New Shoes...No Thanks!

So, maybe it's just because I live in flip flops almost year round but I have never really made Zane wear shoes. I think they look uncomfortable on babies- and baby feet are just so freaking adoreable, why cover them up?! We decided that it is time for Zane to get his first pair of shoes, he is almost a year old, he needs shoes. Mainly we thought that it would help him balance better when he is standing and help him in the whole journey to walking on his own. Our first clue as to how things would turn out was at the shoe store. I tried the shoes on him and he looked at me like I was an alien. The poor baby actually started shaking- great he is actually scared of the shoes!! We bought them anyway- I forgot how cute those tiny little shoes are!! I put them on him yesterday and he just stood there looking at me like you can't be serious!! He would not move. You would have thought I had put cement on his feet. Finally he lifts up his leg and stares at his foot and shakes his head no!! It was so funny- I wish I had a picture of it. I put him in his walker but he wasnt having that either. He just let his feet drag behind him like those little dogs that have two front legs but a little cart on back. I decided we would take things one step at a time- today we started wearing socks!! Hey, baby steps right!

Discovering New Things

So Saturday we decided to be adventurous and take all of the boys to Charlotte to Discovery Place. Brent saw where they are having a special exhibit on Pompeii and we both wanted to see it so we decided to make it a family affair! For the record, we should have just gone to the zoo! It would have cost less and taken the boys way longer to see everything, plus it was a beautiful day. Brent and I should have gone to see the Pompeii display without the whole gang. It was very somber and serious and we couldnt really look at everything with a 6,5, and almost 1 year old. Nontheless, the boys actually had a great time. They enjoyed the disnosaur exhibit but I think their favorite thing was some contraption they had that you had to shovel sand from one place to another. They were so amused by this. (Again could have done this sand thing at the park - for free!) All in all it was a fun trip and neat experience for them. . . The ride home from Charlotte with 3 tired boys- not so much fun!

Happy Birthday Madelyn!

This weekend of course went by too quickly as usual! But if was packed with a lot of exciting things! The most exciting being welcoming Madelyn Grace Hall into the world Saturday! One of my closest friends, Carrie asked me to be in the delivery room with her during Madelyn's birth when she was probably about 5 months pregnant. Of course I was honored and excited to be a part of this special time! After much anticipation Madelyn made her appearance 5 days past her due date at 3:22am Saturday morning. Carrie was a trooper and did such a good job during the whole process. I have never been on "this side" of labor, so it was definetely a different prospective to see what goes on while you are doing all of that hard work! And for the record, I like it from this side way better!! :) After only 7 hours of labor, there she was 7lbs, 21 inches and a head full of black hair- what a beautiful baby she is! We will also be taking her picture every month until her first birthday, so I also have 13 photo sessions to look forward to as well! I can't wait to watch her grow and change!
While I was enjoying all of the excitement poor Brent had to go to Charlotte to work on his grandfathers house. It of course proved to be more work than originally anticipated- but it will be worth it when the house sales and he gets his share of the money...which we plan on using as part of a down payment on a larger house!! We love our house and have worked really hard to get it from where it was when we bought it to what it is now, but we are so tight on space, especially when we have all the boys!!
Well off to another Monday...why can't the weekend be just one day longer!?!

25 Things You Didn't Know!

So, I saw this on Ashley's blog and thought it was a cute idea. I love things like this, the little random details of people that let you understand them a little better, maybe I am just a nosey person, but I think it is interesting....so here are 25 Things you may not know about me....

1. There are certain food that I cannot say no under any circumstance, such as- oreos, krispy kreme donuts, pb&j sandwiches,pizza and mexican food

2. I wish I had finished college. Not necessarily in the field that my major was, but I wish I had gotton some type of degree.

3. I loved working retail, I just didn't like the hours. I miss this job sometimes.

4. Drake's name means "dragon"

5. Zane's middle name is Scott after his uncle- Bryan Scott

6. I was scared to death of indians as a child- I had nightmares! But I loved Tweetsie Railroad!

7. I secretly think I would like to have one more child - just not yet!

8. My parents are 12 years apart in age- people used to think my mom was his daughter- I love them though!

9. I am thankful that my parents were strict. I never thought I would say this but I think I have turned out pretty well.

10. My biggest fear is something happening to me and my children not remembering me or how much I love them.

11. I hate washing my hair

12. My family calls me Sunshine- my little sis is sugar booger (your welcome ashlee!)

13. My best friend Morgan & I have been friends since we were 3 years old! We were also born 1 day apart and our kids were born 6 days apart...strangely ironic! I wish that she still lived here.

14. My favorite color is brown. My favorite color combination in brown and teal/aqua.

15. Vegetables are not my friend. I do not like them and I do not eat them. I do however make my boys eat them.

16. I cannot stand to touch "raw cotton" like cotton balls or swiffer pads- I don't know why but the make me hyperventalate.... I know it's strange. I also do not like to touch any kind of meat, even sandwich meat.

17. I have big feet

18. When the kids are all grown up I would love to live in Charleston

19. Brent & I met at work and hid our relationship from them until I was almost 6 months pregnant

20. My parents are my heroes. I can't imagine life without them.

21. We are taking the older boys to DisneyWorld in the Spring. Drake can't wait to go!

22. My favorite alcoholic beverage is amaretto sour

23. I wish I had time to volunteer or help raise awareness for shaken baby syndrome. These stories melt my heart and make me feel blessed all at the same time.

24. I love doing laundry except putting it away, I love to sweep my floors but hate mop them, I hate grocery shopping but love to put the groceries away.

25. I love to watch my boys while they are peaceful and sleeping. It makes me think about all the good times we have had, how precious they are, and what the future holds for them.

Engagement Session

So- I had my first real photo session this evening with Leah and Austin.  I think it went well, especially considering I wasn't really too sure exactly what I was doing.  It was a learning experience for us all, but I couldn't have asked for a better couple to work with.  They are so cute together and are so in love!  Here are a couple of my favorite shots pre-editing of course!

Keeping Up With The Times

Well we are finally catching up with the happenings of the present! We officailly have a computer and internet in our home! Yes I know that this happened for most people atleast 5 years ago if not more but I have never really had the need to have a computer at home. I always had one available at work and really didn't want to see one sitting in my living room after working on one all day, plus I didn't want the added expense of the internet. Again yes I know it doesn't cost that much, but hey every penny counts!!

This past weekend we made a trip to Best Buy to have a look at our options and left with an iMac! Drake of course was ecstatic and is looking up everything Godzilla that he can find...don't ask me why he is on a Godzilla kick, it just happened, but that's a different story. Brent has looked up tons of golf sites and has made a decision on what clubs he wants to buy... after we pay off a few things of course! I on the other hand have been playing around with the photo editing software that we bought. I am in the process of editing all of our wedding pictures so I can maybe have them printed sometime before our first anniversary!!

I am also trying my hand at doing some photography on the side so the new software will really come in handy! I have my business cards ordered and have my first official session tomorrow- with real "customers" other than my poor kids!! I am a little nervous but I am so excited at the same time! It is an engagement session and hopefully if things go well a wedding session will follow! Wish me luck!

Here We Go....

Well here we go. I have thought about having a blog for a while now- mostly to keep in touch with people. I worry though that I won't have anything too interesting to say!! I am not sure I am creative enough to have a successful blog, but I am gonna try it anyway, and we will see what happens! I guess most of you reading this pretty much know me but just in case - Brent and I just got married at the end of May and had an amazing honeymoon in Jamaica! Our Brady bunch style family includes three amazing boys! Drake is the oldest he just turned 6, I can't believe how fast he has grown up. He is quite the character and I can never tell what he is going to come up or what he will say. It's entertaining to say the least! Then there is Ethan who is 5. He is the sweetest, most caring child. He can always melt your heart. On the other hand he is all boy and is definetely a handful at times, but what boy isn't right?! That just leaves Zane, or Zane Bug as we call him. He will be 1 in September and I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like time has a way of speeding up the more kids you have!! He is such a good baby and of late has become quite the mama's boy- which I love!!! So there you have it- the summary of me! More to come!!!