Around our house...

Get ready for a random post. 

I just haven't been able to bring myself to take down our advent cards. I'm going to make a little VDay banner this weekend, then I finally will. 

We've moved "up" in paci size. So

I've been collecting 0-6 month pacifiers. We have 2 bags full. Addiction for Mommy not baby!

I sold some furniture this weekend. Makes me sad because we picked it out after we first got married.

I cannot stand for my socks to match. This is a new preference.

We live in PJ's most Saturdays.

I love every season...truly love them all. But it's just been a little bit too cold in South GA lately. I miss our walks!

We've been working on this little desk for the Pickin' Shed turned Play Room. 

This is just one of many awesome gift certificates I received for being teacher of the year. I can't wait to use it! Thrilled does not even begin to describe how much I love it!

Lots more randomness coming soon I'm sure!

Every Tuesday

I am emotional every single Tuesday morning and also around 4pm in the afternoon. 

Tuesdays are the best day to me since June 4,  2013. As I get ready for work I remember preparing for labor, Dr. McCollum breaking my water, and random things from that day. In the afternoon I am overcome with thankfulness every week around the time she was born. 

Dr. McCollum also performed a D and C on a Tuesday a year and a month before Molly Caroline was born. Often I relive that morning too. Lots of nerves and sorrow in those weary smiles.

Apparently Tuesdays are just a big day for our family...I was also put on bed rest on a Tuesday and had several other major appointments that all fell on a Tuesday!

And this Tuesday is extra special because exactly one year ago...Jan 21, 2013 we found out that we were having a girl! We were so thrilled and also in shock!

Happy Tuesday!

Oceans and Passion

The one song that I listen to on replay lately is Oceans by Hillsong. Can't get it out of my head! Do y'all love the words?


I've heard some clips of my Christy Nockels' new songs. I have a Passion source that tells me they will be my new faves!!! So ready!!

Packing, Plates, and a Polka Dotted Raincoat

It's been the best long weekend! Today I'm just playing with my girl all day long! She's napping now, the house is clean, so I'm in the mood to catch up on blogging!

Friday night I packed up Molly Caroline's 3-6m clothes and some seasonal long bubbles. I was so sad about it!

Saturday, my parents came to visit! MC loves her Foxy and Poppy!!

My mom brought me the start to my Christmas china! It's the same one she has! It's classic. 

Mama and I made a quick Tally run. I found plates for our bedroom and kitchen. I love plates on the walls...it's an addiction...along with lamps, throw pillows, chalkboards...yeah all home decor.

I found my girl a coral polka dotted raincoat to match mine!! Love it!!

Why can't I be normal and go buy a plastic high chair like everyone else? Oh no, Molly Caroline has to have the one that matches her crib. So we started working on that.....I'm so excited!!

We had a little cookout with our neighbors last night and it is so fun watching Molly Caroline and Gar grow up together!

Lots of updates to come!!

7 months!

Molly Caroline turned 7 months old on January, 4th.

Oh, baby girl, you are learning more and more every day!

Molly Caroline tried baby food for the first time and loved it! She eats a fruit every morning and a veggie at night. She also eats oatmeal cereal with bananas for breakfast!

She sits up well on her own! She reaches and twists for things and rarely topples over.

She loves people watching and being entertained. 

She likes to hold her own bottle, but mama doesn't let her! :) She eats between 24-26 ounces a day. 

We celebrated her first Christmas and it was amazing! Santa brought her a radio flyer and a vanity set.

She loves to jump and bounce! 

She wears mostly 6 month clothing. Still 3-6 in pants. Sometimes 6-9 works. 

She still sleeps through the night....on her tummy now! :(

She reaches for everything. She scrapes, pats, and points at things. 

I love when she touches my face!

She grunts when she wants to "play it again" or get your attention. 

She smiles and laughs constantly! 

She loves to be sung too and kissed! She opens her mouth wide with delight when we kiss her sweet cheeks!! 

Her voice...sometimes it's really high pitched...melts our hearts. 

She got her bottom two teeth for Christmas  this year! 

Molly Caroline you are the most precious gift! You are perfect in every way. We love you! 

Thankfulness

I love the month of November. I think it may actually be one of my favorite months. I love the word thankful! I use it a lot too. Thanksgiving kind of kicks off the holiday season too.

 

 

 

 

When we found out that Molly Caroline's baby dedication at church was scheduled for November I knew it would be perfect. She is our biggest blessing, our joy, and we are beyond thankful to The Lord for blessing us with such an amazing gift, our beautiful baby girl! Last year, the acorn became our symbol for her. It means patience. We had to be patient in Gods timing. There are other meanings too, and they are all encouraging.

Acorns turn into beautiful, mighty oak trees. So we gave one to everyone as a favor after her dedication. This verse goes right along with the lyrics that have been in her nursery since before she was born.

 

 

We chose the verse for Molly Caroline's dedication after a lot of thought and early mornings pondering verse after verse. We love scripture and wanted to find a passage that could be a prayer for her life. I think we found the perfect one in Colossians 1:9-12.

 

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your life will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."

 

She did so good during the service. It was her first time in the sanctuary. There were 5 girls and 1 boy dedicated. Our pastor held her and spoke some special words to us as patents. He knows about what we've gone through. He even came to the hospital to visit and pray over Molly Caroline after she was born. It was just so special.

 

We had gotten mom and dad's Italian restaurant to cater the food and had it waiting at the house after the service. We also had a beautiful cake, that Mrs. Pam made for Molly Caroline.

We had the best day! We are so thankful for family and friends that helped make her day special!

Brave and Strong

This was my song in 2013. My anthem. It applied to everything and as soon as I hear it I instantly see the best and hardest moments of 2013 flash in front of my eyes.


I love this picture. This was when Molly Caroline was one day new. To me  my face looks a little big exhausted, emotional, and over the moon with love for the biggest blessing I've ever received. But when I see the picture I also see strength and bravery. I delivered my child naturally and also conquered several fears about mothering that I had.

I feel like the Lord helped me become brave and strong in 2013. I faced challenges, and conquered them. I learned how to mother, be a wife, and a teacher...all while the closest family we have is 3 hours away. I held my daughter while she screamed in the hospital as they ran test after test when she was not even 3 months old. I let someone that isn't me take care of her everyday which is really not easy for me. I juggle a lot. And I am thankful every second. I am so thankful for our baby girl, that she's healthy, and that I get to mother her. We don't take any of it for granted. What an incredible gift. Thank you Lord, for being my Rock, and for being constant always. Without you I couldn't be brave or strong for even a moment.

2013: Our best year yet!

January.

We found out that we were having a GIRL! We had our fun gender reveal party and just thanked God for giving us a daughter! We could not believe it!

 

February.

I was the Bargain Bazaar co-chair. It took a lot of time and was kind of extra tiring being pregnant. But fun as always. 

We started getting the nursery ready! I loved every minute of it!

March.

I had a student teacher and was out of my classroom completely for this month. I stayed locked up in a room writing curriculum which was a nice change of pace, but really different too.

The first season baby was born! Karlynn and Molly Caroline are best friends already! :)

Baby Girl Whelan was finally given a name. :)

We had our birthing class at Archbold. Incredibly fun!

The nursery really started coming along!

April.
We registered for our baby girl! Fun fun!

 

Jacksonville, St. Simons, Destin. We were all over the place!

I had my first baby shower!

We completed the nursery!

I rode in a golf cart in The Rose Show Parade for Teacher of the Year.

May.

Had my second and third baby showers! I loved every second of them! My family and friends are so generous and thoughtful!

 

 

I got put on bed rest! Rest, pedicures, NST's, and made a few trips to Labor and Delivery during this time. Got our bags packed up too!

June.

The best and hardest month of my life probably! Our precious and perfect Molly Caroline was born!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

We celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary.

July.

A month full of visits and dinners from friends. Molly Caroline celebrated her first holiday too!

August.

Labor Day Weekend beach trip to the Georgia Coast.

 

September.

Destin trip with Matt's family!

 

October.

Fall, football games, and pumpkins! Loved everything about this month. 

 

 

November.

Molly Caroline's baby dedication!!! And fun times with our neighbors!

 

 

 

December.

We just did our best to soak up every little thing during the holiday season. Parades, parties, and Molly Caroline's first Christmas!!

 

 

I am thankful that all of our family was healthy in 2013. I really don't know how 2014 can get any better! However, I'm excited about a fresh start and a new year!!!