25 Weeks

I have been so lax on taking belly pictures this time! I am so busy and when I started doing my orginal pictures it takes a little bit of time to set up. Consequently it does not get done but I made sure to do it this week so here is Little Ari at 25 weeks in my belly. He is making it nice and round and creating lots of swelling in my body. Ill try not to complain too much because I enjoy his little kicks and nudges. It is nice to be able to have them to myself for a bit.



Today has been a little emotional for me. I have not said much and have known about this situation for a while. My midwives have been sued for a baby's death from one of the births there. This hits close to home. I am reminded every time I visit that birth is risky no matter where I go. When I first heard of this situation it made me very nervous and question my core beliefs regarding birth. I then had to sit down and really truly think about it all! I do not know all the circumstances of this situation. My heart is broken for this family. It is also broken for my midwives. They have been made out to be awful and non caring. It is far from the truth and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt we have received the best possible care there. I choose them for a reason and will support them through all of this. I can't imagine what this family has been through. I pray God gives them peace and comfort. I know I have found comfort and support from my midwives in my time of need. I hope I can always continue getting that with all my births. I know I will. They are wonderful ladies. All that to say it has made me appreciate this little man in my stomach even more today. I look forward to his birth. This is the first time I have since finding out I am pregnant. I am mentally getting ready and can't wait to meet him.

I also was finally able to complete Eli's project. I did not get everything I wanted. He was only going to take pictures for so long but I got some fun ones. I realized I won't be using this blanket to photograph again unless it is newborns even then not so sure. It photographs oddly. I wanted to do another storyboard of expressions of the kids so we did Eli today.


I also found this idea on Pinterest months ago. I did the interview the day Eli turned 3. I have wanted to take some pictures of everything but just have not gotten around to it until today. So here is Eli's interview. I plan to do it every year after. It suggested starting at 3 and it worked perfect as he is turned 3 this year.

1. What is your favorite color?  Red

2. What is your favorite toy? Smart Cycle Bike

This was given to Eli for Christmas this year by Aunt Tracy. It actually connects to the TV and he has to ride to play it. It has taught him to pedal. It teaches, numbers, shapes, letters, words, and lots of other stuff. He loves to play on it as does his sister.

3. What is your favorite fruit? apples



4. What is your favorite tv show? Mickey Mouse

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich

6. What is your favorite outfit? Dinousaur Pajamas


7. What is your favorite game? Farm Bingo

8. What is your favorite snack? Applesauce

9. What is your favorite animal? Pig

10. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me

11. What is your favorite book? George and The Dump Truck  In the Blue George Book








12. Who is your best friend? Hayden

13. What is your favorite cereal?  "Purple Cereal" aka Raisin Bran


14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride MyTractor



15. What is your favorite drink? milk

16. What is your favorite holiday? His Birthday

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket




This was given to Eli by his Great Grandma Jenny and Grandpa Gale before he was born. He has to sleep with it every night!

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Oatmeal

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pancakes

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A conductor

Soaking up the Sun

This weekend was wonderful. It was relaxing and warm. It does not get much better than that.

Daddy delivered with his Lego date Saturday morning. It began with my two "nerds" as I like to call them going through the magazine.

Then they played. Lilliana was even able to play as she was not putting anything in her mouth. She loves blocks too. The wheels seemed to be her favorite.


We took a trip to the grocery store to stock up for the week. Then it was home for lunch and naps. Unfortunately both kids decided naps were not going to happen. Why I have no idea but we spent the rest of the day outside soaking up the sun.

Lilliana is trying desperately to walk everywhere. She falls outside the most but we have noticed that her trying to walk outside is just helping her walk inside. She only would crawl everywhere because it was faster but now she wants to walk. She helped Anthony work on Eli's bike.

Long story short, he has not been able to really ride it yet. The training wheels were wrong so we had to get new ones and finally we got them all fixed.


While Anthony worked on that I sat in the chair with my feet propped up and let the kids get in the sandbox. I have avoided this day for a while knowing it would be wet and a little messy. I was right. They enjoyed it though. Lilliana did not want to get out and Eli never wants to get out. It kept them occupied though!


Lilliana loved it so much she even decided to eat it. Eli was mortified she did that. I kept telling her not to but she thought it was good apparantly. Needless to say we all paid for it on Sunday. Sand that is digested does not do well in diapers.


Eli finally got to ride his bike. He was in love!! He rode all the way around the block and was one tired little boy after.


Church was great on Sunday. The message was wonderful and Eli really enjoyed his class. Not much has been said but we have been looking for a new church. We are still looking and hopefully will have a new home church soon. It was another beautiful day so we sat out on the steps and watched the cars go by. The kids were just silly. Eli loves to whisper in Lilliana's ear. She gets so annoyed but it is too cute.



Sunday night the sunset was beautiful!! It was just perfect. We took the first trip of the year to get ice cream. We met Anthony's family and had a great time!



We have been blessed with this warm weather so early in the season. Today it is supposed to be 84 degrees! I am taking the kids to the park early. I also  hope it does not add to my swelling. Anthony has a week where he is working around home. It is about to get very busy so we are told so we are enjoying having him around while we can!

Last but not least a bit of advertising!

I won a free listing for a new site. You can read more about it and see my listing here.   If you are expecting, know anybody that is expecting, a crafter, or photographer this site is for them.

Also if you cloth diaper April 21st there will be another great cloth diaper change! Find one in your area. I will be at our local one taking pictures. There will be prizes, food, and fun. More info can be found here.  Please come and participate. I will be giving away one free photo session. I am thrilled I was asked to do this and can't wait to spend the day photographing cute little babies and toddlers in their cloth diapers.

Welcome Spring.............

.....................maybe I should say, "welcome Summer!" It has been an amazing week. Consequently we have spent a lot of time outside. It is supposed to be wonderful the next week. I am enjoying the warmth although this pregnant girl has been a little uncomfortable at some points. I need to go get some summer clothes that fit!

We have gone to the park...................



We have played with lots of chalk......................


Eli told me on our way home from the bank yesterday as we were discussing going outside to play again that he, "made the sidewalk beautiful with chalk." I just laughed. He did make it beautiful including my step.

We have enjoyed spring clothes complete with sleeveless shirts, shorts, and hairclips. When I get Lilliana out of her bed ever day we walk by her bows and she now asks to play with them and put them in her hair. I tell her she looks pretty and she always touches her hair. It is too cute. So the other day Eli and I went in to get her and she asked. So we had some fun including Eli. He wanted to pick out which one she needed and play with the big flowers.



Eli really has not been in the picture taking mood lately. He really goes through spurts. Lilliana loves the camera and always gives me smiles.


I am sure it won't last much longer but I enjoy it! I still am working on Eli's project and hopefully with the warm weather and rain, everything will get green!!

Daddy has been out of town all week. It was a beautiful reunion with Lilliana and him. She was so excited to see daddy.

Eli was excited too. He was excited for different reasons. Anthony got a lego catalog in the mail. Eli has sat and stared at it on the table all week. He insists when daddy got home he would get his legos out, and they would make the big house on the back. Not Eli's legos! Daddy's legos!! So daddy finally got home and Eli brought him that magazine so proudly and has looked at it ever since. They have time planned for tomorrow morning to enjoy Daddy's legos. Eli is beyond excited.

Eli drug him outside to play chalk tonight. My legs are falling asleep if I sit on the ground do to the little bit of swelling from the heat I am having. Consequently I can't get on the floor and play. So Eli was thrilled Anthony sat down and colored on the sidewalk with him.



We have many more beautiful days ahead of us. Anthony gets a long weekend so I will be enjoying my family and sewing a dress for Lilliana. That is plan at this point! Yay for the weekend!