Ileigh- 18 months

Ileigh I can't believe you are 18months....
Well, if we want to get technical, in just a few days you will be 20 months old, 20!
ANYWAY. We TOOK these photos for your 18month shoot. A few days later you turned 19 months...but I managed to wait a WHOLE month before I made time to finish editing them.
I digress.

You are our little sunshine.

Ileigh, 18 months was like a light bulb turned on for you, sweet one.

You started giving kisses...unending hugs...it was amazing to watch.

And talk about one smart little cookie. You love to sing and dance.

And all that spunk.

Not to mention the hair. Oh, that hair.

We are almost to a point where it will lay semi-flat. But not just yet.

Ileigh, you are beautiful and we are so proud to be called your parents.

I can't wait to see all the great things ahead for you. And I REALLY can't wait to see how all of this spunk plays out.

You see, I know God designed you perfectly. You, sweetheart are perfect for the very purpose that God has for you. I pray that you will have the "spunk" to recognize it and run after your dreams.

Sweet girl, your smile, it just lights up our day. And those dimples. I don't even know who you got them from.

I am so proud of you baby girl. So very proud.

 Kisses? Of course, sweet pea.

Many thanks to Lynz for letting us use her bed. She gave up her bed for a photo prop and my crazy idea of an open field. The jumper I got off of Zulily and Kori made the flower!

Shhh...don't tell anyone.

Don't tell anyone, but I'm not working on what I am suppose to. I should be editing a ton of pictures of beautiful little families with beautiful little kiddos. But I'm not.

Instead I am choosing to edit AND blog about our incredible first born. We finally made time for his 3 1/2 year photo shoot. As in, I booked an appointment with ourselves. In the calendar. No excuses. We were already over a month late...he didn't seem to mind though.

He was surprisingly excited about having his own photo shoot. I decided to let him pick out his entire first outfit and the location. He picked a fire truck shirt, shorts, his famous cowboy boots, hat and lasso to complete the look. It was perfect. :)

Gosh, I just love him. 

You see, this one, he is something else. Never in my life have I known a love like this. He can make my heart leap with just a look with those big, gorgeous brown eyes.

And that laugh. His daddy is the best at making him laugh. And it is contagious.

His "fake laugh" is pretty stinkin' hilarious too.

Look at those eyes...and that smile. This little boy is amazing. He so caring and loving to others. I can't wait to see where his journey will take him.

We had a blast taking his photos. He got to play with garage doors,

watch daddy tickle mommy,

and visit the railroad tracks.

I LOVE both of these pictures.

He was scared at the tracks and kept telling us that we needed to leave because a train would be coming soon.

I told him that we will always protect him.

And we will.

"Look mom, it is like gymnastics!"

:) I still love all of his hats. And I love his serious face.

But that huge smile will melt my heart every single time.

His reward for being so cooperative was to go see the train when it came by,

and go for a ride on daddy's shoulders.

The best place for a little boy to be.

I am so glad we took a little extra time out of our day for a special little photo shoot for an amazing little boy, who every day grows up a little more right before our eyes.

I am so thankful that I get to watch.

First Day of School

Well, hello blogging world.

Wow, it has been awhile. :)

Maybe now that the kiddos are back in "school" I will have time to get caught up....maybe.

Here are our little cuties before we took them to school yesterday.

Ileigh did better than expected with a new teacher! Woot! 

One happy momma. 

She LOVED her old teachers...they were also her teachers for Sunday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Wednesday nights. She was very attached to them and I worried because I knew she would be expecting them.

Eli goes to school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for half a day. He loves his teacher, Ms. Johnson and has been talking about her all day.

This morning when it was just Ileigh and I out for a morning walk, I almost broke down realizing that in just a few years it will be "real" school and Eli will be gone all day, every week day. Ah!

And trust me, I am not usually emotional about things like that.  

Here's to a great semester! I can't wait to see how much these two grow and learn!

Norman Pictures...

Last weekend we were in Norman for a wedding and I informed Chris that we had to go get a family picture under "our tree"- it is behind the law school on campus. We missed last year, but have had a family picture there every summer since Eli was born...so this makes 3. :)

The picture isn't the best. And with a tripod, timer and toddlers there is no use in trying to smile for the camera. (And don't take pictures at 11:00 in the morning the shadows are horrific- let's just say the morning didn't go as we had hoped) :)

But....for closer-up shots, 11 is just fine.

Love this little guy. 

Can't believe he is so big... 

And this little thing? She is pretty cute too. 

Awww...there is a little sweet with all that spice. :) 

I went to get the car- it was close to 100 degrees, and Chris hung out around the law school with the kiddos.

I adore these last two pictures that Chris got. It is pretty much how I see Ileigh every. single. day.

Except, she doesn't smile that big for me.

Memorial Day Weekend- Cowboy Hall of Fame

The next day after the Zoo, Brad, Alison & Emma met up with us. We planned to go to the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Chili Cook-off.

It was great! We have been going for many years, and the kiddos have more fun every year.

We take a tractor ride into the grounds...

We got the easy ride; Ileigh was asleep, so Chris had to wheel her about half a mile, through grass. Such a trooper. 

Excited kiddos. 

The first thing we did was get the kiddos on horses. They LOVED it. 

Eli was tippin' his hat to daddy. :) 

Awww...big smiles! 

We had to say thank you to the horse and pet him... 

We watched a man do rope tricks... 

and made a lasso... 

(even Memamaw made one!) 

Then we went on a stagecoach ride... 

(Ileigh had just woke up at this point...) 

Then a wagon ride... 

ate some stew and cobbler... 

and got our faces painted.  

Between that and the horses, I can't tell what they loved most. 

Then we went inside the museum and watched the square dancers. 

The kiddos entertained a crowd of their own... 

After that we hopped on the tractor for one last ride and headed to the "vacation" for naps.

(Eli calls every hotel he sees a "vacation" and I don't want to explain the difference to him just yet. It is adorable and he is growing up too fast already) 

Can't wait for next year!