Monday, August 29, 2011

Where We've Been

OK - so as I look at my blog my pathetic attempt at a blog, I realize I'm LONG overdue for a post.  I may go back and fill in some of our summer, but for now here is a summer highlight post.

The summer started with Tyler's birthday (yes, I'm being lazy and directing you to the post I wrote on my photography business blog about his bithday...but this is SO far dated that my new website is up now - www.withlovestudio.com/blog).  You see, that is what kept me so busy this summer...launching WITH LOVE STUDIO - Photography & Design by Kerri Gibbs.  I've been doing the design work for a while now, but decided this summer I was gonna test the waters with my photography business.  I've done sessions for friends in the past, but wanted to see if I could make this business - my dream (you see, I said it long ago and posted it right there in my profile) a reality.  Well...it has taken off better than I could have hoped and I am SO excited to pursue this opportunity God has blessed me with.  It is such a wonderful experience to meet so many wonderful people and capture such great memories - while also getting to be at home with my babies each and every day - capturing all of their wonderful memories!

OK...back to the summer.  After Tyler's birthday we took a trip to Salisbury, Md and Rehobeth Beach, De with my parents.  It was a fun trip...except for losing Kiki (Tyler's special blanket that he has had since he was a newborn.  I'm not sure if it is he or I, who is more upset that it was never returned to us, despite numerous phone calls to and promises from the hotel we stayed at).

Fourth of July quickly came (and went, it seems) and the summer was halfway over. 

Katelyn celebrated her first birthday (yep, you guess it...that's the link to the post over on my OLD blog!  haha)

And we geared up for Mr. Tyler's first day as a Kindergartener.  Hopefully I will be able to get my act together and share that with you all.  :)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Monday Musing | More Photography Fun

This was kind of a laid back weekend for us.  We got a lot of work done in the garage and can almost fit both of our cars in the garage.  This will mark the first time since moving back to Va that we can both park our cars in the garage.  Yippee!!  Now if we can just KEEP it clean and de-cluttered...well, that's another story.  :)

I also had my second mentoring session with Beryl, from Be Young Photography.  While she is a fantastic photographer, she is also a wonderful teacher and I learned SO much from her and am so happy to have stumbled across her Momtography 101 Class.  When I ended up not being able to take that class, due to a scheduling, she offered the option of a one-on-one mentoring session.  While this was a bigger financial investment on my part, I am so happy that I went for it, b/c I think than it will turn out to be an in-valuable opportunity.

For the second half of our mentoring session, Beryl came to our house and we did a mock photo shoot.
I'm so excited with how these images turned out.  We started in the front yard, but quickly moved around back to the play set, when the boys started to get restless...it was fun for them to play, and I got cute shots....of Tyler and Kate at least.  Luke just wasn't interested this time!



Working with Beryl was amazing and I'm so excited to be on my way to making my photography dream a reality!

Monday Musing | More Photography Fun

This was kind of a laid back weekend for us.  We got a lot of work done in the garage and can almost fit both of our cars in the garage.  This will mark the first time since moving back to Va that we can both park our cars in the garage.  Yippee!!  Now if we can just KEEP it clean and de-cluttered...well, that's another story.  :)

I also had my second mentoring session with Beryl, from Be Young Photography.  While she is a fantastic photographer, she is also a wonderful teacher and I learned SO much from her and am so happy to have stumbled across her Momtography 101 Class.  When I ended up not being able to take that class, due to a scheduling, she offered the option of a one-on-one mentoring session.  While this was a bigger financial investment on my part, I am so happy that I went for it, b/c I think than it will turn out to be an in-valuable opportunity.

For the second half of our mentoring session, Beryl came to our house and we did a mock photo shoot.
I'm so excited with how these images turned out.  We started in the front yard, but quickly moved around back to the play set, when the boys started to get restless...it was fun for them to play, and I got cute shots.  Beryl is a FANTASTIC teacher.  I can't speak highly enough about her.  Not only is she a great teacher, she's a wonderful lady and photographer, too.  ;)





Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Mothers Day 2011 | Blessed

My little boy is growing up.  I can barely believe this is my 5th Mother's Day.  Wait, is that right?  2007 (Tyler - 11 months) 2008 (Tyler - 23 months & Lucas - 1 month), 2009 (Tyler - almost 3, Lucas 1), 2010 (Tyler - almost 4, Lucas 2, pregnant with Kate), 2011 (Tyler - almost 5, Lucas - 3, Kate - 9 months).  Yep...5th Mother's Day and three kiddos.  Wow - I'm so blessed.  :) 

This year Mother's Day was extra special for several reasons.  One being the Mother's Day Tea that preschool class hosted.  Beautiful places settings with handmade goodies...


 tea served from a tea pot, delicious tea sandwiches and pastries and adorable 4 and 5 year olds singing songs to their mommies.



It was so incredibly precious.  I hope I NEVER forget that moment.  I can't believe my little man is almost 5.  He's growing so fast.  The second thing that made this mother's day a little bit more special was having had a daughter this past year.  As much as I tried to convince myself that having had a third boy would have been okay, I can't get over how much I LOVE having a daughter.  This is absolutely NOT to say that I'm not so grateful for having my boys -- I definitely am.  But I'm so glad I have the opportunity to be a mom to  sons and a daughter.  I'm so happy that I get to experience both, because I am SURE there will be moments shared and memories made with Kate that would just NOT happen as a mom to only sons.  Moments such as celebrating Mother's Day with her, as I have with my own mom the past few years, when we have gone to have a girls day out with mani/pedi's.  I'm so excited for the year when we take Kate with us for the first time.  

Monday, May 09, 2011

Monday Musing | Tyler's T-ball Debut

This past week our family became an official baseball family, with Tyler playing his first t-ball games.  They were fun...kind of long...but still so fun to watch these little 4 and 5  year olds get their introduction to baseball. 

Tyler's first game was so cute.  He did very well hitting the ball...


but needs a little more focus when base running.  Haha, we'll get there though.


We also had our first t-ball pictures taken.  I was pleasant surprised at how well nine 4, 5 and 6 year olds did with their team photo...not too shabby!  :)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Katelyn | Milestones

Birthdate - July 26, 2010
Weight - 7 lb., 11 oz.

Length - 21.5 inches



1 month old:
Weight -
Length -
milk protein allergy diagnosed

First Smile - September 4, 2010 (6 weeks old)

Slept 8 hours - September 4, 2010 (6 weeks old)


2 months old:
Weight -

Length -

4 months old:
Weight -

Length -
constipation issue recognized, saw surgeon to "widen" opening

Rolled from front to back - November 27, 2010 (4 months old)

Rolled from back to front - November 28, 2010 (4 months old...but doesn't do it often, b/c she can't be on her tummy very long or will spit up).

Sitting with hands (for brief moment) - December 20, 2010 (almost five months)

Sitting unassisted - January 19, 2011 (almost six months)

Bottom two middle teeth (came in together) - January 19, 2011 (almost six months)

6 months old:
Weight - 15 lb., 10 oz
Length - 26 inches
Notes - reaching for and grabbing everything, showing interest in food or drinks, trying to push up on knees, sleeping 13+ hours each night, tolerating milk proteins more, still having some constipation issues - probably will re-visit surgeon this month.


Says First Word:  "Hi" on March 17
Rocks Forward onto Tummy:  April 24

9 months old:
Weight:  17 lb, 4 oz
Length:  
Notes:  Sits unsupported for as long as you let her, and will rock herself forward to her belly.  But, b/c she doesn't like being on her belly, her smiles promptly turn to wails.  She does however, like to stand so we've been giving her lots of "standing time" rather than "tummy time".  She may be one of those babies that skips crawling and goes right now walking.  Not sure I am ready for that, though.  :(  She is getting much more hair...so her bow's don't look as ridiculous.  ;)   Has been babbling for awhile, but we now hear "hi" and "bye-bye" frequently.  One of Lucas' favorite things to do with Kate is sit beside her saying "bye, bye, bye, bye" until she repeats it to him.  It's adorable.  We have also heard "ma-ma" and "da-da" come out a couple of times.  Could be coincidental, but they were appropriately used.  Her digestion issues have eased up considerably, and we were able to avoid another trip to the surgeon.  Perhaps this is due to the HIGH fiber breakfast concoction I made for her, consisting of a mixture of pear, strawberries and oatmeal cereal!  She is quite regular now.  LOL


Top Left Tooth Came in:  April 30, 2011 

Monday, April 25, 2011

Lucas is 2!!

OK...so this is a VERY long overdue post, especially consider Luke is going to be three in less than two weeks.  Oops...such a bad mommy, blogger, mommy-blogger!  Man, sometimes life just gets in the way of blogging.  But, I'd much rather be living life than just watching it pass me by, so if I have to "catch-up" on some blogs here and there (a lot more "here" recently, I will admit), that's fine with me.  This blog is more of a memory book for me anyway!  :)  I am going to back date this though, so it fits into the time correctly.  Hehe  Oh my goodness, doesn't he look like such a little baby still?!?  I think when I took this picture I thought he looked like such a big boy, but now...not so much.

So...on to Luke's 2nd birthday.  Of course it was a train party.  As is customary, we had a party at our house and invited all of the boys little friends, and several of mommy and daddy's too.  Because let's be honestly...at this age, the parties are really for Mommy and Daddy, right?  I don't think Lucas really even knew it was his birthday, except for the fact that we sat him in front of a cake and sang Happy Birthday to him.  :)

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