Okay, Aunt Peggy.....

Here's a new post for you! :) And everyone else out there who doesn't have a Facebook page to see our constant updates. The pictures aren't exactly in order because I'm trying to do this quickly, so bear with me....

The past few months have been a busy time around our household. My photography business is taking off, especially around the Christmas when everyone wants family pictures, and because SHAWN GRADUATED! We couldn't be more happy/proud/excited! We feel so free and can only imagine the extra time we'll have as a family. Here are a TON pictures of the happy occasion:

Waiting on Daddy to graduate at Holfeinz....
"Proud of My Daddy" with her own little graduation cap.
Our first glimpse of him...
I see him!

The secret for getting a two year old through a college graduation ceremony: skittles.

(and lots of family there to get up and let her run through the halls every 30 minutes.)

Where's Daddy? We would yell "Shawwwwwwwn!" and Lorelai would repeat us. Too cute!
Walking across the stage.....SO PROUD!

We also had lorelai's Christmas Party at her Mother's Day Out! Her two-year-old class got on stage and sang Jingle Bells with the Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack while shaking bells- TOO CUTE! Lorelai really just sat back and chilled most of the song, but I'm pretty shocked she even sat there at all! Here are some pics of the cutie-pie:
Lorelai and her friend Bella getting ready to decorate and eat cookies!
Santa anyone? NO THANK YOU!
Recovering, yet forever scarred.
Well, maybe not....
December was a long month full of fun!
I am going to try to make a conscious effort to post on this blog once a week from here on out. This post alone took me about an hour, which I am reminded exactly why I never have time to do this, but I got up extra early and did this while Lorelai is still alseep! Woohoo! Shawn is home from work this week so we are going to try to clean and re-organize EVERY room in our house! Wish us luck!

Forgive me?

.....for taking so long to put up a new post? We have been SO super busy lately. Shawn finished all of his finals and will be GRADUATING December 18th. I am still in shock. I am having to rethink the way we have been living life for the past....well, quite literally, since we first met! No more staying up late to study, missing Shawn a few nights a week, no more paper deadlines, registering for classes, hoping he passes. NO MORE! We will only be subjected to the normal amount of stress life offers while raising a two year old. *sigh* Sweet relief my friends, sweet relief.
My photography business is going very well, also! If you don't keep up with that blog, go check it out, also!

I am just as busy as I want to be and am having so much fun! I am working on getting a logo and business cards so that I can keep growing. I am so blessed!
Little Miss is talking our ears off lately and repeating the phrases we use daily....but it's SO much cuter coming from her! Things we hear daily:
"Let's go, guys!"
"I'm proud of you, Momma!"
"Excuse me!" (she will repeat this until we move)
"Oh dear!"
"Oh My Goodness!"
and many, many more!
Just is just so precious to us. She constantly tells us how much she loves us and gives kisses like crazy.
and, since I can't blog without a photo, here's one to warm your hearts.

Too precious for words...

So, it's taken me two months to edit these pictures. There were literally so many good ones, I felt completely overwhelmed to even get started. But they are literally the most precious pictures I have of Lorelai. We headed out to the strand this day because Shawn had to work on the beach house, so Lorelai and I had a girls day... we even had a caramel apple. (yummmmmmm.) Then we headed to the beach for a photo session that ended with me getting Shawn's truck stuck in the sand and getting lectured by many islanders about where is "okay" and "not okay" to park. Now I know. (um hello, I don't normally have to park in the sand. It's what parking lots are for.)
Without further delay....the lovely Lorelai.
















Grandparents- no need to copy pictures from the blog. I've made a cd of them for you!
Love,
us

Craft Project!

Yesterday and today I spent most of the day sewing a new nap mat for Lorelai! She started Mother's Day Out yesterday at Fwd Church of Christ and needed something to sleep on besides the sticky floor mat they provide, so instead of dropping big bucks on one of these bad boys, I made one! YAY! It has alot of crooked lines and I would've done a couple of things different, but overall I think it came out very well. I picked a really fun fabric and am glad b/c I think it's hides some of the messiness. Here it is!







Lorelai looooooooves her new "night night!" I keep catching her laying on it watching t.v. and she screamed when i took it away to take pictures of it. Makes it completely worth it!
I've decided that I really do not enjoy the process of sewing...a little too slow for me, but I really like having something to show for it! This was what I would call more of a beginner project (I would consider myself an EARLY beginner) but it was ALOT of fabric, so it was time consuming.
Here's where I found the instructions:
http://jennygarland.typepad.com/jenny_garland/2008/09/not-your-everyd.html

ABC...

Lorelai loves to sing her ABC's ALL the time now, and it is SO stinkin cute! She really only gets A-G and then is done with it, but she is usually pretty much on key which is impressive to me! (not even 2 yet, mind you...)
Here's a video of her last night singin in the tub...
You can hear her get A-G then skip to "Next time won't you sing with me? yaaaaaay!"

I still have pictures from Colorado to post, but the photographer in me is having a hard time editing them since they were taken at all hours of the day and not the best lighting. ugh. I need to just relax and let baby pictures be what they are!
Hope yall enjoy the video!

New post....

...on my photography website of my cousin Nikki's sweet little baby girl! Go check it out and comment! :)

http://deliberatelychicphotography.blogspot.com/

or you can follow it from the link to the right!

This is What Happens....

....when you walk outside in the afternoon to water the plants, and your baby girl decides it's too hot:



This is what happens when your husband puts BLUE icing on your kids fingers, tells you to "let her be a kid!" and then walks out the door to go somewhere:


This is what happens when your husband decides to grow his hair out WAY too long, then combs it across his forehead and does his best "Zach Efron" face:


and this is what happens when the cutest girl in the world celebrates the fourth of July:

God Bless the USA

My favorite "America" song growing up was God Bless the USA. Every time I listen to it, without fail, I get teary eyed- did so even as a child. I don't know where I first heard it (I think at the friendswood parade) but it's always been my favorite.
Tell me you don't get chills when the guy busts out with

"And I'm proud to be an American
Where atleast I know I'm free!
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me!
And I'll gladly stand up (symbols clap here)
Next to you and defend her still today!
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land!
God Bless the USA!"



Have a great fourth everyone!

A little preoccupied...

So, now that I have my photography blog up and running, I have been slightly neglectful of The Little Loop... (tail between legs...) sorry!
Here are some pics I took of little missy at my dad's last weekend for Chris's (leslie's bf) birthday!






I love these pictures of Lorelai cracking up and just being a toddler. She is SO much fun these days and is developing the craziest personality that is always keeping me laughing! (Especially when she is half asleep...) She is going to start Mother's Day Out in the fall and while I know she is going to have SO much fun, I also know I'm going to miss having her around every day all day. I am SO blessed to be able to stay home and be the one raising her and teaching her to love God and to be a kind baby. I am SO blessed to have a husband that supports his family by going to work every day and supporting this decision for me to be at home.
Happy Father's Day, love!

Hope everyone has a great day and thanks God for their daddy/husband!