the end of an era // start of a new one

Seven years ago this week, I was holding my first little baby boy - the whole world was fresh and new and my identity had forever shifted. I held sweet baby Elias and everything changed in good and sweet ways. My motherhood journey had begun and it would be filled with dips, turns, wins, failures, and lots and lots of God's grace. 

A year ago today, I held my new fourth and final baby as he'd just been born. We were tucked away in a hospital room, just Nick and I, with our three big kids at home - waiting for meet this little bookend boy that would complete our family. I was a new mom again, but not a scared mom. I had been bitten hard by the love bug and was smitten with this new little person, Cannon Murray Connolly. 

Last night, I ugly cried for about thirty minutes after Nick took Cannon to bed. I'm so grateful, I'm so happy for these kiddos. But I'm such a baby mom and my babies are all growing up. Lots of moms might feel freedom from naptimes and dirty diapers, but I'm aching a little as I remember the baby coos and the tiny fingers and the nights awake nursing. 

But! It's a new season. And I know the Lord made me to be more than just a baby mom. And I have a sweet little one year old to chase around the house today as he's learning how to walk. Naptimes may be nearly over for this house, but the diary will keep on going. God's grace will keep shining through where my inadequacy typically resides. It's the end of the era and the start of a new one - pass me a cup of coffee and a tissue, will you? My last baby is turning one today. 

While we celebrate sweet Cannon's first birthday, you can celebrate the fact that February is coming and we have a new download bundle in the shop! We've got 12 things for $5 included two of our new scripture prints, 4 scripture memory cards, a week planner, two notecards set, monthly calendar, a fun watercolor desktop background & a watercolor iPhone background.  Check it out! 

seven sweets about Cannon

Let it be known. This post is nothing but Cannon-filled. 
Seven things I want the world to know about Cannon Murray Connolly. 
One of the perks of being a blogger is taking up your own space to show off your baby cakes, Right? 

1. We call him all sorts of names. 
Squeaky (because he makes crazy noises).
Fluffy (because after his bath, he looks like a fluffy).
Cannon Bo Bannon. 
Cann-it (because Elias can't say Cannon). 

2. He doesn't cry a ton, but when he cries - HE CRIES. 
He screamed for the first two hours after he was born and I thought we were in trouble. He only really cries 2-3 times a day, but it's epic every time. 

3. He's a choker and a spitter. 
We literally had to call the ambulance + take him to the ER when he was about a week old because he choked and couldn't breathe for a few minutes. It's nerve-wracking to say the least. Now that he chokes less, he just spits up. An epic amount:) But it randomly smells real sweet, like almond milk. Creepy, huh? 

4. He's just started cheesy smiling real big. None of us can get enough of it. 
I think Glory, Nick, Elias and I are in a constant competition to get him smiling. Nick always wins. He loves to snuggle and sleep with mama, but he likes to be awake with Daddy. 

5. Speaking of sleep, he's slept twice through the night. Woohoo! He's kind of slept through the night (without eating) since he came home from the hospital, but he's not been able to sleep through the night without being held. He's now done two nights of 10pm-5am in his own bed, without being held. Mama kinda misses him. 

6. He has dark, dark blue eyes. Blonde-almost-ginger fluffy hair. Long fingers. Long feet. 
Y'all, the pictures don't like. He's crazy handsome. 
If you saw us out in public, you'd ask, "why is that insane woman kissing her baby fifteen times in a row?". 

7. We're madly in love. 
Him + I. The family + him. I think he likes us ok. 
We're really, really, really grateful for him. 
I wish you could all hold him and bury your faces in the folds of his sweet chubby cheeks. 

Introducing our sweet Baby4.

We're really overjoyed and overwhelmed to welcome our sweet Cannon to the world. 

I feel like we've been holding our breath for this prince for months and months, and maybe years and years. It took no time at all, and we fell hard and fast in love and know the Lord has surely completed our little family with his arrival. 

His big brothers and sister have met him and they're smitten too. They asked really poignant questions like, "does he have ears?" and "where are his underwear?". I cannot wait till all six of us are together in a few days! Until then, we are soaking up these sweet, quiet days with this amazing creation. 

Thank you all for your prayers! It felt like a long, long road to get him here and to say it was worth it is a massive understatement. More on his name, his first hangouts, and his arrival to come. I'm off to smooch his face off. 

Very, very much love from the Connolly Six. 

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy! Psalm 126:3