Videos from this month...

I have gotten horrible about keeping this blog updated. Life has been crazy...what can I say? :) To make up for it, here are a few videos of Isaac from the past month. He always keeps us laughing and also keeps us on our toes.

In this first one, he'll show you how he knows what a cow says. This is an old trick, as he will NOT do it for us anymore. In the second half of the video (from a different day), he is attempting to crawl under the gate that blocks him off from the rest of the house. His diligence is quite impressive, even though he finally gives up. ;)

This next one cracks me up. It shows off how goofy he can be. His poor little face collides with an unfortunate body part of Mona's toward the beginning. He is just having fun with his purple ball throughout, until I ask him to say something for me. I think he misunderstood and thought I asked "where" someone was. Pretty cute.

The next is one of the more recent ones from this past week. He's been sick quite a bit, but had a good couple of hours one day. I got him talking and walking (a little) and we were just having fun.

This last one was just from the other evening. I thought it would be fun for Isaac to "walk" Mona with her leash on. He has been taking lots of steps (more and more every day), but isn't a full-time walker yet. And he ALWAYS uses something to push/pull himself up to the standing position. So I was shocked that I caught him stand up all by himself for the first time EVER on tape! :) He didn't quite get the whole walking-the-dog thing. All in time...all in time...

A year ago today...

I turned 27, went to bed around 11pm and my water broke at 12:30am...an hour and a half later! :) Last year, on Super Bowl Sunday, we were in the hospital with our new baby boy. This year, we were exhausted from preparing for his first birthday party! But it was fun. We had a bunch of family over for his first party. He was a bit overwhelmed with everyone over, but managed to do just fine. He helped open his presents for awhile, but then let me do the rest! ;) Overall, I think he did great...and we had a lot of fun. Here are some pics from the party...

Some snapshots of our days...

I realized that I haven't really been sharing our every-day type snapshots very often. So here's a blog for that! Isaac spends most of his days in his jammies...and...well heck...so do I!! :) In the winter, we just don't get out very much and let's face it...why not be comfy in your own house?!?

Today, I put him in leg warmers and a sweatshirt just to change things up a bit. Daddy thinks it makes him look a bit like a ballerina. And well...I can see that too...especially when he stretches like in the pictures below. But it's just too cute!

Since last night, he has discovered how to make a kissing noise with his lips, and has spent much of the morning smacking his lips. Pretty funny. The black and white photo was taken while he was doing it! :)
The other day, I opened up the pots and pans cabinet to let him play...and he had a BALL! He also tries diligently to get to anything he's not supposed to have on our tables. :)

Another Wordless Wednesday...

It's a....

GIRL!!

Introducing little miss Naomi Grace...

Naomi means "beautiful, gentle, my delight"

Wordless Wednesday

New background...more fun!

My new Fashion Gray background came in the other day. I decided to give it a try this afternoon. Here are just a few from the shoot:

What's YOUR favorite??

Getting behind...

I have been slacking in the blog department lately!! I have been super exhausted lately and have also been spending A LOT less time online (per my New Years goals). :) The combination yields fewer blog posts. Sorry!!

Anyway...I thought to make up for it, I'd leave you with a cute video of our active little guy. I managed to get him "talking" on this one. When we ask what a cow says, he gives his version of "moo" (9 times out of 10, he forgets the "m" at the beginning). Hehe. Just for fun, I decided to ask if he could say "mama" and "daddy" and he shocked me by trying both!! And never mind that he won't say "bye, bye" anymore!! ;) Here it is:

In other Isaac news, in the past two days, he has started using his pointer finger as he looks at the world around him. It's as if he just discovered it! So funny. And in one day's time, he went from 2 or 3 naps a day to just ONE! It has been crazy. He's been in his crib since 7:30 tonight, and at 8:45, he is still laughing and talking to himself. Pretty cute. He has been just so happy lately. Personally, after being sick for so long, I think he's just rejoicing in the fact that he actually feels well!! :)

11 months old!!

I can't believe that in exactly ONE month, our little guy is going to be ONE year old!! Whoa! Where did the time go? He doesn't seem big enough to be a toddler. Although we are getting more and more comments about how he is beginning to look less like a baby and more like a young boy.

We took him out to dinner with us the other night (which we don't do very often). He does remarkably well at restaurants...and this night was no exception. He just observes everything going on around him. And lots of people ooh and ahh at him, while he just stares at them inquisitively. He is a great eater (now that he's feeling better), and therefore NONE of his food EVER lands on the floor. I better knock on wood for that comment! ;) He hasn't yet figured out that he can throw his food. I am pleased with this lack of knowledge, and I'd be quite fine if he never does figure that out!!

Anyway...on our way out of the restaurant, an older couple, perhaps in their 70's, said, "You've got one cute little guy there. And he's observant too...we saw him watching everything around him." They went on to talk more about him being observant...to which I added, "And he can be quite a serious little guy...just takes everything in." The woman followed with, "Yes, but he seems like a happy baby, and you can tell he's well cared for."

We thanked them and walked to our car. How's THAT for affirmation that I'm doing my job well? Hehe! :) That was such a sweet comment. I always feel like strangers think Isaac is an unhappy baby because he always looks so serious. He is happy. Don't get me wrong. You've heard his laughter! BUT...when it comes to people he doesn't know...he will stare them up and down with not so much as a hint of a smile. I always feel the need to explain to them..."don't worry...he's just a serious baby!" :) But apparently...that's not how he comes off to all people! Whew!

Anyway...here are a couple more recent pics of my 11-month-old boy! He wouldn't give ME a smile for a single shot. So these would have to do...

Confessions of a Mommy's Heart

Let me begin by stating that I believe that for me, being a stay-at-home mom is a calling. I feel like this is what I was meant to do. Recently, I heard my dear husband refer to me as a 'homemaker' and for some reason, it sent chills down my spine. Me? A homemaker? (shiver) It sounds so......so...plain. Ordinary. Homely. Is that what I am?

My first confession is that I am HORRIBLE at keeping my house orderly. I let piles of mail, receipts, dishes, and junk collect on my kitchen table and counters. We have piles of STUFF everywhere. I love to be organized, but have a hard time getting from point A to point B. And to be honest, half the time I don't even "see" the clutter. Also, I am not one who typically values cleanliness over other things in life. Should I take a shower or sleep? Sleep. Clean the kitchen or check my email? Email. There is always something more important for me to be doing...than cleaning. :)

When I made the choice to make staying at home with my children my job...I knew that it would involve more than just caring for and raising our children. I knew it came with other "chores" as well. I hope I can learn how to efficiently manage my home so my family feels good living here.

My second confession is that I have been spending WAY too much time on my new hobby. I spend LOTS of time online researching the latest trends in photography. I have wish lists for props and backgrounds. I submit photos for critique...and spend countless hours looking at the works of other photographers. I am learning...A TON. And I have been dreaming of doing this as a business someday...maybe even sooner than later.

I think I am enjoying this so much because I am getting feedback from my work. I produce something, and get results. With my job as stay-at-home mom, there is no feedback. I haven't set any goals for myself. I don't really know what I'm working toward. I spend my days with a baby who can't really communicate with me. I don't get any sort of thanks for changing a gazillion diapers each day or for teaching my baby to do new things. Most of the time, my work goes unnoticed. And I am realizing that I am a person who thrives on affirmation. I am motivated to do better work when someone recognizes the good work that I am doing.

Anyway...this is beginning to get long-winded! Sorry! :) All this to say...I want to be a better mommy to my kids. A better wife to my husband. And a better (shiver) homemaker for my family. ;) I want to put my all into this new job of mine. I can become a wonderful photographer over the years. But that's not my 'job' right now. Though it makes me feel great to get such positive feedback, I need to just keep it at that. I need to focus my attention on the most important job I have...raising up healthy, loving children who will one day have families of their own! I hope I do better with this in 2009!! :)

Here are some recent pictures of my silly sweetness...

And here's a recent photo of my growing belly...