This moment....

I want to always remember this moment!!

She LOVES this purse!!  She says "Go shop Mama, kiss (gives me a kiss) and says ba bye!" She walked away into the living room and Mallory followed her.  This is Jillian on her return from shopping.

As I watched them walk away I seriously thought to myself I want to always remember this moment.  Jillian, with her crazy curly hair that daddy did, her one sock on because she pulled the other one off, and her proud but unsteady wobble walk (because she just learned to walk).

I want to always remember how she screams "happy" when she sees a jack-o-lantern because of the happy face she sees!   I want to remember how Mallory and Jillian play the "Can you say" game... Mallory says can you say "milk" and Jillian says milk, then Mallory says can you say "flower" and Jillian repeats flower and so on..  They play it all the time and I sometime hear them yelling it to each other from their separate but very close bedrooms.

I want to remember this day and every other run of the mill day with my little girls!!  I LOVE being their mom and I know how very lucky I am!

Pumpkin Farm

We had our annual trip to the pumpkin farm over the weekend!

Mallory went on the pony ride and Jillian looked at all the Jack-o-lanterns and yelled "happy" every time she saw one!  She thinks they are happy faces so she calls them happy!  She gets so excited and says "Mama, happy"!!!   It's the cutest thing really!

The golden hour

Just wanted to share some pics of Jillian taken in that yummy light, an hour before sunset.

Mallory was also with us but she was none to pleased to be my model this evening.

Jillian's 18 month photo session

And a fun day at The Chicago Botanic Gardens with my girls!

My sweet Jillian Faith is 18 months and as always I can hardly believe how fast she's growing!

Dear Jillian,


You are so full of joy and love that I can hardly believe you are mine. What did I ever do to deserve your sweet giggles, your infectious smile, your cuddles and kisses. You are 18 months old and you just learned to walk. I wasn't too worried as your sister Mallory walked at 18 months as well. I always say that god gave me early talkers not walkers. You are actually saying whole sentences now... "Daddy over there." "Mommy eating." "Cup go? "Daddy and I are constantly amazed at all the big girl words you say. Yesterday I was putting your shoes on and you giggled and said "tickle". You were telling me that the shoes tickled your feet. I started laughing and you said "Mommy laugh". It's these sweet little moments that collectively make up our days together and that I am so grateful for. Your hair is growing longer and more curly every day- strangers aways stop and say "What a cute little girl, I love her curls!" I love the way you blow kisses to Mallory every day after lunch before your nap. You say "goo nigh" "wub You". You really do love your sister and want to be just like her, doing everything she does! You call her "Ma-ee". You and Mallory play together all the time now. Hiding under covers, singing songs, coloring, doing puzzles, watching Sesame Street. Right now you are fast asleep in your crib and I'm hoping you're having the sweetest dreams. I wish you could know just how loved you are Jillian,  how much you were wanted, how much you bless our lives, I hope you feel that love today, tomorrow and all the days after! I love you with all my heart Jilly Bean!

Getting in the pic epic fail!

I was so inspired by this post http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/because-you-were-there-too-thirteen-tips-for-family-self-portraits/

That I set up the tripod and attempted to get some shots with myself in the picture.  I've seen the bed pics before and love the natural look of them. 

I was so dissapointed in my efforts and I really need to read up on tripod pics- my focus is off and these are so incredibly grainy.  Granted ISO was pretty much maxed so maybe that's my issue.  The lighting in my house is awful which I'm sure doesn't help.  I guess I'll be trying again in the quest for one good tripod/self portrait!! 

The grainy pics that were so bad I was forced to make them black and white:

Although this one is grainy I actually like it because Mallory grabbed the remote and took the picture. I love her expression, she's clearly very excited and proud that she pressed the button!