Quite a Busy Weekend . . .

This weekend we celebrated not only Mothers' Day but another special day, as well.

Brendan celebrated his First Communion on Saturday. Can I tell you how handsome he looked?!!? When I was fixing his tie in the kitchen before we left for church, I said to him "Do you have any idea what a . . ." to which Brendan replied, "hunk I am?" I asked him how he knew I was going to say that to which he replied, "you always tell me I'm a hunk, Mom." I guess I do. And he certainly is!!

Here are a few pics of his special day.

Brendan and his Grandfather and friends.

Getting ready to leave for church with Dad and Uncle Tom. Uncle Tom also happened to be the birthday boy on Saturday!! : )

Brendan and his very proud Mom and Dad.




After church, we went to a wonderful restaurant called "Gilligan's." Brendan is a lover of seafood and chose lobster when we told him he could pick whatever he wanted for lunch.

I remember when I made my Communion many moons ago my choice was lobster, too. You know what they say about the apple falling from the tree!! : )

The face says it all!!!!!

Thankfully, my brother in law was sitting across from him and had the fun task of taking the lobster apart. He was rewarded handsomely with any lobster that was left over!!

I love the look on my niece, Taylor's, face!!

More pics tomorrow. Right now I have to get to my list of things to do before baby .

Six days and counting. Can I tell you I'm ready right now. I want my happy disposition and my ability to walk without crying due to sciatica back!!

You truly forget how difficult the end of pregnancy is when you wait so many years in between babies!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Booties and Bonnets . . .

I've always been in love with baby bonnets and booties.

I remember when I had my first baby and a woman who volunteered at the hospital where I gave birth came around to all the rooms with a cart full of handmade booties, baby sweaters, blankets and hats.

I instantly fell in love with everything she was peddling but, unfortunately, only had a few dollars in my wallet.

I had to throw some daisies in there, of course!!

I was still able to purchase a few pairs of booties as they were selling for only about $3.00 per pair.

My oldest son (who now wears a size 12.5 shoe!!) wore those booties. He was a big bruiser of a baby but I still wanted him to look like a baby and, to me, nothing says "baby" like a pair of booties.

How sweet are these?!!?

Isn't this vintage bonnet with the rose just gorgeous?!!?

Unfortunately, bonnets were obviously out of the question with the three boys. It was baseball caps for them!!

Go Yankees!! Sorry but I had to throw that in there!! :)

This time, though, I've already stocked up on several bonnets and am thrilled that Baby Megan will get good use out of them since she's going to be born at the beginning of the warm and sunny months. They've all been washed in Dreft and put away. I can't wait to touch and smell and kiss that sweet little head of hers.

Seventeen days and counting . . .

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Fun, Fun, Fun . . .

It's been a fun-filled couple of days around here. My hubby started it off with a fever and a God-awful cough on Easter. Son #2 soon followed. After pumping them both up with assorted meds, we were able to make it to a wonderful Easter dinner that we shared with assorted family members. For the last few years, I've cooked Easter dinner. This year I just wasn't in the mood. It could be that I'm going to be giving birth in six weeks and my back just ain't what it used to be. : )

At the dinner table, my mother commented several times about how pale my father in law looked. He's from Ireland but tans like no other Irishman I know. I told her it was just because he hasn't been outside working in the yard much since my mother in law passed away last month. I should've known that my mother's observation was more than just lack of sun. She's very intuitive when it comes to medical stuff. Sure enough, at 12:30 last nite, my father in law called to tell us that he was experiencing pain in his arm and his back and some shortness of breath and was going to call an ambulance. He lives alone and I can't imagine the fear he must've been experiencing. He has a strong history of cardiac problems and has been telling his doctors for the last month that he hasn't been feeling like himself. We all kind of chalked it up to stress. Long story short, some of his bloodwork came back indicative of a very mild heart attack. My husband, in the midst of his not feeling well (thankfully no fever since yesterday) drove to the hospital as soon as we got the call and sat with him until after 8:00 this morning. I dare anyone to tell me my hubby isn't heaven sent. He has embraced my first husband's family as if they were his own and I can't tell you how important that is to me.

As I type this, my father in law is resting comfortably in the hospital and is scheduled for an angiogram tomorrow morning. We should hear what's going on with him by the afternoon. My husband went to the doctor today and has been diagnosed with the flu and severe bronchitis and was sent home with three prescriptions. Son #2 went back to school today. He still has a bit of a cough but is 100 percent better than he was a couple of days ago. I've been holding my own and praying I don't catch any of the sickness in this house. I have started with a cough today but I think it's more of an allergy/post nasal drip thing. Is that TMI? Coughing and pregnancy are not a good combo when you feel like you're bladder is full all the time!!

I'll keep you posted on my father in law. Say a prayer. : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

I'm Lovin' this Weather and I Have Some Special News to Tell You . . .

It's 40 something degrees here right now. The wind is getting a little bit breezy and the rain is coming down. I AM IN MY GLORY!!! I have errands to run but am still in my jammies. It's after 11:30 in the morning. After the boys all got off to school, I put my head down on the couch and fell asleep again for a little while. I've been wide awake at bedtime but very tired in the morning. I haven't said anything yet here because it's still pretty early on. And I apologize to friends and family that read my blog that don't know yet and are finding out here for the first time ~ we are expecting a new baby. We found out on my husband's birthday, September 25th. My husband has no biological children of his own. It seems like God was preparing him for three sons his whole life, though. He has become an incredible father to the boys and has told me many times that he couldn't love them anymore than if they were his own.

When Jim and I started dating and knew it was getting serious we talked about having another child. Honestly, I wasn't so sure how I felt about it. I was just turning 40 when we met and I didn't know if I wanted to start over again. I have big babies and c-sections. I love my sleep. My kids are very independent now. I love my sleep. I don't need to pay babysitters anymore. When we go to the beach every summer I actually can relax and have a good time without chasing kids around. And, most of all, I love my sleep. : )

I also didn't like having the power in my hands of being the one to tell someone that they can or can't have a child in this lifetime. That was the biggest part of this whole decision for me. Jim left it up to me and said he would honestly be fine either way. If you know Jim you know that he tells the truth all the time. Sometimes a little too much. : )

There is a whole lot more to this story but I want to save that for after we see the doctor tomorrow and know that everything is okay. So far, this pregnancy is very different from my first three. Next to no nausea, lots more fatigue and definite mood swings as my husband and sons will attest to. Sorry guys. This, too, shall pass!!

I feel good and happy and emotional and can cry at the drop of a hat and am going to enjoy every minute of this journey because this is the last time I plan on taking it. I'll be 43 when this baby is born. How the hell did I get to be almost 43?!!? I figure this baby will either keep me really young or else make me feel really old. Either way, he or she will be coming into a family filled with laughter, joy, yelling and screaming, neighborhood kids traipsing (don't think I spelled that correctly) in and out all the time, cats, dogs, dust, crazy schedules, a father that's never changed a dirty diaper before, a mother who will be fighting his/her father for toe nibbling time (Jim and I are both still obsessed with Brendan's feet and he's seven!!) and more love than anyone could hope for.

Amazing Grace.

Many blessings ~ Wendy

The adorable picture above is by Anne Geddes.