My own photo website

There is a photography community online called I Heart Faces and each week they have photography challenges.  In order to become a member, I had to create a new blog. If anyone is interested in what I am taking pictures of lately, I will post some of them here but most of them will be on my other site:  http://lovelifememories.blogspot.com/

AND....drum roll please!  I was voted as one of the top three student photographers at the school I am taking classes from. WAHOO!  The school is featuring me in their "new photographers" with some of the best pictures I took from my last class.  http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=40124

In the good ol' summertime!

The weather has constantly been playing tricks on us in Utah and we are finally getting warm weather. Since my daughter started walking, she has absolutely loved being outside. She loves exploring and running all over our yard. She and I had a great time the other day playing outside together.

Happy Mothers Day!

A Mother is a Mother Still, the holiest thing alive!

-Samuel Talmage Coleridge

To all my sisters! Happy Mothers Day mommy's and mommy's to be! 

We went to my Aunt's house for Mother's Day and celebrated together. 

Here are some pictures of our day.  Enjoy!

Here comes the sun!!!!!

We have been enjoying this amazing weather as much as we can. GLORIOUS is all I can say.  The past couple of days we have been spending with our loved ones and I just cannot get enough of the sun.  This picture is of my cute little brother serenading Gabbie.  It's sweet to see how this little girl has totally captured my little bro's heart and attention.

A sweet neighborhood dog always comes to visit us and Gabbie absolutely adores him.  I couldn't believe I actually got a pic of them kissing!

My  beautiful cousin Kelly and her youngest daugther Tessa

WEEEEEEEEEE! This past week for my photography class, we had to experiment with motion.  I love this one and this picture is photo of the week in my school!

MWAH!

Everyone always takes pictures of kids sliding down slides. I wanted to do something different and I thought-"How about on the inside?"  I love the colors in this pic. 

No I'm not blind and yes I know this picture looks blurry but it's SUPPOSED to be.  I had to experiment with panning and Callie was a willing model. 

Beautiful, Happy Tess!

Kelly seriously needs to watch out.  This little girl is going to be chased like crazy by all the boys someday. Isn't she gorgeous? 

Happy First Birthday Gabbie Girl!

Gabbie's special day started with a trip to the aquarium.  I bought a season pass for us this past summer and she loves to go and look at all the colorful fish.  Afterwards we took her to McDonald's and let her have her very first Happy Meal.  She loved every bite and was sucking all the salt off her french fries.  Yep...judge me...go ahead!  I let my one year old eat chicken mcnuggets AND french fries. 

We decided to get cupcakes for her special day instead of a huge cake that we would have tons-o-leftovers from. These beautiful things came from the darling bakery, "The Sweet Tooth Fairy" in Draper.  And yes, I know what you are thinking.  They do taste as good as they look.

Birthday decor.  I made those darling poms hanging from the ceiling!  They were one of the easiest things in the whole world and I wish I had known about them before decorating Gabbie's nursery when I was prego.

Gabbie's birthday centerpiece!!!!

SO SPOILED!

Gabbie and Papa

So if you thought less of me for letting my kid have a Happy Meal, you'll be even more pleased to know I let her have pizza for dinner.  Go ahead...judge away!  She loved it and you only turn 1 once!

Yes...this is who I get my classy sense of humor from.  MY MAMA! I think she's hilarious if I do say so myself. 

Gabbie thought Nana looked hilarious too so she had to take a turn with the tutu on her head as well.

My mom heard of a first birthday tradition where you set out a loaf of bread, cash, and a book in front of your baby. Whatever one your baby goes to first is the path they will choose in life.  Bread means health, cash means wealth obviously, and a book means education. When we set these things down in front of Gabbie, with no hesitation whatsoever, she went straight for the money.  Great....Real House Wives of  Orange County anyone? 

Grandma and Grandpa Bob got Gabbie her first Bitty Baby and she kept hugging and giving it kisses.  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen!  It makes me feel good that she has been doing that to her doll instead of yelling at it or hitting it!  At least she sees how much we love her and she is modeling the behavior on her dolly.

Grandma and Grandpa Bob

Aunt Lisa and Aunt Carrie

My parents and my little bro Todd. 

Gabbie kept insisting Daddy eat her cupcake too

Digging in! YUMMMMMMMYYYYY!

I can't believe how fast our first year with Gabbie has flown by.  When I first had her, everyone always told me to enjoy every minute with her because it goes by so fast and boy were they right!  I can honestly say I have savored every moment with her, even though many times have been hard, and she is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us.  She is so happy and good natured and she makes me laugh.  I love seeing her smiling face in the morning and I love cuddling with her. She is sassy but I actually really love it and when she's not looking and I'm supposed to be disciplining her, I giggle at the sassy-pants things she does.  Being a mom has been the best job I have ever had and I would never trade it for anything in the world. I would do everything I could to always be at home with her and I have loved being Gabbie's mommy.