Well, Christmas this year was full of busy, on the go, stressful stuff. We still don't have Kent well. This stresses me out. I love that man and I can't stand to see him suffer... please keep him in your prayers- I am praying we can get this all figured out before the baby gets here. I want to be able to enjoy Khloe when she gets here. I want KENT to be able to enjoy her. I want him to be able to fully enjoy life... without a headache or stomach hurting or chest pain....

Christmas this year was stressful, yes, but it was so awesome. Awesome in that this is the first year Kensley really "gets" everything. She had a BLAST opening gifts, going to see family and just being in the Christmas spirit. I really wish I would've tried to focus more on what Christmas is all about, but I failed. :( I had so much on my mind that I let the most important part go. My goal for next year is to really focus on Jesus' birthday vs getting presents from everyone. I feel like a failure :/

House hunting-- still going. We think we found something, though - so I'm a little relieved. I say "little" because I won't be completely relieved until we sign on the line securing the house. My head is almost just dizzy thinking about everything we have going on right now. I will be delivering in the DFW area- I talked to Kent today and told him we need to make that happen. I had a break down today while we were driving home and I was talking to my mom on the phone. I want to have Khloe where we are right now so bad- I love my doctor, I ADORE my friends (they are THE best ever. hands down.) but I want to be able to have her in DFW b/c that's where we'll be living soon.... I don't want to deliver 3+ hours away from where our next home will be. I want the dr in DFW to deliver me.... that way if anything happens, he's right there. Not 3 hours away. I don't have to hang around here for post op appts and all that jazz while my house is waiting on me in DFW. I just want to be settled. My body wants to be settled. My head/mind wants to be settled. I don't deal with stress well and this is just about to do me in.

Anyways- I feel better blogging about the stuff going on right now- feels good to just "get it out". Here are some fun pictures from this Christmas holiday.... I forgot my good camera at home (I was devastated!) so I had to use my mom's point and shoot.... but that's ok. I just wanted the memories :)

So it's been a while since I last blogged, I know. I've stayed pretty busy all year but I couldn't help but come back here to just gather thoughts and type them out so once this "season" of our life is passed, I can look back and remember what was going on. I mean, I'll remember us being BUSY BUSY BUSY- but I want to remember the little things!

We are currently in the process of finding our next home. We have made two trips to the DFW area and realized on our second trip there, the house we *thought* was the one, was not. Bummer. But so glad we were able to come to that conclusion- pretty quickly. Now we are back to the drawing board and are going to try to head back up there Sunday to see if we can find something. I just pray.... so hard.... that God will show us THE one. That we'll go "this is it. this is where we are suppose to be next". Is it going to be that easy? I doubt it. But I keep praying that. It's so stressful- being pregnant doesn't necessarily *help* anything that is going on right now- mainly the fact that I am physically becoming less mobile- but the main thing that makes it stressful is our sweet little girls that are about to start public school. This freaks me out. A lot. Public school? Oy. Big kid school? Oy. No more MDO? Oy. But I'll be ok- my little girl is growing up..... and our number 1 priority is getting her into a good school. And the area we are looking at has good schools. I just still get nervous. This is a big decision.

Khloe-
Here we go. Baby #3 is on the way and I have not blogged or taken pictures with this one NEAR as much as I did with Kensley and Kallie. :/ Lots going on in our life--- I hope she understands when she gets older ;) There will be plenty of pictures once she gets here, I can assure you. And I will still get her 1st year book made. It may just take longer..... and that's ok.

This pregnancy has been great- no complications, thank you Lord. Khloe moves around more than Kensley & Kallie ever did. I'm a little nervous as to what kind of baby she will be.... ;) If I wake up in the middle of the night, low and behold, she's squirming around. And all throughout the day---- and right now--- 9:30 at night. She's moving. I'm still not sure if it's because I am trying to savor every move I can b/c this is our last. I love feeling the baby inside of my belly- just something so awesome about it. Such a miracle. I said there hasn't been any complications- and there hasn't- BUT, I have had indigestion/heart burn pretty bad lately. I've had to take Zantac quite a few times. Maybe she'll have some hair? ;)

I recently bought an embroidery machine... that I have yet to put her name on ANYTHING! Maybe I'll get it done after the move. My craft room will be the first room I set up ;) I need to start embroidering some stuff!


Photography-

This season has been the BUSIEST one I've ever had. Seriously. It's been GREAT! I am so thankful for all my clients and how word of mouth helped me gain a few of my clients. It's so nice to build a steady little business- but the way it always happens for me and Kent- I get clients built up.... then move. It's life--- and that's our life. So I'll take it.

Girls' Update

Kensley is doing GREAT in school. She is one of the oldest ones in her class- there's a boy named Mason in there that she really likes to play with. They were in the same class last year but weren't really good friends- but this year they are. She's a mess. She's starting to like boys- ahhhhh! She has two good friends, Jimmy & Jaxon- Jaxon and her are buddies ;) We have to watch them closely. It's crazy how they are still so innocent, yet they are so curious.

Kallie is doing really well in her class at MDO. Every morning she goes in like she's sad- it's just a game now. (which may be a little annoying, but it's her.... she's not as easy going as Kensley.... and she takes a TOTALLY different parenting approach vs Kensley) Anyways, they have a box to put their name in with a smiley face or sad face. Every morning- sad face box. Then she looks at me and smiles. She's my tough one--- she is SO much like me, it's crazy. So we butt heads a lot. She's hard headed and whines a lot. I've been trying to remind myself that she is still 3. kensley is 5 and just has an entirely different personality than kallie. I need patience (which Kensley likes to remind me when I lose my temper with Kallie- she keeps me grounded, that's for sure) Kallie's personality is going to do her good one day- she won't let anyone run all over her, that's for sure. ;) She may be Kensley's protector in school- ha!


Kent's health-
We are still trying to figure out what is making kent feel so bad. He's been to the ER, family dr, Cardiologist, ENT, Neurologist..... headaches, stomach pains, chest pains.... I've been so scared for him- he's in a high stress job. I've feared the day the stress takes a huge toll on his body- so just keep praying for him. We're going to get to the bottom of this. He's pretty awesome and is about to have THREE little girls wanting to love on him and play with him--- we need him well!


Well, I think that's a good update for my future reference. Christmas is on the horizon- the girls are SUPER excited. I am SOOOO excited this year- Kensley really "gets" it so it makes it more fun. Kallie just goes along with it- she follows Kensley's lead. I'm about to get my big camera out and cleaned off and the big flash fired up so I can be ready this Christmas break for lots of pictures. I have neglected my sweet family with good pictures b/c I've been so busy with work. I'm ready for some good shots of them again! :)

Catching up on my Project 365


Day 2:



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Day 5:

Oh my- WHERE did 2012 go?! I have so much to do that I don't feel like I have time to reflect on 2012. I will do that soon, though- and blog it. Hopefully. One of my resolutions is to blog better this year- 2012 was a bad year for me- I'm not sure why? But I am determined to do my Project 365 this year!!

I have some sessions to finish up so this is going to be short--- but it's day 1 of my Project 365.


DAY 1 of 365


We didn't leave my parents' house until later this afternoon so we were able to see my niece a little bit before we left! My brother recently had a little girl. So precious- seriously. Such a pretty baby. And she's perfect.

(This was a draft from the beginning of December 2012)

Wow- what a bad blog year for this chick right here. I slacked... BAAAAD. November was super busy for me- business was GREAT- but I was trying to manage a full time job AND be a stay at home mom. That is TOUGH. Luckily the girls go to MDO- that was my saving grace... however, my mommy role was still lacking. I am so glad I am caught up with editing and can enjoy the rest of the year. I really don't like to complain about work- I LOVE what I do, seriously. And trust me.... come January, I'll be itching to have some sessions on the books--- because I'll miss it. :) Here's just some stuff from November. Lots of families and adorable kids! (and beautiful ladies!)
As for the girls- boy are they growing up. As I walked out of a store with Kallie holding my hand a couple days ago, I almost got teary-eyed. Kensley was at MDO.... all I could think about was how fast time is going. Kensley will be in KINDERGARDEN next year. AH! WHERE has time gone with that beautiful little girl?! I still can't believe it. It makes me want to hold her back another year (because, well, we could if we wanted to.) Kallie- she's just grown up so much since MDO started in August. Talking up a storm. And I love it. She loves to say "I a big girl, Mommy". I'm going to try to get a lot of video footage to document all these moments.... all the funny pronunciations of words.... all the confusion involved with trying to figure out what they want to say but just can't figure out the words... all of it. I want them to stay this little forever.


The video above is from tonight. Kensley has 101 fever. Poor girl. I hope it's just a quick virus- no other symptoms. She's been lounging around all day but noticed I got my camera out to video Kallie- so she had to join in, too :)


I recently shot a boudoir marathon (SO much fun!) but I dropped my camera. I had to have my camera fixed--- and my lens bit the dust. It does work... a little. But it's almost not worth dealing with. So I just leave my 100mm on- which, if you don't know what that is- it's almost IMPOSSIBLE to use indoors. SO- what does that mean? I don't have a lens that I can take pictures of the girls inside with--- so I can't use my good camera! :( A lens is on the top of my list for Christmas. Hopefully Santa will be nice to me and bring me one! It tears me up thinking I'll have to take my Christmas pictures this year with my point and shoot. lol - I'll be ok, though. With all of that said- here's some pictures from tonight- I had to go hunt down my external flash so I could take some pictures of the girls (see? it's been FOREVER since I've just taken pictures of the girls playing.... it makes me sad!)


Ripley has adjusted to the family very well. The girls just love him. He loves the girls. He loves playing chase with them--- but he has a mean little bite! and puppies LOVE to chew! Whew.

McCoy is the same-o. Great, fabulous, loving dog. Man we're lucky.


We are having a Christmas party for Kensley and Kallie's friends.... Santa is going to make an appearance...They'll be thrilled! (hopefully we won't have any crying babies!) ;)  This next week is my last week of non-crazy days..... I'm going to try relax and enjoy it. There's some things I have to get ready- but not much. Class parties begin the next week--- and then it's Christmas! And then our ski trip!!! It's been a great 2012.