Beautiful Eyes: I Heart Faces

It's been a long time since I submitted a photo for an I Heart Faces contest. When I saw what this week's category was, this is the photo I immediately thought of.

These are still the eyes that can see right through me, and the eyes of the one who is still the love of my life. I love you Stephen.

Bri + Dan : E-Session Preview

Meet Drago, the friendly bulldog, son of Bri and Dan. :) More to come from our St. Louis e-session!!

Little Drummer Boy

There are certain things you need to do with your kids. One of them is the following.

I was a little worried that he was too young to enjoy this. I was mistaken. He loved it.
Jaden is still in character from his first Halloween . ;) Chunky monkey is almost 9 months old. He is in 12 month clothes. Oh boy.

Bambi Killer

Dear Bambi, or Bambi's Daddy,

I'm sorry that my rookie hubby shot you....
in the head...
and was super stoked about it...

But I won't be sorry when I'm having you for a snack during this winter.

-Yours Truly,
Bambi Killer's wife

Man's...I mean Baby's Best Friend

"Nothing to see here...just playing with my best buddy".







I don't care for my on camera flash, or flash at all really. However, when moments like these happen, I can't pass up the chance to freeze the moment.

I'm fairly certain they are going to be good friends.

Letters to Jaden

My husband can be pretty goofy sometimes (that makes us a good fit) but he can also has a serious side. It's all about balance and timing I suppose. I think that Jaden and I both are blessed for the amazing husband and father God has placed in our family.

A few months back, Stephen began blogging, but blogging with purpose. He's been writing letters to Jaden about life and all things important so that someday Jaden can read them and hopefully take something away from them.
This week I "guest blogged" on the site and wrote my own letter to Jaden.
I hope to get the letters in book form, if nothing else, just for his sake so that he can have a hardcopy of the letters written to him from mom and dad.

If you have the time, and want to see who we are and who we strive to be as parents...check it out.

Nice to meet you Grand Dad

Back in September we took a crazy risk of traveling across country...with a 5 month old. Before we left for the trip, Steve's parents were able to come to our house for a few days. Mimi had visited before, but in September, Jaden met Grand Dad for the first time.



I love my father in law. I really do. One thing that I love about him is his predictablilty. I am confident that every time I ask him how he's doing he'll respond "Fair to partly cloudy". :)

I watched as grand dad Loeffler played with Jaden and even walked the floor with him one night when he couldn't fall asleep. I mentioned to Stephen about how it was bitter sweet to me. While I'm thankful for the time that Garry has to spend with him, it's also sad to me that Paw Paw Larry, (my dad) will never meet little Jaden. I know that he would have loved his grandkids, so very much. I wish that J would have had the chance to know him, to play ball with him like I did, and take candy from his truck. He probably would have carried pictures around in his wallet of his grandkids and showed them off to everyone he could get to listen. That was my dad. :)





I'm realizing that I'm more like dad than I ever thought. Dad enjoyed life through the viewfinder. He was always videoing or photographing us every chance he got. I guess I got that from him. I'm trying to keep in line with Dad's practices and taking photos and videos of J every chance I get. Even though soon he'll probably find it annoying or embarassing, one day he'll thank me for it when I'm gone.

Even though Dad is not here, I am certain that Jaden is loved very much though by his grandparents, on both sides. I'm thankful for that.

Jaden- 4 months old

My little boy will be 4 months old tomorrow. It's hard to believe. My sweet boy has been smiling and laughing like crazy. We are loving it. I recieved my new D700 and I'm loving it so far. These shots are SOOC.

Hope this made you smile today. :)

Baby Hayden - 13 Days old

Ok, so we FINALLY got to make it down to see my friends Julie and Dave's little baby girl: Hayden Claire. :) Isn't she precious?? Julie and I have been friends since we were kids. Fast forward 20 years later and she and her husband Dave have a beautiful baby girl. We were thrilled when we found out that Julie and Dave were pregnant for a couple of reasons-

1. to experience pregnancy together- both myself with Julie and Steve with Dave
2. to be in the same stage of life with another couple
3. to know that Jaden will have a friend to play with when we get together
and the most important one...
4. to know that Jaden will have good in-laws...:)

{Prince Charming & Sleeping Beauty}

Haha. All joking aside, that really would be awesome, but we're not prophets.

Hope you guys enjoy the images.










P.S. Sorry About throwing in the images with Jaden- they just were so cute I couldn't help myself. :) Here's the slideshow from the images. :)

Happy Father's Day to my Love

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers. It's Steve's first Father's Day. We celebrated by heading out to get Chinese (his choice). I came upstairs for a few min and came back down to find this....and my heart melted. Thought I'd share with you all how sweet this precious moment was. :)






Although it's only your first Father's Day this is what I'm learning about you as a dad....

You love getting smiles from our precious baby boy...
You like picking him up to "fix" him when he's crying...
His funny faces he makes in the bathtub when you sprinkle water on his head make you laugh...
You've shared some of your biggest smiles with him...
You've not given up on trying to make him stop sucking his thumb....I have give up...
Poopy diapers annoy you...
You like singing the silly songs I sing to him...
and you love your son very much.

All these things have made me fall even more in love with you.

Happy 1st Father's Day Stephen. I love you, always.

-Your Love

Daydreams

I used to hate the show Scrubs. I only watched it because it allowed me to spend time with my husband. Overtime, I have to admit the show is growing on me. The best part about the show is their daydreams- especially J.D's. Most of the time my daydreams come and go in Scrubs fashion...wacky people doing wacky things. It's usally sparked by a comment someone makes or the best ones are when I'm driving in my car. Most people guide their daydreams; but sometimes I let my daydreams guide my mind. Ever so often though I'll have a more serious one. I had one the other day while driving that brought me to tears.

In this wishful daydream my dad was still alive. We were at a church function in the basement of the fellowship hall. There was dad carrying around Jaden, huge smile on his face. He was walking around to everyone showing him off. "This is my grandson," he told everyone as he stared in amazement at him. He never talked to me, only bragged about how wonderful it was to be a grandfather to everyone he met. In most my daydreams and dreams about dad they're from a distance and I'm watching him. Sadly, he rarely talks with me or to me. As I watched from a distance I slowly cam back to reality and wiped the tears that were coming down my face.

It's heartbreaking to know that my dad will never know the joy of being a grandpa. It's sad to know that I'll never be able to teach Jaden the things that dad could have. My sister and I both are saddend by knowing that our kids will only know of "Papa Larry" but never experience him firsthand. Although he played such an instrumental role in our lives, he will be only a passing thought to them. It's because of Dad that I became the person I am today. I learned how much joy can come from ministry as he spent every Wednesday night after nusring home service visiting with residents. I realize the sacrifices he made to work so hard for our family so that we could enjoy the things we wanted in life. Most of all, I learned what unconditional love was from my father which makes it easy to see the way my heavenly father loves me. I know he would have thouroughly enjoyed being a grandpa and would have loved his grandkids with all of his being. As Father's Day approaches next week, I want to thank my dad for being an amazing father to me for the few short years he was able. I love you dad.

Happy Birthday Stephen

Happy Birthday to my love. :) I want you to know that I love you so very much and can't wait to see you as a dad. I'm so thankful for you and have been more than blessed to have you in my life. I'm glad you were born today and I'm glad I met you. I'd laugh a lot less without you in my life. I consider myself a lucky girl. You make life more fun and I look forward to the coming year. Happy Birthday sweetie. I hope today is a good day for you.

-Love,

Me

Pounding

Since moving to Bowling Green we have been amazed at the generosity of the people from Second Baptist Church. Last Sunday they had a pounding for us. If you’re not famaliar with it, church members bring “pounds” of things to fill a new staff member’s pantry. We got tons of stuff!!



I have at least a 6 month supply of pasta and sweets! Now if I can just get around to making them…haha. We were extremely blessed with everything we received. God has been so gracious to us and provided for us in so many ways over the past couple of months.

Semper Fi; USMC

Last night we had the privilege to attend the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. This was my first (and sadly my last) ball I will be attending. I enjoyed it so much. There's something about seeing 250 + marines proudly decked out in their best attire and the wives and significant others beautifully dressed by their side for a night of fun. From the ceremony to the mere presence of all the men and women who proudly serve and sacrifice for our country, I felt so honored to have been a part of the Marine Corps. Although I'm excited for what the Lord has in store for us in the future, as Steve's time of service comes to a close, I admit I will miss the military life a bit. There's a brotherhood, a sisterhood, and a support that is unlike any other.

Maria + Mike

It's been 4 weeks since I've been home! Our trip was filled with both ups and downs. In the meantime I had the chance to do a little work while I was visiting Illinois.

Meet Maria and Mike, due to be married in April of next year. I'll admit that engagements may be my favorite portraits to photograph. I love seeing people who are in love!:) I took Mike and Maria out to their property to do the session. They were wonderful sports and I was thankful for their patience and willingness to try anything I asked! I was scheduled to do their wedding pictures however due to a conflict in scheduling (more to discuss soon) I will not be doing their wedding. However, the fabulously talented Shannon Anderson will be!!