stick a fork in me

Looking over her eyebrows at me. Classic NieNie.


It was her berffff-day last week.
We had pancakes and strawberries, jumped in a mountain of balloons, and played several rounds of duck duck goose and button you must wonder. She was thrilled beyond measure.

I was joking with my mother about how different her life is compared to my first born. I believe Queenie's first sentence was "I see airplanes!". NieNie's was
"Don't do dat!"

They smother her. We all can't get enough, poor poor thing.


Blowing through the gap in her teeth, quite hilarious. I might light some candles for her again, just to secretly die inside.

priorites 2012

Can you FEEL it? It's here my friend. That crispy new 2 at the end for your 201. I am a huge fan already.

Last year my overall goal of "back to the basics" was a big success! Basics in 2011 included:
less computer time (obviously)
homemade applesauce
no movies on school days
lots of books at bedtime- including Mrs. Frisby and Rats of NIMH, Witches, and Sarah Plain and Tall
a wheat grinder for my birthday
more time outside (thanks to the new playset in the backyard)
summer book camps
capping on photo shoots (that meant telling people "no", eeep!)
praise and loving words- a workout for your mouth when you're bitting your tongue
subscribing to a CSA box
making up lots of games to learn new things
recruting little bodies- as long as I am specific on expectations they are so good at helping

This year, 2012, I have a new theme. I'm pretty stoked.

Schedule My Priorities

That simply means that if something is important to me, I schedule it. And then I do it. Mad science, I know.

My goals for the new year reflect this, and believe me so does my calendar. But it's beautiful in it's simplicity too. I hope to document our year in photos of all our priorites. Big and small.

So tell me, what are your priorities and when do you schedule them?

the best of her

Queenie.

Nothing can bring her down.
She works SO HARD.
Every day she puts her pencil to the paper, sticks out her tongue and WORKS.
She chomps away on some snack I've given her, making a huge mess.
She laughs at NieNie running by because "No, baby no. You're my baby... you naughty baby."
And then she works and works and works.
I am blessed to have her. To learn from her that I should never give up. That work makes us stronger.
And that truly enjoying your snack involves lots of crumbs, every where.

hugs

This, internet friends, is Melinda the great.
She is great, because as soon as I met her she hugged me.

I love hugs. Being hugged and giving hugs. Leg hugs, side hugs, goodbye forever hugs, half hearted hugs (better than no hug), squeeze your eyes out hugs, doughy little arms around the neck hugs.

I love them. Don't you?

If I ran for president, I would give my speech about babies bottoms (how their cuteness will save the world and such) and then I would move on to hugs and how they are uplifting, informative, and recreational. They're like saying "I think you're SWELL, so here's something to keep you cozy on the way home."

Must Haves When Doing A Photoshoot
#14. stretchy pants

beach

lucky

I love these images so much. Each time I see them they make me want to go plant a big wet one on every body in my family.

Merrick is the sister of Janssen (you know, a favorite of mine). I throughly loved this session, even with the sweat dripping down my neck. Now that's LOVE.

a forever day

Queenie was baptized this month. She wore her white dress, a necklace we gave her and a very knowing smile.

Cousins, aunt and uncles, grandma and grandpa, and many of our closest friends came to show their love.

During the day thoughts of the first white dress she wore kept coming to me. At 6 weeks old she was given a father's blessing in a handmade and very delicate dress my mother gave to me. B held her in his arms and blessed her to be a friend to many and reach out to those who felt alone.

She does exactly just that. Queenie is joy - any one who meets her is fortunate to take a piece of it away with them.