The (not so) perfect portrait

I don't have any particular subject to post about, but here are some random tids and bits...

Gabriella has a baby in her tummy. I know, I know, I was shocked too. But, she has been married to Aladdin (her imaginary husband) for over a year and it was bound to happen. I was first informed of this on Sunday. The conversation went like this:

Gabriella: Mom, you need to take me to the hospital.
Me: Oh? Why is that?
Gabriella: Because there is a baby in my tummy and it needs to come out tomorrow.
Me: How do you know it will need to come out tomorrow?
Gabriella: I'm just fairly certain it will. You can take me to the hospital after preschool.
Me: OK, that sounds like a good plan.

She then proceeded to tell everyone at church. She even told a few people that they needed to "look out for her" because she had a baby in her tummy. She is quite insistent it is a real baby. She intends on naming it Ruth. I'm sure Gabriella's Great-grandma Ruth will be quite honored to have her great-great grandchild named after her.

Juliana chatters away these days. It seems she is talking more while we're out and about in crowds of people. Calling our friends by name and attempting long strings of (sometimes difficult if not impossible to decipher) conversation.

Gabriella still looooooves preschool. She wakes up 30 minutes to an hour early on preschool days just to jump on our bed and insist we get a move on with breakfast lest she be late. Preschool doesn't start until 9:30 and she has yet to be late.

Yesterday I broke out the fall clothes and put actual shoes and socks on the girls in goodness knows how long. Juliana and I went to a baby shower in the morning while Gabriella was at preschool so I picked out a cute outfit for her that used to be Gabriella's. Some outfits I'm just so happy to see again. Anyhow, in the afternoon the girls and I made a park trip and I brought along the camera. I have to reconcile myself to fall somehow and cute pictures with stripey tights may be just the cure. I even had some secret hopes of that illusive perfect sibling portrait.

I was very pleased to actually capture some very cute pictures of Juliana sitting on the lap of... a cute five year old from the neighborhood that the girls often play with at the park. It would've made a darling sibling picture... too bad it wasn't with Juliana's sibling.

I love the potential of this picture, where Gabriella is actually the cooperative one. Juliana had no intention of laying on that grass.

This, however.... this is truly a slice of life with two small girls. One second I have the girls sitting next to each other sweet as can be and the next moment, Juliana is on top of Gabriella with her finger, well you know...

A perfect portrait, a not-so perfect portrait... take your pick. No pun intended.

I ♥ Faces: Completely Candid

Most of the pictures I take are candid. I will give direction when needed to get just the right shot, but I by far prefer to just blend into the background and capture real moments. This was a fun weekly challenge category. What does a completely candid photo look like? What makes a candid photo shine? In the end, this fun mirror photo of Liddy getting ready on her wedding day stuck out. After all, two candid faces have to be better than one, right?


Plus, I really wanted to share another wedding photo. I have to say, she rocks those curlers. See more candid photos at...

Fashionista

Mama provides the diaper. Baby girl provides the style.

First Day of Preschool

This post is alternatively titled, "No, I didn't cry."

Gabriella has been sooooo excited to go to preschool and I've been exited for her. It helps that she has a wonderful teacher. Any time I leave Gabriella with someone I have to trust them to manage Gabriella's food allergies. Will this person think about allergens hiding in craft activities? Will they think about cross contamination and residue on sticky hands? Can I trust them to administer the epi-pen without hesitation in the critical first few minutes after peanut exposure? It is a big job. In the case of Gabriella's preschool teacher... I feel very much at ease leaving Gabriella in her care and that is no small thing. Gabriella's classroom is peanut free and I appreciate the other parents and children making that sacrifice to keep Gabriella safe at school.

Anyhow that got a bit off track... back to Gabriella's first day...

Gabriella was up bright and early proclaiming that she was ready to go to preschool. I managed to hold her off for a few hours, but we still ended up heading out the door with way more than enough time for our short walk. When we arrived in the classroom Gabriella's teacher mentioned that she had some papers for me to sign for medication administration so she asked if I would stick around for a few minutes. Gabriella went happily off to explore the paints and the play kitchen. As I was signing the papers and answering a few questions for her teacher, Gabriella came up to me and proclaimed under her breath, "MOM! The other parents are leaving!" Sigh. I really thought I had another 8 years or so until she was embarrassed by my mere presence. So I waved, tore Juliana away from the marble tower and headed out the door.

I will say that as I walked away with Juliana I couldn't shake that vague feeling that I had forgotten something. Juliana quickly overcame her frustration at having to leave her beloved big sister AND a room full of toys as we headed for her first solo park trip. For once, she controlled the pace and we spent a good long while smelling roses (each of which must be declared "thats nice" or "not nice") and watching ducks.

When it was time to pick Gabriella up she was full of stories from her day. They pack a lot into a morning! I think that will be my favorite part of preschool days. Letting her have her own little adventure and sitting down with her to hear about it afterwards.

Contemplative

I've been wanting to join in the fun of the weekly iheartfaces challenges for awhile now, so I'm excited to put up my first entry for the "contemplative" challenge.

Most of you know that Miss. Gabriella is a thinker. It isn't hard to catch her in contemplative mood. I was excited to capture her sweet face perfectly framed by these colorful walls when I took this earlier in the summer.

Be sure to check out more "contemplative" photos on the iheartfaces blog!

Twenty Big Ones

Dearest Juliana,

I have a proposition for you, my sweet youngest daughter. If you go to bed tonight at a reasonable time, with minimal fuss and stay that way until 8am... I will deposit $20 into your savings account. I can assure you, it would be a deal well worth it for me and by the time you enter college the tuition will be so ridiculous that you'll need every cent. Surely, surely... you could muster up some sleep.

Is your acid reflux medicine not cutting it? Are you still a bit congested from your recent cold? Your father and I would love to help resolve any issues that are keeping you from slumber, sweetie. Perhaps you might try to knock down the decibal level a few notches and try using all of those new words you've picked up to simply let us in on the source of your frustration? I'm a little worried the neigbors might call the police when they hear your wailing. Anyhow, just think the twenty bucks over and let me know, OK?

Love,

Your Mother

Birthday Girl

Gabriella had a nice, low-key birthday. At least, "low-key" was nice for me because I had to be up at 3am for work most of the days of last week.

The day before her birthday, Gabriella enjoyed her first trip to Build a Bear to where she helped bring a panda named "Lola Bear Whisler" to life. Lola was part of Gabriella's gift from Grandma & Grandpa Warth. Lola is quite snappy in a red and white sundress and white eyelet sandals. You should meet her or perhaps join one of her tea parties.

On her actual birthday, Gabriella enjoyed a supper of her choice followed by some gifts. Jonathan and I gave her a cupcake set for her play kitchen and a toy percussion set with a drum, some shakers etc...

I love, love, love her little "thankful" hand gesture.

...and then what should appear in the driveway, but a new bike from Grandpa and Grandma Whisler. (She was way more excited than this picture shows, but getting up on it so high off the ground was a little intimidating the first time.)

After gifts we headed to The Living Room, a community space hosted by our church and met up with some friends for cake and cupcakes. Yep, I made vanilla cupcakes with pink frosting AND a yellow cake with strawberry sauce. Not too bad for someone who was up at 3am.

What will year 4 bring to Gabriella? Preschool, new friends, new skills, new challenges... I'm excited to be there with her.