Birthday Photo Shoot

Well, I had high hopes of doing a birthday photo shoot this year with Brynn BEFORE her birthday so that I could post some darling little pictures of her on her actual birthday (tomorrow). We had outfits picked out, accessories to play with, the studio set up in the livingroom, and the big kids off at school and yet...

this is all we got.

Yes, she stood there sucking her thumb for a bit, cried, threw a couple of tantrums and I thought she just needed a snuggle and a break, but what she really wanted was to sit next to me on the couch and fall fast asleep in less than 5 minutes. At least I still think she is adoreable asleep.

Today we tried again...same scenario, only this time the big kids were home, and again, all she wanted to do was snuggle up on the couch. Maybe attempted photo shoots are a good nap routine? This time I got this...

Adorable, but she was wearing my jewelry and her birthday isn't for a few weeks!

We'll keep trying!

sweet sweet moments captured forever

I just posted a few pictures of my kiddos with their grandparents from a shoot I did with them, oh...last fall! 

I am a huge slacker, I know...even more so because I am just giving you the link to the post on my 

photography blog. Forgive me? And then go check out the pics because they are so very sweet!

http://smileabunchphotos.blogspot.com/2011/01/grandparents.html

the results are in...

Today we had our ultra sound and were so happy to hear that our little one is looking absolutely perfect! Size looks great...10 fingers, 10 toes, belly button, eyes, lips and nose. We couldn't be more thrilled!

We decided not to take the kiddos to the ultrasound (thanks for babysitting mom!) so promptly after picking Morgan up from his school short day, we had a little "movie afternoon". We popped some popcorn, snuggled up in front of the tv, and popped in the ultrasound dvd.

The kids were clearly a little bit excited to see the baby...

We saw

a sweet little face

tiny fingers trying to grab tiny toes

a little one all scrunched up with knees to chest

and...

no baby boy parts!

That's right people...we are in for

more pink,

more tutus,

more hair bows,

more flowers,

more dresses,

more tights,

more dress ups and barbies and littlest petshops,

more princesses,
more dancing,
more tiny polka dot shoes,
and more drama (heaven help us)!

We are so excited for another little lady who will undoubtedly
capture our heartsjust as instantly as her sisters have before her!

It took a little persuasion, but we have talked Morgan into keeping Chloe,
so you will have 2 big sisters to show you the ropes and a wonderfully awesome
big brother to balance out the estrogen and love you like crazy!

kisses and hugs my sweet!
We can't wait to meet you!

momma kisses

Lately I find myself showering my kiddos with kisses and hugs. Every time their cute little heads are right there next to me, I just can't resist. It is as if there is some magnetic pull at work attracting my puckered lips to the back/top/side/front of their heads or pulling my arms right around their little bodies. I think that part of me just wants them to know how much I love them right now...and in 5 minutes when right now has passed, I want them to know again, in this new moment that I love them so very very much!

This little face in particular draws me in so often. Maybe because I spend the most time with her when the big kids are off at school, or because she is my snuggler and loves to sit in my lap, or maybe because she is at such a wonderfully fun stage of life right now...

tonight she puckered up after her prayer and leaned toward me for her night time kisses...

and then she did it again...

and again...

and again...

and then she opened her arms as wide as she could and said, "hugs!"

So of course I obliged...

and again...

and again...

And as I said my last "love you" for the night and closed the door behind me, I heard her saying,

"I love you! I love you!"

I'm not sure why motherhood isn't considered glamorous

(although I know I definitely don't see the glamour sometimes)

because I don't think I could be happier if I were on a red carpet in a designer gown!

7 Days a Week Seth

Yesterday was the start of Seth's 7 day work weeks (if only he were getting paid for working all those days - lol!). We thought that his clinical rotation would only require him to work 3 shifts a week, but when he got his schedule, it turns out he has 4 shifts a week. Add in his 3 regular work shifts and that is 7 days a week...every week...for 8 weeks...no days off. I keep catching myself feeling sorry for myself that I am going to be alone so much, and doing all the kid stuff on my own, and doing church with 3 kids on my own, and trying to get the house ready to sell on my own...but then I think of my sweet sweet husband who is actually doing the work 7 days a week and all I can think about is what I need to do for him to help him get through.

I think that is why I always look back on the hardest times in our life and think they were so sweet. Even though it is hard and the day to day is overwhelming, you truly learn to rely on each other and on the Lord. Seth picks up the slack when I am at the end of my rope, I pick up the slack when he is at the end of his, and we rely together on the Lord when neither of us have anything left to give! What a blessing it is that by working 7 days a week a few of those shifts are shorter (only 8 hours) and allow Seth to spend time with the kids when they are awake, what a blessing it is that we are so close to family and friends who support us so much, what a blessing that our kids are still young and don't have hours of homework or lessons or sports teams to add to our already overflowing plate, what a blessing it will be when Seth finally graduates, and what a blessing that we can face the challenges together as a family! I know it will get harder...today is only day 2...but I am just trying to embrace the challenge and the blessings it will bring.

In other news, our ultrasound is scheduled for Thursday of this week...we are getting excited to find out

boy or girl!

Any guesses?

Valentine's Day is my FAVORITE

I am sure that some of you out there already know this, but I am pretty much completely obsessed with Valentine's Day! I know some people hate it...and some people celebrate singles awareness day...but even when I have been single on Valentine's day, I have still always been a huge fan. When I was in 8th grade my mom gave me makeup for Valentine's day...which was a totally big deal, because until then I wasn't really allowed to wear makeup. When I was a sophomore my crush brought me a yellow rose on Valentine's day...it is the friend rose because we couldn't date because I was not 16 yet, but still, it was twitterpating and cute! When I was a senior I spent the evening making, frosting and delivering sugar cookies with a different crush's little sister. My first year of college I think I was dating 2 different people simultaneously...so Vday was a little complicated, but the next year, Seth and I were "not dating" and he gave me a live plant...a little strange, but he has more than made up for it in the years since...except the year that he decided to take part in a door to door vacuum presentation on Valentine's day which took the full 3 hours between when I got home from work and when he left for his night shift. Still, I LOVE Valentine's day!

Anway...remeniscing tangent there for a minute...since it is my favorite holdiay, I am celebrating with a Valentine's Day Photobooth. Do you remember this cute little valentine from last year?
(that space at the bottom is where he signed his name...
it was a homework assignment for the kids to actually sign all of the Valentines)

Well, so many people commented on it, that I am offering them to you this year! No more lame-o valentines! Here is the flyer for the photobooth...they are by appointment only and you will have the images PLUS your choice of super cute, designed-by-me, much-cuter-than-the-one-above, printable valentine cards 
before Valentine's Day! YAY!

You can also find more details about it at the smileabunch photography blog.

And, a little plea for help: I would LOVE your help spreading the word...since I can only take such a limited number of sessions this year, I am trying to keep up momentum by packing as many sessions as possible into this one day! If you send 5 people my way and they book a session, I will do your session for FREE! Please refer your friends and family to this link:

 http://smileabunchphotos.blogspot.com/2011/01/grab-your-sweetheart-valentines.html 

or my Facebook Fan Page for info!

THANKS!

I did a super quick practice shoot yesterday so I would have some pictures to use for the marketing,
and I have cute pics of all the kiddos, so I will post a few here when I get a chance!

Almost 2

I can't believe my baby girl is almost 2 years old, but when I look at this darling little face I don't see a little baby anymore, I see a grown up girl who can do so many things!

I took this a few weeks ago when she was playing quietly in her room with all the "big girl toys" aka Petshops and My Little Ponies. She is quite the beauty and so silly and warm and cuddly, but very shy, so she only shares all of that with the select few friends and family that she knows well. I love you sweet baby girl! I love how you tell Morgan to "have great day - yuv you!" every morning as he heads out of the car to school! I love how you yell "I'm A-wAAAKe" with perfect clarity when you wake up from your naps! I love how you can peel a clementine all by yourself! I love how you cleaned up the wrapping paper piece by piece before you could unwrap anymore! I love how you snuggle with momma while you suck your thumb when you feel nervous! I love your sweet smile and your contageous giggle and your little mischeivious determination!

xoxoxo!

-mommy

One Little Word

I used to be completely in touch with the world of scrapbooking...the magazines, the latest trends, the fun papers and the scrapbooking icons...and through that passion, I found photography. Since I only have so much time in a day, at this point it really has to be one or the other and I am certain that you can guess which one I choose.  {...yes, photography!!!}

And even though I know that scrapbooking is on the back burner for now, I still follow some of my very favorite scrapbooker blogs and among them is a common theme right now..."One Little Word". The idea is to choose one word for the coming year, just for you. Even though this concept has been around for a few years, I have never felt inclined to come up with a word. This year, though, I am drawn to a word so much that I just can't resist:

EMBRACE

So many things come to mind as I consider this word...embrace change, embrace now, embrace the sweet ones in my life, embrace the challenges, embrace the help that comes from all around me...so I have decided to take on this word this year. I will let it into my life and try to live it each day. And since one word is about all I can handle at this point, I know it will be a good way for me to improve myself and take on the challenges and the wonderful joys that this year will bring!

HAPPY 2011!