Transformation

So I have been thinking of things I can do to make my blog better, and I thought I would ask all of you -the readers!

Yes you, you poor people who are subjected to my blog each -well, whenever there is a new post. YOU are the ones who must endure me sub-standard photography, entirely strange and abnormal (at best) humor, oh you! You poor souls of such boredom and despair that you log on to see my blog because you think that it is better that gnawing off your own foot -only to find that it isn't! So you hurriedly shut down the window on your computer (as quickly as possible so that you do not also need to remove your eyes), and proceed to gnaw in a effort to take back some sanity.

There are some blogs that I, too, follow, and I have decided, that even though it is highly unlikely that these people even CARE what this little latecomer ant in the world of blogging thinks, I thought that I would give them some advice -something like what I am asking all of you for!

December Dreamers:
More posts!

JB Photography:
More posts!

Ashleigh Thornock:
More posts!
(surprise, surprise)

Pioneer Woman:
Be less beautiful, less talented, less successful, have an uglier husband, a boring love story, be a lousy cook, have quizzes that stupid people like me can win, hang out with strange people that speak only in monotone and don't know how to have fun, give away fewer great prizes that I can NEVER win, and be less funny -because, Girl! It is EXHAUSTING trying to keep up with you! I am getting tired just thinking about it all. I think I am going to go take a nap. Whew! That was stressful! I am fatigued!

I am off to contemplate my eyelids (yawn), and as I do, please leave a comment for my blog. What would YOU like to see me include?

My goodness! (YAAAAWN) How DOES Pioneer Woman keep up?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Booties

I just HAD to share these delicious little booties with all of you! Aren't they sweet? I just can't get enough. Emma can't get them off of her little pigs, so they serve two purposes: Keeping her feet warm, and looking so ADORABLE!

Of course, they CANNOT be as sweet as she is!

*SIGH* Be still my heart!

Photographers or Clowns Wanted, Apply Within...

I am finding myself either needing a clown, or a clown with a camera. My pictures have been challenging me lately!
So you are holding your camera, trying to get a picture of your sweet baby's radiant smile, and you can't look through the camera while talking silly baby talk enough to induce a reaction. So you get pictures that are not centered...

And not centered...

Or sweet, but out of focus..

You know, they do wiggle.

So you try to stop and get the camera centered, and in focus (all the while hoping Baby doesn't wiggle again) and you click the shutter RIGHT AFTER the beautiful, radiant smile! And THIS is what you get:

She looks THRILLED, doesn't she? (Note sarcastic tone)

OR...

You could SWEAR they start practicing WEIRD faces for the camera younger and younger...

"Hmmmm...I wonder..."



And then, every once in awhile, something really unexpected happens, but the result takes your breath away, and you fall in love all over again:

Pioneer Woman, eat your heart out! That ought to make your uterus hurt!

Now all I need to do is bottle that baby smell! I'd make a FORTUNE!

Waking Up

We start sleeping peacefully...
(I am SO over flash photography!)

Stre-----tch!...

Rub our nose a few times...

Yaaaaaaaawn....

Pause to rub our nose again...

Make an "I don't want to wake up yet, but my Mom is taking pictures and my sisters are pestering me" face...
(I know it is blurry, but I love the face she is making!)

Pause for a moment more of sleep...

Followed by a moment of reflection...

Stretch some more...

Rub our nose again, third time is the charm...

Be cute to induce "Oooh"'s and "Ahhh"'s...

Grimace again about it being morning, and all that pestering...

"MOM! Can you please stop taking pictures!"

"Where is my thumb?"...

"Mom, I have a little gift for you in my diaper!"...

Peace...

Sweet Peace...

Blissful Peace...

Licking our lips, we are hungry...

OH! There are our beautiful eyes!

Emma Charity Leigh

Arrived on March 23 at 6:14pm.
8lbs 11oz, 20 inches long

Welcome to the world!

You were highly anticipated...

And you are deeply loved!

What a JOY you are!

And we are SO blessed to have you!

Thank you, Father...

For this priceless gift!

Aviodance -Is That A Word?

What? Have I been avoiding you all? Well, actually, I have. Now before you panic, I just wanted you to know that it isn't you! REALLY it isn't! It really, truly is me. ALL ME. You see, I decided after my last post to share some of my original poetry and lyrics with you over the next few weeks, and had a poem picked out. But...hack, gasp, gulp, wheeze, cringe... I just couldn't choke the words out!

NOW WHAT IS MY PROBLEM!?!?

Don't answer that.

STOP MAKING A LIST!

I'M NOT LISTENING!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la (fingers in ears).

So (choke), I am going to (hack) go ahead and be (gasp) brave, and trust that you all (wheeze) will not (cringe) judge me too harshly! So here is my first very (gulp) imperfect selection to share with you all -and it is coming in a timely manner -as this is what I am going through right now. Our new little addition will be here in 4-5 weeks (panic!).

Mother's Ode To Joy
Ah, "The joy of being a mother."
A MAN must have coined that phrase,
For sickness, pain and fatigue march seemingly endless days.

Backaches keeping me up all night.
All the clothes I own are WAY too tight!

Morning sickness swollen hands,
The largest feet in all the land.

Hemorrhoids, Hooray, Hooray.
I could pass on those ANY day!

Stretch marks and a growing bust
(As if mine wasn't large enough!)

It is even harder when you already have kids!
At keeping you exhausted they are such a wiz!
When you lay down to rest they think you are a bean bag,
And sleepless nights keep you feeling like a limp rag.

You ache EVERYWHERE!
Body screams in pain, void of all mirth,
And it isn't even time yet to give birth!

Hours upon hours of labor plague my bones.
"I give up! I am going home!"
My body is by pain racked.
It feels like a giant is tearing me in half.

Then a gasp, and a tiny cry of shock and surprise.
"It's a girl!" they say, and I look in her eyes.
It has been SO hard, but it is SO true:
"I would do this one-hundred times, Child, for one of you!"


God greatest give of both sorrow and mirth:
This miracle of giving birth!
What mingled joy and pain, I really think
If Men had to do this We'd go extinct!

As hard as it is, as much as I hurt
Each tiny child has immeasurable worth!


So I will be brave over the next few weeks,
Looking forward to the time when she and I will meet.
I'll try not to list all my aches or complain of my harm,
But instead look to the day I will hold her in my arms.

I'll tell her, "I must thank God for EVERYTHING I went through,
Because that is how GOD GAVE ME YOU!!

Pure Bliss

There are some perfect moments in this life, and if you don't breath them in when they occur, the bliss of the moment will pass, and the intoxicating beauty of it will be gone forever. The sweetness of a baby's smile -and smell, the first kiss with the love of your life, the moment your realize that you are going to marry that man!, a personal epiphany, a moment of clarity, an answered prayer, and unexpected blessing, a hug that gives you strength, a time when you clearly hear God's voice.

A kiss.

However,

If you are a VERY talented photographer like my sister, sometimes you can capture a moment -simply press a shutter and GRAB that moment!

That is how I feel about this series of photos taken of Monkey Do and my nephew at my Baby Sister's wedding (she will always be Baby Sister!). My other sister was the one behind the shutter, and I LOVE them. You can see more of her incredible work HERE.

Monkey Do has always been especially affectionate...

Which you can tell by the look of rapture on her face and the obvious pleasure she takes in the kisses.

Thank you so much, JB! I am so glad you grabbed this moment of bliss so that I can enjoy it again and again!