Bathtime with Grady

My Grady is getting so big.  He will be 8 months old in just 9 days! So unbelievable.  Last week he took his first bathtub bath.  He loved it.  It was so sweet to see his fascination with the water.  Of course, I took some pictures:



Oh, how I love this big-headed, brown-eyed, cheesy-two-toother-smilely boy. 

Hopefully I'll get around to taking some real portraits of him and write a long post about how awesome he is.  But until then, enjoy these.

Making This Our Home

(at Devou Park - My boys over looking downtown Cincinnati)

Moving away from the Lafayette area - the area I've lived all my life - has seemed so incredibly unnatural.  Lafayette is home.  It's so weird being here and not knowing where every road leads, what will be just around the bend in the road.  I'm always craving rural Indiana and for flat land and never ending skies.  However, this is our home now.  Where ever my little family is, is where home is.  I need to make this feel more permanent.  We won't ever get to move back to Lafayette.  Ever.  It's time for me to uproot and grow somewhere else. 

So, I'm taking my Bishop's advice and I'm going to try to emmerse my self in this area.  We're going to explore.  We're going to try new things, go new places.  We're going to make new friends.  And hopefully we'll love this place too.

This Last Saturday

This past Saturday we spent the day at King's Island for Kyle's company picnic.  I wasn't thrilled about the idea of taking a 6 month old and a 3 year old to King's Island.  Ha!  I wasn't thrilled with the idea of going to King's Island at all.  I'm not much of an amusement park person (Disney not included).  After a little thought, we decided it wouldn't be bad.  I'm glad we did.  We had a great day as a family.  Leon loved the rides and I got to meet a few more of Kyle's co-workers. 

Of course, our favorite was the train.  Leon loved it.  We ended up riding it twice.

After lunch, we couldn't handle the heat anymore.  Poor Grady was red and was starting to get very miserable being in the stroller, so we decided to hit the water park.  It was a little crazy - tons of people - but it felt good to cool down for a bit.  Grady wasn't a huge fan of the cold water, so him and I hung out under some trees and played.  I really enjoyed it.  Grady was so incredibly happy.  There was lots of smiling and laughing.  I love soaking up these sweet moments with him. 

(Do you see his little tooth?)

We were all SO incredibly tired by the end of the day.  We all slept very well that night.  Getting up the next morning was awful.  We were all tired through out the entire day.  Leon fell asleep on the way to church and slept through sacrament.  We all were in bed by 8:30 on Sunday. 

 It was so nice to spend a day doing something fun after months and months of Kyle studying.  It's great to reconnect as a family.

p.s. Oh, and the other wonderful thing was that I got to get a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. The park had a Cinnabon. The moment I saw it, I told Kyle I wanted needed one. It was a delicous dessert before bedtime.

p.p.s.  Kyle and I are going on a date tomorrow!  I can't wait!

Going to be better blogger

I have about 1 zillion things I'd like to write about.  Everyday, I think "oh, I should blog about that."  I even write out my post in my mind - thinking about what all I want to say and how I want to say it.  I think about what pictures I could take or already have that I could post.  The problem is I never have the time to do it.  Well, I'm done with that.

I love to blog.  I love to write about my life, my thoughts, my kids.  I'm going to be a better blogger.  I want our lives recorded.  I want my family and friends to know what we are up to.  I want to feel connected.  I need to feel connected - some days get a little lonely.  My posts will probably be more simple, but it doesn't matter.  I will blog. 

I hope.


So, I start with something Leon said today.  It was so cute and made me laugh out loud.  I can't wait to share it with Kyle.

Leon:  "Where's daddy?"
Me:  "He's at work."
Leon:  "Oh.  Flying a helicopter?"
Me (I'm a little surprised, puzzled by this question): "No, Daddy's not flying a helicopter.  His job isn't that exciting."
Leon:  "No mommy.  Daddy's flying a helicopter!  Alright?"
Me:  "Okay, Leon."

Isn't that great?  I remember Kyle telling me that one of his co-worker's daughter thought he was an FBI agent for a little while - dressing up in a suit everyday and never talking about his work.  Oh, if Leon only knew what Kyle really did.

He is a pretty cool kid.  Just take a look:

Motherhood...

(my Grady, "helping" me prepare dinner)

Trying to prepare dinner, or fold laundry, or shower, or...just about everything is a challenge these days.  I'm a mother of a 3 year old and a 6 month old.  I'm not complaning about it - it's just a fact of life for me right now.  It stinks sometimes, but every moment - even the hards ones - are worth it.  I couldn't be more grateful to be a mother.  It's changed me for the better.  It's made me more patient and loving, more understanding, and has brought me closer to God.  I still feel like I'm doing everything wrong.   I'm always second guessing myself, but I know my role as a mother is the right thing.

I feel completely blessed that God has graciously given me this family that I don't deserve.

I love this post from one of my favorite photographers on her personal blog.  It describles exactly how I feel about being a mother. I love this line:  "Motherhood – for me anyway – is just as much about personal growth and self-discovery as it is about nurturing others."  That is what motherhood has been like for me too.

p.s.  this was the May theme for my 12 or 2012 photography challenge.  there's nothing fancy about it - nothing artsy at all about it, but it's a perfect example of how things are for me right now.

p.p.s.  I blogged!!!  It's been two months - way too long.  I'm ready to be good about it again.  I've got so much to catch up on.

Everyday Life...

Everyday life is...

well, I'm not sure how to explain it.  It's simple, but overwhelming.  Fun, but exhausting.  It's joyful.  It's playful and yet sometimes it's a lot of work. 

But one thing I know for certain - this is what I'm supposed to be doing.  I am very blessed.

This was March's 12 for 2012 photography challenge.  The technique was documentary.  There was a lot more I wanted to accomplish out of this month's challenge but dropped the ball.  I was really hoping to get photographs of us out and about - at the grocery store, at the library, at the park and didn't.  I either forgot or I just "didn't feel like it" that day.  I need to stop that.  I want to capture all these moments.  I love them and never ever want to forget them.

Leon's Birthday

I've debated whether to put these up.  Leon's Birthday was a while ago...6-7 weeks ago, but I know Grandma Allen will at least like to see them!  So, here you go Carol!

 Leon tunred 3 this year!

He really LOVES cupcakes, especially if they have sprinkles.

We also celebrated little Miss Callie's birthday.

Leon and his buddy, Harrison, checking out Leon's new gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

We played Pin the Hat on the Birthday Boy.

Grandpa and Grandma Allen hanging with Grady.

Allen grandparents with all the grandkids.

I can't believe my Leon is three!  I'm really loving this age.  He's so much fun.  I love watching him grow, but man, how I wish I could keep him this age forever.  They are growing too fast!