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!!!

Five on Friday!!!

1. Glittery or metallic gold. I love both just the same. Mix in white, cream, or tan and I love it even more. I didn't even show you all my gold accessories and baby items! 

2. Mix and match socks might be my favorite!

3. Seeing toys on Molly Caroline's floor blows my mind. I can't believe she is old enough to sit and play with them.

4. My friend Jenn introduced me to festive diapers from Target. They caught my eye after that last time I was in one. I'm kind of sad this is our last one. However, I'm excited about the Spring and Summer seasons!

5. My winter break reading. Couldn't be more different. So typical for me.

Well we are out and about early on this cold morning. Stay warm and have a great weekend!

6 on Saturday!

1. Last weekend was Victorian Christmas and the Red Nose Run! It was busy, but so fun! I loved having my seasons at the house...lazy rainy days, cupcakes, shopping, and pizza! I also made some new league friends at the run.  One happens to live in my neighborhood! And the sunsets lately. Breathtaking! 

2. Monday was my birthday and we had Molly Caroline's Christmas party that her babysitter gives each year. They sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, sang songs, and sat on Santa's lap. I loved that so many kids come back for the party each year. 

3. Matt surprised me with pages out of the Sunbonnet Baby Primer to frame in MC's room! It was the most thoughtful gift ever! I was thrilled!

4. Molly Caroline is such a roly poly! And she can always find a paci and put it in her mouth now!

5. I made candy cane play dough for my students to play with over Christmas Break. And ol' Elfie Elf returned to the North Pole! And speaking of our break...it's here! It was a fun last day in Stingerville. :)

6. We visited our first house yesterday because someone sent us a package to that address. The people that live there now were kind enough to contact us to come pick it up! We lived in our little white house with black shutters in the middle of town for 3 years and have sim many amazing memories there. We pass it often but never stop to think...it's the house we were newlyweds in...our first home together, the house I earned my Master's degree in and celebrated my first job, it's the house where Blakely was raised, and sooo, so much more!

So excited to enjoy my break with my family! 

Santa and Jesus

My school had it's annual Winter Family Fun Day on Saturday and this year I worked a shift and them got to bring my family!! Molly Caroline sat in Santa's lap after Breakfast with Santa. Our precious girl didn't mind him...this year at least. I still want to take her to a "mall Santa." She also really like the huge blow up things.

We love out church and Sunday nights have been so much fun lately. Last week was piano concert and this week the Students performed "The Night Shift Before Christmas." They did a great job! Molly Caroline loved the nursery as always, but tonight was the first night that she looked at us as we left her with a puzzled/sad expression on her face! Talk about breaking our hearts! However she was all smiles when we picked her up! Oh, how we adore our baby girl!

We also fed Molly Caroline pears for breakfast yesterday morning. She liked them a lot and kept trying to grab the spoon!

And I got in some snuggles with my tired girl last night. She fought a nap all afternoon, so as soon as church was over, she was fast asleep!

Praying for a great week!

Hustle and Bustle

In the middle of all the busy nights that we had this week, we've squeezed in some good family time!

We finished decorating on Sunday! We love seeing Molly Caroline look at the lights and touch the ornaments. She seems to always go for the ones that my Nanny gave me...and that is the most precious thing.

Her first look!

 

We took MC to her first Christmas Parade! So fun!!

Then we drove through Flowers for the first time this season.

We've been focusing on the reason for the season, and simplifying things a good bit. I love our Advent cards and this new tradition.

I had conferences and a JSL board meeting at night this week, but I took half a day sick day Friday morning to take Molly Caroline to get her 6month shots and flu shot. Matt went too and then stayed with her the rest of the day. We love our Pediatrician. She is the best of the best! Molly Caroline weighed 15.4 pounds (25th percentile) and was 26 1/4 inches long (75th percentile). 

We had a great night at home last night too. I got a lot of things organized! And updated our address list.

We have a busy Saturday planned! Have a great day!