Finally...updates!!!

Well, it has been a LONG time since my last post. As with everyone else in this country, this has been a really busy time of year for our family! That is what I love about having a blog though...I post when I can, and when I can't...I don't! My priority is the 2 boys inside of my home...when there is a little extra time, hopefully I will post pictures more often! So here starts the updates:

In October I made a final change to my work status for now. I went down to "75%," which is 3 days a week. I am working on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week. Jace is going to daycare at a new place now. He is going to Noah's Ark in Russellville at the Assembly of God church. He goes there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He still has "Auntie Brooke day" on Wednesday each week (and they both LOVE it)! This schedule is a real answer to prayer for Jeff and I. Since Jace has been born, I felt really strongly that the Lord was trying to point me in a different direction with my job. I wasn't sure what that was suppose to look like...we prayed for 8 months about this, and then started to make a few changes. After the first change at work, I continued to feel that I was not where the Lord wanted me. Through much prayer, Jeff and I decided that I needed to talk to my supervisor at work. She is an amazing lady, and I was just really honest with her. I told her that I had no clue where God wanted me, but I knew I wasn't doing what He wanted and I had to make a change. She was really encouraging, and gave me a list of all of the options that I had through our company. There was an option that I (and several of my co-workers) had no clue that it existed which was "75%."
As all of this was taking place, there were several changes that were taking place at our clinic. They moved Jace to a different facility, and not that it was or is a bad thing, but we chose to put him on a waiting list at Noah's Ark because of all of the unknowns about the new daycare at work (location, teacher, curriculum, etc.). When we put him on the list, they told us that it would be next year before they had an opening for him.
 So back to the first part of my story...I came home that night and showed Jeff the information that I got from work. He said, "Brandi, you are not going to believe this...Noah's Ark called, and they have an opening for Tuesdays and Thursdays if we want it for Jace." Thankfully, the Lord showed us clearly what direction He wanted us to go. I am so thankful that I have such a faithful Father!!!

Also in October, Jace dressed up for the Fall Festival at our church. He was a duck...and I have to say...he was a pretty cute one! He started cruising around all of our furniture this month...not quite brave enough to let go...but SOOO close!

In November, the big man started walking at 11 months old. When he started walking...he wasn't kidding! He goes 100% everywhere he goes! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We celebrated with Jeff's mom's side of the family at his Uncle Tom and Aunt Kathy's house on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We celebrated with my mom's side of the family at my parent's house this year. We had a REALLY good time! It was a great holiday. We celebrated Jeff's 28th birthday on the 29th of November. Jace really started doing well with eating more table foods this month. He doesn't turn down much...he likes about anything that you give him.

And now to December! This has been a month full of excitement for our family. On the first, our sweet baby boy turned 1! We had a birthday party at our house on Friday the 3rd. It was really fun, and Jace loved it. Jeff and I got Jace the "Little People Barn" and Jeff built him a swing set with a swing. The swing was a huge hit! Mom and Dad got Jace a power wheels four-wheeler. They had intentions of him using it this spring  outside....but he learned the first week how to get on it and push the button...so he loves to ride it now! My sis and bro-in-law got Jace a tunnel. It  has 2 tunnels and 3 tents. One of the tents is a ballpit in which Jace LOVES. We love this gift....it even takes up our entire living room :). Jeff's parents got Jace a wagon. It has been too cold for a ride so far, but I know that he will love it in the spring!
Jeff and I celebrated our 5th anniversary on the 17th. We went to Little Rock for the night and had dinner and stayed at the Peabody. We went Christmas shopping on that Saturday. Jace stayed the night with Nonni and Poppa T. The 20th was my birthday. I had a wonderful day. It was my day off, so I got to stay at home with my little man and play all day. That evening Mom, Dad, Brooke, John, Jeff, Jace, & I went to Chilli's in Conway. We started celebrating Christmas on the 23rd. We had the George family Christmas at my parent's house this year. We had a wonderful time. We had an unsuccessful attempt at building a gingerbread house. We played dirty santa (I got The Blind Side....I was pumped!!!!). We had a variety of yummy mexican food. Jace had a great time getting to play with everyone, especially my cousin Bryson...Jace loves to be the center of attention. On the 24th, Jeff, Jace, and I hung out at home for the morning. That afternoon we celebrated with Jeff's parent's. We went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It is one of my most favorite things about Christmas! I love it that we get to take a minute and worship...just taking a break from all of the chaos and focusing on the Father! Following the Christmas Eve service, we went to my parent's house for a little while. We got our traditional Christmas p.j.s and went home for bed. Jeff, Jace, and I had Christmas at our house on Christmas morning. Jace woke up at 5:15. It was really funny, it was like he knew he was suppose to be excited about something because he just couldn't go back to sleep. We gave him our gifts to him, and santa brought him a stocking full of goodies.  We celebrated Christmas with my parents and sis and bro-in-law around 8 that morning. We had the best time! My mom always makes the BEST breakfast of the year on Christmas morning...and once again it was YUMMY!! After we finished Christmas there, my boys and I went home and got ready for the rest of our day. We went to Booneville to celebrate with the Corbitt side of the family. It is special every year too. We love to get to see everyone, eat yummy food, listen to Pops read the Christmas story, play dirty santa, and the list goes on and on!

So now....you are finally up to date with the Akin's!