Remembering What Matters

So over the summer, I made a decision/effort to try to learn a bit more about my camera and how to shoot in manual mode.  As a result while I think image quality somewhat improved and that I have a better understanding of the exposure triangle, I actually have less pictures of my girlie girls.  Once I started trying to shoot in manual, I realized the limitations of my beloved Canon Rebel.  It's a great little camera but it doesn't do so well in low light without the on-board flash.  In my mind that has crippled me - I get home from work and it's already dark - so no pictures.  That was never my intention.  The whole idea was to get better pictures, but not at the sacrifice of not having them at all. 

I struggle to not feel like I'm taking a step back like I was finally starting to learn to ride my bike with training wheels and all of a sudden, I'm back on the tricycle. But, I've missed out on capturing alot of these silly happy moments for the last few months...and I regret it.  And the truth is, this still looks a lot better than the camera phone pics in the post below... :)

My girls won't care in a few years that the picture was taken with a flash...that I chopped their limbs and even part of Nia's head (just for starters) they'll just love seeing how happy they looked. 

So....

Hello Automode...it's been a while...but, with the time change, I think it's time we got reacquainted...don't plan on staying forever, but until I learn a bit more about what I'm doing with my camera and what  my different options are to work around the low light situation...I'm going to lean on you to keep these snapshots of our life coming.  Thank You In Advance.

19 Months Old

Nia & Nala:

Earlier this week on the 3rd, marked 19 months together.  I tweeted a pic of you all today and Aunt Brandy responded that you all don't look like babies anymore...boy do I know that.  You aren't acting like babies anymore either.  Even when or if you do let us hold you all, it's not for long anymore.   You both just want to be on the go and very BUSY.  So again, I ask, Where are my little babies??  Gone?? It's bittersweet because I'm loving watching you grow, but this is it for me.  No more babies for mommy...

In Music/Rhythm:
You both are still loving music, but it seems as though Nala got her groove this month.  Nala girlie you are dancing at every beat.  You guys have both start singing along to your favorite songs and even anticipating the next songs on your cds.  We let you practice a little big on big sis's piano and you guys loved that!  One your best new moves is jumping.  It's super cute!!  Also, you are enjoying Ring around the Rosie.  I love to hear you say "ashes ashes"
ABCs/123s
You guys are getting better with puzzles and Nia you've started memorizing a few words in some of your favorite books.
Words
Recently, Nia you have started combining ThankYouWelcome, when really you just mean thank you.  I love that you are so polite and know when to say Thank You.  Nala, although you are a real sweet heart, you do not consistently say thank you.  Mommy is going to need you to work on that. 


Early this month Nia you got sick.  A weird virus where you were vomiting and extremely lethargic.  You really weren't yourself and lost a bit of weight.  After we finally got some antibiotics for you, you got better quickly. It was rather strange, and we all really hated seeing you sick. 

In the same week that you got sick Nia, we began hardcore potty training bootcamp.  It's a work in progress, but you guys are doing sooooooooooooooooooo well.  Accidents are few and far between and for the most part just at night.  We weren't able to convince the teachers at MDO to work with us, so on school days, we get a little bit off, but I'm proud of you guys!

This is your last month in your class at church.  It's too bad, because you've finally become more comfortable over the last two months. 

Nia your hair is growing a bit, and I'm managing to make the smallest of ponytails.  Nala doesn't understand why it takes so much more time to do your hair than hers. I love that you sit so patiently to get your little ponytails done.  Nala, I love that your hair is low maintenance.  You look good bald!

You guys are hilarious and your big sister mentioned today that she loves you even more today than so when you were babies. She finds you both really fun - except for when you enter her room uninvited. You both know better, because as soon as you get to her door you automatically yell "OUT! OUT!" because you've heard her say it so often.


We are enjoying watching you grow girls.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of you together this month, except for those on my cell phone...

day 1 of potty training boot camp

{car seat straps loosened awhile waiting on big sis - don't think you weren't safe! :}

30 Days of Gratitude

I've decided to participate in Nutwood Studios 30 Days of Gratitude Project.  I've been blessed and have so much to be thankful for.   To learn about this project go here.   I won't even pretend that I'm committed enough to blog my gratitudes daily, but my plan is to come back at least once a week with my compiled list.  Join in!  We all have so much to be thankful for!

From her blog:

30 days of gratitude ::

during the month of november, i invite you to join me in a daily ritual of expressing gratitude.

what it means ::

for thirty days, i will focus on the people i love, the talents i have been given, the lessons i have learned, the things that make my life most fulfilling. i challenge you to do the same.

when it occurs ::

november 1 - november 30. (but you can begin anytime)

how you can participate ::

write a sentence, tell a story, take a photo...

blog it, tweet it, facebook it, journal it, scrapbook it...

share your gratitude daily or summarize it weekly...

invite your friends, your family, your neighbors...

i heart faces | pink week | sleeping beauty

This week’s PINK theme is in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Here is little Hannah here - dressed in a soft pink pettiskirt.  Look at how big she's getting!  She's 3 mos old now though her actual due date was just a couple of days ago, October 23. So had she been born to term, this is what she would have looked like as a newborn - perfection I tell you!

Click the button below to see other entries...I'd love to see yours! :) 

Have a great week!

Being 30

I've literally spent this entire week celebrating the welcome of the next ten years my life - my thirties.  As soon as I turned 25, I started dreading this year.  Now that I'm here, I'm pretty excited about my current place in life.  I feel so absolutely blessed to be surrounded by people that truly know me.  I love being content with the relationships I've made and not having to give backfill to tell a story.  Over the last 30 years, I've made and maintain the absolute best friendships.  I have two bestfriends that I'm lucky enough to call sisters and two sisters that I'm blessed enough to call friends. 

My friends and family went out of their way to make this birthday special.  I was showered with well wishes and several items on my short running wish list including an IPAD (yes, my husband is the absolute BEST) and The Vintage Pearl goodies.  I'm now convinced that I either spend too much time talking about things that I want or my friends/family  just happen to listen REALLY well :)  Honestly, it wasn't about the tangible items, instead it was the revelation that I got this week. I've surrounded myself around people that have listened to my heart and to who I am.  They "get me"... the good, bad, and the ugly.  I have so much appreciation for this - I am humbled & I am blessed.

So, I have high expectations for my thirties as my twenties brought so much that will shape the rest of my life:

My First Born | MacKenzie
A new role | "Aunt Hope" to Tyson, Eden, Robin, Rani, Cydney, Brynna, Hannah & a host cuties in Dallas!
Friendship with my sister |  Shawn
A Family in Dallas
Degree from OU | Boomer Sooner!
Career
My First Home
A Better Relationship with my parents
New Genuine Friendships | Bershunda & Betsy
Church Home | Spiritual Maturity
Marriage
Nia & Nala


So if my twenties were this good - bringing  me all of the above and so much more - AND if  it's true what Jay-Z says -  that 30 is the new 20...I can certainly look forward to a good ten more years of pure bliss!


And because for me, a blog post without a picture, is no blog post at all - a pic of my cake.  My husband actually special ordered a cake for me...this is a FIRST! He's a Walmart bakery, plain white cake kinda guy... and well I'm... SO NOT!   I'm so proud of him - it was my fav...if I didn't get anything else for my birthday I would have been content with this right here:

Thanks for the well wishes on my birthday!

My Twenties

This is Me.  And tonight I say goodbye to my twenties.  I wanted to remember how I looked (with the pimples that I was promised would go away when I said farewell to my teens, gray hair streaks, and racoon eyes and all - no makeup) and how silly I was...that although sloppy, I can still "kinda" do a bridge-kickover. Sure, I wanted it to be a back walkover and could only dream of it being a back handspring, but I hey, I'm nearly 30 and have birthed 3 babies so I say, "Not Bad"!  Here I am with a hilarious outtake.


Here  (listen for my cheerleaders!) and Here (the outtake!)

Yes, I'm real mature! Only a mature mom would ask her nine year old to capture her so gracefully on the eve of her 30th Bday...

So long Twenties!  It's been REAL!

Sorta Fairytale Actions

Tried out some Black and White Actions by Mandy at A Sorta Fairytale.

This is Miss J.  She's 8 and FABULOUS!  Love her beautiful eyes and thick hair!

 

Sorta Fairytale's Indigo Action

And Onyx Action

You can download these FREE actions and more in the same set here!  I'm loving them :P

Brynna Grace

Is it wrong to be jealous of a 19 month old's lashes??  This is Brynna Grace.  She's as smart as a whip, cute as a button, has a will that could combat Samson's strength, and has AMAZING eyelashes.  I love her bunches.  Her mom, Regina, and I have been best buds since 6th grade - 19 years.  Brynna is god-sister to my three girls.  AND she has incredible eyelashes, did I say that already?

Seriously, just look at those lashes!

She also has pretty amazing baby blues hiding under those lashes...yep, she's a doll! And I'm pretty sure she knows it!

18 Months!

Nia & Nala:

Today you are 18 months old and know I sound like a broken record, but I really honestly can't believe how big you girls are now.  Where are my little babies??

In Music:
You are both now loving to sing along to "Happy & Know You It!", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "I'm a Little Teapot", and "Mr. Sun".  You know all the moves and motions too...You guys are all about the "motions!"  You also can't get enough of big sissy putting on Black Eyed Peas "I got a Feeling" (thanks YouTube).  In the car with Daddy, you love to groove to the "Chocolate Train" cd that Miss Melissa at BAWS made for you.  Nia you love to dance and Nala, you like to nod your head and seem really interested in the music. 

ABCs/123s
Your ABCs are currently just mumbles, but you can both count to 5.  Of the two of you, Nala you show more interest in reading right now.  You LOVE books and can entertain yourself reading all by yourself!  Nia, you generally just pick up a book after you see that Nala has one! :) 

Body Parts
You both know your nose, eyes, ears, arms, feet,hands, head, and belly button.  I love to hear you repeat belly button!  (Super cute!!)

Words
You are saying quite a few words these days including Mama or per Nala "MaMUH", Dada, Pot Pot (for potty), Belly Button, Stop That, No!, Sissy or "Thissy" per Nia, Ball, Up, Down, Yay!, Shoes, I, Nose, Mine, Thank You, Love You, Hi, Uh Oh, you both say Nala, and Nia you say Nia too, but we haven't heard Nala call your name yet Nia.  Funniest of all, most recently Bye Bye Girl (yep, we are now calling everybody girl)!  In First Sentences - Nia has started saying "Here You Go."

Interaction
You are both still a little cautious of strangers, but are generally friendly.  Nala you still have a thing for men...we'll give you 6 more months and then we're putting a stop to that!  :)  You have finally stopped crying when being dropped off at church, now that it will be time to switch classes in a month from now!  At school, they say you are both happy, but pretty quiet.  It's still new, so I'm sure you'll eventually show em how crazy/wild you two really are!

You're growing up girls!

WE LOVE YOU

These two little girls who have absolutely no interest in being photographed, are now 18 months. I so do not have the patience to try to get both of them to smile for a pic...so this is as good as it gets...this is how their 18 mos bday will be remembered.

Good Things | Hannah Lynell

I have found that good things come to those who wait.

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

Today, after 10.5 weeks, my best friend, Brandy,  FINALLY got to bring her baby girl, Hannah, home.  Hannah was born prematurely at 26 weeks gestation on July 20 weighing 2 lbs 3oz.  Today she left, in complete health at 37 weeks weighing a healthy 5 lbs 12.2 oz!  Hannah's story is one to not be forgotten.  Her mommy and daddy and everyone around them are left humbled by that which God has done and how he never for one second forgot about little Hannah, a miracle baby.  Their strength was tested, but today,they are renewed! 

You can follow Hannah's journey by visiting Team Davis United.  Although the blog has been interrupted over the last 10.5 weeks, Brandy is planning a 365 so we can peek in on little Miss Hannah throughout the week.  I have a permanent link in my blog roll!

Isn't she a beauty??