Welcome to the world, Casen!

A couple weeks ago, Brittany and I went to stay with our sweet mama-to-be friend. We had a great time at what I deemed as Lindsay's "Babe-lorette Weekend." :-)


Even though Baby Casen was.....


.....we still figured it would most likely going to be our last Girls Weekend before we added a little boy to our bunch.

As it turns out, we were definitely right on that!

In fact, Linds called me on Thursday afternoon to let me know that it appeared sweet Casen just couldn't wait til 2012 to come. Little buddy wanted in on the party and who can blame him!? His parents are pretty fun.

Superwoman Linnie went into full labor Thursday night, texted me in between contractions, and then in the early morning hour I got this!


Casen Ryan was born healthy, happy, and cute as can be at 4:44am!


And his mama and daddy could not have been more excited to greet him!




People came from miles around to love on this sweet family of THREE.

I hit the road that morning and made it into town around lunch. I couldn't wait to get that sweet boy in my arms. Aunt Bean and the babe!


I told him I had a lot of tricks to teach him but we'd get to that another time when he wasn't so busy sleeping and being an angel.

Actually, this is the aunt we really need to watch out for. She looks sweet, but she's always been trouble.


I was so happy to see these people. Aunt Bri and Uncle Earle!


It felt surreal that we there visiting Linds and her new baby! Weren't we all just hanging out at Merrywood Drive trying to decide whether to go to class or not?

And now we have our first Merrywood Babe!


And we can't get enough.








It was so great hanging out at the hospital and we got to see a ton of Casen's family whom we love!

Ms. Carol (Lindsay's sweet mama) with her first grandbaby.


Casen's cousin, Knox, also came to visit! These two little guys are only 2 weeks apart. I bet they won't team up and cause any trouble in the years to come. :-)


With Uncle Benjamin.


Linds hanging out with her sweet brothers Benj and Chad.


The proud grandparents.


It was so fun to see Justin and Linds gush over Casen. They are going to be such amazing parents, and it was sweet to see them transition into their roles so easily and with such excitement. Casen is blessed to have them!

I mean look - Linds can swaddle a baby upside down! Now that is skill.




It was sad when it was time to hit the road back home. But man! Newborns are exhausting! ;-)


I rode home thinking about how thankful I am for these sweet friends and all the life we're living together.


Sweet Casen opened up a whole new chapter here at the end of 2011. And we are greatly blessed!

Twenty!

I am thoroughly enjoying this whole holiday situation that has come along with working in higher edcuation. I don't have to go back until the 3rd, so I have been living it up all week!

Tuesday and Wednesday were super fun days!

The 2 out-of-the-house Hagan children had been in town and I was excited to head over Tuesday to get a little face time (non iPhone edition) with Justin, Marlee, and the rest of the Hagan crew.

As usual, the kitchen table was the place to be. The game of the day: Chicken Foot.






There was also another something special brewing behind the scenes for this girl.


Her birthday was the next day and a certain red-headed giant was on his way to the Boro to surprise her.

In the above pic she is about 40% unexpecting. (She thought he might be coming but didn't know when or how). Bwhahaha.

What she didn't know is that the plan was for Collin to park his car at the end of the driveway and walk until Marlee saw him. (He would pass by the windows of the kitchen and we wanted to see how long it would take her to notice.) Fun, huh?!?!

Hott Justin dominating at Chicken Foot while we waited for the big reveal.


Thug Jake plotting his next move.


"Oh my what is that? There seems to be a large leprauchaun outside the window." (Not a direct quote.)


Scouting the room at the Surprise Organizational Team.


I know it's hard to believe even though you kind of knew it was going to happen - but go let the boy in already, Marls!


#thatawkwardmoment When everyone follows you and takes pictures of you greeting your boyfriend.


Blurry pics of the welcoming! (Loud clapping and obnoxious yells of glee could be heard for miles.)






Recounting the story and making fun of Marlee and her reaction. What a goon!


That night we went out for Japanese food to celebrate Marlee's bday!






We ended the night back at the house playing Poker and then later - Things! Playing well past midnight, we were able to welcome in Marlee's actual bday in style (mostly more yelling).

The next day, Justin had to go back to New York (so sad), but we made the best of it by all going with Marsha to take him and then spending the day with the Birthday Girl in Savannah.

We took Jake's car and ol' Jacob got stuck in the 3rd row seating. Otherwise known as "The Incredibly Cramped Space Where Body Parts Go to Fall Asleep."


He makes being smooshed up look good, doesn't he?

These two were the life of the party.


After we dropped Justin off at the airport, it was food time. We went to a fave.


Interesting fact. Collin is a yankee from ATL and pronounces this restaurant: "Sweet Po-tay-toes."

We correctly pronounce it: "Sweet Puh-tay-duhs."

The TWENTY year-old and her teenage boyfriend.


I love this girl!


Sweet Puh-tay-duhs has a lot of sweet things.




My salad!


Marlee sampled it and said, "Yum, that's good. It doesn't taste fishy at all!" Which was good - since it was turkey.

We had to try "the best banana pudding on earth."


And Marls had a special dessert of her own.




It was a fun lunch filled with all the normal hilarity.


We spent the day shopping around and when it was time to eat again, we ended up in City Market at Wild Wing Cafe.

Christmas was still alive and well in those parts.




Once home it was time for more games. This time it was Nertz!


Team Revo Speed.




Team Chicken Feet.


They take it seriously.




Here's my partner! She's twenty and has quite the cute ponytail.


Things get crazier as the hours pass on.












Even Phoebe joined in the fun!


Obviously she was having a great time.

It was a great couple of days celebrating the cutest 20 year-old I know!