I Heart Faces Photo Challenge : Rain/Water

 

Rain/Water Challenge 

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Photo Challenge: "Bust A Gut!"

When I saw the theme for this week I just knew which picture I wanted to use. This is my son Gus's very best friend, Grace. She is just four days younger than him, and they do weekly playdates.

Last week, Grace's mama invited us over to come and play in their HUGE leaf pile in their yard. Since we don't have a leaf pile, I jumped at the chance to get pictures of the kiddos in the leaves. 

It was an unseasonably warm, November day. I couldn't believe how perfect the weather was-- t-shirt and shorts weather. As soon as we put Gus and Grace into the leaves, they began screeching with joy and laughing. I captured Grace in a fit of joy and laugh every time I see this picture of her. I know it may look like she was upset, but trust me, that's complete joy on her face!

So few things bring pleasure like a pile of leaves bring an 18-month-old. It was a reminder to take each day as it comes, and to fully enjoy all that I experience daily.

Photo Challenge: "Let Them Be Little"

For this week's photo challenge, I'm using a picture of my 17 month-old son, Gus. He was sitting on his stuffed bear in his playhouse when I snapped this picture. I absolutely adore the way his eyes look in this picture!!

Photo Challenge: "Pet Week"

This is a picture of our dog Elphie, playing with our cat named Purry Como. They really do love each other and it was funny that this is what I captured when I was taking pictures of them together. Purry Como has a lot of trust to allow his entire head to be inside Elphie's mouth!! I like to call this one, "Don't Bite My Head Off!!"

Photo Challenge: Beautiful Eyes

This is my son Gus. I think he has the most beautiful eyes and I love taking pictures of him!! They are Azure blue on the inside and navy blue on the outside-- just gorgeous!! I'm sure his eyes are going to get him into trouble when he gets older... but for now, they reflect innocence and a very pure heart. I'm proud of be his mama and proud to show off his gorgeous baby blues!!

Photo Challenge: Friendship

The theme this week is "Friendship" and I instantly thought of Gus and Grace. I met Kristen (Grace's mom) through Triangle Mommies at a New Moms Night Out. When everyone went around the table and shared info about ourselves and our kids, she said that she had a six-month-old daughter. At the time, Gus was also six-months-old. When I asked when her birthday was, Kristen said, "May 15th." I was amazed because Gus is May 11th! We got together in November for our first playdate, and we've been getting Gus and Grace together weekly ever since.

Gus and Grace absolutely love each other and play so well together. Not only has it been wonderful for Gus to have a playmate (as he's an only child right now), but it's been wonderful meeting Kristen. She and I compare notes on the development and progression of the kids, and we've formed a wonderful friendship as a result. I look forward to our playdates each week, and love to watch Gus and Grace interact. 

While I have SEVERAL favorites of the two of them together, this is my favorite picture:

This was taken at the NC Zoo and they were looking at something on Grace's stroller. They often touch each other, and it's not uncommon to see their heads together like this. It's like they're sharing a brain-wave!

>^..^<

Photo Challenge: Water

Photo Challenge: Water

This is a picture of Gus in his pool. He absolutely loves to go into the pool and splash as much as possible. He enjoys taking toys in the pool with him and could spend the whole afternoon in the water if I'd let him!! I always have to be extra careful with my camera outside while he's swimming... he likes to get water everywhere!!! He's my little fish!!

Photo Challenge: Let's Hear It For The Boys!

This week's challenge is a Father's Day Challenge and I instantly thought of this picture of Gus and Steve. I know that the love that a baby has for its mother is strong, but the love for the father is incredible. 

In our home, I stay at home all day with Gus and Steve works his tail off so we can enjoy the luxury of playing, laughing, and learning all day long. Gus loves me and is definitely a mama's boy, but there's a special thing that happens each day around 5:00. When the garage opens and we hear the purr of "The Beast" (Steve's Mustang GT), Gus gets very excited and runs to the baby gate to wait for daddy to come into the house. Each day it's a magical moment when the two are reunited and hug and kiss.

Every child should be so lucky as to know what this is like, and every man should as well. For years we struggled with infertility and dreamed of having a child. Through adoption, we not only get to experience the love of being parents, but my husband gets the joy of having a little boy waiting for him to pick him up, kiss him, hug him and say, "Hey little man! How was your day??" It's priceless.

>^..^<

Photo Challenge: Best Photo From May: People's Choice

This is my most favorite picture of Gus that I've ever taken. It was taken May 5th at the NC Zoo. The lighting was absolutely perfect and I was able to take it using my manual mode, which has been a challenge for me! He was perfectly happy watching the elephants and I was over-the-moon with the perfect lighting provided by Mother Nature!! I love how clear his eyes are and how sweet his smile is. This captures all that I love about Gus in a beautiful image!

Photo Challenge: Motherhood

The theme for this week's photo challenge is "Motherhood" and I immediately thought of this picture. I would have posted something of me and Gus, but then someone else would have taken it, so I thought of other moms that I've photographed.

This beautiful picture is of my twin brother's family. My SIL Christie is pregnant (and due next week), so I love that my twin's hands are on her belly. Then the gray arms belong to my nephew Alex and then the little girl looking up at the belly is my tiny niece Lily. We're so eager to welcome baby Charlotte (we'll be calling her Charlie) and I love that this picture captures my SIL's pregnancy in a very special way!

Photo Challenge: Soft & Sweet

 

 For this week's photo challenge, I decided to use a picture that I think is both soft and sweet. It's a picture of Gus wearing his bee costume. I edited it to make the whole picture a bit softer and I just think he looks super sweet!!

Click the iheartfaces icon to see other entries for this week's photo challenge!

Photo Challenge: Pets

This is a picture of my favorite dog... Ned Flanders Walker. He's a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and he's almost seven. He's the world's greatest dog and I love him with all my heart.

We got Ned from a rescue thinking that he was a Golden Retriever. When we went to the house to meet him, he was cowering under the dining room table, and wouldn't come out. As soon as I saw him in person, I loved him. We took him home that day and he and I rode in the backseat together while Steve drove. I think that time is what bonded him to me forever, because he is most definitely MY dog. He loves me so much and follows me everywhere that I go.

Everyone should be so lucky as to have a pet as incredible and loving as Ned. I call him "Neddy Foo-Foo" and my parents call him, "Foo-Foo Dog."  :)

Photo Challenge: Best Picture of March

This was taken on March 15th, 2011 and it made me laugh when I looked at the display on my camera. I had captured the funniest face of Gus!! I love how his eyebrow is cocked and he's got a slight grin. 

To see more entries for this month's photo contest, check out the iheartfaces website.

Photo Challenge: A Slice of Life

This is a picture of my very best friend, Wendy, with my ten-month-old son Gus. We were at the park and I captured this beautiful moment of her gazing at him with such adoring eyes. 

This picture captures the theme of, "A Slice of Life" because I spend almost every day with Wendy and she loves my son as if he were her own child. Who wouldn't want their best friend to look at their child like this? I think it's absolutely beautiful.

Photo Challenge: People's Choice February

This was taken in February and it's a picture of Gus's first time to the park. He absolutely loved it and we had a perfect 75 degree day here in NC. 

He loved being outside and seeing all the bigger kids running around and enjoying themselves. 

This picture is my favorite from the whole day because it captures his sweet face, his bottom lip tucked under his top lip, and his big, beautiful blue eyes.

Photo Challenge: Anything But A Face!

 

This is a picture of my nine-month-old Gus's foot. We had a gorgeous 75 degree day here in NC and my best friend Wendy and I took our kids to the park to enjoy the warmth. This was Gus's first trip to the park and his first trip to the sandbox. He absolutely loved the feel of the warm sand on his feet!!

Photo Challenge: Red

This week's photo challenge requirement is that all pictures must have the color red in them, as well as a human face. I immediately thought about this adorable picture of Gus when he was four-months-old. He looks the same today, but has a little more hair. I think he's the world's cutest baby, but I am a wee-bit biased.  ;)  To see more pictures featuring the color red, check out the link on the iheartfaces button above!

Photo Challenge: Hearts

 

Photo Challenge: Hearts

This week the theme for the photo challenge is hearts. You can incorporate hearts however you'd like, and I decided to play around on Picnik and add some hearts to Gus's cute face. I think it's a cute picture.

Hop on over to iheartfaces to see other great pictures using the theme of hearts!

Photo Challenge: People's Choice (Best Face Photo From January 2011)

 

Photo Challenge: People's Choice (Best Face From January 2011)

This is a picture of my son Gus (8 months) taken January 30th, 2011. He was in a delightful mood and I decided to take some pictures of him. He was laughing and squealing as I took this one. He has the most beautiful blue eyes and I absolutely love this picture! It very well may be the best picture that I've ever taken of him!!
>^..^&lt;

Photo Challenge: Innocent Wonder

 

Photo Challenge: Innocent Wonder

I don't know what it is about this picture of Gus, but I could look at it for hours and not be sick of it. It captures something about him... and it's almost like he was thinking about something that was just on the tip of his little tongue, but since he can't talk, he couldn't express it in any other way than by his facial expression.

It captures the theme to me, because he's new to the world and has so many thoughts and questions as he's exploring and making his way!