P52 - Week 4

Week 4 (Jan. 21 - Jan. 27) - Winter.  Since we don't really have true "winter" weather here right now, we had to get a little creative on this one.  I dressed the girls up for a trip to Antarctica and get a few shots outside.  It was a beautiful day, but a bit chilly (around 40 degrees) - thankfully the girls cooperated! It helped that their Daddy was jumping around like a clown behind me :)

A Letter to My Daughters

My precious Chloe and Madeline,

I decided to join a blog circle in which we will be writing letters to our children each month.  I thought it would be a great place to write funny things, share stories, and just love on you!!  I hope it's something you'll enjoy coming back to read when you are older.


Bug,

My precious first born.  I got my first look at you at 6:45 pm on April 28th, 2008 and I instantly fell in love.  Those big blue eyes.  That fuzzy, blond hair.  A dimple on your chin like mine. You were the tiniest, most perfect thing I had ever seen, and the most incredible gift I could ever imagine.  You made me a Mommy.  I cannot believe it has been 4 1/2 years since that wonderful day!  You are starting Kindergarten this fall and I am already in tears just thinking about it.  I'm so excited for you to begin elementary school, but at the same time, I know your toddlerhood is slipping through my fingers.  It has gone by so incredibly fast, and I have treasured every day of it.  I am so very proud of the amazing little girl you have become.  At first meeting you are typically very shy, but it doesn't take long before you warm up and your adorable personality shines through. You are very girly.  Not a day goes by that you aren't carrying a purse (or several), trying on your jewelry, and wearing a tiara around our house.  You love anything and everything that has a Disney princess on it.  After all, you did "turn into one of the princesses" in Disney World last fall! ;)  You are thoughtful, sweet and caring.  You give the most amazing hugs.  You love to draw and you are always drawing pictures for people you care about.  You are very bright.  You started writing your name at 2 1/2 and you have never stopped amazing me in how smart you are.  You are mindful and careful in what you do.  You are a rule-follower and like doing things the "right" way...a typical "first born" in many ways.  You are a lot like your Mommy, and I have to admit, I love hearing that!!  You are full of life and wonder, and fill my life with joy.  I have loved seeing life through your eyes.

  

   

   

Bean,

Daughter #2.  I always wondered how I would ever love my second child as much as I loved my first.  You made that concern seem so silly, and the notion so effortless. You came into this world on November 5th, 2010 at 1:15 pm and completely stole my heart.  Brown eyes, brown hair and olive skin.  Completely opposite of your sister, but equally as beautiful.  It's hard to believe you are already 2 years old (though you seem to think you are older ;) You are your sister's shadow, yet you are also your own person.  You are incredibly charming and endearing to everyone you meet.  To know you is to love you.  You talk non-stop in the most precious, high-pitched little voice I have ever heard, and I melt every time I hear your little lisp.  You are silly, spunky, and extremely entertaining.  Sometimes your Dad and I just sit back in awe of you while you perform your dance moves and mini monologues.  Your adorable personality lights up a room. You are incredibly cute and have the most contagious little toothy smile. You are the spitting image of your Daddy, and I am always in search of something in you that is "more like me!"  I love spending our time together.  Each day, you pull a chair into the kitchen to watch me and help me..whether it is helping me "bake," make pbj, or open mail.  You are my little buddy.  You are a lover of surprises, baby dolls, Dora, cheese, markers, your pacifiers, and slides (to name a few).  You fill our home with love and laughter, and we couldn't be more thankful for the wonderful gift of you!

  

                                    



My sweet girls, I love you both so much!  My life is full because of you.  Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of being a mother.  I thank God every day for making my dreams come true!

Love,
Mommy

 

Next Letter to our Children - Melanie Kerr

P52 - Week 3

Week 3 (Jan 13 - 20) - Silhouette.  I love silhouette photos and this one was really fun to take.  I just opened up the front door, asked the girls to stand in the doorway, and let them interact on their own.  Madeline kept standing up on her tippy toes, trying to be as tall as her big sister! :)

Project 52 - Weeks 1 & 2

I joined a "Project 52" group this year with hope that it would motivate to get my camera out daily (or at least weekly), and I thought it would be neat to track my photography growth throughout the year.
Each week there is a specific theme and you have the whole week to practice capturing images that reflect that week's theme.  We have until Sunday night of each week to submit one image to share with the group.

Week 1 (Dec 30 - Jan 6) -  Self Portrait.  This one was a hard one for me, as I am still getting used to using my tripod and remote, but this is what I submitted:

This is me in our big white chaise lounge chair in the sitting area of our bedroom.  One of my New Years resolutions was to be more diligent in my quiet time, so that is the story behind the image. 

Week 2 (Jan 7 - Jan 13) -  Laughter.  Again, the big white chair.  This area in our bedroom gets really great, soft light, so it's a good place for photos.  I promise that all of my 52 weeks of pictures will not be shot in here ;)  I love this image because it is genuine laughter, and because photos of my girls and I are definitely few and far between!

Christmas 2012

I could never, in one blog post, do justice to all of the wonderful things that made up December 2012.  Chloe and Madeline were very into the holiday season this year and it made it all that much more fun!  From getting a Christmas tree and visiting Santa, to watching Chloe's Christmas performance at school and celebrating Jesus's birthday, we enjoyed every last minute!  Seeing Christmas through their eyes has been one of my most favorite parts about being a parent.  How thankful we are for our family, our health and our happiness this year!  

Here are a few of the highlights in pictures:

Picking out our Christmas tree:

On our way to the Williams family Christmas party at Lake Lanier:

  

My little reindeer. Chloe LOVES this headband and wore it a lot throughout the month :)

   

Getting excited for Santa:

    

Visiting Santa at the Bass Pro Shop:

    

  

Chloe decorating Christmas ornaments!  We did lots of holiday crafts this year :)

Making Christmas cookies with Mom! (This was a 2 day adventure!)

Day one:

Day two:

A tale of a broken ornament:

    

    

My Mistletoe Baby:

Christmas Eve:

Christmas Morning!!!

(someone kept peeking!!)

    

 

Christmas at the Lake: