's parents, Papa and Gmom/Nana/Grancy (not sure still)! Grady had a blast and Aunt Irene even came on Friday! Gmom bought him an adorable Christmas outfit and took him to meet Santa! He liked Santa, but we'll see what happens next year! Remember on his "4 Month" post how I said he wouldn't smile in his pictures at Portrait Innovations? Well, here is the only picture I bought. It's still cute, even though he didn't smile.

Grady helped me decorate the tree! At least he laughed and giggled at me while I decorated. I guess his help was not being fussy so I could do it.

He's holding his ornament from Papa and Gmom!

Mama and Grady waiting in line to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

Grady with Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

An attempt with the timer to get a family photo by our tree.

Daddy taught me how to stand

This past week I had a lot of Christmas parties to go to, Bunco, Bible Study, etc. and Richard therefore had a lot of one on one time with Grady! Well, the other day Richard said, "I want to show you what I have taught Grady the last few nights." He propped Grady up by the coffee table and let go. Of course I was nervous (my baby is only 4 months old) but he surprised me and stood by himself for a few minutes! I videoed most of it and he even let go two or three times and grabbed back on. I was shocked! After that we got a picture of what we mainly work on . . . sitting up! He's getting the hang of it, but leans forward to stay balanced. He's growing way to fast for us! Grady doing what he does best . . . checking out those cool hands!

Grady tries to watch TV

One of Grady's favorite places to play is on his Tigger mat (thanks Mama!) and for us to make all sorts of noises at him. Well, if we have the TV on (very often in football season) he does his best to watch it, even when we have him facing away from it. He will turn his head further than we thought a head could turn. Here are a few pics that show just how much he loves TV! What's that your watching Grady???

OH, it's football, as usual!

Weekend in Savannah

We went to Savannah with Jamie and Sarah (and new baby on the way in June...YEAH!) about a week ago to visit Gene and Rosanne. We made a stop by their cool store, Genealogy (http://itsinhergenes.com/index.html) for Sarah and I to do a little shopping for ourselves! On Saturday we went downtown Savannah for some yummy pizza and walked down River Street. When we left Sunday we stopped by Ridgeland so Grady could meet his greatgrandmother.

Uncle Gene and Grady in Genealogy

Richard and I

Uncle Gene, Aunt Rosanne and Grady

Uncle Jamie, Aunt Sarah and baby cousin!

Grady staying warm in Uncle Gene's jacket.

Grady giggling at Uncle Gene!

Family photo - believe it or not, the red was not planned.

Uncle Jamie, Aunt Sarah and baby cousin! Richard ordered the extra large icecream cone!

We got a picture that included the boys pulling the carriage we were in, but I think it was on Sarah's camera. Love this one though!

Aunt Rosanne, Grady and me

Great-Grandmama Nettles and Grady