During Paige's first year, I took a monthly picture with "Bunny." Turned out to be a fun thing to look back on... see it here.
So the kids and I decided we would try this with Ethan too. We thougth it would be fun to use a different "friend" - Cici is our life sized basset hound. Not sure if these pictures will turn out each month, but we will try!
Of course Brother and Sister also wanted in on the photo shoot.... along with Bambi.
Ethan Thomas McDonnell joined our family on October 2, 2010.
He is our little guy - weighing at 6 lbs and 7 oz.... 18 inches long. We were all quite surprised to see how tiny he is. Brother and Sister counted all ten fingers and ten toes when they met him... and Connor remarked "Even his big toe is tiny!"
Now, we are just getting used to our new normal around here.... new early morning hours, new toys and baby gadgets, new tiny clothes, new nap times, new noises, a new little life to love.
And now we are 5....
This weekend we participated in our 2nd Walk for Life to help support the local Real Options for Women organization. Real Options is a Christ centered group that helps women who face unplanned pregnancies. We all had a great time as we joined 8 families from our church family - along with lots of other folks from our area.
Connor made it half way through the walk this year. Paige napped as Sean pushed the stroller. And me... well, I took photos from a shady spot under a great tree! I didn't want Baby Brother to make his entrance quite yet.
Psalm 139:13
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Our little guy is still being "knitted" together right now, but it won't be long. We eagerly await... We can't wait to become the McD 5!
Two little things I have overheard in the past couple days that just had to be "captured":
From Connor: "Dear God, Thank you for our mini van. Now we can bring our baby brother home from the hospital with us."
Love his grateful spirit and his logical thinking.
From Paige: "Mama, I'm so happy."
"Why are you so happy, Paige?"
"Because we are going to Target together."
Love those mother/daughter moments we are sharing while Brother is at school.
Fall is my favorite! I've been desperately looking for signs of fall around me.
As we await our Lil' Punkin's arrival in the next month, I'm getting a jumpstart on this new season... Two arrivals that are VERY welcome around here!
Began last night with a fun craft with fun girlies.... great idea from Family Circle Mag
We stuck mums into a wreath form... Step two is to fabric paint it black... Step three for me is to add a little more "whimsy" to it - probably with some orange ribbon? Not sure what yet (or if i will actually get to that project) - but Paige has had fun with it!
Been drinking my morning coffee on the back porch, buying the kids a few long sleeved shirts, planning Halloween costumes, and bringing in the pumpkins into Booth 58. Seems too early? Not for me! Bring on the fall, yall!
Why does this seem like yesterday?
And this seems like it can't really be happening?
Well, it did... Connor started kindergarten today. (can you see him in the back of the room at the red table?) So cool to see how excited he was.... getting dressed all by himself, eating breakfast together, using a little hairspray, packing just the right lunch and snack, and then walking up to that big building... asking me if I was going to go in with him. Still my little guy deep down... but all grown up at the same time.
I only shed a couple of tears as we drove off. When I asked Sean to describe his feelings he said it wasn't so much sadness, but more pride.... A feeling of being so proud of him ... and just wanting to stay wth him, watch him all day in this new adventure, and say "That's my son... Isn't he great?"
That about sums it up...
There he goes....
We've been up to a lot this summer. Hard to summarize it all in a few short lines...
Stay: verb -to remain, to stop, to wait
Staying comfy.
Really hot summer days.... lots of swimming time, splash park time, and just plain backyard hose times. Getting ready for baby brother to join us in our little nest... Our Popa made us incredible bunk beds so Paige and Connor can share a room and give baby the nursery.... also staying "cozy" as Mommy and Baby grow-grow-grow all summer.
Staying connected.
Have had a full summer seeing friends and family...near and far.... As Daddy has traveled for work a lot, we have been able to spend time with all the grandparents, cousins, and friends. Keeping our days full is the key to Mommy's survival!
Staying cluttered.
On a whim, Mom and I jumped head first into a new adventure this spring... we became vendors at a local antique mall in April. We love all the different parts of the experience ... the "junkin'" trips, the repurposing, the creating, and the arranging of our cluttered little corner. We know we are crazy...but we sure have had a ball together! Visit my new blog Booth 58 to see more about our journey so far.
Kriel Cousins on our annual Beach Getaway
Cousin Jack giving Paige goodbye kisses as he heads back to Romania after a few months at home.
It's official! We have a 5 year old and 2 year old ..... and I'm officially a blog slacker! Since "Record Snow Fall" is no longer the breaking news around here, I figured I could take a few minutes to post some birthday news.
Connor celebrated his 5th with a FireMan Party... touring a fire department and practicing firefighting skills with some buddies.
Paige celebrated her 2nd with a Tutu Party... "it's tutu fun being 2!"
Now we are getting ready for Baby Brother's arrival this fall... we are eager for him to get here. Can't wait to become McD 5!!!
We aren't quite sure what to do with all this white stuff around here! Have had record snow fall in the last 48 hours... 6-9 inches.
Yesterday, I got out with the kids... in our hodgepodge of winter clothing...made a snow man.... had a snow ball fight.... went on a walk around the block... and then had hot cocoa. Tons of fun, lots of wet clothes and cold fingers later, we watched it fall all day long. Unbelievable, really! Felt like I was sitting anywhere other than my own Dallas suburban home.
Snow is fun, but kudos to you friends who live like this more than we do. Just dressing everyone seems like a day long event!
This picture is from this morning - the view out our front door.
Made some snow ice cream with Connor yesterday.
Directions
We also had some extra fun at bathtime. I brought in a few big bowls of snow and let the kids play with it in the tub. Who would have thought that would be so much fun! That's Texas kids for you!!!
Stay Warm wherever you are!
I found these cute mail boxes at the Dollar Spot at Target... Awesome! My favorite part of the store.
My idea is to have us write little love notes to each other and mail them to each other for a few days. Everyone likes to get something in the mail - right?
They could use a little more decorating... but time is limited around here!
