Sweet Sleep

Last night I worked on the computer for 5+ hours trying to get caught up on work so I don't have to worry about unfinished business here at home while we're in Charlotte for the week.

While I was working, Tony and Emma were supposed to be on the couch watching Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

This is what I found when I was done working.

So sweet.

Daddy's Home!!

Tony's home! Woo Hoo! :)

So nice to be a family again as opposed to single mom to two rowdy little people, business owner, house keeper, freelancer, car pooler, and daughter, grand daughter, neice, and cousin. Many, many roles that all become remarkably easier and more managable once the other adult returns home. ;)

I'm not going to make this a long one for obvious reason, but here are a few of my favorite pictures from our reunion day today.

Enjoy! ;)

The Source of the Stress

A few weeks ago I blogged about how terrified I was about something that's about to happen in our lives and so many of you guys (that I love so much!) expressed concern and love, which I appreciate immensely.

So, here's what's going on...

Most of you know that Tony works in Iraq and has since 2006. Last summer, he switched to a new company so that he would be on a better schedule as far as coming home more frequently. This was an awesome development for us, because from 2006 until last summer (2010) he was only home for 6 weeks out of the whole year.

You can imagine how much that sucked. He would come home one time for 4 weeks and then another time for 2 weeks and that is ALL that we saw of him. For the whole YEAR.

Yeah, that was a difficult 4 years. We loved each other, we hated each other. It was crazy at times.

But we persevered and I think now our relationship is stronger than it's ever been. Like. Ever. Since we met.

So, when he got on with this new company last summer, it was such an exciting change for us, because the schedule was that he would work three months in Iraq and come home for a month. Big change. Way better. For me and the kids, this is like a 100% improvement over the way things were. Three months away is nothing when he's home for a whole month, and it's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when he is here. No work during time home, except, of course, the ever growing honey-do list that I make the whole time he's gone.

Two weeks ago Tony got word that this new company's contract was up for renewal in March and it was in danger of not being renewed. He was scared to tell me this, because let's face it. I'm a spaz and my mind immediately jumps to the worst possible scenario and suddenly I need a valium.

So, the company decided to start sending it's workers home in preparation for the contract not being renewed. Tony's initial date to come home was March 4th... today. Two weeks after they found out about this.

Terrified. Horrified. Panic-Striken.

Those are the best ways to describe by state of mind for the past two weeks.

Then he was due to arrive home on the 6th, this Sunday and just the other day it was postponed another week, the 13th.

I have great faith in him and his abilities to do what he does. I know he's a great worker and very dependable and his resume is so great that I hardly understand a word of it. Ha! He already has a potential opportunity, but it is still quite stressful, because the situation still remains a very large unknown.

So, friends, please say some prayers for us that Tony quickly is offered a new job or that his current company is offered a new contract. If he ends up moving to a new company, I just pray that it's with a company that offers a great schedule that allows him to come home and be a family with us as often as possible. He tells me not to worry and that everything will be fine and it'll all work out and while I'm sure that will be the case, I still can't help but be a ball of nerves and worry until that moment comes. Something about the fear of unpaid bills and having to choose whether to pay those bills or feed your children just terrifies the living crap outta me.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, up there in that picture, he's the last one on the right... the one who looks really mean. What is up with that?

The Big Day

Today was the first day of the rest of my life. Of course, every day is the first day of the rest of our lives, but today... oh, today was special.

For my mother-in-law, today was her sixtieth birthday.

For my brother-in-law, Johnny, today was the day he married, Maura, his true soul mate, his best friend.

And for me. Today was my first wedding as the photographer of the event and I did it all by myself. I sweated ten gallons, I'm sure, I was so nervous I was going to forget the one most important shot. And of course, I was sure I wouldn't remember what the one most important one was until I was half way back home and way far past any time frame of salvation. However, after filling up two and a half memory cards with 900+ pictures and spending the majority of 5 hours with two cameras slung around my neck, I think I did a pretty decent job for a first timer. I've looked through most of the shots and I'm pretty happy with what I came up with.

The one at the top is the only one I've done anything to, as of yet, I'm so exhausted. It was a long day.

And don't let me forget to insert a dose of depression into this blog. It wouldn't be normal lately if I didn't. Do you wonder how bad it sucked driving three hours today to be with Tony's family and spending the whole day with them without him? It sucked bad. So. Bad.

So, what am I doing at the moment? I'm watching Titanic so I can have a good cry. A really good cry, because watching Titanic for the first time or for the four thousandth time always turns on my tear faucet. It's pretty much a guarantee.

Good night friends. Go love on your loves. :)

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.

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. :)

Good Times

This is, for the most part, going to be a picture blog. Tony's leaving Monday, so we're doing lots of documenting at the moment. Tonight we cooked out and the kids and Tony played in the yard while I did lots of snapping...

I wanted a picture of Emma's outfit in it's entirety, because I thought she looked super cute today. She looks thrilled, doesn't she?

Marley loves when we play outside and he gets to be an active family participant...

Can you tell Noah loves to swing?

Emma was having such a blast playing soccer with her dad...

I just love this...

My angel...

Love this one too...

This was my submission for my Mission 24 challenge today... the challenge is "fluid"... fluid motion is how I interpretted it.. and yes.. Jessica, I owe you my next born child since you are the means by which I discovered that blog. Think you can handle six? ;)

Love this.... I told Tony I wish he didn't have his diaper on so all of you could see the cute little hiney I love so much... he reminded me that if the diaper was absent, his little boy hood would be visible... personally... I think that is the absolute cutest thing I have ever seen, but I wouldn't have been able to post it on the blog... ;)

Hope you enjoyed....