Look what I can do mom!

The craziness continues! Emily is proving to be an overachiever! She is crawling at record breaking speeds and pulls herself up on everything! She also has figures out how to get herself to a sitting position, it just looks so funny because she is still so tiny! She also has figured out how to maneuver herself down the step into the kitchen without doing a face plant first. She did it face plant first a few times and so I showed her how to get on her belly and put her arms down and she has done it that way ever since! Here are a few pictures of her in her crib. She really is a girl...nothing like gender neutral clothing! And the blue crib sheet is one that we got when Andrew was born! I also get lots of "Oh he is so cute" when we are out and about because I have Andrew's old carseat cover that is blue on one side and tan on the other. It makes Kelli SO upset when people say Emily is a boy...she really lets them have it! "That is not a boy it is my sister!!" she protests! She gets lots of apologies!! Anyway, back to standing in the crib...the funniest part of this is that she gets herself up like this and then she freaks out because she cant get back down. So she lets out this panicked cry until someone comes to get her! I will post some pictures soon of the padded room we have created for her to play in so she cannot hurt herself! It was the creative genious of Brian one day while I was gone! It is quite a sight, but it sure is effective!

A Few More of Baby Mason

This little guy is so stinkin cute, I think it would be impossible to mess up photographing him! Thought I would share a few more with you!

Little Missy

Kelli isn't always real excited when I pull out the camera and she really protests when I want to do her hair! You will notice in most pictures of her it is just down and tucked behind her ears, because "that's the way she likes it!" Well I convinced her to let me put french braids in her hair the other day, and the only reason she let me was because I told her that I used to do the same kind of braids in my sisters hair when we were growing up. We even called Aunt Danielle and Aunt Lauren after they were done to let them know all about it! Aunt Danielle made us promise to take a few pictures, so I took the opportunity to get as many as I could! Here are a few that I liked...

Photography

It has been a while since I have posted! I actually have been busy working on some avenues to help me do more with my love of photography and hope to share more with you all very soon! Here is a picture that I took of Kelli last week. She is getting so big! And Emily is keeping us on our toes! You saw the previous video clip of her scooting. Well now she is crawiling and tonight she pulled her self up to standing!! It's ridiculous really, she isn't even 7 months old!! I think we are in trouble! =) I took a video of her standing herself up and as soon as I recharge my batteries in the camera, I will get it on here!

On The Move

Watch Out World! Here comes Emily!!

I found a feature on the program I use to make these movies, that allows you to play it double speed...I applied it to this video just to see how it works, and it make me laugh, hope it does the same for you!

Anna's Aztec Salsa

We had an amazing homemade salsa at our Women's Retreat last weekend and I thought I would share the recipe with you. Now keep in mind, I am not a vegetable person...you should know that from previous posts, and this salsa is loaded with veggies and I ate it by the bowlful! I think I have proved the theory that you can develop a taste for something! A few months ago, I think the sight of this salsa would have been displeasing, much less the taste, but at the retreat, I saw it and couldn't wait to try it! They served it with Frito Scoops and I had it today with Tostida Multi grains, both were great! Anna is the sweet mama in the previous post!

Anna's Aztec Salsa

2 cans corn, drained
2 cans black beans, drained
8-12 Roma tomatoes chopped
Large red onion chopped
2 packets of Italian dressing mix (powdered)
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
4 avocados chopped
hot sauce to taste
red wine vinegar to taste

Sweet, Sweet Baby

I was priviledged to take sweet Mason's pictures last week! This is my first shoot with a young baby and it went really well! I am pleased with the first pics I have had a chance to work on and I will share more as I have them ready! Thanks Anna for letting me photograph your sweet boy! And big sister Lily too!

Marley Anne Taziona Whitfield

We got more pictures of my sweet "niece" today! Elise is like one of my sisters so I feel that is an appropriate description of my relationship to this sweet baby! Of course no disrespect to her true aunts and uncles!! They decided on a name too! Marley Anne! So cute! Pray for Elise, it sounds like she has a spinal headache! We know all to well how miserable that can be from watching Heidi suffer so horribly after Eden was born! I know she would appreciate your prayers! It must be the angle this first picture was taken at, but she looks huge! Remember she is only 5lbs9oz! Actually probably even a little smaller! Elise's milk has come in, so that is a big blessing! She will be growing quickly! The later pictures will show you how small she really is though!! Congratulations my sweet friends! Love and miss you terribly!

Pictures of the new arrival and an update from Luke

Dear Loved Ones We are so excited to share with you that we have been blessed with a little baby girl. We have not decided on a first name but have chosen 'Taziona' (spelling will probably change) this is a Zambian name that means 'we have seen it'--we have seen the Lord's faithfulness. She was born at roughly 6am (CST) 2pm our time, and was a whoping 5lbs 9 oz. and measured around 18in. A tiny baby compared to our first three. Although small she is perfectly healthy and took to breastfeeding like she had a nipple in the womb,hah! Mom and Tazzy are doing fine and Elise is recovering very quickly. For those of you praying for power cuts it worked, praise God!! As we were getting ready to walked into the operating room the power came on, He is so faithful. I have attatched some photo, more will be on the way but it has been a hectic day. Praise God for our new addition and we will keep you posted on the name game. More details and pics to come soon. Love you all and PRESS ON & INTO HIM!! The Whitfield <><