You can never have enough sparkle

I love observing my child as she develops and nurtures her interests. Early on, she displayed a true love for the arts. At age 3 1/2, she sings, dances, acts, colors, paints, and creates.

Our county offers a monthly weekend art class, and I recently signed her up. She made a gorgeous fall tree in September. Today, she decorated a pumpkin. A table full of glitter, glue, stickers, feathers, buttons, shapes, and paints was at her disposal as she released her creativity.

We had a hunch what was coming the moment she selected her paint:

In true Amelia style, we ended up with this:

It is proudly sparkling in the sun by our front door right now.

I am quite certain, no neighbor will have one like it.

If Picasso made an autumn tree...

Art class! Celebrating the arrival of Fall.

(By the way, did you know you can color on coffee filters with markers, then spray lightly with water and the colors bleed? A very cool project for kids! Will be trying this again at home soon.)

WW: This bed is crowded!

Amelia's bed was crowded this morning!

Kitty

Dumbo

Cat



Amelia & Ladybug
"We're both smiling!"



Also making an appearance in Amelia's bed?
Three small frogs, a turkey, a sleepy lamb, and a wolf.

Slumber party!

Link up with @BelleBeanDog and @TamingInsanity for  
iPhone Photo Phun today!

WW: History. Rememberance. Youth.

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield near Atlanta
Field of Flags, 9/10/11

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Snapped a couple pics with my phone that day so I could join iPhone Photo Phun with BelleBeanDog!

Happy Wednesday!

iPhone Photo Phun: Airplane

Linking up with @BelleBeanDog for some iPhone Photo Phun!

My all-time favorite iPhone photo? This one. Taken a few days ago. My child was being hilarious, so I grabbed my iPhone and clicked. I wish it hadn't come out so blurry, but I'm thrilled to have captured such a perfect moment.

Completely unaided, my 3-year-old daughter packed her little blue tote bag, put on her favorite princess heels, set up her pink princess chair by the wall, sat down, and crossed her legs. 

Then she exclaimed to me, "Mommy! I am playing stuck at the airport waiting for a plane."

She sighed, and huffed, and puffed.

"Why is my plane not coming?"

"I'm going to be late!"

I think she nailed it. Don't you?

 

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Link up your phun phone photos here!

WW: Can't wait to see this again

This summer has been HOT.
Anxiously awaiting fall colors (and temperatures!).

Say cheese! (How to survive a photo shoot with a preschooler)

I had a brilliant idea to get my favorite photographer to do some outdoor portraits of the family while visiting my hometown this weekend. I failed to remember the heat wave. I failed to realize the limits of 3-year-old behavior when her entire vacation agenda is PLAY. I failed to humidity-proof my new hairstyle.

Need some tips for managing a preschooler in a humid morning photo shoot? Look no further.

Tip #1: Start out with a couple group shots. Get in the picture together to make the event a little less scary.

Tip #2: Don't be shy behind the camera; pretend to attack the photographer with bear claws. "Cut" the photographer's hair with garden clippers. Jump around behind the photographer and act like a complete fool. Pretty much anything goes. As long as the kid is smiling.

Tip #3: When all else fails, bribe. My child was eating a big bowl of neapolitain ice cream at 10:15 that morning. But it worked. I have a feeling we will end up with some beautiful captive memories.

Wordless Wednesday: Wish

Wish I was here!



I could use a quiet morning on the beach right now.


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Want a summer treat? Don't forget to enter the Rufus' Roar and ice cream giveaway! Ends 6/28. Simply leave a comment on this post: Monster In The House

Bump Rockin'

Disclaimer:
I am not currently pregnant. These are pics from 2007/2008. Don't go starting any rumors!



I have had so much fun reading all the Rockin' the Bump posts this week. It's only fair that I show you mine.



My first bump photo - totally rockin' the cuteness:


A bump update - and my favorite maternity shirt. Looks like I was still rockin'!


Is that a beached whale? Oh no, it's just me. January 2008, about 26 weeks pregnant.


Even my adorable nephew rocked a bump in my honor! Impromptu soccer field pic:


As April approached, I wasn't rockin' as much as I was... well... waddling. Here I am, checking into the hospital the night before my induction. My bump became a mountain!

About 29 hours later, I met my nine-pound baby girl.


Thanks to Twitter friend @ShellThings for such a great link-up!

Take a trip over to her blog, "Things I Can't Say". If you've never been, I guarantee you'll have a new favorite!

Wordless Wednesday: Daddy's Girl

Father's Day is coming up!

Here's an excessively cute blast from the past!
Daddy's first Father's Day.

Wordless Wednesday: Toy

Why is my home overflowing with toys?



All she needs is a rock!

WW: Senior Hottie Link-Up

I was going to skip Wordless Wednesday this week.

Thanks to A Belle, A Bean, A Chicago Dog, I have to join in! Welcome to my submission for the "I Was A Senior Hottie" (um... not) link-up:

  

Honestly? I don't think I look drastically different these days. I have new crinkles around my eyes, some gray hairs here and there, and a few (ahem) extra pounds. But thankfully, I've learned how to tame my hair (it has "horizontal tendencies"). It is much less poofy these days... whew.

I wish I could find my photo where I'm wearing a very short dress and holding my flute. Because, you know, nothing is cooler than a senior photo with a band instrument.

Got a blog and some guts? Link up your photos through May 30th!

Self Confidence

Amelia: "Mommy?"

Me: "Yes?"

Amelia: "I'm very upset."

Me: "You are? Why?"

Amelia: "I am sad because I am boring."

Me: "You mean you are bored?"

Amelia: "No, I am boring."

Me: "I don't think you are boring! Why do you say you're boring?"

Amelia: "I'm boring because I'm not a rainbow."

Me: "You want to be a rainbow?"

Amelia: "Yes. And I can't. I want to be a rainbow and I can't...
 I am very sad."


So, now I am speechless. My beautiful (non-boring) child is 3 years old. I am not ready for self-confidence issues!

"Self-esteem is your child's passport to lifetime mental health and social happiness"
-- AskDrSears.com

It is never too early to teach our children they are smart, beautiful, and the light of our lives. My kid? Is not a rainbow. She is a unique, beautiful, smart, funny girl.

If I do one thing for my sweet child, I will make sure she knows it.

Wordless (almost) Wednesday: Hop

This photo hangs on my fridge with a cheerful bright green magnet. It is a photo of my dear grandma, taken last month to show off a birthday gift she personally selected for Amelia. She saw this singing, dancing bunny in a store and knew it was the perfect birthday present for her great-granddaughter.

Amelia met Great Grandma a couple times, but distance kept us physically apart most of the year. Modern technology, however, could always bring us back together. This photo was included in the package so Amelia would know exactly from whom it came.

 My grandma passed away four weeks later after a very brief illness. This was probably the last photo taken. I'm not sure how long it will stay up on my fridge... but I don't foresee it coming down anytime soon.

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And thanks to my iPhone, we were able to send Grandma a video of Amelia enjoying her new friend. With a real-life thank you. I'm sure it brought her joy.

Neighbors

Welcome to the neighborhood, baby geese!

Please keep the poop to a minimum.
And off the sidewalks.

Thanks.



Wordless Wednesday: Splish Splash

We love road trips to Chattanooga!

Wordless Wednesday: Solitude

Not now, Mommy. I'm reading.

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Tooth

Sweet girl with a sweet tooth (like mama, like daughter!)

Happiness is...

... a brand new blue balloon

Wordless Wednesday: Sugar high

One of my favorite vacation splurges? Dessert!
I like to eat it and keep photos to remember! Mmmmm.

Iberostar resort in Jamaica

Gelato in Nice, France (as seen on Samantha Brown!)

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas

Boma restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge