Some Older {in a relative sense} Pics and a Flashback Friday of Sorts

The dogwoods and the azaleas were in full bloom, and it was beautiful weather on Addie's birthday...almost a month ago! And then I went on a blogging hiatus right after that and never got these posted.

We went to a park in Wetumpka that day; and on the way home, we stopped at the beautiful Cafco gardens behind Southern Homes and Gardens. I wanted to get a few pictures of the flowers; so baby in tow, we trekked walked the short way to the tree. It's rather challenging to hold a baby and take a still photograph without shaking and creating too much blur though, especially when she's grabbing the camera strap!

So I plopped her down and took some pictures of her too. And wow do I have a lot to learn about light!

The azaleas were beautiful; but right as I started taking these, I realized that bees find these flowers to be even more beautiful than we do. So I snatched picked my baby up before one could realize that she, in fact, was far more beautiful than any flower, and whisked her home for a nap!

I accidentally caught her hand in this photo, but I thought it put it in such perspective! She was so curious, but so gentle!

Of course my favorite pictures are always of my baby girl; but I'm a sucker for flowers. In addition to wisteria (and azaleas and hydrangeas), one of my grandmother's favorite flowers were found on the beautiful dogwood tree.

Although I'm fairly sure the Legend of the Dogwood is in fact just that, a legend; I love the story. And what a perfect time to post these, right after Easter, as we remember what our Savior did for us!

In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.

'Twas strong and firm it's branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:

"Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so.

Slender and twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.

All who see it will remember Me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected, this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony."

I have a feeling that this would have been my grandmother's favorite dogwood picture though:

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So after mentioning my grandmother {Maw Maw} above, I remembered that I had scanned this picture a few weeks ago. Isn't she just beautiful! I remember her being even more beautiful as she got older.

And not to be left out, I found this picture that Paul's mom had sent me a few weeks ago. Paul was about a year old here. Think Addie still looks like her Daddy? I agree, expressions and all!

Happy Friday!

Woot Woot

We're just slightly excited and just a tad bit proud!

We know our baby girl is beautiful, and we know we have a very talented photographer who captures her perfectly; but it's way cool when somebody else acknowledges that as well!

I'm gonna make you work to figure out what this one's about! :)

Click here!

Now can I hear a "Woot Woot!" from anyone?

Easter

I ♥ Faces

This week, I ♥ Faces has an amateur category...which is perfect for this amateur! The theme is Easter/spring. So, I thought I'd enter one of Addie's Easter pictures in her dress my mom and I made for her, accompanied by the stylish bunny ears of course!

I love her curled toes here and the egg in her mouth, where everything goes these days! I'm afraid the lighting isn't exactly the best, but I loved the color!

Make sure to check out all the other beautiful faces on the I ♥ Faces blog.

"Not Me!" Monday

Although there is no official "Not Me!" Monday blog carnival (yet) today, it is way past due for this blogger!

Here is what we have not done in the past few weeks:

I did not make a quick run to Walgreens this morning with Addie in her pajamas. She did not scream/screech for at least 75% of the time we were in there. But she most certainly did not grab the fingernail polish out of my hand and chunk it to the floor. It did not break the top off, splattering blue glitter all over the floor...and my pants. She did not promptly burst into tears again at that very moment! And I was certainly not buying blue fingernail polish!

The checkout woman did not look at me and say, "So, do you just stay home with her all day? Oh, that must be interesting." Um...yeah, I did not want to respond with: I just stay home all day with her, sitting on our couch eating bonbons and watching the Today Show while she sleeps. Just stay home with her...? OMG people...

My daughter did not grab my fajita by the edge and dump it's contents on the new living room carpet. I did not clean up as much as I could and then let the dog eat/lick the rest of it up!

After carefully changing Addie's poopy diaper in the car, I folded up the cloth diaper with all its contents and laid it on the floorboard of the car. I went on with my shopping, planning to take care of it when I got home. As I was unloading the car, I looked down only to find a smear of dirt on the seat. Confused as to what it was, I did not realize it was in fact really not dirt. Therefore, I did not walk around Michael's and Walmart with poopy on the back of my child's pants!

Our geriatric cat did not bazooka barf immediately after she ate canned cat food. I did not jump to move the cookbooks out of the way, only to get in her line of fire resulting in my jeans not turning into a magnet for her vomit. I mean...yuck!

I have not sung the Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Wheels on the Bus, and If Your Happy and You Know It so many times that I wake up in the morning singing them still. Our CD player does not contain not one, not three, but SIX kiddy CDs!

Our teething baby has not attempted to survive on yogurt, apple sauce, cows milk, and juice for the past week. Is that possible?

It is not raining here again, and we certainly couldn't get a pretty penny by advertising our house as having a sizable pond in the backyard, I mean, if we were putting it on the market (which we really are not)!

However, we did consider moving due to the fact that yet another appliance/electronic did not go out...the TV in our bedroom has not died. I did not find Paul sitting on the bed last night listening to the TV with no picture! Seriously people!?!?!

So...what have you NOT done over these past few weeks! Do make sure to share!

Make sure to check out MckMama's blog to see how well Stellan is doing! Praise God for this precious blessing!

Saturday Stumper...Solved!

I'm sure you weren't too seriously stumped by our Saturday safari, but we had a splendid time seeing so many spectacular animals during Addie's first stroll through the ZOO!

You know, seeing:

sizable elephants stirring up the sand

silly monkeys swinging through the trees

sleepy kangaroos taking a siesta in the sun

stoic leopards sitting in the shade

slothful warthogs slumbering in the soil

statuesque giraffes sauntering through their sanctuary

and a ginormous black bear almost shrouded by his shelter.

But in case you were suspicious of the single type of animal that would strike Addie's fancy...it would certainly be the super-sized cats!

However, it was this stunning jaguar's stare as he stalked his spectators that startled us the most but made Addie squeal with surprise!

And then there was the sassy peacock who showed off his beautiful, sleek feathers!

Mommy and Daddy savored the sweet time with their special baby girl!

...and we're fairly sure that Addie had a superb stroll as well!

What a swanky way to spend a spring Saturday!