Thanks...Plus a Giveaway...

I can't end November without the dutiful Thanksgiving post.

So, it's true, we gave thanks.

With a little parade-watching, remote-hogging, silly-face-makin' in the process.

Plus a little baby snuggling.

With a good measure of just playin'.

And not just that,

we jump started the season of lights.

(When I say jump started, I mean we did it right. As in Father-in-Law standing by on the phone inside with my hubby counting down on the cell phone on the front drive. It's true. We did.)

And, it was complete with a visit to Santa.

Who my eldest still hates.

And my babiest now loves.

Go figure.

In all sincerity, we are blessed.

And so very thankful.

...now for the much anticipated next giveaway...

Handmade, modern, soft and darling...

Now featuring the Grey May Etsy Shop:

A sweet beanie just in time for the holiday light, gift giving, picture taking season...

...or for your own nugget's warmth...

Precious!

I kind of want it myself!

More sweet information on this darling gift can be found here.

So...

To enter this giveaway -

1. Become a follower of this blog.

2. Leave a comment here. Any comment will due, but make sure to thank Miss Cindy for this lovely item. She's wonderful.

And then...

For another entry to the giveaway -

1. Favorite Grey May with your Etsy account.

2. Leave another comment thanking Miss Cindy. Again, she's wonderful.

Warning: Etsy? It's addictive. Grey May? Same thing.

You've been warned.

I know, you're thanking me.

Giveaway winner posted next week.

Thankful

With pictures to edit,

bags to unpack,

laundry to fold,

closets to clean,

dinner to eat,

and a shower to take...

Just a quick minute to share how very thankful we are.

Latest

The lastest:

Well, a little headache of an event from last night while shooting these pictures has threatened to overshadow more important developments.

Within eyeshot, stepping difference, while busy shooting this beautiful family

(one getting ready to be deployed, one just finishing her duty in the navy...heroes amongst us.) my wallet, phone and mess of a purse were taken from my car and cards used throughout town.

No sympathy.

You would think when they rummaged through my random mom mess inside of my purse they would have had a little for me!

Formula tubes, Burt's bees chapstick, onion powder (It's true. It was in there last I checked.), tylenol, Ellie's bows, bobby pins, Grading pens, grocery store receipts.

Geez.

And this is the third time I've played the victim role like this! Once in high school while warming up my car, once a few years ago while at a wedding and now this time.

Somethin' about me, I guess.

At least the pictures were pretty...

But, anyway.

More importantly.

Back to the latest developments.

Much more blog worthy.

This little man...

Babbling for his mama.

Babbling for his dada.

And crawling.

It's true.

He's just the quickest.

Baby proofing...yikes, we're back here again.

All

The weather is pausing in hesitation this weekend.

Kissing us with breezes before resting the warmth in hibernation.

And so we have it all.

All the outside play.

All the crunching walks.

All the smiles with morning photography at the park.

The laundry afternoons.

Yes, that is all set to the tune of Christmas music.

It was all for some momma calm in the midst of a "teaching" moment for my two year-old.

It's kind of been one of those "teaching" weekends...

Yup.

But, I was prepared for the two days of this "teaching" weekend after a night at a spa with my friends.

It wasn't quite what I signed up for. I've debated posting the picture proof (because I really do have a picture of just my knee and the burn I'm left with) but long story short, after a Groupon purchase with my girl friends for a night out together, the "spa" we visited has left me with a burn brand on my knee in the shape of a McDonalds M.

It's true. For real.

Seriously branded on my knee from a fake steam bed heat element. I'm not happy about it. Guess I should have taken the fine print seriously in that release form...Lesson learned.

Moving on.

We've had

All the scarves on dates.

And we even branched out from our standard chips and salsa dinner or when we're really in a romantic streak, a potty training class date night, and ventured to the land of tapas.

I know, we can be crazy in our old age.

And even crazier than that,

we visited the library on our night out.

The children's section at that.

Nope, the children weren't with us.

Just us.

In a library.

On a Saturday night.

And it is all so good.

All good and perfection comes from above.

James 1:17

Date

Who woulda thunk.

Just eight years ago.

The pizza boxes, the library study nights, the dorm room entry codes, the midnight McDonalds runs, the date parties...

And now...

Now this was us Monday night.

Our date.

And I love it.

On a side note, check out the design a dear friend, Elle, created for me.

Totally in love!

Check out her website here.

Her work is beautiful, beautiful she is.

In fact, speaking of beautiful, I just shot engagement pictures at her parents house this past weekend. Her parents home is on acres of land, tucked away...beautiful.

Again, Elle, thank you.

P.S. And, for a new way to view my photography, check out this link.

Sometimes

Sometimes, a good cuddle is all that's needed.

A morning together cures all.

Pause

I've said it before,

the beauty of the pause.

And I'm not really good at it all the time.

I've always looked ahead and planned further.

Life's play button is unstoppable, the rewind is impossible.

The fast-forward is sometimes the easy way.

But every now and again,

a pause is what's needed.

Pausing to feel, to soak, to listen, to play, to teach, to melt, to love.

The silk of skin of whose hand you hold,

Soaking the embrace, leaning into the warmth,

Listening to the chatter, responding to the innocence,

Actually tumbling with the London Bridges, falling down with Ring-around-the-Rosy,

Even if the grass is wet.

Taking on the teaching moments, it'd be so much easier not to, but taking them on, taking them in with gentleness, calm and consistency.

Letting myself melt into my baby's folded jammied body in the early morning hours.

Loving.

Being present. Forgiving.

Feeling, soaking, listening, tumbling, teaching, melting,

Pausing,

to choose Joy.

"I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

Loves

Yes...
It's true.
I've been a little busy lovin' this lately.

The colors, the smiles, the blurs, the squints, the squirms, the randomness we begin with..

Watching it morph into these...

Ah.
I really like it.
Like,
really,
it's becoming a love.

Okay,
not becoming,
I'm there.

And I'll jump at the chance to click my camera.

So here is where you can find more.

But, next time,
I'll share more like this

And this.

Cuz our princess loves her little pea this Halloween.
And, really,
they're my real loves.