Santa Clause

Shelby was not feelin' the Santa vibe this year. He was all about the jolly man....until it was up close. We decided the screaming, crying photo with Santa has to be some sort of rite of passage. Or is it "right" of passage. Who knows.Can you believe the difference one year makes in Shelby's growth...and Santa's hair style?

Speaking of look alikes!

Speaking of look alikes, Little Stacy "Trace" looks JUST like his Daddy, Shae! We can't wait to meet this precious little boy!!!!

Nonna's Saige

It continues to amaze me how much my niece looks like my Mom! Nonny made Saige a treasured gift: a dress made out of the same patter she one used for Mom's dresses! I remember Brandi and I having dresses like this one as well. Sharla took some ADORABLE pics of Saige, but this one really caught my eye as my mother.
Saige, you will grow to be a BEAUTIFUL woman, like your Nonna!

Daddy's Birthday!

Stacy celebrated his 29th birthday on Tuesday, December 16th. He got lots of cards, gifts and celebratory wishes from family and friends. Since it was the night of Shelby's Christmas program, that dominated the night. But we were able to open gifts and take him to his choice of Cattleman's steak house for dinner. Sorry, this pic was taken with my cell phone.

Shelby and I got Daddy lots of kitchen items he wanted: a citrus juicer (we have a lemon tree), a 3-tier cookie drying rack (he was recently complaining about not having this), a fancy new can opener, cool new potatoe scrub brush and peeler that fit on your finger and you palm with your hand for use, measuring cup for ounces, new coobook and sour patch kids and other items I can't remember.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STACY!

Shelby's Christmas Program

Here is the video from Shelby' Christmas program last night. He is the one in the red sweater dancing. That is until he see's Mommy in the audience with the camera and it's all over...

We also wanted to share his class photo for this year.

Mommy's a Pirate

Saturday morning proved to be eventful. At about 10am Shelby and I had a moment that ended up with the next few hours at urgent care. I was getting us bundled up for a walk in the wagon he got from Grammy & Grandpa. I had a piece of paper and a pen to jott down ideas for photos as I walked. When I reached for my scarf with Shelby in my arms, he reached down and grabbed the pen from my hand. He wripped off the lid and lifted the pen in the air. When I turned towards him, he knew I'd take the pen away, so with a swift jerk in defiance, the pen managed to poke me directly in the eyeball. I didn't know blood could literally drip down your face from your eye! I carefully set Shelby down and then started yelling to Stacy while covering my eye. I yelled, "I'm not going to panic....I'm not going to panic..." with fear and panic rising up and betraying my efforts. Luckily it was my left eye, and I could continue with my photo shoot that afternoon.

When I got out, I kept telling him, Mommy's a pirate, "Arrrr, matie" so he wouldn't be freaked out by the craziness they used to protect my eye.

This is Saturday afternoon:

Here it is looking worse on Sunday night. Basically like a bruise that looks worse before it looks better. I know this is gross, but also fascinating. You can't tell from the pic, but the whitish-yellow dab amongst the red is actually a torn up layer of eye. Like a piece of skin that flaps back when cut. Weird!
I have to find an eye dr tomorrow and go get it checked out.

CAJ Photography Unveiled!

Okay, I've been so nervous to "go-live" but the train has left the station.
CAJ Photography (sounds like "cage") is full swing.
My motto is "Locking in the moment"
Check out the site and let me know what you think.
www.cajphotography.blogspot.com
I'll put a link, too.

Thanks to Cantrell for helping with the name!

SANTA

Stacy's former co-worker, Nancy, from Hanover had us over for dinner last weekend. Shelby got to meet Santa who just happened to live next door! What luck! He wasn't too sure he was into Mr. Clause, so no solo pics this year. However, he LOVED the lights! He kept wanting to touch a lit up polar bear until Mom jokingly told him it would bite his hand off. Nancy and I laughed so hard I had tears! He immediately had a look of terror on his face and almost backed himself into the street. Later, John (Nancy's husband) came back from taking him back down to look at the lights and said he liked everything but the polar bears. LOL! I know, I know...horrible Mommy. Guess Santa's not bringing me anything this year.
Nancy & John

Chuck E Cheese!

Last weekend we took Shelby for his first trip to Chuck E Cheese. He had a blast! We rode all the rides, Mommy had to go in the slide tunnels with him (embarassingly enough I got lost and every part went to a dead end and for the first time I can ever remember, I felt clausterphobic) and Daddy hit high score on the Quarterback Football Throw. We used our tickets to get 2 small frogs and a spider. Shelby still is enjoying them.

Go, Daddy!

Family Photo Shoot!

A few weekends ago, the guys humored me and went out for a famiy shoot. We had a lot of fun. Look at my handsome men!