Sunday, August 30, 2009

Our family.

Leif and I came to an interesting decision the other day. We decided that after this baby we would like to be done having our own children. Partly because I will have to continue to have c-sections, and mostly because our hearts are so set on adoption and foster care.

I always imagined myself with lots of children but I knew that those children would both be mine naturally and adopted. I think Leif and I both have hearts for foster care and adoption because of the part it plays in both of our families. One of the first things we talked about was foster care and adoption. Its not something we've thought about, its something that's going to be done.

Some people don't understand why this is something that's important to us, and thats okay. A few people have said, we just need to have our own children, we're too young to decide things like this. I'd like to know whats the exact age I can decide these things:) If God is calling us to do this, then that's what we're going to do. He has defiantly called us to do this.

I've been following this blog Adoptive Momma of Two, and I love it so much. Its a different view of adoption that I've never known. From the parents view. The first time I read through her blog I cried because I felt like I could understand my parents in a whole different way. Then I read this poem on her blog:

I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.

For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn't give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.

How perfect. Her blog is full of so much wisdom for parents looking into adoption. I read it any chance I can get. Any way Leif and I decide to build our family, each child will be ours. Naturally or not.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

How We Celebrated 2 Years.

I didn't really expect Leif and I to do anything big for our anniversary. Maybe dinner, and maybe the beach. But Leif surprised me, like he often does, with plans to take me to the boardwalk in Santa Cruz. I was thrilled! It felt like we were dating again because we would do stuff like that all the time. We grabbed pizza to go and drove 45 minutes to Santa Cruz. We got there right around 6, played some games, went Miniature Golfing, Leif played some arcade games, and we got hot dogs that were like $.75. Yes! It was perfect.



I love adventures with Leif. He is my favorite person to have fun with. So grateful to God for blessing me with my husband so early in life. I am looking forward to the next 60+years with him. So much fun to be had:)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Aidens 1st Birthday.

Here are a few photos I took this weekend at a 1st birthday party. It was cowboy themed. Adorable. I was originally doing the party for free, I just wanted to add to my portfolio. But they ended up paying me! They were so nice! They let Ashley (my friend who helps me out with shoots) and I hang out with them and eat the amazing food. This was one of the best birthday parties I had ever been to! It was also a good opportunity to meet other potential clients, and the weather was perfect. Nice and overcast. I got so many good portraits.

Birthday Boy!





I might add more photos to this post since I'm still working on them. Let me know what you think:) And my next post, that I will hopefully post tomorrow, will be about the date Leif and I went on on our anniversary!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

9 Months.


My little baby is 9 months today.
Happy 9 months Riley girl.

Thank you for being so wonderful all the time.
Thank you for always smiling and laughing.
Thank you for never fighting me when it comes to naptime.
Thank you for playing with me.
Thank you for always being well behaved when we go out.
Thank you for your kisses and snuggles.

You're such a wonderful daughter.
You're going to make the best big sister.

Monday, August 24, 2009

2 Years.

Leif and I are celebrating two years of marriage today. And to celebrate I'm posting tons of pictures from the last two and a half years that we've known each other. They're not in order cause its more fun this way:)

Going to Monterey for Leifs interview
Going to Santa Monica
Favorite.
The day we got our fish.

The day we found out we were pregnant with Riley.
Waiting to fly back to California
Disneyland around Christmas Time
Leif's 22nd Birthday
First family dinner after having Riley.
Oregon
Downtown Fullerton
Returning to La Mirada
We stole these Superbad Posters from Blockbuster
Pumpkin Patch
The night Leif proposed... after we eloped.
I threw a masquerade
One of our first pictures together
I love this
Leif used to fit into my jacket
I love this
Hanging out in Pasadena a month or two before we got married.
Halloween and mini golfing
Thanksgiving at the Ranch
I had a weave.
Double date at Downtown Disney
Another double date at Downtown Disney with my best friend
Dressed up to go to the Elephant Bar.
Dancing at the Masquerade
My first time in Seattle
:)
The only time we went to the beach together.
Leif hates the beach.
Disneyland.
Waiting to go back to LA
Oregon this past December.
Downtown Fullerton

Pregnant with Riley.