First Grade

I really can't believe that Carolyn is in the first grade.  When she started school, I was just so thankful that we weren't having the issues that we had at the start of school last year (with her not wanting to go to school) that I didn't even let myself get emotional over having a first grader.



Now when I look back at these pictures I feel slightly hormonal over my first baby growing up.



We are so proud of her!  She loves her teacher Mrs. Brown.  I love Mrs. Brown too!  Just in the short time she has been Carolyn's teacher I can already see the positive impact she has had on her.  Finally I am not pulling my hair out to try to get Carolyn to read or do homework.



I can't wait to see what this year holds for her!



Brian's parents were visiting us when Carolyn started school, which worked out great because Brian and I were able to drop off Carolyn for her first day with out having to bring our whole crew into the school.  Here is a picture on the morning they were leaving which explains why three out of four of my kids are in their pajamas.

Haywire

Fortunately for us and maybe slightly unfortunately for her, whenever my mom comes to visit things just kind of go haywire and she is there to help us out.  When she came to see us after Tommy was born at first everything was going smoothly.



We took the girls fishing at a lake by our house.



Shortly after this fishing trip though



I woke up with a tooth ache and ended up having to go to the emergency Dentist on base.  Brian was in class so my mom got to sit in my van in the parking lot with this one,



this one,



this one and



even this little one for three hours while they determined that I needed a root canal.  Whatever they did to try to help alleviate the pain I was in made my whole side of my face swell up.  I really should have taken a picture.  On top of this Brian had some "complications" with the procedure he had to ensure that Thomas was our last little one and was laid up in our bed.  Brian and I really were a sad bunch and I don't know how we would have managed that time without my Mom here.
I have promised her that the next time she comes we will have ZERO drama.  I really hope I can keep that promise.



The last night she was here my brother and Seana came down and Thomas got to meet his fellow male cousin's for the first time.  Covey looks so grown up holding his baby cousin.



Austin has been so cute with Thomas.  We went to their house over Labor Day weekend and he was my little helper.



And back to things being a little haywire when my mom is here.  Well I tried to get a picture with her and all the grandchildren and this is what happened.





These pictures just make me laugh.  And my sweet Sidney I am sure one day your own child will pay you back for the fit that you threw that day.

A Blur

How can Thomas already be seven weeks?  I feel like these past weeks have been somewhat of a blur.  A good blur, but definitely a blur.  During this time we've had lots of visitors, Brian started school, Carolyn became a big first grader (Which is so crazy!), and we've managed to leave our house with all four kids. (Which is just an accomplishment in itself right now.)



Thomas is such a sweetie but he does get the title of the most high maintenance baby we have had.  Maybe it is that male gene that makes him require extra attention ... who knows?? He is starting to be a little more chill here lately.



Now if only I could get him to not be such a party animal at night. Some nights I get 4-5 hour stretches, so I am hoping that before I know it he will be giving me longer ones.



I took all these pictures right after he was born.  I love the somewhat smile that he has in this picture.  Now our 7 week old is starting to give us full on real, melt your heart, goofy smiles.  So precious!



Love me some baby toes!



The girls are all still enjoying having a brother to dote on.



I can already tell he and Payson are going to be big buddies.  She is always kissing on him. I think Little Miss Sassy thinks that he is her own live baby doll.



Just a few more newborn pictures...





I went to the big Wetumpka Walmart all by myself with three out of four of my children the other morning.  As I was just trying to grab what I needed and get out with minimal break downs from my kids the lovely checkout lady proceeded to ask me "are these ALL your kids?"  For a split second I almost replied "No I just thought it would be a blast to round up as many kids as I could and head out to Walmart.  That's what I do for fun."  but I didn't go off on the Walmart check out lady.  I just smiled and said why Yes they Are.  (I should have told her that I had one more that wasn't with me and that really would have blown her mind.)

At some point though in the blur of the last seven weeks we have thankfully found quite the routine with the six of us. (Even if the Walmart checkout lady thinks we are crazy.)

Thomas Franklin

He's here .... Thomas Franklin Donehue born on July 23 at 11:42 am.

You would think naming our only boy would be easy but we didn't know what we were going to name him until several hours after he was born.  We ended up going with his paternal grandfathers middle name Thomas and his maternal grandfathers middle name Franklin.  I think it suits him...



Brian's last moments as a father of three.








He did end up being my biggest baby. 7 lbs 13 oz and 21 inches



I LOVE living this close to my brother and sister in law.  They took the girls on Sunday so we could rest before we went in on Tuesday and Seana brought them back on Thursday when we were checking out of the hospital.
They were so excited to meet their brother.






He already has three little mommas.



I was really surprised by how excited Payson was over him.  She calls him "brudder".  We are just working on learning how to love brudder gently right now.




We have not attempted to leave our house with all four yet but so far at home the adjustment hasn't been that bad.  Coffee is my friend and I am thankful that my mom will be here when Brian has to start school in a week.  We are all just in love with this precious little face.

Sid turns Four

Back on June 12 Miss Sidney turned into a big Four year old, although Sidney will tell you that she is not a big girl until Brother comes then she has decided she will be one.  She is a mess...still such a girly girl (very opinionated about what she will wear), but a tough, stubborn, loving little girly girl who marches to the beat of her own drum.



We were still living in temporary housing on base so we didn't do a huge celebration.  Just had a family meal of all Sidney's favorites Hot Dogs, Popcorn and Watermelon.



And cake of course.



Carolyn was so funny when Sidney was blowing out her candles.  Trying to give her tips on how not to catch your hair on fire.  I don't think she will ever forget her hair incident.
And where Carolyn kind of gets nervous when all the attention is on her... Sidney just relishes in it.
Can't believe she is four and I love the little slash big girl she is becoming.



Speaking of Carolyn.. I forgot to blog that she lost her first tooth while we were traveling around.  She chipped her front two teeth when she was 18 months old which is why they look shorter but one of her bottom ones was the first to go.
Now our teeth are constantly talked about.  The status of all Carolyn's wiggly teeth, Sid thinks she has loose teeth and we even talk about the boiled peanut man from way back(who knew a man with no teeth would make such an impression on my then 4 & 2 year olds). Carolyn was a little worried at first that her teeth weren't coming back and she would end up looking like him.
Exciting conversations in the Donehue household. HA

Wetumpka, Alabama

Guess who unpacked their last box this past Sunday!!  It feels absolutely wonderful to finally be settled and there is no way we could have done it this quickly without help from our family (Brian's cousin Robbie and Uncle DD and Aunt Seana came out to help us.)  So far we are loving Wetumpka  (which is just a fun word to say in its self) Alabama!

(Below are the girls in front of our house the weekend we moved in.)

Now that we are all unpacked we are just on baby watch (I'm 37 weeks). At my last doctor's appointment on Monday they performed an ultrasound because he thought I was measuring small.  The Little Guy was measuring in at 6lbs 7 oz though and looked as healthy as can be.

(I broke out the tripod and tried to get a couple of shots in our backyard of the family of five before we turn into the family of SIX!)