Santa Visit 2011: Ridgedale Mall

Seems that we need to give a warning next year.  Again, we held up the line because the printer broke.  :)  Happened last year too!!

32 pictures from our One Year Photo Session

Thought I would share one! : )

Still *NEW* and trying this Blog thing out

So, I'm still trying to figure this whole "blog" system out.  I can't figure out how to find "people" or how to search anything for that matter.  Is this even worth the time?  lol  Google +, Google Connect, and a Google account??? What the heck is the difference?  I may just stick to the Facebook thing after all, we will see.

Bummed about one year pics

Flash Digital Portraits was where we did all of Evelynn's milestone pictures as we received a Milestone Package as a Christmas gift last year.  I had such HIGH expectations of them and am so very disappointed in our decision to continue to use them.  We have had issue after issue with every session and I'm confident that we will just leave the remaining package sessions there and try to else where to capture our daughters smile.  As I mentioned earlier, I was so excited with the way the session was going until the "technical difficulty."  Well, we veiwed our pictures yesterday and honestly not sure why we had to wait a week to see them.  There did not appear to be any special effects or anything done to them.  On top of the wait to view, we had coupons to use and what store/company out there requires you to still spend the discount price of the coupon?  Flash!  We had a $50 certificate for booking on Black Friday and a coupon for our premier disc to be $149 AFTER we spend $249.  Apparently you have to spend $249 after the $50 certificate is applied.  What is the point of the certificate if you have to spend the $50 anyways.  The gal that was doing our viewing was a nice to "waive" it this time since we didn't know but was a snot about it.

Because of the "technical difficulty" we got our session free or got to save it for later as we already had the session paid for due our Milestone Membership.  I did NOT want to have another session here but we took the free one and kept our Milestone session even though we won't be back.  We will consider it a "loss" of our money but a gain in our time and well-being. 

When it came down to selecting the pictures, we were going back and forth between two and at first glance they looked the same so I said, "They're the same."  The gal replied quickly with, "No, they are clearly completely different pictures."  OHHHHH goodness am I NOT happy with this place.  Sad that I loved the appeal of their displays everytime I walked by the store front at Ridgedale Mall.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE the pictures of our daughter but I know that I can get the same quality somewhere else for probably less hassle and money. 

**I hope this make sense, I'm not proofing or doing spellcheck as I'm just to frustrated to do it now.**

Peek-a-boo in the bathroom

Evelynn loves playing by the tub.   You must always check before running the water as you will either find one of our cats hiding out or non-water proof toys inside. 

Todays agenda

Making easy ready fruit and veggie cups. Each cup has the recommended serving size...if I understand correctly. This whole self feeding phase is hard since I can't be for sure she gets the nutrients she needs. To waste less and save more we try to stay away from Gerber things unless needed. We buy off brands and I save the plastic containers for on the go take and toss things or to freeze one size servings of food.

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Yep! Ev was up bright and early at 1:46am

Lil Miss Evelynn who went to bed at 5:30pm last night was up around 2am ready to play!!  Silly little girl didn't want anything to eat or drink but ran around the living room and kitchen happy as can be.  We played peek-a-boo with her pink chair and she even got a star and triangle in her shape sorter.  (Usually only the circle goes in correctly.)  It is so exciting to see her learn new things and figure stuff out no matter what time it is, it brings a smile to my face.  Definitely going to be exhausted by this evening.  This mom doesn't do the whole nap when "baby" naps.  I wake up more tired since it takes FOREVER for me to relax and fall asleep.  I'm hoping we are back on track for the 7-8pm bedtime tonight :)

Thanksgiving2011

This year was alot of fun. Not that last year wasn't but because this year Ev was running around and eating the same food. Last year she was passed around as she slept and this year...we were lucky to get her a nap.

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Ev bundled for the first time 11.30.11

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uh oh...no nap and in bed by 5:30pm??

So I think I may be in for a midnight wake-up.  Ev didn't get a good nap in today so when she got super cranky about silly things around 5:30 I thought I'd lay her down for an hour and be up semi late with her.  WELL....she is still not up and I opened her door to allow lots of noise in, put her laundry away in the closet and the drawers...not a peep from her.  Yes, she's breathing lol I stood over her for awhile just in aw thinking about how much life has changed, how much we've all grown and how remarkable and "good" she is.  We had 1yr pics today and since they had "technical difficulties" after they went to download our first half, we had to change her multiple times to re-do and she hardly made a fuss.  Not as many smiles but not nearly as many tears as I would expect while being in a room for an hour and a half with flashes in your face.

One year photo session

Whew!!  I can't believe we are FINALLY home from a long day in the "studio."  We were finally able to get Evelynn in for her first birthday photo session.  We do the milestone months and just barely made it in the 12month(1yr) window. 

We get up at our normal time (7am) and let Ev take her morning nap but had to wake her up early so we could give her a bath and make it to the mall on time for our noon appointment.  Waking Ev up early from a nap doesn't always go so well.  Thankfully she was ok with it...not her typical happy normal self but she was ok.

I was happy to see that we arrived a few minutes early and got to start a few minutes early instead of waiting around.  I was feeling pretty good about the way pictures were going...UNTIL...we had to do it all over again because there was a "technical difficulty" which meant that the pictures weren't taken.  ALL those smiles and cute Ev faces were GONE!  Evelynn is a trooper though, we changed her probably 4 times and no fusses or tantrums.  Not as happy and smiley the second time around but I'm hoping they got some good shots.  We go back next Thursday to see how well they turned out.  Picture taking is so stressful!!  What to wear?  What to bring?  What toys will make her smile and look at the camera?  So much work but the memories captured are so precious and you can't get them back!!!

Next session on the agenda....SANTA pictures.

As soon as I have an update, I will certainly be in touch!

A year already

Reflecting:  It's hard to believe that I've been a stay at home mom for a year already!  Evelynn was born on November 11, 2010.  Time has gone by way too fast and has been way too much fun.  She is so happy, full of smiles and giggles that I wouldn't trade this life for anything.  Yes, we have ups and downs but we have no room to complain about it as this life we made has been a true blessing.  I look at my yoga ball and laugh now as it reminds me of the nights I bounced her to sleep.  It's not because we didn't have a bouncer, it's because the yoga ball bounce was the only thing that really helped her get to sleep when it was really needed.  We've been through a lot this last year but we've grown and learned a lot too.  Learning to love deeper, laugh harder and "just go with it" are a few!!  I smile and laugh with Ev from the moment she wakes up to the time we put her pj's on.  If someone told me years ago that having a lil one would be this fun...I wish we didn't try to wait until we were "financially ready."  The saying is true, you will never be ready.  I'd have to say we managed pretty well using Target's up&up items and coupons whenever possible.  Not crazy couponing though!