My apologies on behalf of Blogger.com

I just had to post this real quick- I am annoyed and frustrated at this website. I don't want any of you to think I am getting sloppy with my posting, for some reason the site won't let me format my photos the way I want them anymore. Normally I can cut and paste them wherever my little heart desires, and the last few times I've posted I can't move them once they're posted. So, that's why they are just splattered all over the place. I try and try to arrange them nicely, so much so that it ends up taking me a ridiculous amount of time just to get one little post published! But I have had no luck. Hopefully Blogger will give me the ability to use my own creative expression again sometime soon, but until then, please accept my apology for this chaotic display of life's documentation. On a lighter note, Happy friday everyone! Have a great weekend! :)

Here's one last shot of Miss Olivia Grace. I'm not obsessed or anything, am I?

She has a nude attitude!

I'm getting antsy for summer time! That one super warm day was just a tease, and I am having a hard time looking at Olivia's closet full of fun, summer outfits that its too cold for her to wear! So, yesterday I made the poor child wear a few of them and pose for the camera. She was a good sport about it all, really- no crying at all, just drooling! But a little drool never hurt anybody, right? I like to think that it just adds to the magic of the photo :)The flowers have all sprung in our yard, its starting to look green and pretty outside! I am sad though that I didn't get to introduce Olivia to the beauty of the orchard in spring time- the apple and peach blossoms had come and gone by the time I got her down to Bolton. I was pretty bummed, but I will make sure to get her down there early enough next spring! And at least next year she'll be able to sit up on her own for photos. By then she'll be walking all around and who knows what words will be coming out of that adorable little mouth of hers! I did get a couple of shots of Nana’s pretty lilac bushes, and a close up of a honey bee on a dandelion. They are actually kind of cute up close! Kind of…. I threw in the towel when I thought I got stung- I didn’t, but the paranoia was starting to set in…..I do think I need to cut back on the photo shoots of Liv and Arlo, as a friend from high school called me out on how many I take! I am addicted. Livie and Arlo photo shoots are my crack. I think I must be a wannabe frustrated photographer. But when you have a kid who refuses to nap or entertain herself, and cries when you leave the room, you need to have something fun to fill the time. So photo shoots it is!

Spring updates...

It's been a long time since I last posted! So this entry will just be a general update on what's been going on for the last month or so....

The day before Easter, my mom had a party for Olivia so that all of the Massachusetts relatives could meet her. It was so nice of everyone to take the time to come over and visit, and despite the rainy weather and Olivia's fussiness, it was a great day!

Miss O. celebrated her first Easter this year, and she had lots of "Easter Bunnies" bringing her gifts! She was the cutest bunny of all though. :) I had to make a bunch of Easter baskets for Easter Basket Bingo at the college, so of course I had to take advantage of that photo opp! Talk about great props- and a fabulous subject!

We've been very excited for the warm weather, Liv is just like her mom in that she likes her tootsies to be bare, so the sunny days are nice for lounging on the deck shoeless....Adam and I both have generous parents! Mia and Pops got us some deck furniture for our back porch, and Nana and Grampa got us some rocking chairs for our front porch, so we now have plenty of places to relax and enjoy the sunshine! Adam turned 31 on May 1st- I like to call him my Silver Fox ( I can do this because he's older than me, Hee hee!) and he has become quite domesticated now that he's a father and a home owner. I know this to be true because he wanted a leaf blower, grill and a lawn mower for his birthday. I have never seen anyone have so much fun blowing leaves around! We've been enjoying lots of yummy grill food, because we really missed not having a grill, or a deck or yard when we lived in Portland. Now we feel like we're enjoying the warm weather the right way! Now if only we lived on a lake so that we could kayak more often....

And the most exciting thing that has happened in the past month was the birth of Baby Kapri!! Congratulations to Billi and Joel on the arrival of their beautiful baby girl! Olivia is very excited to have a new partner in crime, and we are all excited to go up North in two weeks to meet the new lil girlfriend! They will be double trouble in no time I’m sure!

This past Sunday was my first Mother’s Day, and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter. She’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for! She makes me happy every day. Seriously, who could be sad when you see a face as adorable as this smiling at you on a daily basis? It’s pure happiness!!! Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful mothers out there! Adam and I love ours so much!!

Arlo's Time To Shine!

Poor Arlo, he's lost his spot in the limelight since Miss O arrived. I feel bad for him, and try to pay attention to him, but he's usually so good, and Olivia is so demanding, that he gets pushed to the back burner. Therefore, I decided to create an Arlo montage! Here are some of his greatest shots from the past year or so....

Giddy up Cowboy Arlo!


Hair do? Or hair don't? Either way, its a gorgeous head of hair Arlo Daaaaaling!



Lobstah man Arlo


He looked so happy I had to post two lobstah photos!




Motor Booty Arlo!



One of my favorites! Have Mercccyyyyy!



I'll party with you Arlo! Do you do keg stands?




We love you Arlo, and you will always be my one of my favorite, and best behaved photo subject!!

So many friends so little time....

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Time goes by quickly, and Miss O. is pretty popular these days. In her 12 weeks of life, she has made more friends than I have in my 29 years on Earth. But, I'm not as adorable and charming as she is, so it makes sense, really.
About a month ago, her "auntie" Branco & "auntie" Palanky came to visit. These are two of my favorites girls from Massachusetts, who I met when we all worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters about 4 years ago, and they have become some of my closest friends, who are always so good about driving up to visit me! I was so excited for them to come visit and meet our gang's Lil Mascot (aka Baby Boots), and Olivia loved them immediately, as I knew she would. She has good taste afterall!
Below are some photos from their visit. Olivia has also taken a liking to some of her less than human (and also less than alive) friends. I do not have the heart to tell her that they aren't real. However, they are real soft and snuggly, so I can see why she has befriended them.

When Irish eyes are smiling...

What a special Saint Patrick's Day, because it was Olivia's first chance to celebrate her Irish heritage! It's such a fun holiday, and Olivia really lived it up in true Irish fashion. Don't worry though, the brew in her photo below is non-alcoholic. ;)

Arlo even participated in the St. Patrick's Day photoshoot! (Of course he did, are you surprised by that?) How cute are my little leprechauns?!



Just two Irish gals hanging out...

May your blessing outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
-Irish Blessing

We hope everyone had a happy Saint Patrick's Day!

My Flower Children

Those who know me well know that I can't resist subjecting those I love to photo shoots! In the past my most frequent victim was Arlo, who I honestly believe actually ended up liking the photo shoots- He is the perfect subject, open to direction, and seems to embrace the experience. I'm not crazy, really I'm not- I swear, he likes it- he even helps choose the costumes sometimes. Okay I know that sounds crazy, but he did do that once, he really did.
Anyways, so in the past I have made Arlo wear wigs, hats, glasses, if its a prop and I had it, Arlo wore it! So you can imagine my excitement when I was at Target last night and saw the perfect prop for a spring-themed photo shoot! And, this was a photo shoot that he didn't have to do alone- nobody was safe from being a subject (except for Adam because he was at work) so Olivia was a photo victim along with Arlo! They were very good subjects, the only problem was that when she was good, Arlo would fidget, and when Arlo was finally still, Olivia would cry. So out of all the shots I took, only a couple were usable. Now I know some lucky people don't have any snow left in their yards, but we have a ton so this spring-themed photo shoot had to take place inside. Which leaves a lot to be desired- I realize that this shoot wasn't up to my usual standards, and for that I apologize. Please pretend that its taking place on a sunny grass covered lawn and not the living room floor. I promise once the snow is gone, I will reshoot this in the appropriate environment. Until then, have a giggle at my little flower children. They are sure to brighten your day!