Life as a Leach

Inspired by this article and photos, I decided to do a little photo shoot with Abby. Abby:  Then and Now! She got a little silly after a while :) We keep this picture on our mantle to remind us of how far she has come.  Although some days can be hard, we are so blessed with her health, spunk, and zest for life!

Update!!  Thanks to Linda, I now not only know that this fungus is called Corn Smut, but it is also considered a delicacy in Mexico!  Very interesting, but I don't think I'll be adding any to my quesadilla.   http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/corn-smut   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   We found this in the corn maze. While I do kinda like this picture, I'm a little weirded out by it.  See the corn cob popping out at the top?!  Weird.

This rain has been so dreary.  Couple it with all of the Debbie Downer stuff in the news right now, and it's fairly depressing.  Here are a few pictures we took at our local beach during one of our super-warm October days.  They weren't overly cooperative, but I did get one good one of Caleb!

Caught these two little gems the other night during the usual evening tickle time.  

Is she not absolutely, positively, Adorable? (It's a good thing, because I'm pretty sure that sweet face has gotten her out of trouble more than once!) :)

There's a new friend in the Leach house tonight.  His name is the D3200 and he is my new Nikon.  Let me give you the brief version of this long, convoluted story! My camera had been gone for a month, so I called Best Buy to find out what the deal was.  The only correspondence I had received was an email two weeks ago saying that my camera had been fixed.  So imagine my surprise when the Best Buy employee told me that my camera had been "junked out," which means that they would replace it. This would be fine, except that it voided my warranty--which I still had for 2 more years! If the company had called me to let me know that they couldn't fix this cosmetic issue, I would have just had them send my camera back.  It worked perfectly fine and I really wanted the assurance of the warranty. But since they never told me, my camera was long gone and Best Buy is telling me that my warranty is void now and I'll have to buy a new one.  No...

There have been SO many times in the last 2 1/2 weeks where I thought, aw they are so cute!  I need to grab my camera!   Only, my photographic dreams are dashed when I remember that my camera is in the hands of a Geek Squad employee who is hopefully being kind to my little beauty.fixed. I got a little worried that I hadn't heard anything, so I called to check in.  My camera made it to its destination and is now being repaired.  I'm hoping to have it back in the next week or so. I'm "ok" being without it, but I'd better have it back in time for Abby's birthday!!

Here's an early-morning picture of Abby sleeping with her favorite doll, Beth. And here is a picture taken just a second after, with Devil Doll!

Here are a few pictures I've taken recently with Instagram.  It's not my D90, but I do enjoy the quick editing features! Abby loves to put her sunglasses on! She really enjoys walking to the bus to get Caleb in the afternoons.  The last few days, she has taken a baby in a stroller.  AND, she can push it both down and UP hill!  I love when therapy meets everyday life!  (One of these days, I'm going to write a book about how to incorporate your child's speech, PT, and OT therapies into your everyday activities.  But not right now!) Caleb and Abby...I think Matt might have taken this one, actually! My favorite!  My grandmother walking with one of her great-granddaughters.

Here are some various pictures of our vacation, and even a little proof that I actually went on it!  (I love being the photographer, but it's nice to have a few of me with the kiddos as well!) Williamsburg   I have a real phobia of giving someone my third child camera to take a picture of all of us.  Therefore, I rarely have family photos.  This couple looked nice enough and had two small children who would slow them down if they tried to run off with my beloved D90, so I took a chance.  Interestingly enough, they were British...in Williamsburg...watching the fife and drum core...listening to generals rant about England.  Kinda funny!  Bonus: they didn't steal my camera.  Sheeeew! The Farm These next few were taken at a farm when the kids were hot, sweaty, tired, and full of too much vacation.  Let's just say they were less than cooperative. My Caleb Boy What a handsome boy he is!  He was also very jealous ...

With all of these beautiful family pictures, I have been very inspired to do a little decorating around the house.  Here's a glimpse at our recent mini-projects: 3 frame in main hallway I love this Family Rules canvas that I found at Kohls! This is a wall art decal in our kitchen This is in our playroom Two pictures of Abby with my bracelet that I've had since she was born.  The verse below is the verse on my bracelet. This is on the wall in our living room.  The three lower pictures are Abby's hand with each one of ours, and the top picture is all of us together. Our living room with some 8x10s of the kids and a wall art decal. I'm really excited about the new decorations on our walls!  It's easy to be inspired when you have such cute kids!  ;)

...And One for All!

My sister gave me a bracelet right after Abby was born to remind me "For with God, all things are possible."  I have worn it ever since as a constant reminder not to lose faith.  God can  perform miracles! This was taken in the NICU in November, 2010 when Abby was just two weeks old. This was taken in May, 2012 when Abby was 18 months old! See everybody?  For with God, all things are possible!