I don't know what to say

Look, I know I have epically failed at blogging for the last...THREE months. I don't feel bad about it. I have had some major adjusting to do, and those little bits of time that I get during nap time have been spent working, brushing my teeth, and doing dishes.
I had considered quitting my job earlier this year, but realized that I love the work of His Voice Global so much, that It was actually painful for me to think about not being a part of it. Plus I work with some pretty great people.

In review,
Andrew took a trip to Israel in Dec...(jealous) and that was a great opportunity for me to get to MO to see my family as well as Andrew's mom coming to visit me for a week! I have the best family!

I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed.

We had a great Christmas with lots of traveling. We got to be the "Holy Family" at our home church's Christmas Eve family service (Foster killed it as baby Jesus...and as Santa) That was a strange thing to type.

We got to see lots of Family at Christmas and even SNOW!!!

The past few months have brought exciting things to our friend group, our dear friends Meggie and Dexter got engaged, our little buddy Nathaniel got baptized, and just two days ago Phil and Jessi had their baby girl! So fun! And I was lucky enough to photograph both the engagement and the birth (No pics of the new baby since Phil and Jessi haven't seen them yet!).

Perhaps the coolest thing for me was seeing all 4 cousins together for the first time...and getting to meet baby Eden! I know I am biased, but these 4 boys are seriously handsome!

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what I've been up to! But...before you go, this is my newest favorite pic of Foster.

the last few months

It has been a minute or two since I even stopped by my blog. Since then, Foster turned 3 months...

He is super sweet, but makes this face a lot! 

then 4 months. 

chillin

Life as a work from home mom was a difficult enough balance (hence my blogging hiatus) then we threw a family reunion, a wedding and a His Voice Global Weekend (3 weeks in a row, all in MO) into our October, you know, just to mix things up a bit.
Andrew flew back and forth 2x from TX to MO for the reunion and the wedding, but I stayed in MO and just traveled back and forth across the state with Foster.
I hated being away from Andrew, but I do have a new confidence about balancing and work and mommy-dom.  Here is a quick recap - other posts with more fun details to follow.

The family reunion was amazing. It was a sweet time filled with the entire McGoldrick Clan.

The wedding was beautiful. Andrew got the opportunity to speak at the wedding of Wermy and Allyson.

The His Voice Global Weekend was great and went off without a hitch. Would you believe that I didn't take a single pic?

And Foster, well, that little man met a ton of people and he was a champ! 

Thanks to his grandparents for giving him some stability! 

I could not have picked a better time to be in Missouri. I got to experience the beginning, height, and even some of the closing of FALL!!!! I mean, yall, it was amazing! Look at the colors in the background of some of these pics.

After being gone for 18 days, getting home to my man was a relief. He is an awesome Father and Foster thinks he is pretty funny too!

I'll try not to be away from here for so long next time. Thanks for stopping by.

Sarah

Vacation!

We made it. We actually made it like 5 weeks ago...but better late than never huh? 

So we took our 5 week old baby and boarded a plane to Panama City Beach. We spent the first three days in Destin with our dear friends Jacqueline and Derek Garcia, then a week in Panama City (Inlet Beach to be exact). It really was a blast...but completely different taking a beach vaca with a baby. But, when I say "we made it", I mean, "Foster did awesome on the flights!".

Fosters first time seeing the ocean, clearly he loves it. 

Andrew and Foster walking out to the water! 

Derek and Jacqueline cuddling Foster at Starbucks.

A few words on Derek and Jacqueline: I love this couple! They are our twin couple. We go months without talking and only see each other once a year and we pick up right where we left off and dig into the deep things in life; our Faith, work, marriage, love, hopes, dreams, family, kids.... We are always so blessed and refreshed by their company. We pray that the Lord calls us to serve in the same place someday! Two things. 1. Jacqueline is pregnant with twins. A boy and a girl. YEEEEEE!!!! 2. Derek is one of the funniest people I have ever met. We laugh a lot when we are with them.

When we were there Foster was in a growth spurt, eating all the time...like at the breakfast table. Derek was such a good friend that he didn't want me to feel alone.

This is Derek with an apron, pretending to multitask.

The time with my family is always a trip, especially now that there are 3 little boys! Here are a few snapshots of the rest of the trip! 

Charlie doesn't speak yet, but he is a funny, sweet, and charming little boy! I could squeeze the heck out of him! Couldn't you just eat him up?!?!

Charlie! I can't handle the cuteness!

Charlie playing in the sand.

We spent an afternoon at Seaside with the fam. 

My view for most of the week.

The weather was not ideal beach weather...for most people...but, for me it was amazing. It never got into the 90's, it rained at least a little every day, and the cloud coverage was pretty much constant. For me, it meant that I got to sit outside on the covered porch for hours each day. It was awesome! My mom also chooses to sit on the porch as opposed to the beach so we got to spend lots of time talking.

We had an amazing time with my brother and sister-in-law. As I told my brother, it was so good to be a parent so I could actually understand what that is like and allowed us a chance to commiserate. I have always loved being around Josh and Michelle, but being in a new similar life stage as them made it extra special. Plus, I just LOVE those boys...and the one on the way. 

Fred, Michelle and baby on the way.

Fred holding Foster. I love Fred's face in this pic...hilarious. 

Fred has a special place in my heart - he stole my heart the second I laid eyes on him! He is turning 5 this week!!! HOLY COW! He is as rambunctious as ever and is so smart and funny. And seriously, sooo handsome. It was strange always having Foster and not being able to play with the Welker boys, but Fred and I got to play in the ocean a bit, in the waves...he said it felt like a giant bounce house...Loved it!

Fred eating a piece of bred with nutella on it...we laughed so hard in these few minutes!

Love this mug!

Josh and Charlie heading out!

I am behind the camera, and this pretty much sums up the mood of the Welker vacation! hahaha!

My mom and Michelle spent some time with Foster and Andrew and I got to take a nice long walk!

It was so good to watch people love my baby and get to meet him...
and it was also good to rest and be loved on!

How was your summer?

Visitors Galore!

 Since Foster was born we have had a constant stream of visitors. This is NOT a complaint. We have LOVED it. We took a 10 day vacation (I will post photos soon) and other than that, I am sure that we have not gone more than 5 days without having house guests. This has been great for many reasons.
1. We love watching people love our son.
2. If there are people around to hold the boy, I get to get some work done and do not feel like I am neglecting him.
3. We got to go on a date!

My parents were here from June 14-July 12th
Thomas (Andrew's little brother) came into town June 30th-July 1st.
Andrews Parents (Scott and Anne) were here June 25th-29th then July 16th-20th
Matt and Jodi were here July 18th-23rd
We left for Vacation on August 1st...got home on August 10th.

My Mom and dad at the hospital when Foster was announced. Photo by Kari Crowe.

Scott and Anne

Uncle Thomas

Matt and Jodi

We had so much fun with All of our family and friends! Matt and Jodi were so sweet with Foster! It was such a blessing to have them in town to just hang out and love on us and our baby! 

 August hit us with a steady stream of visitors made up of former students of ours from Liberty - followed by friends and family.

August 12th - Jenna Wiles came over
August 13-17 - Bailey and Katja into town, Maria came over from Ft. Worth
August 21st-24th - Anne Beard in town.
August 29th-31st - Christine in town.
Sept 1st - now - Brian and Jenn Beard.


First was Jenna Wiles...She spent the day hanging out with out us and getting to love on Foster!

Jenna Wiles

The next day, These two crazy kids (Bailey Bollinger and Katja Jones)  came into town...Maria Cox came over too, but I am horrible, and didn't take a pic of all 3 of them. 

This is how they want you to think the visit was...

This is what the week was really like.  

I have to say, I learned a lot about babies from Bailey. She knows a lot!

Thanks Bai!

Katja, Foster, Bailey, and Hayley

Hayley White met up with us at the Burger's house in Ft. Worth one day. 

Mikey 

 This is Michael - I call him Mikey, He was on his way down to San Antonio (where he goes to school), and stopped by to meet Foster. When he showed up at our house, Bailey, Katja, and Maria were there...So in our living room we had 4 of our former students from the same graduating class...we loved that moment so much!

Granny Annie has been here a few times and is headed back down this month. 

We have been so thankful for the time that Anne has been here.  She was here for 3 days and didn't leave the house once...but we were able to go see Batman and shop a little...the longest we had been gone without him!


Then one of my best friends, Christine Biondo had a few days of break from work and decided to come into town to meet Foster.

She left on Friday and then on Saturday Andrews Brother, Brian, and his wife, Jenn, came in to meet foster!

Aunt Jenn and Uncle Brian...and Foster!

It has been NUTS but has been so much fun!

Who do I look like?

We have not been able to decide who Foster looks like, so we snapped this pic. 

I have decided...

Eyes-Andrews

Nose - Mine

Upper lip - Me (the Welker boys and I all have this same shape)

Mouth - Andrew

Coloring...so far - Andrew 

What do you think.

My sweet boy is two months old. We sure do love him!