Family pictures

  On a sunny afternoon one Sunday our dear friend and photographer, Amy Doerring took time away from her editing and took our latest family pictures.  She called and said the light was perfect, the weather was cooperating, we are in Iowa after all and the kids were in good moods.  It was a perfect equation to take our Christmas card pictures and a few pictures of th kiddos.

Amy has photographed the kiddos since they were in my belly and she was there just hours after they were born.  Amy is not only my photographer, she is my dear friend.  She has the inheritant ability to capture my children's personalities that no one else can.  She gets me and what I like in a photograph to be displayed on my wall, and as a mom that is immeasurable.  Amy has a simple and classic style and that's why I absolutely love having her images in my home.  

For this shoot we met Amy at a local park where the leaves were starting to turn.  Amy then started to work her magic. 

I posted the middle of our Christmas card back in December.  We did a folded card with four different pictures.  This was the front of our card, totally idicitive of our season of life.  A little crazy and upside down, but we're loving our little family and our life we've built.

We played around in the leaves and Amy captured some fun shots.

Kate decided to steal a kiss from Ruby.

After we were done in the leaves we moved on to just shooting the kids.  The entire shoot took maybe an hour.  We also moved locations and did a quick outfit change.

Is he really just three?  He looks like he's posing for a senior pictures.

Be still my heart.  My sweet baby girl is getting so big.

In all the craziness of our life right now, it's such a treat to slow down and look at Amy's work.  She captures my family at this very special time of life that passes in the blink of an eye.  During the day to day grind I don't realize just how fast my babies are growing. Seeing these pictures blows my mind just how big they are getting.  We are so blessed to call Amy not only our photographer, but our friend.

A look back

2011 was a great year for all of us, so I thought we'd take a look back.

In January Drew melted my heart by watching his daddy leave for work each day. He also started walking, and went directly to running in a matter of days.

In February we received the good news that we would be welcoming two miracles into the family.  My older sister who went through infertility treatments was expecting identical twin boys.   Drew also was the proud new owner of an awesome hat from Lindsey's Loops.

In March we celebrated making it through the first year of Drew's life and everyone was still alive!  We held a little shindig for Drew that was all about primary colors.

In April I told you about the kitchen island Brendan built to help the wide open yonder that was our great room.

May brought some beautiful weather and me finding myself two new doctors in preparation for someday trying to have a second baby.

June rolled around and we were preparing to depart to Grand Cayman, and we asked you to Ask US anything.

In July sadly we lost our dear friend and neighbor to a motorcycle accident, I was the recipient of a stranger so kind paying it forward and challenged you to pay it forward and we answered your burning questions and we went on vacation!

In August we welcomed Charlie Robert and Max William to the family.  Our nephews were born on August 15th, 2011.  Drew got his first big boy haircut, and looked like a little man instead of a baby.

September brought fall in Iowa and Drew's first plane ride to see his grandparents. Brendan and I also celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss on September 30th.

October we were elated to share our good news that our family would be expanding by 2 feet in April 2012.

November brought our Halloween recap, the end of the first trimester and unseasonably warm temperatures for Iowa.

December marked the half way point with Peanut, Drew's first hospital stay for croup, and a very Merry Christmas.

2011 was full of blessing and happiness for all of us here at Life with B&A.  We are looking forward to many happy times and a year full of new adventures in 2012.  Happy New Year!

Thankful Thursday

I know it's Friday, but let's just go with it. I linked up with Kelly at Our Silly Rodriquez family,  check out her Thankful Thursday edition!  Plus, her little man is too die for! Seriously, I melt!

Ok, so what I am thankful for...This is hard one, I only have 4 Thursdays, yet there is so much I truly am thankful for!  Today I'm going with my little family, Brendan, Drew and Ruby, plus this little peanut I'm brewing. 

Brendan and I met 8 years ago and I am so very thankful our paths crossed and we ended up together.  He is my best friend, my soul mate and the best daddy.  Brendan can make me laugh no matter how angry I am, and get me laughing until I'm in tears.  He knows how to comfort me at my weakest moments and love me unconditionally so that I feel loved every single day.  When Drew came along he didn't miss a beat in becoming a father, it seemed natural to him.  I know this is so cliche to say, but he completes me.  I honestly don't know where I'd be or what I would do without Brendan.

My little man Drew, I don't even know where to start.  This little boy brings such joy to my life.  He is at such a fun age right now, but every stage has been a blast.  I can only imagine it just keeps getting better from here on out.  Drew is such a blessing and a gift from God that each and every day I am so thankful I am his momma.  We went through a difficult phase trying to have him, but I've always known everything is in God's plan and now I know why we went through two miscarriages before Drew, otherwise we wouldn't have him.  Drew makes me smile each and every day and I can honestly say, I love being his mom, he has made me a better person and a more patient and caring one as well.  His hugs can turn my day around in a second, his smile makes my heart warm and his sweet face makes everything we went through completely worth it.

We adopted Ruby almost 4 years ago and man oh man is she still my baby!  She is the sweetest little girl, and my snuggle bug.  Ruby was abused before we adopted her from the Humane Society and was so sad and scared, it broke my heart.  All we know about her previous home was that she was on a farm, had no positive human contact and had never had a bath.  This all within her first 3 months of life, so sad! We have trained Ruby ourselves but I have to say, it's been pretty darn easy.  She listens so well, will walk with us without a leash, and stays very close by when we are in our front yard.  She absolutely loves Drew and gives him kisses all the time.  We were nervous when Drew was born how ruby would react, because she's just a little spoiled.  She did great, we've had no problems, knock on wood, and Ruby has not missed a beat.

We are so very lucky that our lives crossed Ruby's path, I'm so very thankful we decided to make the jump to adopt a puppy when we did. 

Here's what you do now, go to Kelly's blog and link up for Thankful Thursday, and dont' forget to link up every Thursday in November!

Halloween at our house

This past weekend we had our beggars night and Drew got all dressed up in his Monkey Suit, literally, he was a monkey.  I purchased his costume in August, yep I'm that mom!  I found it at Crazy 8 and had it shipped to our house.  I ended up ordering him a 3T, which was a big big, but still worked out great because it was chilly out that evening.  Drew's pumpkin is from Pottery Barn kids, I purchased it last year and it's cloth and should last us for years to come.

Drew didn't actually go trick or treating because let's face it, he doesn't know what's going on and he's never had candy before, and it was very cold.  So instead we stopped by my parents house, my sisters house and our neighbors houses to show off the adorable monkey that we had on our hands.  We then came home and both Drew and Ruby wore their costumes as we handed out candy to the kiddos that came to our door. 

Ruby looks very enthused about her costume, doesn't she?

That Friday night we carved our pumpkins and we decided to go with a combo of things I posted in Pumpkins Galore.

Brendan did the artistic work and I did the small ones with the holes.  We ended up using Brendan's drill to make the holes big enough.  we also have to cut a hole in the back so that the candle could get enough oxygen.

So there you have, a pretty low-key Halloween but we all enjoyed it!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Halloween as well!

Wordless Wednesday

Just some cute pics

I don't really have anything interesting to say today so I thought I would just share some cute pics of my two kiddos. Yes, I consider my dog my child. I know, I'm one of "those" people. Happy Tuesday everyone!

Look at my handsome little man. My friend took this with her camera!

Drew met his first girlfriend Alyvia this past weekend. An older woman, we may be having the "talk" early than I anticipated. Alyvia is 3 and one of my friend's daughter's. Drew loved her and was all smiles when she held him.

On to my other child...Ruby

I realized I haven't posted pictures of Ruby forever. Ruby turned two in March of this year.

These days Ruby is in love with her red frisbee. It's this soft rubber material that my mom got for her in California a year ago. It's been well loved and every time someone comes over, Ruby has to show them her red frisbee.

I just found a couple more pics of Drew that I couldn't resist posting!

Have a great day!

I think she likes her new house!

While B and I are still trying to get everything settled in the new house, I think Ruby has taken a liking and feels very comfy in the new digs! 

Just hanging out with her daddy watching tv!

Ok, now here's the point to this post, other than to be "one of those dog moms."  This blog has been around or quite some time.  You hear me talk about B, and how fabulous I think he is, but now it's your turn to hear from him.  This is your chance to ask him anything!  Now, let's keep it clean and appropriate for this blog!  Feel free to ask how the heck he puts up with me and my crazy self, what he likes to eat, just about anything!Let's make the deadline Friday and over the weekend, I will play Katie Couric and interview him, and come back with the answers.  Now, lurker and followers come out and ask questions.  If I only get 1 or 2 questions I will delete this portion, act like I never typed it and pretend the whole thing never happened!  I am bad with rejection!  I need to thank the amazing Leah or at Marital-Bless for this idea I am so kindly stealing from her!  Leah, you rock, and I loved your post about Tony! 

So ask, ask away, what do you want to know about my Greek hubby?

What I woke up to this morning

This would be my cuddle bug Ruby and she is spooning her elephant, in which I have dubbed Mr. Elephant.  All her toys seem to have Mr. or Mrs. in front of them.  I know, we're strange!  This morning Ruby was smack dab in between B and I head on the pillow and everything.  She looked at me like I was nuts when I took a picture of her at 6:00am.

Well hello winter!

Last week the state of Iowa was hit hard by Old Man Winter.  We had about 15 inches of snow, which honestly, isn't bad for Iowa, but then it was followed by winds ranging anywhere from 30-50 mph.  My poor dog couldn't get outside to play and just looked at me like "mom I am sooo bored!" 

Now I am a huge advocate of snow for Christmas, but snow and this cold.....no thanks!  I'll take snow and lovely 30 degrees!  Snow and -25 windchill just is bone chiling!  Here are a few pictures of the snow that was right outside of our house. 

This snow drift, was about to my chest!

Ruby doesn't mind the cold with her warm sweater!

That is our neighbord garden ball.

I don't think she minds living in Iowa!

Stay warm!  Happy Monday