Miss Dagny Arlene Richardson - dagnyarlenerichardson
Featured pictures
Welcome!
Welcome to our Dagny's photo site! We'll continue to update the blog, but we've already taken so many photos that we've already gone over the limits on google photos and other photo sites (Yay shutterfly!)! Basically, we'll be selective with the photos we share everywhere else, but upload everything here for those of you who just can't get enough of Dagny!!
Yes, it looks a little different... we already have so many photos of Miss D that I found it a bit overwhelming to have on one page! Check out the top navigation bar for the "Main Photo Gallery" which will be the home of all of our fun photos and for the "Weekly Photos" where we'll take a few photos of her each week with the bear that Granddad gave her so we can see how she grows! :) I've also put up some preggo pictures (baby shower photos coming soon!) and photos of Dagny's beautiful room!
Thanks for visiting!
Rory, Joe, and Dagny
Leave Us Some Love...
9/24/2009 5:25:52 PM - 000035346088 ...this is my most frequently visited bookmark -- thanks Boop, Joe and little D for giving me (everyone?!) a glimpse into perfect one's progress...! abc
9/10/2009 6:51:09 PM - 000036506430 Thanks so much for visiting... I'll do my best to upload everything, but be patient with me! ;) -Rory
Hey Girl... It's been a while since I posted an iheartfaces entry, but as I sit here killing time before a wedding, I see that the theme is "Hey Girl" and I couldn't resist!
Two weeks ago we spent a few days in Tucson for a wedding of one of our friends. We had a great time at all of the wedding events, but I'll never forget our trip to In-N-Out Burger on Sunday night... Doodle ate up a burger and two orders of fries while we smiled and hung out at outdoor tables. It was a total West Coast evening that makes me desperately wish we had INO in MD!
The Big Three Oh... I just stumbled upon an insanely timely reprinting of Glamour's "Thirty Things a
Woman Should Have and Should Know By The Time She's 30." Seeing as I turn thirty in a mere 27 hours, let's see how I'm doing...
By 30, you should have...
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
(RR: While I can imagine going back to exes, the thought conjures negative images... I definitely have one who reminds me of how far I've come and am happy with that!)
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
(RR: New leather couches... Check!)
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
(RR: Check! It may have taken me until recently to feel like I have a complete wardrobe (minus jeans, they are the bane of my existence), but I'm happy I'm there now!)
4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
(RR: Check!)
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
(RR: I'm not 100% sold that I have to be 100% grown up, but happy and content with moving on to "my next 30 years")
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
(RR: Not nearly as juicy as most, but there are stories I will look forward to sharing!)
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age -- and some money set aside to help fund it.
(RR: Working on it... Not 100% there yet!)
8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account -- all of which nobody has access to but you.
(RR: Check!)
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
(RR: Check... Took anything remotely associated with "padding" out a few years ago!)
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
(RR: Check... And VERY thankful for them!)
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
(RR: Sadly no black lace bra... Will try to remedy this one in the next day!)
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
(RR: I guess this is where my custom Louis Vuitton comes in... Check!)
13. The belief that you deserve it.
(RR: Check!)
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
(RR: Need to work on exercise... Have to get RA under control first!)
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
(RR: Start?! I'm there! And very lucky/grateful/thankful for everything I have!)
By 30, you should know...
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
(RR: Check! Thanks, Hubby:))
2. How you feel about having kids.
(RR: I think the two year old across the hall answers this one... I love my kid!)
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
(RR: I do my best to do these... Sometimes better at it than others.)
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
(RR: Can I have until 35 or 40 for this one?! If you look for the definition of 'beating a dead horse,' sadly my photo is right there.)
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
(RR: I think so... Check with Hubby! ;))
6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.
(RR: Check! And all great women!)
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
(RR: It's been a while, but I can do it!)
8. Where to go -- be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat -- when your soul needs soothing.
(RR: I wish Vinalhaven wasn't so far away... Talk about soul soothing! I dive into books and snuggle up in bed... That's my happy place!)
9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.
(RR: Parents are great... Legs and hips are another story! I'm getting there, though!)
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
(RR: It was wonderful... Perfect for me because it made me who I am... And okay with it being over because I'm reliving it with my daughter!)
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
(RR: Check!)
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.
(RR: Just remembered that I need to floss... ;) Luckily I've never smoked or doe drugs... And it's been a long time since I've had a drink!)
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
(RR: Working on not taking it personally... Have gotten A LOT better, but not 100% there.)
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
(RR: Same as the last one... Working on it! I don't know if it's a female thing or what, but I need to stop!)
15. Why they say life begins at 30
What's on your personal list of things to have and know -- and possibly do -- before turning 30?
RR: Life began long ago... It didn't wait until I turned 30! I certainly didn't have a bucket list, but my grown up purse and new car certainly make me feel " like I've reached a milestone! Is that odd-- that two purchases make me feel more "grown up" than crossing off a date on my calendar?!
I'm just so very grateful that I'm hitting this milestone and have such a wonderful life... I'm not being smug-- there are quite a few "downs" to go with the "ups," but I'm grateful for all of it. This is definitely something I've learned since 25... Being grateful for what I have - the big and small things - and keeping my focus on that (being grateful) rather than looking at what other people have and wanting their lives. I'm thankful that my Hubby introduced me to this point of view a few years ago and has helped keep it in perspective!
Life is good and I'm grateful it is!
(Side note: Ten minutes left in this Game 7... They need to make this happen! #Caps)
Finding Time...
While I truly love my new job... doing Community Outreach for the Greatest Summer Camp (and School Year Programs) Ever... there's one thing that I've not been very good at through this transition on a personal level... finding "me" time.
I knew it would be a challenge as I'm now working with Hubby... which I LOVE, by the way... and I knew I'd have to balance my want to spend all of this newly found extra time with him while still giving myself some "me" time. Lunches are "us" time- or time with colleagues- I love that time and am so thankful to have it to spend (esp. after six years of going downtown from 6am-5:30pm every day!). Evenings are family time-- non-negotiable. My little two and a half year old demands as much attention that we can give her... and I love having quality time (even if it's when we're all cuddled on the couch watching "Pung Foo Fanda")!
I tried going to the gym before work a few times... Hubby gladly offered to wake Doodle up and get her to Marsha's so it seemed like the perfect situation. Until my body reminded me that I have RA (which has been flaring pretty badly lately) and somehow the extra rest wins out on the gym every time (note to self: cancel gym membership).
So... It has taken me nearly five months, but I've figured out where I have and can use my "me" time... before my sleepy heads, Hubby and Doodle, even think to begin waking up (which is on the second round of the "snooze" button, btw) and when I'm making myself breakfast. I know, it's kinda a "no duh" thing that finally clicked! Hopefully this "me" time will begin to include blogging time-- since this is my "journal" for myself more than anything. We'll see how this goes... ;)
And just because I can't post text alone, I'll post a photo I took of my Brother and Sister in Law who are expecting their first baby in September! They posted this photo on Facebook and everyone is putting in their guess as to if it's a boy or a girl...
What do you think?! I'm undecided, but Doodle insists it's a "Girl Baby!"
Before the April Showers....
It started raining yesterday around 6pm and hasn't stopped yet... I imagine Mother Earth was feeling a bit dehydrated and called in a favor for her big day (Earth Day!)! ;)
Yesterday we went to our friends' wedding and it was b-e-a-utiful! The rain held off long enough for a sweet ceremony, a few hours for their photos (which, being two beautiful people, I'm 100% sure will be gorgeous!), and long enough for everyone to make inside to the reception!
We lucked out and got to have a date night for the reception (Thanks to Aunt Moon and Uncle Drew!), but we brought Doodle along for the ceremony. She's actually going to be a flower girl in a wedding next week and I'm hopeful that this was a good preview and she'll follow the lead and walk down that aisle next week! ;)
She did get a little itchy, so her Dad brought her outside to play for a little bit. I'm glad I grabbed my camera as she ran towards me after the ceremony... I just love shots like this of my hubby and baby girl! :)
Butterfly Face We just had a wonderful weekend up in PA with my family... Doodle got a haircut (only Cyndy is allowed to cut her hair!), we took the cousins (Doodle and Cliff) to get Spring portraits, went to the Philadelphia Zoo, had pizza with friends, brunch at Sandy Run CC and the annual WG VFW Easter Egg Hunt at Kippy's park.
While eating a fabulous brunch at Sandy Run, one of the waitresses came up to Doodle with her face painted like a butterfly... They have a woman come in and do face painting during special events- I hadn't ever noticed. Now, Doodle has seen other kids with painted faces at Disney an the Zoo and never asked for it herself. Today was the day-- after the lady told her that she wouldn't do a full Batman Mask on her face (lovely suggestion by Aunt Ally that Doodle thought was brilliant!), Doodle asked for a "Butterfly Face."
She sat still and was thrilled when she looked in the mirror at the end result! She ran around with her "wings" spread out and made sure everyone there saw her Butterfly Face!
We made it home tonight and as soon as she came through the front door she headed straight for the full mirror in my bedroom and just stared at herself. I must admit that I had no idea she'd go this crazy for it... and definitely wasn't prepared for the colossal melt down when we had to wash it off in the bath. Honest-to-goodness, I have never seen her so upset. I nearly started crying because I felt so badly! Once she calmed down a bit we were able to get through bath time and read her new Pinkalicious book that the Easter Bunny left her.
As I tucked her into bed she gave me a kiss, said "Goodnight Mom," and asked if she could get a Butterfly Face again. Looks like I'll be starting a new hobby as a face painter in the near future! ;)
1st Day of Spring! One of my favorite "holidays" growing up was the 1st Day of Spring... It may not have been a big deal in your town, but in the Philly area it's quite a big deal! "Why," you ask? Free Water Ice!
Note: Before you correct me and tell me that it's "Italian" ice and not "Wudder" ice, please realize that it's not worth the fight that I'm going to win anyway... Where I grew up it's "Water Ice" and nearly sacred!
We grew up with water ice places all around and would save up our pennies and change from Mom's car so we could ride our bikes down to Rita's and get a treat. We'd sit on the curb, or on our bikes, and savor every moment!
Anyone from the Philly area knows that Rita's always has free water ice on the first day of Spring... and is willing to sit in the line and wait for it!
When a Rita's opened in MD and my hubby's family told me about it, I may have scared them a bit by reciting my favorite favors and telling them all about the 1st Day of Spring! After all the only "Philly" things that I really care about are my cheesesteaks (forget about Pat's and Geno's- save yourself the drama and go to Tonelli's, Slack's, or a small shop downtown!), soft pretzels (with spicy mustard!), and water ice!
This year we lucked out and had a gorgeous day... The perfect night to take Doodle over to Rita's and eat water ice on the curb!
When you wish upon a star... #WordlessWednesday
Don't you love it when you have a photo that you don't need to caption?! I think that this may be one of the few Wednesdays where I'll let the photo speak for itself... a Disney-recap will come later!
Since When Does Vacation Come Out of Nowhere?! I'm a planner. I love to make reservations (or call ahead) before going to a restaurant so I don't have to wait. I love finding deals on flights so early that it seems like an eternity before it actually happens. I call Disney 180 days before our arrival to secure dining reservations. I create itineraries for the whole family to make sure everyone knows what everyone else wants to do before we leave. I love being packed days in advance so I can make last minute wardrobe choices without having to wonder if I remembered underwear.
Not this time.
I managed to book flights 5 weeks in advance (and paid dearly for it). I managed to get a few dining reservations at Disney, but missed out on Chef Mickeys. I managed to order Doodle a Cinderella Dress online so I don't have to buy it in the parks! We asked a good friend to watch the dogs last Monday. We booked the rental at on Tuesday. I packed Saturday night. We arrived in Orlando last night!
Needless to say, life has been a smudge busier than usual- but in a good way! My new job is crazy busy and to be honest- if I didn't get to see Hubby's smiling face at work all day, I'd feel a lot worse about falling asleep at 8pm every night! ;) Life is Good. No, life is great! I'm just still adjusting to it!
I'm getting ready to wake Doodle up for Day One in Disney... and its the only thing that I actually planned for this trip! Breakfast in Epcot with the Princesses in her new Cinderella Dress (which I managed to keep secret until last night when she discovered it in the hotel closet and subsequently couldn't fall asleep out of excitement!)! I can't wait to see what this day will bring!
I'll have more stories later, but I'll leave you with a photo of Doodle leaving the house yesterday... Wonder Woman Dress (of course!), Cinderella shoes (Silver TOMS), sunglasses "upside" (she forgets to add "down" on the end), Lilly hoodie hanging from her head (but not on her arms!), and her gingerbread bear (which did not make the trip- she had enough junk packed already)!
Smooches!
This week's theme over at i heart faces is hugs and kisses... Luckily we have those in spades around these parts!
Although I have more recent photos to share, this is one of my favorite shots from last year! We met up at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair on Mason's 2nd Birthday and this is how his cousin greeted him... With a great big smooch! These two certainly love each other!
Finding normal again... and a Flash Mob, too!
The last month has been anything but normal around here. It started out beautifully with Dagny's 1st ice skating experience on the first... she begged to go back and Pop Pop even sprung for a pair of skates and a helmet. He had promised us that if she ever wanted to play hockey, he'd foot the bill, so we were excited when he was giddy to order her gear!
The night after this photo was taken she was playing on the playground at the Ranch and took a spill... off the top of the playground... and hit her face on a step on the way down.
I was at the store, I got the call saying that she had fallen and was ok, so we headed for the car to head back. A few minutes later I got a call to meet them at the ER and my heart dropped. I got there first and started checking in so when they arrived we could go back. After half an hour of screaming, her daddy had the brilliant idea of putting on an episode of Batman. She calmed down. Have I mentioned how much I love that man!? The freaking out ensued as soon as the doctor came in... 30 minutes later she had a few stitches inside her upper lip and we headed home. No broken bones... no concussion... no permanent damage... I was so relieved.
The next morning she woke up and the swelling was a little worse than we had anticipated. After checking in with the pediatrician, we were sent up to an ENT to have her checked out (to rule out broken bones). They took us back right away and Dr. Epstein, our new doctor and now one of my favorite doctors ever, took a look at her. He gently informed us that it was a hematoma, the blood pooled up in her cheek, and that it would have to be drained. He called over to the hospital (which is next door to his office) and booked an OR. It suddenly got real.
I kept my cool for the next few hours as we waited for her to go back and was very thankful as Joe said he'd go in with her (one of us had to). She, on the other hand, didn't have a care in the world. She knew she had a boo boo, but was playing with dolls and toys, watching movies, telling everyone about Batman and Superman, and then playing with the lockers. While I never wanted her to ever go through this, the silver lining is that she's two and didn't grasp the gravity of it all!
Thanks to Dr. Epstein, her short surgery went swimmingly well and we were back to see her in recovery within the hour (maybe longer, who knows!)! I only lost it once through all of the ordeal-- when Joe took her back for surgery-- and am very thankful for a short phone call with Jeffo who said exactly what I needed to hear (he's a PA who does orthopedic surgeries almost daily!). We got her home that night, just thankful for it all to be over!
The weeks that followed were full of children's Tylenol and antibiotics (and the resulting diarrhea). As soon as she was off the meds, literally that day, she caught a horrible cold and had a fever for a few days. She was really in great spirits considering what had been happening, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that her Daddy and I weren't absolutely exhausted from it all! We were so relieved to have her healthy by last weekend-- just in time for the White Flint Camp Fair, a huge weekend for us camp peeps!
Not only did she walk around the fair and collect camp-swag from all of the camps (as if she has a choice as to where she goes!), she even danced in the Flash Mob! Yes, my brilliant hubby had the great idea of holding a Flash Mob at the Camp Fair... let's face it, if "Party Rock" is playing, our campers will be there!
We had an amazing turnout and I'm so glad that we were able to end such an icky month with a huge dose of positivity and fun (and some booty shakin'!)! You barely see her in this (she's in the center of everyone down towards the bottom of the screen), but you get to see her Dad rocking with all of the wonderful staff and kids!
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to moving on to February and finding our "normal" again-- whatever that may be!
A Bookish Beauty @iheartfaces
These past few weeks haven't been easy for our little Doodle... her first ER trip, first surgery, a week of tummy issues, and now a nasty virus! I'll save the details for another post and let you know that she's taken it all in stride and is still the sweetest little toddler a Momma could ask for!
I've been out of the blogging rhythm, but once I saw that the i heart faces theme was "By the Book," I just couldn't resist jumping in. Doodle is a bookworm. We have to limit her at bedtime to a few books because she'd go on forever-- and not because she's avoiding going to sleep. We usually have one good "long" book: "Pinkalicious," "Green Eggs and Ham," "Yurtle the Turtle," "Tangled" (Golden Book) and "Big Heroes! DC Super Friends" (Golden Book about Batman and Superman-- her new obsession with these crime fighters is a story for another day!). After a longer book, we try to wind down with "the usuals." She likes "Goodnight Moon," but doesn't demand it every night. The last two books are always "Are You My Mother?" and "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." She recites both of them, nearly cover to cover, every night.
While this photo may not be the the best by technical standards, I did the best with what I had... no natural light and a toddler with a five minute attention span! ;)
Believe it or not, these are just a few of her books... there's another rack that I didn't bother pulling out! The book on top of the pile, Atlas Shrugged, holds a very special place in our hearts as Doodle is named after the heroine of the book. I can only dream that she grows up to be a strong, intelligent and independent woman who works hard (running a railroad, perhaps!?) and paves her own path in life. Seeing that she's already slightly bossy and tends to rule the roost, I think she's on her way to becoming her own woman! ;)
What is your favorite book?!
What books do your kids like to read??
Any recommendations?!
Finding New Adventures... As you can tell, I love going on adventures - both big and little - with my family.
I used to be a lone adventurer and loved it... I got excited about signing up for a Winter Term Study Abroad trip that I didn't know anyone else on (Guatemala). I packed my bags and headed to Eastern Russia by myself for a semester. I even enjoyed going to Indianapolis for a research conference in college without really knowing anyone on the trip... Thank goodness I did because that's where I met my hubby!
When we first met, one of the more attractive aspects about Joe (besides his smile and cute tush!) was that he was also an adventurer. He had traveled as well and wasn't looking to stop-- we spent our first summer together via pay phones and calling cards as I was living in Spain and he was in Maryland! He managed to visit me in Spain and it was the perfect test adventure to take together... He didn't mind my quirky ways and we were able to laugh over the things that went wrong. I had already known he was the one, but the fact that we could easily travel together really sealed the deal!
When we decided to start a family, we both agreed that the adventures would still continue. They may not be as newsworthy as traveling abroad (although I wish they were!), but when you chose to look at the world the way that we do-- every day is an adventure!
Doodle travels well- she's not really had a choice in the matter! She went to a Caps game at 5 weeks old and flew to Maine for a trip to Vinalhaven at 6 weeks! She's a decent car passenger and is learning the art of road trips (Hello, princess DVDs!).
What has really been fun is that as she has gotten more aware of the world- and what we're doing in it- we now experience it through her bright blue eyes! We spent a half hour feeding goats and alpacas in Deep Creek last weekend- it was as if the rest of the world faded away and her goal in life was to make sure these animals were well fed! She smiled and giggled while she talked to the goat and I could just see how purely happy she was. It cost me a few quarters in feed from a little vending machine and didn't require a single bell or whistle... Just let this girl hang out with a goat and she's happy as a clam!
I'm always looking for these small adventures because you never know where they'll lead you... And I love capturing them in photos that I'll be able to share with her someday. My hubby made a good point tonight-- that often I'm in the mood to take photos and I'll create a new adventure so I can photograph it. Although I hadn't thought of it that way, he's definitely right... but I don't think that's a bad thing. Annoying, perhaps, if you're not into me taking photos of you. To me, if that's what gets us to the Renaissance Faire or the Orchard in the Fall, then it's worth pausing for a few photos while embarking on life's adventures!
What motivates you to get out and try new things? Do you like a challenge (learning a new sport) or do you like to escape reality and enjoy the show (concerts or theater)? Would you rather go it alone or bring the little ones? So many ways to enjoy the world around us... I'm just giddy at the thought of it all!
A Fond Farewell to 2011...
New Years Eve came this year and as I read through friends' posts on Facebook, it seemed as if everyone was very dissatisfied with the year that had passed. I was amazed at how so many people were ready to write off the past 365 days and start with a clean slate-- as if it didn't happen and we didn't gain anything from this year of experiences. Although it had started to get me down, I simply couldn't let it-- I put down my phone and took a little break from social media (Gasp! I know.). I logged back on yesterday and my faith was restored by this little nugget of wisdom from a friend:
Don't allow a date to define a fresh start. Any day can provide a fresh start, just have courage and make it so. --Anon. (i.e., I don't want to call him out on my blog!)
I couldn't agree more... why wait until a year has passed to make those changes?! Let's wake up and make each day count!
Now, 2011 wasn't perfect for me - there were definitely a few hiccups - but when I look back at the year I shared with family and friends, I couldn't be more grateful for the memories that we've created together. You've read many of the highlights, so I'm not going to do a play-by-play, but I will share this little gem with you...
No, this does not capture everything or everyone (I intentionally focused on just the three of us as I did not want feelings to be hurt if I included someone, but not another person!), I think you get the gist... we have wonderful life and I am so very grateful for everything in it.
Thank you for a wonderful 2011... I simply cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store for us!
Merry Merry! We just arrived home from spending Christmas Eve with Joe's family, Christmas morning at our house and Christmas afternoon/night at my parents' house in PA! It was definitely a little whirlwind of a weekend, but I'm so grateful that we were able to spend time with our families!
I'm too tired to even begin editing the photos from the weekend... Although I did get a head start on Christmas morning while I was waiting for Doodle to wake up. I got too antsy and actually went in and woke her up at 9 am. Yes, I'm probably the only parent who had to wake their kid up on Christmas morning! I digress...
Were you good this year?
Did Santa visit your house?
What was your favorite gift?!
Rudolph with your nose so bright...
One adorable furry face... @iheartfaces
Reindeer Antlers?! Seriously, Mom?!
This weekend I took family photos for a good friend who just got married in October... and while I love her dearly, I must admit that I was SO excited to see her puppy, Lola!
Lola was all smiles for me until the sweater and antlers came out. Much like my parents' dog, Finley, she froze up as soon as they dressed her up! I did manage to get some ones of her looking at me, but love this one... it's a face that you give someone to remind them that the only reason you're currently doing something you hate because you love them and want to make them happy! ;) Believe me, I know what I'm talking about on this one-- Mr Roars gives me this look all-the-freaking-time!
There's been a ton going on around here and I will eventually get to sharing some news (New Job Alert!), some new family photos courtesy of Lolli (waiting until the holiday cards are mailed for his one!), a little insight into my vacation routine (Hint: It includes daily doses of yoga and pilates!), and some good ole' catching up with Doodle (Did you see her reaction when she saw her new bed?! Check it out).
And now I must sign off as my own puppies are pawing at the door and whining as loud as they can to remind me that they need to be fed (I didn't forget-- they're just hungry a bit earlier than usual!)!
Do you have pets?!
Do they get outfits for special occasions?!
What does Santa bring them?!
We even met Mrs C! Doodle and her cousin, Cliff, visited with Santa on Friday night... His first time ever and her first time that she didn't completely freak out! I think the fact that Mrs C was there may have helped a little!
While the "elf" was taking photos, Doodle chatted it up and politely asked for a dress and a princess for Christmas. I sure hope Santa takes care of those because they weren't on her parents' list! ;). She's talking in the photo... Which annoyed me at first, but then I realized that it's a good "snapshot in time" as she certainly is a chatty little girl!
Have you visited Santa this year?!
What did you ask for?!
Repeat the Sounding Joy...
'Tis the season to be jolly and we're doing our best to uphold our part of the bargain this year! Last night we decorated our Christmas Tree...
I don't know how the tree-decorating process goes at your house, but here's what it looks like over here:
~Tree Selection: Joe and I discuss whether or not it's worth it to pull out the massive 8 foot tree out of the small storage room in the basement or the smaller 5 foot version. We've had the big tree the past few years, but opted for the smaller tree this year given Doodle's need to touch and try to pull apart ev-ery-thing.
~Ornament Selection: Although I'm quite traditional with my tree style (which consists of ornaments given to us and collected over the years), this year I wasn't willing to risk my beautiful Radko ornaments being touched and/or handled by a 2 year old. We decided to invest in some shatterproof ornaments that I won't care about if Doodle wants to play light saber near the tree. Thank goodness my Hubby is an angel and agreed to a super-girly pink and purple tree... topped with Sleeping Beauty, of course!
~Ribbon: Joe puts the ribbon on. He's a pro at this and I don't touch it.
~Ornaments: This is where it gets hairy. Approximately five minutes after I was reminded not to stifle my 2 year old's creativity by dictating where each ornament should go, I absentmindedly walked up to the tree and fixed a few ornament locations. Ouch. I'm blaming the Christmas-tree-perfectionist genes that I was born with, but I really did try. I thought I was doing really well until Joe went to put some filler ornaments on the tree and I moved his first one. Damn. I honestly tried SO very hard to be good. Let's just say I'm a work in progress!
~Photos: I had planned on changing my shirt and throwing on some make up to take a few photos in front of the tree, but that would have pushed Hubby's limits. So-- I set the timer a few times to get a shot of the three of us {hopefully} looking at the camera. During the second try, Sully jumped in so we decided to go for it and try for a photo of all of us... a feat not yet accomplished. Well, the stars aligned and here you have it-- our family photo in front of the tree!
What are your holiday traditions?
How do you decorate your tree/house!?
Oh So Thankful...
While I won't list every friend and family member whom I'm thankful for (I'm terrified of accidentally missing someone), I hope you all know how much you mean to me (a lot!)! 2011 has brought many things to be thankful for (ahem, my nephew Cliff!) and I'll continue to be thankful far past the Turkey and Apple Pie this evening!
I'll leave you with a photo of these two, who brighten my world each and every day:
What, or whom, are you thankful for this year?!
Holiday Greetings...
I know it's not yet Thanksgiving, but if I'm being honest here, I've conquered about a third of my holiday shopping already! I'm usually not that ahead of the game, but this year I got the urge to start a little early. It's thrown my usual routine out of whack... I usually tackle holiday cards before I even begin creating lists!
Over the past few years I've designed my own cards and tried to be a little "punny" with them... but I don't know that I'm feeling it this year. It's not for a lack of inspiration, rather I've found a site whose creations I truly adore... TinyPrints. I know many readers will have a simple reply, "Duh!" I know, I know. If you haven't yet worked with them, it's ridiculously easy!
I actually used Tiny Prints Greeting Cards last year for my last-minute Christmas cards-- I was able to have them sent directly to the recipient and marveled at how quickly they arrived! In fact, after being inspired by a mini-photo shoot with Doodle last January, our family received their Valentine greetings from there as well. Check out how cute they are...
I know, right!?
While I'll share a few of my favorite holiday designs, I'm keeping the official card under wraps... mainly because we're having photos taken by Lolli on Friday (I'm SO excited!!!) and I'll want to make sure they coordinate!
Here are some ones I adore...
There are so many directions to go with all of the great designs... and I simply won't know until we get our photos back!
Which is your favorite design?
Do you want a holiday card from LoveRoars?! Be sure to comment and/or email me your mailing address at LoveRoars@gmail.com.
Moving on up... to the big girl bed!
Need we say more?! Two years and two months in a crib... now in her own bed! Where has the time gone?!
Autumn Splendor... i heart faces
Meet Miss A, one of the sweetest and happiest babies I've ever known...
Isn't she gorgeous?! She's got the looks of her lovely Mama and the personality of her fun-loving Pops!
Miss A's parents are very good friends of ours who recently moved up the road (you know, I-95... up to NJ from MD). I've known her Daddy since I've known my Hubby and her Mama is one those awesome friends who you have text message conversations during the workday with, pretending that she's really just minutes away!
I had the pleasure of photographing Miss A when she was born... at the hospital within 12 hours of her birth... it was magical! She was a beautiful newborn and has grown into such a gorgeous baby! While living in MD she went to the same daycare as Doodle and is called "My Baby A" by our little one who is convinced that A actually belongs to her and the adults are just here to help her out! While we miss seeing them on a more frequent basis, it makes the days we spend together even sweeter-- like the morning we spent together at the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago!
While this wasn't a planned photo shoot, I couldn't resist snapping some photos of this sweetie... she inspires me!
Back From Vacation... and a Little Halloween! ;)
This past week has been a photography whirlwind...
Joe and I had a wonderful little vacation in New Orleans! We walked around the French Quarter, explored antique shops, and ate a meal nearly every 4 hours (slight exaggeration, but we did eat three meals a day in fabulous restaurants)! I tried my hand at taking photos of food, but quickly realized that I'm definitely sticking to portraits... food just doesn't speak to me in that way. When I layed my eyes on those gorgeous beignets, taking a photo was the last thing I was thinking of (it was more like, "Get in my belly!").
My dear friend Vycki got married on Saturday in Biloxi! I had my camera, but was slightly too busy (I was a 'maid!) and slightly too emotional over the whole thing to be able to take a step back and focus on the photos. As Joe often reminds me to do, instead of photographing it, I was living in the moment. I argue that I can do both, but still... it was a gorgeous day and I get all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it!
More on those two events in another post... I'm still digesting it all!
Last night was Halloween (duh!)! Because we live in a community of townhouses, we have hosted Halloween/Trick-or-Treating the last few years. Given that the "babies" are only two, we didn't make them run a trick-or-treat marathon-- just up and down our block. It's not like they'll get to eat most of the candy, anyway! ;) Grandma Nancy and Pop pop came over to spend the evening with Doodle and Mason... We had a fun night in and stuffed ourselves with a big pasta dinner while D & M played with D's toys. Again, I have tons of photos that I'm still trying to wrap my head around! ;)
For now, here is a little storyboard of Doodle's Halloween history...
2009 - 7 Weeks Old at the Caps Game Dressed Up as Slapshot's Sidekick, "Wristshot"
2010 - Nearly 14 Months Old as a Little Piggy
2011 - 2 Years Old (or nearly 26 months old) as "Seeping Booty"
Putting Up My "Out of Office" #WordlessWednesday I'll be spending the next few days stuffing my face with beignets at Cafe Du Monde before celebrating a dear friend's wedding this weekend! See you next week!
Let Them Be Little... iheartfaces
We were hanging out at Butler's Orchard with some family on Saturday and my nephew grabbed a wooden stick and decided to "play it" while he danced with his cousin to some live bluegrass. Not being his parent, I was able to giggle with my hubby and smile with grandparents as we appreciated his creativity and excitement. His parents were not so thrilled that there was a dirty stick in his mouth... this is when we (more-or-less... in different words) said "Let them be little!"
There are a lot of those moments around these parts: Doodle stalls bedtime by staging an imaginary pizza party on our bed... She grabs a princess doll (we now have a "few") and swings it around as she dances like Belle & the Beast in the famous ballroom scene... Puppies are adorned with princess tiaras... Doodle lays across the top of the couch and watches the Caps game "like Ariel"... luckily most of those moments make us smile, want to pinch her little cheeks, and bottle up all of her cuteness!
But... When you have a 2 year old, there are some times when you get frustrated with them (like the Sharpie incident) and you just have to take a breather and remind yourself that Magic Erasers and cleaning products were created for a reason, she's just two years old and figuring out the world (and what can't be drawn on), and you need to "let her be little!"
