Allie's pics - Part II

THANK YOU for ALL of your encouraging and helpful comments regarding G. I really appreciate all of them. I didn't want to leave you hanging on the subject, and wanted to report pull-ups are being bought. I'll let you know how he does with them. And now, for your second installment of photos by Allie. Enjoy!

I love seeing what this little girl photographs. There are many over exposed self portraits.

This one is quite nice. Sunrise in Hickory.

Here we have a picture of a picture of she and Aladdin.

cookie dough.

Pappy and Grammy on skype.

To pull-up?

(Once again, the photo is completely unrelated to this post.)


To pull-up or not to pull-up (at night that is)?


G is potty trained and we skipped the whole pull-up at night thing...going straight to undies 24/7.

He had done great, but now I've noticed G is consistently waking up wet at night. UGH!

I even tried the other night to wake G, as we were going to bed, and take him to the potty. That did not work. He was sleeping on the john.

I really don't want to take steps backward and put pull-ups on him.

Hmmm? I'm confused.

Black and White

I have a plethera of black and white photos on my hard drive right now...I'm officially addicted.

If you've dabbled at all in photoshop, you've realized there are many different ways to accomplish a black and white conversion.

I've struggled with this in the past....I just felt my black and white conversions looked a little muddy. I've finally found a way that works for me...and I can't get enough of it.

My mother-in-law also introduced me to textures. I have NO CLUE what I am doing, but I'm having fun experimenting. (The last photo has a texture on it).

SC friends

(Heads up...picture heavy post...and they aren't my kids. Might as well be though, I love them like my own. Steph - I apologize for not taking any of your kiddos...doesn't mean I love them any less! Same goes for you too, K and B...you know why your pics aren't on here....and R Family we just need to spend more time with you!)

We headed back to our former home this weekend, Greenville, SC.

The kids had a birthday party to attend...and I had some much needed catching up to do with our dear SC friends! It was such an enjoyable weekend hanging out with everyone. We squeezed in all the face time we could with everyone.

It wasn't enough though. I left feeling a little sad, wondering if we will ever develop those kinds of friendships here in Hickory. S reassured me we would. He always is so positive. I love that about him!

I miss it. I miss these sweet faces below. And we enjoyed every minute of our trip back!

Dirty

The only time of day this little guy is squeaky clean is right when he exits the bathtub.

I am amazed just how dirty little boys can be. Seriously. Always sticky, gooky, muddy, blue mouth, crumbs of who knows what in his hair, markered hands and face, etc...

I found G stuffing peanut butter between his toes a couple of days ago. Today, I noticed some major toejam. Apparently I had forgotten to clean out between his toes (who does this anyway?), and some gunk had built up on the sticky peanut butter.



Just another example of my little messy boy enjoying his popsicle with muddy hands.

I wouldn't have him any other way though! I'm starting to like my sticky Gabe kisses.

Freezing time

Our typical evening includes:

1) Dinner

2) Playtime (wrestle or crawl around the house meowing {not us the kids} and/or movie night (movie with popcorn. Always! And it can't be instant. We have to make popcorn the right way....with oil, and kernels, in a pot)

3) Bath

4) Brush teeth

5) Read book, pray, songs

The above photo shows momma's night off from item #5. S had to work late this particular day; so he offered to tuck both kids in for the night. I accepted, but after eavesdropping in on their fun, I ran downstairs to grab my camera. These two have one amazing daddy and it makes me smile when I am able to capture moments like this. It's like freezing time and I know one day they will appreciate having these photos.

Allie and Miss M

There is a sweet little lady that lives next door to us.


She likes to come outside and chat when she sees us out. She has especially taken a liking to the kids and is fulfilling grandmother duties here in Hickory since we don't have family nearby.


The other day we overheard the following conversation:


Miss M: Allie, when is your birthday?

Allie: Jan. 3.

Miss M: Well, I didn't know you just had a birthday. I would have made you a cake and got you a birthday card.

Allie: Well.....you still can.


Fast forward to the day after this conversation. The doorbell rings and there stands Miss M holding a strawberry cake with sprinkles and a birthday card.

She and Allie have also had conversations about how much Allie likes butterflies. I understand a butterfly house has been ordered and should arrive this week. We also have been invited to an easter egg hunt with Miss M and her family complete with 500 stuffed easter eggs. AAAANND, tonight she brought over chicken and dumplins because she made too much.

We are blessed to have such a sweet neighbor.