Sweet Aria

Last weekend Lizzie and I got to go on a girls trip to Nashville. It was such a great weekend! I got to see all my girlfriends and my most wonderful mother-in-law watched Lizzie as much as I wanted her to...as did my greatest father-in-law:) Lizzie did so great, too, and I think she actually bonded with her Meme and Poppie!

I was able to spend lots of time with Ginny, too, who just returned home from China. I am so glad we have the Burtons back for a bit:) While it wasn't the most ideal conditions, I was still able to get a few shots of Ari in her Christmas dress. It didn't take long for her to transition from China back to the South...with her smocked dress and bow and all:) I hope to get some more shots of her over Christmas when we have more time and more light...how can I resist such a face:)

Winter Wonderland

This past weekend we got quite a bit of snowfall, which means the first sledding of the year! Poor Knox has been waiting patiently since the summer to use his sled. He saw it in the garage and wanted to use it so badly. I said not until the winter when there's snow. So, of course, the boy who doesn't forget anything has been talking about it every since. So, Papa braved it in the cold and took him sledding in the yard. Notice Papa isn't really dressed appropriately...he claims he doesn't really need a winter coat:) Anyways, I could only stand it as long as it took to get some pictures. I know Kory probably doesn't appreciate me putting all these pictures of him up, but I just think they're all so sweet...I'm sure Meme agrees:)

Knox was a little apprehensive going down the hill, but he loved it!

A few of Lizzie and her famous tongue!




Just a few of bathtime. Lizzie loves the bath! She crawls all over and tries to take all of Knox's toys:)




Last, but not least, I had to add a picture of the beautiful roses that Kory gave me for our anniversary....what a sweet husband:)

Miss Madison

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get some shots of sweet Madison, my dear friend Sara's baby. I hadn't seen her in person since I took her newborn shots, and she is just so beautiful! She has the biggest blue eyes that I was just dying to shoot, but of course she didn't really want to look at me:) It was a little tricky being that she was 3 1/2 months old. It's just kind of a hard age to shoot since they can't do a whole lot. But, I think I got some sweet ones...especially of mom and baby. Sorry it took me so long, Sara:)

Happy 5th!

Happy 5th anniversary to my wonderful husband!! Thanks for an incredible 5 years...here's to many many more! I don't know how it could possibly be 5 years already! I guess time flies when you're having fun:) Well, Kory and I always said we would go to Europe on our 5th anniversary...somehow 2 kids later that's probably not going to happen this year:) Thanks to my wonderful mother, we did get a night to ourselves last weekend in Minneapolis, which was a nice relaxing little getaway.

I thought I better put a wedding picture up to reminisce a little. We got married on Thanksgiving Day and had a very small ceremony with just family and a few close friends. It was just the way we wanted it, but it's funny how I barely remember it now and it's only been 5 years. We do have a video that my cousin Ben was so great to record for us, but I hate to admit that Kory and I have only been able to make it through the first minute or so before turning it off. As two people who really don't like to see pictures of ourselves, it's almost impossible to watch a whole video centered on yourself. Anyways, just looking at one wedding picture makes me realize how much life has changed...it's almost like these are different people in this picture. God has certainly blessed our lives in these short 5 years.

One thing that I will always remember, though, is that I decided to make my own dress. However, as a professional procrastinator I was finishing it at the very last minute (my mother-in-law can attest). I was just so thankful it fit! I will forever be proud, though, that I only spent about $60 on my wedding dress...$40 for material and $20 for the pattern:)

Enough jogging down memory lane:) Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am so thankful to the Lord for everyone in my life...especially Kory and the family we have made together in the last 5 years.

9 Months

Miss Lizzie turned 9 months last Friday! Where does the time go? She had a doctor's appt. and is healthy as can be. She is still my big girl, but has slowed down a little bit...I'm sure she'll make it up:) Her stats are:

27 3/4 in. (60%)

20 lbs. 5 oz. (75%)

Baby Caleb

My cousin, Vanessa, had her sweet baby boy Caleb on October 30. He's so precious and just so tiny...it doesn't take long to forget how little newborns are. So, I was blessed to be able to get some shots of him last week. The light was scarce, and little Caleb didn't want to miss anything and was awake the whole time, but I think I got some sweet ones. Congrats Jeff and Vanessa...he's beautiful:)

First Snow

This is what's happening here this morning...it's always exciting to get the first snow of the year. Makes me want to drink hot chocolate and bake cookies...too bad I don't really bake...but there could be a Starbucks run in my near future:) I am now officially excited about the holidays!

Knitting Update

Well, I'm not getting too far on the pink sweater coat for Lizzie. I do have one sleeve done and working on the second. I am bound and determined to finish it, though. Maybe when I start on the hood I will feel like I'm nearing the end. Of course, as any true knitter knows, you always have to be working on more than one project at a time...so, I knit this cute little hat for Lizzie the other day. She left it on just long enough to snap a picture...I'm not sure how I'm going to keep her bald head warm this winter when she won't leave a hat on:)

Halloween

Now that Knox is almost 2 1/2 I think he kind of understood the concept of trick-or-treating, which made it much more fun. The poor child is a little sheltered and hasn't really had any candy...actually he didn't really know what it was before this week. So, needless to say he was very excited about all the candy...he even had his very first sucker! I have a feeling the second child won't be as sheltered:) It's just so easy when there's only one...I mean I made all of Knox's babyfood and now with Lizzie I didn't even think about it. Of course, she now has a problem with textures...she might be eating Gerber #2 until she's 3.

Anyways, even though it was very cold, the trick-or-treating was a success. We went with Ashley and Jenn and the twins, and some of their friends with little kids. It was so great that it was still light outside when we started. I was so amazed, too, at how much people decorated their houses...I definitely don't remember that as a child.

Of course I had to share lots of pics...

My little giraffe

I cut Kory out of this, but I'm sure he's glad I did...he likes to be in pictures about as much as I do, if you couldn't tell:)

Here's Knox and Papa trick-or-treatingTate, Knox and Avery

I had to show all these because Knox looks like he's all ready to become a football player:)

He's even got the face down

One more of Lizzie:)

More Fall pictures...

It's been a while again since I've posted. We've been a little busy around here lately, but it looks like things are slowing down. I am always writing posts in my head, but somehow they never make it to the computer...must get better about that. I took some pictures of Knox a few weeks ago that I wanted to share, and some of Lizzie that I took just yesterday. It's getting pretty cold, so probably won't get many more shots outside...without lots of clothing anyways.