weekend in fredericksburg - warning picture overload

what a celebration weekend it was!

the oldest of the o'connell great grandchildren graduated high school.

and someone is starting her last year in her twenties...

even though this yummy cake only shows four candles

 (i'm not gonna lie there honestly are days i do feel that young).

  we had a great weekend together with family.

we tried swimming for the first time. 

but i think the water was a little too chilly.  football was the sport of choice.

on saturday night, my cousin threw an awesome graduation reception for her oldest son.

my sister's amazing cookies!

yep they taste as good as they look too!

we finally met the two new additions to the family, liam and riley.

and we all waited patiently to hold them. 

so so cute!

by the end of the night the littlest ones had their own party.

we realized we will be having high school graduations in this family, almost every year, from here on out! 

the clean up crew.

aren't they cute?

sunday morning we were able to go to mass together at st. marys.  mama and daddy's favorite of course.  then we went out to dinner to celebrate double birthday's!

mama's and jack's second cousin, landon's.

i sure missed our other birthday buddy on this weekend.

i couldn't decide if it was my crazy hormones, the fact that it's been two years since we have gotten to celebrate together, or that we were staying in his small town for the weekend. 

 but i think i basically just plain missed him.

we always will. but we have to know he is  c e l e b r a t i n g  more than us these days.

:)  

 little man was not feeling so well that day.  the hard playing he did the night before plus allergies was not a good combo. 

we headed home after lunch.  daddy was the good man to let the birthday girl and her baby boy both sleep the whole way.  then we slept some more when we got home.  jack, you are feeling much better after a few good nights sleep. we've got to get ready for the other busy summer weekends we have planned ahead. 

oh baby!

we haven't forgotten about you.  promise.  you made it somewhat hard for mama to get decently dressed and have the energy to get out and take pictures of how you are making me grow. grow. grow.

so the first picture we took was you at only sixteen weeks. this was actually perfect timing because i think this was when you really did start making your appearance.

it is mama's fault that we didn't get the seventeen week picture.  i'm sorry.  but really i dont think i had much to show off. 

 :)  

for now we will stay on track with the even weeks.

yep you are growing! if not in the front, somehow you are making mama grow in the back.   

brother loves you so much.  a couple times a day he will say "mama! b! b!" he pulls me down so he can give  you a hug or kiss, an occasional tickle and most recently he gave you his milk and said "a num a num"  as if you two were sharing.  today he showed a little interest in taking the pictures too.

it didn't last too long though.  there was baseball to play and maudie to chase. 

the last two weeks, you have been kicking around  a  l o t  at night, which just makes me squeal! i forgot how much i loved that feeling.  knowing what a little person you are it is such a miracle.  you are such a blessing to us!  we are praying you are growing healthy and strong every day.  in just two weeks we will find out if you will be little brother or sister.  we are thrilled either way we are just excited to call you by name as soon as we find out!   we love you little bit!

xxoo