Family Photos

Finally, we have some "family of five" photos....casual, unorganized, chaotic and un-styled -- we've been meaning to get professional photos done all summer, but with our business, this is the best we could do in a pinch. Pretty dang good if I do say so myself!! 

Can't wait to take photos again this time next year when little Jameson is with us!!

Thank you, Stephanie!! 

{run away and save your life}

Today, I need music like this just to get me over the "hump" - it's been one heck of a week already and it's only halfway done.

So for today, let's just turn up our favorite 90s dance music and have some fun!!


PS This is my 800th! post -- I'm very proud to be here, still blogging and sharing my journey. Thanks for reading! 

giving thanks

99.9% of the people in my Facebook stream have been doing the daily "Thankful" posts, but I thought I'd save some time (and energy and space) and list them all here monthly. Thirty things I'm thankful for, not only during this Thanksgiving month, but all the days and months and years of my life.

1. I'm thankful for my children, my beautiful daughters who came into this world healthy and prove to be happy individuals. I am doubly blessed without reason, and I could not be more in love with these two littles.
2. I'm thankful for my husband, Justin. He's my best friend in the world, and there's not a moment that goes by that I don't love him and wish the world for him. I don't know how we made it this far, but I can only hope for more.
3. I'm thankful for my parents. My mother is like the tide, constant and strong. She's unwavering, and she's taught me what it means to be a good mother in words and actions, year after year. I wish my Dad lived closer, sometimes, I feel like a piece of me is missing. He's always just a phone call away, and sometimes it's scary how much we have in common at any given point in our lives on any given topic.
4. I'm thankful for my health. I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it. Well, not exactly. But I am here and happy and prospering. Life is a short ride, and so far, I'm making the best of it.
5. I'm thankful for cheesecake. There can never be enough cheesecake in my life.
6. I'm thankful for this blog and the opportunities it has given me. I've broadened my horizons, even if only in this virtual world, and I'm a much better person for the experience.
7. I'm thankful for a job. Times are tough, and there are so many people out there struggling. Even as I'm graduating and heading out into a field I'm not familiar with, I'm thankful to have had a steady job for the past three years. It has allowed me to grow and contribute, and I couldn't ask for anything more.
8. I'm thankful for caller ID. Thank you, cell phone gods.
9. I'm thankful for our military. I'm so grateful my *new* brother-in-law is home safely (and hopefully for good); I can't imagine having loved ones still serving overseas.
10. I'm thankful for a healthy baby girl and a SUPER easy delivery this year.
11. I'm thankful for the health of my Papaw - he scared us good the last few weeks but is improving more and more each day.
12. I'm thankful for good books and bad movies. I can never get enough of either.
13. I'm thankful for a roof over my family's head. It may not be the biggest or fanciest roof, but it's warm and it shelters the ones I love the most. Who could ask for more?
14. I'm thankful for salt. I eat it on everything.
15. I'm thankful for early morning routines and family movie nights - creating traditions with my family is always a joy.
16. I'm thankful for the two best friends a girl could ever ask for: Cassie and Dobby. They complete me.
17. I'm thankful for calculators, spellcheck and caller ID. Greatest inventions ever.
18. I'm thankful for captions on TV; they remind me of watching TV with my Mamaw Edith and I love to watch TV with them on. Added bonus: it drives Justin crazy!
19. I'm thankful for my Mamaw Mary who is the best cook ever; she is always willing to make me dinner whenever I ask, whatever I want.
20. I'm thankful for a car to get me from point A to B. It's not the fanciest, but it's taken me on many joy rides over the last four years.
21. I'm thankful for forgiveness. I receive it more than I should and give it less than I ought to. But it's always there when I need it most.
22. I'm thankful for the years I got to spend with my Papaw Bud. I was lucky enough to have all four grand-parents living for most of my young life, and I never really appreciated them all until I got older. I'd give a day of my life to bring him back, but I know he's upstairs keeping a watchful eye on me every day.
23. I'm thankful for puppies and kittens and all the cute baby animals of the world. I've gone six months without a dog, by far the longest I've ever gone without owning one, and it's nearly killing me. I need a puppy in my life!
24. I'm thankful for card night and friends. It's the little things in life that mean the most sometimes!
25. I'm thankful for being able to appreciate the fact there are four living generations of women on my mother's side. Moments when we're all gathered together nearly melt my heart.
26. I'm thankful for that moment at the end of the day when you can finally take off your bra: best moment ever.
27. I'm thankful for lists - they force to you take stock of your life (just like this list is making me do)!
28. I'm thankful that I married a man who has the best sense of humor - every day with him is like being back in school.
29. I'm thankful to have grown up when I did - I have the best memories of listening to NYSNC on the radio, watching Titanic in the theater seven or eight times, playing the game MASH over and over again, and having the biggest crush on Taylor Hanson. Proud 90s child here!
30. I'm thankful for my life, for each morning I wake up to the smiling faces around me. I'm thankful for another year on Earth and for the gift of my life.

What are you thankful for this year?

still just me

I guess now that I'm 23, I'm supposed to be another year older and another year wiser...but mostly, I'm just another year of being me. Still trying to figure out whether I'm a bid kid or little adult. Most days I feel like a good mix of the two, thankfully. I'm just grateful for all those who made yesterday special for me. Birthdays are always wonderful when you have such awesome friends and family like I do. I'm really looking forward to Saturday: a great cookout, cupcakes, time with my our girls and a bonfire to seal the deal!

officially unofficially not very but oh so close to being cool

My awesome husband got me the most awesome anniversary present ever Sunday. I have a slight obsession with sunglasses, especially Wayfarer-esque sunglasses. I have about a dozen or more knock-off pairs. But my baby? My man? He got the real deal.

Rayban Wayfarers. And if that wasn't awesome enough? He got me the fold-up kind.

I devote myself to them him.

I'm feeling very Tom Cruise - Risky Business meets Don Henley - Boys of Summer, all kinds of glorious awesome cool up in here. Thank you, dear husband!

{FQF: Feat. You Are My Fave}

I'm sorry I missed last Friday's FQF post -- with the wedding, it was bonkers and I barely had time to think! We're back to your regular scheduled programming now.

Today our lovely guest blogger is Melanie from You Are My Fave. I have been following Melanie's blog since I first started mine two years ago. She's the absolute sweetest lady and can help you plan any party with style and ease. She's got an amazing cardigan collection and loves confetti. Who could resist such a peach?

Be sure to stop by You Are My Fave and tell her I sent you!

----------

{What is the last movie you saw in theaters? Thumbs up or down?}

Crazy Stupid Love - I give it a thumbs up (except for one story line that made me cringe). I loved the ensemble and there were plenty of moments I was chuckling about (my husband too!). If you see it, be prepared to hear women hollering at the screen and to walk away with a major crush on Ryan Gosling.

{What is your best childhood memory?}

My memory is not great. I seem to remember these really insignificant moments (like being yelled at because my new socks were dirty) more than the ones that should count. I do remember summers of wearing my swimsuit everyday and riding my bike around fondly. 

{Who is your style icon?}

I love how classy Kate Middleton always looks and she dresses modestly too! No wonder she's the princess.

{Do you collect anything? What is it?}

It's hard for me to resist party supplies. When I first stumbled upon Martha Stewart's party line at Joanns I camped out in the isle for hours. 

{As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?}

A professional chocolate taster. A make-up artist. A breakfast restaurant owner. A mom.

----------

Melanie can be found over at her blog You Are My Fave. 

{If you would like to be a featured guest blogger, send me an email -> maryruthcan(at)hotmail(dot)com}

A thank-you note to my HHR

You and I have shared nearly 123,000 miles together over these last five years. You're always filthy, trash piled up in every nook and cranny. You get great gas mileage but I keep having to replace the brake pads; maybe that's my fault, not yours.

You listen to me sing as loud as I want to any music that I want. You never complain. You've been with me through wrecks and heartbreaks, happiness and fights. You've taken me down roads I've never been before, been there with me when I was lost and had no cell service. You've picked up friends, drove across states to see familiar faces with me. You've let me cry and lean on you when I couldn't break down in front of anyone else.

You always remind me I'm running late but somehow get me where I need to be. You're neglected but still you push on. You hold my babies, my most precious cargo, their toys and blankets and dreams laid out on your backseat. You hold so much to be so little.

You never let me down, except for when you can't help yourself. You've been backed into things, slammed into guardrails, driven under fences and left in the snow. You watch me ride around with the windows down pondering the beauty of life and nature and you always play what I need to hear on your radio when I need to hear it most.

You are the best, and even though I look forward to moving on to something bigger and better, you've been my companion, my constant for almost six years. I can't imagine moving on, letting you go. There's no one quite like you. And for that I think you. Thanks for being there for me. You see me at my most vulnerable, the real me. The one who sings at stoplights and unbuckles her pants when they're too tight. The one who's not afraid to fart or burp in (if no one is riding with us); the one who can't not tear up at Darius Rucker songs and Lady Gaga songs. You see me every day and you accept me completely. Why can't the rest of the world be like that?

Thanks little Chevy -- if I lived near a levy, I'd totally drive you there, too.

I didn't have solid plans for today, anyway

I spent most of the morning in the ER today. How was your Tuesday?

I felt half-adult, half-child this morning -- shortly after I got to work, I started having these ridiculous side pains that were stabbing and constant. Seeing as how I'd never had a pain like that in my life, it freaked me out. I felt a bit like an infant running off to the ER after only enduring said pain for an hour, but I couldn't help myself. Unknown pain = wildfire panic (in my little brain, that is). I felt quite like a grown-up, however, driving my big girl self to the hosptial without calling anyone in tears first.

{Last time I drove myself to Norton Community, I was in hysterical in tears calling my Mom because my OB doctor told me I needed to get checked out -- I was 39 weeks pregnant and alone and ended up having Sidney the next day. So...yeah}

Justin can't be reached at work, so I texted my Mom (I would've called her first anyway, I'm 99.9% sure) and told her my situation - but told her not to panic or come a'running just yet. The Dr took one good look at me and figured it was a kidney stone (which it was), so I figured there wasn't much she, or anyone else, could do. But my sweet little momma, she is a momma - my momma and the best of mommas. She came straight away, doing exactly what I told her not to do (but exactly what I wanted her to do deep down). I've got a good momma, how 'bout you?

It wasn't much of a day - just CT scans and good drugs. I'm feeling much better and much more prepared for the next time this happens (which I hope and pray is years and years from today). I had the luxury of being "babied", which I always love and appreciate. And I can head on back to work tomorrow.

It wasn't exactly how I pictured my Tuesday going -- but what can you do? At least I got a lot of love from today, which is always a bonus any day of the week!

Over There, Not Here, Today

I'm guest-posting over at Windshield Diaries today -- talking about that sweet Basset Hound, Buddy Bob.

Please go check it out -- and tell the lovely folks there at WD that I sent you! GUEST POST HERE.

tweaking

So, as if you couldn't tell (could you tell?) I've been tweaking with my blog layout and design. I wanted to simplify and get down to the basis of writing and sharing pictures. I go through phases where all I want are clean lines, crip letters, and no fuss. So that's what we're going with right now - what do you think?

Are the page jumps annoying? Do you like them? I like using them, they seem to help me and my insane need to clean things up around here. Now I can post a million photos or videos or whatever and they don't eat up all the space in my layout. I like pagejumps. Pagejumps are my friend!

I've also got a new and exciting series starting this Friday - I can't wait to get it rolling! I know I've tried several things in the past (giveaways, DELIGHTS, TT, Etsy searches, honorable mentions, yadayadaya) and none of them have really clicked. I'm hoping to make this one click! Make sure you come back Friday (and everyday before then) to see the goodies I'm getting ready to unroll. You're definitely I hope going to want in on this goodiness!

Let me know what you think about this *new and improved* mommaruthsays - is it your cup of tea? Too plain jane? Love or hate the pagejumps? Can't stand the new font? Be honest!

I'll be missing you...

As if you couldn't tell already, my blogging has really slowed down a lot lately. And it's kind of depressing me.

And then it depresses me more for even allowing myself to get depressed about blogging. Don't get me wrong, I love my blog - but isn't that such a stupid thing to worry about? We've got starving kids, poverty, natural disasters, and a million other worrisome things to trouble ourselves with - whining about blogging shouldn't be anywhere near the top of my list of "Things to Freak Out About Daily".

But I'm used to having extra spare time to blog daily - and it does freak me out a little to feel this disconnect growing between myself and the online community I love. It's not just my blog I miss, but your blogs. And Twitter. And all the other million little things I love to do online. We're living in a technological society, and it's hard to distance yourself from all the things you're used to whether it's voluntary or by force.

But this is my life - these are the things I want to accomplish. And I know this time next year, I'll be prepping myself for graduation with a smile on my face, knowing that I got there by the time and effort I put into it. And as much as I love your blogs, they won't get me my college degree. They won't do my dishes. They won't spend time with my SidMo. I have to do these things myself, while I'm away from the computer. While I'm away from blogging.

So just know I miss you. And I do try and read your blogs and tweets every chance I get. It's not often, and sometimes I fall way behind. But I'm here, doing my best to balance it all and keep my name out there for you all to see and read. This blog will always be here, I hope (the mere thought of leaving it all together makes me literally tear up) and so even though the posts may be few and far between, I'm still here.

And I hope you're still there, too.

#dofunstuff

Hopefully by now you've heard of Ryan Marshall's blog Pacing the Panic Room - and if you haven't, then you need to go there now and read. It's amazing. He's amazing (you may remember the letter I wrote to him awhile back) and he's doing amazing things now. For his family and for the world.

I've been using my voice on Twitter the best I can to help him promote this amazing project, trying to help catch the attention of The Ellen Show, so that he can use her show as a platform to help raise awareness for SMS and to showcase the ridiculously awesome charity album he's put together. I've even tried reaching out to bigger bloggers, better bloggers with greater audiences - every day I hope to get through to the people who follow me on Twitter (I'm up to almost 400 followers now, and for once, I feel like I have a little sway in helping the earth move in the direction I choose).

And I'm not the only one. There are dozens, hundreds, (I hope) thousands of us out there supporting Ryan and his family and this album and research for SMS. It's something I've never dealt with firsthand, something I've never seen or even heard about in my personal, day-to-day life. But that's part of the beauty of this online community, this network of bloggers and Twitter friends. We can lift each other up, support one another and put our voices together as one, in perfect unison, to speak the same words together - to fuel the fire of the one we're supporting.

Ryan is an amazing blogger. I think he's an amazing guy. I hope to meet him, face to face, someday (maybe at Sparklecorn?) and I want to know that when I do meet him, I can proudly say I took part in his crusade. I was a part of this opportunity, this wonderful tweet-bomb to help raise awareness for this cause he cares so dearly about (and is making me care about, too).

What can you do to help? What will you do to help?

Follow Ryan on Twitter (@ThePanicRoom) and follow me on Twitter  (@mommaruthsays) and use the hastag #dofunstuff to any tweets you may send out

lucky, lucky me

My husband treated me to an early anniversary/birthday present - a new lens! It's absolutely amazing, and these are just some of the pictures I took yesterday in the two hours left of daylight I had to play with it!


Beautiful girl (with a little tweaking)


The illusive hummingbird - these suckers eat a lot of that red juice! But they sure are fun to watch...


Old sign...shot going 50 mph down the road with the window rolled up!


Just a random haybale in the field across the road in front of our house - got all that?


a little Archie face!

And something completely random, but still interesting enough to share: Lasagna cupcakes and Mac & Cheese cupcakes! I want! I want! I want!

honorable mention: sophie st vicious

By now I'm sure you've noticed the new blog header. Right? Well if you haven't, LOOK UP. It's so amazing, right?

The very talented, very sweet and very hard-working Sophie created this one-of-a-kind blog banner for me, and I have to say, I'm in love. She captured my little family perfectly and I couldn't be more satisfied. This is my glorious recommendation for Sophie; visit her blog HERE and her Etsy shop HERE and you can even follow her on Twitter HERE.

You also might've noticed I cleaned up a little here and there on the blog yesterday; added some new tabs up top and edited some information. Just trying to smooth everything out and get this site in tiptop shape. Change is good, but I'd like to settle into a groove and focus on the words and stories I'm sharing as opposed to being annoyed with my layout all the time.

Baby Hood

It was such an amazing pleasure to have spent this past summer taking pictures of Kelly and Jake during their first pregnancy.

Baby Ty was born last Monday (the 2nd) and to honor his big debut, I made a little video to showcase the pictures I took at the hospital. And now, I'd like to show it to you all - hopefully, very soon I'll be starting another maternity series with a good friend of mine. And I can only hope and pray it all turns out as beautiful as this did.



Congratulations to Kelly and Jake - thank you a million times over for letting me document in pictures this amazing time in your lives.

And to see all of the Baby Hood series CLICK HERE.

no no no no no no no!!!

How many times a day can I say "no"? How many different ways can I say "no"? How many times a day can I say "no" in all the many different ways you can say "no"???

?????????

It's a lot, I'm coming to find out.

No, you cannot play with cotton balls. No, you cannot jump on the couch. No, you aren't allowed to drink four Kool-Aid juice packs back-to-back. No, you need to stop letting the dog lick you in mouth. No, you can't climb up there. No, we're not watching Nick Jr. anymore. No, you can't eat that. No, don't play with that. No, don't stick that in there. No, stop crying. No, I said "no". NO! NO! NO!

I mean, seriously - I'm not a negative person. I'm a happy, upbeat, optimistic kind of gal. But when I spend half my day saying "no" over and over again, I feel beat down. I feel like I'm nagging. Like, maybe I should just let her find out the hard way some things for herself.

Okay, you can play with those scissors but when you cut your hair or finger off, don't come crying to me. (Note: I'd never do that, but you catch my drift)

I'm trying to find alternatives to the word "no" but it's hard. There's nothing really as direct and commanding as those two little letters.

(Note: Just as I was typing this, Sidney was jumping on the couch and hurt her leg. I've only told her to stop doing that about 20,340 times this morning)

I want the words "no" to mean something, to have some real power behind them. But I feel like they're losing their importance to her. I need to find a new word, a new phrase to stop her in her tracks and let her know I mean business. How do you stop your kids from doing things they shouldn't be doing?

Do you ever feel like you're a "no" person when you want to be a "yes" person?

what Sidney wants...

she usually gets!

And she says she wants a "Dora" themed party for her 3rd birthday, coming up September 5th. So what's a Mom to do?

Well this Momma is giving in to the wishes of her sweetest toddler and throwing a Dora-themed party. My hunt for ideas and inspiration began tonight. I'm trying to with a more Dora-inspired party than just a straight from the shelves Dora party, if you know what I mean.

If you have ANY tips or if there's a direction you can point me in, I'd gladly accept the help!

For her, it's totally worth all the Dora-headache!

SidMo on her first birthday...

Happy Father's Day to my favorite man in the whole world. You are an amazing father, completely unique. You re-write the idea of what a "dad" should be and you're helping to mold our daughter into the amazing girl she is. I truly cannot wait to see the two of you grow over the years. Thank you for taking this journey with me, from childhood to parenthood. The ride has been incredible.

And Happy Father's Day to the man who helped give me life and make me into the woman I am today. Sometimes I hear your voice in my own. And it's because of you I'm funny in my own quirky way, I know the true color of a polar bear's skin and I know how to make a campfire under the worst circumstances.

shameless plug

Dudes and dudettes, I have zero followers on my photography blog.

But I just put up some new stuff on my photography blog, so maybe you'll go check out my photography blog and maybe just maybe you'll start following my photography blog.

I'm excited to be doing some more sessions this upcoming weekend, so there's lots to look forward to over at my photography blog.

That's all I have to say about my photography blog. Until next time....

an end in sight

After five long months of living off unemployment checks, ceaseless phone calls to every job ad out there, days ticking by with no end in sight, bank accounts in the red, dinners of bologna and hotdogs, waiting and waiting and waiting and hoping.....

Justin finally got his job back today.

We are so thankful. So very thankful. We were lucky enough to have amazing parents who took care of us and Sidney when we couldn't do it for ourselves. We are both so grateful to the people who have supported us, helped us and seen us through.

Who knows how long this job will last. The point is, for now he has a job. And we've learned to take things one day at a time in this house, in these hard times. So for today we're smiling, feeling blessed and lucky and grateful. And we know how hard it is, we realize that there are millions of other people all across the world still feeling the sting of this economy we all live in. It's hard, for all of us, but it will get better. I promise you, it will get better. Someday.

I know Justin is one happy boy right now. He's thankful to have a job, even though he's a little sad he won't get to spend every day with Sidney anymore. That's the biggest hurdle right now, figuring out who's going to keep the SidMonster. But we'll work that out.

I knew today's giddy feeling had to come from somewhere. Call it intuition. I just knew today was going to be a good one.