Putting The Year in Gear

Over the last few weeks, probably since the start of 2013, I've been trying my best to pull my life together. January brought several changes for our little family. I actually sat down and made a meal plan and I couldn't believe how amazing it felt to know what I was making. Most of all, I raided Pinterest and found almost all new recipes that I had never used before for most January's meal.

This year, I plan to start a business. A wonderful 'business baby' that I hope to love, nurture, and watch grow over the course of 2013. I have to make this THE year! To expand, I would love to get myself a studio space where I can do newborn to toddler portraits and much more. I've found a location I love, and hope to gain enough revenue to set up shop! I'm setting so many goals for myself and my business. I'm in love with photography. It inspires me to slow down and pay more attention to life and watch my littles grow much more than I used to. January brought on a lot of fear of missed moments when things 'health-wise' started looking grim. Since February has started this family member is gaining back strength and health in leaps and bounds and it still shows inspiration to capture life and all its ups and downs. This one precious life that we get needs to be captured.

Life needs to be captured, preserved. I have so many pictures of my girls on my computer, but what I loved the most was having favorite images of my girls printed. The captured wonder and beauty that comes with childhood sets my heart into overload in the happy department! I know how often we all go through just the daily rigamarole of just trying to make it through the day in one piece, but when I stop to turn my camera on and take even just a few pictures of my girls, it brings be back and allows me to slow down and take it in.

Thanks for reading. I promise the next post will hold several pictures :)

Happy Weekend!

Celebrate.

 That's what we did! The hubs had asked for a feast, and a feast is what he got! His mother and grandmother prepared a wonderful meal. All made with love and there was plenty to go around. He was so happy to sit down to a wonderful family meal. See :

After dinner, we settled down and had a heartwarming time of fun and fellowship. I got the chance to snap some sweet pictures of Baby H, and shortly after Caleb and his "bothers from other mothers" grabbed the guitars. Afterwards we grabbed a few bites of the Oreo Pudding poke cake I brought. Caleb's favorite has always been anything to do with an Oreo cookie. 

Here's some more images from our night:

 

Poor Amelia had a bit of a rough ending to the night that started with a slight fever. She went to sleep very quickly. The girl can't help but fall asleep when she snuggles with daddy.

 All in all, our night was pretty amazing. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this night of fun, fellowship, and togetherness was needed and so very worth it!  Again, a very happy 27th birthday to my love!

 

My Man.

So there's this guy. I met him over 4 years ago, and since then it has been a whirlwind! He's a handsome fellow. A wonderful man, husband and father. To add to the list he's a son, a brother, a nephew, a grandson. The list goes on and on. But I am so glad to call him mine. And since he's mine, I'll give my view of my man :)

It's been an absolutely wonderful 4 years and I've watched him turn from just a boyfriend, to my husband, the father of our precious girls. He is an over-abundantly protective father, he's strong man of spirit, heart, mind, and love. He's gentle but gives tough love when needed. He is surprisingly silly in his cunning comedic timing. The man I know is a doting father who got so jumbled from happiness and excitement that he couldn't remember the birth stats of our first born just mere moments after her birth. He sang "You are My Sunshine" to her in her first few hours outside of the womb. Precious Evalyn.

23 months later, we did it all over again. Welcoming another bubbly little girl.

My lovely man is the glue that holds me together. He is what keeps me calm and sometimes what drives me crazy. But I wouldn't have it any other way. He is  the guy who brightens our daughters' days when they just aren't have a good day. He brightens my day too...

He'll drum on the stairs, play horsey, and still have enough energy to go on about his day. He's a guiding force in what seems like a hectic life. He knows just what I'm thinking sometimes and is always there to listen. I am beyond blessed to have met the man I call my own. I know how cliche all of this sounds, but it's all very true. He is mine, he is my love, my heart, my best friend, and I just when I think I can't possibly love him any more, I do.

Happy Birthday, honey.

I love you! 

loved you then, love you still, always have, always will

I'm Back!

After a Winter hiatus, I'm back! 

I took the time to get my business lined up, and while I've still got a few things to work on, I'm excited to be back. Fresh. Inspired. And ready to hit the ground running! 

On another note, Happy Valentine's Day to any and all lovelies that ready this blog. 

Currently, I'm working on knitting a beautiful slightly off white newborn hat. It will be beautiful when it's finished. I'm excited about it. Yarn keeps me sane :) Caleb would say otherwise, though. He would tell everyone that I'm addicted, but I digress. 

And about things that are insane{ly cute}, here's my big girl, being her goofy self! I love her silly faces!

A short but sweet post for tonight, but I'll be back Monday if not before for a special post for the hubs. That handsome man got me flowers and Nutella for Valentine's Day. He sure does know that the way to my heart is through a jar of Nutella. I love him!

Alright, one more picture. Of my sweet Mia, before {her favorite} cheesy {kernel free} popcorn.

Happy Valentine's Day, from my little family to yours!

16 Months of Love

So I recently switched my photography blog to Mia & Bean. I've got a plan, but more on that in a later post. You'll see ;)

I'm not one to post much on this topic, but with the Facebook uproar, it's got me going. In a short 15 days I will be the mother of a 16-month old Miss Mia. While that doesn't mean much to people outside my family and close friends, to me, it means 16 months of giving my daughter the best nutrition I can give her. The feat I have accomplished in breastfeeding! While it may not seem like much, it far beats the 3 months I lasted with Evalyn when my milk just suddenly up and went. At 3 months I had zip. Zilch. Nada drop. My heart sank. 

I've withstood the {albeit few} bites she's attempted, the 7 front teeth, the 4 molars, and countless night of 3am feedings. It's been SO worth it! While I don't know that I'll continue until she's 2, I know that for the last  16 months, I've given her the best I could.

I love my girls so much! I absolutely adore these two sweet, beautiful girls of mine. 

 On another note, Evalyn got to go on a sleepover. So today, while daddy is at school, momma and Mia are alone. 

A few pics from last week:

 momma got some new pants...momma is also down to the weight she was sophomore year of HS :)

Until next time,

♥ Elizabeth 

Renewal.

I've been going through a process lately. Seeking inspiration and growth from some beautiful places. It's (well, a no longer) secret of mine that even though Caleb and I have been married for 3 years, that I love looking through wedding magazines, websites, and books. It sparks a creativity in me that opens up to a whole line of other creative things. I find solace in the whimsey that the love and hope that comes with weddings brings. So whilst I've been going through this revamp of home, life, business, and such, places like Green Wedding Shoes, Pinterest and all those good things have been my friends. Albeit, weddings are not the only things that inspire me. Pinterest, like I said, has boosted my confidence on the home front to get stuff organized and gives me more means to feel settled. 

Caleb and both girls went through bouts of colds before Christmas, but I've been the one sporting a head cold this week. But it has given me somewhat of a chance to process some things that I've been thinking about. I've been very excited lately about the new logo I made. It plays off the colors I'm hoping to use with my business and it's bright and, in my mind, a sign of renewal. I'm anxious to get back into the business and I've been taking this time to grow and evolve with better knowledge of what I want to offer to clients. I can't wait! Thank you for waiting and being so patient with me.  I'll be posting my logo on Facebook and asking for a bit of feedback. Have a great week!

Holiday Cheer

Yesterday evening, while Caleb was at work, the girls and I made the trek to Columbus to visit the restaurant one more time before it closes for the season. On our merry way, I took small glances at the Christmas lights as they whirred by. A few miles before town, as you crest a small hill and make a slight left curve, every year a family sits out a lit Three Wise Men. Upon seeing it, I was flooded with childhood memories of the joy and simplicity of my he first few Christmas seasons that I can remember. With the memories came the feelings of childhood wonder in my grandmothers Christmas lights and the lit Nativity scene she's set out almost every year since I can remember. That Nativity scene with its dim yellow glow. The peace that comes with those memories in the middle of a crazy, hectic life meant so much. It filled my Christmas-loving heart with bounds of joy. Immeasurable joy.

On another note, I've been knitting like a mad woman for what seems like months, but it's barely been two weeks. I've been buying my yarns and my newest needles locally, and I am so pleased with the quality of them. The all wool yarn I bought has the usually scratchy wool like quality, but it is so incredibly soft that it outweighs any inkling of that scratchy feeling. I have been gaining friends through knitting, and I am enjoying it. I have a very old friend, and by old I mean that I've known them forever (who delve into knitting long before I did) was stunned to learn of me picking up the glorious hobby, and I think it brought us that much closer together even though we live nearly 100 miles apart.

I think this concludes my soul searching. I have a slightly worse for wear 14-month old who is ready for bed and I've been writing this whole post through my phone. Good night world.


-Elizabeth