Not Me Monday

I thought that I would try something new! Maybe some of you will want to join in. If not, enjoy my honesty. Haha!

I did not, buy a giant bag of peanut M&Ms yesterday, to enjoy all by myself. No not me!

I did not go to work on Saturday, work for an hour and then go shopping all alone. Nope not me!

I did not interupt my husband at church during prayer to point out an awesome photo opportunity. Never! Not me!

I did not pick Nicholas up last week, buy him lunch, give him M&M's, and a toy Bobcat and then return him to abuse his Daddy. Nope, not me!

For the sake of my sanity, I did not and never will hide in my office pretending to work as my dear husband, takes care of the kids as they are misbehaving. Nope, not me!

Daddy's Girl

This Saturday marks the one year anniversary of our girl coming to live with us. I can hardly believe that it's been an entire year. She has changed so much. She is not the same child that we met. We thought that we loved her when we met her. We had no idea.

I thought that I was the one that wanted the girl. I dreamed of shopping, girls days out, just the two of us having lunch, and all of those Mother/Daughter things that Mom's dream of doing. Little did I know that this girl would be a Daddy's girl and boy, does her Daddy ever love her! I'm sure that eventually, I'll have those Mother/Daughter days but for now, it's all about Dad!

This is what I saw tonight.... Daddy was teaching her to cook.




They were making Chiken Alfredo over linguine and a salad! Yum!

She did a good job of slicing the cucumbers..


Notice the bandaids on her hand and elbow. She fell at school and she must have twenty bandaids from her hand to her knee. The clinic staff allowed her to bandage herself!



Here's the yummy Salad that she made.

Dad had to remind her to keep a close watch on the alfredo because it will scorch. I mentioned that she had ADHD and that is why she walked away. This is the look that I got!

Dinner was yummy! The best part of all is that I didn't have to cook! Dad is the best trainer. Hopefully it won't be long before I won't have to cook at all.

Thanks to everyone that has supported us over this past year. We couldn't have done this without you. Ashley feels so loved and accepted by everyone and that has always been so important to us.

Bunnies and Bullies

I've been having some bunny troubles. It seems that Miss Lacy is a bully. My friend has this sweet little bunny. She hops out of her cage and right over to you, begging for attention. Lacy on the other hand, demands to be out of her cage at all times and really wants nothing to do with me. She's sort of a snob. She just wants to do her thing.

So, ever since I got Lacy (inspired to do so by Penelope, my friend's bunny) we've been planning a bunny playdate. Bunnies are supposed to be very social animals that love the company of other bunnies. Our bunny playdate looked like this:

*Put Lacy on the floor

*Penelope hops over to show some love

*Bunnies snuggle for a moment, everything looks great

* Lacy backs herself into the wall trying to find a place to hide from us

* Penelope is minding her own business as Lacy now invades her cage, sniffing all of her personal space.

* Lacy eventually emerges from the cage and proceeds to violate poor Penelope in the way that bunnies do when they want to show that they are dominate. Not only does Lacy violate her, but she pulls chunks of her hair out in the process. BULLY!

* After trying to redirect the bully, we eventually put poor violated Penelope in her cage.

* Lacy continues to taunt Penelope as they try to attack one another through the wires of the cage. I thought for sure that someone was going to be hurt badly.

* Bunny playdate ends with Lacy in a pet carrier facing Penelope in her cage. We hope that the two of them can somehow talk things out as we chat.

And, as we turn... who enters the room??? None other than the Queen herself! Regal Cleopatra. She has come apparently, to find a way to release Lacy from the confines of the pet carrier. She paws at the zipper for a few minutes before she remembers that it's all about her and rescuing Lacy is not something that she is willing to break a nail over.

Sadly, we realize that we can not have our bunny playdates after all. Penelope was traumatized and Lacy's behavior is worse than ever. As I type, I can hear her ripping her cage apart in protest. How dare I not let her out as soon as my feet hit the floor?! How did I end up with the unruly rabbit?

My buddy

I spent the day with my buddy "N." His Mommy is about two weeks away from having his baby sister. I'm so excited for her!

N and I had a busy day. We started out running some errands and then we had lunch at McDonalds. We sat in the play area but N was more interested in watching all of the big trucks drive by than he was in playing. As soon as we left McDonalds he fell asleep (take that Mommy!). So, I took the opportunity to go to the bank and then we stopped at Walmart. By the look on his face, you would think that we had arrived at Disney. I guess Mommy's bedrest is taking a toll on poor N. I'll have to take him to Toys R Us next time.

We eventually made it back here where we watched Barney. Just as I set up to start taking pictures, Mommy called. She said, "You have to return him. You can't keep him." Well, rats! She sure is a party pooper.

I love this little chef!

Baby B

It's raining babies around here! And, I'm loving every minute of it! Meet Sweet Miss "B." She was such a good little girl for her pictures. She's just ten days old.
Welcome to the World Sweetie!

More CC

Don't say that I didn't warn you! Here are more pictures of my precious baby CC. She is such a good baby. She's truly a piece of Heaven. If you haven't guessed by now, her Mommy is one of my best friends. She allows me to share Little CC and the best part of it all is that I can spoil her, love her and give her back to Mommy for all of the crying, sleepless nights. I've promised to give Mommy a break though. Little CC is welcome to call Aunt Stephie any time she's not getting what she wants at home.

I am absolutely in love..... ahhh!

If I look at one more picture, I'll be on my way back over there. I've seen her almost every day since she was born.

An angelic smile just for me. I love you too, CC.

Bunny bloopers

Lacy had to check out my set up yesterday. I thought that you all might find these funny. They are definitely candid. I was trying to hold the camera, watch Lacy and snap the pictures. They aren't the best but they are pretty funny.

Hmmm? These look yummy....

They don't smell quite right though...

This is a cozy place to play...

Uh oh! Gramma told me something about this! I'm outta here!

Mr. E

Well, Mr. E and I had our 9 month visit today and he just wasn't interested in the whole picture thing. He wouldn't even crack a grin for me. So, Mommy and I have rescheduled for some time next week. Mr. E owes me some serious smiles. I may just have to tickle them out of him!





Enjoy the serious side of a normally very smiley boy...

This one literally makes me Laugh out loud. The hat is too big!


I love this candid for some reason..

Welcome to the World Baby CC

Miss CC couldn't wait until her scheduled birthdate on September 17. I got a call from Mommy at 10:30 last night followed by the delivery of two children. CC decided to poke a hole in the amniotic sac because she's an impatient little booger. It's a very good thing because her Aunt Stephie is impatient too. I was ready for her to be born and for the record, Mommy was too!

So, meet Miss CC. Get used to seeing her cute little mug because it will be plastered here often. I can hardly wait to get my paws on her cuteness again!

I made the bright cocoon that she's in last night. She loves it.

This is my favorite picture. It's the only time that I was able to see her eyes open.

With Big Sister... I see lots of girly chats between these two in the future,

Big bother poking her as usual :)

Mommy with her girls

With her big brother and protector. Don't mess with Baby CC!

Cutest Baby Contest

Angels Touch Photography is having a Cute Baby Contest! The contest will run September 15- October 25.
*The entry fee is $25 and will include a custom portrait session and an 8x10 print. Each participant will also receive 15% off any additional portraits purchased.
* There will be three categories 0-6months, 6months- 1 year and 1-3yrs.
* The child's portraits will be placed on my blog so anyone can vote.
* Voting will be open for 5 days.
* A winner will be chosen from each category.
* There will then be a second round of voting to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
* The second round of voting will last 3 days.
Prizes:
1st place- 16x20 Canvas print from your session
2nd place- 12 month calendar of photos from your session
3rd place- 11oz photo mug

Contact me to enter your child today. Not only will you have a chance of winning one of the above prizes but you'll be receiving a custom portrait session and a free 8x10 print. It's also a great time to get your child's Fall themed portraits at a discount.
Stephanie
727-271-2611
Stephanie@angelstouchphotography.com

9/11

Today, I am blogging in honor and memory of those that lost their lives on this day, 7 years ago. I also post in honor and memory of those that have fought for this Country and our freedom over the years. I'll never forget where I was and what I was doing on 9/11/01. I was 6 months pregnant with my youngest child and I remember wondering what I was doing bringing another child into this hateful World. In the years since he was born I have come to see that there is far more good than bad in this World. Good will always overcome evil... always!

On 9/11/01, I was getting ready to take my oldest son to school. I had GMA on TV as I brushed my teeth and dressed myself. I remember seeing the first plane hit the WTC and praying for the family of the pilot. At the time, it was thought that it was a smaller plane. I turned the TV off and got into the car. I was dropping "F" off at school and then I was taking "C" to his weekly playgroup. On my way to playgroup, I heard on the radio that a second plane had hit the WTC. At that point, I began to think that something was wrong but I had no idea just how severe things were. We didn't hear any news while we were at playgroup but as soon as I got into the car to go home, I heard the terrible news on the radio. Not long after, my husband called me and asked that I pick our son up from school and go home and stay there. I did just that. I remember being glued to the TV in disbelief. I told my husband over the phone that it looked like a war zone in NYC. Little did we know at the time, it was! I'll never forget that day and all of the heroes that lost their lives. From the employees in the WTC and the Pentagon to the rescue workers to the passengers on all of the planes. I've always been Patriotic but never more so than I was in the days and months following the 9/11 attacks.

I have more respect for our Military and Rescue workers today than I ever have before. My pride and respect for them grows each day. They are truly the ones that fight for us. In many places in the World, I wouldn't be able to do what I love; photography. As a woman, I would be a second class citizen. Not here in the USA. And, it's all because of the ones that fight for our freedom. It doesn't come easily and it doesn't come free. The cost is measured in lives.

I encourage each of you to do something today in honor and memory of those mentioned above. Wear red, take cookies or brownies to your local fire or police station, thank someone in the military, etc. My family will be doing several different things. Whatever you do, have a memorable day!

Thanks to all of the service men and women in my life. Here are a few pictures of those that have touched my life. There are many more that I don't have pictures of.

Gator

Meet Gator. He's a sweet little Maltipoo. I have a Gator myself that is much larger but just as sweet. I enjoyed playing with Gator. His Mommy and Daddy were pretty neat too!