Sunday Snapshot: About The Boy Wonder

There's this incredible boy who has been my shadow for 13 years

Out of the blue he has grown into a man.

(Well, sort of a man.)

He looks like one. 

He walks like one. 

He sounds like one (in between sounding like a teenage girl).

He sweats like one.

He watches the girls go by like one.

He argues like one.

He hogs the remote like one.

He thinks like one.

He tests me like one

He eats like one

He watches himself in the mirror like one

And when I call him out on it....he laughs so big as he yields to me and remembers that he's still my baby...

and he smiles at me...that smile that only he can...

And I melt...just like the very first day I realized that he would be the only man in the world who would ever call me Mom.

And it doesn't get any better than that.

No...no it doesn't.

These images were shot with my 50D

100mm

f 3.5

ISO 200

Edited in LR and CS5

Join in on the Fabulous Fun with 

the Hostess with the Mostess: Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all...

(This Mama will make you wonder how you can justify sitting on the couch for 10 minutes.)

Raining

We've had our share of rain this week...but my little Sweetie always finds the beauty in the day,

 despite the weather.

May she always remember to stop and smell the flowers along the way.

(this raincoat, umbrella and boots all belonged to her big brother when he was her age...9 years ago...funny to see them lined up at the front door with his Men's size 13 army boots now!)

Exploring Life's Little Treasures

It's been unseasonably chilly 'round these parts this last very rainy week.

 My little Sweetie has been my constant sidekick these last few months and with me on the phone and the computer much of the workday she's been doing her own brand of exploring of the everyday things right under our noses here in the house.

One of her favorite places by far to explore is her brother's room when he's gone at school.  

This venue has always held a certain forbidden allure for her.
I'm reminded of the time I caught her in there so long ago.

This afternoon I found her grabbing that gorgeous inlaid jewelry box his Grandpa brought home from Italy for him.

It was so heavy for her petite stature...



I watched her sitting there exploring within (with her brothers very cool dog tags strategically placed around her neck....as if he'd let her when he was home....NOT!)

and I am reminded of just how magical 4 can be.

It's Snapshot Sunday.

Stop on over to Stef's place to catch up on some fabulous images and share the love with some great bloggers who have a serious slight photography addiction just like me.

These images were shot with my 50D
 and my favorite 50mm 1.4 lens

ISO 400

Exposure 1/125

f 1.8

Edited in Lightroom with MCP's Quick Click Actions
  and a lotta love. 

Lucky 13

I knew the day would come...but I never really knew...that 4751 days later;

I would be as madly in love with this boy...my little boy...even when he wasn't so little anymore.

Today:

his shoe size matches his age

I mistake his clothes for his father's when I fold the laundry

his voice is cracking so much it even makes him laugh

we have an arsenal of Axe deodorant products and men's colognes on a shelf just for him

he gets our jokes

he has mastered the fine art of sarcasm

I have to crane my neck backward to talk to him

he smiles the most adorable smile when a pretty girl walks by

he marvels in the mirror at the muscles that have appeared on his arms and at the most amazing six pack abs he's developed

the girls get giddy around him

he still hugs his Mama; only I'm the one who gets wrapped in his arms instead of vice versa

he and his dad seem to have funny man secrets together that they won't let us girls in on

he dreams of going to West Point

he sneaks in and rests his favorite stuffed animal beside his sister as she lays sleeping; ready to let go
and that marvelous twinkle in his eye when he wants something...


 still paralyzes me into complete submission (some things never change!)

Finally he is embarking on this amazing journey through his Teen Years...
hopefully he remembers to go easy with the wake...'cause Mama's in the dingy right beside him!
AHOY!

Happy 13th Birthday to my one and only 
BOY WONDERFUL!

You are loved beyond measure!

Snapshot Sunday: We're BACK!

It's been a very eventful Winter with lots of wonderful moments shared with my Darlings.  Of course, I captured it all in photos and I do plan on posting a few of my very favorites here to share them and remember them always.

My blog hiatus went much longer than I had intended.   I've certainly missed blogging and I've missed following the day to day lives of my favorite bloggers as well (you know who you are!)  I have lots of catching up to do and I'm excited to get back into the swing of things now that the Spring is here.  We've had lots of exciting (and unexpected) goings on over here...all good... and I'm hoping to fill you all in in my upcoming posts!

My Sweetie has always been the perfect little muse for my photography addiction; but it seems she's really coming into her own now.

Not a day goes by that my little pint-sized model doesn't 'strike a pose' for me wherever we are.  I often hear people chuckling as we walk down the street catching glimpses of her ducking into corners, storefront windows and leaning against walls for my camera.  

Her serious face is the one that really cracks me up.  It seems as fast as she puts that pout on is as fast as those big brown eyes break into a mischievous glare, then grin ending in a smile beaming ear to ear....

....right along with her Mama!

Hop on over to visit Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all.
Not only is it never a dull moment over there
but she's decided to mix it up a little on Sundays going forward.








Can't wait to join in on the her new format...(not to mention vicariously travel to China with her AGAIN!)
Safe travels my Friend!

Favorite Photo Friday: New Beginnings

A cool windy November day on the beach...
no sunbathers, frisbees, brightly colored umbrellas, coolers, laughter, sandcastles.

Somehow the quiet yet powerful sound of the waves lapping on the shore
reminds us that the possibilities are endless.

We weren't planning on being here today, but sometimes in life...we're put right where we should be
just to allow us to witness the next beautiful thing that will surely come our way.

To New Beginnings!

It's Favorite photo Friday.

Head on over to Lisa's place to see some great photos from some awesome photographers.

Favorite Photo Friday: Smiles & Stripes

Sweetie and I took a ride down the shore to visit a dear friend of mine last week.

While we were chatting, I saw her through the screen door on the patio; overlooking the beach, amusing herself and just enjoying the absolutely gorgeous day.

As I grabbed my camera I told her that if I ever

had a little girl one day I'd like her to be just like her...

To which she responded.....

MOMMY!!  I'm already all yours!

Oh, little girl...you are my dream come true!

It's Favorite Photo Friday at The Long Road to China...head on over to see some really great snaps from some very talented photographers!

Sunday Snapshot: Leaving 3

Yep, that's right....we are winding down the last few hours of 3.

What a wonderful year it has been.

The memory of my Sweetie at 3 will bring a smile to my face always. 

I'm so glad I took the time to chronicle this year in photos as a reminder of the wonder and joy she has brought to all of us this magical third year.

At 3, my Sweetie's absolute favorite place to be (other than with her Nana) is in front of a plate of sushi at the best sushi restaurant in town.

She loves her Daddy to pieces.

And her brother? Well, it's more than fair to say he is adored beyond words.

Every single day she surely exemplifies sugar, spice and everything nice

 (with a smile and a soft little voice that has been known to melt even the coolest of hearts)

She has just the right dose of charm and sass to ensure that no matter what life brings she will ingratiate herself wherever she wants to be and have the smarts, guts and gumption to pull it off....all by herself!

Thank you for sharing THREE with us, my Darling Girl.....

I cannot wait to see what year FOUR has in store!

You are our heart!

xoxoxox

Mama

(a.k.a. the luckiest Mom in the world!)

It's Snapshot Sunday over at Ni Hao Y'all and its Poppy's Birthday...
Head on over and share the love!

See With Your Eyes

Mom...can we just go and look at that fountain over there?

Oh, well.....okay, just don't get wet we have several more stops to make after this.

Okay, Mom........we won't touch it.....promise....

Kids will be kids!

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

It's Favorite Photo Friday at Long Road to China

Black & White Wednesday: Nose to the Grindstone

With all the hustle and bustle going on 'round these parts

 I've been keeping my head down,

 trying to get the things done that I've been putting off for way too long

 and focusing on the future...taking it

 all in stride one day at a time.

Sure am missing my old blog hopping days though....

I may be out of sight, but you're never out of mind, Ladies!

Hugs.....from your old friend.

To see some fun black and white images from some fab photographers,

 click on over to The Long Road to China 
for Lisa's final installment of Black and White Wednesdays

But never fear.....the ever creative, ever talented
Lisa
has always got a Plan B

Can't wait for
Favorite Photo Friday!
Whoo Hoo!

Daddy's Girl

JR was off from work today.

His sidekick was busy as a bee following him around and "helping."

I heard music outside the garage (the beat of JR's unmistakeable dance music reliving his old club days) so I thought I'd have a peek what was going on.

As soon as I opened the door I saw her there....topless.

I asked where her shirt was and she responded..."Papa's not wearing a shirt so neither am I."

And she happily went about her business.



The green marker on both their faces was her morning art project.

I hope JR remembered to let her use the washable markers!

Snapshot Sunday: {Strike A Pose}

Evidently, the camera that is appended to my anatomy has given rise to a one-girl posing machine.

No matter where she is; what she's doing....she'll look up at me and say, "Mom, this would make a good picture, wouldn't it?" (Even when I don't have the camera in hand!)

When we drive she'll see a wooded field, a green golf course or an architecturally interesting building and she from the backseat we'll hear..."Mom, that would be a great place for pictures!" JR and I crack up...she's always thinkin' that one.

THREE going on TWENTY THREE!

Whatever did we do before she came into our lives?

For some fantastic snaps of some super cool kiddos....head on over to Stefanie's crib and join the fun!

Black & White Wednesday: Snakeskin Boots

Sixteen years ago my precious niece, Tigerlily, received these custom snakeskin boots from Grandma & Grandpa when they traveled out West.


The moment I saw them on her I just knew that there was no way I could ever part with them...and if she had to grow up...well, then, the boots would remind me how little she was forever and ever and they do....



Actually, they remind me of Tigerlily and WonderBoy because he sported them too. A rite of passage of sorts...cooler than cool; the kind of hand-me-down kids can't wait to get their feet into.



And now, the littliest of the 3 babies in my life finally fits in them. I was saving them in the back of her closet for her to grow into a wee bit more...but I don't really need to tell you how willful she is now, do I?



She called me out to the yard the other day and there she was, proud as a peacock in this little ensemble put together by none other than Princess Darling herself.... she was hunting for "glow in the dark" bugs she told me (lightning bugs, as I call them....or fireflies).



I didn't have the heart to tell her that she wouldn't be finding any in broad daylight.

P.S.
I'm.never.giving. these. boots. away.

It's Black and White Wednesday!
To see some great images from some fantastic photographers,

click on over to The Long Road to China

I Heart Faces: {Friendship}

Two special boys who started out arch rivals.

Lo and behold....have become the best of friends.




Hop on over to iheartfaces to see some fantastic Friendship entries