Family Photos

Can I just start off by saying how much I love these photos? Seriously, I love my family so much and I really feel like these really capture us. The feelings are real. We asked our friend to do a photo session for us (for us? really I think it was "with" us. She's really wonderful) and we wanted them to be more photo journalistic. There are posed shots, but for the most part it was just us being silly.

These were initially going to be Newborn Photos. You know the kind; little tiny baby is all bundled up in a swaddle, eyes closed, yawning, parents looking on adoringly. Well, true to my nature, that didn't happen. First of all I never expected us to be in the NICU for 10 days post birth. So that somewhat threw a wrench in things. Then little miss was on oxygen until her 1 month check up and we wanted to wait until that was gone just so it was less cumbersome. Then both my girls came down with a ridiculous bout of cold/stomach flu, which lasted over 2 weeks....we hardly survived that people! Once we were finally over that and red and runny noses were gone...our photographer's little boys came down with a cold. Just like that the newborn stage was gone.

It's incredible how quickly that short little stage leaves our lives. One minute you're 9 months pregnant, can't wait to meet the little tiny person who has been taking up all your lung capacity for the last few months and the next their 3 months old. No...the next minute their 2.5 years old! Seriously how did Alivia get so big already? Although I'm sure if you asked my own mother she'd say "Wait...how are you already having babies of your own? Weren't you just a little tiny baby on my hip yesterday?"

But, that's how it is. And while time just flies past us it's good to stop, take some family photos, and try to capture the "Now". The "Right Now". The "This is how we looked and felt as a family on this day and lets try our best to remember and treasure it". Yes it's a pain in the ass to get everyone ready, coordinate naps, lunches, snacks, baths, diapers, outfit changes, ... more diapers, and yes it's costly. But I really feel that's all worth it. I feel that it's a good investment in our family's history, legacy,...what the hell...I just like looking at my cute babes!

So here they are. Our family photos taken this March when Juliana was just about 2.5 months old and Alivia was 2 years and 3 months and Dustin and I were...ha, no one cares how old we are, we know you're just here to see the babies.

By the way, our photographer and friend is Charisa Reeves. She's amazing and I'm so glad we know her!
https://www.facebook.com/CharisaNicoleDesign 

"Lullaby goodnight, mother delight"

Alivia recently wants to sing together. It's the sweetest thing. She can sing;

Twinkle twinkle little star

Bah bah black sleep

Lullaby and goodnight (which she either calls "the mother delight ong" or "Lullaby and goodnight mother delight")

Old McDonald

Rock-a-bye baby

Frere Jacques 

Soft Kitty warm kitty (yes...from TBBT)

It's so cute hearing her sing these songs. Because she can't pronounce all of the words yet and she can't say the letter "s" so it all comes out rather cute. My favorite is when she asks to sing "lullaby and good night" I don't know all of the lyrics to that one so I've kinda made up most of it. The only thing that sucks about that now is she's paying attention and expects certain words to come in a certain order. Oops. Luckily her favorite part is "you are mothers delight" so as long as I say that part a bunch of times she seems to be happy enough. 

She really is my delight too. Her and Juliana. It's amazing how much two little tiny people can just light up your day. Granted they can also make your day rather crazy, but really can't anyone? Your boss, your spouse, the cashier checking you out at Target lol. Unless my boss is giving me a raise or the cashier says my groceries are free..they don't really have a chance to "delight" me. My husband can of course. Like this morning when he brought me breakfast in bed. That was very sweet and rather delightful 😊

But these girls...they can do something as simple as smile and my day is better. 

We're all 3 currently sitting in Alivia's room waiting for her to fall asleep. Same time, different day. Juliana is nursing to sleep and I'm day dreaming about sleep. I need to figure out a way to nap in here too. But I usually spend a good chunk of time trying to keep Juliana asleep so as not to wake up Alivia. 

Tomorrow will be interesting. I'm back to work 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩 and daddy will be doing nap time on his own. He doesn't have a boob though to help little Juliana fall asleep in the room. And I'm afraid that once he turns out the lights and sits in the chair that's exactly what little Juliana will be expecting. 😢. It's become our routine. 

I guess I'll stop writing now and soak up my last day of maternity leave. Sitting in this dark room while my babies fall asleep  and I'll keep singing "Lullaby and goodnight, you are mother's delight"

"A giraffe maybe"

When I was about 3 years old (right mom? I should know since I've heard this story so many times) my mom and dad took me on a drive in the mountains. My mom said I was really quiet and she asked me if I was looking for deer. "Looking for elphanants". Why not look for elephants in the mountains!? And in case you're wondering...we still call them "elphanants" to this day 😃. 

Apparently the Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Or maybe deer are just boring?

In any case, my husband and I decided to take a drive up to the mountains and stay the night. At some point I asked Alivia if she was looking for deer. Nope...

"A giraffe maybe" lol. A giraffe! So I tell her that we most likely won't see one but that I'll keep an eye out. She's quiet for about 5 seconds then shouts out "An orangutan!!" 

Would you be surprised if I said this girl loves the zoo? 😉

On our way home I'll be helping her spot orangutans and giraffes.