Newborn Pictures

I'm finally posting AveryAnn's newborn pictures.  I wanted to wait until her birth announcements went out and they've been out for over a month so I guess I can finally post these.

One thing I didn't do when Barrett was born that I regret to this day is have newborn pictures.  So I started looking for a photographer not long after I found out I was pregnant.  One thing I noticed quickly was newborn photography is expensive.  I'm picky about photography.  I don't want to pay a fortune and not like the pictures.  Also I knew I didn't want to pay a fortune because I really wanted a just a few pictures of the baby and mostly pictures of us.  We will have enough of the baby, I wanted some with me in them.  A friend of mine has used this photographer and I've been around her at several events and always loved her work.  I contacted her and her prices were reasonable so we set up a time.   She's so easy to work with and I love these pictures.

So much love.  I love that she got some with Ally. 

This is my favorite of us.

I feel like it truly reflects my feelings at that moment about motherhood this time around.

Love this one.  I see this one on display at her wedding some day.

Sweet chunky monkey.

Barrett was in a mood.  He was all about his sister and then he didn't want anything to do with her.  I was a little upset but I love the shots she got.

She captured his personality perfectly.

He finally asked to hold her and we got these cute ones.

This one might be my favorite.  It's like he's thinking "I'm not sure what we've gotten ourselves into."

Here's her website if you're local and interested. 

http://www.leighannphotography.com/#!/images/folio//1

I can't recommend her enough.  So easy to work with!

Friday Favorites: Its SUMMER!!!

It's officially summer in Alabama!  This week the temps are approaching 90 and the humidity has made its presence known.  We are so ready, even though our summers don't look much different that the other seasons as far as our daily routine. Our Mother's Day Out program goes through the summer (thank goodness!) and I'm still working but we will try to sneak in as many trips as we can to the splash pad, the lake and any pool our friends invite us. So to help kick off summer I thought I'd share some of my summer favorites!

First up

These sandals!

I'm loving that Birkenstocks are back in style.  Last summer I wore my vintage ones circa 2000 (I can't believe that was 16 years ago, blows my mind) and I loved them so much I decided to look for a more fun pair.  I love these gold ones
  they are so comfortable.
Here's a picture of them on they are just so cute!

Next up,

I don't know about you but I hate washing my hair.

This Dry Shampoo

is life changing.  I wash my hair 2 times a week.  I use this on the days I don't wash and I just style as I normally would.  I know I'm like the last person on earth to figure this out but just incase you're in the dark like I was go buy this, you won't be disappointed.

(sorry for the selfie but this is my hair this morning and I haven't washed it since Monday, that's 4 days of sleeping 10-15 minutes later. May not seem like much but it is to me)

We're planning on taking advantage of Patrick's 3 day weekends and spending some time at the lake. I love this place and it is so fun getting to take my kids now.  Because our house as water all the way around it, the rule is you don't leave the deck without wearing your life jacket.  Barrett uses his trusty  Puddle Jumper .  This thing is way better than the life jackets we wore as kids.

This is the one we have and Barrett never complains about wearing it.  He is my shy timid kid but he's so comfortable in the water with this on.


I've gone a little crazy already with clothes for the kids.  They have several matching outfits and nicer stuff but I still needed some everyday play clothes.  So I made this cute pineapple bubble for AveryAnn.  It turned out so stinking cute.

Of course I went to order more and they are sold out of the blanks.

And finally my guilty pleasure of the summer...

The Bachelorette!  (and Big Brother but it hasn't started yet).

This year we made it interesting and all filled out a bracket.  I'm a tiny bit competitive so this was right up my alley. 

Any one else fill out a Bachelorette bracket? Have any other summer favorites I need to try?

AveryAnn's Baptism

 As I searched and searched for the perfect gown, my mind went to searching for a beautiful 1st Communion dress and then maybe one day a wedding gown.  I thought of all the milestones we will hopefully get to celebrate with our daughter (and son).  The weight of raising Godly children is heavy on my shoulders.  I'm in constant prayer that I can do this.  That we, as parents, are strong enough to steer our kids towards the Lord.  I pray that their future spouses will be exactly what they need to further seek and serve Him.  Baptizing our kids is the first step in the marathon of raising faithful, Godly people.

It isn't something we take lightly.  We went back and forth on Godparents.  I thought from the moment I found out I was pregnant I wanted Hope to be Godmother we were on this journey together from the beginning.  For Godfather we went back and forth between my two brothers and ultimately decided on my older brother Patrick.  He is so sweet with my kids and it is special to get to see him be an uncle.  Barrett loves going to Uncle Patrick's house to see the chickens and ducks.

Crystal came and took pictures for me (she's like my official life photographer this year).  They are beautiful and I can't thank her enough.  I can't wait to have some printed for our home.

I love this shot because you can see our guests and our church.  It is so special to me to go to the same church I grew up in.  This is the church where I made my first communion, confirmation and was married so I get to watch my kids celebrate the same sacraments here.  (I'm a very sentimental person if you haven't already noticed.)

Parents and Godparents with the baby.

Father Deering has been at our church for 12 years and he's leaving in June.  He married us and baptized both kids.  We will miss him.

With our parents.

My sweet friend Amy and baby Ruby.  Ruby and AveryAnn are only 3 days a part and I hope we have pictures of them together on their wedding days.

Adventures of Annie and Frannie. I love these sweet girls so much!

My parents with their grandchildren.  I love that it looks like Madelyn is looking right at AveryAnn.

My family minus my sister and brother-in-law, they're still traveling the world.

My grandmother and Aunt.

I love these people.  Barrett did so great with pictures. It's usually a nightmare trying to get him to cooperate but he did great. 

Beautiful girl!

After we had everyone over to our house for lunch.  I was so excited about my flower arrangements.  We had a taco bar and it was so nice to get to visit with everyone.

This might be my favorite picture of the whole day.  These two are buddies for life! 

This day was so special.  We were so humbled and honored to share with so many people that love us and our kids.  We are so thankful for all these people that we know will be there to encourage us and our kids as we all grow together.

3 months

Three months, one-fourth of a year in the books.  To say time is flying would be an understatement.   You have a brought us so much joy this month.  Your smile lights up a room and we just can't get enough of it. We thought your brother was a laid back, easy baby but you, you are so easy.  Don't get me wrong, you still fuss some if you're tired or hungry but for the most part you are so smiley and content.

• You weigh around 15lbs.  It's not entirely accurate since I weighed you on the shipping scale at work.
• You're around 24" long.  Again not entirely accurate since I did it myself.
• You're wearing 3-6 month and 6 month clothes.
• Size 2 diaper

• You eat every 4 hours for 15-20 minutes.
• You take 5 oz when you take a bottle.  You usually only get a bottle on Sundays at church.
• You sleep 8-10 hours at night.  Which is amazing!  You usually eat around 9:00 and I put you down and you sleep until 6:00 or 7:00.  Sometimes you'll wake up around 5:00 but not very often.

• Your hair is still dark and wild.  It is starting to lay down a little when I brush it flat after your bath.
• Your eyes are still blue.  I hope they stay blue like your daddy's.
• You still don't enjoy tummy time but your brother usually gets down there with you so it's not so bad.

• You love your bunny lovie. 
• You sometimes take a paci to go to sleep.
• You smile all the time.  It is truly contagious.  You hear Barrett's voice and you will nearly break your neck to try to see him.  It's adorable.
• We celebrated your baptism this month too.  It was so special to see how loved you are.  So many family and friends came to celebrate with us.  You did so good and looked beautiful in your gown.  I hope one day you'll have a daughter of your own to pass it along to.
• You went to the lake for the first time!  I'm looking forward to all the memories we'll make there.

AveryAnn,

My sweet daughter, you might never know just how much we love you.  Hopefully one day you'll have a son or daughter and then you will know just how much we love you and your brother.  You are truly a delight.  We love watching you grow and change.  Time can be such a cruel thing.  I love all the new things you do but I know from experience that all too soon you'll be a toddler needing me less and less.  I'm trying to soak up every first.  You might be my last chance at all these firsts so I don't want to take anything for granted. I hope you always know how loved you are. 

Love you baby girl,

Mom