Thoughts

Has anyone ever come up to you and said something that was not provoked or expected and that statement then affects your attitude and view of yourself? yesterday that happened to me. and while I am sure this woman was either trying to help me, or just offering an opinion out of concern, it stung and hurt and has bothered me ever since. I think each of us who are mothers try to do our best. at least in our minds we think we are doing all we can to be good parents. I know I am not perfect and have things that I could improve, but the next time you think you want to share your opinion with someone about how their child is being raised...don't. it will just make the mother of that child very very crazy for the next week or so.

SO. moving beyond that for now, I am making a list of things I want to do in the month of April.

I want to make some of these cute cake pops from the idea room. Bakerella made these adorable egg and easter bunny ones... Aren't they so cute?

I also want to plan a fun easter egg hunt with friends. We had so much fun last year I want to do it again.

I want to go outside and shoot for fun and learn how to shoot a really good sun flare.

I want to get my mileage up so I can finally register for a race this fall, I have been totally dragging my feet about this, but I need to do it. I also want to see a few more pounds drop of the scale, I am sick of looking at the number that I have been seeing every morning.

I want to see my beautiful upstairs bathroom completo- that is Italian for finished. I have finally picked out paint, after 7 different paint samples and one gallon of  rejected paint. Chris has really done an amazing job, but now the focus is studying for finals and the big STEP 1 exam. *shudder* I am not going to hassle him about the bathroom because of this, I will just have to wait...but I know it's going to be fabulous when it's all done.

I want to head to Brookside gardens and have a picnic with my kids...and take some photos too. Last year was great, and I want more!

I have three photo shoots booked for April. This is making me happy...and nervous. I think mostly happy. =)

Growth

The other day I did a photo shoot for a darling baby in our ward. I walked into the shoot not knowing anything about the location. I had to work hard to use the light that I had and it was a struggle sometimes to get what I wanted, but I think I got a few good images. I was hot and sweaty and tired after an hour with this little baby. She was amazing and sweet.

I am really pushing myself right now to learn and improve in many areas of my life. It seems like somedays I am doing better than others. This morning I was feeling pretty down and frustrated with life and then I decided to edit some photos from this shoot. Once I was done my whole attitude shifted. I can make things that are beautiful. As long as I see progress I can deal with the journey. I still have a long way to go, but I am getting there bit by bit.

An attempt...

at a blog entry. I just haven't felt all that 'bloggy' lately...and it's not that we haven't been busy with fun things to share with our friends and family, in fact life has been super crazy as of late...I guess I am just missing the inspiration for a fun/creative/interesting post. Here is a snippet of what we have been doing the past couple of weeks...

Tearing out the upstairs bathroom and doing a remodel:

Sophia's Birthday Party/Celebration which deserves it's own post, but here is her cake I made for her the Sunday following her birthday:

Earning Gold Coins from Leprechauns:

Discovering Spring:

Also, in case you were wondering about this little guy:

He is amazing.

So that is a taste of what has been going on with us. As for me, I am so happy spring is here, officially today. I have many plans for the spring. I am excited that I have two photo shoots in the works, one for next week for a sweet baby girl, and another one for a family portrait. The girls and I have been on the hunt for flowers and signs of spring. Ellie is very anxious for flowers, saying that now that it is spring there should be flowers everywhere! I agree. I am looking forward to this can't wait to go back this year and take a bunch of photos with the kids. Last year I didn't get to take very many.

The days are longer and the weather better. Happy Spring Everyone!

March

Has been super busy! I feel like everyday has been full of to do lists and errands. The big news of the month is that my little Sophia 'Bella' has turned 4. I can't believe this, partly due to the fact that she was born only 2 months before we headed to Italy for 2 years, so that means we will have been in Maryland 2 years this July (!!). Where does the time go?

I just cannot believe she is four years old. She is such an amazing little girl. She is so smart she amazes me everyday with her thoughts and ability to reason. She loves being a helper to me around the house, and is fascinated by everything. She loves playing soccer, dancing with her sister, play dough, playing dress ups and her friends. She is very daring and will try anything! She has an amazing fire about her, but she is also sweet and caring and sensitive. She has big beautiful brown eyes and a twinkle in her smile.

When she was born she came at a very stressful and emotional time in our lives. She came when some things were uncertain, when we were dealing with a lot of heartache. Ever since that time she has been an incredible influence in my life, she is un assuming, carefree and strong. She has an iron will but also a playful heart. She is confident about her place in the world, and she has taught me how to look at the world with fresh eyes, with an open heart. She is an amazing blessing in my life. I am so grateful for this girl I love her so much.

Sophia turned 4

We had a wonderful party. I will post more about it tomorrow, but this pretty much sums things up:

7 months

My little boy is 7 months old. Where does the time go? He continues to be a bright, sweet and happy baby. So much fun, so easy going and charming. He loves to laugh and giggle with his sisters, enjoys patty cake and singing. Enjoys books and bouncing in his bouncer. I should say LOVES bouncing in his bouncer. He is pretty content in any situation, will sit and play contentedly while I do my jobs around the house. I carry him from room to room and we hang out together. He loves his big boy food, eating usually two containers of food in one sitting. He lets me work out at the gym and will take naps in his car seat if we are out and about. He is not all that interested in being mobile yet, no scooting or crawling, in fact hates being on his stomach. He is just happy to be sitting, playing and talking. Have I mentioned he has two tiny little bottom teeth? So cute. He is also a very talk-y baby. Noisy talky talk. Fun. Lots of growling too.

However, the biggest news to date: my baby is sleeping in his crib! 

Well of course he does, you are thinking to yourself. Well, actually my son has slept in his swing from about 4 weeks old until this point, and slept very well, great naps, and straight through the night, 10-12 hours. I have not been at all interested in changing this very happy routine, and have been postponing the transition to his bed. 

About once I week before bed I would say to Chris- 'We need to get that baby in his bed'. Chris would answer, 'Why? We can always get him a nice hammock when he is older.' Very funny.

Seriously I have been worried that the transition from swing to bed was going to be miserable. I have thought 'hmmm I should try putting him in his bed tonight and see what happens'. And then I don't do it. I was chicken. Then Ellie and I went to Woodbridge overnight  for her dance competition and Chris started putting him down for naps in his crib. He slept great. Last night we tried the crib for his night time sleep, and again success. I am so relieved that the transition so far hasn't been difficult. I am overwhelmed with joy and love for this little baby. He has made life with three seem so easy. I am so thankful for my little man.

Tiny Dancer

I have entered a new chapter in my life, one of the dance team mother. Saturday Ellie competed in her first dance team competition. Friday night we travelled down to Woodbridge, VA for the Headliners Competition. We drove down with our good friends Jeri and Natalia, excited for the big day to come. Both girls were really excited about their opportunity to share their dance, but Ellie was a little nervous. I continually assured her that the most important thing about dancing was to have fun and enjoy performing. She was very worried about forgetting the steps.

We enjoyed a quick swim in the hotel pool, and then off to bed with the girls. Once they were asleep, Jeri and I spent a couple of hours putting teeny tiny rhinestone jewels on our girls' costumes...by hand: with glue and tweezers. I must be a stage mom! =)

 The next morning was crazy, I did not sleep much the night before, I have discovered that sleeping with Ellie is like sleeping with a tornado: she is all over the place and loves to kick! We packed up our bags and grabbed a quick breakfast at the front of the hotel. Into the car, we drove only a few minutes to the high school where the girls would be competing.

Once we arrived we immediately got the girls ready in their costumes and makeup. Ms. Elaine took them for a quick warm up and run through of the dance. She also took them onstage early before the competition started so that the girls would feel more comfortable onstage.

The moment arrived when the girls would perform, and Jeri and I sat proudly in the audience. We were both so proud of our girls. Ellie did not forget any steps, and in fact pointed to her fellow dancers a couple of times when it was their turn-something Ellie will have to stop doing. The girls placed 1st overall in their division, and received a 'high silver' rating, not a bad place to start for their first real competition.

I am very proud of Ellie, she danced very well and had a great experience. She loved watching the big girls dance, and is looking forward to her next competition.