Children

“Children are the most important possession parents are entrusted with”

"Being a father or a mother is not simply a matter of bringing children into the world. The capacity for generation, which is a share in the creative power of God, is meant to have a continuation. Parents are called to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the development of their children into men and women who will be authentic Christians.
The parents are the first persons responsible for the education of their children, in human as well as in spiritual matters. They should be conscious of the extent of their responsibility. To fulfill it, they need prudence, understanding, a capacity to love and a concern for giving good example."

Thats a lot of pressure if you ask me!!

5 Fun Facts:

1. I love to sew! You should check out my etsy site...I am having a sale! enter coupon code 30off for 30% off http://www.etsy.com/shop/madelineblalock?ref=ss_profile

2. Caleb is still taking 2 1.5-2hr naps a day -- WOHOO

3. I *hate* having dirty floors...but it has become a way of life with little ones

4. I love it when my hubby puts his arm around me...especially at mass for some reason

5. Jonah loves to be cuddled = happy mom!

Blessings, M

Enjoy these photos taking by my amazing bro-in-law!

New Baby!

Yep! We have a new baby! He is perfect in every way! God blessed us with little Jonah on July 6, at 1157am. Everything went well, we are all home and happy and healthy...well Caleb is starting to get a little jealous...but other than that!
Even though it has not been that long I forgot how little they are, and their sweet little noises, and precious cuddles...mmmm
But I also love Caleb's big boy laughs, little feet running around our house, playing chase, swimming in the pool, and watching him sign to me.
Life is busy! It is quite an adjustment...I am still working on it. What to do with Caleb while I nurse Jonah...so far the "baby jail" is working ok, and he is watching a lot more veggie tales...I feel bad, but don't really have much of choice (unless someone out there has suggestions!!!). I am trying to give Caleb special attention while Jonah is sleeping -- reading lots of books, playing in the backyard, etc...
I enjoyed having my mom here for a week! It was so nice to sleep in (she would watch C), have meals cooked and cleaned for me, and be spoiled in general...moms are so wonderful, and I am pretty sure I have the best! I had a little bit of a break down when she left yesterday, but I know that God will provide!
Courtney, Matthew, and Liam are coming into town this weekend! WOHOO! Plus, Caleb loves his cousin so that will be good for him!



compare that to C's first bath http://theblalocksblessings.blogspot.com/2011/06/babes.html










Blessings,
M
ps- today was Jonah's due date!

Babes...

Well,
We went to see the Dr. this am (who, by the way I LOVE!!! she is just wonderful!). She has scheduled my induction for July 8, 0600...if he doesn't come on his own before then, and as long as my blood pressure continues to cooperate. We will be 39 weeks that day. So say some prayers!

Since Jonah is coming soon I thought I would remind myself, and everyone else...how tiny they really are









Yes, we are excited...nervous, but excited! I would be lying if i said I wasn't worried. Worried about the delivery, worried about the baby, worried about being able to be a good mom to TWO precious blessings, worried about being a good wife too...BUT I have to remind myself that God would not have given us this miracle without the help, support, love, and ability to care for it!

On another note, well maybe not so "other", I just finished reading "The Handbook for Catholic Moms" by Lisa M. Hendey...great read and I will share a few likes:

-She discussed how we often say "look what your son has done" or think "wait until your father gets home". (*side note, the author this book is married to and ER MD, and they were married through residency etc...so I guess I feel some sort of connection here...) Her husband explained to her that his time with his children was so limited and he didn't want to walk in the door and immediately discipline his baby. He wanted to get down on the floor and play, do anything to light up the eyes and smile his precious boy...I have to remember this too! Not that I will be the only "bad guy" but just not to save it all up for Darryl.

-Blessed Mother Teresa "It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters." She reminds us that this is the attitude we need when there is ANOTHER pile of laundry, or dishes, or ANOTHER meal to cook etc...
"We all want to know that we are doing a good job. In a mother's work, however, there are no performance appraisals or merit pay increases. We're in it for the long haul, and its likely that we will not see for many years the end result of all our efforts." So as I do each of these things I try to remember to pray, pray in Thanksgiving that we have a precious family to clothe, that we have mouths to feed and food to feed them, as I am ironing Darryl's work clothes I pray for him, that he will listen to God's call and follow it, that he will have the strength he needs to guide our family and as I am picking up Caleb's toys, or cleaning his high chair AGAIN, I pray that God will keep him safe and hold him in his loving arms, that Caleb will learn to love Christ, and be an example to others, and THROUGHOUT the day, I pray that God will give me strength and grace to do all he has called me to do!

I can't go into everything I learned in this book...just read it!
But I will leave you with a request...please pray for me! I learned many new patron saints from the book pick one (or 2 ;-) of the following who are patron saints of pregnant women, mothers, infants & babies...
*St. Anne (mothers, housewives, pregnant women, women in labor)
*St. Anthony of Padua (pregnant women)
*St. Brigid of Ireland (infants & babies)
*St. Elizabeth (expectant mothers, pregnant women)
*St. Gerard Majella (pregnant women, pro-life movement, unborn children)
*St. Gianna Beretta Molla (pregnant women)

Sorry for the long post!
Blessings,
M

sorry

Sorry about the pics...no time to fix now...caleb is getting ready for bed! check them out on FB! =)

Where Have We Been?

Where have we been you might ask? All over TX and back! Life has been crazy busy, but blessed.

We started our June by having Darryl finish his 3rd year of medical school (all A's! I'll brag!) We headed to Galveston with my family for a week of vacation. SO much fun! It was nice to be able to take Caleb down in the am and find atleast mom and dad up to watch him so we could catch up on a few zzzz's. Caleb loves water, so no wonder he had a blast! I am not sure whether he liked the water or sand more, but either way 99% of each day was spent outside -- bliss! We didn't really do to much, which made the vacation even better! Just lots of relaxing, eating, playing games, watching movies, and enjoying family.
After this week of fun, we drove to San Antonio and stayed one night there with Courtney and Matthew (wonderful hosts!) before heading to Kerrville for a beautiful wedding, then back to San Antonio for another night...then back to Houston for Darryl to take the clinical skills part of his Step II exam. In Houston we stayed with my Aunt & Uncle who LOVE Caleb and are so good to him! Also, while we were in Houston I got meet up with several sweet friends I have been missing! God has blessed me with such wonderful friends!
Needless to say, after 13 days away, we were all glad to be home! Caleb was so cute when we got home he was running around in circles around the couch, slept like a champ, and in general we could just tell he missed his home too! (going to be like his mommy...a homebody!)

On the Jonah front...before we left for vacation I was having a lot of migraines so my Dr. ordered a bunch of tests on me for pre-eclampsia again. (Had this all with Caleb). When we came back I had a Dr. appt and she told me that I did have protein in my urine again. My BP has not been too bad, not as bad as it was with Caleb...upper 120's (pre-baby I was 100's). So she put me on "bedrest", (told me no more 12hr shifts) and scheduled me for 2x/wk appts and NSTs. Last week when I saw her I was 36 wks, and was 3cm dilated and 30% effaced...so she said we have a much better start for induction than we did with caleb...Today she told me she would not let me go past 39 (July 8) and I go back to see her Fri. Jonah seems to be doing just fine, shes not worried about him right now! Thank God!


We celebrated Father's Day this past weekend by having a relaxing Sunday, going to mass, playing in the backyard, and cooking Darryl dinner. I am so blessed to have so many amazing fathers, grandfathers, godfathers etc. in my life!

SOOO! Now Darryl is busy studying for the written portion of Step II (hence I am not able to get on the computer much). I am trying to rest as much as Caleb and me will let me, not get too hot, and get ready for # 2...amazing how unprepared I am this time around! ;-)

Sorry I did not have much time to spend on photos or blog...but hope you feel caught up! =)

Blessings,
M

JOY!

"Blessed are you for believing'', said Elizabeth to our Mother. Union with God, supernatural virtue, always brings with it the attractive practice of human virtues: Mary brought joy to her cousin's home, because she brought Christ. (Furrow, 566)

I love to see my precious boy bring joy to people's lives. He is such an example to me!

So much to share, so little time! Things have been busssssy! Lots of road trips, comings and goings, which of course means packing and unpacking. But we are enjoying it! Darryl just finished third year today! WOHOOO! So proud!
Leaving tomorrow for our vacation/wedding trip/darryl takes the 1st part of Step II in Houston.

Blessings,
M

I just love this picture! The story is pricesless...Courtney and I were packing up the car to head to Athens for Becca's 8th grade graduation, she knew Liam was tired and just needed to get in the car so she put him on our bed while we packed up and Darryl was on "Caleb duty". Liam started wailing and the next thing we know Darryl walks outside and states "I'm ready for 2!" Both babies in his arms and happy! What a good man!

My Love

As Jesus, who is our Lord and Model, grows in and lives as one of us, he reveals to us that human life - your life - and its humdrum, ordinary business, have a MEANING which is divine, which belongs to eternity. (The Forge, 688)

Wow! What encouraging words! So all the laundry, dishes, vacuuming, ironing, cooking, etc really does matter?!

Isn't it truly amazing how overnight we go from independent, carefree women, to moms who can't even get 5 minutes alone to go to the restroom? It can be a struggle to carry out this vocation. BUT what a blessing!

"Let us pray for mothers and fathers throughout the world, particularly those who may be struggling in any way -- socially, materially, spiritually. Let us honor the vocation of matrimony and the dignity of family life. Let us always appreciate that it is in families that vocations are given life." -- Benedict XVI

With that being said...I am so grateful for my hubby! I could not make this journey without him, or fulfill my role as wife and mother without his love and support. I love you Darryl!

Here are some precious memories...mmm when life was simple. Meals were whatever, whenever. Trips were no big deal. Grocery shopping was a breeze. Early morning runs were a usual. And a little bit of extra joy was lacking...God is good!