And so on and so forth.

My photography website it up! Not really sure about a plan of action for marketing or anything formal and business-y like that, but I am enjoying this little hobby of mine and THAT is what matters.

I had an obvious lack of pictures of Jack taken by me, so I took him out the other day. He did so well taking direction and working for the camera. Here are just a few of my favorites... I am saving one for his birthday letter this year. Cannot believe he is turning five! Just doesn't seem possible.

Nolan's first birthday was delightful. He thoroughly enjoyed himself, and made out like a little bandit with new bath toys, clothes, books, etc. Just when I thought we had every toy possible...

{"Barf Vader"... hamming it up for the camera!}

{He was so tired by the end, but I had to get a mommy/baby pic}

Warren and Jack are down in P-town, visiting their Grandparents this weekend. So, I only have one baby and am making the most of the chance to get some things done. Going to get Jack's school supplies, go look at a new lens (yay!!!), take some portraits of a pair of adorable brothers that live in our neighborhood... and just enjoy a little bit less noise until tomorrow.

N.B.O.T.S.

I have so many things I could say... more than a few posts in draft, saved and incomplete. And instead of working to finish and publish those, in fact, instead of doing anything that resembles productive and sensible, I present to you...

...the naked baby on the sidewalk post (also known as the N.B.O.T.S post)

Without further adieu.

{Let the cuteness roll...}

{Hiney in the air!}

{A quick smile for the Mama-razzi!}

{Contemplating his next move...}

{Oh yeah, that was a bold move!}

{"I know, I am soooo cool."}

{Digging in the mulch. Duh!} {Flashing some tushy.}
{Bringing some mulch with him.}
{Finally crawling to Mama, who can't resist and gladly hands the camera off to Daddy.}
{I love me some N.B.O.T.S.!}

I know, I have a problem. But they grow so quickly. And those dimpled cheeks and distended belly vanish before you can hardly get in 3,000 kisses on each smooshy part.

...sigh...

COMING ALONG

Secured the domain name www.mamarazziportraits.com, now just gotta design and build the actual website!

Ordered business cards with this logo:



Jotting down lists and lists of ideas for all kinds of settings and poses for maternity, family, etc.

Taking a little girl's pictures this evening... in a TUTU I bought! Can't wait!

THIS AND THAT

Yesterday, Nolan really started to walk. And I started to cry. Warren noticed and came to comfort me... he gets it, and I love him for that.

He is such a neat kid! And have I mentioned that he loves Legos...





Nolan's birthday party was perfect. I have lots of pictures to wade through, but somehow, I'd rather look at these two of Jack from this morning... these eyes!





We are having a lazy day. Still in pajamas, in fact. Planning to deliver thank-you cards, hit up a park, and eat dinner out since Bryan has softball tonight.

Nolan had his one year check up yesterday. He is the picture of health, even at a slight 17 pounds. So, we are feeding him protein shakes, which he seems to like okay since it is chocolate flavored.

ONE YEAR OLD

So... I have been, like, THE worst blogger ever.

For anyone still checking in here, sorry. I have been BUSY. We have had a few house projects going on, Warren had his Lego Engineering camp last week, and I have been working to kind of maybe just a little start a PHOTOGRAPHY business! Yay! I'll unveil the name and all that good stuff hopefully soon.

And in case that hasn't been enough to keep me totally running around like a mad woman, I have also been planning this little Angel's birthday party:



Marinating fajita meet as we speak for the friends and neighbors that are stopping by for a casual, kind of last minute put together of a celebration of sorts. We usually don't make a big to do over the first birthday, so this is a little change of pace. Oh and cookie dough is refrigerating for these awesome Playdoh cookies I have been wanting to try for a long time. Will share the recipe and pictures... sometime! Ha!

I cannot believe Nolan is one. I know it is beyond cliche to say that, but it is my true sentiment. This past year has gone by in a blink. And the birthday parties are becoming much more frequent now with three! Here is little Noli sleeping on his Aunt Jenny's chest last month at Warren's birthday party {Aren't they a pair?}:


So glad a few of the home improvement projects we have been working on are mostly done! Whew! My mom and sister are coming to stay with us for a week next month to get my sister settled in for College about an hour from us. Yay!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOLAN! LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

"It's okay, Noli, I got ya."

Just in case Nolan was feeling a little insecure being set on a tree stump by his camera wielding momma... he's got two big brothers to reassure him that he's in good hands.

Here are a couple of my other favorites from this little impromptu photo session in the woods on 4th of July, a day filled with multiple BBQ's and enough outdoor play to satisfy even three little boys' love of all things squirt guns and rowdy.



Yep, these three were crashed out by 8:30 and never even heard a firework, which turned out just fine since we had torrential sideways rain that made for a perfect cozy sleep to end a very fun day.

I know I am biased here, but these are some handsome boys!



Oh and I may never get pictures done at a cheesey studio again... loving outdoor pictures of my guys looking at their goofball daddy much better!

What do you think...

...he whispered in his baby brother's ear?

11 MONTHS

.Feisty and mischievous.

.Curious as can be.

.Expressive.

.Loves to swing (higher than you would expect for an 11 month old!).

.Melts my heart every day.

.We love him so... every last crazy little hair on his perfect head!.

Can't believe you're almost one whole year, Noli-bean!

Time does fly when you're having fun.

JUST LIKE THAT

{Jack on the swing set at "our park"}

The Levi's, the crocs, his little arms wrapped around the chains, pleading for me to push him higher... I am in LOVE with this picture.

On a typical Summer day, my biggest boy breezes through a childhood rite of passage.

We had been discussing for days, when would be the best time to take the training wheels off, who would go get the knee pads, talking to Warren about being patient since it would take a few days to get the hang of it...

...and apparently he got sick of all the hubbub and just went out and

taught himself to ride a two wheel bike.

You would think he's been doing this for years!

All the while, Jack has taken over the bike with training wheels...

...AND...

...Nolan's creeping up on the tricycle!

Nothing like a little game of musical bikes.

Just like that, they've all traded up and aren't looking back!

REALITY

I know I said I would try to keep up more here this Summer, but this little thing called reality keeps sneaking up on me and I find myself:

...sitting on the kitchen floor for 20 minutes watching Nolan play with an orange...


...or standing by the kitchen table watching the big boys do their daily workbook sheets and art projects...



...or looking on as these two become fast friends.


And then another day has gone.

That's just reality.

It has a way of winning out, that reality.

Much like the inevitable fact that this little man is channeling a toddler more and more each day, leaving the infant I have coddled for the past 10 months in the dust.


So, it seems I'll have to accept reality and intentionally carve out time, like tonight. After I've gone in to kiss sweet sweaty little dreaming heads and replace drooping limbs back onto their beds, I can sneak to the comfortable glow of the monitor and share a few gems of my reality.

Goodnight.

JUST ME TALKING

Nolan does not like his crib.

{That's putting it mildly...}

So much so that this is his reaction when I simply say "want out?"

So, I remain for now a cosleeping hippie... who is somehow okay with an open mouthful of little teeth heading straight for my breasts numerous times per day. And since I am hopeful for another baby, I actually googled "tandem nursing" the other day. Special.

Onto other topics!

The big boys LOVE their rec center activities. Warren had his first golf lesson so I got to hear all about the rules of the game. Things like "hole in one, eagle, birdie, Bogey, double Bogey". Jack is the only boy in his hip hop dance class -- not sure if I am even articulate enough to put into words how cute that was. They do a little performance at the end of each class. Picture Jack, flanked by 5 little girls on each side, grinning ear to ear while barely participating in the dance... up until the very end where here does this whole attitude move and points out to the audience of parents. Oh. My. Word. Warren and I could not keep from laughing and he ate it up!

We are in full swing with Summer! Keeping busy with lots of activities, games, play dates with classmates, and plans for lots to come.

Warren had his birthday party last Saturday and I am still wading through all the pictures, hopeful to get some up later this week.

I ordered a super cute bathing suit for this Summer and plan to take the boys swimming once a week once it arrives. Finally decided to get a practical one piece and am so excited to be donning this little number soon:


Gonna try to do some portraits of all three boys together tomorrow evening. Wish me luck! I have yet to get anything good of all three at the same time. But I have some tricks up my sleeve I am gonna try. We'll see...

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up on this blog/journal/scrapbook of mine a little more now that I am a bit more acclimated to our Summer routine and pace. It did kinda take the wind out of me for a few days, but I'm back! :)