Where did the time go?

I could ask that question about many things?  Where did the time go since I last posted?  Is it May already?  And where did the time go that my baby is already turning one?  I have ALOT of catching up to do, as we have had many fun outings (Nana's 60th birthday, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, etc) but I was looking at some pictures from last fall, and found a few that I couldn't resist posting.

How did I get so lucky to have two such handsome guys in my life?  This picture reminded me of how special the relationship is that Todd and Leyton already have, and how thankful I am that my children (well just child now) have a father who loves them to the ends of the earth, and will do anything for them. 

From the moment Leyton was born, Todd and I became both became better people.  And while I fell in love with little man from the first second, I also fell in love with his daddy all over again. I'm sure all the women out there agree that seeing your husband step up to change dirty diapers, talk baby talk, and make hilarious sounds makes them super attractive in an odd way. 

Even after a few times of hanging out with MY nieces and nephews, they called for Todd when we walked in.  I had suddenly become chopped liver.  He just has this way with kids I guess. 

Leyton, I wanted to write this so you can be reminded years from now that the relationship you have with your dad is something to cherish.  I'm sure if you follow in the footsteps of your dad, you will make an awesome dad someday too.....let's just make that years and years from now, okay?

Our baby is 9 months!

Even before Leyton was born, we were constantly reminded to enjoy every minute because before we know it he will be off to college. Well, he's not quite made it that far, but the past nine months have blown by. 

We try to cherish every moment, every smile, every belly laugh, and every snuggle we can! 

What have we learned in 9 months?

1.  It doesn't matter how much sleep you get, you are always going to be tired.  No question. 

2.  A pacifier is our best friend....and Heaven forbid if we leave home without one.

 

3.  Personality is definitely not lacking.

4.  The boy LOVES to eat!

5.  He at least got one thing from his mommy!...his blue eyes!

6.  He is a boating man, just like his daddy and papaw!



7. Some outfits really are worn only once before they are too small.

8.  We may have had the worst day, but one toothy grin makes our world better.

One thing we can say for sure, we can't imagine our lives before him.  And frankly, we don't even care to try.



Hobbies

Yesterday's topic for my photography workshop was "Hobbies".  Come on people, my subject is 9 months old.  Unless eating, drooling, sleeping, pooping, or babbling could be considered a hobby, I didn't have much to work with.  Then I spotted him on the floor last night, doing something he loves. 

Plus, I realized he shares a birthday with Mark Zuckerberg (founder of facebook).

Enough said.

Generations

Recently we celebrated Leyton's great-grandma's 80th birthdays.  We are very blessed to still have both of Todd's grandmas in the area, and a part of Leyton's life.  They both turned 80 within weeks of each other, and it was a beautiful chance for me to reflect on the beauty of life, and lessons learned that make our elders so wise. 

There is so much I want Leyton to remember about them, and unfortunately most of those memories will come from what we tell him. 

So here it goes...

 This is the face of aged beauty.  Of years spent loving people, sometimes until it hurts, and smiling along the way. These wrinkles are the result of tears of joy and tears of sadness, worrying about her children, and trying to be everything to everyone.  These eyes view the world with a peace that God is in control of every situation.  If everyone viewed the world like she does, it would be a much better place.

This heart is filled with love for "her babies".  She took her role as grandma seriously, which rubbed off on your Mamaw.  Your dad has fond memories of he and your aunt Jodie riding their bikes over the bridge and just down the street to spend the night with their grandma.  They would wake up to the smell of fresh sausage and the most delicious fried potatoes they have ever tasted. She never missed a graduation or birthday, and was a regular at volleyball games, basketball games and baseball tournaments.  She was one of their biggest fans! To this day, we don't visit her without immediately having to hand you over so she can love on you. 

 This is the hug of a strong woman.  A woman who saw her dear husband and loving father to their two daughters leave this world much too soon. Many years later she faced loss again, learning to navigate life on her own.  I wasn't around during this time, but I'm confident that she mourned with grace, probably helping others before dealing with her own grief. She took comfort in the words from the huge Bible that sits on her dresser, a reminder that the "Big Man Upstairs" knows what she needs each day.

I will probably spend my entire life trying to make mashed potatoes like Grandma Kelly's, and honestly, I have no expectations of being successful. I'm convinced there is an extra ingredient of love I just can't match.

So, Grandma and Great-Grandma's, we love you, and appreciate both the seen and unseen things you have done to bring us to this point, and make us who we are.

And if Heaven forbid, this should be the last birthday we celebrate together, we can look back at a beautiful afternoon of laughter, playing some serious cards, and lots of hugs and kisses.

....but I have a feeling there will be many more!

Joy of Love Day 6-WHO THEY LOVE!

So I'm a little behind in getting Day 6's workshop pics up.  Geez it only took me 6 days to get behind...I am in trouble. 

Day 6-Who They Love

Let's face it, who does my kid not love?  I mean, sometimes it makes me sad that he doesn't want me all of the time.  He would probably let Frankenstein hold him if need be.  He is such a chill baby, as long as he is fed, not sleepy, and not "riding dirty" as I like to say.

So, to give myself a little encouragement :) I thought I'd show him loving on me! haha...



Okay, so I'm actually loving on him.  You get the point!




I love those wet kisses...



Photo courtesy of Jenny Eckel Photography!



I love being his mommy.  I know that someday he will not kiss me, or even want to sit near me in public, but I'm not going to think about those times.  Right now I treasure everyday, every smile, and every cuddle I can.

Joy of Love-Day 5-LOVE TO HATE!

Today's topic for the "Joy of Love" photography workshop is "Love to Hate".  Honestly, I had a hard time trying to figure out what I was going to shoot because there's nothing about anyone that I love that I really love to hate.  Now I know you're probably thinking, "yeah right" but I honestly can't think of anything that bothers me.  Then tonight on the drive home from hanging out with family, I figured out what it was....

Day 5: Love to Hate





I love to hate that my baby has red hair.

  

Everyone says "wow, it looks like he has red hair" to which I reply "yeah" disappointingly.  I try to act like it's a terrible thing that his fuzz is more than peach, when in fact, I'm pretty sure it's the cutest thing ever.  So what that he will be slathered in sunscreen for the rest of his life. Heck, I might even resort to embarrassing him with zinc oxide.

I couldn't imagine him not being a "ginger" (as he has been so fondly referred).  His little red eyebrows are virtually invisible, and his eyes turn pink when he gets tired.  His hair will turn brown someday, and when it does, I will miss these nights in the bathtub when his golden red hair shines in the light while he splashes around.

Red hair, brown hair, black hair, or no hair.....he is perfect, and he is ours. :)

Joy of Love-Day 3 and Day 4

While I would love to blog everyday, I'm sure some of you can attest that I would quickly be headed for divorce court.  By the time I get the baby and get home from work, it's after 5. Then it's make dinner, eat, and bathtime or play and then bedtime for him.  Then it's time for Todd and I to discuss the day, and maintain the communication necessary for us to grow as a couple and as parents.  That leaves me with NO time to do much else.  Oh well.

All that to say, I'm going to be combining some days in my photography workshop journey.  Day 3 was "Now and Then".  Now since Leyton was born, most people have said "oh he looks just like Todd."  Come on, people, can't a girl get some love?  I mean, I'm the one who did the work to get him into this world, right?  The truth is, they're right.  He looks like his daddy, and I'm okay with that since I think his daddy is one sharp looking guy!  I thought for today's project I'd do a side by side comparison of baby pictures.  Trying to get Leyton to stop crawling to take a picture these days is another story, but I managed to snap one.  Here they are...what do you think?

Day 3-Now and Then



Leyton-2011



Todd-1979





I'm a pretty lucky gal, that's for sure.  Two cute men in my life.  Photography wise (this is a photography workshop, after all) I am working on using depth of field to add leading lines in my pictures. Just having purchased a new lens (the 50mm 1.4) I feel like sometimes my depth of field is too small, and I only have a nose in focus, or one eye. I have to remember that just because I can open up that much, doesn't mean I have to.

 I must add a little humor though, because I can't resist.  In trying to find a baby picture of Todd, I stumbled upon a book that Todd's Aunt Marjory gave the family.  It included almost every school picture from childhood, as well as a few from his high school graduation party.  Apparently it lost a letter in transit, which I'm sure sums up most husbands (according to their wives) in America!



Todd didn't see the humor in it as much as I did, but I think I was a bit slap happy. 

Day 4-What they Wear

Since I have about an hour of daylight to work with, I captured my day 4 project's pictures this morning before I headed in to the office.  Leyton has several "little man" outfits.  I think I may have overcompensated a bit for not having a girl.  I wanted to capture the things I loved dressing him in before they were retired to Hand-Me-Down Heaven. 

Who can resist those little shoes?  These are the little things that I hope to capture with each child.  When he has huge, smelly, basketball playing, man-feet, I want to remember when I played "Shoo-Wee" with him to make him giggle....the sweetest sound I might have ever heard. 

I'm looking forward to this weekend's assignments, and hopefully having some more time to dedicate to working with my camera manual.  Also, working on a post about Grandma Kelly's 80th birthday!