As long as it sparkles...

Everything will be okay.

*Christmas Pictures*

At this time of year I'm always reminded of Christmas Pictures. If there is one thing I've let slide in life the past few years it's photos....I was a photo MANIAC. Georgia was at the photographer every single MONTH to capture her growth for her entire first year of life. Along with that we had Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, 4th of July, Family Pictures, etc. you name it, we did it. Professionally. Come over some time- I've got folders on top of folders of glossy 5x7's and 8x10's of this child's life. For the 1st few years at least...

When she was 2 1/2 I finally asked for a really good camera for Christmas with the stay at home mom dream of snapping brilliant shots of my girl and expanding into photographing my family and then starting up my own little photog business!!!! Isn't that what every girl who receives her first Canon Rebel dreams of?!? Ha! Well....Let's just say I have enjoyed the photo's I've snapped of Georgia. The Rebel was stolen a few years back when my apartment was broken into to (you remember-http://www.thebedrefamily.blogspot.com/2010/12/youre-mean-onemr-grinch.html) and I, of course, took the chance for an upgrade- why not?! Thanks robbers for the D60 I guess...

So here's the thing- Georgia and I have not had pics taken professionally in a LONG time. The one time professional photo addict has disappeared. Say it isn't so! She has dance pics, Santa pics, School pics... No big photo shoots. I've talked to a good photographer friends about scheduling a shoot and it IS in the works.

What got me thinking about all of this was the cover photo on this blog of G and I. That picture and that photo shoot is one of my favorites of all time. The thing is- it was AWFUL. Georgia was sick- Like miserable- hacking cough. It was hot, I was sweaty. Arguments ensued. Y'all- it was anything but picturesque. Meltdowns in the vineyard- and not just from the 18 month old....I walked away from that photo shoot thinking to myself "There is NO WAY I will have any pictures that will come out from this"

Isn't that life? In the midst of complete chaos you think everything is scrapped. Then you look back and and right in the middle of all that "chaos" there were these precious moments that were captured and now are held dear for a lifetime.

Life isn't always "picture perfect" but I sure hope I always remember and smile at the stories behind them. The stories are what make the pictures real. ;)

Another "Dear Georgia"....

My Dear Daughter,
Two nights ago I set my alarm for 5am with the intention of waking of to work out and I thought twice. I thought "Gosh- I've been waking up super early to work out a lot lately and we have been so rushed WHAT IF I woke up early and spent that time with you instead?" So I did. I woke up early, I woke you up a little early we left early and had breakfast out at Starbucks. I even took it a step further- I threw my phone in my purse while we were there...gasp. We chatted and ate (a yogurt and Red Eye for me, oatmeal and a donut for you).

Last night I had the same thought- wake up and work out. My alarm went off at 5am. I hit snooze. My second alarm went off at 6am. I hit snooze again. At 6:05 completely out of the ordinary I heard my door open and you walked into my room, "Good Morning!" I said, "Come snuggle with me". "Mommy, I just couldn't sleep." I told you that was perfectly fine it was about time to wake up but we could snuggle for a few minutes. "I miss snuggling with you." you said. Luckiest Mommy in the world.

We ended up scrapping breakfast at home for the second day in a row. I gave in this morning and you  order the cinnamon roll- then I taught you the best way eat it....from the inside out (right? It's gooier in the middle)

Thanks for making me a "morning person" the past two mornings. I told you tonight as I put you to bed that you are my world, and you are. We read (once again) "Oh The Places You'll Go" at bed time:

Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
.....
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

I tear up reading this to you as I recall reading it to you the first time before Kindergarten (when I really lost it and started sobbing.) You've got it all Georgia- way more than I ever had. More so- you've got me behind you every single step of the way. I sure hope you look up to me. If you do- I sure hope you realize your potential in life far exceeds anything even I can imagine. YOU are amazing. No doubts about it.

Love you more,
Mommy

It is what you believe it is...

Time to make the impossible a reality...

I plan on making this better than I ever imagined.

Stay tuned- things are about to be pretty amazing.

I've Succeeded...

In cloning myself.

Carry on.

**Edit**

I just showed this picture to Georgia 

"Who is that? That looks like me."

I told her who it was. 

"Whoa...I didn't know you had Fangs"

as she points to my bangs....

A really good perspective...

A really good read...
http://sethadamsmith.com/2013/11/02/marriage-isnt-for-you/

Halloween Past

Here's a little flash back for ya. The past six Halloweens of Georgia. In going back to dig up the six pics that made the cut consider yourself lucky. This child has her life documented almost moment by moment. As her mother I think every moment is pretty much priceless. 

#1- Poodle: Taken in my moms office. We would all go to lunch together all the time I debuted Georgia's 1st costume that day! From the time I was pregnant "poodles" was Georgia's thing. It was even the theme of her first bday party so very fitting to be her first Halloween costume!

#2- Pumpkin: A girl I went to high school with had started a little TuTu making side business. I saw this idea on a website and sent it to her and she was able to re-create it. I LOVED it. The pics turned out so very cute that year.

#3- Peacock Georgia: I made this one myself and was oh so proud of it. Georgia flat out refused to try it on and prior to Halloween I couldn't even get a good picture of her wearing it so I was a little nervous. Totally bummed when she didn't win the neighborhood costume contest that year....

#4- Snow White: The first year Georgia was able to pick out and tell me exactly what she wanted to be. Her favorite- Snow White. I tried to talk her into something more exciting "Georgia- you can dress up as Snow White every day- it's hanging in your dress up closet...don't you want to pick out something else?" Nope...she wasn't going to have it. Snow White it was.

#5- Marie Antoinette: Ahhh The Culmination. I spotted this outfit years prior and died. They only start making it in size 4T and I had to wait several years for her to be old enough to wear it. 2011 was our year. I did not even ask her about it. The catalog came in (I knew from eyeing it in years past it was a fast seller) and I ordered it in August. We won the costume contest that year. 

#6- Kimberly The Pink Power Ranger: Annnnd we are back to Georgia picking out her costumes. She got REALLY into Power Rangers (which I kinda loved) I was a little old for them but my little brother was obsessed and he and I would watch the shows together. I showed the original shows to Georgia on Netflix and she loved it. She asked to be the Pink Ranger for Halloween...but not just any Pink Ranger. The ORIGINAL Pink Power Ranger...you know- the one from 1994? Like the one that hasn't been MADE since 1994?!?!? Countless hours spent ebay-ing later....