So.....apparently I'm starting a little side job with the pleasure I find in photography.  Our MOMS Club chapter has over 70 members and I was frequently being asked to take pictures.  A few friends along with Matt, nudged, suggested, and helped me gain the confidence to actually charge a very small fee for my time.  I've had 3 recent maternity sessions, one baby, and one newborn session within the last few weeks.  Here are a few of my personal favorites:

I'm really enjoying it.  There's this weird mix of thrill, enjoyment, and fear each time I go to take pictures.  Sometimes while I'm doing it the confidence rises, other times I'm doubtful until the upload, but each time, so far, I've felt okay about what I've given the client in return.  Oh....wait.....do I have "clients"?!?!?  That sounds so...so....so....business-like. 

Each time I've learned something new and it's the logistics that will challenge me.  Childcare being the main one.  If I pay someone to watch the girls I really wouldn't make much profit, espeically starting out and wanting to buy additional items.  If I raise my fee to cover childcare, I will get intimidated very quickly.  With more money comes greater expectation and with greater expectation comes intimidation for me.  It's a cycle.  I hope to find a good balance of side job hobby that makes it worth my time but is still entirely affordable and comfortable for me.  First and foremost I am a wife.  A mother.  And apparently a beginner photographer.  Wow. 

Elyse crept into our room today a little earlier than normal.  She climbed in bed and settled between us.  As soon as I snuggled into her a few minutes later I could feel the heat radiating from her small frame.

100.8 is where we started, 103 by the afternoon, 102 as I tucked her in tonight. 

Several times today she asked me to gently tickle her arms, back, or as it was at bedtime, her cheeks and right around her tiny mouth.  She has always been a sensory child and simple, soft tickling will stop her immediately in her tracks from play and she will just sit and absorb the touch.  The flip side is that lights are often too bright, noises too loud, tags in clothes too itchy, edges of a waffle too scratchy, a friend's legs too prickly (her pointing that out to fellow moms has embarrassed me on more than one occasion).

She notices everything.  A new dish towel, different packaging on a box of pasta, when my toes are painted a new color. 

Today, feeling sick, I noticed her trying not to express how much she wanted me next to her, near her, touching her.  Perhaps it's because we've worked so hard on the whining and crying for no reason lately, that she didn't feel comfortable expressing herself.  Maybe it's because she's nearing her 3rd birthday and she doesn't want to need me so much.  Either way, I read her and I climbed into her bed, sat next to her on the couch, or softly tickled her when she asked.  She hardly left the couch all day. 

Don't get me wrong, without the pitter patter of her little feet everywhere I also took advantage and swept, mopped and did some laundry, but overall she led the day.  When she wanted to rest, eat or drink, how and what she wanted to play.....it was nice to break out of our routine and be housebound, but next time maybe we'll do it on our terms, not the terms of a illness fighting fever. 

As I stroked her cheeks in her bed tonight, I couldn't help but think one day she won't want me to touch her at all.  One day her husband will tickle her cheeks.  One day she will tickle her child's cheeks.  As her eyes grew heavy and her breathing deepened, I longed for a pause button.  As fast as it all goes by, there simply is no way to take it all in.  Both girls were asleep by 7pm and the house has little to clean up. Instead of finding some chore to do, I'm going to enjoy the extra downtime and let the feel of her soft, hot skin linger on my hands.

Wow....has it really been an entire week since I've posted?!

Reflecting on the past week I don't know how so much time got away from me, but as usual, it did.  Our weeks are rather consistent and we keep a good routine going, yet something about them constantly changes.  I'm finding less and less time to blog these days as Adley begins to stay awake longer and desire to explore more.  Watching her and Elyse interact has quickly become one of my favorite things.  It amazes me the love they share for each other already and the joy they bring the other just simply by entering the room.  The squeals and smiles are definitely something to cherish.  I'm really soaking it in before Adley gets mobile and the true rivalry begins from them until, well, a very, very long time.

While I was pregnant with Adley, I read the book "Siblings Without Rivalry" and I remember it seeming to have a lot of good ideas and advice, I just can't remember what that was now.  I read it entirely too soon.  I guess I expected war between them right out of the womb. 

Saturday we went to Cypress Park Point which has a little beach.  It's literally 15 minutes from the house, has the perfect movement of water for little people and you can watch planes flying directly overhead from nearby TPA.  It's certainly not the most beautiful or accommodating beach I've ever been to, but location speaks volumes when you prefer to make it home in time for naps. 

Speaking of these sweet sisters.  I love everything about this picture........

This time of year I aim to be outside with the girls as much as possible before heat really sets in and it becomes a sweaty chore just to walk out to your car and the leather of your seat burns your bum.  I love Florida but the humid heat has it's moments with me.  But spring, oh how I love spring. 

Time to conquer a few things while these little ones rest.



It always amazes me how a busy weekend, when we're seldom at home, wreaks havoc on the house.  When we're on the go and in and out, come Monday, the house is much more cluttered and messy than if we had been here all weekend.  Today was clean up day from not being here much at all.

Saturday we went and looked at flooring, visited Oma and went for a boat ride with Opa.

Oma is doing well, she really is.  Even if her mind isn't always with us at our visits, her warm smile, gentle touch and genuine love for our family is there every single time.  I'm not sure if she remembers the girls from visit to visit but I'm positive she enjoys every silly second of their company.  Elyse often plays the organ for us while we're there and little tactile Adley likes feeling Oma's knit sweaters.  I enjoy quietly observing this amazing woman, the legacy coming behind her, and my husband who simply adores her.  His love for his grandmother, the closeness of their relationship is something that amazes me.  It's such a wonderful gift and one I hope to pass on to our girls.

 Adley did not like wearing the life vest one bit.  They both did great on the ride though.  The weather was just beautiful.  It was one of those moments I absolutely love living in Florida.  I have those moments a lot, especially this time of year.

 Opa even let her have a turn steering the boat.

 These are the shrimp boats that go out each evening at dusk to gather shrimp until the wee hours of the morning.  I thought they looked so neat lined up like that, awaiting their next journey.

Sunday afternoon we went to Sarasota Polo Club with a group of friends.  None of us really understand the game or know the teams playing but we've gone just about every year for several years now.  It's a wonderful, different reason to get outside and enjoy spring weather in Florida on soft green grass where walking around barefoot is not only allowed, but expected.  The kids enjoy stomping divots and watching the horses.  The adults enjoy a spread of food, a game of corn hole, watching the kids play, and just great friends having a good time.

By time we got home yesterday evening we were dirty and tired.  We threw together some tacos and ate them on the patio before giving the girls an early bedtime.  The busy weekend yielded a 3.5 hour nap from Elyse today.....that was bliss!

Finally

We had a good day.  Finally.

I can't express the battles we've had with Elyse lately.  She's a good kid, she really is, but if I had to sum her in two words they would be sensitive and dramatic.  Those two don't mix well together if you ask me.  She could stub a toe, lose a limb, misplace a toy, or be bumped into on the playground.  Her reactions are the same.  Crying, whining, and lots of it.  Since she was born she wakes from sleep screaming and crying hysterically.  For no reason.  One might think it's because she's overtired, that's one of the signs of a child not getting adequate rest, but I assure you, sleep is one thing she gets plenty of.  She cries because she wants to get up then cries because she wants to stay in bed, cries because you're in the room, cries because you leave, she just plain cries.  It.  Drives.  Me.  Bananas. 

I've tried different techniques but this past week I really cracked down on it with a zero tolerance approach and I also prayed.  I prayed for wisdom on how to handle her and the patience and perseverance to carry it out.  Probably something I should have done much sooner and I strive not to be harsh, but she needed to meet her match.  Not just her match, but the person placed in authority over her. 

We went head to head.  It took multiple battles over multiple days but I think she's cracked.  I hope she's cracked.  I pray she's cracked.  I'm seeking taming her spirit and not breaking it.  I feel like I hear that all of the time with kids like her and I get what they're saying, but I don't get how you know the difference, taming vs. breaking, and if you're doing it correctly. 

Today was wonderful.  Not an unnecessary tear or whine to speak of and she was visually practicing better self-control, something that will serve her well her entire life.  It made such a difference in our day and I'm so thankful for the feeling of peace that was in our house.  Not a quiet calm because we have two little ones and that just wouldn't make sense, but a happy peace where love abounds. 

I realize at some point tomorrow or the next day a battle will emerge and I'll feel like we're back at square one, but I can reflect on this day and claim the ground we gained again.  She is capable but she needs to be led and I must continue leading her.

The interesting part about it all is when I asked her preschool teacher, Sunday-school teacher, and teachers at bible study if this was an issue and to describe her in one word, they all had the same word......sweet.  When I expressed our issues and what we were working on so a collaborative effort could be made, none of them ever even thought of her as dramatic.  Her preschool teacher said she is the "little mother" of the class, always concerned how everyone is doing and feeling, if they are having a good day or if they need any help.  Her teacher went as far as to say she is the most reliable kid in the class and she can always count on Elyse to help her if she needs something.  Her teacher was being honest, I trusted her in that and I truly believe if there were any issues she would have told me, she said so herself.  I've been reminding myself lately that Elyse is 2.  That's very young.  Expectations should be reasonable so I need to do better with that, but what a wonderful little girl she is showing others.  That made me smile inside and out.  When in other, more social settings, I have a sweet, nurturing, reliable kid.  I knew she was those things, the drama just over-shadowed them and it made my heart smile to be reminded.  With her sensitivity comes her sweet spirit and with her drama comes her passion.  I must tame but I must not break.  I love that kid.





Quick Pics

Our sweet girls

On Saturday my dad and his wife took Elyse and my older sisters two older girls to Bush Gardens for the day.  Elyse came home exhausted but all smiles, add in the time change and she slept well that night.  We woke her a little before nine Sunday morning for church.

On Saturday, while she was doing this......

 ......we were doing this!

We ran a few errands that are easier sans toddler then came home for Adley to take an good nap.  We turned on the radio, pool spa, and Matt made some great poolside appetizers.  We made a frozen veggie pizza for dinner and truly just relaxed.  It was very, very nice!

This week Elyse is on spring break from her little preschool so we went to Music with Mar Monday which we used to attend weekly until preschool.  Today we took a 3 mile jog to the park for lunch and I spent much of the afternoon catching up on chores.  It was a moving furniture to clean floors and deep cleaning the window sills type of chore day.  I'm beat. 

P90X update since a few of you have asked:  It's hard.  It's time consuming.  I despise and absolutely love it.  It's still going.  I've missed one video (it was a two video day to begin with) in over 8 weeks.  I've lost 7 pounds so far.  6 was my goal but I've changed my goal to losing an additional 5 because, well, because I just think I should try my best.  I also have fresh strawberry shortcake waiting for me so I'm going to enjoy some.....I've earned it today.



6 Month Visit

We could not be more thrilled or thankful after today's well-pediatrician visit with Adley.  I felt we were "due" a good visit after the eye referrals and tears shed in those four walls, even once the eye scare was behind us we showed up at 4 months not having met many milestones.

I know all babies progress differently and I believed and trusted she was fine but I'm someone whose love language is often words of affirmation.  I knew it.  I trusted it.  I believed it.  I wanted to hear it from her doctor........"Adley is perfect and thriving!"

It's as if Adley knew I needed it and she performed all of her "tricks".  Sitting up, standing, rolling, watching, focusing and tracking as closely as possible, passing objects, she did it all.  She even started clapping, this morning at this visit, mimicking her doctor several times in a row.  I got teary eyed just watching my baby flap her arms together like a little seal, grinning ear to ear with her one little tooth surfacing.  She was so proud of herself, as was I.

I did a couple of 6 month shots with her the other day.  It was so quick.  It took less than 10 minutes and we have this.


This was before I fixed the lighting but I never got a second chance at that sweet expression and her tongue.  Love.

 The following 3 are very similar but I just love the different expressions she made.  I just love her.  I love my girls. 

These next are more her personality.

 Reaching for her piggies.