Budding Photographer??

Brayden often confiscates my camera. He returns with a plethora of photos.

Found this photo while uploading more July shots to the computer.

Entitled: Our dinner table on the screened-in porch from Brayden's perspective-through-the-lens.

Love seeing things from his point of view!

Celebrating Phia's first year

BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

Sophia is 1 today!! Here's a look back to what we were doing one year ago...I am so thankful to not be there right now :)







...and some glimpses of Sophia's first year:















What a blessed year it has been with Sophia added to our family. She is our (almost)always smiley-face! She has such a great disposition...I pray that it carries through all of her life. She adores her family--especially Brayden, Savannah, and, more recently, Grampa! The highlight of her day is anything with her brother and sister; they're the first ones she looks for when she awakes and the last ones she hugs and kisses before bed. The year has passed so quickly :( I'm thankful for pictures and video to capture some of the many moments that we cherish. Before long she too will be heading off to school :( For now, she's conquering and exploring everything around her, soaking in all the love and adoration from her siblings, and growing like a weed!

Happy first birthday, sweet Sophia Kathryn! We love you soooooooooooo much!

Finally

For all our "blog-junkies" out there...here's some random photos from the past few weeks. I'll try to upload more as the day goes on...so keep checkin' back for the add-ons!

THE LATEST: Sophia's 1st birthday is on Wednesday...CRAZY!!!!!! I'm heading to work in the O.R. Wednesday through Friday. It's hot and humid--but a blessed day nonetheless. I ran a 5K on July 4th! So did my older sister, Shelli...and she did it in a better time than me...WOO HOO, SHELL (I just wish we could have run one together)! My older sister is a phenomenal athlete so I am not a bit surprised :) Sophia's getting two more teeth to add to the six she has. She's also cruising furniture and attempting some free-stands. My teeth are almost completely straight and turned in all the right directions thanks to the chains they have on there--the past few weeks has been a bit painful in the mouth :) Daryl is working way too hard, but we're thankful that the Lord provides! And his hair has been growing again--he's had to shave it three times now!! Savannah sings almost non-stop throughout the day. Her songs bless my heart and my day. She also says parts of John 3:16 any time she opens a book or folded piece of paper :) If I say it with her, she easily gets the whole thing. We're also in the process of weaning her from thumb-sucking :( Its starting to really mess up her top teeth. Brayden started writing letters much to our surprise. B, M, S, and J are his favorites. I haven't pushed it or even sat with him for a "lesson", he just did it one evening at the dinner table. He's REALLY looking forward to preschool in the fall!!

Oh, and thank you a million times over for the phone calls and messages of love and prayer and encouragement. It has carried me (and Daryl) through the past few weeks.

Sophia tasting some dirt

Brayden showing off his new skill

Savannah and two of her second cousins (Ethan and Elise)checking out the turtle in Cincinnati, OH

Sweet Savannah

Daryl playing his guitar on our screened-in porch during a recent storm--it was beautiful (the playing and the storm). We had a rainbow over our house!