The Whelans

Hello! I am reporting live from work this a.m.  Figured it has been a while.  So, I made up this little "10 random things/on my mind/things I am thankful for" on Monday! 

Here goes:

1.) Do you know how hard it is to smell bacon cooking every morning when you come into work??  And then, say to yourself, "My toast is so much better than that..."  It doesn't always work :).

2.) I am thankful this a.m. for ENTs.  Jack has had 4 ear infections since the middle of October, and it is time for tubes for the little buddy.  Hoping to have them in next week, and hoping this helps with the ear infections, and helps him to hopefully speak a little better/more.  We shall see.

3.) It is 7:12 a.m. and I am already ready for lunch.  Not good.

4.) I am in serious need of a beach trip.  I feel like a lot of people I know go to the beach in Oct./Nov., and say it is the best time to go! Rates are good, no crowds, great weather.  I am thinking of planning a trip for next October.  Might need to check with Josh on that...

5.) Does anybody else spend WAY too much at the grocery store??? It is getting ridiculous.  I blame it on diapers, wipes, Jack's special food, milk, juice, etc. but I know it's my fault too.  We try to cook 3-4 nights a week, but seriously somethings gotta give.   Suggestions? P.S.- I admire all you extreme couponers; have read a lot about it, but it's just not for me.  I don't have room for 45 jars of peanut butter, you know?

6.) As I type from work, I am thankful for a flexible job.  Is it ideal for our lives right now? No.  But, it is (almost) as good as it can get for me to bring home a paycheck for our family.  It is neat to see how God always provides for us.  Right now, we are praying for different things in our lives and I know it will be fun to look back and see how God took care of us.  I am learning a lot of patience, and learning that it's not all about us.  We are not here in this world for us- we are here to further God's kingdom.  And, Jesus never said it would be easy, (Josh reminds me of this so much).  So, it is a constant prayer of mine to succumb to God's will, even if it is not what I had in mind.  Constant struggle of mine!

7.) On a lighter note.... I cannot wait until Jack is old enough to do Elf on a Shelf and for Santa to be fun.  I have already thought about having my brother (who can impersonate ANYONE), calling Jack as Santa on Christmas Eve.  I haven't told him this yet!

8.) And, I look forward to having a birthday party for Jesus and teaching Jack (and hopefully future children), about the true meaning of Christmas.  Obviously, we pray for our children to always know Christ, but I pray also that my children will never feel "entitled" and always be grateful for what they have.  I think that this has a lot to do with how we raise them- heavy burden on our shoulders!

9.) We have 3 parties this week- Wed, Thurs, Fri.  I am trying to take it one day at a time, but also thankful for our friends in this town.

10.) I am thankful for good public schools in our town.  Who knows how long we will be here, but if we could have it our way, we wouldn't leave! I don't know how my Dad paid for 3 kids in private school (and ask him all the time).  But, we are sooooo thankful that the public schools are good here. 

Okay, that is all.  Very random, huh?? I will post some pics soon!

"Are you seriously going to make me wear this, Mama?"

Jack was not scared AT ALL of Josh's crazy get up.  Our 3 year old next door neighbor was another story.... Wouldn't come play at our house for DAYS! Bless her :(

Trying to bribe with candy for a picture- fail!

You can't see Josh's face behind that scary mask, but it would be just like mine- pure joy.  So thankful for our little buddy! We had a great Halloween in our new neighborhood.  I loved all the action!! Last year, we literally had 3 trick-or-treaters and this year we ran out of candy!  And, I bought a lot.  However, when our doorbell was still ringing at 9:15, with teenage boys standing on our porch, I may have gotten a tad annoyed.  But, we loved all the precious kiddos!  One of our neighbors dressed up as Mike Myers from Halloween- spookkyyy! He had the music playing and everything.  Jack didn't even go to one door, but just rode in the wagon with his friend Latham.  They had a blast :).   One more day of work, and then a little break for Thanksgiving! So needed.  We have so much to be thankful for this year.  I will be back soon with a gooby Thanksgiving post.   Speaking of, If you have not read the book, One Thousand Gifts; you need to.  It is one of those books that I should read every few months.  The book is from a mother  (of like 6 or 7 kids), who is stuck in the mundane, day to day life, and starts to compile a list of everything she is thankful for.  I am talking, the singing birds, clean babies after bath, sunsets... Anything and everything.  She pulls in scriptural references too.  It is just a great read, and a great reminder of how much we take for granted.  Things like, a hot shower in the morning,  This book really helped change my perpective on life, so in the Thanksgiving spirit, I thought I would recommend it :).   HAPPY THANKSGIVING from the Whelans!

We had such a nice trip to Boston the other weekend.  I will tell the story through the pictures below:

We started out the trip at the Memphis airport with my bag passing the weight requirement! Big deal.  I may or may not have been at that same exact spot passing around my clothes to all of my sweet friend's bags... :) Josh just rolls his eyes.

We had all afternoon Thursday to walk around.  I shopped some on Newbury St. (could have stayed there the whole trip- unfortunately, my husband didn't feel the same).  Above is the State House on Beacon Hill.  Isn't it so unique and beautiful??

Friday morning at the JFK Library and Museum- IN HEAVEN!!

Josh in front of Paul Revere's house- no big deal.

Friday lunch.  This was a cool "touristy" spot; oldest restaurant in America.   Josh had some yummy clam chowder and I had lobster roll.  We are so New England. Carmen- our favorite place we ate the whole trip.  One of our good family friend's recommended it and we loved it! It had such a 'local' feel, if you know what I mean.  The restaurant is so small, they don't even have a bar, hostess, nothing.  You literally have to wait outside until a table opens up.  Such a fun atmosphere, too.  Highly recommend it. Finally found an innocent bystander to take our pic After dinner treat- cannoli! YUM! Thanks to all who recommended this place.  It was quite the experience. Favorite pic of the trip.  Such a vacation to not have a schedule! We were sooo grateful for some uninterrupted time together with NO schedule! We truly only did the things we wanted to do. Josh watching Harvard rowing team on the bridge to Cambridge "Havud" We fit right in.  Not a soul asked us where we were from with a smurk on their face.  Not a soul. Dinner the last night at Locke-Ober   It was a successful trip! We were so grateful for a getaway.  I always have a hard time leaving little Jack man.  Someone once told me "the moment you give birth, you will feel guilty." So true.  I have mommy guilt big time.  Don't get me wrong- I leave my child PLENTY! But, still, hate to leave all the time.  Anyway, one of my sweet friends gave me some good advice I needed to hear.  But, sometimes you just have to getaway.  Life gets so busy and mundane- everyone needs a change of scenery every now and then.  So, I am hoping we can do this every year, even if it is just to Memphis for the night.  BUT, if it's to the British Virgin Islands, that'd be okay too....  Are you there, Josh??  Be back soon with Halloween pics!

Okay, folks.  Here are some updates from what has been going on around here in a very random order. Enjoy!

Pumpkin patch! I am admitting that the reason this little "photo shoot" didn't go as planned is because I was by myself chasing a toddler.  A very busy toddler....

"Are you coming, Mama?"  "I'm about to run in the street for the 4835894 time."

Still just long enough for me to capture.  No smiles though :(.

And, photo shoot is officially over...

We recently had a couples baby shower for some friends of ours at our home.  It was so much fun! I thought I would take this opportunity to share some pics of our house.

And, in September we had a visit from Josh's brother, his wife, and their new baby, John! We had all the Whelan cousins together and it was fun :). Christmas will be WILD!

"Excuse me, John, but that is my Mama."

Hey blue eyes.

Take one....

From left to right: John Whelan, McCay Luster, and Jack Whelan.  These boys will have so much fun growing up together!

"Daddy, you look pretty dumb right now."

cousin love

Celebrating Baby Ella at Susan Hall's baby shower a few weeks ago in Jackson.  We love you sweet girl and can't wait to meet you!! I know you are getting ready for you big appearance, and if you are anything like your mama, you will come out with lipstick on :).

Here is Margaret (we had the shower at her beautiful home),  and all of her babysitters growing up.  Now we are all having babies of our own!

Major slacker coming to you live!! I am promising to make a comeback with this blogging thing.  How do you other moms find time to update so frequently?? I am muy, muy impressed! I obviously don't manage my time very well, or else I am just lazy.... In my defense, I actually had some pictures with a post to update last night, and my Ipad wouldn't let me type? So, I really tried!

Fall is crazy, and honestly I am ready for it to slow down a little.  Football season is so much fun in a college town, but it is also NON STOP.  We are running from one thing to the next. Having said that though, I am thankful for things to do and friends.  We wouldn't trade living here for almost anything :).  

I am typing this from work, so unfortunately I don't have any pictures.  That is really all you people (Mom and Toddy) care about anyway, right?? I am making a more conscious effort to update twice a week.  I am not doing a great job tracking my child's growth, and so I need to be better...

Happy Tuesday.  Friday is getting closer....

In about a month, Josh and I are going on a getaway to Boston! We are so excited.  We have not been on a trip just the two of us since Jack was born.  It is time!!! Josh has been to Boston one time for business, and I have never been.  We thought it would be such a fun place to visit for a long weekend.  I am taking suggestions now, (If I still have any readers out there) :).  I think we have some good dinner places to make reservations, but would love some lunch spots! Also, I know we will DEFINITELY go to the Kennedy museum and do the freedom trail, but would love some other fun things to do.

In other news, we have a new nephew! Josh's sister had a precious baby boy last week, McCay.  We love him so much.  So, now we have 3 boys on the Whelan side.  Jack, John, and McCay. Christmas is going to be wild!!! But, they will have so much fun growing up together. We are so blessed.

And, Jack man is officially walking, and pretty much running.  He literally does not stop.  Moms- do not fear; if you have not lost your baby weight by the time your child walks- YOU WILL.  Trust me.  The child has more energy...  He has started talking a little too.  He has been making lots of new noices and babbling for a while now.  He has said "Mama" and "Dada," but we never new if he meant it in relation to us.  But, I think we are getting there.  The other day he said, "Go," when we got in the car, and he said "Bye."  So, I hope he will be a little motor mouth soon.  I really want to know what that little booger is thinking! If I had to guess it would be, "Those suckers; I have them completely wrapped." 

How many times have I said I will be back with pictures? Does anyone believe me anymore??? Probably not.  Don't blame you, Mom.  It will probably be a few weeks, if I survive these next two weeks that is.... At least I am not dramatic. 

Big post coming up soon!!

Have a great weekend and GO REBS!!!!!!

This is at dinner at a plantation in Charleston one night.  See that little pond right  behind us? Yeah, there was an alligator in it.  Not kidding.  Saw it with my own eyes.

Jack stayed in Jackson with my parents.  He LOVES Pop; it is the cutest thing!

At the baptism of our nephew and godson!

I have GOT to be better about updating this thing! I am mad at myself, because it is my way of documenting our life, so to speak.  The truth is, I haven't gotten my big camera out since Jack's birthday.  We have this awesome camera and I never use it?? I am about to make a conscious effort to take it with us places.  So, here you have some iphone pics of what has been going on lately.  If you follow me on instagram, this will be very boring for you! Oh, and next post, I will post some house pics , (I think I said this last time) but this time I am serious.  Word to the wise- if you host a shower at your house, your husband will be much more inclined to get things decorated :).

Here we are before church one morning.  Nothing cuter than a baby boy in knee socks!

Uncle Josh and baby John in Charleston

Outside Husk in Charleston- so yummy!

Love all those palm trees More to come later! Gotta run go to some baby showers!