Photo Challenge Day 30 - Holiday!

Here it is... the final photo of the 30 Day Photo Challenge. The theme is "Holiday." Around these parts, the Christmas spirit enters our home as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey has been eaten. We're sort of nutty about Christmas, you see. We love celebrating the birth of our savior, and the opportunity to be close to the friends and family members we hold so dear. As we step forward into December, I challenge you, dear readers, to make the choice to be warm, kind and generous to those around you. Let old grudges go and forgive those who have hurt you. Embrace the loved ones close to you and cherish the memories of those who can't be with you. Hug your babies, because they won't always be small and cuddly. And drink hot chocolate in front of the Christmas tree. That's what this season is all about. :)

Happy Holidays, everyone!

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Photo Challenge Day 29 - Happiness

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Photo Challenge Day 28 - Food

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Our 4 day weekend was filled with family, food, and Christmas decorations!! You can see a tiny glimpse of our Christmas tree behind my breadstick in the picture below. :) It's a real tree, nearly 8 feet tall, and it is so perfect! Gosh, I love Christmas. More to come on that soon!

 

Little Caesars Crazy Bread. YUM!

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Photo Challenge Day 27 - On the go

Ever since this kid started moving, he hasn't stopped. Phew!

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Photo Challenge Day 26 - Water

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Photo Challenge Day 25 - Thankful

On his very first Thanksgiving, my little sweetie woke up hungry at 5 am, drank his bottle, and went back to bed until 7:45. It was so nice to wake up after the sun had already risen. I am thankful for my little family, the little piece of land we own, and beautiful November mornings.

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Photo Challenge Day 24 - Shadows

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Photo Challenge Day 23 - "Big or Small"

These shoes may look small, but they remind me of how BIG my Colin is getting!

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Photo Challenge Day 22 - Reflection

Whenever I see our little photo wall of Colin, I reflect on how much he has changed, and it blows my mind. Gosh. How has it been 10 months already?

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Thankful

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the little annoyances of everyday life, and to focus on the things we don't have - especially with the holidays coming up. It's sad that our society is so bent on having the latest and greatest of everything. Sometimes, I think it's important to take a step back and think about the blessings in our lives. No matter what you're going through, no matter what crisis you might be in the middle of, there is always something to be thankful for. Here are a few of my blessings.

I am thankful for my handsome, funny, loving husband who I love just as much as the day I married him. Actually, I think I love him even more now, after all we've been through together.

I am thankful for my sweet, snuggly, silly 10 month old baby boy who makes my heart overflow with love when he "kisses" my cheek or falls asleep with his head on my shoulder.

I'm thankful for my amazing parents, and for my parents-in-law who love me like I was their own daughter. It's pretty cool to have family here, and "back home" in Michigan.

I'm thankful for Clark and Callie, my siblings by blood, for Tim and Shannon, my siblings by marriage, and Emily Grace, my beautiful niece who will be 4 in January and whose smile can light up a room.

For my God who loves and forgives, and for my church family. For the friends I've just made and the precious ones I've had in my life for what seems like forever. For the jobs Justin and I have that put food on the table and a roof over our heads. For my cozy bed and the socks that keep my feet warm. For the memories I'm making now that will last a lifetime. For all these things and SO many more... I am thankful.

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As I was about to publish this post, I got a "FutureMe" e-mail from myself, from a year ago. {If you've never done this, you absolutely have to. It's so cool.}

This is what it read:

Dear FutureMe,

It's exactly a year ago, you've just turned 25 this month, and you're 7 months pregnant with Colin. You think about him all the time, and you're really eager to meet him. It must be really nice to hold him in your arms - if he even lets you anymore at this point, since he's probably getting to be a big boy.

Hopefully in 2011, you're making more than ${salary figure}/year, and Justin has found something that lets him travel less often. That would sure be nice!

Well, FutureMe, enjoy your Thanksgiving. If you haven't already decorated for Christmas (which I'm sure you have), enjoy that too. And this year, go ahead and make a pumpkin pie. Even if no one else wants it.. you deserve it.

See you in a year!

Love,

You -- a year ago.

Wow.. it is so, so cool to read that. So appropriate, too, as I'm writing about the things I'm thankful for. In fact, it is great to hold my baby in my arms {even though he is a big boy and doesn't always want to be held}, Justin has found a job that allows him to be home every night, and I have gotten a raise since then. I am truly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Photo Challenge Day 21 - Favorite Color

I've never been able to pick just one favorite color. As a kid, my "favorite" would change from week to week. Currently, I'd say it's a tie between pink and green. My Joe's Crab Shack hat (which I think I got when hubs and I were first married) has both colors on it. Not the best photo, I know, but hey - it was Sunday night and I just barely remembered to take one. :)

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Photo Challenge Day 20 - Self Portrait

I snapped this one as I was about to head out to see a movie with friends. I usually try to style my hair and wear it down, but today I had a busy morning and ran out of time. This is me, though. No filters, minimal editing. Just me, as I am. :)

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Photo Challenge Day 19 - Bokeh

{Illuminated keyboard on the Mac Book Pro hubs and I share}

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Photo Challenge Day 18 - "Treat"

Ellie and her giant bone

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10 Months, and Black & White

Colin is 10 months old today! 10! That's 2 away from 12. Ummmm..... 12 months = 1 YEAR. How is this happening? I'm already starting to brainstorm ideas for his birthday party. Ahh!

My poor little guy's cough has come back, so neither of us has been getting great sleep this week. This morning, my hair is a bit dirty and I've dabbed on concealer to cover the purple bags under my eyes, but hopefully no one at work will notice. Such is the life of a mom, right?

We usually weigh and measure Colin at home on his "month birthdays," but this morning he actually slept in a little so we went ahead and let him. We'll do all that stuff tonight, and I'll update with his stats. At his last appointment, he was 25 lbs and 31 inches. I'm curious to see if he's grown much since then!

**********

The theme for the 30 Day Photography Challenge today is "Black & White."

{Colin is doing a little light reading in the bathtub here.}

 Also- one week 'til Thanksgiving {and a 4 day weekend}! Hooray!

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Photo Challenge Day 16 - Everyday Life

Christmas decorations out early, laundry basket full of clean clothes,

toys strewn about, precocious almost-10 month old monkeying around...

check, check, check, and check. Sounds like a typical night in our house. :)

{Linking up with Growing Up Gardner today!}

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Photo Challenge Day 15 - Favorite Face

My silly little monster makes the craziest faces. :)

 

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