fPhoto Friday*UPDATED*

No, son. The Mr. Potato Head pieces are not transferable to fit into your crevasses.

Updated:We're back in business

Okay, still don't know where my picture went but carry on without me. Happy fPhoto Friday!

fPhoto Friday

Not sure where fPhoto Friday vanished too...just talk amongst yourselves.

I Dare You To Try This In Public

What more do we need than to make ourselves feel silly? Not that I need much help in looking silly but I just got this funny email and thought I'd pass it along. Don't try this home alone. Go to a public place.

1. While sitting at a desk in front of the computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

And there's nothing you can do about it!

Weekend of Firsts

This past weekend I had the utmost honor of shooting maternity pictures for some friends. I commend their bravery in asking me to do this. Many thanks is also in order for them putting up with my silly requests! I know a "professional" photographer would post only one or two of the best of the best. Well, I'm not a "professional" and wanted to post a little more than two. Here are "some" of the results, in no particular order. Mandy...I hope you're pleased. :)

(Side Note: If any of the pictures seem somewhat distorted, it's because I can't figure out how to correctly upload them without having to resize them. It's not the picture...it's the on going battle between me and my computer.)



At first I had wanted only the baby shoes to be photographed. When I saw her hand in the back I thought I had messed up the shot. The closer I looked, I noticed it was her wedding ring. I love it.

Can you guess what they are having?

Mom and Dad with the soon-to-be middle girl.

Okay...does she not look ultra glam in this picture?!

I love how her cross necklace is showing in this one.

This picture is so tender to me.

Pointing to the baby.

This turned out better than I had imagined! So excited about it!

His and Her Hands. Another fun capture.

Did I mention that I think she looks like a cover model?

And baby makes 5!

Seven Months and glowing!

We even found time to play during the breaks.

This one makes my heart flutter. So insanely precious!

A hug from the first born.

As the big sis, she has a lot of teaching to do. I can only wonder what she is thinking about.

Thanks again, friends, for this wonderful opportunity!

fPhoto Friday

Okay, seriously. What mother doesn't think her child is advanced? I mean really. He could be typing his own analytical thesis on early childhood cognitive development in comparison to the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. Maybe he's creating his own personal spreadsheet to the goals he needs to accomplish for the next 5 years. Who knows? Let's take a closer peek behind the screen of this child prodigy...

Let's just stick to Barney for now. Thesis and spreadsheets will come soon enough.

Camera: Canon XSi

Setting: Auto

When Mom Says "No!"

Call The Grands!

Blog Block...It Happens

My time has been swooned away due to various levels of responsibility that I've had. Plus, I've had somewhat of a blog block. I guess I'd rather write about something than ramble on about a whole lot of nothing. This is not a blog break but a holding time until I can think of something worth writing about. Don't worry about fPhoto Friday. It's still comin' at cha! Pictures paint a great story when words are not available. In the meantime...I leave you with this awesome recipe!

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

1 box yellow cake mix
2 1/2 cups of quick cooking oatmeal
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
3/4 cup of raspberry jam or jelly
1 T. water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9x13 inch pan. Combine cake mix and oatmeal in large bowl. Add melted butter and stir until crumbly. Measure 1/2 of crumb mixture into pan. Press firmly to cover bottom. In a separate bowl, combine preserves and water. Stir until blended. Spread preserves over crumb mixture in pan. Sprinkle remaining mixture over preserves, pat firmly to make top even. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-23 minutes. Cut into bars when cool. You can substitute any preserves to this recipe: blackberry, strawberry, etc.

Three More Days

Finally, the count down has begun! I can NOT wait! Are you a LOSTIE?

fPhoto Friday

These Paperwhites were given to me as a gift. I love the soft, delicate pedals. They are a warm reminder of Spring days to come.

Camera: Canon XSi

Setting: Breakfast Table

Early Childhood Literacy

I love to get packages, especially packages that are free! Just the other day my son got his first [free] book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Ever heard of it? It is a program that was set up by Ms. Dolly herself to encourage early childhood literacy. When you sign your child up for the program, they will receive one free book each month until they turn five years old! Almost too good to be true! Your county must have a partnership with this program in order to participate. If they don't, there are certain procedures your county can do to apply for partnership with the program. I don't know all the technical parts about it, but I do know that anyone can apply. There is a section on the website that explains how the program works.

The first book your child will receive is The Little Engine That Could. What a classic! To my own surprise it wasn't those flimsy paper covers but sturdy hardbacks. How did they know I had a toddler inside my walls?

With an education background in early childhood, I truly support this program and the efforts it's making to get books into the homes. The birth-five years are a critical time to establish that firm foundation that will encourage your child to become a life long learner. Whether it's flipping through the pages of a book or having a bookshelf accessible to your child, modeling the importance of reading will create a love of literature and of life. I could go on and on because early childhood literacy is one of my passions. But I'll save you from reading my graduate thesis and just stop right now.

For more info about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, or to see if your county is a cooperating participant, click here.

Happy Reading!

Be Still Sunday

Self-Maintenance Needed

From the hours of 10:00 am to 1:00pm, time and scheduling did not exist for me today. Why, you ask? I was redeeming my anniversary gift from my husband. A gift of relaxation and rejuvenation. A gift to the spa.

The only schedule that did exist was the one between my mani/pedi, sauna, and full body massage. Oh my dear friends, it was such a treat. The last massage I had was a pregnancy massage that hubby surprised me with. And don't even ask me about my last manicure and pedicure. It's been that long. It's not that I don't enjoy regular pampering, it's just that my time is filled with other things and self-pampering takes a backseat. Plus, being a stay-at-home mom, somethings definitely get sacrificed.

Knowing that, my husband deemed it necessary for me to spend a day for myself. How right he was.

No, this won't become a monthly event. However, today made me realize how important it is to take time for myself. I don't need a monthly trip to the spa to do this but some regular time I can set aside for me. And feel guilt-free about it!

fPhoto Friday

I'm so thankful for my husband. He is always involved and always emotionally and physically available. Our baby boy would be only half of who he is without his daddy.

Camera: Canon XSi

Setting: Grandparents house

f-stop: f/25

Exposure: 1/30 sec

ISO: 1600

Winter Wonderland!

My morning posting session was postponed due to this uncontainable (is that a word?) desire to get outside and play! It was a perfect snowfall. The wind was not too harsh and the crisp air was bearable. We had a blast!

Welcome To Toddler Town

My sweet, precious toddler has a new favorite word. It starts with "n" and ends with "o".


Have you guess it yet?

Accompanying this two letter word comes some action moves. Either he's been secretly watching the kung fu channel or has picked up some new movements from his older relatives over the holiday break. Which ever the case may be, he's become quite physically passionate and expressive for things he desires to have. Welcome to Toddler-Town.

While wringing my hands together and a queer smirk on my face I say, "Let the games begin".

High Yah!

Clarification Needed, Please!

What in the world is this all about?

Through New Lenses

One thing I love about photography is finding the essence in the smallest things. This home has been apart of my life for a long time. All 28 years of it. This is the home to my Papaw and Memaw. I've played, run, and crawled around about every inch of this home and the land it inhabits. It is a very familiar place with fond memories.

Recently during our holiday visit, did I just recognize the awesome structure that makes up their home. They have these tall brick arches on the front side of the house. You can see in one of the pictures that the walkway is not enclosed but an open top. These arches take a visitor down a path that leads to worn red double doors. These solid wooden doors are quite weathered and show evidence of a brighter red past. The detailed etchings on the doors are what makes it so dramatic. I'm fairly confident to say these particular doors are original to the home. I told Memaw that she should never paint the doors...ever. I love them tattered, worn, and aged.

I think I took a million pictures (ok, maybe not a million but close). My active toddler took to loving these arches himself. Up and down the walkway he ran back and forth. My trigger finger did all it could to keep up with each step, run, and fall. I got some really fun results.

This experience has led me to a few conclusions...

1. Red doors make awesome pictures

2. If the structure of your home does not contain brick arches, befriend someone whos does.

3. My baby is no longer an infant. He looks so grown in the pictures.

4. Don't overlook the familiar. You never know what photo opts await!

Playing Peek-a-Boo with Grammie.

Have I mentioned I love this door?

See the open top above the arches? Even though it's quite subtle, I think it gives the photo that extra zing.

Knock, Knock! Let me in. It's your great-grand son!

Be Still Sunday

fPhoto Friday

Happy New Year! May you take the time to reflect on the past year and be motivated to "fix" areas needed of repair. Happy fPhoto Friday!

2009