Z's one year portraits

I finally took Little Z's one year photos.  

There are so many things that I love about my little guy, but one of my favorites is his crazy hair.  It's always sticking straight up, and even though I tried to tame it a bit for these photos with some hair product, it still stuck straight up.  

I love that about him!

So grateful for my little man.  

Here's my favorites.

refresh

David and I are attending a conference this week.  The theme is "Refresh."  It's a really great theme.  Really great.  Be refreshed.  Who wouldn't want that?  Refreshed in the sense of deep. soul. refreshment.  Yes, I'm in need of refreshment.  I've heard some really great speakers who have given me much to ponder.  My prayer is that what has just hit my brain would make it's way into my heart too.

But, at the moment I'm sitting in my hotel room with a screaming baby who won't fall asleep....  We're in a single room, and so I can't get away from the screaming.  That is not so refreshing.  But, I know it will stop soon, and Z will fall asleep.  Please, Z, fall asleep!!

Back to the theme.  There are lots of things that refresh me, what about you?  I'm the kind that likes things in small doses--I'm a more moderate personality, and so too much of any one thing is not refreshing.  Take too much ice cream, for example.  Makes my tummy hurt.  Too much exercise makes me too tired.  Too much time away from home makes me cranky.  But, there is probably one thing that I can't get enough of.  Cute photos of my kiddos.  I'm addicted to those!    So, I'll leave you with these of little Z.  He's stuck in a bucket for fun.

{He is still screaming, by the way!}

b is for bathtime

Well hello, blog-world!  I took a little break from blogging aparently!  Life has been full with lots of life lately, and I just haven't been around.  I am back today with some of my favorite photos--bathtime!

These photos make me smile, and I'm the mood to smile, so here you go.  Hope they make you smile too!

if I could only have one baby "appliance..."

...it would be our Gymini a.k.a. a baby play gym. We've had this thing for 8 years, and all three kiddos have loved it. From birth to nine months, Z is still enjoys playing on it.

What I love:
it's compact: it folds flat for easy storage.
it's customizeable: you can remove the toys or add more to your liking
it's bright and colorful, and that makes me happy.
it's easily washable: the little arches snap off, so that the flat part can be thrown in the washing maching
it's got a long life: newborns can lie on it and enjoy all the colors. 9 month olds still enjoy sitting on it, pulling the toys off and ummm, eating it?

Need I say more? I think this one's a keeper. I'm going to save it for my kids' kids. It's that good.

















And, because I want to play along with Emily today, here are a few favorite "me-Z-and-the- Gymini" shots.

baby legs

Every cute baby must have a pair of baby legs. I'd been looking on etsy for awhile and had not found any that I loved for a price that I loved (i.e. I'm a little bit cheap sometimes!) But, then, I read this blog post with a link to this DIY tutorial on how to make some.



Wow, they were so easy! I found knee-high socks at Target for just $2 a pair. That is a good price for baby legs, in my opinion.

My little baby model was not so into modeling.  As soon as I lay him down for this shot, he rolled over. Again and again.


Oh well, he's off!

I experimented with an over-edge stitch on the first pair, which I do not recommend. Using a straight stitch was much more straight forward. (Pardon the pun!)



I think he likes them no matter what his daddy says!

hanging out on the bricks

Just hangin' out on the bricks.



I think I'll go exploring.


Hmm...what's that tiny little thing?


Let me just grab it.




I think I'll taste it.


It's actually not very yummy at all.


And now, my hands are all dirty.


Oh well. What's going on over there?

Just a glimpse into little Z's life at 9 months. Everything is fascinating. And everything goes in the mouth.

9 months.

While we were on our walk last weekend, I thought I'd try a quick photo shoot with litte Z for his 9 month photos.  The light was almost perfect, and the weather was beautiful.  As soon as we set him down, he was enthralled by the feeling of grass on his feet.  Maybe I'm a little slow, but the poor kid had never felt grass on his feet.  He was interested in everything...but me and my big black camera.

Our conversation as I imagined it:

Hey Z, look at me!
Umm, I'm kind of busy here, whatchyou want?


Oh, Zeee, (insert best sing-song-y voice) look at maaaamaaa!
This stuff is sooo interesting.


Yo.  Z.  Look up!
Here's my foot, it feels so nice in this stiff brown stuff.


Okay, well, I do love those piggie toes.  Good idea.  I'll shoot those.


Go ahead, just ignore me.  I'll capture you that way.


Pretty please, let's get just one looking-at-me-smiling shot, pretty, pretty please?
Hey, did I mention that my teeth were starting to hurt again?


Okay, mama, because I love you.  I'll give you just one chance.  You better be fast!


Well, that was fun, but I'm done now.  Bye!