Attempting to Photograph an Infant

I have learned that photographing an infant is not as easy as it seems. You would think that since she is not mobile yet, that she would sit there and I could snap away! Easy peasy....think again! She looks every which way, squirms until she is slouched down in an awkward position, and flails her arms and legs around at blurring speeds! I end up with 100+ photos that are not "frame worthy" but still pretty entertaining. Here are a few of the out-takes :)

It's been too long....

So, I can think of a million reasons why I haven't kept up with this little project. The only real reason is that I just haven't blogged. Instead, I just post pics to facebook and consider that my update. I would like to get back to updating here so I can go back and look at my posts as sort of a scrapbook so I'll remember what life was like with 2 little children. Lets see how long I can keep up with blogging this time...

OK, since I last posted, I have grown and delivered another little human and I have enjoyed her for two months. She is amazing and beautiful and has the most scrumptious little fat rolls. :) She is such a good baby and we are so very blessed to have her in our little family. Oh yeah, we named her Anna-Claire Elizabeth Stinson. Yes, I realize that she may have a little difficulty learning to write all of that down, but we like it and it seems to fit her perfectly.

Her birth was the most euphoric experience of my life to date. Leaps and bounds better than her brother's terrifying birth that ended in me being knocked out for an emergency c-section. We headed to the hospital for 10:00 on December 28th for our induction. They started inducing me at midnight on the 29th. She was born after just about 15 minutes of pushing at 3:03 p.m. weighing in at 8 pounds and 20 inches even (a pound heavier than they had estimated). Would you like to meet her? Of course you would! :)

Fresh out of the oven. Our first good look at her.

Getting checked out



Family of four :)


Heading home :)

Life is finally starting to feel normal again. Jared tells his baby sister that he loves her every chance that he gets. We have tackled potty training Jared because I can only handle so much poop in one day! Maybe I will post all of Anna-Claire's weekly and monthly photos I have taken so far. That will have to be another post. I am off to take her 10 week photo and enjoy this beautiful day!

Grits, Motorcycles, and Deck Rails...Oh My!

Between LASIK surgery, snow days, jewelry shows, Valentine's day, and birthdays I have had little time to blog! I have, however, taken a few pictures. I am having a lot of fun figuring out my camera and playing with the different more manual settings. Here are a few of my better shots:

This one day, Jared like cheese grits!
Didn't like them before, and hasn't liked them since.
This day he DEVOURED them!

Katie (or "Tee" as Jared calls her) gave Jared a few tips on riding his harley!

Frank (or "Fwhy") and Ryan fixed the tool box on Frank's truck while the kids played.

This day, Ryan and Frank put up railings on our deck and Jared and Katie "helped"

They love each other!

A Walk in the Park

We have seriously missed this weather! After Lunch yesterday, Jared and I took a little walk through the neighborhood (camera in hand, of course!) and ended up in the park.

Jared discovered that he is not quite tall enough, nor coordinated enough to manage the big kid swings!

But he is just the right height to walk under the slide!

Yay for the park!

Except he doesn't like dirty hands...this from the baby who eats hair!

Today, we are not as lucky. It is nasty and gloomy out; so we are staying indoors. We will be praying for better weather tomorrow!!

Christmas Season: 2009

Good bye, 2009! We had a whirlwind Christmas season; I barely had time to capture it on camera! Here is what I did catch:

Our Christmas Card Photoshoot:








After Pictures With Santa:


Christmas in Vicksburg:





Christmas Day:

Jared's loot from Santa

This year's gag gift from Aunt Lil :)

Peer Pressure

I can already hear him whinning, "But MOM! All my friends use them!!!"



...and when I took the noonie away...



*** Coming Soon: CHRISTMAS PICTURES!!

Healthy...What's That Like?

We have all been sick around here. It started a week ago when we went to Ruston/Jonesboro/Vicksburg for Labor Day weekend. Jared started with his wheezing and coughing quickly followed by me getting the flu (or something like it). Jared went to the doctor on Wednesday and was put on an antibiotic and nebulizer treatments. I went to see a nurse practitioner on Thursday who I will not be returning to see for any future medical needs. He walked in the room and informed me that, after 3 days of high temperatures, I could possibly have the flu, a viral infection, or a bacterial infection (what else is there?!) and left after maybe 2 minutes. I am feeling much better now and seem to be almost back to normal. Jared's wheezing has almost completely gone away, too. Ryan is still a little congested, but he seems to be getting better, too. I have a few pictures to share; but, with all the sickness, photo sessions have been few and far between.

Maw-maw, Jared, and Ryan

Four Generations :)

Trying out Maw-maw's Wheels

Jared and Nana

Jared playing football with his Nana and Mimi

Jared's new shocked face

He knows he is funny :)

The boys watching football

He steals my iPod and phone whenever he can