June 2017 - Part 2

I finally got around to editing Landon's birthday pictures. Landon - at the beach - by myself- while trying to take pictures of him proved to be very difficult. You can see we had an outfit change mid-session. As we were getting dressed in the car I told Landon how we weren't going to get wet until after mommy took pictures and he promised to stay dry. Well, that lasted all of 10 minutes, but it wouldn't be pictures of Landon if he wasn't in the ocean fully clothed! You'll also see that sand throwing was a thing. While I don't think this is some of my best work, I think it does capture his wild personality. 

Because waiting for your milk post-nap is just so difficult. Well, I guess when mom stops to take some pictures it is :) 

My time with this bump is coming to an end so I set up the tripod, got out the remote and took a few self-portraits. 

After taking a few bump pictures, Landon saw me working on a thank you gift for our nurses at the hospital (a bucket full of junk food). He found a "special treat" and asked if he could have it. It's amazing what this baby will do for a Nutty Bar... 

His big personality is so exhausting at times (mostly just because I'm 100 months pregnant and would rather just sleep all day), but, gosh, I love it.  I can't imagine life without my silly boy.

June 2017 - Part 1

June is the month that I need to go slow and go fast all at the same time. It's the last month before Rhett joins our family, but it's the last month before Rhett joins our family - know what I mean?! 

The month started off with some typical nesting... planting flowers and putting down new mulch. I'm pretty sure I also did major yard work when I was super pregnant with Landon. At least one boy had fun :) Landon is really into watering the yard and likes to announce that he's being a "biggggg helper!" 

Did you notice his shirt tucked into his undies? When I saw that I ran inside to grab my camera because it just doesn't get cuter than that! 

I finally finished the baby's nursery and I LOVE IT! I am thrilled with how it turned out even thought it took me 35 weeks and a few meltdowns to figure out. I purchased an entire airplane blueprint set that I obsessed over for weeks. When it finally arrived, I hated it and ended up switching back to 'ol faithful - nautical/sailboats. It's probably for the best anyway, the boys will probably share a room at some point (Landon's room is also nautical/whales). 

I also almost changed the baby's name, but "Rhett" survived (and so did his already monogramed homecoming outfit!)

Landon is still obsessed with airshows, airplanes (which he calls "the Air Force") and helicopters. 

We did even more testing on Rhett. This pregnancy has been much tougher than Landon's. This time around I had morning sickness and then got really sick with a fever, which apparently is bad while pregnant, the same week Trip was working nights. Thank the Lord my mom drove up to keep Landon. Then Rhett tested at increased risk for Trisomy 18, which was terrifying. That required additional blood work, an echo ultrasound to check his heart and now weekly non-stress tests. AND because Landon was thought to have IUGR, I've done two extra ultrasounds to check Rhett's size (those were just fine with me though!). Anyways, we will be happy when a healthy baby is placed on my chest and this will all be behind us. 

We also had maternity pictures taken by my friend and fellow photographer, Alisha at Hampton Park (downtown Charleston). It's one of my favorite spots.

Despite how cute Landon looked he was SO bad. Landon is always hyper- but this was next level. 

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I have such a love-hate relationship with the lovely age of three. He is already asking a million questions and there are moments when I just want a few minutes of silence. But then he does sweet things like tuck Catboy and "Monkey George" in for his nap and my heart explodes and I want him to be three forever. 

Hopefully the last half of the month is just as fun. I could use some rest, but honestly, I'm enjoying how fast time is moving at the moment... until Rhett comes. Then it needs to go slow because babies just don't keep! 

March 2017

I've been bad. Like really bad at taking pictures of Landon lately. Mostly due to growing his baby brother, but I've also been a little uninspired lately. I decided to pick up my camera and shoot anyway. Catching Landon in the most beautiful morning light jumping for dust was exactly what I needed to feel inspired again.

This last picture is not one I'd usually take. I'm reading through a photography class focused on taking "everyday pictures" at home. Normally I would see this as clutter but this class is making me look and think harder. One day when the boys are grown, I'll miss little jackets hanging on my kitchen chairs.

Baby at the Beach | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Landon has a few places that he loves: Sky Zone ("the jumpy place"), the playground ("wanna slide" and the beach ("beach pleaseeeee") As we were packing the car to go to my inlaw's beach house, I threw the tricycle in the car just in case. Well, on our second night there, I found myself sharing a twin bed with a restless toddler who was up before the sun. I go him dressed, grabbed the bike and headed to the beach. Let me tell you, sunrise and the beach is the best thing in the entire world.  

I was a little worried about trying to take pictures of Landon at the beach by myself because he really comes alive/goes crazy as soon as his toes hit the sand. 

These pictures are some of my favorite pictures I've ever taken of him. Like my mom said, "these are just SO Landon!" 

Two years of taking pictures and he's starting to figure this thing out. These are the various reactions to "show me happy teeth". 

I had no idea what was in my camera after that worldwind of a session. I dragged him out of the water, threw a towel around him and headed back to the house to hose him down as everyone was starting to wake up. It sort of felt like out secret little morning together. 

First Day of Pre-School

We made a last minute (like, we enrolled him on Monday) decision to start Landon in Pre-K 2. He'll go three days a week to learn letters, numbers and hopefully how to listen. He was so excited about school and he even got to pick out a book bag (or nap bag as Landon calls it). We walked down the Target book bag row, which only had the leftover options for kids whose parents procrastinated. He saw the Paw Patrol bag and said, "how 'bout dis one!" He loves it. 

I think I was getting put in timeout here. Terrible twos can end at any point now. 

The ducks even came across the street to send him off. Either that or they know he throws them bread. 

And then he was off. He wanted to ride in a school bus, but settled for a "mommy school bus." The whole way to school he'd yell, "School bus. That's right!" every time we saw a bus. 

A morning at Charles Towne Landing

Have you been to Charles Towne Landing? It's the most amazing place - both for scenery and wearing little boys out. It's the original site of the first permanent English settlement in South Carolina so it's full of history. Landon and I spent the morning running through the oaks, working on the boat and learning about opossums during toddler time. 

And then sometimes, I still see a little of my "baby boy" in him. I swear I have a million pictures of him throwing something... 

Our Summer | Neighborhood Playground | West Ashley SC

There's this field. I drive past it every single day and admire its beautiful tall grass. I kept wanting to take Landon out there to play, but something always seemed to come up. Everything finally worked out last night where I could drag the baby out to the field for some pictures I'd been dreaming up. I'm saving those for a few weeks, but I'm telling you... the field was better than I even imagined. 

Anyways, the baby needed to burn off some energy after taking pictures. Since I had my camera in the car, I decided to bring the big camera to the playground.