Flashback Friday

I put this cute Nike outfit on Kayla and realized that I had a picture of Rachel wearing this back on March 28, 2010.  Rachel was almost 8 months old at that time.  Rachel sure has grown.  Seeing this picture of Rachel brings back so many memories of those days when we first brought Rachel and Haley home from the NICU.  I definitely don't miss the oxygen and all that tubing!  It really is amazing to see how much Rachel and Haley have grown since we brought them home from the NICU.

Rachel (3/28/2010)

Kayla, 4 1/2 months (April 2012)

Embracing a long awaited passion

A long time ago, I would say about 12 years ago, I became interested in photography.  I was attending college at The University of Texas at Austin.  At that time I was pursuing a degree in Nutrition to become a Dietitian (my other passion) so I didn't really do much with my photography interest besides purchase a 35mm film SLR camera.  I thought it was the greatest camera back then.  Christmas 2007 is when I got my current camera - Cannon digital SLR.  I love digital!  After getting that camera I wanted to learn more about photography, but life got busy with trying to start a family and having to endure infertility, the loss of the twins, the whole ordeal with the sextuplets and then our surprise, miracle baby.  After the arrival of Kayla, I was inspired to pursue my long awaited passion of photography.  It was just the right time.  It all started with a desire for those cute newborn photos I wanted of Kayla and never got with Rachel and Haley, but we could not afford them so I tried to do some on my own.  You can see that post here.  The pictures came out ok, but of course I wanted to improve my picture taking skills even more.  So I started teaching myself by reading a photography book, watching youtube videos and just practicing.  I also edit my pictures with a free editing program I found online.  I have taken a few steps further with my photography by purchasing a speedlight (external flash), a backdrop stand and 3 different backdrops.  I am finding out that photography is an expensive hobby!!!  Being a beginner, I have only purchased relatively inexpensive stuff.  My biggest purchase was the external flash, but it was under $80.  The flash is great and has made a big difference in my pictures.  The picture below is not an example of the use of my nice camera and flash.  This picture was taken with my old point and shoot.  

My camera/flash, backdrops and photography book

Taking pictures is one of the best ways to capture those memories that you don't want to forget.  I plan on taking many pictures of my girls.  I don't want to miss anything.  I'm excited about the memories I will get to capture and am happy to be doing something that I truly enjoy.  Since I am a stay at home mom (grateful that I can do that), I have the opportunity to use the little extra time I have to enjoy photography.  I don't know if I will end up with a business (not ruling it out), but I will continue to gain experience, be creative and just have fun.  I am excited that I do have a photo shoot coming up for a friend of mine.  Her daughter is having a birthday party and she has hired me to be the "photographer".  So I did a practice photo shoot with the girls using the backdrop (black and white damask) that I will be using at the party.  Here are the photos from that.  They are still far from professional looking, but I love them.  I really like the backdrop.  It's my favorite and its so girly.  Love my girls for doing another photo shoot for me.  They did a good job! 

Rachel, Kayla, Haley (not too happy in this one)

Haley

Haley

Rachel

Rachel giving me her half smile

Rachel and Haley

Kayla

Kayla

Texas Bluebonnets

Easter weekend when we were visiting our families in Austin, I took the opportunity to take pictures of us amongst the beautiful Bluebonnets, the Texas state wildflower.  I have been wanting for a while to get pictures of my beautiful girls in the Bluebonnets.  I finally got them!  There were so many Bluebonnets in Austin.  I took these pictures not far from my parents house.

Haley and Rachel

Haley and Rachel

Lots of Bluebonnets!

Kayla

Mommy with her girls

Daddy with Haley and Rachel

Beautiful Texas Bluebonnets

 

Kayla is 4 Months old

 Kayla is already 4 months old.  I wish I could slow down time.  I don't want Kayla to grow up so fast.  I'm treasuring her and enjoying her precious moments everyday.  I enjoyed the newborn stage with the bonding and the moments of just staring at her little fingers and toes while I held her as she slept.  I will miss that stage, but I'm loving the stage she is in now.  She is so much fun!  I love her contagious smiles, her sweet coos and the look that she gives me as if saying I'm the most important one to her.  It melts my heart.  I stare at her in awe and as I do I always think of her brothers and sisters in heaven.  I know in my heart she met them before coming to this earth and I see it in her eyes.  She has brought a lot of healing to my broken heart.

Kayla had her 4 month check up and she weighs 11 pounds 14 oz (15% ile) and is 23 inches (10% ile).  She is little, but is healthy.  She doesn't sleep through the night yet.  She will go about 5-6 hours between feedings at night.  She is a light eater and therefore eats more frequently.  I stopped pumping right before Easter due to my supply decreasing and the time constraint with having to pump all the time.  I'm grateful that I was able to provide her breastmilk for 4 months.

Kayla is doing so many new things.  She likes to touch her toes, she likes to suck/chew on her fingers.  I think she is going to be a thumb sucker.  She really enjoys watching her sisters play.  Her face lights up when she sees Rachel and Haley.

Kayla likes to play under her activity gym, she loves light up toys, looking at her self in the mirror and is doing well at grabbing toys.  Kayla doesn't like doing tummy time.  We are going to have to work on that more.  We have started putting her in the Bumbo chair.  She seems to like it.

Playing under the activity gym

Sitting in the Bumbo chair

Last, but not least, I love how she holds my finger as she eats.  She does this with every feeding.  This won't last forever and that really makes me sad, but I look forward to the new things she will do as she continues to grow and learn.

Holding my finger as she eats

Easter 2012

For Easter this year we ventured out of Houston and took our first trip to Austin with all three girls.  It took a lot of planing and packing when it was just Rachel and Haley, but with the addition of Kayla it required even more planing and packing.  I couldn't believe how much stuff I had to pack for all 3 of them.  Good thing we have a minivan!  It was nice to get out and visit with our families.  We had a good time and wished we could have stayed longer.  Too bad though that Rachel and Haley had nasty colds.  They sure had snotty noses.  My poor girls!

On Saturday (day before Easter) we joined Thomas's family for a big Easter egg hunt for all the kids.  Rachel and Haley didn't quite understand the concept of hunting for eggs, but they sure did enjoy putting those plastic eggs in their mouths!

Rachel

Rachel

Rachel

Haley

Haley

Haley

Kayla with Grandma Stansel

Kayla being held by her cousin Allie

We spent the day with my parents on Easter.  Rachel, Haley and Kayla had fun with Grandma and Grandpa.  They also enjoyed playing with those Easter eggs.

Haley

Haley and Rachel

Haley and Rachel

Rachel

Rachel

Haley wearing the Easter basket

Kayla really interested in the yellow Easter bunny

Kayla