How lucky can one be? - Results

If you read the previous post, you'll know that tonight was the night of the Los Alamitos Photography contest...and it was a great night!

Last year I was fortunate enough to win First Place in the People Category and then won People's Choice. Guess who did that this year? My hubby!!!! How funny/cool is that?!

This is his image that one First Place AND then People's Choice!:





I won Second Place with this one:




and Honorable Mention with this one:




It's mostly just for fun, but it's nice when other people thought your image was special. Now to figure out what to enter for the O.C. Fair... ;)

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How lucky can one be?

I'd have to be pretty darn lucky. And I don't have very good luck. My husband and I always joke about how we have "average luck". We don't have bad luck (knock on wood) and we don't really have 'good' luck - we have average luck. Let me give you an example...

Last weekend we decided we'd take Riley over to the park and ride the train that they have there. We've never experienced the local train ride!! Well, we reach the gate at the opening of the park and there's a big sign that reads: TRAIN RIDE CLOSED TODAY. Ha!! Average luck! We told the staff member that we came specifically to ride the train and laughed about it! He told us that OSHA came by and shut it down and was coming back again during the week to inspect it again! Wow. Maybe it's average luck, or maybe it was good luck that we didn't ride it since it might have not been safe! LOL Either way...that's our luck.

Well, this Wednesday night is our local photography contest. We had to enter our images a couple of weeks ago. I decided to enter:

Our friend's sweet girl:


My sweet girl:


My sister-in-law and husband on their wedding day:


So, we'll see if any place. I never imagine to...but last year, well, you can read here how lucky I was. ;)

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The Story of a Failed Cupcake...

Today, on St. Patrick's Day, I decided I wanted to do something St. Patrick-y. I've never been a huge fan of this holiday. Yes, it was fun when I was younger to have another reason to party, but now that I'm a mom, it's allure is kind of lost on me. Instead of green beer, I'm probably going to have a few years ahead of finding green shirts to wear to school and baking green cupcakes. And I'm totally OK with this. :)

I decided to try "Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" cupcakes. At least, that's the name I'm giving them. :) They are supposed to look something like the picture on this link, but instead, looked like this:





I dropped some off at my husband's work and took some to my mom. I told them not to judge me on these - everything is from the box or a can and I'm not sure what all that food coloring will taste like. ;) So...not sure that I'll be making these again. But I tried. And sometimes that's all that matters.

If you want a tried and true recipe, you can find it here. I received the sweetest email from a blog reader named Cristie asking for the recipe from this post. Cristie, please let me know how they turned out and thanks so much for following my blog! :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day all!

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Happy 14 Months, Baby Girl!!

Dear Riley Grace,

You are 14 months old today! That is crazy! Still not too much new as you are STILL not walking! I can't believe it. You cruise the couch and walk with Daddy and me but not on your own. We went to a couple of playgroups recently and I met some moms that also had "late" walkers (16 and 17 months!) but I'm hoping it's not that far away! ;) I really want it more for you because sometimes you get so sick of the stroller. I always remind you that you'll have more freedom if you start walking! Ha!!

I think you are a very cautious girl so that might be a factor with the walking. I put you down on a blanket at the park today and you kind of looked around before you touched everything - and when you do first touch something, it's very slowly and gentle. I think you get the cautious part from me, but you're also very serious at times and I'm not sure where you get that from.

I think you've started saying "pasta" when we feed it to you and when we sing "Little Bunny Foo Foo" to you and say "poof" at the end, you've started to imitate that too. You definitely know what we're talking about when we ask you to get something or do something, but you're not vocalizing the exact word yet. You're still signing a lot (please, bath, play - in the last day) and you have your own little language. Sometimes you talk and talk and I just wish we knew what you were saying. :)

You know where your tongue is, your ears are, your tummy is and sometimes your hair. If I change you at night, I ask you where your tummy is before I put on your pajamas and the way you point to it is soooo cute. Then mommy blows raspberries on it and you laugh. :)

You are still wearing a size 3 diaper, size 4 shoes, and some 12 month outfits and some 18 months - although they are still a bit big at this point.

I was thinking the other day that I usually call you "baby girl" when talking to you. It is really your nick name from me from day one. I'm sure that I'll be calling you "baby girl" in high school and I'm sure you'll get really ticked about it at times. I can already hear you saying, "Mom, I'm NOT a baby anymore!" probably around 5 years old - maybe 4. I'm still going to say it, I'm sure. :)

Here are a couple of images of you from the last month. Someone told me that you look like a young Natalie Wood. I'm not sure how true that is, but I thought it was very, very sweet.

Bath time!


One of my favorites.


Talking about something!


Love this one too.




My serious girl.


Second lunch date with sweet little Max.




And images from today:


Not sure why this is saving in a different color than the top one, but don't have time to figure that out right now. I love the original color one I have of you. This is honestly the first time where I think that you look a little like me.


Blowing kisses.




Love you, love you, love you, baby girl.

Love,
Mommy

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So many things, so little time.

The last couple of weeks...

Finished Melinda's maternity images.




Walked around the neighborhood and stopped to take in the beauty of simple, little things.




A few times at the Happiest Place on Earth...

Met an internet friend and her family:


...and a Friday evening with hubby, baby girl and taking my camera and leaving my flash at home. (texture courtesy of my friend http://www.rubyrideout.com/)






I have lots to clean, laundry to do, a ton on my shoulders (or so it feels), but life still feels good tonight. Hope you all are having a great weekend!

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Happy Monday...

have a great week - and thanks for stopping by! :)

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