Better Late than Never

It feels likes it's been forever since my last post, but such is the life of this baby growing, first grade teaching, toddler loving mom.  I feel like my new little guy is already getting the short end of the stick!  This little momma can't outrun the stereotype that happens with second children.... they don't get all the hoopla of the first!  Oh well, I'm doing the best I can! 

The first go 'round I had a picture of my growing belly every 2 weeks!  Here I am almost 22 weeks... and I have 2 pictures!  Whoops! Here is my belly at 20 weeks:

 Last weekend I had the privilege of spending some quality time with my best friends (this doesn't happen often seeing as we all live hours apart).  They are so sweet to throw Baby Hourigan and I a little "sprinkle."    

 
Speaking of baby Hourigan (still no name)- he has really started moving and grooving in there!  I would still describe it as one of the best feelings in the world!  It really makes the pregnancy feel "real" because I haven't had as much time to focus on it.  

Brooks continues to stay on the move, but sweet as ever!  He has started giving my belly (the baby) kisses.  His teachers have also been impressed with the animal sounds he knows (go daddy)!

           

And who couldn't fall in love with this smile?  

 

Brooks has been extra impressive to me this week too!  He made it all the way through church on Sunday without one of us having to take him out (thank you Jesus), he has not been throwing as many fits out of frustration (knock on wood), and his speaking becomes more clear each day with new words!  He continues to be the biggest blessing in our lives.

Now, let's see how long this great behavior lasts as we start moving him into his new big boy bedroom! 

Boy or Girl?

                                                 Pink or Blue?

                               

Well, curiosity got the best of us and we just couldn't wait to find out what God has in store for our lives.  So, we went ahead and found out the gender of Baby Hourigan # 2. 

Here is our little family of 3, on our way to learn if Brooks will be having a brother or sister.

And Brooks is patiently playing with some trains in the waiting room...

At first the baby was on his knees and refused to roll over. We pushed at him and I rolled to my side and then we were finally able to find out.... (building the anticipation).

Blue wins again!!  We will be having another precious little boy!

And so we got busy preparing to share the fabulous news with our family and friends.  I wanted to do something fun, but not the same thing we see on our news-feed each day.  So, I decided to do my own version of a cupcake reveal.  

First, I baked a bunch of cupcakes.  I secretly hid a small baby (like one that is used in a King Cake for Mardi Gras) in a handful of the cupcakes.  

Then I iced the cupcakes blue and pink so people could choose what they thought the baby was (making sure to hide the babies in blue cupcakes only). 

Here are a few pictures of the process:   

Here is the finished product of cupcakes (there's a baby hidden in each tray).

And now some pictures of us sharing our good news ( I did not do well in taking pictures of everyone, sorry).

CJ, Whit & Dayton - Whit found the baby!

Brooks & Dayton enjoying their cupcakes!

I had to include these pictures of Dayton and Brooks wrestling!

Hourigan Family reveal... Nick and Jim got the babies!

Sorry I missed pictures of everyone else, but it was more fun watching faces than being behind a camera screen (such predicaments of being a mom :)

And let me go ahead and answer your question.  No, we don't know the baby's name yet.  I'm sure you'll see a post when we do ;)

Summer Adventures

Just wanted to stop in and update some of our favorite summer memories so far!  

Making forts, eating watermelon, 4th of July PJs, and cinnamon rolls with my cousins... these are a few of my favorite things!

Brooks loves the fountains at the pool!  He has been fearless this summer, jumping in the pool and going under with a smile on his face (ignore my pregnant belly, please).  

This Month's Adventures and Misadventures of Brooks include:
-Last week he pointed out the moon to me (which we have only talked about in books, but I've never heard him say it).
-He was caught by his teacher "singing" Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  
-He got bit by a little girl at school for the first time (she took his toy, he took it back, so she bit him).  
-We have created a chocolate milk monster!  He has begun to insist on chocolate milk (although it sounds more like cochat mek).  
-He walked straight into the lake at camp without a second thought about it. 

Tim and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary this month! 

Brooks had tons of fun on the trampoline and in the pit at the gym with his best buds!

Lastly, we celebrated Uncle Wesley's dirty thirty birthday last night!  All the kiddos had a blast playing together!

Tim and I have had so much fun spending tons of time as a family this summer!  It has been such a blessing!  

When Three Become Four

Finally the time has come when we can proudly announce that we will be adding another little Hourigan to the family!  We are so excited to become a family of four and give Brooks a true best friend to share his life with.  I am sure we can all proclaim that our siblings have become our best friends (with time).  

Baby Hourigan will join the fam the last week of December.  Our due date is officially January 3rd, but with a scheduled c-section the doctors prefer to do it 1 week early. . . great tax bonus :)

Of course this little planner of a mom can't wait to find out the gender!  I am 13 weeks along, so we will find out pretty soon.  Keep your eye out for another post!  

Mom and Dad's 35th Wedding Anniversary

Until then here's some of our current happenings...

Cousin's came swimming with Brooks:

And 2 cute Brooks' stories for the road:

We were in Publix the other day and Brooks was sitting in the cart while I was getting a loaf of bread.  He kept saying, "Elmo, Elmo, Elmo" (or some fashion of the word).  I looked at him like, "What are you trying to say?"  Then I looked up to see a rack of sandwich Tupperware with Elmo's face on each one.  I had no idea he would recognize Elmo!

For months now Tim and I have been trying to get Brooks to fold his hands when we pray.  He has finally started doing it (although usually with a full mouth of food), but now when we finish praying he always adds on his own "Amen."  It melts my heart every time!