Mom n' Me Monday

Jumping on Julie's Mom n' Me Mondays' bandwagon where she had the fabulous idea of encouraging parents who are the main family photographer to put themselves in photos occasionally...

...made easier by purchasing one of these handy little bad boys:

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control

Taking advantage of the annual free tix from Busch Gardens/Sea World (of which this would be the SECOND time we have taken advantage of the deal despite living within in driving distances of two of its major parks for the entire 5 years the program has existed)...and not having my point-and-shoot, we took a pre-Busch Gardens family photo since I was not going to bring my newest baby with me to an amusement park.

So, here it is:

Pop over to Julie's blog to check it out and to participate!

Mom n' Me Monday

Loving Julie's project to force herself to be in some photos with her kids...and as the sole main photographer in this family, I've been relying on old photos to participate.  It's almost as if I don't know that most cameras made post-Flintstone age have timers ...or maybe it's just that 90% of the week I look like a hot mess and I'm not trying to break my new camera.

So, my brother-in-law is in town and staying with us for a little while.  Sean and I managed to sneak out for a quick date this past weekend...bringing up the total of dates we've had since Kaia was born to less fingers than I have on both hands.  While I have few photos with the kiddies...I probably have even less with Sean.  So, a pre-date photo was needed but we had company:

While a majority of people say that Jaron looks like Sean (and even though you can't tell because apparently Kaia has some latent issues about wanting to be the only child)...I beg to differ.

Seriously beg to differ.

Because, right here, he CLEARLY looks like his mom:

So there.

Pop over to Julie's blog to join in the memory-making!

Mom n' Me Monday

Please don't say this is a foreshadowing of her teenage years...

Check out other Mom n' Me (or Dad n' Me) posts over at Julie's blog!

Mom n' Me Monday

I promise that I'll start having some newer photos...but in the meantime, this was one of the most recent photos I could dredge up with me & my little man (and by recent, I mean April '09).  This week's Mom n' Me Monday features a little one who was supposed to be Kaia's little sister...but someone had other plans for me.  I remember when we were told we were having a boy and all the panic that set in inside me.  Being the eldest of two girls and already being halfway there with Kaia, I thought and hoped that I would have my two girls.

Instead, we had Jaron...who turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of my life.  He is the most cuddliest, sweetest, funniest, and smartest little boys ever.  I am constantly thankful for this little man who is everything I never knew I needed (well, that goes for BOTH kids).

Everyday I'm reminded of why I'm so blessed to be this guy's #1 Girlfriend and enjoying that status while it lasts.

Mom n' Me Monday

My wonderful friend Melissa over @ The Zookeeper's Diary (a must visit if you haven't already) participated in Julie's (from The Peanut Gallery...exit here...also a must read) Mom n' Me Monday.  A fantastic idea if A) you're a Mom and B) you're the sole photographer in the family.

So, since I thought my kids were destined to grow up wondering where Mom was during all their trips, important times, and just hanging out...I guess I'll start having some proof that I wasn't just their personal chef and photographer.  

Not that I mind...but maybe it'll be nice to see myself years from now and think "Wow, you look pretty good as your pre-Botox-Juvaderm-Restalyn self!"

JUST KIDDING!!!

I have enough on my plate to worry about what bad things I'll pass along to my daughter, I don't want (body) image issues to be one of them.

So, since I don't know when was the last time I took a photo with my kids (which almost always involves you seeing my arms outstretched as I hold the camera)...here's one with Kaia, my eldest, taken while goofing off with our brand new toy (an iMac) in October '09.

I swear...this girl freakin' rocks.  She's got an empathetic heart of gold.  A sense of humor that is beyond her years.  A memory that's going to bite me in the butt in a few years...

And a smile that continually melts my heart and reminds me why it's so awesome to be her mom.