Some Practice Shots

I've been a bad blogger this past week or so and haven't posted anything new. Even better than that, I haven't hardly picked up my camera, and when I did, it took me until now to get the photos offloaded! And only because I needed to clear some space so I could use the camera today for the lil' miss' 2nd birthday party (those will post tomorrow).

Here are a few from last week. I was trying a few new things and just hanging out with my little girl. The weather was actually nice enough to go out and play for a little bit without freezing our buns off.

Trying to capture her attention before she ran the other direction...it actually worked.

Trying a little sunflare...wish she would have looked at me for that one, but nope...too busy digging in the dirt with the BBQ tongs. Then there's the "ooooohhhh" don't interupt me while I'm digging in the dirt with the tractors face.

And the aforementioned tractor...this was actually my husbands when he was a lil' fella. An actual die cast Tonka, we pretty much have the whole construction crew covered.

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And one I didn't actually take, but an updated photo of our Lil' Baby girl, who will actually be arriving this week. If not sometime before, it will be Thursday and we'll have many photos to post after that.

She's actually sucking on her fingers in this shot. At 37 weeks 6 days, they are guesstimating her to be between 9 & 10.5 pounds when she arrives in this big wide world.

A new design...

I just finished up a 5x7 Birth Announcement and posted over on my design blog. I'm trying to occupy my time with something other than waiting impatiently for our little girl to make her arrival. I'm still undecided on her announcement, but at this rate, by the time she arrives I will have several to choose from!

To view the back of this announcement visit the Design Blog .

*Miss Anna is 2*-Looking back...

My little girls 2nd birthday is quickly approaching. So with the help of my dear hubby, we did a little mini session over the weekend. It seems like not so long ago she was just coming home from the hospital.

...Our Little Miss 1 week old...

...and at 6 months...

...and at 1 year...

...13 months...

...and 18 months...

...And now she's almost 2...

Now that she's two, she's going to be a big sister; either shortly before, or very shortly after her birthday. It's amazing to watch her grow and learn everyday. Everyday she is smarter than the last, with more attitude than the day before. Our Little Buggie is very independant and strong willed...we've got our work cut out for us for sure, but wouldn't trade a minute (well maybe just 1 minute) for anything. She's the absolute sunshine of our lives.

~A Day in our World~

Yesterday I thought that I would just take photos throughout our day. Everyday things that we do. Then I looked back and noticed I did a similar post in December, around the same date. So I'm going to attempt to do 1 day per month, and document a day in our world.

We live in a little valley, so a lot of mornings in the winter we wake up with fog. It wasn't too thick yesterday, not like it had been the few days before. Some days it never burns off, so it's dark and gloomy, but yesterday the sun came out and it was beautiful...still cold, but a nice day.

And everyday after I open the curtains we begin our day. Mine starts with this (at least during pregnancy). First blood sugar check, then get breakfast fot the little one & myself, then some vitamins. While I'm getting things ready for our day & taking care of a few of the things I need to get done in a day the Lil' miss is well occupied with some Curious George or something else on PBS.

This is what I see everyday, but only while I'm sitting, which currently is for about 90% of the day.

I've taken on a few projects in the last couple of weeks though. I've mentioned quilting/sewing. This weeks project has been a 'Cars' quilt for Lil' Anna's 2nd birthday. It's almost finished, I just have to trim the edges and bind it together.

Since I'm thinking about her birthday already (it will be a busy month), I thought I better do a trial run with the cake pan I bought. I've never done a shaped cake, so didn't want to be going in blind. Did a little research on the pan & some recipes ideas. She's a chocolate lover, so her cake will be chocolate for sure, still not certain on the way I will frost/decorate it. I'm thinking fondant for the bottom & frosting on the top, but we'll see.

This sample cake, which I'll take to church Sunday to share, is a chocolate with strawberry filling and cream cheese frosting. I came up with the idea from a brownie recipe I have that is chocolate crust with cheesecake filling and strawberry on top. My icing was a bit soft and I didn't have any more powdered sugar...oh well next time!

Something else that's an 'everyday' at our house, is text messaging and reading something from my Bible. Yesterday I read in Matthew chapter 7. I came out with a few important thoughts for the weekend.

1-2 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging will be the standard by which you will be judged." This is something that we're working on especially hard this year.

7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." With all the other news and goings on this week in our lives, this passage revives our hope.

12 The Golden Rule "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."

And at 2 years old, being able to have 'big girl' treats is the best. Our special rewards/allowances consists of moneys (she loves putting the spare change into her pig) this has worked well the past week for getting her to sleep in her own bed. One of her favorite things is getting her finger and toenails painted.

And it's just another day in our lives.

--Just My Kid--

I finally made an attempt to try out my new camera today (on something other than craft projects)...it wasn't for very long, but we went out on the back patio and my little one actually let me take 3 photos.

Then it was back to being uncooperative, bossy, and all other things a 2 year old can be!

I'm hoping that with my hubbys assistance this weekend we can get out and do a little mini-shoot for her birthday invites. You'll definately get to see this outfit again once our Little Grace arrives, her auntie got the little misses' matching outfits for Christmas.

A Little Bit Crafty

So one of my favorite hobbies is sewing, and I've had the itch to do some crafting lately (it could be my way of nesting, cause I dispise cleaning). Anyways, I decided to make my daughter and our little one on the way matching dresses for Valentines day. I'm being optimistic as my actual due date isn't until Feb 20th. I'm using New Look Pattern #6688, veiws C (2 yr old) & E (newborn) I'm going to have to alter the size for view E, it's a toddler pattern and the smallest is 1/2.

Here are a couple of snapshots of the first finished piece, the other should be done by the end of the week, if I find some more extra time. I also did a couple matching hairbows for the little princess almost 2 year old, going on 20 year old, that calls me Momma.

--Special Offer--

If you had a portrait session with me during 2008 your images are eligable for the 2008 Best of Sale. Check out the 2008 Best of Gallery between January 4th and January 19th.

Only the photos listed in this specific gallery are offered at a discounted price on selected sizes for 15 days only. Be sure to check out all the sub-galleries, you never know where something from your session could be. Prices include sales tax, shipping is an additional $3.00 per order.

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Here's to a Happy New Year

As 2008 comes to an end, I reflect back on the past year. Boy am I glad we're starting 'over'.

Here's to a Fabulous New Year!

Be sure to check back within the next week for a Fantastic Best of 08' Special Sale!

Just sharing some quick snaps from yesterday, my new camera came and I couldn't resist playing with it.

I was sitting in the floor sorting through a box of baby stuff (from the first go round) when the mailman stopped with the package. I've decided that it's time to start putting things in order so we're ready for our lil' girl to make her debut.

A few of my daughters things that our in the play corner of the living room. Her favorite 'orsey' (cause he bites, well doesn't really bite, but his mouth moves). And the ever dreaded time out chair, boy does she highly dislike having to sit that in a corner!

Then we drove up to my mom's house to pick up a set of bunk beds that we'll be putting in the girls' room. It's one with a set of drawers at one end and a desk at the other. She still has her tree up so I thought I'd see how we could do up close and personal with Old Man Santa.

And last but not least, our light display (the front part of the house anyways). These will be coming down tomorrow since my hubby's got the day off.

~Some of Baby's First Photos~

...not exactly photos, but these our from our most recent sonogram. Currently lil' miss Grace is weighing in at 5lbs 4oz, and we've got about 7 weeks to go. Hopefully she doesn't grow too large in the next few weeks. We'll see what the Dr has to say about the results from this sonogram at tomorrows appointment.

According to baby's size and such the sonogram suggests a new due date....which in a few years probably wouldn't set well with Miss Anna, because it's already a date taken by her! Yup...that's what it said, Feb 8th.

~*Merry Christmas*~

Christmas day has come and gone, it seems to come quicker every year, and be gone before a blink. I typically don't pack my camera around at family events, just because I like to enjoy the moments.
I was asked on Christmas eve to take a family shot of the entire group that we had at our home for dinner (it's the once in a blue moon gathering of my hubbys side, aka: the outlaws).

We had his younger brother, girlfriend, & their 2 kids, Gramma, both of his parents, his sister and her son, and our little family all in our house, it was quite an adventure! You should have seen their faces as I was getting from one end of the house to the other to get this photo. Lets just say they weren't too fond of my growing preggo-belly moving rapidly dodging furniture and toys to get back in time (my remote wouldn't work!!)

I also took a few on Christmas morning. It was my little girls 2nd Christmas.

Seeing her gifts from Santa for the first time.

Trying out her new 'itty tat slip-lips'.

She's oh so proud of her new belt! She wore that thing all day. When asked to show it off she would stick out her belly and waddle towards whomever asked about it. It was priceless.

We started a few new family traditions this year; making handmade ornaments (that my daughter got to help with, she loves doing craft 'rojects'), & reading in our Bible the story of Jesus' birth Christmas night before bed. We also read a differnt Christmas story every night of December up until Christmas eve, where we read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Something out of the ordinary this year was having my hubbys grandma spending the night with us. I know she enjoyed herself and getting to spend the day with her grandson and great-granddaughter. We probably won't make that a tradition, but it was our little gift to her. Christmas day we spent with my mom's side of the family and I didn't take any photos.

My camera always manages to get where we are going, but never out of the case! It was a day of celebration, food, family, & fun. We'll be having another family gathering on Sunday with my dad's side of the family, maybe I'll actually get the camera outta the case on that day!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and prosperous new year to come. May the spirit of Christmas be with you throughout the beginnings of 2009 and continue to grow in your heart as the year ages.