Friday, May 17, 2013

Aubrey Jane..


We need to talk about this girl for a minute.




Aubrey is in this crazy, confusing, yet amazing age.  I'm loving it and am perplexed by it all at the same time.  Two year olds are something else, man!  

My outgoing, social butterfly daughter has turned into a mama's girl at the sight of strangers & other kids.  Nursery at church is a challenge now and there are lots of tears.  When kids come over for play dates, she won't let go of me for about 20 minutes until she warms up to them.  It's all so new!  I'm just trying to be there for her when she needs me - I know this stage will pass soon. To be honest it's kind of nice to have her clinging to me for once ;)



She is also terrified of so many things now.  She used to love going to Steve's basketball games on Thursday nights and now whenever the buzzer goes off in between quarters, she bawls her eyes out.  She also is scared of the vacuum, garbage disposal, and basically anything loud.  Her little lip will quiver and she'll say, "I scared, mama." and hug me.  It breaks my heart!



Although she's timid with strangers, this girl's personality when around people she knows & loves is the best.  She is hilarious - making me laugh all day long at the stuff that comes out of her mouth.  The other day Steve was holding an ice cold water bottle onto Aubrey's face and she kept saying 'Brrr!' She then came up to me to put it on my leg and she said, "Don't worry Mom!  it's warm!"  You can't even teach that, people.  She is a natural prankster.



She is obsessed with the Chicken Dance, jumping on the bed with mama (don't tell dad, he thinks it's bad for the bed or something - such a boring grown up he is!), puzzles (still.  We seriously are buying new puzzles every few weeks because I get so bored of doing the same ones!), playing with water outside, painting nails, (she got her first pedicure last weekend and I'm afraid we've created a diva child), & basically anything I am doing.



Barely eats anything!  It amazes me that she stays in the 50th percentile for weight because she eats a bite or two at each meal.  She does eat a lot of fruit, cheese, & veggie pouches so I guess she will survive.  She also drinks milk all. day. long.



She is starting to like Kate even more now that she is old enough to play with toys.  She loves showing Kate what she's playing with, & always making sure she has a rattle in her hand. :)




She's a smart cookie and can put some 24 piece puzzles together by herself.  She has memorized several sight words, & we are working on learning to spell them, too.  I'm trying to teach her as much as possible since she is in a stage where she LOVES learning - reading, flashcards, puzzles, learning apps, etc.  Better take advantage before she starts getting more opinionated!



She is always singing!  She has the worst voice EVER and we love it.  A sound only a mother could love. :)

Well, there's a little update on Aubrey - 2 years, 2 months, & 2 weeks old.  LOVE her!











Monday, May 13, 2013

pictures with my daughters.

I remember being pretty little & going through my photo books and barely seeing any pictures of me with my mom.  It made me sad, & when I asked her why there were no pictures of her with us, she said it was because she was always the one behind the camera. I cherish the pictures I have with her when I was little so much, & made sure to take lots with her while growing up.  Because of this, I always told myself I'd take lots of pictures with my kids, & I'd say I've done a pretty good job of that. 

 Steve took some pictures of the girls & I on Mother's Day morning & I know I will cherish them forever - & hopefully they will someday, too.  I love these girls so, so much.  

Props to Steve for taking some pretty good pictures!  What a little photographer of a husband I have :)

















Friday, May 10, 2013

happy early mothers day.











Happy early Mother's Day to my angel mother.

Always coming to my rescue.
Still lets me sit on her lap.
Lets me cry to her on the phone even when she's in the middle of teaching a class.
A second mom to many of my friends.
Loves my kids as much as she loves me.
Can make me feel like the best mom in the world - even when I know I'm not half the mom she is.
Always tells me I am smart, beautiful, & talented.  She makes me believe it, too.
Compassionate, selfless, & such a hard worker.

I could go & list a million other things, but to sum it all up -   I hope & pray that my girls feel for me the way I feel about my mom one day.

Love you Mama!  Happy Mother's Day.

And Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms, expecting moms, & the moms who aren't quite moms yet, but hope to one day be.  You are all some kind of special.






Monday, May 6, 2013

Four Months of Kate Brielle

Kate Brielle,

You are now FOUR months old.  I have always said that 3-6 months is my favorite age, & now I remember why.   Perfect stage.  The past month has been such a joy- you are becoming so much fun & are SO. HAPPY.  Everyone that meets you comments on how incredibly smiley you are.  It is adorable.








This month you:

- can now roll over both ways.  

- scoot all over the place.  I was hoping you wouldn't be an early crawler like your sister was (6 months!) but it looks like you're going to be.  Ahh!

- found your feet and you play with them all day long.  You also love sucking on your hands and stare at them until you go cross eyed.  It's hilariously sweet. :)

- had your four month appointment and you are 14 pounds on the dot & 25.5 inches.  Your doctor says you are a textbook perfect baby.  I've never once had to worry if you're eating enough - which is good because knowing me I'd obsess over it unnecessarily.

- you eat about every 2 hours during the day & get up once or twice at night.  (You don't sleep all night anymore.  You tease, you!)

- you nap 3-4 times a day.  We finally have a routine.  SANITY!

- sleep in your crib now.  Sometimes after your night feeding I just keep you in bed with me since we have discovered the beauty of nursing while laying down.  Genius!  I usually end up falling asleep and we snuggle until morning.  I love it. 

-When I rock you to sleep at night, I always sing: "You are my Sunshine", "Your Song", and "I am a Child of God" and you just look up at me and smile until you fall asleep.  

-Size 2 diapers, 3-6 month clothes.  

- We learned the hard way you will NOT take a bottle.  I had a hair appointment on Saturday & my mom said you screamed the whole time!  I have an insane amount of hair so it takes hours - I ended up leaving with wet hair because I had to come feed you.  I love that you prefer mommy though. :)

- You giggle.  Steve & I have to practically make fools of ourselves but Aubrey just has to make eye contact with you and you crack up laughing.  You guys love each other so much and that makes me happy.

Kate, you are the perfect addition to our family.  I come near tears every night when I thank Heavenly Father for you and your sister - sometimes you just seem too good to be true.  I love you so, so much.  

Mommy

Friday, May 3, 2013

latter day sayings.

Since I finished Kate's nursery back in November, I've had this empty spot above her changing table that I never got around to decorating.  I thought about putting her name in wooden letters, making a bunting banner, etc. but never got around to actually doing anything.  Then came Kate, & I forgot all about that empty spot.  

Luckily, my childhood best friend Sarah, who is MIGHTY talented, opened up an etsy shop full of these lovely watercolor paintings.  They are so whimsical, sweet, & RIGHT up my alley.  She ended up making one for me with Steve & my favorite Elton John song's lyrics: (You can listen to the song here.)


Gorgeous right?  And it matches the rest of the nursery perfectly:




Check out Sarah's cute shop, "Latter Day Sayings" here. 

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

lisa anne photography.

So I decided to just go for it with this whole photography thing.  If there's one thing that I've been consistent with my whole life, it's been taking pictures.  I've always been the one that remembers to bring the camera!  I'm not charging or anything yet, but I'm having fun taking pictures of family & friends.  

I made a little website if you want to check it out: 


I also have a Facebook page - Feel free to "like" if you want to see pictures of cute babies!  I'd be tickled pink ;)


Here's one I took of Aubrey today.  This kid makes me laugh so many times a day!



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Photos from the past few weeks..

One of my favorite things (when I get a minute) is to upload the pictures I've taken onto my computer & go through them & smiles at the little memories I captured.  Kelle Hampton took the words out of my mouth when she said, 

" One of my favorite things about photography: that moment of "church" at my desk when I am editing photos- given the chance to stare at a moment for much longer than it actually lasted. Noticing things that might have been ignored. Seeing the people and things I love with a different perspective. The art of picture-taking has truly made me a more observant, grateful, life-loving human."

With that being said, here are some photos from the past few weeks of the girls.  Each & every picture makes me smile.  



I can't believe she's already big enough for the "bumbo" phase.  




She pretty much ate half a cantaloupe by herself.  






Aubrey can make Kate laugh harder than Steve or me combined.  


 photo ea3be6d8-099f-4c10-8626-a9934a9765fb_zps5ffc9c54.jpg

 photo 69f637f1-856b-454d-80c8-f02f6aa229fc_zps9360698a.jpg

 photo b72f29a3-82d3-4997-994d-6703454d4351_zps6d669a58.jpg

 photo 0efd82f0-a889-4718-8dfa-d24835e6d21b_zps224e3d71.jpg

Always has to be fully accessorized.  Love that girl.