Playing with my camera

Just some pictures that I've taken for my photography class and for fun while out and about.

Taken by my brother - then I messed with them in photoshop.

Happy Birthday AUBREY!

Get ready for the clichés –
I can’t believe it’s been a year since Aubrey was born!
The time has flown by!
They grow up so fast!
Being a mom is the most rewarding thing ever!
I’m so lucky to have had her in my life this past year.
I can’t imagine my life without her.

Well, I know that’s what everyone says when their baby turns one, but I have to say it too because it’s exactly how I feel. It wouldn’t be so cliché or a stereotypical if it wasn’t usually true, right?

Just a newborn...

Halfway there....

One year old!

Signs that she’s not a little baby anymore…
-she’s mesmerized by Mickey Mouse Club – like in a trance


-she dances to music
-she throws full on fits when she doesn’t like something – flailing around like a dying fish and SCREAMING!
-she’s starting to walk

-As soon as it gets here in the mail, she’ll be out of her infant carrier and in a big girl forward facing car seat
-she's working on her rock climbing skills

We had a joint party with another 1 year old named Braden. This picture captures how the night went - he dug into the cake and Aubrey looked at it in perplexment. She wouldn't eat one bite!

She did have a bast with her new toys though!
Aubrey is feisty, opinionated, tenacious, busy, stubborn, energetic, scrappy, lively, exuberant, tough, fearless, adorable, hilarious, lovable, curious, adventurous, and my little girl!

what we've been up to....

With some of our friends finishing up school and moving, it's hit me that our time here is going to be over soon! So I have been packing in as much as I can each weekend. Here's some of the family fun.

4 weeks ago - touring some renovated homes in a hip and trendy area of the city. We tried to fit in, but I think our pantless baby gave us away.

3 weeks ago - triathlon and sick with the barf bug

2 weeks ago - day trip to Ohiopyle. Aubrey's first trip in the backpack and she loved it!

Just waking up from a nap...

Cucumber Falls

1 week ago - camping in West Virginia

Coopers Rock State Park

a ridiculous amount of gear for a less then 24 hour trip - we were determined to make the night as comfortable as possible with an 8 man tent, Aubrey's pack and play, a queen size blow up mattress, etc etc. I'm not sure why it's considered fun to spend so much time and effort trying to recreate the luxuries you already have set up at home....
The campground we stayed at was pretty funny. People stay there all summer and decked their places out - see the example below. And they drive around on pimp out golf carts, complete with lifts, neon underbody lights, decals, and American flags. Had this been a Tennessee campsite, I'm sure they would have been confederate flags, seriously....

This past weekend - my brother came to visit, so I had a buddy to explore the city with (Zach does not enjoy doing this with me).

Aubrey is in this backpack every weekend - good thing she loves it!

This is an awesome workout!

At around 8 am on July 4th, Zach found a 5k to do that started at 9. I had just gotten back in bed after an early morning with Aubrey and was NOT excited about scrambling to get there, but we did and it was a really fun time. I did hit one guy with the jogging stoller and he was ticked - but who can blame him, it would be pretty embarrassing to get passed by a girl pushing a wagon like this.

Had to put this one in to show off Aubrey's patriotic dress. I'm pretty sure it came from Zach's sister, Fran - thanks!
PURE BLISS

Me and my brother - doing the tourist thing

We took Daniel to the strip district - such a colorful place full of characters. We saw this awesome dog, this picture does not do its size justice. It's head was as big as a horse!
Aww....somehow we always (not on purpose!) wear similar outfits. How could I have guessed Zach would also decide to wear a pink striped polo shirt!

Fiddle player - gotta love the Strip!