The Holidays

It’s been a while and I’m sorry.  How was everyone’s Thanksgiving?  Mine was ok,  I’ve had better.  This year was just weird for me.  I did enjoy my time off from work but of course it went by too fast.  Some how I  got stuck with a TON of leftovers.  Some from mamaw’s, some from Brandon’s mamaw’s and then some from Carols.  Way too much!  I am sick of Thanksgiving food, the rest is going in the trash since it’s been about a week now.  Blah! 

Friday was shopping day.  For some reason I had a difficult time deciding if I was going to get up way before daylight to go spend some money.  Before this year, I never had to decide because Mom and I would always go, usually even if we didn’t have anything particular we were going after.  So for 2 or 3 days, I fought with myself.  I know that sounds absolutely insane but I did.  Then, after a while I realized how stupid I was being and got upset.  My life has just changed. I didn’t want to be pondering if I wanted to go, I wanted to go and I wanted to go with mom, like I always have.  I want to be in the Christmas spirit because I really do love it, but I truly don’t care whether I put up a tree or not.  I want to argue with mom that I don’t need everything that she wants to get me cause she always spoiled me at Christmas.  I want to laugh with her when we talk about what we can get mamaw that she will actually like and not want to take back.  I want her to be so excited about what to get Rylan this year now that he’s a little older and plays with toys.  That is how my Christmas is going so far.  I have started on my Christmas shopping, I’m going to try and get it done early this year.  I say that every year and it never happens, but I don’t really have that much to buy.  I do need to get on my Christmas cards though….(That reminds me, #1 Jennifer, if you are reading, I wrote you back to the email address you left on here.  #2 for all of you who came to Rylan’s party, I am HORRIBLE about getting Thank You Notes done, I had every intention, just never got to it!  So Thank You everybody, I’m really glad you came and it was nice to see each of you)  

Here are some recent pictures of Rylan. 

 

  

He is walking now, still a little wobbly and clumsy but at least he’s walking.  He has learned how to scream. Loud. And in public.  You know those kids that scream in Wal-mart and you think, ‘my gosh, can those parents not control their kid?’ yeah, that’s me now.  Don’t be so harsh, it’s not their fault!  And attitude.  He has a bad one sometimes.  He can sure be sweet but he can be hateful too.

 

Just in case you don’t hear from me before Christmas, and hopefully you will, I hope everyone has a great Christmas and enjoys time with their family and friends.

Julie Roberts Photography

So, if you haven't already heard, or seen, we had pictures made by Julie Roberts.  She did a really good job and they actually turned out pretty good.  Brandon and I are the kind that hate ourselves in pictures but these were ok.  Here is the link http://www.xanga.com/julierobertsphotography and scroll down to October 29th.

October came and went bye bye

It's so hard to believe its November already.  October was fun; the beginning of fall, Rylan's first birthday and of course Halloween.  Unfortunately I dread the upcoming months.  Usually at this time, I am all pumped up about the holidays and have already began my Christmas shopping.  This year is different, the first of many different years.  

Here are a few pictures from Halloween.  Rylan dressed up as a dinosaur, or maybe just a monster since it didn't have a tail.  We went to Beaver Dam's Trunk or Treat and then on to visit some friends.



Thanks for reading and be sure to keep checking my photography page for new posts.

Anybody?

I don't know how many of you check my photography blog, probably not many since I never post anything.  Well for those of you interested, I did post something so go check it out.  I'm doing a photoshoot this weekend too so hopefully next week I can post those.  I'm trying to get it going....!

Fall is here!

It is definitely fall out there!  This weekend was a little on the chilly side, but for the most part really pretty.  Saturday, we went to the pumpkin patch in Gibbs.  We got out there and it was a cooler than I expected!  We rode on the hay ride to the ‘pumpkin patch’ all to realize it wasn’t that at all.  It seems that they throw a bunch of pumpkins out in a field and you get to pick the one you want.  I even took a picture of this scene as we drove away.

                                           

I got some cute pictures of Rylan though, so I’m ok with it!          

This one isn't good but his face is hilarious!

         

                

We also got to spend a short amount of time with some friends we haven’t seen in a while, Ryen , Courtney and baby Ashley. He is getting so big and looks just like Ryen. 

On Sunday we had an appointment with the one and only Julie Roberts Photography.  We had a fun time and hopefully got some good pictures of us.  Thanks again Krista for my birthday present, it was the best ever! Oh and for all the help yesterday, thanks a bunch.  So the weekend is over…again… I hate Monday’s and I think Rylan does too, he was in a sleepy/grouchy mood this morning when I woke him up.  Somebody may be going to bed a little early tonight!  

Rylan's Big Day!

Saturday was my baby’s first birthday and I think he had a good time.  He ate all his cupcake and had green icing all over his face!  He got lots of presents that I have no idea what to do with, we have decided we need a bigger house.  I just wanted to thank everyone who came out to share this special day with us.  I have lots of pictures that I have posted over to the right, and have also added some to the Rylan album.  Thanks again and it was great to see all of you. 

Appointments

As I said before, I need more practice with my photography skills.  Now is the time to schedule.  The weather is cooling down some to where its not too hot, so if anybody is interested, let me know.

Diary

I have realized that I use this pretty much as a diary, and maybe I shouldn't really make all of my thoughts as public as I do, but it helps me and until I get a journal, you will just have to bare with me.  As I mentioned, Rylan's birthday is coming up and it is causing me to reflect on the past year and what all has went on.  First I think about his birth, it was an incredible experience and it was a joy to see my mom so proud of me and so excited to be a MiMi.  It really was a great time.  Then I think about how she loved to be around Rylan, she would say things like, “Rylan loves his MiMi to rub his feet” while rubbing his little feet and “I’ve got to get red nail polish cause Rylan likes it”.  At the time I would roll my eyes, like I did way too often, and ignore her.  She really didn’t get to spend much time with him and I really hate that.  They would have just loved each other!  Then I go on to think about the hospital experience; still seems like such a dream.  How could I have went through all that?  Then, all of a sudden it occurs to me that it was months ago, 7 whole months to be exact.  Seven months!  Some days, I feel like everything I lay my eyes on reminds me of her and others, strangely enough, seems like I have gotten used to her not calling me all the time or seeing her at mamaw’s every Sunday, and then other days, I wonder what it would be like to hit the rewind button and do the last year over again, or the last few years.  You think you will be here forever, that you will grow old and see your kids and grandkids grow up and make something of themselves, that your parents and wives and husbands and children will always be around…you just really never know what life and God has in store for you.

I just now found out last week that there were 3 new Vera Bradley patterns, how sad is that?  They came out in July and I never knew it cause Mom wasn’t here to tell me she wanted one!  I would have never guessed I would miss something like that.

So needless to say, I am having a hard time right now; it comes in spurts I guess.  

Parties, football and projects!

Well it's about time I got back on here.  I've been busy with a lot of things going on.  Rylan had to have tubes put in his ears this morning.  It went well, he was a tad bit fussy afterwards but then again he hadn't ate all morning either.  He's such a strong sweetheart.  The funniest part I think was the tiny hospital gown that he had to put on, it was SO cute.  I wish I could have gotten a picture of it.  If I had listened to Krista, I would have had my camera with me at all times today.  Hopefully this will make him feel tons better.  I've been trying to plan a couple parties, one being a Pure Romance Party and the other Rylan's first birthday.  The first party will definitely be something new for me.  I've never been to one and have no idea what to expect, it's mainly for fun though.  It's really great to just take a break and hang out with some girls and have a good laugh.  So for any of you reading that I haven't invited, come on over Friday night, for others who may want to browse at their products, you can online at www.staceysugg.pureromance.com.  Or you can let me know and I'll order it for you.  

Rylan's 1st Birthday is coming up and I have to say I am pretty sad about it.  My little dude is growing up so fast and I don't want him to.  It's really crazy to know it's been a year since we went to the hospital and had that small (but big) bundle that changed our lives forever.  He is, by far, our greatest accomplishment.  But why do they have to get so big so fast?  Why can't they just stay little for awhile longer?  Oh well, I can't change life :)  But he'll be hitting a big milestone in a couple weeks, so yay for him!

This past weekend was busy.  First we went to Brandon's High School Reunion and it turned out really good.  Enough people showed up to where everyone had a good time.  Saturday we went to the UT/FL game.  I really enjoyed being there to tailgate and see all the orange since I have only been to very few games, but the actual game was embarrassing.  I mean I pretty much knew we were going to lose but that was just pathetic.  I wanted to change shirts or find something blue.  I have to admit, I'm kinda a fair weather fan!  We ended up leaving early and going home.  This week isn't going to be pretty either.

We have some project for the fall, IF we ever get a chance to start them!  We're going to put hardwood down in the living room and hallway.  I think that will make the house look alot better, our carpet is just nasty looking.  Another 'project' I want to try and do is actually sit down for dinner as a family at the table!  Since Rylan has been eating some normal foods, Brandon has been mowing and Rylan has been going to bed by 7:30 or 8.  So, this is a project that I'm going to work on.  Something else I'm going to try and work on is having a normal life.  I want to have 'free time' to do what I want and what we want, instead of running around with my head cut off.  This will probably be my hardest.

Well that's all I have time for right now, hopefully I won't wait so long next time.

New Blog

I have made a new blog for Carrie Murphy Photography.  Just thought I would need somewhere to post my pictures since I've actually got some "customers" lined up!  It is www.carriemurphyphotography.blogspot.com .  Of course I only have one post now, but I hope to post more soon.  If you need to send a link out to show the pictures, I would rather you send the new one because this is my personal blog and only have a select few that I prefer to read it. 

Thanks for all the comments on the last blog, I enjoy reading them and love your opinions.

Have a great weekend.

First Photo Shoot

So I finally got up enough courage to go out and do a shoot.  I was very nervous.  But out of 227 pictures, I found a few that I really liked.  I did realize that I need lots (and LOTS) of practice!  So....who's next?!? 

The pictures are of some friends, the Ferguson's, that have a new baby, Leah.  She has the cutest smile, I love it!  I guess the best thing about it is that I had fun and hopefully will get better as I go.  Here are some of the pictures.



 

 

  



   



 

 

  



 

 

  





 

 

Nothing goin' on here

I know I haven't wrote anything in awhile but really, there's not much going on.  We're still going to therapy, Wednesday should be our last day, thank goodness.  I have decided to sell my car so if anyone out there is interested, let me know.  I've chosen to keep mom's car just because it's alot easier.  Easier to get Rylan in and out and alot more roomy to put all his crap!  That's about it though, nothing exciting going on.  I do however want to shout out to my girls that gave me a great 'girl night out'.  I had a blast and can't wait to do it again.  In the meantime I'm going to try to plan a great long weekend.  Happy Labor Day!

Updated Pics

I added a few new pictures in the Rylan album.  There are some of him playing with his toys; he's such a big boy now!  We went to visit Brandon's Mom, Mamaw and brother on Sunday so there are some pictures from there.  Also, we got to visit with Ryen, Courtney and Baby Ash and I took a few there.  He hit the 10 month mark yesterday :(