{2010 Family pictures}

I finally got everything together for our family pictures (as in outfits gotten and sorta matching) and I picked a location and then picked a day to do it (of course it started to sprinkle when we started to head out but quit long enough for us to get a couple of quick pics).

I only ended up with 4 real shots to work with and had to do a head swap with my hubby on the tree images because as you can tell he doesn't like to smile and only smiled in one picture (the last picture), but I am super happy with these and am now working on what I want our Christmas card to look like and working on my next photo session for my kids (my older ones will be in white tank tops and MJ will be in a white onsie against a black backdrop - it's going to ROCK! at least I hope it does).

Enjoy the below images, I know I do and plan on getting one of them blown up BIG for our bare walls.

{MJ's 3 weeks ALREADY!}

Seems time is just flying by! I can't believe how quickly it's going. Why is it when you get older the time just zips by but when your young it just drags on forever?

Anywho, I took these images late on the 11th of November because she was sorta happy and I wanted to drag out my backdrop and camera...these are by no means perfect but it's what I could do with just me and a very wiggly little girl. Enjoy!

{A 15 second view into my night}

So tonight, MJ decided to wake up and she was so happy & content that I decided to grab my cell phone and take a few 15 second videos of her - of course it didn't last long as you can tell in the last video and soon she was done and starting to crank up...













I even snapped a few cell phone pics of us...she is a cutie pie but boy does she have a quick temper (must be our Irish blood).

{Weight Loss Weigh in: Week 36}

It's so weird, it's been just over 2 weeks since I had MJ. Time just seems to be flying! I can't believe what a great journey I have been on since starting these weight loss posts, (mind you these were started a week or two before I found out I was pregnant with MJ).

I have learned better eating habits and have implemented them into my regular life and this hasn't been a struggle like I thought it would be since my mentality has always been making "life style" changes and not being on a diet. I haven't denied myself and I haven't over indulged either. It's been a great learning how to balance it all, plus I have been able to share my knowledge with my kids and show them what's right and what's wrong and how everything in moderation is a good thing and going overboard on anything isn't so good. They are still working on the balance part and moderation part but it's starting to sink in.

I weighed myself today and couldn't believe my weight loss! My total weight loss and what I have to lose are exactly the same!! I am half way to my goal weight!! I am super excited!! (if you couldn't tell by my excessive use of the apostrophe)

Below is a picture I took of my kids with my cell phone on halloween. We just stayed in and watched "8 legged Freaks" and it was awesome! My hubby and I make the cutest kids, (even if I do say so myself - we got some cutie pies for sure - I know I am going to have some trouble when they start dating).

(this was taken on Halloween w/my cell phone - aren't my babies cute!)

Below is my current weight and progress - I am super excited by my progress!!!!!!

Current Weight: 271 pounds

Weight loss/gain: - 11 pounds

Total Weight loss: 34 pounds 

Weight still to lose: 34 pounds to go

{MJ's first Week}

William and the kids came by to see me the next day (October 23rd) after having Myrna Joy (MJ for short). It was awesome to see them and I am so grateful to my Uncle who could drive them all out. I really wish more people could have come and seen me in the hospital as it got lonely after my family left.





(look at how swollen my HUGE feet are!)
(Notice how Aaron looks displeased that we FORCED him to be in the picture)

These next few images were taken the next day (October 24th). She just looked so peaceful all sleepy in her bassinet. I just enjoyed how sweet and precious she was and couldn't help but snap a few while I was up and about.

Soon it was time to leave and go home (October 25th) and I was so grateful to be gone from the hospital. The staff was nice and all but it was sure lonely in my room all alone. I enjoyed the quiet and knew it would be noisy at my house but I missed the noise too. Who knew having so much quiet was a bad thing?

I got home before the boys got home from school and they were sure surprised to see me home when they got there. I sure did miss them!

The days flew by and soon it was Friday (October 29th) and my dad and step mom were over, coo-ing over MJ. It was awesome to see them and have them get to meet their newest grandbaby. 
I really do miss not having more family closer. I really did and do wish my mom and step dad could have been here to see MJ so small but my fingers are crossed that they get to make it out before the end of November, (weather permitting).

(this is one of my favorite images - regardless of how fuzzy it is - because MJ is smiling)

And that's the end of week one - lets hope that I can get up the energy to get some more images of my family more often. I have been a bit lazy and lax in my photography this past year and I hope that now that MJ is here my gumption to pick up my lug of a camera will come back and I will get back into the swing of being that annoying relative with a camera glued to her face.