...and we're off!

Our sweet little Beth had her first official modeling gig today...what a girl! We had such a fun and girly morning...I'm always amazed at the gift that God gave my heart when He gave me her!

Je Suis Talent

Ever since she was a baby, people have stopped us and said things like, "She should be in pictures!" or "I thought she was a doll, but she's moving!" She's precious to us in every way, but today, I'm showing off some photos from her portfolio photo shoot. Yep, Beth's new venture is modeling...we'll see what happens. This first shoot may be the first of many or it may be the only one she ever does. Either way, she's my joy, and she and Mama had a wonderful and very girly day together!

But in the end, she's just our little girl, and in the last picture here, she's modeling her Halloween costume, which also happens to be the one I wore when I was her age!!! (Can you believe my Mom kept it all this time?! She's awesome!)

Baking with Tang

Beth absolutely adores her Tang-a-lang, and tonight, Tang came over and baked a beautiful jello cake with her.  Beth always looks so forward to their times together, and this was no exception.  Tang, we love you!  Thanks for being such a good friend and for loving our daughter so well!

(This photo was taken last year when Beth and Tang made their first venture into jello-cake land.)

My Girl

A few days ago, Cheryl texted this picture to me that she had taken on her phone.

A couple of thoughts...

1)  You can take a picture with that much quality on your PHONE?!

2)  That girl is PRECIOUS!

Yes, that's my girl.....and this has to be my favorite picture of her taken this year.  The fiery red hair, the sweet smile, the searing eyes....I love her, yes, I do.

So much.

What do you think?  Red-haired contest at Irish Fest this year??!

40 Days (Day 16)

She's beautiful.  That's all I can say.  

Some would look at this picture and see a bored, disinterested, annoyed little girl.  I see a loving big sister who was excited about feeding Bart, and although she was truly a bit bored with the whole task by the time I asked her to look up for the camera, overall, she was great with it.  A little mama in training.  

And a beautiful one at that, inside and out.

40 Days (Day 5)

I loved my whole (birth)day.  But one of my very favorite parts, by far, was spending an hour alone with this beauty.  People say she's a mini-me…I only wish I had the sweet little heart that I see God developing in her.  I love the way that He has made her, and I am so, so, so privileged to be her mama!  Every day, she brings me joy…His grace to me is so evident in her.  Thank you, Lord, for the gift of my sweet Beth.

Brrrrrrr!!

It's coooold in our kitchen this morning...Beth is eating oatmeal in her winter coat!

(By the way, when did my little girl grow up?  She looks so OLD in this picture!)

Haircut Time

It's time for the kids to get haircuts...that must mean that school is getting close!!

Doting big sister/Darling little brother

She loves him...we all do!  But she is one doting little mama, that's for sure!

Sweetness!

She's an attentive big sister, often checking on Bart and making sure he's okay.

(I think it's so sweet; he doesn't look so thrilled.)

Compliant to a Fault

Is that possible?  I often describe my DD as "uber-compliant". Example from this morning:

<Scene>:  I'm in the bathroom with the door shut--doing my business.  Beth is in her room.
Beth (yelling through the door with her tiny, little voice):  Mama, are you in the bathroom?
Mama:  Yes, dear.
[Pause.  And then...]
Beth:  I need to throw something away, but since you are in the bathroom, I will throw it in Rex's garbage instead.  Is that okay, Mama?
Mama:  Yes, honey.
[Pause...a beautiful moment of silence where I thought she had walked away.  And then...]
Beth:  Did you say yes, Mama?
Mama:  Yes, Beth!!!  I said yes!  Throw it in Rex's garbage...that's perfect!

(I didn't say all of that last part, but I felt like it.)

I LOVE HER.  She's one of the most amazing gifts I've ever been given--without a doubt!  And I would choose uber-compliant over the opposite any day.  But any strength has a weakness, and my patience gets tried with hers.....sure does.  :)

What a precious little girl!  

(I just read back over this, and I realize that it's not the best example.  And doesn't sound like a big deal...and it isn't, really.  But imagine a similar scenario over and over again, all day long.  That's when it gets tiring.)

Spittin' Image

Lots of people say she looks just like me...

 But I'm not so sure...

Those eyes!!!

The Block

Writer's block (and a whole lotta busy and heavy-heartedness) has been my frienemy this summer. 

Thankfully, though, I'm slowly making a comeback, with lots of great material help from the likes of...

...my beautiful, one-of-a-kind, sweet-as-can-be, red-headed girl!!!!!!!!!!

(Her brothers are pretty good at memory-making material, too...stay tuned.)

The Birthday She

She is beautiful.  She is precious.  She is special to me beyond almost anything else. 

She is creative and artistic and cute and so, so sweet to her mama.

She sings.  And dances.  And smiles.  And says, "I love you, Mama" spontaneously throughout the day.

She's my girl.  My girl.  My only girl.

And she's four. 

4.  FOUR!!!!  The big 0-4.

How did this happen??!

Daddy is out of town, so she slept with me last night.  As we snuggled in, I stared at her, remembering our time together in the hospital.  I still can't get over her.

I love you, Beth....forever.  You are mine.  Happy birthday, sweet girl.

It's Coldddd around here!

Beth and her baby, Cassie, all bundled up and ready to go...we had a mild December, but winter is definitely here now!

Toddler Planking

In 20 years, when one of my children is reading through this blog, they will likely have to google "planking" in order to figure out what this photo refers to, much like people today would have to google "flagpole sitting" to find out about that fad from the 1920s.  (I wonder if Google will still be around in 20 years...and how one will "google" then.  A 2031 version of a smart phone?  A tiny little card strapped to your wrist?  Mind power?)

Beth climbed up onto the radiator last night, completely unprompted, and proceeded to plank.  Okay, we had to make her put her hands down by her side, but it was pretty hysterical.  Kara comes over on Monday evenings, so we were in the kitchen making dinner, and we looked at each other at the same time and said, "She's planking!"  Get out the cameras, people!

Captured Instagrammly

It was so warm today that she opted for no coat.  That girl could swing all day!

Beth the Ballerina

When I was out of town a couple of weeks ago, Beth went to ballet class with her friend, S.  S's mom texted me with this picture, and I thought she meant that they just got dressed up as ballerinas.  No.  They actually went to ballet--I would love to see 3-year-old ballet class!

My favorite part (besides the obvious adorable cuteness)?  Beth's foot attire.  :)

My Girl

Then and Now

Same girls, different toy(s)...

2009

2011