the year of the ox

So.... 2009, huh? I can't believe its already the 23rd. Other than the super depressing weather 2009 has proven to be pretty great so far. Like, maybe this is my year! Last year was wonderful, too... Fi was born, duh... but now we are in the swing of things. I'm not pregnant (which for me is a good thing..... ugh 9 months of nausea) nor am I recovering from having a child surgically removed from my insides. 2009 seems hopeful. And we are almost to February! The winter is "almost" over! Rejoice!
Here are some pictures from recent activities....


Fi was in her tub, as usual... and Charlie girl got in with her....
it was unbelievably cute.


crayons!


Here are some cool ones of Joell's creepy creepy farm. I mean, its a really cool house... but totally creepy.



time for jokes


Vera Anderson turned 1! Its crazy that time has gone by so fast... but I guess that's a pretty normal feeling for new parents. Vera was so pretty in her pink party dress, but I was too late getting there to really take any pics of her in it..
With Matt:)


Birthday girl


Fi's hair is long enough for pigtails now, so I couldn't resist.


Fi is now standing. And her favorite thing to pull up on is the cat food table. Of course. Appearantly Bort can no longer eat there.... I am sure he's thrilled.


portrait of little baby...


Drool!
No teeth yet, but obviously something is going on in there...


Mama Shay


Cousin Harpsachord!





love this one


Aunt Bailee




Fi has discovered her shadow. I love it.


Fiona has also started signing. She now does "milk" and "finished." I am so excited and proud! I will post pics of it as soon as I can catch her doing it!

Hope everyone is enjoying 2009 as much as we are!
Love to you all:)

Recent goings on....

We have been so busy lately... lots of leftover holiday activities. Things we didn't quite have enough time to do before Christmas, but don't want to leave out of the season altogether.
Casey, Rowan and Bunzo came to visit us yesterday. It was so exciting! Casey and I don't get to see each other very often, so a visit from her is always special.

Here is a "family" portrait:)




Fashaya and Shaun also came over recently and lazed around in the sun. That living room window proved to be my (and many others) light therapy during the winter. People need their vitamin D!


Aunt Lauren came to visit as well last weekend.... and she brought Fi the cutest mary jane socks. So, if you see them on her feet in every photo its because they are ridiculously cute and I can't resist. I am so sad this picture isn't in focus, but I love it anyway...


and my baby got sick again fro a few days.... she was watching her Signing Time, sucking her thumb, playing with her smoothie, and I knew something was wrong. She's usually all over the place. I had to document it:)


So, I am hoping to visit our friends, Bubba and Melissa who just built their dream home in Highland County today. Such a beautiful spot! They labored hard for this baby, so we gotta go see! I am sure I will have photos... don't worry. ha!

warm day

Today it was in the 60's.... so we took Fi to the park. I loved this shot... so I had to put it up:)



let me know what you think

I know its been forever!

Oh, jeez! So much has happened in the past month... and I have failed to write about any of it! Because of my lack of time to blog. this will be a super-blog..... if you will.

First I'll start with (of course) some of my favorite shots lately. Some went in to a book I made for Rene for Christmas.

Cousin girls!




with Mimi. Fi was feeling pooey.


For my mom. A recreation of another photo of she and I.


Her first "snow." Its been a really mild winter (so far.) These few flurries are it!


Actually, I can't remember if these are already on here... oh well... I like it. There was a swarm or birds outside my front door last month. They were flying all crazy in circles. Such a sight.


Rene has written several songs for Fi... and she really pays attention.
She is destined to be a musician...


A beautiful photo of Charlie at our house. Cozying with Annie, the rabbit.


This is the photo we gave Rene's parents for Christmas. Its the only one where the babies' faces are kind-of in focus. Nearly impossible!


Fi has been modeling with veteran Charlie for the catalog where Jen and I work. Its so fun to see Fi workin her stuff for the camera. Like she's not used to it from me.... totally obsessed.






Bailee came over to hang and took this sweet one before Fi went to bed.. during our nightly read.


So, I took this photo a long time ago.. and when Dave let me hang 11 photos in his coffee shop Rene's mother bought it from me. Both Rene's parents have been asking for duplicates of Fi and I to hang with it... so for Christmas we gave these to them. I tried to match our expressions.. and the photo quality. Oh, and the frame. They liked them.





Fi and I went to Florida to visit my Dad, sister and brother. It was a great visit.. and Rachael cried when she saw Fi. We met at La Terisita... a restaurant Dad has been taking us to since I was a baby. I have to say it was a very poignant meeting place. Rachael saw Fi and held her and it was unbelievable. She loves her so much and it makes my heart explode! Rachael also told me that she reads this blog.... so people are visiting! Here's a shout-out to you, my super-fantastic sitter! Rachael's boyfriend, David was there as well... and he proved to be Fi's entertainment throughout the meal. Totally awesome dude. He's a ballroom dancer in the same show that Rachael swims in. Its called LaReve, and its in the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas. Unbelievable. Go see it. Anyway..... here are a few shots of the trip.






her first trip to the beach. Of course she loves it. Its in her blood.




Oh gosh... I just realized how long this thing is really going to be. I totally understand if you have to come back to this later.
Rene' got me a camera for Christmas. He is just fuling the fire! But her knew that was the one thing I truly wanted. A fuji S1000. Such a sweet hunzo. These are taken with it... of Christmas. Fi's first baby doll. She loves my old little baby so much that my mom got her one of her own. She also got baby Harper a baby (who looks EXACTLY like her!) and she loved it! Fi also got some blocks, which Rene promptly buried her with. My mom brought over like, a thousand bears. So, Rene threw those at her too. She thought it was hilarious. When we went to Rona and Mikes for Christmas they sprung some news at us....... they getting HITCHED! OMG... we couldn't be happier. This is like, the greatest news ever. Mike is super..... and we get to keep him! Harper and Fi actually noticed and recognized eachother during our visit. Here is film documentation of it. Cause it needed to be documented... it was so sweet.








Christmas Morning


Our house Xmas Eve: Panoramic1 and 2

bears



harper and the family photo

our view from the window.


love to every one!