Sydney's first Banana's trial

So today Sydney and Michelle had a little self-feed banana trial. It's amazing to see her learn of and feel new textures! Sydney didn't quite understand what was going on, but Michelle got some great pics.

Shawn and I just got back from our anniversary weekend in Alton, Illinois. Fun!!
I saw a lot of potential photo locations, although I tried to keep my mind off work (which was hard but worth it!)
Photo Album here.

Sunday after church we went to the Finn Inn, home of all things fried.


My dinner was called Fried Bullfish, but I think looked a lot like Khan's pet in "The Wrath of Khan"


We also went to Cahokia Mounds, which was really pretty and peaceful, although a bit creepy (as ancient burial mounds go).
Here Shawn and I are on top of the Cahokian Chief's mound (you can see the Arch from there!






Both grandparents got to watch Sydney while we were gone- the pictures are courtesy of Grandpa Ross:





She is six months old now- and we just started solid foods, reading books and baby sign language. She is also REALLY close to crawling. As in any minute. Currently she is on her turtle playmat (thanks Elizabeth Nohren!) pushing herself up into almost a sitting position. Woohoo!

Running out the door here but have to stick up my favorite picture of the weekend (out of two engagements, a graduation and a wedding)

Trip and Quinn

I shot the Scoggins family last week- Here are a few fun ones:



Amy Scoggins trying to get the boys to smile (Love you Amy!):


And Trip!


I am still learning Lightroom, and the colors are a bit funky one this session to me- so Amy, if you read this I am going to edit another round of them so they boys don't look so... flushed ;)

What an eventful week! My computer crashed (and burned) last Sunday night during some daily maintenance, and Shawn came to my rescue. We took the opportunity to upgrade to the new CS3 and Lightroom, which is awesome! Lightroom allows me to edit photos on the fly during your wedding day, which means the reception slideshow will have a bit of extra 'paprika' (as Jack Black says)!

Mike and Ashley are getting married this June and we went out to Foristell to a new park with a gorgeous lake. Such a beautiful sky during sunset! Here is the slideshow!


The proof book cover!




And this weekend was also Calvary Mid Rivers' Children's Musical- a takeoff from American Idol but with no Sanjiyah! Yeah!





I am researching labs where we can upload these pictures for all families to print and download these images for comparative prices to W*lmart and Costmo :) Look for a link to be given in the next week or so!
I know moms and dads will want these. I can't get enough pictures of my Sydney!

Last month's baby!
Today's baby!Big as the toaster yet?



Look what I found!!

Easter Sunday

So this Sunday was Easter! Calvary Mid Rivers had four services, Calvary West had two and Calvary Mills launched their first campus. Lots of people and lots of work for my husband, the church IT/video guy, who put in close to 70 hours this week to help make it all happen! Thankfully, he is snoozing right now next to me on the couch, and hopefully will be able to be in that state for at least eight hours tonight... Here are some pics from today:

Yes, Dave is pointing at YOU!



Dave the worship pastor yelling, "Bottles and Cans! Clap your hands!" Or something to that effect...



We had a gazillion kids singing, and tons of proud parents!


I noticed one of the Poteet kid that was a bit confused at the hand motions!



After the service I snapped a family shot of the Clancy clan! Dan was one of the pastors that married us!



We headed over to family, where Sydney met her cousin Alex:



Alex is six months old and adorable!!





I took WAY too many photos of them: See Cousin gallery!
Now I need to get to bad... it's past one am!

Homesick Texan

(Not my own photo)
I LERVE to cook. I'm a frequent Recipiezaar searcher and have also found a blog that makes my tummy so happy!
The Homesick Texan... mmmm!


As soon as I find out how to show links on my sidebar, this will be top of the list (besides care group blogs!)

Oma is 98!!

Or two years old, as she has started counting backwards. Here she is holding Syd:
And blowing out candles in her birthday streusel!

Welcome to the World Campbell!

Campbell Shaw was born this past Sunday- welcome girlie! She is beautiful!
Here she is- making a face but no sound came out at all! Looking at the photo you would think the windows were shattering, but she was just so quiet!

Bumbo Time!

Shawn and Sydney got some quality time on Saturday while I was shooting- they sat on the couch and watched basketball all day! Here she is in her Bumbo (thanks Julie!)
Seven weeks old today!!

Family Resemblance

God is so cool! I was over at Mom and Dad Melton's Sunday and they had out baby pictures of my brother James. It was like looking at Sydney via 1981!

James:


Sydney:


Oh and Mom (Grandma), you can thank me later for cropping out your Eighties perm!

Way to go F3's! The Annual F3 Academy Awards were held last Wednesday-
it was so awesome to see everyone participate! F3's are small high
school student groups that meet during the week for bible study. Each
year a group puts together a video - anything from American Idol spoofs
to Star Wars battles. So far Shawn and I have helped with three years
running of Academy Awards. Everyone dresses up like stars and feasts on
decadent food!

Kyle and Jeff entertained the crowd with manly singing while votes were tallied:
and Francis Howell won best picture!!


The pics we took are in the youth office- in a hard drive :) Ask my hubby Shawn if you would like some!

Oh so cute!

Holy junk, have I stumbled upon something yummy:

Watermelon Lemonade

1	cup lemon juice
1	cup superfine sugar
4 1/2	cups water
3	cups chopped seeded watermelons
2	tablespoons light corn syrup

1. In a blender, puree the watermelon with the corn syrup.
2. Strain to remove any bits of seed that remain.
3. Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a large pitcher.
4. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
5. Add the puree along with the water.
6. Serve over ice in tall glass.

I bought seedless watermelon at Costco and it was too ripe, kind of like biting into some Memoryfoam- so I looked for drinks on Recipiezaar (my new fave site). One of the raves about it said that 'it is the nectar of the gods', so I thought I would try it. So yummy!

Sydney's Big Bath Day

Sydney got a bath today in her new bathtub (courtesy of Courtney and Kelly!) and she really had fun. She smells really good now! See the photo gallery here!

Children's Books

One of the best things about having a little girl to grow up with is the realization that I will again be able to collect children's books. I had a Master's Collection in college thanks to the Columbus City Library's $1 discard book shop, with two whole shelves in my bookcase filled with children's books featuring awesome illustration.

The bad thing was that college people like me at the time move quite a lot- and those two shelves of books added up to massive poundage and achy back! So little by little I gave or threw them all away save for the Stinky Cheese Man (Lane Smith is my hero) and The Emperor's New Clothes.

Now I am married and old and have pretty much a permanant residence, so shelves, get ready!
This weekend the Friends of the Library are having a book sale which we will SO be at. It's like, a grocery brown bag of books for two cents. I remember going as a kid and the smell of the books and the excitement of getting them would make me so excited my stomach would get upset. I was kind of a wierd kid that way.

A list of books I loved as a kid and want Sydney to experience:
*Anything Frog and Toad
*Anything Beatrix Potter
*Anything Marguerite Henry
*Little House on the Prarie
*Narnia Series
*Babar the Elephant
*George the Monkey

I'm not sure if I'm going to introduce her to Captain Underpants. I like the book, but if she has an imagination like I did, she will try to BE Captain Underpants at the grocery store or something.

Almost a Month Old!

Lookout! Cute Baby on the loose!
She is ONE MONTH old on Monday!










Sydney Desktop Wallpaper (1024 x 768)- right click and "Save as" to your desktop.














Mom trying on a baby wrap and Sydney almost falling out:




























Shawn and Sydney falling asleep on the couch:




























Great-Grandpa Eschner (well, his hands) holding Sydney:

Thanks Brenda!

These ducky slippers keep me nice and warm!

Dad, the burping master

More pics of Sydney!