It seems that I have been absent from the blogging world for a while! Although, I’m pretty sure that I’ve kept up with most of you readers through facebook. What has been keeping me busy and off the keyboard?

Here are just a few of the things that have been taking up my time: pregnancy, sickness, summer, having a toddler(!), buying a house and moving, a growing photography business, and most recently, a medical emergency that resulted in a blood transfusion and surgery for me (still have plenty of recovering to do from that one). So, here’s a quick photo update of some of the more fun things that have happened since I last said hello:

Crystal Cove:

Searching for shells and cuddling with daddy. Heart meltage.

Olivia trying on her friend’s water wings. I think she liked them.

Camping and Beach-going at San Onofre:

Olivia LOVES to help wax her daddy’s surfboard.

Camping with Olivia is so fun and easy- this girl loves the great outdoors, which makes mommy’s job easier.

Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific:

Olivia was a little unsure about those sharks.

Fall Photos

Just about the time that I was planning on finishing Olivia’s costume and taking portraits of a whole bunch of kiddos all dressed up for Halloween, a 6-day hospital stay changed my plans. I did manage to get a few autumn-y pictures while scouting the location, so I guess I’ll have to be content with those.

So, there you have it, folks! A quick glance at a few of the things that have been keeping us busy. It’s clear that even though we make our plans, God directs our steps, and things don’t always go the way we think they will. But, I’m hoping and planning on staying a bit more up to date on here now!

May 26, 2011

(You can read her “birth story” here)

2 weeks:

With 3 month old cousin Audrey:

Comparing leg sizes

3 weeks:

1 month:

8 weeks, San Diego:

Carlsbad State Beach:

2 months:

3 months:

4 months:

Family Visit

Aw, she got splashed in the face:

Pumpkin Patch with cousins:

5 months: Cowgirl for Halloween!

(Learn how to make the hat here)

6 months:

7 months: Christmas!

Reindeer baby cousins:

8 months: My little book lover:

Beach time at San O

9 months:

Camping at Doheney State Beach:

Valentine’s Day!

10 months: Easter!

11 months:

(almost) 12 months!

Swimming at Great Grandma’s

Thanks for waking down memory lane with me! Here’s to many more years with my sweet, loveable girl.

Because I can’t just leave it at that, here are a few more of my favorites…

If you’re wondering about her baking outfit, I followed this pattern for the chef’s hat, and I made up the apron. I think she is the cutest thing my kitchen has ever seen.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

1.  Monster Beanies

Here is Carter, showing off his monster hat. It was his idea to climb the tree and hang upside down for me. He thought it would be appropriate.

The scary bat-monster face:

2.  Owl Beanies

Lily on her perch, while hiking with Uncle Tim L.

“WHoooo WHooo…I got a owooh hat.”

Cute little Daphne in her owl beanie at Turtle Bay Exploration Park:

She got up close and personal with a real owl:

I think they were both feeling a little shy.

I didn’t get a chance to get higher quality pictures of some of the kiddos in their hats, but here’s an owl-y monster-y collage for ya:

(Adam & Leanna | Olivia & Lily | Adam’s hat | Olivia in Leanna’s hat | Olivia)

(Kyle | Olivia in Leanna’s hat | Olivia, Lily, Carter, & Nana | Carter | Tim M)

 3.  Cowboy Cookies in a Jar

For the adults, I decided to do something more simple, so they got Bakerella’s Cowboy Cookies in a jar (minus the nuts).

4. Spicy Christmas Soup Ingredients in a Jar

They also got a jar of Spiced Lentil & Basmati Rice Soup in a jar, with an accompanying can of coconut milk to finish off the recipe.

So, that’s it for the homemade Christmas gifts of 2011…I’m already trying to come up with ideas for 2012. I definitely want to start earlier this time.

I think the most fun was probably had in the Parrot Playhouse…

The birds loved Katie…a little too much. Thankfully bird poop comes off easily with baby wipes.

To the bat cave…

Carter compares his wingspan.

Lily’s wingspan.

Lily’s scary bat face.

Apparently, bats have good hearing. I think Heather looks like a natural with those ears.

We wandered around the park and saw some other animals too:

Nana and Olivia checking out  the animals. Something must have been amazing.

There were feathers to look at, but Lily thought that her own fingers were much more fascinating.

Daphne putting together a puzzle with some help from her mama.

Owls! I think they were both getting a little concerned about their close proximity to each other.

Watch out, Audrey: I think that fish is big enough to eat you for dinner.

And, that’s a wrap folks! …except for the obligatory family pictures, OBviously.

Cousins!

Cousins with parents! (Apparently, Lily thinks that she is a part of our little family. )

Cousins with parents and aunts and grandparents!