click on the album...

{johnny sweet face}

Visiting an old friend...

and all she wanted to do was play Peek-a-boo with her!

Princess Dinner

I took my girl on a date to Ed n Joe's for their annual Princess Dinner. They were featuring Belle and Cinderella, two of Lola's favorites. Perfect, I thought. Not so much. While we enjoyed a lovely dinner just the two of us and she was incredibly well behaved (give her a resturant booth and it's not long before she's trying to jump out of it!), she totally clamed up when it was time to meet the Princesses. She wouldn't let go of me and refused to sit on their laps. I'm not sure why, perhaps it was because they didn't look EXACTLY like they do on the movies. Oh well. It was still fun and I enjoy any moment I can spend with just me and my Princess Lola Rose.

Princess Dinner

{sweet morning conversation}

Lola: Good morning, Mommy. I love you.
Me: I love you, too!
Lola: Guess what?
Me: What?
Lola: Ti-Ti makes cupcakes.
Me: Yes she does!
Lola: Nonna, too.
Me: Yep, Nonna does too.
Lola: No...Nonna makes coffee.
Me: Yes, Nonna makes coffee.
Lola: For Papa.

:)

Park Fun! (It's Spring afterall...)

Yesterday was nothing short of stunning! The temp quickly reached 80 degrees, so we headed out to a new park I just discovered--a 2 minute drive, and about a 15 minute walk away, which I'm looking forward to once our side-by-side double stroller arrives next week!

The park is in a newer neighborhood so the equipment is updated--so many cool things! And, this was the first time I shot outside in manual mode. While the pics aren't perfect, there's an improvement in lots of them, had I just shot in auto mode. John and I were getting so excited about them while we were shooting. I love that he'll grab the camera too and try to get some fun angles.

(the ones on the swing are my favorites!)

Fun at the Park-April 2011

Doesn't get much better than Alec Baldwin

Shooting Manual

I just started taking a course with a photographer I very much respect and one we had the joy to work with for Lola's One Year pictures--Rachel Williams of Brisham Photography. At the end of this 4 part course, I will "know" how to shoot in Manual mode on my Nikon D40. It's really sad that I've had the camera for 3 years and haven't come close to using it to its fullest capabilities. Taking a photography course has been on my "to do" list--got to love scratching things off that list.

Right now, I'm just learning how to manipulate shutter speed and let more natural light into the lens. I can get some great light in the nursery and am simply IN LOVE with the shots I can get of our sweet, sweet boy's face. Have you ever seen anything more perfect than him?

I've got alot to learn still, but I can already see my images getting MUCH better. Can't wait to be outside all summer in the natural light!

{manual mode}

Happy 1st Anniversary!

John and I renewed our wedding vows in Ireland a year ago today. It's something we'll never forget and are so glad we did it. The meaning of our vows grows stronger with each passing year. There is no doubt I am the most blessed girl on Earth to spend my life with this man.

Super cool!

My mom has told me several times that I need to print out my blog posts. She fears the Internet and Google are going to shut down one day and all my journaling will be lost along with it. While I highly doubt that will ever happen, she has quite a valid point. What on Earth would I do if something happened to this blog?? This has been the record of our life together since almost the beginning and I hope one day Lola and Johnny will sit down and read it. I thought about printing all the posts and putting them in a scrapbook with the pictures, but then i found THIS!

My only question now to my mom is, WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF THIS?!

Jigsaw Puzzler

Lola, March 2010, smiling with her accomplisment.

Auntie Karen & Uncle Dave got this awesome jigsaw puzzle set for Lola at Christmas--and I'm crazy impressed with how well she can do it on her own! We've been playing puzzles with her since just before her first birthday and she's always done so well with them. It's cool to watch their fine motor skills grow with them--and watch how she tries to figure which piece fits with which. Neat!