The Whelans

Okay, I don't even know where to begin.... It has been way too long. If nothing else, I really want to update this blog for my records. I am not good at keeping baby books, (poor Mamie doesn't even have one yet), and so this is going to be my  'baby book.'

 So much has happened since our little Mamie Lou  Hoo  was born, that I don't think I could ever catch up.  I will do the best I can!

 Right now, I am working 32 hours a week and have 2 kids. Needless to say, life never stops!!!  Mamie has rocked our world and made life so complete all at the same time.  She is my little high maintenance diva, but so dang cute we don't even care (sometimes:)).  At almost 8 months, she is trying so hard to crawl- is isn't pretty, but she is close! She is doing patty cake with Mama , and 'talking' all the time. She adores her big brother and always tries to pull his hair. Everyone tells me she is such a happy baby, which is true when she has attention!

Jack is 2.5 now. He is still my sweet boy, so sensitive, but also very, very stubborn. I was talking to his speech therapist one day about how I cannot wait to be able to reason with him. She said, 'Honey, you are never going to reason with that child!' Recently, Jack has started a speech and language preschool at the university and it has been  the biggest blessing from God! He absolutely loves it and comes home doing gorilla moves, chicken dances and imitating us talking! We still have a long way to go with his speech, but to see some progress is so encouraging! I have had quite a few sleepless nights worried about this child, why is he so speech delayed, is something bigger wrong?? Basically, my fear was bigger than my faith! We just had a great meeting wit h his teachers at school
And they said, he is just speech delayed. Music to my ears!!!  Anyway, I will keep updating as we get them.

Almost a month later, I figured I would announce the birth of our daughter on here, for all the grandparents who read this thing!

Mamie joined our family on July 16th at 3:22 p.m.  She weighed 7 lb. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long.  I still can't believe we had a girl! Even though, I really feel like I knew it was a girl :).  We feel so blessed to have one of each!! And, of course 2 healthy babies.... I am so very thankful.  At night, when I am feeding Mamie at 1:30, 4:30, whenever it may be, I try to put things in perspective and thank God for my sweet blessings.  I do not feel worthy!

Now onto life with two... It is no joke! Some days I feel like I finally have it under control.  And then other days, Josh comes home to me in tears.  I have two precious children who need me all day long.  I love it, but it's hard! I read a great article the other day about how hard motherhood is.  The mother who wrote the article was saying how much she enjoyed motherhood because it made her grow closer to God and rely on Him all day long.  I love that, because I have felt that same way.  It is so comforting that we don't have to do this on our own! And, I have to brag on my husband.  I give him a hard time, but he has really picked up the slack around here, while dealing with a tired, overwhelmed, and hormonal wife! I don't know how single mothers do it; I wouldn't survive!  Sorry for the mushy-gushy. I want to remember this time, and hopefully look back and say the sleep deprivation didn't last long- fingers crossed! Be back soon with Mamie's one month pictures.  I can't believe it- we made it a month!!

I love my friends!! Last night, thanks to my sweet friend, Amanda, we got together to eat and celebrate Baby W #2.   I didn't want to do anything big for #2, but was so flattered by friends wanting to get together.  This was perfect :).  We are all moms now, so I hope everyone enjoyed getting out of the house.  I sure did! I am thankful for my Oxford friends; they are too sweet to me.  After the baby is born, I have a very nice gift card to get some things, which is good considering I have bought one gown for the poor child.  Moms- does poor #3 even have a crib to sleep in?? I can't imagine!  3 weeks and counting until we meet Mamie or Will!!!

We had a great time at the Memphis Zoo a few weeks ago.  I know Jack will love it more and more as he gets older.  He had fun just running around looking at all the animals.  His favorite part, as you can see above, was the carousel.  He cried when it stopped and threw a huge fit when I got him down. Story of my life these days- welcome to the terrible twos! This poor 2nd baby has been kicked quite a few times by his/her big bro :).  Aside from the fits, we have really had fun spending quality time with Jack before he has to share the limelight.  I know I will always look back on this time fondly.  As we prepare for baby number 2, I find myself thinking, "Should we have waited longer?" "Are we going to rock his world?" "Will he change because of the new baby?" But, I know that God's wisdom is greater than mine! And, that a sibling is one of the best gifts we can give Jack, so I am trying to rest in that! Lots of emotions going on around here!

They are letting me do it myself!

Chasing, chasing, chasing.  Next year we will be bringing a babysitter :).

Enjoying our ONE pretty day on the beach.... not kidding.

Love my bud

Uncle Kirkie getting some practice in! Jack will have a SIMS cousin in November- yay!!

Our favorite- George's

My Daddy's hair is crazy, but I don't care!

pure joy

Crammed in the volvo on the way to dinner.  The two preggos were in the front chaperoning.

Well, our beach trip this year was less than ideal.  Not the trip, just the weather.  We literally had one pretty day the whole week.  Bummer! But, it was nice to get away one last time before we are a family of four.  Whew.  Just typing that makes me nervous! As you can see, I am trying to get back blogging again.  My ole Mac is on its last leg, so sometimes I get a little frustrated with it :).  But, I want to document all that is going on right now, especially since we are about to welcome another little Whelan! 6 weeks and counting.  We have successfully moved Jack to a big boy bed and have been preparing the nursery for his brother or sister.  I will take some pics once they are all finished- hopefully soon.  Not much time left! Josh and I are trying to make a conscious effort to do some fun things with Jack before his world is rocked (and ours too, I'm afraid), so tomorrow we are taking him to the Memphis Zoo.  I think he will love it- he is obsessed with animals.  Summer has begun and has been fun in our neighborhood.  Jack has about 5 bffs all on our street, and he has really been a little fish at the pool.  I apologize this post was all over the place- I cannot guarantee they will ever be in an organized fashion again.  Josh asked me the other day, "What is wrong with your brain these days?"  I am pregnant with a very busy toddler- that's what is wrong with it!!  He will not be asking me that again :).  Be back soon- hopefully with zoo pics!

I know! And, I don't have any pictures to go along with this post, BUT I do have them coming soon.  I have gotten out the big camera not 1, not 2, but 3 times in the past week! Don't hold your breath (Mom and Claire) as to when I will post them.... I will give you a few updates numerically, otherwise you won't be able to keep up because I am all over the place.

1.) I will be 25 weeks pregnant tomorrow (just a little over 6 months).  So far, so good.  My doctor wants to check my fluid levels to make sure they are okay, but Josh has assured me it is just a precaution- hope so :).  Weight gain- (yeah right).  Josh did tell me the other day, "You looked exactly liked this with Jack and just got real big at the end."  Thanks?? Which I did, by the way.  He was 8 lbs but I definitely gained 40 lbs with him.  Please let's not do that again, MK! I can't blame anyone but myself if I do, though. I am eating for about 4.  Cannot get enough to eat.  Josh thinks its hilarious.  I think its scary.  We are hoping to move Jack into a big boy bed, new room, and finish out our bonus room by July.  It makes my head spin to think about, which is why we haven't done a thing for this poor second child.  Well, that's not the only reason ;).  Hope to have pics soon of the new rooms, when we ever get around to it! But, we are thankful for this little blessing and can't wait to know girl or boy!

2.) Jack man is good.  He makes us laugh daily.  You know how I wanted him to talk more? Be careful what you wish for. He is definitely "talking."  Portuguese to be exact.  We understand maybe 10-15% of what he says and the rest is full on sentences in a different language.  It is hilarious to everyone but me (speech therapist).  Oh well, it will come, and if it doesn't, I know a few speech therapists in town ;). 

3.) Tomorrow is Easter! Something to think about.  My sister-in-law posted this on Good Friday, and I really enjoyed it.  A new way to think about Good Friday:

"On Good Friday, we should all keep this in Mind about Jesus: It was not necessary for Him to undergo so much torment. He could have avoided those trials, those humiliations, that ill-usage, that iniquitous judgement, and the shame of the gallows, and the nails and the lance... But He wanted to suffer all this for you and for me. And we, are we not going to respond? Very likely there will be a time, when alone in front of a crucifix, you find tears coming to your eyes. Don 't try to hold them back... But try to ensure that those tears give rise to a resolution. " -St. Jose Maria Escriva's Way of the Cross

No words necessary after this.  So powerful, and something I take for granted every single day.  Thank you, Jesus!

It is a rainy, gross Saturday here in Oxford.  Hoping the rain holds off until tomorrow afternoon for Easter.  Be back soon!
 

Mesmerized by sprout.  How big is my baby getting??

At our nephew McCay's christening

Giving McCay a kiss (a.k.a.-head butt)

One of my favorite pics.  Dragging around that puppy dog.

"I will give you one smile, Mama. ONE."

"You think this is hard?"

Whee!!  "It is still fun, Mama, for the 4898293 time!"

I actually got out my big camera and used it!

   Jack has been keeping us extra busy.  I was talking to a friend the other day (who has a child about Jack's age), and she made me feel so much better.  This 18 month-ish age has been hard.  We love Jack more and more every day, but this age (if they are not talking great-which Jack is not), can be frustrating.  He understands every single thing I tell him but he cannot adequately express to me what he wants AND he has mastered the temper tantrum....  We are hoping that the tubes help his talking, and since he has had them, he has been talking a lot more, but it is hard on a speech therapist mom!! One thing I have learned- all kids do things on their OWN time.  You simply cannot force them.  Jack is very into climbing, running, going up stairs, etc.  The child could care less about telling me what a cow says, (unless it is on his own time).  So, it will come (I hope)! For now, (so I can remember) he says Dada, Mama, gi dow (get down), daw (dog), cow, duh (duck), go, and lie (light).  The other day he even said some form of "cracker"- my father-in-law is my witness!

   He is still such a sweet boy, and I know he will be a great big brother, although it will definitely be an adjustment to share Mama! Josh and I are learning more and more that we were spoiled with Jack.  He has been so good.  I literally throw him in the crib, and he goes to sleep.  I never really rocked him as a baby (at least not going to sleep), so I don't know if it was that or that he is just a great baby.  Whatever it is, it has made me scared to death of this second one in July.  Two good babies in a row doesn't happen (so I have been told).  And according to my mother, "payback is coming."  I have no earthly clue what she means!!  Well, the good news is that I can have wine again when the time comes :). And, I have great friends that have already told me, "You come drop Jack off whenever you need to."  I hope they realize that I will take them up on this offer with no shame!

  I think that is about all the novel I can muster up right now.  Hoping to be back sooner than in a month this time!