Hadley Turns 1!

We celebrated Hadley's first birthday on January 25th. I know that was almost a month ago, but better late than never! Anyone who knows me knows that I am doing good to update the blog at all. I drove to Jackson from Waco with my parents and flew back after the festivities. I am so glad that I was able to be there to celebrate Hadley's birthday! Here are few pics.





Mandy made this adorable banner for Hadley. If you can't tell in the picture, it was quite impressive! Below are some of my favorite pics from the day--Hadley is getting a piano lesson from her Grana and Pop. I think she looks like a natural already!

Ben's Graduation

Ben completed his first master's degree in December--a Master of Arts in English. I was SO proud! He has worked incredibly hard to be in two master's programs--and the excel in both if I may say so--at the same time. Here are a few pics from the day.

It is a bit blurry, but this is Ben's face on the big screen as he accepts his degree from Baylor's president, Judge Kenneth Starr. Next Ben is walking across the stage.


Don't we look happy? It was in part because graduation day is a big day--no matter what you are graduating from or to--but it is also because the three and a half hour ceremony was finally over! Below are some friends, Kyndall and Nate, who were also celebrating graduation.

Baby News

It's been a while since our last post, but thanks for the constant, loving reminders from Lindsay, I have decided to post an update. A lot is happening in the lives of the Mangrums these days. Ben graduated with an MA in English in December, and we both graduate from Truett with an Master of Divinity in May. Soon, our time in Waco will come to an end as we move on to somewhere and something else. But the most important and exciting news--we welcome to the world a little bundle of love and joy on July 6 (or some time around then!). Because I am 18 weeks and about to find out if junior is a boy or girl, I figured that I needed to back track on the baby news just a bit.

Here is our first pic after finding out that we were, in fact, pregnant--such fun!


Next, our first trip to the doctor who confirmed the good news. Below is junior's first picture! I know, he or she looks like a shellfish then but by now the baby already has all the makings of an adorable baby boy or girl, complete with all major organs, bones that are in the process of hardening, and ears that can hear!

The happy parents!


Soon after we started telling friends, we received our first baby gift--for the little bear cub--from our dear friends Corey and Rachel.