Mad

This face is getting a lot of "face" time around here.



She's 20 months, and becoming quite the little independent soul.

Oh . . . and a drama queen . . . she's becoming one of those too.

Regardless, I love this little independent queenie!

Don't be alarmed - I only took away my toothbrush that she was gnawing away on . . . this was her reaction. . . she's fine, just a little emotional, that's all.

I Heart Faces: Fix-It-Friday

This is my first I Heart Faces "Fix-It-Friday" challenge. I think this photo is great unedited, but I wanted to try to give it a sweet serene vintage feel. I tried to use a wide variety of actions - all of which are available for FREE at their creator's websites. I love that!

Here's the original image:



Here's my edited version:



Here are my edits:
1. Ran through the community version of Noiseware - Default Setting.
2. MULLETGOD's Vintage White Action at 56%
3. TRA Dirt Bag texture, Soft Light Blending mode at 100% and masked off texture from girl at 100%.
4. Repeated step 3.
5. COFFEESHOP Eye Bright Action - used Eye Define on lashes and lips at 50%.
6. MCP Actions - Touch of Dark @ 14% on gloves.
7. Cropped
8. Used ISABELLA LAFRANCE's Sweet Retro Action - reduced opacity on all layers.
9. MCP Actions Crystal Clear Web Resize and Sharpen Action - at 35%.

If you want to play along, then go to I heart Faces and download the original photo.



Have fun!

Hope for the Future

This gives me hope . . .



Usually they sit on opposite sides of the tub and play independently, but tonight, I think we turned a corner.

Friends! Yay!

It's Art

Here's my kiddo's latest creation, and the sweet colored bath tub soap that helped them make it - oh, and the cute little artist's pallet. It's brilliant. . . . the artistic creation of course . . . not the artist's pallet.



I had to crop out the murky looking water from the bottom of their creation. It was disturbing, and I don't want you to think I bathe my children in dirty pond water. Evidently, mixing 5 different colors of soap-paint does that to a tub of bathwater.

They were excited to try it out, and once in the tub, not only did they make "art" on the side of the tub, but they made "art" on their chests and bellies. My little lady even helped make my boy's "art." He was cool with that (for once).



This is my most recent favorite picture of them together, and I'm not sure why. It speaks to me - and maybe just me - but I love it though.



Really, really, really love it . . . . and love them.

I'm looking forward to watching them make more "art" soon! My boy got some blue soap on my sock and told me I had "art" on my sock.

See, it's not clumsy messiness . . . it's "ART," and I love it!

I heart faces "Texture" Challenge

My little lady.

Her first time in the snow.

I'm loving this.



To see more photos with texture, head on over to i heart faces.

There's even a great tutorial by Rita of Coffeeshop that will tell you how to use textures in your photos.

Texture on the above image provided by Jerry of Shadowhouse Creations.

http://shadowhousecreations.blogspot.com/

Gone Fishin'

It's too cold outside for the real deal, so this will just have to do.



Remember this game?

Well, the youngsters these days love it too.

Thanks, Grandma for the fishies!

Cutest Kind of Messy

I've been neglecting my daughter here on this little blog as of late. . .

Her big brother has kinda been stealing the show with his big boy birthday and all.

Sorry little lady.
I didn't mean to neglect you in the blog world.



Left over birthday cake with bright green icing makes for some very cute messy pictures . . . don't ya think?

I heart faces "We Are Family" Challenge

This is my family - snoozing and vegging out after a long Christmas break.



This, to me is family . . . a real moment when all my husband wanted to do was get a few extra Z's, and the all the kids really wanted was to snuggle up in Momma and Daddy's bed and watch a little Dora.

To see more family pictures, head on over to I heart faces.

1,095 days

A few things I've learned about this little guy in the three years I've gotten to know him . . .

He likes:
his blankie
his hood up on his jacket
chocolate
tractors and 4-wheeled things
dancing to the guitar music from his monster truck
saying "banana pants" and laughing
a good book
going to Costco and the park (not necessarily in that order)
running around the house naked after bath time

He dislikes:
nap time
wake-up time
being told "No" or "Stop" or "Eat your food"
watching the weather channel
his little sister most of the time
sharing with his sister
spinach
broccoli
putting his pajamas on after bath time



And a few things I've learned about myself . . .

I like:
watching him
holding him
kissing him
dancing with him
reading to him
eating chocolate with him
playing with him
tickling him
laughing with him

I dislike:
knowing that he'll grow out of all this one day.

My baby boy is three. My tiny, smooshy faced little baby boy is three and having conversations with me and telling me about his day in daycare and picking out his own clothes.

And although I love the little guy he is and is becoming, I really miss that rubber-band armed, pot-bellied, round faced little cuddly baby boy. I'm wondering where all the time went? Three years . . . 156 weeks . . . 1,095 days . . . 26,280 hours . . . .

So hard to believe.

Happy Birthday Little Man!

This kid would live on a John Deere if it came equipped with a bed, bathroom and some food.

I'm almost certain he loves a John Deere tractor as much as he loves me and Dirck . . . possibly even more.

That's fine with me. There are worse things in this world, right?

And he gets it honestly . . . from Dirck who rides the John Deere lawn mower every summer . . . and from my father's side of the family - who were farmers in Mississippi and have a few green and yellow tractors parked in the barn.

He watched me frost part of this cake and gave directions where he saw fit . . . "Get the yellow now, Mom" . . . "You need to put more black on these wheels . . . these wheels here" . . . .

Yes, Sir - it is your party after all.

And of course, he wanted the big black tire for his piece of cake. Although very pretty, I don't even want to begin to tell you what that frosting looks like once it's digested . . . Let's just say that changing my girl's diaper has proven very interesting and colorful today!! :)



Yes, it took a little time to make, but the second he saw it all assembled and he smiled and said "Thank you Momma for my John Deere cake," . . . I could have just melted right there. That's all I want or need in this world.

Tomorrow

Tonight, I gave a 2-year-old a bath.

Tonight, I gave a 2-year-old some milk.

Tonight, I read a 2-year-old some bedtime stories.

Tonight, I tucked a 2-year-old into his bed.

Tonight, I gave a 2-year-old a kiss and told him how much I love him.

Tonight, I'm feeling a little sad and a lot happy. A little nervous, and a lot excited.



Tomorrow, I will wake up a 3-year-old . . .

and give him another kiss (or two. . . or twenty) and tell him how much I love him and his little 3-year-old self.

I Heart Faces "Best Face Photo" Challenge

Here's my little lady this past weekend - smiling that smile that makes me fall in love with her 10,000 times over, and over, and over. . . .

Goodness, how I love this little monkey!



Happy 1st Birthday, I heart faces!

If you haven't checked out this website, you should. They just redesigned their blog with a cool modern new vibe, and the contributors and images over there are stunning! There is ALWAYS something to learn, and I {heart} that!!!!

Critical Condition

The day started innocently enough. Just a little stroll in the Pram - no big deal.

But then the stroller tipped over and there was an almost casualty. Little Baby Love-N-Kiss here had to have emergency surgery.

These two knew just what to do. No time to prep the operating room or surgical instruments. The kitchen stove and utensils would have to work.



And worked, they did! Beautifully!

I'm happy to report that Baby Love-N-Kiss has made a full recovery - thanks to the quick thinking team of experts that worked their magic!

Fashionista

I'm sure it's hard to be a fashion icon.

Oh, the paparazzi. . . they won't ever leave you alone.

And everyone wants your constant attention.



I just don't know how she manages.

Farewell

These were her brother's Christmas pajamas last year, and they became my little lady's pajamas a few months ago.



Poor pajamas. Sadly, this is the fate of most of the hand-me-down clothing around here.



I'm just glad both my babies got to wear these pajamas and that I have pictures to remember.



She's changed quite a bit in one short year, don't you think?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy New Year!

I'm looking forward to 2010.

I'm looking forward to more of this . . . .



and more of this. . . .



Happy New Year to All!