Tisn't the season... yet....

I guess I'm officially one of "those people". I put my Christmas Tree up this weekend. Granted, I'd love to put it up the day after Easter. But, I'm usually disciplined enough to wait until the dishes are done after Thanksgiving. However, this year is a shortened season and I'm going to be away from my home for the first ten days of it. So, there it is. That's my justification. In defense, I only put up my two special nativities and the tree. When I get home, I will put up the rest. I just didn't want to come home in the middle of December to a non-Christmassy house.


This year was especially fun because Suzy is getting old enough to start to understand the symbolism behind some of the decorations. We put up my favorite nativities that are kept in my bedroom, away from the heat in the attic and such. It was a real treat for her to be able to touch them this year. Each of my ornaments has a special meaning. I have a special ornament for all of the cousins in my family. Here Suzy is putting up Andy's ornament. She picked it out at the mall with me this weekend.

She loved winding up the Weeping Santa to hear the music.


My other special nativity, stained glass from my college years.
Rob is a real trooper. He's a Grinch by nature, but he does his best to be Merry for me.
Grammy and Pawpop even got in on the festivities this year.
Andy got in on the tradition of hot cocoa under the tree. Well, in spirit anyhow.


Here Suzy is explaining the baby Jesus to Andy. Very precious.

Santa Suzy

Guess who's gonna be Three???


One of Suzy's favorite things right now, "I don't know!"

Love you, my sweet Santa Suzy!

More little elf

Here are some more pictures of my cute littlest Elf. I'm still editing, editing, editing, but I will have more "fall" pictures and Santa Suzy pictures soon....

p.s. Thank you so much Catherine and sister for the backdrop! I'm having a lot of fun with it.





The above shot is a very "Andy" shot. He loves his food and likes his hands in his mouth. Oy, vey,... not magical words to hear for a "germaphobe". ;)

I apparently never know when it is "enough". Many of our little sessions end like this. My theory is that some people save up for college for their children. I save up for therapy. My opinion is that they have to pay for college on their own, but I'm happy to pay for them to sit on a couch to try and undo any wrong I have done to them. :) "Beg forgiveness... it's easier than permission...."

My little Elf

MANY More to come........ I hope to get some of these latest portraits edited by Easter.. If not, there's always Mother's Day! ;)

Baby Colton

Here are some of my favorite shots of little Colton. He's only about a month behind Andy. He's just got the cutest little belly button. Don't you agree?
This was a special blanket that was hand made for him. I love how this new lens can really bring out detail in little spots.
I just LOVE this one. So sweet and innocent. He's like a little Gerber baby.
I like how the narrow depth of field is shown here (just his face in focus).



Stayed tuned as I try and get some good Christmas shots in the next few weeks!

Cody and friends

I'm having lots of fun with my new camera toys. :) A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of taking some photos of some friends of ours from church. As a suprise to me, Catherine and her sister gave me a thank you card with a little something inside. I've re-invested and now have a nice back drop holder. I also took the tip from Amy-Rose King and bought a Scott Kelby book on how to more effectively use Photoshop Elements. To say I am having fun at this new little hobby would be a huge understatement. ;) Here are some of my favorites from the day. Oddly, I seem to often have different favorites than the mommies of the children I photograph. It's so funny how beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder.... I love how God gave us all such different tastes. Since it's my blog, here are MY favorites!

If you know Cody, he loves green. I love how this photo captures that.
I love the catch lights in Sarah's eyes here. She just looks like a little Angel to me here.


Love, love, love Claire's eyelashes. Reminds me of Adeline and Aravis just a bit.
I love this one of Cooper. It just looks like he's telling God a big story.

How I spent my weekend

Poor Andy, this is what I came home to on Friday night. This is after a few hours of intense, nursing home grade, diaper cream...
So, we spent Saturday naked in the backyard, hoping to dry him out a bit.

I tried to get some "naked baby" (may favorite...) pictures while we were out. Clearly, it was not the time for my sweet subject.

Well, things got a little worse and he spiked a fever of 103 Saturday night, which ended us up at the ER on Sunday morning.
He's just way too little to be on that gurney.

We got admitted for Sunday night for some IV antibiotics and fluids.... Poor little guy. Our nurses and the staff were wonderful at Dell.

He kept hitting himself in the face with his splinted arm with the IV, so I covered it with a sock.

It made for a nice chew toy. Poor little guy, I hope we don't have to ever do this again.
So, that was my weekend. With 30 + dirty diapers a day, we have borrowed some cloth diapers from a friend, Cynthia, at church. Can you guess what I will be doing during Mothers Day Out ahem... "In" today?