pHoTOgRAphY!

I did my first paid session today and I just wanted to share some of my favorites.  Thank you all for the encouragement to do this.  Lexi has been a great model for me to practice with my camera and editing.  Don't worry...I will not stop snapping photos of her every chance I get! (Note: this is a VERY low-res video file so the pictures are pretty fuzzy).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZKW9SdmrJE

Dee Dee Dog!

Whew!  It was an emotional roller coaster for about 13 hours in this house!  Jason was working a game last night and after I got Lexi out of the bathtub I realized Andie was not around.  We searched the house, but could not find our beloved Dee Dee dog.  I went outside and the gate was open.  It was pitch black outside.  Andie is black.  My heart sank and I felt a knot in my stomach.  Lexi and I jumped in the car, rolled down the windows and we both called for Andie.  We drove around for a little bit and then we walked around the block looking for Andie.  No luck.  We got home and Lexi continuously called for Andie.  While I was looking out the back window Lexi pointed to her talking dog and said, "Here's a dog!"  I had to put Lexi to bed and tried my hardest to explain to her that we will have to hope and pray Andie will come home.  As I waited for Jason to get home I sat on the couch with the TV muted in hopes I would hear Andie scratching at the door.  After the game Jason drove around the neighborhood for awhile.  Again, no luck.

This morning I posted signs in our neighborhood.  Within minutes I received a phone call from a man who said his wife found Andie last night and took her in.  The nice man and his wife dropped Andie off at home this morning and said Andie had a great night.  She slept in bed with the couple and their two dogs.  He would not accept the reward we offered.  We are so thankful for this wonderful couple!

Andie did not have her collar on when she got out.  The collar and tags are loud and have a tendency to wake up Lexi.  This problem has been resolved.  The tags now have tape around them.  There is a new tag that will attach to the collar without hanging being printed as we speak.  Andie will never go without a collar again.

Last night I dreamt over and over again that Andie found her way home.  It was so quiet without her.  She is Lexi's best friend (Nine is a very close second).  Our hearts were broken for the 13 hours Andie was gone.  We are so thankful she was in good hands last night and came home today.  We love you so much Dee Dee Dog!

Lexi placing "The Kissing Hand" stickers all over Andie.  Andie is so patient with Lexi!

After Lexi reads books at night she gives them to Andie to read.

I've Been Tagged!

I’ve been tagged!

And if you are reading this, you have been too!
Here we go!

8 things I look forward to
1. Every healthy morning
2. Seeing Lexi every time she wakes up
3. Vacations
4. Jason's off days
5. More children in the family (ours or cousins for Lexi)
6. Chip coming home
7. Taking more photos of Lexi
8. Date nights

8 things I did yesterday
1. Took Lexi to the zoo for the first time
2. Went shopping with Kristi and Rose Ann
3. Took pictures
4. Watched Barney with Jason while Lexi played in her playroom
5. Smiled a lot
6. Edited photos
7. Cleaned
8. Jumped with Lexi

8 things I wish I could do
1. Sing
2. Run
3. Introduce Jason to my dad
4. Go to all of our nephews baseball games
5. Update my facebook status via an iphone or ipad
6. Be in Houston in an hour
7. Snowboard or ski
8. Speak another language

8 shows I watch
1. Grey’s Anatomy
2. The Bachelor
3. Ellen
4. Modern Family
5. The Middle
6. Any HGTV Show
7. Barney
8. Calliou 

And I am tagging….

All of my friends who read this blog! Email me your list or post it on your blog!!! I love reading about each other!

And I Thought I Loved You Then...

I heard a song on the radio this morning after I dropped Lexi off at school.  It was, "And I Thought I Loved You Then" by Brad Paisley.  Even though it is about a man falling in love with his wife, it still brought tears to my eyes because there are parallels between that love and with my love for Lexi.

Before I was pregnant I loved the child I would have one day.

During my pregnancy my stomach grew and with each passing day the love for the baby I was carrying grew too.

On November 11, 2008 at 7:04 PM I met the most precious child in the world, Alexi.  My heart was full.  My life was complete.  I loved her to the ultimate max.

Now two years later I realize how my heart is able to grow.  I thought I loved Lexi then.  Don't get me wrong, I did, but my heart had not reached maximum capacity like I thought it did.  I love her more today than I did yesterday and I know I will love her even more tomorrow than I did today even though today, it does not seem possible.

After school Lexi and I went to the park to feed the ducks.  She absolutely loved it!  Isn't her owl shirt adorable?  My childhood friend, Michelle made it especially for Lexi!  Thank you, Michelle! 

I asked Lexi if she wanted to go get Mexican food or have pizza for dinner.  She said, "Broccoli?"  I can't complain!  I didn't have any fresh broccoli so we had meatloaf, new potatoes, asparagus, apple and banana.  For her dessert she had a chocolate chip muffin.  Since Jason is out of town, she invited other guests to her birthday dinner.  Her dinner guests included Nine, Big Elmo, Little Elmo, Big Bird, Arm, and Owlie.

My life is complete and my heart is "full" of love.  Alexi Preston Walsh, I love you more than you will ever know.  Tomorrow I will love you even more.  You are truly a blessing.  Happy 2nd Birthday! 

Lexi's World 2!

Lexi's World 2 Premiered Sunday, November 7th from 11 AM to 1 PM.  It was an awesome way to celebrate our soon to be 2 year old!  When brainstorming birthday party ideas I was constantly changing my mind.  Lexi loves so many different things.  I just couldn't decide what theme she would like best.  She loves Elmo, but doesn't really watch Sesame Street.  She loves to watch Barney, but frankly, I didn't want to host a Barney party.  She loves animals, but I didn't research how to get a petting zoo to come to the house...

One night after Jason and I put Lexi to bed we were having one of our conversations about the things we love about Lexi and all of her "corks." Jason said, "It is Lexi's world and we are just living in it."  There it was.  Jason was exactly right.  "Lexi's World."  The perfect "theme" for the party.  Lexi is exciting and eclectic.  That became my challenge (and obsession) to try and portray the true world of Lexi at her second birthday party.

The invitations:

The cupcakes were "Earths" and each cupcake had a different flag representing something Lexi is passionate about:

More decorations: 

The guest book:

The party favors included things Lexi loves (animal crackers, music shaker, crayons, fire truck bracelet, bubbles, and owl stickers): 

For entertainment, we had Lexi's music teacher, Nina.  Nina played her guitar, sang, danced, and was silly with all the kids (and parents too): 

Singing "Happy Birthday" to our baby girl brought tears to my eyes and put a smile in my heart: 

Lexi received many thoughtful and fun gifts.  We even were able to Skype with Aunt Kim, Uncle Jeff, Cooper, Jackson, and Brady:

It was fun.  It was exhausting.  The party started and after a blink it was over.  I guess I'll have to get used to time racing by with Lexi.  Time flies when you're having fun, right?  Well, every moment with Lexi is fun (okay, that is a bit of an understatement)!  

It is hard to believe the second birthday party is already over.  As Jason and I laid in bed that night reminiscing about the event I asked, "So what do you think we should do next year?"  He smirked and kissed me goodnight.  

Halloween

Halloween was so much fun this year!  I typically am not much of a Halloween fan, but my views have changed!  Our neighbors threw a wonderful Halloween party at their house.  There were a ton of kids dressed up, some adults dressed up, and lots of food.  We hung out for awhile and then headed to the streets for some trick or treating.  Apparently, our neighborhood is the place to trick or treat in McKinney.  There were at least 1000 people who came to get goodies.  Almost all of the neighbors sat outside in their driveways to hand out candy to kids.  Everyone was so friendly and the kids were delighted to get handfuls of treats!  We took Lexi to about 5 houses and she LOVED it!  When we got home she looked in her candy bucket and very excitedly yelled, "I got trick or treats!"