Riley Niamh: 11 Months!

Can you believe it little one...you are almost ONE! Not yet though. You are still my toddling little baby. Even if it is just for a few more weeks. 

You have grown so much over the last month. I swear you are going to wake up and be a five year old any day now. You want so much to be like your big sister that you are just leaping over milestones.

Yep! You are walking. Not 100% of the time and only several steps at a time but you are crawling less and less. One thing I learned about you and walking (which I am sure will become you + doing anything) is that we can't force you to do it. If we try and get you to walk from one person to another..even your favorite person, Kayleigh, you quickly fall to your knees and crawl away. However, you will walk from one piece of furniture to another or just get up into a standing position without holding onto anything (yeah you mastered that a few weeks ago) and just toddle several steps before falling on your butt. Kayleigh is always very excited when she spots you crossing a room! 

So what have you been up to?

• You are walking!! Like I said not 100% of the time but I am sure you will leave crawling behind in a few weeks
• You EAT EVERYTHING. Seriously, I have never seen such a little person eat so much! I know I will be complaining about your lack of eating pretty soon but here is documentation that at one time you did stuff yourself silly.
• Did I say little person? Girl, you are wearing mostly 18 month clothes! You are going to be talllllll.
• You have started talking. At least trying to mimic what we say. So far you say:
• Ball
• Mickey - Nickey
• More
• BaBa - you actually say mama for this most times but refuse to call me mama...nice I am just a giant bottle to you :)
• Night Night - NighNigh
• Pooh - Pooh
• You still put your arms in the air when you are all done. Actually you have started throwing your food on the floor and going "uh oh." If I hear that I usually know you are done.
• You put your face in the water at bath time and blow bubbles. I have no idea where you learned that from but it is awfully cute!
• You sit in the book nook corner and babble away to yourself and read to yourself. So cute. You aren't very good at wanting someone else to read to you...you usually get bored. I guess you read it better right? 
• You love to pretend to tickle someone and go "ticka ticka ticka" as you tickle them. 
• You are still nursing 2-4 times a day! You LOVE your bottle of whole milk though. 
• You could possibly the happiest kid ever. Always smiling and laughing
• You did have your first temper tantrum the other day. You just threw yourself on the floor and kicked your feet and screamed. This stopped when you realized all three of your audience members had left the room. 
• You give the best kisses and hugs. You are always down for some snuggle time.

"I love you through and through. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, too"

Watermarkin' it up!

I would like to thank my niece Jennifer for creating this awesome watermark. I spent some time in elements making a circular text around the MacLeod crest which looked good until I realized, crap I will totally be in violation of copyright infringement if I use this image. The image was just a basic MacLeod crest, but a drawing. So I contacted the site that published it and they assured me it was not copyrighted. Luckily, I am from NYC and we don't trust anything anyone says. Especially when it comes to lawsuits. My NYC paranoid brain told me that person just wanted me to use it to sue me later. True story.

The story goes on and on with all the copyright laws I learned about over the next few days. Luckily I have relatives and friends from my old job that filled me in. Thanks again.

So here it is. My creative niece did a fantastic job! Thank you Jen I love it!

Rumor has it I may be dipping my toes into a little photography business. Keep your eyes peeled for more information on portfolio building shoots! I need to build my portfolio and since both my kiddos are mobile and hate the camera, I will probably be recruiting. 

Thank you for all the support from family and friends as I drag you all down this obsessive hole with me. I am sure none of you care about backdrops, props, lenses or anything else that I have been gabbing away about. I do appreciate the nods and smiles though! :)

Nate {Senior Pics}

Let me tell you, when I was approached about doing this young mans senior photos I was a little nervous. I had flash backs of myself as a senior graduating from highschool and I got overwhelmed with insecurity. I guess it just comes with the territory.

Nate is very grown up for his age and was a breeze when it comes to taking photos. I am sure being very photogenic did not hurt him in the least. Also, when he informed me he aspired to be a firefighter/emt/nurse, I felt nothing but pride coming from a family with multiple cousins who also share that same passion for firefighting and other careers that can be all lumped in the same group - "hero."

So here are his senior pictures. I hope you enjoy them! Good luck Nate I am sure you will be great at all you do.

 

Embrace the Camera: 1.24.2013

I think this may be the first Embrace the Camera of the year! How exciting. This week I want to share some pictures that I took of my husband embracing the time he spent with his two little girls. The weather was perfect and I was all ready to shoot photos since I was on location..well, shooting photos. I hope you enjoy and I hope you begin to embrace the camera so one day your little ones can look back and see how much fun they had with Mom and Dad.

I am so happy I captured these sweet moments. I am so lucky to have this guy as not only a wonderful husband but also a magnificent father. 

I had to sneak this last one in because...isn't she just so darn cute???

Bella G. { 6 Months}

I know parents out there tell people all the time: "I have the happiest baby on earth." I am not sure about the rest of you but I have found the real thing.

Meet baby Bella. She has to be by far the happiest baby I have ever met. Her mom and I have been friends since the beginning of time, or maybe just the beginning of college. Still, it feels like forever. I had such a wonderful time getting to know little Bella and singing Mickey Mouse to her which would send her into a frenzy of giggles. Such a sweetheart.

I hope you love the pictures as much as I do!

 

 

The "R" Family

I am a little tardy posting this very fun photo session! Moving to a city where you have no family or friends can be scary. Luckily I had the pleasure of becoming great friends with this family. Mason and Kayleigh are only three weeks apart (they could have been birthday buddies if he went to forty weeks)! They are the best of friends. Maryjo and Derek are great friends of ours and and I loved taking pictures of their family. I hope you enjoy!

My growing little girl..

Oh Riley, I have been very forgetful of your little monthly milestones. I gave up on the stickers because you ate month seven. I guess I will update everyone with what you have been doing lately instead of writing them on a post it note. There are several around the house. My house is a mess...

TEN months. Did I write that correctly. Also, only for six more days. Please stop growing.

- You have two bottom teeth and two teeth popping out on top.
- You sometimes say all done but not on command. You rarely do anything on command. You are quite stubborn.
- You say "doh" which is your no and you say it a lot
- You give "High five"
- You sign all done
- You eat absolutely everything...except broccoli. You don't like broccoli. Or Chipotle. Like anything from Chipotle. What is wrong with you?
- You could care less about walking. You love to crawl. The minute we try to make you walk you give us the spagetti legs. Oh well.
- You love playing hide and seek and peek a boo. You play it often with anyone who is willing.
- You give kisses. Oh I love those kisses. You make a loud MWAA sound.
- You love this ratty old stuffed duck of Kayleighs. You have taken him as your own and we have named in quackers.
- You are wearing 12-18 month clothes. You are very tall
- You love pointing at things. You love pointing out animals in books when we read.
- You are starting to enjoy sitting down and reading.
- You LOVE music and dancing. You like to sing too...just babble though.
- That stink face. It makes us laugh everytime
- You can crawl onto the couch and you know how to get off it properly.
- You stand in your highchair the minute I turn around...Yes, you are buckled in. Very tight. How do you do that my little Houdini?
- You love learning animal noises. You know what a duck and pig say...most everything else goes "woof woof"
- You adore your big sister Kayleigh and you play with her a lot. You love her princesses and ponies. No baby toys for you.

I love you to the moon and back baby girl. Please slow down.

I hope you all enjoy the pictures. I am really starting to LOVE photography and understand it better. I still need a lot of practice but luckily I have two adorable models. 

Here she is at ten months:

I added a picture of my first baby to show she is still loved. I love you to the moon Kayleigh bug!

The Pics of Christmas Past

So although Christmas was not the picture perfect Norman Rockwell holiday we all wish it could always be, there were some fun memories. We went to a fun Christmas party with my early childhood PTA. Kayleigh still talks about the "lighthouses." That is what she called all the decorated houses. It was the only time I was happy the sun went down at 4:30. Something to do - go for a drive and look at all the houses before bed.

She was in awe with our tree. Grannie Pattie got her pretty much every disney hallmark ornament and she loved each and every one of them.

I am pretty sure Riley is just loving the fact that she is along for the ride. She is such an easy going baby and just wants to be included.

Here are some pictures from the party.

Riley is becoming quite the daddys girl!

Hula Hoop Queen!

Eating...I mean making cookies.

Riley sat with Santa...Kayleigh ran strait into a wall trying to get away from him. Santa - 1, Kayleigh - 0

They really do love each other!

<3

Here are a few of my favorites from the holiday season. Kayleigh was sick the whole time, hence the absence of her beautiful face. I love how I can see my photography skill increasing as well as my knowledge for photo shop. Photography is a hard and expensive hobby but I have great support behind me and I hope to share more treasures with you throughout this new year! Enjoy and I hope your holiday was just as joyful, and less sickly.