moving on out

WEll.. I wrote this quite a while back and never posted it. A lot has happened since then so I will try and catch up.... So many sweet things have happened since our move and I want to share it all... So, I will go ahead and share this first. Enjoy!


It's April 10 and it's moving week. I want to start this blog post now so I don't forget any of the moments because I believe this move marks a big change in our life. I believe our life will look very different from now on. It's also quite the adventure moving with a 3 year old so I wanted to make sure I remember all the moments.

It's always a challenge to pack with a little one running around so we've just learned to embrace it. I haven't packed much of her room but when I do, I have to be sneaky about it because if she sees something of hers in a box, she will take it out and want to play with it. It's also fun to witness the power of a box and 3 year old girl. They become her play places.. one day she made a whole little house (sad I didn't take any pics). This girl has such a creative mind and she takes full advantage of extra "structures" hanging around. She also loves the bare walls and makes our home her own. This may be my favorite. When will she be able to do this ever again?! I love it! 

testing her glow balloon (which has been decorated) in the dark

If this girl doesn't end up being some sort of decorator, or organizer.. something like that. I will be surprised. Oh! And for the past two nights she has gotten in her closet and picked her outfit for the next day (including accessories). Thankfully both were cute and I didn't have to make adjustments. She has such a strong opinion about so many things and I definately have passed on my clothes loving ways to her. It makes me happy. I really look forward to shopping with her some day when shes older. 

a new season

I'm tired and I have a little headache so I 'm not sure if I will be able to get my thoughts out quite right but we will see how this goes...

My little family is heading into a new season... literally. Here in springfield we are having a gorgeous spring so far. It's not one of those springs where it goes from mildly cold to super hot like last spring. We are having real spring weather and I love it. It's been rainy and a little on the chilly side... gradually getting warmer.. the grass and trees are green and are slowly getting prettier and prettier.. it's like a new exciting discovery. The slower build up makes it even better and more beautiful.

I recently did a senior photo shoot with my niece Hannah (check out her pictures on my Captured by Christa photography blog) so Annalise, on two occasions now, has wanted to pose for me. It is ADORABLE.

This little chica never wants to smile for the camera.. she seems to not even understand where the camera is at times. She just won't look at it. It's actually kinda cute. I have learned to just appreciate a more candid/ natural look because they are never looking into the camera and smiling pictures. These puppies are rare. She wanted to be like her cousin- really she probably just wanted the attention- it was pretty adroable whatever the motive. 

She is growing up waaaay too fast and this mama needs her to slow down. We are about to make a big transition and move back to Memphis where I am from. It's been a big stretch of faith and has required a lot of waiting but things are finally starting to move a little bit at a time. We are actually moving this coming sunday. Ahhh!! I've been ready for this for quite some time. Jason and I both have actually. God has been slowly revealing his will to us.. really kind of like Spring has slowly been coming in all it's beauty. I feel that the end result will be a beautiful thing- Just like the trees and grass and flowers. God is nourishing us and refining us as we wait on his perfect will. Thank you Lord for revealing that to me. You are so good. Anyway. We are moving to my home and I have no idea what that's going to look like with a husband and a child. All I know is life in memphis as a child and as a single woman. It will certainly be an interesting and wonderful new season. I pray that each step we take and each decision we make is the right one. I pray for wisdom and guidance as we lead a young child through this change. I thank God for the friends and family and mentors who have prayed us through this challenging time (don't stop!) I am so excited about making our home in Memphis. Jason and I will be finally purchasing a home together- we have always rented. HOME it just sounds good. It's time. We would like to expand our family beyond the 3 of us and we are looking at homes with the prayer that God will fill the rooms. He is so faithful. We have struggled with fertility and that's just a whole other blog post. We've definately been in a season of testing and patiently waiting on God. I am excited to see what awaits us on the other side of all of this. I don't know exactly what that will look like, but one thing I know for sure... It will be beautiful. 

 and for your viewing pleasure... I want to leave you with a few more modeling poses from a backyard session (by request of the 3 year old ) the other day. 

A FAVORITE

Love, Christa

favorites

I am going to have to just start out by saying that i'm not a giant fan of living in Springfield, MO. I don't try and hide it.. it just is what it is. Something about the midwest... not a fan (I don't want to offend any wonderful midwesterners so I will spare the details)  I will say HOWEVER, that there are a lot of things about living in Springfield that I DO like and I want to share about those things today.

I have met some WONDERFUL friends while living here. Everyone is so down to earth. They don't expect you to act, dress or live a certain way. People accept you for who you are. Also, There seem to be a lot of amazing stay at home mom friends and I absolutely love that. I seriously have the best stay at home mom friends. I attribute a lot of that to  my MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group. I've been attending this group since Annalise was 3 months old and I am SO GLAD I did. Raising kids isn't easy and MOPS is specifically designed as a support group of sorts for stay at home moms who need community and frequent breaks. I LOVE MOPS! I want all of my stay at home mom/part time working mom friends to join this wonderful organization. It's a lifesaver. 

Anyhoo.. This past Friday Annalise and I went to a local Amusement Park, Silver Dollar City, with one of those amazing mom friends and her daughters. We love these ladies and are so blessed to have them in our life. It's amazing to find mom friends that you can relate to on so so many levels and the sweet bonus that is that your daughters are little besties too. We had such a lovely day with our friends.

 

There aren't many better things than seeing pure delight on the face of your child. That's one of the many reasons I love taking her here. This was the first time she had gone on this ride. She was a little moody on this day, but we made it through. She was just being 3. A strong willed 3. Always keeping me on my toes!

 And then I love this one too. My sweet friend Anna and her baby Natalie. It was Natalie's first ride. Sweet baby. She loved watching the big girls on their rides too. She just laughed and bounced.. So precious!

By the end of the say I ended up with Pee and Coke on my new jeans, but It was all worth it. We even had to leave a little early because it started pouring. Thankfully we were in line for the shuttle when the rain really started coming. I love adventures and I love going on them with our sweet friends. It's my mission to make Annalise's childhood a meaningful, memorable and happy one. I think we are well on our way! My mom did the same for us and I am so grateful for that.. Speaking of my mom.. We've made fun Silver Dollar city memories with them too...

 The balloons are one of Annalise's favorites at this age. =)

 She loves the swings too.. just like I did as a child.

 this is RARE

 And this is common.. Jason loves the food at SDC. It's a big part of his experience. He and dad are chowing on the yummy homemade peanut brittle from the coolest candy shop.

 Couldn't resist the obligatory Pumpkin pic.

I love this place on a whole new level with a child involved. But.. equally as amazing when you are on your honeymoon and haven't been there since you were 8. =) 

 my new husband ladies and gentlemen!

Jason doing his thing.. eating... always has to have his beloved turkey leg.. And then there are the holidays... 

 This past Christmas Jason found a new fav. and shared it with a friend....

Christmas time is MAGICAL at SDC. It's my fav. LIghts everywhere! And the shows.. "It's a Wonderful Life" makes me cry. Annalise and her friends were giggling and squealing with delight at this little holiday parade. It was my favorite Christmas at SDC memory to date. MAGICAL I tell ya. 

This was us our first year of marriage. 

So.. with all that said.. This place really makes Springfield living pretty wonderful. Not many places are as fun for the whole family and wholesome. I was just telling Anna the other day that It's just a comforting place.. a happy memory. I will definately be sad to move away from here.. we just won't get to enjoy it as often. We usually get season passes (including guest passes). And finally.. for my most favorite SDC pic of all time, from our Honeymoon... 

This picture is actually on our fridge and has been there for years. haha! Jason just couldn't take it and I loved it. This ride actually still kicks our booties.. I think we have finally sworn it off. 

I have the feeling Annalise will be a little daredevil (unlike her mommy) and be riding coasters before the age of 13, which is when I started. At 3 she's already ridden some pretty big ones. We shall see.. 

Until next time friends. I hope you have something that you and your family can do together. Because a family that plays together.. stays together. Laughter is good for the soul. 

Love, 

Christa 

Six months of Adorable

So I've realized in looking back on what I've written the past several years that I have not posted many pictures at all of our adorable baby girl. She's too cute not to share. I actually documented her whole first year of life with monthly photo shoots. This really helped me get going in my then new hobby of photography and helped me realize how much I truly love it. So i'm thinking today, in an attempt to catch up on the past couple of years, I will share those photos. It seems like ages ago. I really was proud of myself for making this happen each month as a new mom. She was just so photogenic and fun so it made my job quite easy.

1 Month- Annalise was born 2 weeks early and weighed 6lbs 9oz. She was really small this first month. She started early being an oral baby. She loved her tongue and her paci already. She was a little colicky so I really had to be careful with what I ate. She was a fussy girl and over stimulated very easily. WE were in love, a little stressed, but in love.

 REALITY~ Bless!

 2 Months- Getting fuller and more smiley. Still a challenge.. Looking back. I think her mind was ahead of her body and she wanted to do things she just couldn't do. She also really was easily stimulated. Oh how I love that round face and those beautiful blue eyes. See the tongue?!

3 months- the adorableness continues... still a tongue girl... my little baby doll to dress up. This mama was in heaven with our beautiful growing baby girl. 

4 months- Oh the smiles came out! I loved getting out her cute haloween attire. Leggings were big and i was all about anything cute at the time to dress up my live baby doll. I did it all. She loved her Sophie too.. the camera loved this baby. I can start to see the little person that I know her to be now in some of these pics. Our little firecracker.

This one! She still smiles this way- Maybe a little mischief.


5 months- I was most proud of this session. Not only was i starting to learn more about lighting, but Annalise looks simply ADORABLE. When you are photographing babies It's those in between fussles shots that turn out the best. I do remember Annalise was uncharacteristically happy and we had so much fun. THOSE EYES. I can't get over them...and have I mentioned her round face... SWOON.

 SEE THE ROLLS?!

Ok.. Baby fever is now kicked into high gear (more on that later)

The leggings an adorable headbands come back for her 6 month photo shoot. ITS CHRISTMAS TIME. What better time of the year to have an adorable chubby 6 month angel?! I could hardly contain my excitement (and my credit card) gearing up for my favorite time of the year with a new baby girl to dress and spoil.

 MORE CHUB! And her arm is relatively straight. =)

So if you need to snuggle a baby and are ready for  Christmas ... I wouldn't   be surprised. I think I am.  Ahh..And I am totally envious of my past house being so CLEAN! I didn't have a three year old tornado running around! Those were the days...

In order to prevent a cuteness overload, I will spare you the next six months and save the adorableness until next time. ( I may be biased). I can hardly believe my baby will be 4 in a couple of months. I don't know if I can take it. We are definitely ready for more. God, did you hear that?! ;)

Until next time....

Christa