Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

So I finally came up with the winning name and logo! (drum roll please)...

Rapture - ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy; an utterance or expression of ecstatic delight.

I think it's PERFECT!

Ideas??...Give 'em to me!

I wanted to find some way to make some money this upcoming holiday season, in efforts to continue our current financial goal. So, Steve and I are going to start a teeny tiny little photography...company??...business??...not sure what to call our little venture :)

I've been editing pictures with random programs online the past couple of years and finally agreed to let Steve teach me a thing or two in photoshop. I tell ya, I have no idea why I'm so darned stubborn when it comes to allowing my husband to "teach" me! Maybe it's just because photoshop seemed like such a non-user friendly program compared to the programs I've been using which are virtually idiot proof. Or maybe it's because he's just too knowledgeable about it that I feel overwhelmed when he tries to cram my head full of terms and computer commands and concepts I haven't had to deal with before? Either way, he's been wanting to teach me for some time and until just recently, I'd been putting it off.

I started doing some online tutorials hoping that I would at least have a basic understanding of it before he started his lessons. So far...I think it's gonna be HOT! SOOOOOO many more things you can do in photoshop....so much so that I'd like to slap the past version of myself for being such a stick in the mud and refusing to take my blinders off!

Anyways, I'm certain that there are several families that would LOVE some updated family pictures to use for Christmas...so I thought what better time than now to get things going? I know that Steve won't want to be part of this forever, but lets face it, he's just too darn talented to NOT use! So he's agreed to do the photography part if I'll do the "post work". So I guess I get to create a title for myself...like creative designer?...or photo editor?...something along those lines.

But here's were I am seriously hitting a brick wall....every...and I mean EVERY....name that I've looked up has already been taken! I thought I was being all original by coming up with the name Wink Photography....but apparently 5 other peeps beat me to it. I thought of Rouge Photography, Winkology, Modern Light Photography....taken, taken, TAKEN, so I'm sending out an S.O.S.!

I NEED HELP! I would like a name that is easy to remember, yet soft (if that makes sense). Nobody has used Bell Photography...from what I can find....but someone has used bellphotography.blogspot.com....so that's an out too.

Any ideas? Hey...maybe if you don't live to far away, I can even offer you a free session! Or give you mad props! :)

Thanks everyone for any help you can offer!!

Little Helper

Today, while I was making the bed, Wyatt decided that he wanted to help Daddy reorganize one of his drawers.

Apparently, he thought everything looked better shoved between the mattress and the bed frame.

I think he's right!

The Birthday Boy

Dear Wyatt,

13 months and 18 days ago...you turned ONE! I know, I'm a bit behind on posting, but it's completely your fault...yep...you consume so much of my day with all your adorableness that there's hardly any time for writing it all down. Excuse? Sure. Am I sorry? NOPE. Your dad and I tell each other every night how rich we could be if we could only find a way to bottle up your cuteness and sell it!

Every morning, when I get you out of bed, you throw your blankie over the crib railing and rattle the bars of your crib in anticipation. You make this sound (much like someone who fills their cheeks up with air and use their pointer fingers to suddenly pop the air like a balloon) and it's the way that you greet EVERYONE! Stranger in the store?...insert sound...Nana in the kitchen?...insert sound...child staring at you in church?...insert sound....seeing your own reflection in the mirror and thinking it's another adorable child just like you?...insert sound!! Totally adorable.

You have already started to form words. You say "ma-ma-ma", "da", "na-na-na", "dat-too" (thank you), "peak-ooo" (peak-a-boo) and of the numbers 1-5 I've been trying to teach you, you only will say "two".

You still have the proverbial "blow out" from time to time (what would a blog post be without some reference to poop?) and the sad/funny part is that you seem to save them for road trips, church, or your personal favorite, Kristen (I'm sure she appreciates that) It's like your own way of telling her how much you appreciate that she took some time out of her busy single life to watch you...as the poop oozes out of the side of your pants and plops on the floor. Don't worry...she keeps coming back. She's quite the trooper...suppose that means she loves you too :)

You are such an active child! You have been crawling all over the place and pulling yourself up to a stand for quite some time now. You even cruise around the furniture and get into anything that is not being closely monitored. You are up and over any obstacle in your way. Our biggest fear was that you would fall down the stairs...so we asked for a safety gate to keep you away from the stairs but before we could even get it installed, you had already taught yourself how to go up AND DOWN the stairs. Genius?? I THINK SO!

Other than some brief, almost unbearably whiny periods when you were cutting teeth (only 4 so far), you are dang near the happiest baby on earth! It's so contagious too! Your dad and I have to bite our lip just to keep from squeezing you too hard when we hug you...all the while you smile and laugh at us like two crazy clowns. Your bluer than blue eyes (and the unique flec of brown in your right eye), along with your adorable laugh that literally sucks everyone you come in contact with in till they are acting like monkeys trying to make you laugh again are just the beginning of a long list of reasons that I love having you in my life! I never knew it, but everyday as I watch you, I realize that you are everything that I ever wanted in life.

To celebrate your first year, we threw a little party. Here are a few photos of your special day.

Happy Birthday Monkey Butt! We love you!!

Love,
"Da" and "Ma-ma-ma"

Happy boy waiting for the party to start.

Burger cake for the birthday boy!
It was SO HOT outside that the icing began to melt!
You looked so stunned and totally focused on the flame.

The mini burgers for your guests.

You cried over when everyone began singing "Happy Birthday" to you :(

My dainty eater...so scared to take a bite!
I had to give you a taste of frosting before you would believe that it was OK to eat!!

Some "sweet" hair gel!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY WY WY MAN!!

Solo Mission

Without a doubt, the best one yet...and I can hardly wait till the 4th one comes out. That's when all the good stuff happens and when the series comes to an end. I soaked up every last minute of the many scenes where Jacob is yet again without a shirt and swooned over Edward and his love for Bella. Mind you, the movie/actors hardly do justice compared to the books...but I love them none the less.

Then I came home to this video...his first SOLO mission!

My baby grew up in the 2 some odd hours I was gone!! I totally cried when I saw this! One, because I missed it! And two, because he's growing just too dang fast! Every day more and more of his personality shines through and if it's possible...I love him more and more! I'm so happy I'm his MOM!