So.

A few weeks ago I mentioned me starting a new adventure...or two.

The first being that I enrolled back into college, which I discussed previously.

The second was a secret. As in top secret, I am not telling anyone in case I chickenoutandgetscared.

You totally understand that feeling, right?

So.

Here is my "secret".

I did my first photo shoot. As the "photographer".

Now, I use that term loosely for myself. I have studied and practiced and studied and read book upon book for over 4 years now. But in no way do I consider myself an expert.

Far from it.

If anything I am just learning more and more about a hobby that I love and adore.

Without further ado, here is my shoot that I did for a friend and her family. Enjoy!

Happiness is Key...

Sister secrets...these two? Are almost always up to no good...but in the cutest way imaginable.

You could never tell that she was sick for two days prior. Love that I captured this moment!

Oh, Brynlie. She definitely has me wrapped around her tiny finger...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Beach Life...

The girls and I recently took a trip to Dauphin Island with my family while Leo was TDY in Peru. Dauphin Island is off the coast of Alabama and is beyond gorgeous. Definitely a place to go for relaxing and being unconnected to the world ( in a good way ).

We had a great time laughing, walking on our own private dock to the beach, and just relaxing in general. While there we got to celebrate Madelyn's 3rd Birthday ( a post for another day ).

Here are a few of my favorite pictures...I need to edit many more, but here are my three favorites of the girls:

She basically cried unless she was in the water...

Enjoying a sunset on the deck...

Beach babe soaking up everything the beach offered...

A Lesson in Being Brave.

Back at the end of May a certain 4 year old chopped off her hair. She wanted short hair. Her reasoning? Less tangles. Tangles are an enemy here in our home. They hurt. They make someone cry. They had to be gone.


She was scared. She made Madelyn go first and Madelyn showed her that haircuts were fun. She couldn't let her baby sister be the brave one, so up in the chair she went. Inches of hair were gone in moments. I was choked up but tried to be the brave one. I succeeded. she succeeded, we made it through yet another haircut.


After haircuts Isabella announced she wanted earrings. I'm ready, Mommy. I want earrings.


So another choked up momma moment and we were sitting and waiting to get earrings. Pink, sparkly earrings. Prin-press earrings. When the moment came to have it done she didn't back out. She sat there bravely and didn't shed a tear. No screaming. No tears. Just a happy girl with two earrings and a lollipop.


It's funny how in a span of one day she grew up in more ways than one. She was certainly braver than I was. How is that even possible? 


So for now I think we have hit a few major milestones in the whole growing up area. I need a break from it...I need to sit back and enjoy every moment that comes our way....and hope that my girls will stay little for a long, long time...

And Then? She Was One.

As I sit down to write this post I am overcome with emotion. Blissfulness. Sadness. Recollection of every little detail of labor and delivery.

I remember wanting to stop breastfeeding after a lack of sleep for what seemed like months. I smile as I remember when she finally understood breastfeeding. Like a light went off in her baby brain and it told her exactly what to do and how to do it.

I remember waking up at night and watching her breathe. Her tiny little chest going up and down rhythmically. Me slipping my finger in her sweet hand and the grasp that told me she would love me forever.

I remember her first smile beaming up at me. Funny how that gummy little smile could melt my heart in a mommy minute.

I now have an official one year old (well, she turned one on May 21...I'm a slacker these days!). A walking, babbling, 18 1/2 pound one year old.

In An Instant.

I believe that there are moments in parenting that we will never forget. First words. First steps. First giggles. Birthdays. Those are the moments that I love. I love to watch my daughters grow, change and experience life. But with the good, there is the bad.

It was a sunny day. One large cloud floated in the sky. I talked to my sister on the phone and joked that I wished the cloud would bring some rain so the girls would go inside. We were all outdoors enjoying the warm day. I took photos of the girls (it had been ages since our last shoot) and they were playing so sweetly.

I distinctly remember looking out onto our driveway and watching Isabella & Madelyn. They were having so much fun together. Sister giggles filled the air. Shrieks. Laughter. Smiles. Madelyn was in the back of a toy wagon that was pulled by Isabella.

Right before the accident...

I waved to my neighbor across the street. He had just arrived home from work. He had let his dogs out to play for a few moments. Brynlie was mesmerized and I was sitting there counting my blessings.

Within an instant there was blood everywhere.

Madelyn half crying.

Looking up with blood pouring out of her mouth. I assumed she had bit her lip.

I was so wrong.

I raced out to grab her, grab my baby who had blood coming out of her mouth so fast.

I rushed her into the bathroom, grabbed a towel and instructed her to hold it there. I had to go out front and grab my other two daughters. I ushered them indoors and raced back to Madelyn.

I think she was in shock at this point. I asked her to open her mouth. I couldn't see some of her teeth.

Shit. She knocked out teeth. Where were her teeth?!


I called Leo, told him I was on the way to the ER. Madelyn was hurt. He was almost home and said he would take her. I grabbed a clean washcloth, held it to her mouth and got her into the van.

I walked to the end of the driveway. There was blood on my driveway. No teeth. Just blood.

Leo ran out of his car. He jumped in the van and they left.

The verdict? My baby girl has two tooth intrusions. Which is a fancy word for you fell and your teeth got shoved back into your gums.

My poor baby. Her mouth is so messed up. Swollen. Still bleeding. She is on an antibiotic to fight an infection, Tylenol with Codeine for pain.

Her follow up is in three months assuming we have no complications before then. We will then be discussing surgery options if needed.

My point is this. Life is fragile. Sometimes in an instant things can go from bliss to a nightmare. Madelyn is so lucky she didn't suffer from a head injury, neck injury or more. I am counting my blessings that it isn't worse.

And for the record? All wagons are now banned from my home. I will never allow one anywhere near my daughters again.

Sand Between Her Toes...

I ventured out to the beach on Monday and did it all. by. myself.

Correction.

I had my girls and met a couple of friends with one of their little boys.

BUT.

The point that I am making is that I braved the sand, water and seagulls without my husband. If that's not a miracle I'm not sure what is.

We survived, had fun and I even snapped some pictures. After all, it was Brynlie's first time in the sand.

She loved it. She ate some sand. She had fun. She ate sand covered Goldfish.

I survived. I have a weird pattern on my back from where I couldn't reach sunscreen. I, too, ate some sand.

Did I mention that I survived?

I Have a New Love...

Meet my newest friend, the new love in my life:

The Nikon D5100. I sold my D40 & begged pleaded treated myself to a little bit of an upgrade. It is everything and more that I anticipated.

Hope you don't mind the sure to come flood of pictures that are to come in the days, weeks, months, years ahead?

8 at 8

This little cutie is now 8 months old (as of Saturday):

And because I love writing about my girls more than anything, I figured why not create a little list for her to see what she has been up to?

1) She is infatuated with clapping and waving. It's adorable and melts my heart every single time. She's a heart melter, this one.

2) Still in love with cat/dog food although cat food is her nibble of choice. I have now resorted to moving said bowls, although I'm sure me chasing her around has been a huge help in my weight loss.

3) She tried homemade chicken noodle soup last night and LOVED it. She may or may not have also tasted a homemade oatmeal cookie for dessert after her dinner.

4) Story time is one of her favorite times of the day. She snuggles up with her older sisters and just listens to me read to her.

5) Speaking of sisters, when they wake up after she and I do? Her face breaks out in the biggest of smiles. The amount of love that she has for Isabella and Madelyn is enormous and I love it.

6) Still no teeth. I can feel her bottom two--but they haven't made an appearance as of yet. Maybe by 9 months? We shall see.

7) She loves beans. Not green beans, but homemade by her mommy or daddy pinto beans from the Crock-Pot. She cries for more--and she usually gets more.

8) She is loves standing up everywhere that she can--in her crib, at the couch, at the windows. If she can hoist herself up she makes sure to do it.

I cannot believe that my Brynlie is already 8 months...I mean, really--she will be 1 year in less than 4 months! Mind blowing and knowing how quickly time passes I make sure to soak up all of my time with her. It doesn't bother me one bit to rock her to sleep, move her into bed with me to nurse during the night. I want to enjoy every sweet moment with my baby girl.

Because They? Make Me Happy.

Christmas Cuties

I decided to take a break from blogging during the holidays this year and spend time with my family. This time last year I was pregnant and missing my husband while he was in Afghanistan. I had a lot of time to catch up and enjoy the holidays this year unlike last year where I was heartbroken.

With that being said, Leo bought me a new lens for my camera--I got a 50 mm f/1.8 for my Nikon.

I? Am in love.

Here are a few of my favorite shots that I took on Christmas Day. Enjoy!

And...I *think* I got it...

Merry Christmas!

I think a redo is in order...

I am not sure if I want this photo to be the photo that all of my family will receive for our Christmas card.

However, it's almost too funny for it not to be, right?

Best Friends Forever...

Madelyn has become quite the little character--from her wild dance moves, to the things that she says, I am constantly laughing with her. 

Some of my favorite things about my girl include:

Her love for her family. She loves with all of her might and the love she has amazes me every day.

Her love of pumpkins. Now that Halloween is over it breaks my heart a little--especially when her Ariel carved pumpkin will be in the trash can and no longer on our front porch...wish me luck with that one...

Her dance moves. I have no way to describe these. She does a gallop, toe, hop move that has me laughing hysterically--seriously, it's beyond hilarious!

When she toots she says "I poot!" OhmyGod. SO hilarious.

The way she snuggles. When Madelyn was little it was very rare for her to actually want to be snuggled. She's always been independent, so for her to want to come climb on my lap? Heart melting.

Her love of Ariel, Snow White--basically any Disney princess. But her top fave? Ariel, hands down. She walks around singing the song that Ariel sings as Ursula is stealing her voice. YouTube it--and then imagine a two year old walking around singing it. 

I could probably go on and on and on...girlfriend is such a sweetheart and my own live in comedian. I adore the little person she has become--and can't wait to see who she becomes in the future.

Sweet Girl {Full of Words Wednesday}

Isabella.

She loves with all of her might. 

Her compassion for others is on another level.

She loves to text her Aunt Kristi.

She is always my assistant baker.

She has a love for nail polish.

She is a 4 year old fashionista.

She's an amazing big sister to Brynlie.

She's an amazing big sister to Madelyn when they aren't fighting.

Love my little girl...hard to believe she's grown so much since this cute post...

Sidewalk Chalk, Sunglasses & Sprinkle Shoes {You Capture}

I'm a little nervous participating in a photo link up. While I love all most some of my photos...it's a little intimidating to join in and ask others to look at my photos...

Does any of that even make sense? Probably not...which doesn't surprise me.

This week I'm participating in You Capture over at Beth's fabulous and wonderful blog, I Should Be Folding Laundry. I was drawn into her blog by her gorgeous photos, beautiful writing and of course the name of her blog...seriously the story of my life.

So, here we go with our theme: Get outside! The girls and I try to play outside daily--so this was one challenge that we had a blast with...

This little beauty...

And her oh-so-fabulous shades...

And this little beauty...

And her "sprinkle" shoes...

Played under the late August sun...

Making beautiful memories for their Momma...

Talking and dreaming of yummy cupcakes...

And never missing a single ounce of love.

There's This Blog...And It Sort of Has My Heart...

Lately I have discovered the world of Photoshop and the actions/presets available for it. I am in love.

There is one site in particular...wow. There are honestly no words for my love. It's the type of love that kept me up way past my bedtime last nite. As in late lat.

But the thing of it is that this morning? I didn't mind so much--I was still on this high of PSE actions {Photoshop Elements in case you're wondering}.

So if you have a type of Photoshop {she offers items for Lightroom, too!} go and check out Coffee Shop...and fall in love with her--and please do not blame me for your newest addiction.

Are there any sites or blogs that you LOVE for photo tutorials, actions, or other photography related things? Tell me in the comments--I can't wait to find more addicting sites!