I have to start this post with the following:

THANK YOU EMILY WAITE FOR THE FANTASTIC, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, AND WONDERFUL PORTRAITS!

*many more photos were taken but in an effort not to scare you away, only a few were chosen to post

::whew::

now that the thank yous are done...I can start bloggin'.

so, obviously, I am grateful for the pics and one reason why is that it has been about 3 years since I had portraits taken of any of us! That may seem like forever to some and nothing to others but you must FIRST understand that ....I am not proud of this just stating a fact... I had portraits taken of Andrea every two months for two years and at least 3-4 times a year after those crazy first years. Ask anyone who knows me well. Many pictures, and yes, every bit of clothing matches, and many sizes of pictures for anyone who gave a dang.

I don't regret it at all. Andrea's first two years are well documented and so are her cousins'. I do regret all the matching outfits...but, oh well. It seemed like the perfect thing to do at the time and I spent very hard earned money on them. So, no looking back.

Can I get an Amen?!?!?

I am getting so excited for the holidays. I always do.

But, I'm worried...just a little...because every year, I get these MAJOR post holiday blues!

I get so excited to see family, friends, strangers (anyone that has a pulse and who can carry on a conversation) and then when New Year's celebrations are over, I'm depressed. Not too bad lately but for a while...I wouldn't leave the house for a few days cause I felt so empty...

So, my question (or questions) to all of you (maybe 10 people actually look at this blog..) is:::::

ONE- do you ever feel this way?

and

TWO- how do you overcome said feelings?

and

THREE- do you think that it's wrong to be so "open book" on a public blog?!?!?

Love you all! (all 10 of you that actually read the ...uh...not crap...uh...words, yes words! that I write/type here in blog land!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

ONE DAY LEFT!!!

this post is dedicated to all the moms out there that have "gone back to school" after having children!

so, this is a terrible pic of me, but DANG that boy with me is HOT! I can't even describe my feelings about him. I love him dearly. I can't wait to see everything he experiences in life! His mommy is such a good one. I can't believe how much he LOVES her. I love that about my sister. She is so soft, sweet, and kind. I'm glad she has been given the two children that she has been blessed with because they have been huge blessings to me! (by the way, he's only one month old! he's a BIG boy!)


and this girl...I love her so much. I don't know what my life would be like without her. I saw a movie one time in which the main character said to a love interest, "you make me wanna be a better man" .... I feel the same way but, it's more like, "you make me wanna be a better mom."

on a slightly different note...

I have ONE day left of school left and ... let me tell you, I CAN'T wait to be a mom again, a wife again, and a daughter/sister/friend again!!!

This has been one incredible road I have travelled down. I really recommend it to anyone. My adult college experience has been one that I will never regret.

I can't begin to describe my first year teaching. It has been such a joy and a struggle to balance all the "activities" in my life. I am sooooo thankful to my husband who has put up with many tear sessions. And to my daughter, I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for everything I have missed during this journey of mine. You really are the reason I did this. It may not seem like it at times, but, I did it so you would have a good life with me. I love you, Andrea, so much. You are daddy's girl, but MOMMY'S WORLD!!!