Today at the Beach

This blog's pictures are here thanks to my bestie, Amy. She went to Best Buy in Jacksonville today and got me a card reader so I wouldn't have to wait until I returned home to blog about my trip! She's wonderful! :) And what makes it even more wonderful is that I was so desperate to have a way to transfer my pictures onto my computer, that I left straight off the beach and was going somewhere to find a card reader. Straight off the beach.. still covered in sand, no make-up, and a hat. Wow. Desperation. Anyway, so instead, I just had to go to Amy's house to pick it up from her. This was awesome for more reasons than just the card reader, though. I had left my kids at home with my granny and mom, so we got to spend some quality, kid-free time together. This never happens. Never.

So, today, we were only on the beach for a short time because the little man was not all about it today. And I felt so sorry for Emma when we first got out there, because she didn't have any friends to play with or a daddy to play with.

However, after only a short time, Emma spotted these twin little girls, Megan and Jordan, just down the beach from us and she played with them the whole time we were out there. Thank goodness for nice people, because they truly didn't mind Emma joining their group.

There was also a fourth little girl playing with them, she just didn't make it into this picture.


So, while Emma was playing with the little girls, I started documenting Noah's pure cuteness.

He licks his little lips like this constantly when someone has something he wants to taste. The boy loves to eat!


He was being so sweet, but so not liking the sand..

Being sweet with his Mimi

Such a cool dude he is...


Chillin with his granny... I love this picture!!!

We had fun on the beach again this evening.. more to come later...

UNbelievable!

The thing I do not like about traveling is that I always forget something that is absolutely essential. This time I forgot the cord that connects my camera to my computer.. you know, the one that allows me to download the pictures off my memory card and onto the computer???

UGH!!!

I have a card reader, but I also forgot that!

I am such a moron sometimes.

I'm hoping the Radio Shack that's here will have card readers, if not, I'm going to have to either drive all the way to Wilmington tomorrow, have Amy buy me one and bring it to me when she comes on Monday, or just WAIT until I get HOME to download pictures!!!

No WAY!

Back to the Beach

All week my mom's been planning to go to the beach for the weekend. She's been wanting us to go with her, but Noah's been sick and I just didn't know if it was a good idea for us to leave town with him still sick, away from his doctors. But, he woke up feeling much better this morning, so I started to consider going. And then, my mom came over on her way out and conned me into letting Emma go down there with her. Since I'm not particularly fond of being in a different zip code than my children, Noah and I are packing up and heading down there! :)

Also, I have a VERY busy weekend next weekend.... a wedding and two family shoots, so I figure this will be a nice way to relax before the hectic weekend.

So, I'll be posting lots of beach pictures, I'm sure over the next few days! Have a great weekend!

This Week...

Has been a doozie.


First of all, I am so irritated right now. I think I'm going to need to follow Amber's lead and open a blog that only certain select people can read, because I just want to SCRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEAMMMMMMMMMMMM right now. OH, my.... Amber, I hope you're going to be on FB tonight for me to have an outlet to spill this onto!!!

Okay, and in other news... Noah has had a nasty virus this week. At first, he was just spiking a high fever for no apparent reason, then this morning, he woke up COVERED in a horrible rash. And this is no exaggeration... HORRIBLE rash. All over his face, neck, chest, and back.

And to make it worse, our pediatrician closes at noon on Friday and Noah napped until 10:20 this morning, so when he woke up, Emma and I were still in our pajamas. I freaked when I saw the rash. I immediately called the ped office and they told me we'd have to get there by 11:15.

Mkay.

We live 30 minutes away... we're all still in our pajamas, and we have to be there in less than an hour?!? I pulled it off, though. We walked into the office at exactly 11:15.

And the verdict is that Noah is either allergic to the actual virus he has, or he's allergic to motrin. When we went to the doctor initially on Wednesday for this virus, I was told to give him Motrin every 6 hours, even through the night for the next 48 hours... and the dr. said this is an allergic reaction rash, so it has to be either the motrin or the virus. Isn't that weird? I'm pretty sure I've never heard of being allergic to a virus!

Okay, and onto other topics... our pool is green. I don't know what to do about it. I went to the pool store today and I got a vacuum, a shock kit (which is supposed to kill the green stuff) and a test kit. So, I came home, vacuumed the crap outta the pool, then tested the water. ALL the numbers were completely wrong. ALL OF THEM!!! So, I put in a chlorine tablet. Came back a few hours later.. water is still all wrong, so I did the shock treatment. I'm going to test it again in the morning, but as of ten minutes ago, the water was still green and disgusting looking.

I could just punch Tony for leaving me not knowing how to take care of this dang pool. Like I told him today, I feel like a second grader reading a college textbook when I read the manual for how to clean and manage this thing. Tons of words I do not know. What. Ever. I'd better figure it out, because we did not buy this pool for us to enjoy it ONE time!!!

Wow, I feel like I'm doing a whole lot of b**ching...

So, on a positive note, I talked to Jessica's sister, Amy, on the phone today and that pretty much made my whole year. No joke. Amy is one of my very biggest inspirations as far as photography goes and she was so kind and supportive and encouraging on the phone today! I loved talking to and learning from her. And the best part.... she wants me to come to Dallas to spend a day learning with her!!!! Holy Crap, I had to really do a reality check to keep myself from going and hopping on a plane tonight. I am so, so extremely excited to meet her in person and spend a day learning from her! Wow, what a lucky girl I am.

Annnnnndddd... My other amazing news from the week... Jessica (same Jessica from above) wants ME to photograph the birth of baby number five!!! Woooooo Hooooooo!!! Amy can't make it here for the birth, so she wants me to do it. Can you say honored??? Wow. When Amy's your sister... you literally have an expert at your photography disposal, so for her to even kind of consider me is just..... WOW.... AMAZING.

Again, thanks, Jess... for being my wonderful friend and trusting me with this huge honor!


Okay, that's it for tonight. Have a great weekend!

Sunday at the Bullard's

Weekends suck when Tony's gone. I don't know why. Well.. I do know why, but it really shouldn't be much different than Monday through Friday, but somehow... it is different. During the week, I stay busy. I do things. I have my shows to look forward to that come on. I take my Granny to lunch a few days a week. I have errands to run. Saturday and and Sunday come and I'm just so BLAHHHHHHHH... I don't even want to get up. I'd just prefer to sleep til Monday.

So, yesterday when Alison called and wanted us to come over for pizza and hanging out, I was so excited! Something to do. Great. So then I just had to motivate myself to get out of my pajamas and get us all ready.

We got there around 3:30 and Alison and I took my camera and Noah and left the other three kids with Collins and she showed me around their amazing farm! They have so many pieces of vintage farm equipment. I was in absolute HEAVEN out there! I posted a few of those pics on my photography blog.

And this little cutie.... Jack....

taught Noah to do this... climb the stairs! :)

Later, we took a walk around the farm with all the kids! So much fun! Collins let Garrett and Emma pick strawberries. Emma loves strawberries, so she was super excited!



Collins let the kids get on the combine (hope that's how you spell that...). That thing is ENORMOUS!!! And super cool on the inside! I had to get up there and take a look myself. It's got a tv in there and everything. So much cooler than I had ever imagined one of those things would be. :)


And Alison loves black and white pictures, so I thought she might like this one I snapped of two of her men.

Collins looks so much like Tony, so Noah took right to him!

I am so thankful for great friends like this in my life. Really. Times get lonely when you're alone with very few friends who live just down the road. And these friends of ours... well, it seems like we've known them forever already. I love friends like that. :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! Hope everyone remembers what today is all about!

I took this picture for my friend, Alison. These flags are displayed downtown at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. It's so sad to know that each flag represents someone who sacrificed their life for our freedom.

My Perfect Boy {Turned One}

My Boy, I just cannot believe you are a whole year old! You are my love. My life. I cannot believe I lived 29 whole years without you. Oh, I didn't know what I was missing all that time. You captured my heart the moment you entered my world.


Before you came, I swore I wanted only girls. I was terrified to have a boy. I didn't know what to do with a boy. I just wanted girls. I know what to do with a girl. We have all the same parts.... I'M girl.


But you. Oh, I am SO in love with YOU!!! I swear I'm never going to be able to give you away to a wife. You're MINE . All mine. :)


I love when you lay your little head on my shoulder. I love every little thing about you.


You amaze me with your appetite. You eat absolutely anything and everything we give you. I had no idea a baby could or would eat the way you do. I love it.


I love how your little personality is coming to life as you grow older. You're so funny, loving, and full of mischief.


And boy do you love your sister! Watching you together makes my heart smile. Playing in her room is one of your most favorite things to do. And she loves you so much too! As soon as she hears you make the first bit of noise in the morning, she runs to you, climbs into your crib and plays with you until Mommy comes to your rescue.


You are so loved.


Thank you so much for coming into my life, baby boy. You have added more to it than I could've ever hoped for.

This is Emma on Noah's birthday. Right before we went to his one year check-up.

Such a happy boy on his first birthday.

I look hideous, but really, I don't care, it's me and my boy.

Daddy and his boy.

The New Pool

Tony should definitely win the Daddy of the Year award this year. While he was home, he got the kids the new playset and spent a significant amount of his time home putting it together for them. Then, he stained Emma's playhouse to match the playset and put new shingles on it so it would match the house (which was really more for me than the kids. Let's face it, the kids could not care less whether or not the things in the yard match! I, on the other hand, DO!) . And as if that wasn't enough, he also got them (us) a pool and got it all set up and ready to go before he left!

It really wasn't warm enough to get in the pool until yesterday, so after breakfast, we got all suited up and enjoyed the pool for two whole hours!

And I am very safety conscious, which is why my kids have these swim vest things on as well as their floats. :)

I could not believe how content Noah was. Once I got these pictures, I got in the pool on my float with them and he just floated around the pool with me while Emma played for the entire time. It was so great!

I foresee the majority of our summer days being spent this way...

Then There Were Hours

As Tony's time home starts winding down, I find myself saying to myself... he won't be here this time next Tuesday.... next Wednesday, etc... until eventually it's... he won't be here this time tomorrow.

Sunday night, after we put Noah to bed, Emma got in bed with us and we just layed there and played with her... giggling and being silly.

So special and so sad all at once...

Really... It's Not Over

I know it must seem as if I'm breaking up with you... my blog readers, but really, life has just been so overwhelming lately. So sorry. I plan for this to be the end of my blogless stint. I miss writing about my daily doings and reading what you think of them.

Last weekend was Tony's last weekend home and it was super busy.

Friday, we went to Darlington, SC for the engagement party of Maura and Johnny. We got there a bit early and I did a family shoot for Johnny, Maura, their three girls and also a few couple shots of Katelyn and her sweet boyfriend Dustin. It was so beautiful out and so much fun! It's so nice to be around teenage girls that aren't attitudinal and full of drama. They're wonderful. Then, I also shot the whole engagement party. There are hundreds of those pictures, but here are two of my faves..

My handsome boys...

Emma dancing with her Nana...

It was such a great time. However, there was a live band and tons of people we don't know, which together totally freaked Noah out. Then to make it worse, I was all over the place taking thousands of pictures, so Noah clung to his daddy for dear life for the majority of the party. He was finally starting to relax when it was time for us to go. Poor boy, he wouldn't let anyone hold him except Tony and I. It made Tony and I feel special, though. :)

Then, Saturday was Noah's first birthday party. His actual birthday was Friday, but that was an extremely busy day, so we had his party Saturday. Of course, we did a luau theme and we found a lady who was willing to make us a first birthday luau themed cake! It came out awesome!!!

And this is Noah's cake for him to smash! She told me it was just going to be a cupcake, but then when we picked it up, it was this big cake!

My precious birthday boy!I did the party favors as beach buckets full of candy, bubbles, balls, silly straws, and play-doh.

Noah and Tony matched! Love it!

Johnny and Maura brought the bounce house!

Here are my cool margarita glasses... yes, the mommies had strawberry margaritas! :)
Noah feeding Emma the icing off his fingers. So sweet!

He was so full of sugary goodness!

Me and my sister lovin on our daddy

Me and the love

It was such a great weekend and a great month we had together as a family. Sunday night, we went over to have dinner with Collins, Alison, Garrett, and Jack and I was so mad with myself, I completely forgot my camera on the counter at home! ugh! But they are so awesome! We cooked out steaks and they had this humongous steak for Tony since it was his last day home. It was as big as all the other steaks put together. I still can't believe I didn't get a picture of that thing!

Sorry I've been so MIA lately, though, hopefully it won't happen again anytime soon. :)

Now I'm off to try to catch up on the tons of blogs that I know I've missed reading over the past month or so!

Thank You SO MUCH, Amy { We just love you...}

My life-long bestie, Amy, has been trying her hardest to work out doing pictures for us since Tony's been home and plan after plan after plan has fallen through. She even rode in Jeremy's (her husband) truck with him, while he was working, criss-crossing towns all around and between here and Jacksonville, trying her hardest to come here to do our pictures for us. Bless her heart. I love her so much. She's an angel. Today, all the stars were finally in line and she made it to us and for thirty minutes, she was all ours! :) Unfortunately, Noah was not in the mood for a photoshoot, he was in the mood for a nap, so he was not the most cooperative little fellow. But we still love him, all the same. :)

This is one of my favorites. I love pictures of feet. I'm not a big fan of footsie, though. So, remember that if we ever happen to be on the couch together, or if we're having a sleepover (my girlfriends, of course), Tony gets kicked in the shins quite often for trying to play with my feet with his. Not a fan.

This is when we came inside, because I have a squinting problem. I didn't want our family pictures to be taken with my sunglasses on, nor did I want to accelerate my wrinkles forming... so inside we went... :)


I love this. Even though Tony is out of focus (completely my fault. DANG ME!!) Still think it's incredibly cute!

Our happy wittle family...


Noah is not present in this one, because he was mad, the candy I was slipping into his mouth to keep him from screaming in the above pictures had become ineffective, so he slid himself off the couch, so... then there were three...

This is the REAL us.

This is the LOVING us...

More to come.. promise...

***

On another note.. I'm thinking I'm going to start answering questions I get in comments at the bottom of new posts, because usually I respond to your questions in a comment of my own, but then I've been thinking... I'm sure you guys don't usually go back to my old blogs to see if I've said anything new in my own comments and I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you or I don't care enough to answer you, so therefore, I need a place to respond!! :)

So, Julie, I got that UNC soccer ball on Franklin Street at one of the little stores, however, Sara wrote in her comment that she had seen them at Wal-Mart. I do have to tell you, though, Emma has soccer balls from Wal-Mart. She's a soccer freak and this one is different. It's like.. really authentic or something.. idk... it's different, so if you're ever visiting Franklin Street, look for em! :)

And Jessica, my lovely friend, I COMPLETELY understand that you can't come to my Noah's birthday party on your Jake's birthday. That would be totally not cool to him at all, even though, we would have a cake and presents for him if you guys DID come. :) We will get together VERY soon with Amber and all our tons of kids and play and have a good ole time together, though, promise???? I'll come to Jacksonville to you girls this time. :)