HaPpY 3rd bIrThDaY pAiSlEy GiRl!!

Today our baby girl turns 3. 

I just about cried last night when I said goodnight to her, her final night as a 2 year old, crawling into her toddler bed, clad in cupcake footie pajamas, clutching her faithful pink blankie. 

 What a difference a year makes! xoxo. 

Her 2 year old picture in on the left. 

She's just growing up, that's all, (and I cry at everything right now). 

I know that once there's a newborn in the house she will suddenly seem even bigger!  

She joined the tea table at the end of my maternity photoshoot and Angie kindly snapped a few pictures of her having fun and exploring her new little party. xoxo. 

She loves a good party, (I don't know where she gets it). I will often find her decorating and pretending "party" with her stuffed animals or with "the guys", (her brothers).  She loves her brothers and does her best to keep up with them in most everything....from playing "Tangled", to racing and wrestling and most definitely, in conversation!!  She is not easily walked over or bossed around and will make her case known if she feels wronged, (or bothered)! 

She plays well by herself, spending most of her hours outside if she can.  She rides her bike FAST and climbs the trees HIGH.  She scares me a little sometimes, but I have to let go of those fears because I remember being just like her and I'm so thankful my Mom gave me the freedom she did....it made me into the woman I am today.  

She loves food. 

She will eat just about anything and often will eat as much as me. 

She loves to go to Grammie's house for "choco cake" and "mash atatoes".  She drinks water day and night and insists on having a cup of water by her bedside each night.

She adores her Daddy 

and her Daddy adores her!

When we were first married, I remember Jake saying how he hoped he could have a little girl just like me someday....pretty sure he got his wish!  She can be sugar and spice to say the least.  That old Mother Goose rhyme holds true for her, through and through.  The attitudes and moods are hard to deal with at times, (it's new to me after having 2 boys), and she doesn't get away with much or at least we try to not let her. 

I can clearly see the differences in raising boys and girls, saw it early on for sure.  The main thing that stands out the most to us is her desire for affection and to be lovely in her Daddy's eyes.  Each Sunday morning, (or when she's dressed up) she will come to Jake, tap him on the knee, look up to his towering frame and say, "how you like me Daddy?"  With a gleam in her eye she waits for his approval and adoration.  It's a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father and His desire toward us and for us. 

She would "sleep in the middle" every night if we let her.  Most nights she still cries to lay with us, (and she cries LOUD), but with the baby coming soon we've had to bring a change to that....not easy, but necessary for everyone.  She understands, but it's the implementation that takes time and energy and drives us batty some nights when we're awakened so often!  Each day she says to me with excitement, "the baby's coming out today!"  I try to explain otherwise! 

She likes to entertain and if she has your attention she will dance, sing, "exercise" or try to tell a joke.  She will also tell you to clap and as you do so, she will close her eyes and take a bow.  

I'm amused and concerned all at once!!   

She is truly so pleasant and her name holds strong to her, 

Naomi Paisley, delightful and pleasant one. 

And so our baby begins a new year, a year that will bring some wonderful changes into her world.  A year that will be full of what childhood is all about, 
LIVING LIFE OUT LOUD!! 

We love our sweet Paisley-girl so much and THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF HER LIFE to us.  I will never forget the moment we first met, my heart was never the same. 

Our baby girl.

Our daughter. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL!!!! 

"And thou shalt in thy daughter see,
This picture, once, resembled thee."
~Ambrose Philips~

Tea for Two. xoxo.

maternity photoshoots. 

they're all the rage rage right now.

i think it's a great way to capture those few short months when your body morphs before your eyes...carrying life on the way out! 

and so i've been gathering ideas on pinterest over the past few months, yet i still wanted to do something unique, an expression all it's own.  and then one pinning sunday afternoon this idea came to me...."Tea for Two." well,  i guess we aren't really two, we're two in ONE, but you get the point!    

and so the ideas started spinning.  i gathered things we already had, (i like to collect all things "tea party")....picked up a few store bought cakes, made some lemonade, a few tea sandwiches, and some chocolate covered strawberries and we we're set. 

Here's a link for these darling FREE alphabet printables....simply spell out whatever you'd like to say!  

non-maternity dresses from here. wasn't sure how the fit would be, but turns out stretchy material can get you far!  Ring was purchased from a friend and the vintage yellow clip-on earrings came from a garage sale.  

my sweet friend jessica is getting her makeup consulting business started.  she offered to do my makeup in exchange for using a few of the pictures in her portfolio. she is fiercely talented and unbeliveably affordable. she does bridal consulting, senior pictures, maternity photoshoots, prom nights, engagement pictures....

she can be reached at:

 jessica-elizabeth@msn.com or on facebook.

photography credit: angela stoltzfus. 

another majorly talented friend, who, when given a camera can do amazing things with it.  she has been taking our pictures since the time of our engagement, over 11 years ago!  "back then" she used good ol' 35mm film and worked wonders with it.  she has a great eye for details and angles. i personally don't think she gives herself enough credit, but i will!  

 

i didn't have yellow heels, however i DID have yellow spray paint.

now i have yellow heels!

the one on the left is a small glimpse into the nursery. 

i really like the color and the way it's coming together.

such anticipation. 

 

 

my baby daddy. xoxo.

he looked so handsome in his orange shirt.

and who wants to party all alone? 

the kids, (and adults) had a hay-day after we were all finished. 

miss kae, (our favorite sitter) was here to help out and i'm so thankful for that.  also, a grateful acknowlegement to jake's mom, (grammie) for making dinner so i could throw my pregnant self a tea party! :)

 

and so we wait for lovie to arrive....until then i will CELEBRATE the moments we share in one body!  miracle of miracles!!

xoxo.

 "Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be."

~Carrie Fisher~