Thankful...

How could I not be thankful when I have these two little Turkeys in my life...


Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving...

I most likely won't be on here tomorrow, so I am wishing all of you a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family! I love Thanksgiving, and am looking forward to relaxing with friends (this evening) family all day tomorrow, and other fun events the rest of the weekend.

I am thankful for so many things...right now I am thankful that I trusted my mom gut and took Beans to the doctor today. She has had lingering junk...cough and what not, and last night complained that her ear hurt. I scheduled the appointment first thing this morning before she was awake, and got both girls in for back to back appointments - Cakes has had the junk too...just not as long. So, when Beans got up this morning, I told her we were going to the doctor's and that we would have to put off our painting activity (Paint Your Masterpiece, we paint an ornament every year there) until next week, she told me her ear didn't hurt at all anymore. I struggled with the "Do I cancel, do we go?!?!?" I decided to go, and also flat out fibbed to her to get the tears to stop flowing down her face. I called Paint Your Masterpiece (really time and temperature), pretended to talk to someone and carried the conversation on out loud to this effect, "Hi, I was wondering if you were open today? Oh, you aren't, not at all? Okay, well are you open all next week? Great, we will come in next week to paint our ornaments." It stopped the tears. We went to the doctor, and sure enough she has an ear infection...flaming red...the doctor let me see it with my own eyes, comparing the good ear to the bad. Also saw wax, and was grossed out that doctor's look at that kind of junk daily! Anyways, Cakes is good, and was told what to use for her cough. $30 later and a script for the ear infection we are on our way to a healthier and hopefully less cranky Thanksgiving weekend!

Oh yes, have to add that I am BEYOND thankful that my husband has FOUR days off. This comes after some very long weeks, out of town, and late nights (8:45 the past two nights with starting at 7:00!!!!) He can totally use the break right now! And, right now as I type, he has been home for an hour and a half, and is vacuuming the steps (upstairs and basement) and doing other fun vacuuming activities...like de-cobwebbing the ceiling corners of the basement. Got to love a man who actually enjoys vacuuming! :)


And, since my sessions are slowing down, Miss A gets a few more peaks from her session...

This cracked me up...blowing her nose!

And, someone found a sucker...seriously found it...I think Mom was thankful it was at the end of the session...

The reward for the good girl...PLAYDOH!!!!

Again, enjoy the time with your families and friends!
Gobble, gobble! :)

Miss A...

Oh how I love this little lady! I can't believe she will be two already!!!! She makes me work for smiles, but I love all of her little expressions. Here are a few from Saturday morning...

Here she is sitting on the kitchen table..."A", you will have to let me know if she hops up there again...I think I set you up for some trouble!
Their table worked well...good light, cool reflection and it has a center piece that spins (I am sure there is a technical word for it, and I sat here a few minutes trying to think of what it would be, but I gave up!), and Miss A loved it! I was able to spin her in a few circles, and get her giggling!

One of those soulful looks that are so precious...

Still on the table...see the cool reflection (oh, and I LOVE this expression...lady, what are you doing?) :)

Bean went with me to this session. Miss A's older brother N, and my Bean are the same age, and we get together here and there to play. Bean kept N busy, and she loved going with me. The only down part, Miss A wanted to be with the big kids. This was taken in N's room with her just watching the two big kids having a dance party! :)

The next few were taken using my traveling backdrop...
Love how this one turned out with the cute piggies...

And, I had a hard time picking which expression in this pose I liked the best to post...so I put them all on...

Full on smile...

Smile so big, her eyes disappear...(I guess this is the signature smile in most pictures...love it!)

Innocent look with a little half smile...

Sweet, sweet, sweet! :) Cute story...if you want to stay and read, regarding Saturday's session. As I just said, Bean went with me to the session. "A" told me when we got there that N had been looking forward to Bean coming. That morning, he made sure he was all dressed, and shaved using his "shaving kit" and had to put on his cologne. "A" asked N why he was getting all ready, "Cause that's what girls like!" Watch out world for little Mr. Casanova!

Hope everyone has a great week. We are busy here this coming week with all sorts of fun - old high school friend gatherings, Thanksgiving Day events, a friend's wedding, and then to end the weekend just right, a session with a little 6 week old baby! :)

Miss KJ

Okay, it has taken me awhile to get to my little niece's session due to the busyness of the past month and a half! But, I am in the midst of them, and falling in love with too many of them! They battled the thorns and prickers and climbed through tall grassy patches, and my brother did it with little complaining! He truly was a trooper and was up for anything that I suggested. So here are a few...well a bit more than a few! ;)

Miss A will be coming next! All I have to say about that cutie pie is that she is a total ham! I had a blast chasing her around yesterday morning...

Lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Dad! 55 today...I don't think he will care that I share his age, but I do think that my mom will, since you will all know about how old she is too! ;) Dinner at my parents tonight to celebrate...so off to make some chocolate chip cookies! :)

Thank you...

...to my sweet sister who came over today to do some belly shots. She has a great eye, and got some great shots. Of course, I don't like myself in too many and am way critical of myself, so you just get my belly tonight (all you other moms out there that have "complained" to me...you know who you are...I completely understand the nit picking on oneself!!!! ;) ) Anyways, my girls did great, they look gorgeous, and although I am posting in black and whites, their eyes are so sparkly in the color shots.

Not only did my sister play photographer today, she also played painter! Monday I painted Cakes room (one wall) a super cool pink that matches her bedding. Today I painted her headboard white, and my sister then painted the dresser super bright green! Very excited to see it all put together! Thanks Nicole for all of your help! Does it sound like I am nesting?? Yes, it should. I still have so much to do. Projects now, cleaning next!

On to the images...

This is what I see looking down...
Doesn't look that big to me, to warrant all the beautiful comments I have received. You know the ones, "Whoa, are you sure you aren't having twins?", "You look like you are about to have the baby today!", and the one that I often hear, and know that there is no harm in asking and usually is made because I am obviously pregnant, "How much longer do you have?" To my ears, I hear, "HOLY COW! You are huge, how much longer can you possibly have?!?!?!?!?!" So my usual response is, "7 weeks (change the number to fit), I know, I am very large. This is how I carry my babies. (Force a smile!)" I have decided that I will always tell any pregnant woman, "You look beautiful/great/fabulous." And then I will proceed with the normal pregnancy questions. Aren't those the things you want to hear at this stage in pregnancy anyways?!?!?!?

And then today, I saw it first hand...the reason I get all the questions...they are legit, after seeing these...

Bean giving the baby a hug...

...loved both expressions so I couldn't pick which to post!

Cakes daily hug to the baby...

...again, unable to pick because I loved both faces!

A little bit of an artsy one...whoa, big belly!

A classic...

Bean on the left and Cakes on the right...they love feeling my belly. Bean will often feel it and say, "This has to be something. Has to be a knee or a butt Mom." She is right, it is something! :)

Love the expressions caught in this one...my sweet little girls.

Okay, that is all. I do have more to post. More of Miss KJ, more of my girls...did their Christmas session in their fancy dresses this week (story behind that one!), and I have a fun little 2 year old girl session Saturday that I am so excited for!

P.S. I love Thanksgiving, I am not skipping over it I promise...but it is NEVER to early to decorate for Christmas...hence the new colors! :)

Black and White Day...

Here are a few peaks from Baby J's session two weeks ago...I posted just a few last week, but wanted to get a few more up. She is four months old already...where does the time go?!?!!?

love this family one...C's laughter radiates from this picture...

By the way...a good sign that my Cakes really isn't quite there with potty training...she came down to see me and said, "Momma, Swiper (the fox from Dora who usually steals things and hides them) put da poopy in my diaper!" I thought she was just joking around, until my nose caught the all too familiar aroma! What a goofy little girl!

Have a good one!

I've Been Asked...

...and I have a hard time saying no! ;) As many of you know, I am due to have the next little Armstrong January 7th. And, you also know that I have made a cut off date and am taking maternity leave...but there have been a couple of inquiries about newborn sessions. If you currently have a newborn, or are going to be having one while I am on "leave" please don't hesitate to call/email me to schedule a session. Newborns are easy to "chase"!!! :) If it is before I deliver, I can make a trip to your home. If you are due anywhere in January/early February and are hoping for a session, again, please email or call and we will set something up. Being that I will have a c-section and my own little babe, any newborn sessions in Jan./Feb. will be done at my home. This way I can put my sweet husband to work with set up of the backdrops and I will also be there if my newest little one will need me. So there you have it! I am a total sucker for newbies!

Just to add a note regarding newbie sessions (all on the website q&a page), please try to schedule them BEFORE your little bundle arrives within 2 weeks of your due date. For example, if you are due January 7th (that is when we will meet my little dancer or soccer player that is movin' and groovin' right now), pick a date between the 7th and 21st. We can always reschedule if you are way over due or way early! :) Also, just so you know what to expect out of newbie sessions. Sleepy and a full tummy is good! Closed eyes are beautiful, and usually they are more content being "positioned" when they are sleeping. Don't expect big blue eyes staring right at the camera...it won't happen...and newborn eyes don't focus so well. Also, don't expect any smiles...unless we catch one during a little dream! One other comment...the best thing to photograph them in is their skin! (and a diaper if needed!) One cute outfit is great, but the majority will be in their own little birthday suit!

I am SO excited to have a newbie session with my little one. Bought a black t-shirt for my hubby last night during our shopping for the photo shoot. Now, I just have to teach Beans how to take a few shots with my camera to get Tom, our newbie and myself in a shot! ;) Just kidding...but can't wait for T to catch some of us together!

I have really kicked some "booty" as my girls say, on a fun session tonight...almost finished! :) Good night for now!

Anniversary...

Yep, today is it. 8 years ago, I married the love of my life. At this time 8 years ago, I was finishing up the last touches and sneaking peaks of people walking into the church. It also was the day of OSU and UM game...we had some upset guests that we would dare schedule our wedding 1. that day and 2. that we would pick a time that would interfere with the VERY end of the game. I blame my husband for the first and my mother for the latter. Neither were my doing! ;) (UM won that day...and that was a good thing!!!)

Tom and I went out last night to celebrate our 8 fabulous years. We drove by our old house, where he had proposed, and then went on to dinner and shopping. He just left a half hour ago for NY (yup, another trip) and won't be home until tomorrow. It was nice celebrating a little early.

To my Love, I know you will probably check this tonight from your hotel room. Know that I love you completely and my life would be incomplete without you and the love that you have shown and given me over the past 8 years. God has blessed our marriage richly, and I look forward to the years ahead of us...I will always be "still in love." Love you!

And if you read through this post, thanks for sharing in a part of our lives...even all of you silent readers out there! :)

Some more Sneak Peeks...

...from the past couple weeks' sessions. I am starting to feel like my head is all the way above water now with only a few sessions left to edit! Thanks for all of the patience many of you have had! And, for those that waited for sneak peeks, thank you also...I just felt it was more important to keep on editing than to stop and post peeks... Have a great Sunday!

Mr. P...18 months old...and full of expressions...

love this one in this finish with his little man hat...

...and yesterday while editing, I kept telling my husband he had to come look at this picture...I am so in love with it...expression, hat and how he is ready to hop off the bench!

These little ones were posted, but wanted to throw a few more for "A" up here, especially since she is awaiting the arrival of her CD in the mail...should be there tomorrow! ;)








Last, the family mini-session. This session worked out great, the kids were wonderful and we were able to get all of it in before the rain came...always a bonus! This is my good friend M's family...beautiful children...and gorgeous mom and dad! Thanks M for your patience!




This one is my favorite!!!! :)

Off to go finish decorating for Christmas (I know, I haven't posted pictures of my belly or pictures of my kiddos from Halloween...those just might come when things are completely slowed down!)