Eleven and Twelve

Hello? Is this thing on? Is anyone still there? It's been busy around this family, most of the busy has two adorable blue eyes and two little feet that are quickly learning to walk about and find lots of inappropriate things to play with. 

I love these two photos of her. This first one is a very common face for her. She's serious and reserved and mostly just figuring out what to get into next.

This one is a rare bird. She's not a belly laugher by any means, but sometimes I can get her to just let loose and let go. And she has the most contagious laugh. It makes me happy from the inside out. I've held her tight in light of the recent Connecticut tragedy, as I'm sure a lot of parents have done with their children. More snuggles, more hugs, more kisses and more love. Just what the world needs now.

Mmmmm, cake.

We threw a little 1-year shindig {a WHOLE year, seriously?!} for the bebe this past weekend. Forty plus people in my house at once is a little overwhelming. Luckily I had a ton of help from willing and wonderful friends and family, and all went down without a hitch {even considering silly first-time mom that I am planned the party smack dab in the middle of nap time}. She did really well regardless and had a blast playing with all the kiddos around, including her cousins! I'll post about the party and decorations and planning later, once I'm able to grab some photos from a friend, since I was too busy entertaining to pull out the camera that much. 

Wrap it up: yarn-covered bracelets

Want a quick and simple 'in-front-of-the-tv' project? These bangles are SO easy. Just yarn, some cheap bangles {mine were second-hand}, hot glue and away you go. I started with a knot and then glued that to the inside of the bangle for extra security. It also keeps it from moving while you wrap the rest. I actually ran out of green yarn on the large one, so I decided to use a color block of gray. Happy accident! I finished each with a dot of hot glue and voi la. Cute Christmas gifts? Why certainly. Enjoy!

A fall photoshoot with the Wares

We lucked out and decided at the last minute to have a fall photoshoot with friends. I would take some photos of them and they would return the favor. It actually had a lot of benefits, they have professional shots for family and Christmas cards, and Nate was able to play around with my camera and see if he really does want to break down and purchase an SLR. Oh, and we were able to get family pictures with the bebe, with me actually in them.

Anyway, I say we lucked out, because the foliage was beautiful even though they were calling for peak the following weekend. Well, thanks to that crazy storm Sandy, peak was really the day we were there and by the next Sunday most of the leaves had been blown off.

Here's just a few shots from the day, hopefully they won't be upset that you guys are seeing them first:

Bebe saga: when a stuffy nose is more than a stuffy nose

So this is what a sick bebe looks like around here. It's really not too awful, except the whole part where she can't breathe through her nose to nurse. That's a bummer for both of us right now, a double ouch if you will. But the good news is besides drooling like a fat kid in a candy store, she's still her happy self. Here's to hoping she feels better soon though, so we can end the steam shower/vicks rub routine and I can get back to happy bewbies.

Bebe of the boy kind

I had my second newborn session about a month ago and I'm finally able to share some of the images with you! I'm extremely happy with the way these turned out. I think the lighting in her living room ended up being perfect and the baby was pretty cooperative and alert. {And I'm getting pretty used to being peed on...} Also, I had a sitter for E this time, so I didn't have to keep her happy while strapped to my back.

I may be posting too many {what? never!}, but I hope you enjoy:

Where the dog goes she will follow

These two are besties now. It's charming actually. E's learned to feed the dog, which she thinks is hilarious. She even shares her smoothies, which mommy thinks is disgusting and the dog thinks is awesome. E even started this game of head-butting Sadie. She cracks up and the dog just sits there and takes it because Sadie knows this is just karma getting her back for all the torture she put poor E through during the first six months. We tried to warn her!

And how cute is this:

I couldn't resist. I found the costume months ago in the dollar bin at Goodwill. It's way more than a dollars worth of adorable.

Clouds and raindrops, fitting really

I actually make things I pin on Pinterest. When I can find the time that is, or if I find something completely adorable and I must immediately run out for the supplies and whip up whatever it is. This time it was stuffed raindrops. I added the clouds myself. And instead of hand stitching the faces, I opted for an easier option, fabric paint. Here's the original post: raindrop family

Mommy's little cupcake

I have the most adorable little bebe. No really, I do. I may be biased...

A wedding review

Bear with me, I usually try to post just a few from each shoot, but this wedding had a lot of favorites. For one, the bride is my cousin, one of a twin pair, and I love them dearly. We spent many a childhood day running around across their street, barefoot, playing with everything we could find in that little muddy slice of the ocean. It was an honor that she thought of me to record her beautiful day and I always love being such an intimate part of it all. Of course, they like to party, and this momma was pushing really hard to stay up past midnight!

Anyway, she's all grown up, and even though I didn't know her groom-to-be, I've discovered since then that he's a pretty swell guy. I wouldn't expect anything less to get by my Aunt.

Something blue:

I adore the light in this one:

Something for fun:

The twins all dolled up:

The happy new couple:

And the beautiful bride:

packin' up the camera and the quilt

We decided to seize the beautiful day and run out for an impromptu photoshoot. I've actually been wanted to get some shots for a while now that the leaves are making the change, but we've all had the sick for the past week or so. Bebe girl seems to finally be over the snoo-ey {technical term} so I thought it would be ok to bundle her up and head out. 

We went to the same spot where I had my maternity photos done, and if I can rally some troops, I'll be getting family photos there in the next week or two. Here we just propped ourselves up in a shady spot near a large oak. The bebe loves looking at/being in nature and the outdoors, but sad for me she also likes to eat the outdoors. Like leaves, and grass. She ate a couple of red leaf bits during this shoot. 

Here she is with one of the few smiles she was willing to give me today:  

Here's the quilt I bought on clearance at Target. It was a happy birthday present using a gift card from my mother-in-law. It's a throw quilt so it's not very big, but I loved the colors and thought it would make a perfect fall photo prop. I was right, I still love it even in the pictures.

This is one of the many photos I took using the remote and tripod set-up. I was pretty happy with them, until I realized almost all of them were focused on my knees. Not cool. But there'll be other opportunities to try again. I realize I need to get myself in photos with her more, or she'll get bored just looking at herself 20 years from now.

And this most adorable awesome hat was knit by my amazing friend Marybeth. She kicks it when it comes to knitting, although I have no idea where she finds the time amidst getting her masters in teaching, raising two boys, keeping house and constantly making meals. She's crazycakes. But in a good way. So the hat actually works really well to hide the awful horrible hack job of a haircut I gave the bebe yesterday. I nearly cried I was so upset. But it is out of her eyes now, which I'm sure she appreciates...I think.

I love love love this one. Even though she's so serious. But that's actually a big portion of her personality: serious, contemplative, and I like to think conspiring on how to drive me crazy...

Here we are with the biggest leaf I've ever seen. She thought it was awesome, in fact, I think it's still in the car. I couldn't pry it from her little fingers, this girl is strong!

So happy fall everyone, I hope these make you a little happy inside!