It's beginning to look alot like Christmas.

It is just Blake and I home tonight. He has some horrible bug that is causing him a lot of wheezing and coughing and just plain misery. I am hoping against hope that the rest of us don't get it, especially the baby. Blake has been great about staying away from him.

Things have been insanely busy. Between work, colicky Grant and preparing for the holiday's, there hasn't been a spare moment. There are a lot of things I have meant to blog about but haven't had the time.

To sum it up:

- My father was able to fly in for Grants baby blessing around the 1st of the month. I would post a photo, BUT I FORGOT TO TAKE ANY! Seriously, I think in all of the busyness of the day (and enjoyment), I completely spaced. Can you believe it? Not that he should feel bad... I neglected to take any photos of Blake and Syd on their blessing days. I did get some of Syd in her actual dress, but not on the actual day.
UGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

The day was beautiful and we had such a wonderful time with family and friends. It was awesome to have my dad here from Canada. This was the first time he was able to be here and it meant a lot to me.

He was only here for a short weekend but the kids had a lot of fun playing with "Grandpa O". Sydney cried on the way home after we dropped him off at the airport.

- I had a couple sessions with some friends. Courtney's adorable new baby and children, and Beth's beautiful family. Here is a couple favorites from the shoot. You can see more on my photog. blog (link to the right).







-We celebrated our niece Olivia's first Birthday with Sydney (Olivia birthday is the day before Syd's). We also had our own little family party last night for Syd. She wanted macaroni and cheese for dinner so I decided to make the really good-so-many-calories-and-saturated-fat-that-you-don't-even-want-to-know kind. We had sparkling cider and ate in candlelight. Chocolate eclairs (we had already had a cake with Olivia) and mini containers of Ben & Jerry's, balloons and lots of princess presents rounded out the night.

I can't believe my baby girl is four. Things I love about my Sissy - Her "kissy-fishy lips". How she always tells me I am beautiful (like 20 times a day). The way she bites her tongue when concentrating or being affectionate (in that rough way of hers). The fact that she is such a girly girl in spite of having only one brother. Her puppy dog eyes. Her still baby-ish, dimpled hands. That she is always so quick to say "sowwy". Her obedient nature. Her spunk. How she calls herself "Sydney Alice". How she always asks to go home no matter where we are, or how much fun we are having. Her lack of a tush. Everything, Everything, Everything.

Happy birthday baby girl!





-We went up to Portage, UT for Thanksgiving to Dave's uncle and aunts home. It is about as country as you can get and the food is amazing to prove it. The kids had a blast riding four wheelers, climbing trees, playing with the other kids in the huge yard, checking out the cows and horses and raiding the dessert table that I think had like 12 pies on it. It is a really fun tradition and I hope it continues for years to come!

-We put up our Christmas tree and decorations on Friday. I would have put them up sooner had I been able to convince Dave. I have been listening to Christmas music since the day after Halloween. It was so fun to watch the kids excitement and Dave and I had a moment where we were watching Blake, (who didn't know we were watching), just standing in front of the tree gazing up at it, sipping his egg nog in wonderment. So cute.

-Grant is still fussy although he is having more "good days" than he was before. He is also only waking up once a night to eat. I usually put him down around 10pm, he wakes up around 3 or 4 a.m. to eat, and then again between 6:30-7:30. I wish I could say I am catching up on my sleep but the lack thereof seems to be compiling. And I have been crabby.

He is smiling a lot more now. Dave and I have been trying to catch it on camera and one of these days we will. He is also starting to "coo" at us. I love that so much. I turn into a mushy idiot when he starts cooing at me. The pitch of my voice gets so high I am probably close to cracking a window.

A few of my favorite snapshots from the week.



Dave didn't want me to post these. Too bad. They are too cute not to.






Katie and Mike sent me a pretty new sling in the mail. Thanks guys! I love it!


(Ignore the mess in the background. This is what happens when I have to work and the kids entertain themselves).

Elf Yourself.

Thanks Katie... THIS is hilarious!

More Photo Fun.

Grant is donning his adorable "Baby legs" that Angela made for him. Too cute. I just want to squeeze his little thighs all day long in these things.



Look at those chins!



Grant looking slightly nervous...



He should be nervous. Sydney totally inherited her Dave's "rough" affection.






I love this photo. Even if Grant's eye is a little googly. Many a googly newborn eye has ruined a photo!




And Syd with her big ol' puppy dog eyes.



Blake, fakin it.



Grant, fearing for his life. No babies were hurt in the taking of this photo.

For Ah-choo and Grandpa O.

Well, Grant is still fussy as ever. I am chalking it up to colic and hoping it goes away within the next two months. He is still as cute as ever though too. He would be a lot cuter if he stopped waking me up every 2.5 - 3 hours to eat at night! He is going on 6 weeks old now - I am pretty sure my other two were having longer periods of sleep during the night by this point.

Dave is home for the next couple of weeks (YA-HOOOOOO!). Thanksgiving is coming. Sydney turns four soon. We got a new minivan that I love. The doors open and close with the push of a button. I love modern conveniences.

And just for the Windsorites... some new photos I snapped today. The queues were low in my work so I didn't have much of a shift this afternoon. Good for the spirits, bad for the pocketbook.

Now all he needs is blue suede shoes.



Grant is really good at giving me the "hairy eyeball". ARgggg.



Surprise!



Sour Milk.



Power to the people.



He has a lot on his mind.



Yes. I. Am.



Eyelashes.



Kissable.



A little bundle of JOY (fussiness).

Go buy some great new tunes...

So I came across an old friend from my stake (for those of your non-morms, it is all the LDS churches located in a certain region or area - or in Utah, neighborhood LOL!)on Facebook. I was actually better friends with her older sister but I am sure we share many of the same girls camp stories and I can remember her playing guitar and singing.

I wasn't too surprised when I found out she was a singer/songwriter. More surprised when I heard one of her songs was going to be on Grey's Anatomy (ok, not that surprised, she is really good). And so so happy when she released a great CD.

So if you are looking for some new great tunes to rock out with your broom to, without further adieu, I present:

Meaghan Smith.

(I must admit, it is WEIRD seeing her in a music video!)



or how about this:



My favorite song, 5 More Minutes, does not have a video or else I would have posted it, but PLEASE go HERE and give it a listen. I PROMISE YOU WILL LOVE IT!

Or visit her website HERE

If you don't want to read my venting, skip this one.

I know I have been horrible at updating, it has just been a really, really hard couple weeks with Grant. His reflux/colic/whatever it is has been worse than ever and seems to get worse each day/night.

Today I am at my wits end. He has cried and been fussy for most of the day. Not the best when I am starting work again today with Dave being gone to California for much of the week. I am on the verge of tears while typing this because I just do not know what to do.

I have tried everything. All of the simethicone, gripe water, cutting stuff out of my diet, swaddling, rocking, swinging, singing, upright positions, and he has been on prevacid for reflux for a week now.

I just gave him a bottle of soy formula (nasty, stinky, evil outfit staining stuff - I love breastmilk) hoping that would help. He cried right after the same way he always does and at this point I think he might be a bit sleep deprived too.

My house is a wreck, I forgot to brush my teeth this morning (will go do that after I type this), the laundry is piling up, I have spit-up all over my shirt and my older kids are neglected today. Oh, and after the horrible night I had last night, I am T-I-R-E-D. I feel like something might be really wrong with him.

I need my Mummy.

The big 3-0!

To a man who:

Can always make me laugh, even when I am spitting mad (man that is annoying!)

To the biggest teddy bear in the world. No one is as good a snuggler as you!

The hardest worker, the best sales guy (hey, you got me didn't you!), and someone who I can always count on to provide for our family.

Makes really cute babies with me ;) You are great at that too (double wink*)

Swept me off my feet, and does so time and time again.

I love you. Now and always...

Have a wonderful birthday my sweetheart.

Christmas Photography Spots

Soooo, I wasn't planning on doing any photography until after the new year but I have been getting a lot of questions about when I am going to start up again and really, a little extra Christmas money can't hurt!

So, I thought I would post this on my personal blog to give my friends first dibs. I am only going to do four or five shoots before the holiday's so these spots are really limited and will go fast. I will be sending the word out to my clients in a couple days so if you are interested, you might want to book before then.

The Christmas Package I am offering will cost $150.00 and includes:

- 1 hour studio session time

- 15 of the best shots from the session in 4x6 proofs and you will receive a CD of the digital negatives of these 15 shots to do with as you please

- 1 custom Christmas card design included on the CD (I can also order these for you if you prefer)

If you want to include more than 1 child in the shoot, keep in mind there will still be 15 proofs offered on CD. I can include up to five more for an additional $30.00. You can also purchase artistic edits (such as vintage, or textured) of five of the photos for an additional $10.00.

I will be booking these sessions on Saturdays only. If you are interested, send me an email at dillydallyart@gmail.com

I still have all of last years templates available (here are a few), and will have a bunch more to offer soon!







*UPDATE - 1 spot gone! 3 left!
I promise a personal update soon as well!