Strike a Pose, Pretty Please?

It's hard work trying to convince a baby to sit still, stop jibber-jabbering, look at a camera, and smile.  Sometimes it works.  Enter Exhibit A...

But usually you're in a constant battle against things such as...

Those darn hats that tie around their necks...
(Apparently, I have trouble getting picture ready myself.)


Stinky attitudes...

Bubble fascination...


Bubble beards...

Previews of the teenage years...


And a relentless need to touch the camera.

But sometimes, if you're persistent enough, your hard work does pay off...

Such a happy little blessing!  All this hard work is worth it!

Georgia On Our Mind

Last time we went to Atlanta, Bella looked like this...

Lovin' on her Gigi!

Here's what she'll be looking like tomorrow when we set foot on Georgia soil...

"Oh my, how I've grown!"

Yes, it's been too long.  We're looking forward to some good time with Gigi, Poppi, and a few good friends.  We're also looking forward to dancing the night away at a sweet friend's wedding.  And I personally can't wait to get my hands on some real Southern cookin'.  Give me some Greenwoods!

Remembering 9/11

I don't know how others spent their weekend, but Mike and I spent a good bit of the weekend camped out on our couch watching 9/11 documentaries and memorial ceremonies.  We felt like the bulk of what we watched and heard was so well done and really honored the lives that were taken on that horrific day.

This was our small contribution to the day:

It was surprisingly emotional to hang our flag together.  It took us right back to the feelings felt right after 9/11 when flags appeared on countless windows and porches.  We really are so proud to stand for freedom and so grateful to be Americans.

On a related side note, remember what our porch looked like at the beginning of the summer?  Not only did our plants survive the end of summer heat, but they have really taken off this summer!  I've loved cooking with all our own herbs, and I'm so glad I married a green thumb.  He teaches me so much... you know, like a plant's need for water.  Seriously.

Anyways, I hope everyone had a sweet time remembering this past weekend.  

Now back to my kiddo...

Oops!  She's not really in to documentaries or hanging flags just yet.  But she loves hair product!

Sleep Issues

We're having sleep issues over here lately.

So let's go check on Bella and see if she's still napping... like she should be.

Uh oh...

Peek a boo!  I see you awake and standing and not sleeping and ready to make some trouble.  I see you smiling at me.  Don't you want to sleep one more wink?  Don't you want to give Mom one afternoon of sanity?

No?  Really?

I mean, look at this drama queen!  She has already mastered the one tear on the cheek look.  But that snot on her face is not working in her favor.

Oh I'm sorry, you're stuck on that hair?  That's untouched.  Like I said, we're having sleep issues lately, and this "up do" is a product of lots of tossing and turning.

It's the kind of week where you wish you could look forward to the weekend.  But these sleep issues don't discriminate between Thursdays and Saturdays.

Hanging in there...