Our Christmas Tree 2010!

This was such a special Christmas this year with it being Hawkins' first Christmas. It all went by so fast, so I wanted to take some pictures of our Christmas tree and some of our favorite ornaments - old and new.

Here is our tree in our new house!

This sterling silver rocking horse was given to Hawkins by sweet Miss Lynne Jordan. She encouraged me to start him a ornament collection and add one every Christmas.

Baby's 1st Christmas

This monogrammed silver cross was given to me at my Christmas shower during our engagement in 2009.

This was my ornament made in 1983 when I was one year old!

I love this one! It was given to Hawkins this year by Wink and Floyd. A sweet angel boy with Hawkins' name on it.

Katie gave us this one last year - we had just found out we were moving to Thomasville.

Katie's mom, Sharon, gave this to Hawkins. It has the bible verse "Train up a child in the way that he should go..." and it has a train on it - cute!

This was also given to me at my Christmas shower in 2009...

Another one for Hawkins!

This is my favorite for this year!

Another first Christmas...

I made this sheep when I was a little girl in Sunday school - I can't believe my Mom saved it!

I told my parents and sister I was pregnant last year with this ornament!

I loved our tree and was so sad to take it down!

Christmas post to come...

Rice Cereal! Yummy!

Hawkins first time eating rice cereal! It did not go well at first, but by the third time he loved it!

Hawkins' First Flight!

Sweet Hawkins took his very first flight on an airplane!!

Thanksgiving

Hawkins and I spent almost a whole week in Americus the week of Thanksgiving! It was nice to have a little "vacation" from home and be spoiled by my Mom. We had to get down there early for Hawkins' Sip N See that Honey hosted for her friends to meet Hawkins. He was the hit of the party of course!

The beautiful table

Hawkins with Aunt Katie

Leola was there!

Thanksgiving Day in Newnan

Hawkins and Big Daddy

Hawkins and Honey

Four generations

Camo overalls for the farm!

Hawkins' second date with Miller Anne

Hawkins with Aunt Nina and Aunt Katie

Ahhh-choo!

The Raybon household is going on week number 2 of being sick. We have used alot of kleenexs! First it was Robbie and me sick all last week with a nasty nasty head cold. We brought home some sort of bug from Thanksgiving, which lasted a full 7 days. Finally on Saturday I went to the urgent care clinic and they gave me nose drops and that cleared me right up!

The day I finally felt better Hawkins woke up with pink eye! He could not even open his eye b/c he had so much gunk - it was the most pitiful thing I have ever seen! We went straight to the doctor and got him some drops that have almost cleared it up. I thought he was ok and had no other "sick" symptons, so off we went to Atlanta! Well, I very shortly became the worst mother in the world b/c the pinkeye turned into a full blown cold - my baby has his first cold! Coughing, sneezing, stopped up and a runny nose - horrible! He was up ALL night long the one night we were in Atlanta, and I learned my lesson the hard way. That is really the first night in his life he has been up literally all night long. We left first thing the next morning to get that baby home to his own bed.

We have been laying low and recovering and Hawkins is feeling better (but still sick). He is happy to be at home in his own bed in his own routine. This Mommy is still feeling guilty for dragging him to Atlanta for my own benefit, but we all make mistakes in this game called Motherhood.

Feel better soon Hawkins!

Happy Four Month Birthday, Baby Boy!

Today is Hawkins FOUR month birthday!

He got an excellent report at his check up, and Dr. Jones said he was "perfect"! (We already knew that!)

Weight: 14 lbs 4 oz (50% percentile)
Length: 25 3/4 (74 percentile)

He is growing by the day and getting so big. Hawkins, here is what you are doing this month:

-You rolled over last Monday November 22! What a big boy!
You have done it twice since then on Nov. 24th and 29th.

-I noticed a speck of your first tooth coming in on the bottom! You have been drooling up a storm and fussy, so I can assume that is why!

-You wear 6 month clothes and are quickly outgrowing your 3 month outfits.

-You just started wearing size 2 diapers, and we love Pampers the best!

-I have started putting a bib on you at all times (except when sleeping of course) because you drool so much!

-You are sleeping great at night! From 8:30pm until about 7am. This has drastically changed my life - I can get through the day without a nap and have energy!

-Your naps are iffy, but you usually take a good morning nap from 8:30-10, then eat and play, nap at noon, eat at 2pm, play and nap again at 3:30.

I am working on your evening nap, because currently you refuse to take it and end up being awake for several hours and become a screaming mess by 7:30 until you get your bath and nighttime bottle.

-Your Daddy always give you your bath at night and you love it! You splash around and kick your rubber duckies. Then you have a 7 oz bottle - this usually makes you fall fast asleep! Daddy really knows how to get you relaxed and put to bed the best!

-You are starting to grab at objects. If I put a rattle in your hand you can hold it and swing it at other toys on your activity gym. You are becoming aware of your toys and that they make noises. I put a toy dangling in front of you in your bouncy seat and you love to stare at it and grab for it. It makes you mad that you can't pull it in your mouth!

-Everything goes into your mouth! You still love to suck on your fist and fingers, but now other things are making their way to your mouth!

-You are becoming very aware of your surroundings and LOVE people! You follow people with your eyes in and out of the room and are very alert during your awake time. You love when anyone sings to you or talks to you. This always makes you smile even when you are crying.

-Riding in the car has become a pain. You hate your carseat and cry every time I put you in it. You will calm down once we get moving in the car, but you don't just sleep like you used to :)
-You love to blow bubbles and coo at Mommy and Daddy!

-You know your Mommy and Daddy and become excited just at the sight of us. It warms my heart when you do this! My voice can instantly soothe you especially when I sing to you.

We love you so much!

Soaking it in...

I find myself hurrying and hurrying to the next task, next chore, next feeding, next nap and next time for me to have a quiet moment - especially now that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is fast approaching. Everyone who knows me knows I love babies and have waited practically my whole life to have one of my own. Now I do and he is the love of my life! But I become obsessed with thinking about the next thing on my to-do list and being a good wife and having dinner cooked and clothes folded - I am afraid I am missing out on the best times of having a baby. My baby will be 4 months old tomorrow and is growing SO FAST! Too fast! This is truly my favorite age of a baby (although I know I will love every age), so I want to cherish every moment - every feeding, every burp and spit up and every diaper change.

Also, I don't want Hawkins to be spoiled (like that is even an option!), so I try not to hold him all day or let him just sleep in my arms or run to him every time he makes a whimper. Well, I miss these precious moments, so a few nights ago I gave him his nighttime bottle and he fell asleep on my shoulder. I just sat there for forever and rocked my sweet baby. His chubby cheek was on my shoulder and I just kissed it and held him close and soaked in that special moment. I want to do this more because time passes by too quickly and before I know it he will be a toddler!

Honey's 60th Birthday!

I am way behind on posts because I have been so busy baking cheesestraws! Yes, you heard right - I am back at selling cheesestraws! I took a long break when we moved and after I had the baby, so it is nice to be making some money and keeping busy.

On November 7th we celebrated Honey's 60th birthday! Our family had a fun trip planned, but Hurrican Tomas had other plans for us...we had to cancel the trip and postpone Hawkins' first plane ride. Hopefully we will reshedule for early 2011.

We still had a fun family weekend at the Lodge to celebrate. It was nice and cold and Hawkins enjoyed his first fire!

Hawkins is not lacking for attention as you can see...

Leola was the only one who could get him to go to sleep!

The Birthday Girl!

Virginia and Mom

Leola gave Hawkins his night bottle just like she did for me!

Aunt Katie with Hawkins

Aunt Virginia with Hawkins

Finally a picture with Mommy!

Lunch on Sunday

Big Daddy and Hawkins

With Honey and Big Daddy

My Honey loves me!