243/365: The Return of Freddie

Freddie is amazing. He's this single toy with so many fascinating parts, from the colors, to the textures, to the noises. He stimulates every single sense. It's no wonder he became our go-to toy. He typically stays in the car seat, and now that Hannah's getting bigger, the car seat stays in the car and we just pull her out of the seat to get to where we need to go.

The other day, I met a friend for lunch. It was a rainy day, and by rainy, I mean three inches in a couple hours... flash flood kind of rain. So, when we arrived at our destination, I spent about five minutes sitting in the car trying to figure out how to get into the restaurant without getting completely drenched. I decided the best way was to grab her seat, hold her to me, and run. Well, when I got home, I realized Freddie was gone. I'm positive he's lying in that parking lot sad, lonely and soaking wet. I'm so sad.

Fortunately, Amazon had Freddie for a cheap price, so I clicked that addictive "buy now" button and sure enough, he showed up on our door step a couple days later.

Here's Freddie #2. Hannah will never know the difference.

242/365: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

Hannah's on her way to lots of different places! 

241/365: Caught Ya!

This is the face of a setter who knows he just got caught sitting in the chair he's not supposed to sit in. Naturally, I got the camera instead of shooing him off right away.

240/365: My Guy

I was totally uninspired to do a picture of the day yesterday. So, I took "the night off" - my computer shut, my phone... well, nearby, but not in hand and kept my feet up. However, I'm pretty serious about this picture of the day thing, so I got up with a humph, grabbed it and put the lens in Dustin's face. The lighting was awful, and I was too lazy to get the right settings so it's a bit blurry, but this picture just brings a big grin to my face. We were trying to do a serious face, but I was being silly with him and kept making him laugh. He's my guy! I just love him so much!! And he's really handsome, too!

239/365: Yummy Feet

Hannah found her feet about two weeks ago. Now, when I lay her down to change her, the feet spring up to her mouth immediately. It's just the cutest thing!

Hannah's new thing is practicing sitting up in her boppy while I finish getting ready for the day. Riley joined her today and was playing nice to butter her up so he could have her stuffed doll... he didn't get it, but this series of pictures is too adorable not to share. They're blurry cell phone shots, but you can see how much Hannah adores that dog. I see her chasing him as soon as she's mobile!

238/365: (Mommy &) Me Monday

Today was a special Monday. As I nursed and snuggled Hannah this morning, happy tears streamed down my face. Our plans? To get dressed, play, head off to our mommy group, grocery shop, nap, bath, dinner, bed. This schedule is our usual Monday schedule, but today it was more special because if I weren't taking a leave from work, I would have spent the day pumping and putting "Hannah" on virtually everything she owns as I prepared her for her very first day of daycare.

I'm so incredibly thankful that I get to be home with my baby. Not a second goes by that I'm not elated and grateful that I get to be home. Even through the blow outs, exhaustion and crying fits, I'm so happy that I'm the one who gets to clean her diapers and sing her out of her crying.

(Let me add that this doesn't go without saying how amazing working moms are for their babies. We are amazing moms in all regards no matter if we're home or working!)

The picture(s) of the day are of Hannah and me. Check out her shirt! She loves girls' day with mommy!

237/365: SteelStacks

The SteelStacks are Bethlehem's mascot... aside from the star I suppose! I had a great photo shoot here tonight. Glad we stayed to get a shot of the stacks lit up!

236/365: Grayson the Parrot

If you looked up a description of Siamese cats, I'm convinced that there'd be mention of their obsession with sitting on shoulders. It's the funniest thing, and so sweet. G sits on both our shoulders, but prefers Dustin's because they're much wider than mine!

235/365: My Kids

Today's picture is a grainy cell phone shot. I knew if I ran to get my camera, I would have missed this photo opp. Hannah was in her glory. The animals are in for it when she is more mobile!

Hannah turned 5 months old today. Where is the time going?! She seriously gets cuter every day. I'm sure of it!

234/365: Happy Sun Flowers

I can't help but smile when I see sunflowers. I pass this patch of flowers nearly everyday, but never stop because I have Hannah in the car. Since having her, I won't pull over and put my blinkers on to walk down the road and take pictures. (Insert irrational fears of a semi barreling down the country road when I'm not in the car and hitting it while Hannah's in there... yup, I'm a mom). On my way home from my photo shoot this evening, I swung a "u-ey" to snap a couple quick pictures. And by quick, I mean quick. I knew Hannah was at home asking daddy for milk... but only mama's got the milk! So, here are my two favorites that I snapped.

To top the evening off, I saw a FULL rainbow. I just love rainbows. They make everything better. Rainbows and sunflowers in the same day? That's a good day (on top of coming home to my amazing husband, daughter and fur babies). 

Yay.

233/365: A Different Point of View

Hannah and her jumper have made pic of the day a couple times, but here's a different perspective. 

The runner up? Our sweet blue eyed boy. 

232/365: Some Nighttime Mowin'

It's amazing how the day gets away from you! Thank goodness for lights on the mower!

A tad out of focus, but fun none the less.

231/365: Puppy!

Got my 35mm f/2 in the mail today. Wahoo!! Took some practice shots. I'm likin' it!

230/365: Oh, the Cuteness!

I realize some of you may be done with the close ups of this face... but I'm not, and simply can't get enough!

I've been pretty busy with photo shoots! Here's my blog with some recent shoots if you want to check them out.

229/365: Eight Ball Corner Pocket

Dustin and I had a little date night in our basement after Hannah went down. I'm very rusty on my pool skills, but that's okay because we had a great time :)

Grayson disrupted our game on several occasions. 

228/365: My Beauty

Gah! I love this baby so much.

227/365: "Look at all that hair!"

No matter where I take Hannah, there is always a conversation about how much hair she has (and how long her eyelashes are!)... yup, she's definitely our kid.

226/365: Daddy's Girl

As the sun was falling, I couldn't let it go behind the horizon without using it for a few pictures. Nothing beats golden hour. It's just so sweet.

I took several shots, and I think this one's my favorite. It has the sun and the two people I couldn't possibly love more (and then tomorrow comes...).

Runner's up...

225/365: A Lineman's Wife

When you're married to a lineman, you notice stuff like this... I like the composition.

224/365: Circle of Friends

I've featured my Monday Morning Mom friends on here before.. remember the stroller picture? Anyhow, the group Monday Morning Moms is celebrating 10 years. It started by happenstance, and it has grown into this incredible network. I'm so fortunate to have found this special group of women and that our babies are already recognizing one another! It's my hope that we can continue to build our friendship, both mom and babies, and grow together.

I wish there had been a ladder to get a more areal view of these babes!! Love all of you xo

223/365: Sunday Funday

Today was a great Sunday. It started with a wonderful photo shoot at one of my favorite locations. While I was waiting for the beautiful family to arrive, a man came walked across the covered bridge riding one horse and leading another. Of course, I had to talk to him, and I learned that it was a mother-son horse. The mother just turned 30 in June! She's only a month or so older than me! The man and I also happen to almost share a birthday. I love that we live in a place where it's so normal to see people riding horses. They're just so beautiful.

After the shoot, Dustin and I walked the park... what a beautiful day it turned out to be! When we got home, Hannah took a nap, followed by lounging on our front lawn. I did a lot of stuff in between, but it's a good day when you spend an entire hour lying on a blanket with your baby and dog while your husband is just around the corner working on the car.

I'm one blessed person to live this life!!

222/365: A Baby Shower Kinda Day

Today is a day that I can't choose a POTD. There are several contenders because we had Safira and my brother's baby shower. Our sweet baby nephew is due in just a few short weeks... we are so excited!

For their baby shower we did a vintage baseball theme (well... vintage Phillies!). I have been SO busy with photo shoots and being a mommy (such a good busy to be!) that I wish I had had more time to plan and prep for this shower. Regardless, everything came together quite nicely.

Having Hannah with me, and being one of the main people to throw the shower, I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I would have liked, but here are a couple of the details.

Baseball Cupcakes

The favors

A baseball for guests to autograph

Mason jars filled with flowers.... okay, nothing to do with baseball, but cute!

And of course the awesome invitation done by my mom

My mom did my invitations, too; her work is amazing! Check out her site. Some of the details I wish I took: hot dogs wrapped in tin foil, cracker jacks, peanuts, dubble bubble, and philly soft pretzels.

Here is the glowing mama opening a couple of the gifts!

Everyone was so happy to see Hannah. I wish I got a picture of her with each person! She was very mellow and relaxed until she got over tired. Woah can that kid put up a fight!! She went to bed as soon as we got home :).

Hannah with her Great Me-mom and MeMe

With PopPop... this is when she was dead tired right before she started screaming for an hour straight!

After almost everyone left, I walked around my parents backyard and took a couple pictures of the sunflowers. Ya gotta love sunflowers!

Happy baby shower day, Michael & Safira!! That little boy will be here before you know it.