Happy Happy New Year

Uncle Ty finally got a picture made with Braedon... And he is actually awake!!!!

He Loves his mama the bestest of all... this of course was the high light of Christmas.

Santa's got nothing on Grandma.... Granny Jayi was proud of her bib

Braedon loves his daddy and laughed and laughed at him Christmas morning..talking about making Christmas... it was wonderful

Family picture at Mawmaw's. Braedon had to strip cause it was so hot

I'm on Santa's Nice list for at least one year... He loves his jumper but he hates hats...

This is Braedon's Uncle Michael's Look... Granny Jayi calls it his go to hell look.

Well it's over!!! It was a long wonderful Christmas week but it's over. This is the first year that I was ready for Christmas to be over with. The hussle and bussle finally got to me I guess. The decision was made BY ME that this is the last year my family will leave my house anytime on Christmas day. It's just to much and the next years will just get harder and harder with Braedon. We all had a wonderful time though, ate to much, got to much and enjoyed every minute of it. Braedon, of course, didn't know what was going on, but he got so much and we just don't have a place for it. Guess I will be finding room for everything now. I am fixing to start redoing my house I guess. Its a act of Congress to get all our stuff down but it's gotta be done. Anyway enjoy the pictures and I hope everyone has a great start to the new year.

Happy New Year,

Love

The Banks

PS... I also finally figured how to load images like everyone else so I will soon Rearrange my page if I ever have time.

Merry Christmas To All

Well we have had a busy busy weekend. Sunday was our play date with Jessica, Stacey, Nikki, Nichole and all the kids. IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!! Addison, Camryn, Briley, Braedon, Maggie, and Lilli Kathryn all seemed to really enjoy themselves as well. I can't wait til we do it again and all the kids are up walking or crawling and getting into everything. My house is not child proof we did learn that. But it never will be at Christmas time. I think we need to all get together at the swimming pool this summer so they will be contained. Sunday night Braedon, Granny, and I went to see Landon and Savanah's Christmas program and it was wonderful. The kids always do a great job. Landon and Savanah both had solos and sounded wonderful. I hope they will always use their talents. Landon got to come over Monday and play with Braedon. We ended up riding to Starkville with Nichole and Briley and went to eat at Oby's. We had a great time visiting with them. We missed Savanah though and I hope she gets to come over sometime during the holidays. Braedon and I spent the day with Nichole and Briley today. We had a great time catching up and will greatly miss them until we see them again. Maybe we can get up there soon... hopefully for someone's 1st Birthday coming up soon. Johnathan is home now so I guess we will get Christmas started... it will be a long two days but I am sure we will enjoy every minute of it. I can't wait til next year when Braedon will know what is going on. He is loving all the lights this year though and getting so big. I can't believe he will be three months old on Christmas. Its amazing how time flies!!!! Well I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and I will post pictures of the playdates soon.

Love, Michele

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Happy Birthday Granny... We Love You and hope you have a great day!!!!

Life is busy busy busy these days and I have not gotten a chance to sit a take a breath lately much less get on the internet. Christmas shopping has really gotten to me this year and I just don't understand why in the world we exchange gifts any more. I say leave it for the children. I don't need anything and there is not an adult I am buying for that needed anything either. Anyway I am about done with it all THANK GOODNESS. I am looking forward to Braedon's 1st Christmas but the hussle and bussle and the deciding where we going each day is getting on my last nerve. I am looking forward to Sunday. I can't wait to see Lilli Kathryn, Maggie, Briley, and Addison. It will be a house full but it will be wonderful all being together. I am trying my best to get the house ready. I don't know why I am trying to clean it all up knowing that the kids don't care and the mama's all understand the busiest of motherhood. House work used to be a priority to me but boy has that changed. Anyway I just wanted to drop in a post while I had a chance. I am at work but I am fixing to leave. Got lots to do.

Merry Christmas to Everyone,

Love The Banks

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well it has been a long week this past week but fortunately I am slowing recupperating. I have never before thought what a parent/MOM does when she is sick but I have quickly learned that it is not about me and it does not matter how sick I am or tend to be. Last week of course we had the funeral and the killed the big deer. This weekend was long as well. John had DU so I had decided to go to the Columbus Christmas parade and then do a little shopping. Well that didn't happen. I miss the parade; but I did go to Belk and Kmart. I bought three presents at a Belk. That's it and that is about all I have bought so far. I am so lacking this year. We were back early and then had to go pick up John. Sunday my cousin's baby, Lawson, was Baptized at the church so of course all three of us got up to attend those services and made it early which is so shocking. We went to eat at Mawmaw's as well and we tried to take family pictures with me, John and Braedon and that was just plain awful. Braedon was happy as a lark until I got the camera out and then it went down hill... Needless to say I did not get a good family picture so I have no idea what I will use for the Christmas cards!!! NO THESE HAVE NOT BEEN DONE YET EITHER... MAYBE THIS WEEKEND!!!! Anyway Mama, Braedon, and I attended the Community Christmas program at 1st Baptist Sunday afternoon and it was just wonderful. ITs amazing the talent we have in Noxubee county. I was amazed at the people. Monday was a day as well... All three of us Banks woke up snuffy. Braedon ran fever but then he was fine; I had to take Johnathan back to the boat for work in Mobile and I was gone until like 3 in the morning. Thank God for Granny!!! We stayed with her and she helped a lot. Tuesday I was back at work in full swing with both of us sick. We are a little better now but the weather is not helping. It just needs to snow or quit raining. We have had enough. I had my 6 month inspection today and passed so that is over with. Now I am just trying to figure out what I am going to quickly get everyone for Christmas, how, and when I am going to get my house finished up. I am planning a little get together and I am trying to get my house clean and decorated. It is so much harder with a little one, but I don't know what I did without him. Well that is my past week and we have a even busier weekend coming up. We are to meet Braedon's Great Aunt Gentry for the 1st time Saturday night and have the Gentry Christmas Sunday so Busy Busy. Hope everyone is having the Jolliest of Days....

John is home

John came home this week. Unfortunately he had to come home for a terrible reason. His Meemaw, Clyde Jones, died last Sunday night. She would have been 90 years old on the 17th of this month. We just loved Meemaw and I adored her sense of humor. We are just so thankful that she got to meet her youngest great grandchild. She just adored him the weekend we brought him home. She has been staying with her daughter, Margie, in Fairhope, Al since that weekend. We will surely miss Meemaw. I did get to meet lots of new family this week at her funeral. I have met most of the people before but it had been a long time. It was nice enjoying their company and getting to know them all a little better. John has had a terrible time this week but he did do something he has been trying to do since OCTOBER 1st. HE GOT A BUCK!!! We are thrilled for him. He has been watching this buck for months on his game camera and finally he got a shot at him this afternoon. He does not surpass all the bucks on the wall but my gut tells me, the buck will be the next one mounted. Let's pray not. This weekend is DU and we all know that is a huge night in Noxubee county. I do believe that Braedon and I will be attending his first Christmas Parade in Columbus if it is not tooo cold. Anyway I hope everyone has a good week and please keep the Jones' Family in your prayers.

Braedon's First Thanksgiving

Well this year was Braedon's 1st Thanksgiving and unfortunately John was not home with us this year. Breadon and I spent lunch at Mawmaw and Pawpaw Presley's house with all the family. We missed Chad and Terra as well this year. Chad had to work and Terra was at her mother's. We all had a wonderful lunch then Braedon and I went to Columbus to Kmart and Wal mart just to get out and plus we needed dog food. We just had a peaceful day together.
Friday I enjoyed Black Friday shopping with Mrs. Carrie Franks although we did not get as much this year as we have in years past. We did do some good eating though. Braedon stayed with Granny Jayi and they went to spend the day with Grandma Billie in Caledonia. We know Grandma and Gerald really enjoyed this and Grandma tooks lots of pictures. The rest of the weekend was spent lazing around the house and at Granny's where I had to put up the Christmas tree. This year mama decided that since she was now a Grandmother that she would do colored lights on her tree so we enjoyed helping her decorate her house although I am not yet through with mine. My stuff is not outside yet and my snow baby tree is still not up. I am just so busy these days. I plan on having it all finished up this weekend... HOPEFULLY.

Our Busy Weekend

Well we had a busy yet fun filled weekend! Friday Savanah came home with us from eating lunch with her at school! We all went to Mrs. Gloria Cade's house to visit with Jessica and Lily Catherine. She is just so tiny;it's hard to believe Braedon was once that small. Jen Jen came over Friday night and cooked us supper and we watched a movie. I really enjoyed spending that time with Jenn; it had been awhile since we had sat down and caught up with one another plus she got some alone time with Braedon and I think she enjoyed that as well. Saturday morning we got up early and went to Memphis to see another special friend... Nichole. Nichole had not yet gotten to see him so we went to see her plus I saw an opportunity for shopping and a road trip so we took off with Granny along for help! Braedon was fantastic. He slept all the way there. He road around in his stroller and looked and cat napped. He was an angel. He even got to meet Santa Claus for the first time. Hopefully he will always do as well as he did this year when having his pic made with Santa. I missed up though I had his Christmas outfit in the bag and forgot to put it on him!!! Oh well! We really enjoyed visiting and shopping with Nichole and can't wait to see her again at Christmas! Yesterday we didn't to much. We tried to make it to church but after I got peed on and crapped upon we made it to the door about ten minutes late and he started screaming bloody murder so I just gave up and went to mama's and sat until it was time to decorate the church and eat Brunswick stew. We went back to church and ate a wonderful meal and visited with family. We spent the day at Granny's house where I took a much needed nap while he slept and Granny took care of him when he woke up. Mawmaw and Pawpaw come and visited for a minute last night. Today, Braedon got his first set of shots. He got two in one leg and one in the other plus an oral something. He did wondefully. I was so shocked and his nurse was fantastic. She had all three shots done and finished before I could even get a pacy in his mouth and he cried just that long. He is so better than his mommy and daddy. We would still be screaming or the nurse would still be chasing us. Anyway it went great. I am sure we will have just another busy week as well. I go back to work tomorrow so pray for us. Who knows how we'll do.

Christmas and play dates

Well the Christmas tree is up and decorated and I have finally started getting everything else down to decorate. My mantle is almost finished and would be finished if the lights would work on my garland but of course they did not so I have to replace them. It is amazing how much stuff I have but it is not going out this year. I am not even putting my village out this year. I guess I am now lazy. Braedon had his first "playdate" yesterday. Savanah and Landon came to spend the afternoon with us FINALLY. We had a great time and they are both so much help with Braedon. Landon even changed his diaper, dressed him, and carried him to the rocking chair BY HIMSELF. I think that is the first male that has changed Braedon's diaper. Savanah couldn't let him out do her so she took him from Landon and rocked him to sleep and when he woke up she fed him his bottle. I do believe Braedon loved the attention and I really enjoyed having them here. I will have to post pictures later. I am fixing to go to Columbus to buy everyone food... the dogs and Braedon and pick up Braedon's 1st pictures that we had taken. I also have to go price curtains because after my fiasco with the fire... the cleaning company lost Braedon's curtains so I have to replace them. If its not one thing, its another. I guess that is all that is happening in our little world for now...

Christmas Time Already???

Well John is gone again unfortunately. He will be gone for two weeks this time and will be home the first week of December after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and all my decorating moments. I just can't get into decorating like I normally do. It is just such a hassle. My tree was suppose to be put up this weekend but it is still sitting here in the box waiting on me to decide to get off my lazy tail and do it. It is just shocking that it is already Tuesday afternoon. I just don't see where the time goes. Anyway about the tree. My tree and mantle piece are always just absolutely gorgeous and they might eventually be this year. I just do not like fluffing this huge tree and if I get the thing out of the box and the lights don't work I will be fit to be tied and will probably just go get a live tree and say screw the big one. I didn't want a pre lit tree but being that it is like 10 ft high not to mention how round I could get the pre lit cheaper than buying the lights. Anyway I say every year that I am going to just do the christmas balls on the big tree and put the cutsy ornaments on another. Well maybe next year cause this year it is just going to be one. I am not up to doing two trees. That can be the one Braedon helps with next year. I also can't decide about shopping on Black Friday. I have always always loved it and wouldn't miss it for the world. I am just not there this year. Braedon would be easy enough to take but I just don't want him out and about that day. Granny Jayi has claimed she will keep him but that is just so early to leave him with someone not to mention I know mama needs her sleep and her peace. There is nothing I need to go fight the crowds for anyway cause I have no idea what in the world I am going to buy anyone at all this year. Everyone is so hard to buy for because there is no one that needs anything including myself. I have told Johnathan that I want a tri colored minature shih'tzu but I really don't that is just something else for me to take care of. I have no idea what to get Braedon... NEW MOMS... ANY SUGGESTIONS. He needs nothing at all and he will not know what is going on by any means. Anyhow I am just rambling on and on while he is sleeping. He has no cares in the world. He will get his first set of shots on Monday and I am dreading it probably because after that I have to go back to work which stinks. Fortunatetly Braedon will be right there with me but I still don't want to go back. Maybe Johnathan will quickly decide that I need to stay at home and raise kids real soon. Landon and Savanah are suppose to be coming to spend the afternoon with us tomorrow.. YAY... I am so excited. They have not been over in a long time. Hopefully we will have fun doing something. I might just save the tree for them two to put up... Maybe they will like that. Who knows what we might end up doing. This weekend I think I have officially decided that I am leaving early Saturday morning and going to spend the day in Memphis with Nichole and her family. Mama is going to ride along I hope to make it a little easier. I can't wait to see her. It seems like it has been forever and a day. Anyway that is enough of my life in the moment. Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!!!!!

Daddy's week Home

Well its been a pretty decent week although it feels like it flew by. We have been busy and in the road. Braedon had his first trip to Mossy Oak shopping with his daddy and Bradley on Wednesday; Mama had to tag along though of course. I can't wait until they can just take him without it being a big hassle or better yet when Braedon is throwing a fit to go and they have to take him. They just think he is a little hard right now. I believe their adventures ALONE might soon come to an end. John and I had a little time to ourselves Saturday night while Braedon stayed at Granny Jayi's. We were suppose to go eat and to a movie but of course we didn't make it to the movies cause John took Jacob hunting and of course he killed a deer. A deer is always killed when I have plans. It never fails!!! We did get to go to Harvey's in Starkville of all places because the State/Alabama game was on. It was an exciting place to eat though cow bells were everywhere. Thank goodness we weren't there at the end. It was probably way depressing. Today was our first Thanksgiving celebration together. Matter of fact it will be our only one together because John will leave Tuesday and will not be back until the first week of December. But we are not going to complain because he actually gets Christmas off this year. PRAISE GOD!!! I would hate for him to miss Braedon's first Christmas although he will not know what is going on. We went to the Banks' house today though and Braedon slept on my chest through the entire meal. He is kinda hard to lay down. As a matter of fact he wouldn't let me lay him down to type this so he is asleep on a pillow on the floor beside me. Well here are some new pics of my little turkey. I hate he would not wake up for some. Hope everyone has a good week!!!!

Home Again

We are finally home. Braedon and I moved back home Monday after two weeks of living with Granny. I sure received lots of help while we were there but I was ready to get back home. I am sure Granny was ready to send us home to although we know she misses us!!!! The smell is almost gone. There are a few scents every now and then but for the most part it is starting to smell like home again. Johnathan came home Tuesday evening; he claims the house smells like a hospital and it kinda does but even a hospital smells better than what we were smelling two weeks ago. Johnathan can't get over how much Braedon has grown in two weeks. I know he is getting big but I can't imagine going two weeks without seeing him. Thank God for internet. At least John can see pictures all the time. We know he misses us when he is gone though. Anyway just letting everyone know we are back home. Now we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hopefully we can get the tree up some time this weekend so John can carry it down here. SInce I got the 10 ft tree it is to big for me to pick up. If I don't do it this weekend I have no idea when I might get to do it. Hopefully if I am up to it, we are going to see Nichole in Memphis next weekend if we figure out where we might meet up if it works out. I was going to spend the night but it is just to difficult still. Anyway hope everyone is having a decent week!!!

Home!!!

Well we tried to MOVE back home today. I loaded up everything that I had at Mama's house and we went home. I unloaded, put all the clothes up, made bottles, and straightened up my mess. I then went outside to transfer the car seat base from mama's car to my car and John called. He was asking how things were going and I sat and talked to him a minute while mama had Braedon inside. I got to describing this bad taste in my mouth and how I had a small headache. I was not thinking about the facts. I did not develop this until I had been in the house about 2 hours. Well needless to say it was the paint smell that was making me sickly. Come to find out mama was feeling the same way but had not said anything because she thought it was just her. Well my wonderful husband said that if it was affecting me like that to imagine what it could be doing to him. SO WE ARE BACK AT MAMA's. I am going to give it one more night to air out and then I am going home. Some of you might not know this but I am use to two weeks alone in my own house doing as I please and just taking it easy. Well I have not been home alone for two weeks. I have not got anything done like I wanted to before I went back to work and now I am almost crazy. Don't get me wrong! I love all the help mama has been giving me and I can't wait until John gets home this time. We have lots planned to do because next time he comes home I will be back working and I am really looking forward to our time together. Not to mention Braedon needs to see his Daddy as much as possible. Anyway I have been on my soap box for a little too long I guess. I better go check on my baby. Pray for us!

I think I got it!!!

Well Ihad time to work on this thing a little today. I hope all that visits enjoys the pictures and the comments about the pictures. I guess I will fill everyone in on our last two weeks. On Sunday (nearly two weeks ago) the night John was going back to work, I decided to try my hand at cooking since I have been cooking a lot lately. I was boiling chicken, Braedon was asleep in his baby bed for the 1st time and I sat down on the couch. Well I fell asleep like an idiot being as I was give out and I woke up choking on smoke in the house. I quickly went a got Braedon and by the Grace of God the child was breathing a fine. We sat outside until John got home from hunting and then we aired the house out. Well it didn't help that much and we had to get insurance involved the next morning. Meanwhile Braedon and I have been at my mother's for nearly two weeks and although I can not complain because mama is a lot of help, we are more than ready to be back home. Home is home and its a lot easier being a home with a newborn. We have had servpro had our house for the past two weeks cleaning and deodorizing and ozoning the house. It smells better but the smell is not all gone. They took all the clothes, curtains, towels, and everything washable with them to be washed... Thank goodness cause it would have been a headache doing all that with a baby. The ceilings got painted today and hopefully Braedon and I will be back home tomorrow night!!! Praise God!!! He has truly blessed us. It is a miracle me and my little man are even alive not to mention thriving with our family. I don't know what I would do without my mama. Anyway we are moving back home tomorrow and when I say move I mean move. It is a act of Congress living some place besides home with a baby. Johnathan will be home on Tuesday and hopefully life will go on NORMALLY for a little while. THEN we will be decorating for Christmas which I am so excited about. I just hope I can get it all done with a little one. Anyway just wanted to fill everyone in on our new adventure.

OH BRAEDON IS NOW ROLLING OVER. He has rolled over three times in the past couple of days. I just think he is still to little to be doing this but he is proving otherwise. He is never ever still and he grunts all the time. I have a feeling we are going to have a very active little boy.

A New Blog

Well I am new at this but I am going to try it so we can stay in touch with our out of town family and friends. I have always enjoyed looking at Stacey's blog and maybe one day I will do as good a job as she does but right now I am learning.