Mara's Baptism and Birthday

We had Mara baptized this past Sunday, Father's Day.
As with Kennedy's baptism, I can't seem to get it together enough to get my kids baptized before they are a year!
It was a busy, chaotic day but we had a great time hosting a lot of family for a post-baptism BBQ after Mass.
Mara's real birthday is not until the 28th but it seemed silly to have another party in two weeks so we decided to celebrate her birthday along with her Baptism!

Mara wore the baptism dress that I wore THIRTY years ago!
My mom happened to come across it and I was so excited for her to wear it.
As you can see, it is a little snug on her... I was only a month old when I was baptized so squeezing her into it at almost a year was probably pushing it but I thought it looked so cute!

These are our "quick, snap a few photos as we run out the door to Mass 10 minutes late" photos!

We chose my Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Ray to be Mara's godparents.
When I think about the people in my life and who has been most present through my entire life, these two  always makes the top of the list. Aunt Jeanie is an amazing aunt who would do absolutely anything for me and since I have had kids, she has made such a great effort to know them and be a part of their lives. So it was an easy choice to choose both she and Uncle Ray to play this special role in Mara's life.

  

After the baptism, everyone came back to our house for a fun BBQ!
We sang Happy Birthday to Mara and let her attack her first cupcake.
I will post more on Mara's 1st birthday in the next couple of weeks... you can expect a sappy letter and her one year photo shoot! :)

 Baptism and birthday decor:

 Yeah, baby.  

We had such a fun day and loved celebrating both Father's Day and our very special baby girl.

Father's Day... 2012

I came across this poem and thought it was so fitting for the Daddy in our house. 

A father is a source of strength,
A teacher & a guide,
The one his family looks up to
With loving trust & pride. . .
A father is a helper
With a willing hand to lend,
A partner, an advisor,
And the finest kind of friend.

A Father means so many things...
A understanding heart,
A source of strength and of support
Right from the very start.
A constant readiness to help
In a kind and thoughtful way.
With encouragement and forgiveness
No matter what comes your way.
A special generosity and always affection, too
A Father means so many things
When he's a man like you...

Happy Father's Day, Sean.
The girls in this house couldn't love you more if they tried.

Friday Photo

Bringing back the Friday Photo after a long hiatus.

"A Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. 

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. "

Well Hello, June!

I've been a bit of a blogging slacker lately.
I haven't felt like I've had that much to say but now that I am looking through some recently uploaded photos, I realize that, as usual, we have been quite busy!

The first weekend in June, I hosted a baby shower for my lovely cousin, Rachael.
Rachael used to work at Children's Hospital in Seattle and though she has moved back home to Montana, she still has lots of friends out here so I thought it would be fun to throw her a shower with her Washington peeps (plus... this was a GREAT way to get her out here to visit me!) I have been dying to see her pregnant (she did not disappoint, she looks adorable!). The next time I see her... at our cousin Bryan's wedding in August... she will be a mama! I can't wait to meet her new little one... I have a hunch it is a boy, but we shall see.

A few photos from her shower ( I didn't take any artsy ones of decor and food... it is soo hard to do this when you are the host!).

"big Rach and little Rach"... beautiful, beautiful blondies! 

Rachael and Aunt Judy

Rachael and her grandma Rosie! 

Rachael with her mother-in-law, Joan. Truly, one of the nicest ladies I have ever met. 

Two of my favorite girls. 

Rachael and her friend Jenny who is also pregnant ... this picture makes me laugh. 

The day after her shower, Rachael and I went to a local park and I took some maternity photos for her.
This was my very first maternity photo shoot and I absolutely loved it!
I think there is something so beautiful about a pregnant mama.
Well... I think there is something beautiful about other pregnant women. I, myself, did not feel too beautiful during my pregnancies! Must have been the  unnecessary weight gain and fluid retention! :)

Most of her maternity shots are posted on my photography blog or on my photography website but here are a couple little peeks. If you are not following my Junebug Blog, add it to your feed! I have four shoots booked before the end of June so I will be updating often!

Speaking of photography, I recently placed an advertisement for my business into the Puyallup Passport which is basically an entertainment book for residents of the Puyallup area. They will be sold this weekend at Meeker Days in Puyallup. I am offering a great deal on family sessions and 20% off A La Carte prints and albums if you buy the book. If you live in Puyallup, pick one up this weekend!

Other June happenings include Kennedy starting soccer (no photos from that yet as the first day of practice included a massive torrential downpour and we left early). We are prepping for Mara's baptism and Father's Day this weekend! A certain little one in our family is quickly approaching the one - year mark so stayed tuned for party pics and her one-year photo shoot.

A few weeks shy of her first birthday, and this little lady has two bottom teeth and one side tooth on the top. This look has prompted the nickname "snaggle-tooth" by her mama. Oh well, at the one year mark, she beats her sister by three teeth! Kennedy was all-gums on her first birthday!

She's not walking, but she is definitely getting around.
This reminds me, I need to post video of her "crawl," and by "crawl," I mean frog-hop.

"Who Me?" 

 This smile cracks me up! 

She is certainly not above a little "peek-a-boo" either.

While I am constantly able to snap cute photos of Mara, Kennedy proves to be a bit more challenging.
More often than not... I get THIS:

Or THIS:

But every so often, she's flash me a semi-natural smile...

Kennedy is quite a character these days though I often think she has multiple personalities... hoping this is just the age. One minute she is sweet and cuddly and the next she is S-A-S-S-Y.
Sean is constantly saying to me "I don't like her attitude. We can't let her get away with that." Why do I feel like these phrases might be repeated in about ten years? God help us.

She has a killer sense of humor and when she outright laughs, it is contagious.
It is one of those loud laughs that is so authentic and real, there are barely breaths in it.
She loves her friends and her auntie... and she really loves this guy... our little neighbor. ;)
We like him too.

I have officially resigned my teaching position.
I feel pangs of sadness about it but mostly I am excited about the now.
Teaching will always be there.
I am loving my photography business... and mostly, I am loving these two.

Happy June.

Like Mother, Like Daughter(s)

People are constantly commenting on the resemblance between Mara and I so it was pretty fun to see a few baby pictures of myself that my mom had recently come across. The resemblance really is pretty amazing!

Me at 6 weeks old 

Mara at 2 weeks old 

Me at 9 months 

Mara at 9 Months 

Kennedy's features more strongly resemble Sean but there are quite a few people (most who knew me as a little girl) who comment that she too, resembles me. And I kind of think so too. :)

Me at four years old 

Kennedy at 3 years old 

Genes are pretty fun.
I am excited to see how they play out in our third child ...but don't worry folks, that's a little ways down the road ;))

Mara at 11 Months

At times, I am amazed she is already 11 months.
But then I am amazed that it has only been 11 months... that we have only known her 11 months.
Feels like she has been in our life forever.
It makes me happy to know we have so many more years with her.
They will go fast, I know. But today... time is on our side.

I love you my baby girl so big.