UD Graduation

This is about the last thing in the world I should be doing right now...but I remembered that there are pictures that I wanted to post! This week is flying by, starting off with a VERY relaxing Memorial Day mostly spent lounging in the pool with the fam. Tonight Lauren is moving home from Dallas after graduating from UD last weekend. You have no idea how excited I am!! On Friday my Mamaw is coming to stay along with my Uncle Doug and his 3 kids (Jacob and Clare were my ring bearer and flower girl). It is such a treat to have Harkins come to SA since we usually can only travel to Mississippi once a year at most. I just wish the whole family could come too! Saturday is my mom's huge 50th birthday extravaganza, called a Cinquentaera meaning "party like you've lived half a century". Lots and lots of planning and work to be done for then...but it's going to be a blast!

Baccalaureate Mass...Lauren's in the front row

Graduation on the mall

Lauren called the week before and said she wasn't graduating because her grades were bad. And she got cum laude. I love the "end of senior year freak out" sessions. To take this picture my Dad pretended to chase Emily all the way in front of everyone. Classic scammer dad.

Awww...

Gotta get a pic with the tower!

Rommies

Even my brother came in from the big apple to celebrate!

Random Pregnancy Thoughts

#1. I feel so round! I've heard tons of complaining preggo ladies saying "there's just no more room for the baby to grow". Now, I didn't think I'd ever make it to 32 weeks, which means less 2 months left. But, that also means 2 months for this child to get bigger. A few weeks ago he measured almost 4 lbs., so basically the little squish is going to be a lot more squishy than Emily ever was in her life! How on earth is this going to fit?? If I can't breathe or sleep now, I guess God is just preparing me for 2 kids under 2.

#2 Eli has been indulging my nesting impulses patiently, which I have zero physical energy to fulfill. The biggest task has been to rearrange clothes and pack them up for the storage unit to make room for a whole other person to be living in our bedroom along with Emily. Millions of things to do, and we're running out of time. Where the heck is the cradle? How do I find that double stroller which a baby carrier snaps into? Where is the newborn box holding hopefully gender neutral blankets and clothes? Which type of sling is most comfortable for a baby who may spend a good amount of the day with me bending down? I need to order tiny cloth diapers! More importantly I need to take this one day at a time and continue to pray for grace.

#3 I'm worried about scamming Emily. I know it'll be good for her not to be the constant center of attention or to be constantly entertained. The problem boils down to the fact that I'm not really sure what kind or attention this baby will need. If you remember back to the newborn days of Emily, her eating pattern was 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, 24 hours a day. Praise the Lord that didn't last more than a few months. I already know that this baby will be different...but I guess it'll take actually being with both kiddies to know how to help/enjoy/love/teach both on a daily basis.

(baking a cake for Nana's 50th...very sneaky girl!)

#4 My unfinished sewing and knitting projects are nothing but depressing to me! Off I go to try to make a dent while Emily is still napping...

TGIF! Enjoy your weekend:)

Mother's Day

Eli has always been the most thoughtful gift-giver. This year he framed my favorite picture of me and Emily alongside this beautiful poem.

The most important person on earth is a mother.

She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.

She need not.

She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral--

a dwelling for an immortal soul,

the tiny perfection of her baby's body.

The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.

They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven.

Only a human mother can.

Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature;

God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation.

What on God's good earth is more glorious than this:

to be a mother.

-Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

Cheers to all you moms out there:)

April Pics

Sorry these pictures are a little old and very out of order...

Playing with cousins at Grandma and Papa's house!


Emily's death stare #1

Emily's death stare #2

Don't they look alike?

Climbing into the fountain

Hejjo turned 3 last month!

Easter Sunglasses shot

5 months later and still obsessed with the baby

Easter mass with the Harkins

Harkins girls

Auntie helping to search for eggs

We usually all cram into the staircase for this picture...but it rained the night before

Hey...I found an egg! Notice adorable wings from Nana and Grandaddy

Italian dinner on the balcony. (note...Annie trying to be cool by holding wine glass. also note Teresa holding the rice crispy eggs she decorated)

A bubble popped right on her face...oops! :)

Dying eggs. yes, I married the one drinking the dye...that explains a lot! :)

Bunny ears!

Family photo

Teresa's 11th birthday barge ride down the SA river

Lunch at Rainforest Cafe (that place is awesome!!!)

Grandaddy sharing his birthday ice cream

For her 11th birthday, Teresa donated 11 inches of hair to Locks of Love!

My Godson Charlie's 4th birthday ride on Brackenridge train

It was hot!

Emily loved it...she was very still the whole time

Other party-goers

Emily insisting on eating yogurt by herself.

Our little climber

Annie's 17th birthday present!

Newest addition to the Fagan clan: Theodore Augustine, born March 17th. He slept through his entire baptism day!

Jumping on the bed with Fagan cousins

Fiesta King William Parade

Classic Emily skeptical face

Eli loooved the parade and took a million pictures...

Daddy holding up Em for a better view

Annie's Junior Prom that night

Grandaddy's company picnic at Battle of Flowers Parade

Melty fudgepop:) She had a death grip on my arm

Battle of Flowers Parade

Feeding the ducks with Lucy at Brackenridge Park

Very courageous ducks...thanks to Emily handing them an entire piece of bread...