Day 243

Buy a girl a leotard and you'll get an instant gymnast!

Day 242

This was taken by a photographer at a community concert last night!  You can tell, Siena was really enthused to stop dancing and get her picture taken!

And We're Back--Days 231-241

Sorry I've been MIA as of late.  We took a one week vacation to Outer Banks, NC for my husband's 30th birthday.  Little did we know when we left that we'd face three natural disasters within a week's time.  Let's just say, it made for one fun adventure.  Here are some pics to prove it...

Day 231
We packed up on Friday and got everything squared away for an early departure the next day!  I didn't actually take a picture today, but I'll share one of my favorites from the dunes in Frisco, NC.

Day 232
Made it to Raleigh, NC to visit with some good friends (and Siena's godparents).  It's so nice to be comforted by the hospitality and warmth of old friends.  And it was a great way to visit NC through their eyes...it's a beautiful part of the country.

Day 233
Laura and Siena practicing their yoga...

 
Day 234
Goodbye to Raleigh and our friends...hello bay house in the Outer Banks!  Can you really beat this view??!!

Day 235
Spending our days on the beach is a great way to celebrate Daddy's birthday!  We actually felt the earthquake down in NC and didn't realize it until about two hours afterward when we heard the news!!


Day 236
Our last day on the beach...little did we know.  We were tracking Irene, but thought we could stay until Friday.  Unfortunately, we had to leave early Thursday morning to avoid the onslaught of hurricane force winds and rain that was headed directly for Cape Hatteras.  Sure was beautiful on the beach before the storm!

Day 237

Decided we'd take a detour to Shenandoah National Park instead of heading home early.  We sure did luck out with the houses we rented...first a great view at our bay house and then a fabulous riverside cabin in Shenandoah!

Day 238
Went for a hike in Shenandoah National Park.  Reached the summit in about 40 min.  Very odd for us, coming from extensive hikes in the Rocky Mountains.  But hey, this pregnant lady will take an easy hike anytime I'm carrying an extra load!  

Day 239
Lions, tigers, bears...oh my (these two babies were absolutely adorable)!!

Day 240
Made it home amidst storms, had our power go out for about 30 hours and sat listening to the radio to make sure that the tornado warnings a couple of counties over weren't headed our way.  Luckily, the power outage and lots of debris were the only things we suffered.  I was saddened to hear that the bay house we stayed at in NC suffered a great deal of water damage and currently the roads are still impassable.  Hopefully, things will dry out and it will be restored to the glory that we experienced.  Here's to a great vacation.

Day 241        
First day of preschool for my big girl!!  I love her and am so proud of who she's growing to be!

Day 230 {Thilled about Thursday}

This little girl cracks me up.  Ask her to help pack and this is what she comes up with: ten pair of panties, seven shirts, two dresses and no bottoms.  Guess she hadn't made it to the shorts drawer yet! ;)

Point-and-shoot

Day 229

Enjoying the last of the pool days...

Point-and-shoot

Day 228 {True to Tuesday}

It's jelly making time...too bad, I broke one of the jars (after it had been filled and sealed).  It made me so sad to lose a whole jar of jelly--it's a precious commodity in our household!

Point-and-shoot

Day 227 {Monday Me}

27 weeks and counting!

Point-and-shoot...thanks to my hubby!

Day 226

We got our little girl a fish tank for her new room.  Daddy, the fish enthusiast, decided he'd take on the challenge of a saltwater tank...which we've come to learn is a LOT more expensive and harder to start-up than a fresh water tank.  Live and learn, I suppose, I'm excited to get the water just right so we can add a little Nemo in!

Point-and-shoot

Day 225

Let the nesting begin!

Point-and-shoot

Day 224

This is her face after drinking some of Daddy peachy float--it was just an Izze juice they put in (so, juice and sparkling water), but I think the carbonation was a little much for her!

Point-and-shoot

Day 223

Getting pushed on the swing by your best friend can't be beat!  Just wish I hadn't cut off her feet.

Point-and-shoot

Day 222

So, this room is a long time coming.  We tore down wallpaper, painted, bought her duvet cover (which was discontinued and hard to find), comforter and finally the bunk beds.  The beds were also hard to come by, it seemed that whatever we put in to order, the manager would call us back within a few hours to tell us it didn't come in that color, or was discontinued.  Ugh...then when the bunk beds came in early (just yesterday), I was SUPER excited...needless to say, the twin bed mattresses, which we already owned did not fit the twin bunk beds.  Off to buy more stuff for the room today.  But, now it's put together, I love it and I think so does she...

On another note, I've been relegated to the point-and-shoot because I found out I need to send my DSLR back due to a faulty e-dial, which was causing more than huge headaches.  I could never get my ss to settle on a value...hopefully it will be fixed soon!!

Day 221 {True to Tuesday}

The boys of the house (minus Daddy)...

(1/40s; f/7.1; ISO: 1600; focal length: kit lens--18mm)

Day 220 {Monday Me}

Here we are at 26 weeks...time is flying by!

(1/50s; f/7.1; ISO: 3200; focal length: kit lens--30.6mm)

Day 219

I know I've already taken a shot of our tomatoes, but I had to take another one!  I'm just so happy they're all coming in so well...Do I hear BLT's for dinner??!!

Day 218

For some reason, I love her face in this one, even if it isn't correct photographically.

(1/60s; f/3.5; ISO: 3200; focal length: kit lens--18mm)

Day 217

Today I was a complete mess...out of the ordinary for me.  We headed to the zoo with some friends and by the time we got there (a 35 min. drive), I realized I must have left Siena's shoes on the counter--I had told her she could go barefoot in the car until we got there.  And nope, they didn't sell shoes at the gift shop.  Luckily we had the stroller so she didn't walk around barefoot the whole time.  Then I go to take my first picture of the day (I did remember my camera) and a message popped up saying that there was no memory card inserted.  UGH!!  Thank God I remembered my daughter today...just one of those days--still gonna blame it on the preggo hormones! ;) 

So this was taken by my camera phone.  Of course, we were at the zoo, so that means we have to get our face painted...the animals, not really interested!

Day 216 {Thrilled about Thursday}

Guess we all love having Daddy back from baseball...although, today I found myself missing it a little.  Funny, huh??

(1/125s; f/4.5; ISO: 400; focal length: kit lens--40mm)

Day 215

So, you might think I reached back in my reserves to pull this one out, but this is actually our yard.  Believe it or not, and it IS only August 3rd.  I'm a little worried about the massive piles of leaves we'll be facing in a few months...but it sure is pretty!

(1/80s; f/4; ISO: 800; focal length: kit lens--30.6mm)

Day 214 {True to Tuesday}

I didn't even ask her to pose like this for me, but if I had, I assume this would have been the result of me asking her to give me 'an interested look, yet a cold shoulder'.  She's too funny!

SOOC minus watermark addition

(1/100s; f/4.5; ISO: 800; focal length: kit lens--37.5mm)

Day 213 {Monday Me}

Three things...I need to get more sun on my belly, 2) it is harder than you think to randomly take a shot of your belly, and c) I have an inkling this ones going to be another girl!  But, here we are at 25 weeks--so crazy we're this close to the third trimester.  Where has the time gone?

(1/60s; f/5; ISO: 1600; focal length: kit lens--18mm)

Day 212

Some days, this is how I feel grocery shopping.  Just want to get in and get out, but that never seems to be the case! ;)

(1/60s; f/4.5; ISO: 800; focal length: kit lens--37.5mm)