Impromptu 9-Month Photo Shoot!

Long story short: I've been looking for a photographer in Louisville for a few weeks. We had some new friends at our house this weekend. Found out one of them shoots weddings for a living. And the result? A fabulous almost-9-month photo session this morning. What a fun surprise - and Darla gave us rights to all 100ish photos for a blessing of a cost. Thank you, Darla!!!

If you live in the area of Huntsville, Alabama, you should check out Darla and Daniel's website (husband-wife team) - authenticphotograph.com. They are a wonderful couple with loads of talent - obviously!

Happy Weekend

We had gorgeous weather here today and celebrated by breaking out one of Naomi's first t-shirts to wear! When she was still a newborn, the fall seemed to fly by so quickly and this spring is really the first time she's experiencing mild weather outside. I'm so glad I bought this shirt for her at Target when I was pregnant - it's so fitting for her!

I just cannot believe how long she is getting and how quickly she is growing! She officially crawled for the first times yesterday and today. It's just two or three movements of the knees and then she plops down, but I've already had to move things out of her reach. I'm so excited for her to hit this milestone - and nervous for me!

We had a picnic dinner outside tonight on the porch. I had to follow wherever her mouth went to get the "Summer Vegetables" down (she was quite entertained by her surroundings, moving all over the place). But dang, when I pulled out the "Vanilla Custard with Bananas," her attention was all mine! Opening that mouth like nobody's business. :)

This was yesterday. The bib she is wearing was mine - so funny for me to think about that as I put it on her. Thirty years ago, I was as small as she. Thirty years from now, maybe I'll be watching her feed her own sweet baby...

Grant came home in the middle of lunch and Naomi just about came out of her chair, she was so excited. She just lights up when he's around - so sweet. I love to watch their relationship grow. He is an amazing dad to her and I am so grateful that he has this opportunity to love her and sew into this little life over the years to come.

Organic Toys

Naomi sat by our front door today and discovered a couple of leaves that had blown in with this week's crazy winds. She was entertained by them for over a half an hour! Excuse the dinner-smeared face shot - mmm... spinach and potatoes!

Chilly Swingin'

We found a sweet little park right around the corner from our house yesterday and took advantage of the swings! Bless her heart, Naomi's jaw was chattering it was so chilly (we didn't stay long), but she was so excited! Squealing and laughing with the best of 'em. Spring weather, would you just get here already!?!

Enjoying the days at home...

My content little self-entertainer...

She is MOMENTS away from crawling forward everywhere! (Note the chubby arm that prevents the sleeve from being buttoned on her cute little blouse!:)

First time finding Naomi sitting up in the morning!

She's so proud of herself!

Funny Day in Photos.

So I was sitting in my desk chair today while Naomi was exploring on the ground around me. I was totally zoned out when I heard her making a little grunt noise that communicates - "Mom, I got into a position I'm not such a fan of... will you help me out?" Well, I look down and don't see her anywhere. Puzzled for only a split second, with eyes wide as saucers, I peer down to the right side of my chair, lift up the fabric flap, and find... This! LOL. She had totally disappeared under the chair and I didn't even feel her go under there! It was hilarious. But not as hilarious as the next picture below.

We went on a walk today at Long Run Park, a beautiful, 2-mile walking trail that wraps around a big lake. It's about a five-minute drive from our house and it will become a regular activity from here on out. What I hope WON'T become a regular activity is my daughter flicking me off. That's right. Click on the picture so that it enlarges in your browser.

I've never laughed harder in my life than when I downloaded this a few minutes ago. It was the only picture I took there! Her smile to go with the gesture is what gets me. Oh my gosh, we're gonna get some miles out of that one!

The "Mom" Haircut

If you listen closely, you can hear the Jaws theme music playing quietly... or if you're Grant, you heard it for hours yesterday as you await your wife's return from the hair stylist. Grant hates it when I get my hair cut. Even the slightest trim sends him into little bouts of anxiety. He wants it as long as possible, even if that's at the expense of split ends, constant surrender to ponytails, and the dreaded time it takes me to blow dry and flat iron two feet of hair. But I had to give in. Naomi is grabbing it now and I just lost my stamina to put up with it. So I guess it's official that I'm a mom - cutting my hair for the ease of it. :) Sorry, honey.