Happy Thanksgiving!

We give thanks to God. Colossians 1:3

Fall Photo Shoot

OK. I'm horrible at being patient. I was hoping to unveil these for Christmas cards and/or family gifts, but I'm about to burst. Please go to www.britneysmithphotography.com, click on her blog, and check out my children.
I think Britney did a wonderful job! For us, photo shoots are always stressful for me. I guess because I look at it as an investment, and I just want to give the photographer all the best to work with, mainly well-behaved children. Shoots always involve very thorough planning -- the best time to bathe and dress the children; the optimum time to photograph around meals, snacks and naps; and the perfect outfits. And most important: a Daddy who isn't cranky.
I mean I've even had to take breaks during photo sessions to nurse my children, so flexible photogs are a must for us, as well as someone who loves children.
Britney is so great to work with, and my children love her. She is a sorority sister of mine whom I advised as a chapter officer, so Millie Bug and Brother have been able to get to know her for a while. Back in the spring I believe, she used the children as models to increase her portfolio of children's work. And it was such a great experience, I decided to have her shoot us for Brother's one-year/fall/Christmas photos. I haven't even seen all of the pics, but I'm so satisfied with what she blogged already. My heart just fills with joy looking at them! I hope you love them as much as I do.

Escape Artist

Brother post strip, which included the playpen.

If I didn't know any better, I would think my son was fathered by Spiderman or a monkey. I think most mothers of baby boys would agree they love, love, love to climb. So quick and agile. Just this week mine has mysteriously scampered from the bed for a 30-minute unattended romp in the office. Found him with the fax machine.
And apparently he loves to strip. Didn't know he had the ability to escape the confines of his clothing, either. But he does and likes it. (That's how I know he's Eric's.)
And then last night, after a fit in the playpen, I heard a thud and ran to the living room. Here he comes walking along glancing back every now and then I guess in amazement at his own accomplishment. The kid had scaled his playpen.
What's a mother to do? What's next? All I know is that playpen has been my saving grace. It's allowed me to get work and housework done. At the moment, all I can think of is that "Saturday Night Live" skit with Mike Myers "chained" to the monkey bars with his kid leash. Hummm.

Millie Bug & Brother

Since the moment we brought Brother home, Millie Bug has always reached for his hand in the car.

Playing house. Sissy is comforting baby because the daddy apparently just chunked her across the table.

Makes my heart happy. Nite-nite.

How Quickly Things Change

Ready to share

Uh. Not so ready to share.

Visions of Sugar Plums

Millie Bug and I had girls night out at the library last night. We're wild like that. The junior and senior companies of the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet performed excerpts from "The Nutcracker." Millie Bug was in awe of the dancers and their real tutus and was very bothered by the fact "the little boy took the little girl's doll from her." I loved watching her watch the performance and clap after each act.

Afterward, she was able to get the ballerinas' autographs. That was a treat. In the car ride on our way home, we called Mimi and Amelia told her she couldn't get on stage and said, "Poor Mia." I hope that means she is looking forward to getting on stage herself and performing one day. Her recital is in May, so we'll see then. I think she's old enough to appreciate the Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon this year, so that's something else to look forward to this holiday season.

Now I'm off. There's a little ballerina waiting for her tights and ballet bun!

Kate Gosselin

Like millions of mothers out there, I am a huge fan of "Jon & Kate Plus 8." It's a show my mom and I have been fervently watching together for a while. It's part of our daily phone conversations along with soap opera updates. Yes, I've made monkey munch; yes, I try to eat organic; yes, I talk to my husband the way Kate talks to Jon (i.e. the Toys R Us episode). Millie Bug even plays pretend with the children. That's how obsessive we are.

So, I was thrilled when she spoke last night at Central Assembly of God. She said she gets asked why the family's faith is not shown more through the television show. And her answer is editing beyond their control, so she and Jon enjoy public speaking arrangements that allow them to share their faith. Her testimony of God's faithfulness was moving. Several times I was brought to tears as she gave example after example of God proving to her and Jon that He is in control -- right down to the strategic placing of each of the six placentas so that each baby could receive optimum growth and nourishment.

What you see on television is what you get in person. The three of us -- my mom, sister-in-law Alanna, and me -- stayed afterward to have our copy of her new book "Multiple Blessings" signed. Mom was dying to know if she has any plans for an organic cookbook, so I asked the question for her. Yes, Kate said, it's fourth on her list, that is if nothing else is thrown her way. So that was exciting.
I've already taken a dive into the book, which closely follows the presentation she gave last night -- lots of juicy tidbits I had never known before. I left last night a bigger fan with yet another affirmation, that, yes, God is in Control. And as a self-professed control freak that's a tough pill to swallow. But it's nice to know I'm not the only one out there having to take
those big gulps.

Halloweens Past

Just thinkin' back.

2007

"skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony"

2006

Would love to share 2005 pics just a little over a month after Millie Bug's birth, but her Daddy dropped our digital at the hospital at said birth. So we were sporting the disposables. Classic. Our Millie Bug was a plump lil ladybug that year ... tutu and wand.
The most precious I had ever seen.