Daisy loves being up on our bed. Unfortunately for her, I don't let her on it very often because she seems dead set on sky diving off the edge or plowing her face into my headboard or foot board during a belly flop. I tell yah, our little gal is a wild one! So I figured our bed was the perfect place to snap a couple of quick family self-portraits and also keep Daisy entertained. I was right. She had a blast during our little 5 minutes of silly time and if I recall she threw a lovely little tantrum when we were done.
Our little family of 3 has been through a lot over the past year and a half but, I am prayerful and hopeful that we will soon begin a new chapter. I really do believe that the tougher seasons in life are what make us stronger if we are willing to learn as we go and I know that to be true for my family. I'm so thankful for my hubby and our spirited little girl and I look forward to many more years of silliness and love! Happy Friday All!
We live a couple of hours away from the beach and I really can't believe that in 18 months Daisy has never been to the beach! In fact, her first beach trip wasn't to our beach here in NC but, instead to Virginia Beach when we visited our friends a week ago. I had such a blast! The weather was beautiful and Daisy was fearless. She walked right out into the waves, giggled when they knocked her down and then stood up to face them again. Needless to say I had to watch her like a hawk. I just can't get enough of how adventurous my little one is and how much she loves babies. Daisy was all over baby Everett the entire trip and was so sweet with him. I'm just so thankful for this family. I really needed a get away and it was just that! Thanks so much Morris family! Okay, enough blabbing...on to the pictures...and by the way (who says you can't get awesome shots with a point and shoot?).
Baby Friends: (Left to Right) Everett, Austin, Logan and Daisy. Everett wasn't happy to be wet. Aren't these pictures adorable!! I'm just so proud of the kids for sitting still!
LOVE LOVE this picture that Elissa took for me. Probably one of my favorites of Daisy. Really captures her sweet face.
Me and my bestie Elissa and my little gal. We met in California right before I got married over seven years ago. Now we both live on the East coast and try to get together as often as we can. We've been through a lot of changes together between our two families! I'm so thankful for our friendship. Love you Elissa!
Love that this picture of me and Daisy captures how small she is still. She seems so big these days but, she is still my little boo boo.
The lovely Morris Family
Me and my sweet, friendly, camera crazy little girl
Older brother Logan was swimming up to try and make baby Everett happy. He is a super sweet older brother! Below that he is trying to give me a peace sign but, he couldn't get both fingers up:-) hehe
I love this shot below...another awesome Elissa shot!
I have been meaning to post some pictures from the wedding I shot in early August for some time now. It took me about a month to edit the 600 pictures that I promised the client. I edited every evening after my little one went to bed and during every nap break which was an average of 20+ pictures a day. It's was lot of editing to say the least but, it really is so rewarding to see the fruit of my labor unfold. I actually have another wedding booked for late November which I am really excited about! I think I would be more than happy to shoot 3 or 4 weddings a year but, I wouldn't ever want to take on more than that. I don't ever want to take on too much because being a good Momma and a Wife is my first priority always but, I am so thankful to have such an awesome creative outlet!
I posted more of the wedding images on my photography blog here check em' out. I look forward to challenging myself more in the future, improving in the areas that I am weak, creating a faster work-flow with my editing and just overall growing as an artist. I'm so happy that I took the plunge! I will also be shooting my first official newborn session this week! EEK. I kid you not, newborn sessions make me way more nervous than weddings but, the more I do them the more comfortable I will get....right? lol
I absolutely LOVE this picture of the cake that my assistant, Elissa captured. Beautiful isn't it!
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I can't think of a more perfect way to describe what beauty is than by sharing a picture of the sweet innocence of a little child surrounded by God's glorious creation. Hoping that you are all having a beautiful weekend!
Daisy is obsessed with my bubble gum and me blowing bubbles for her. She points at my box of gum and says bubble over and over again until I give in a chew on a piece simply to see her face light up with a big smile, to watch her lean her head back and her eyes get big as she waits for the bubble. I love that little people are fascinated by the simplest things, because for them so much is brand new. So much of what is taken for granted by us boring old folks is a magical experience for little ones. I love reliving the joys of being a kid with my little girl!
(I couldn't help but, add the last non-related picture because my hubby caught a sweet cuddle moment between me and my princess. She has become a bit more cuddly when she wakes up from naps and when she is tired. She doesn't sit long but, long enough for me to smell her baby fresh hair and kiss her sweet little head. Moments like these are priceless)
And now just for fun, I'm going to share the ABC's of me. I've seen this going around on a lot of blogs lately and I really enjoy learning more about my fellow bloggers so now you can learn a little more about me...if yah want. lol
A. Age: 28.51/2....creeping towards 30 if yah get my drift
B. Bed size: Queen - and I totally have KING ENVY. My hubby moves too much in his sleep....
C. Chore that you hate: Do I have to pick just one?? Because for me dishes and laundry are tied!
D. Dogs: Had a cute Dachshund dog named Dakota for a few years. She was such a spit fire!
E. Essential start to your day: Ummm, a prayer in bed before my feet hit the floor...then coffee fo sho
F. Favorite color: GREEN..but, truthfully I'm kinda particular about the shade.
G. Gold or Silver: Silver though gold is making a bit of a comeback
H. Height: 5'8" The ladies in my family are all quite tall
I. Instruments you play: acoustic guitar...not great though, just basic chord strumming
J. Job title: Work at home Mom - Photographer
K. Kids: 1 lively little gal...definitely hope to give her a sibling someday:-)
L. Live: North Carolina
M. Mother’s name: Lynne
N. Nicknames: Case, Quesadilla (thanks Dad)
O. Overnight hospital stays: Only to give birth
P. Pet peeves: bathroom and pantry doors being left open = disaster with toddler
Q. Quote from a movie:
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Older bro (30) and two younger sisters (21 and 17)
U. Underwear: I'm a fan!
V. Vegetable you hate: ONION...unless cooked really well and then I can sorta tolerate them
W. What makes you run late: being a mom always makes me run late. I used to be very punctual
X. X-Rays you’ve had: dental, kidney stones and 3 potential arm breaks
Y. Yummy food that you make: enchiladas, chili and family recipe burritos. Yum.
Z. Zoo animal: I'll say bears and lions because they are the most fun to see since you can't see them anywhere else.
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew {their} strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; {and} they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
I mega, uber duber, heart the song Surrender by Marc James. I will forever remember singing it for the first time about 6 years ago when I lived in California and attended a Calvary Chapel out there. Every time the worship leader sang this song, he sang with so much conviction and passion that he was often on the brink of tears. I even remember him having to pause one time as he sang because his voice was so choked up. I was deeply impacted by this time of worship so much so that here I am sharing the story with you years later. You know how it is when the words of a song grab a hold of your heart in a mighty way and as you cling to every word you sing you feel the power of God resting on you and then you feel chills throughout your body. Mmmhmm...awesome isn't it! It is easy for me to sing worship songs without even thinking about the words when I am not in the midst of a trial or storm but, to sing in the midst of a trial and to truly submit to every word is when the song becomes powerful. It's easy to offer God lip service when times are good but, when they aren't are we still willing to surrender and praise? Do we trust Him even when everything is falling apart, when loved ones die, when we lose our jobs unexpectedly, when we struggle with infertility, when chronic pain abounds? Is He still a good and loving God when we are in storm? Can you count it all as loss simply for the sake of knowing Him? That's what I desire more than anything. I desire to say in all circumstances, "even in this I will praise you Lord." I may not always understand the whys but, I know that God is faithful and His plans for my life are good. I think I know what's best for my life but, the truth is...I don't know what's best for my life. I can only see the minute at hand but, God can see all. I'm gonna rest in the arms of the one who knows better than I and I'm gonna cling to the one whose ways are higher than mine. I don't need to understand everything or to know all the whys. God is God and I am not. I surrender. Do you? It's well worth it!
Psalm 5:11-12
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalm 23:1-4
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 91:14-16
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
Surrender
Lyrics: I'm giving You my heart
All that is within
I lay it all down
For the sake of You my King
I'm giving You my dreams laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride
For the promise of new life
And I Surrender
All to You, all to You
I'm singing You this song
I'm waiting at the Cross
All the world holds dear
I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You
For the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy
Even sharing in Your pain
The past two days the air has been cooler, much cooler. The winds seem to whisper of Fall's arrival, the holidays, of warm bowls of soup and hot cups of tea. I'm already having sweet visions of my little girl dressed up in a cute costume, eating her first pumpkin pie and tearing open a pretty Christmas present! I'm excited!
On the other hand I will sincerely miss the long nights of Summer, the warm evening walks, the spontaneous mid day lake trips, pool play dates, endless otter pops and loads of family visits. It's been a busy and fun Summer and I'm glad we have so many pictures to remember it by!
We savored the warm rays of the sun on our backs...
We played a lot of Kinect and worked up a good sweat....
We enjoyed lots of kiddie car rides....
We posed for pictures and acted goofy....
We've gone to several museums and let Daisy run wild...
We've run a little wild ourselves as you can see....
We've walked around in the mall for hours and given the baby a fohawk just to kill time.....
And we watched out little baby grow into a toddler....sigh...It's been a wonderful Summer!
