photography friday! week 5

YAY! It's Friday! And my sister, Carrie, arrived last night! And my sister, Lea, arrives this evening! I feel so grown up having my sisters come visit me and stay at my house. ;)

Due to a busy week cleaning, grocery shopping and readjusting to life back at home (and by that, I really mean, finally getting Real Marriage in the mail and reading it cover to cover!), I didn't get around to any photo shoots. So yep, that's right, this week I'm cheating... These are pictures my sister took, not me.

They're from her first visit to Chicago, when Selah was right around 2 months old. She has gotten so big since then!

That's my sister, Carrie! She's the photographer in our family so she never gets to be in the pictures! (So I guess I did take a few pictures...)

Oh. my. gosh. Those leg rolls. Looooove it.

Have a great weekend!

outtakes!

Sometimes I capture Selah doing some pretty funny things that I wouldn't necessarily deem "Photography Friday worthy." These are the outtakes from our photo shoots!

Bitsy kinda looks like she could be in a rap video with these moves.

Whoa-ohh-ohhh! This swing thing is hard. 

Selah is telling secrets to her blankie.

This is how you know when it's time to stop taking pictures and go home. 

happy half birthday!

I can hardly believe that six months have gone by so quickly! Didn't we just move to Chicago with our one month old? Time has just flown by!

My little Bitsy girl is growing up -- something I already have mixed feelings about! I wish she could stay just like this for a few more months so I can fully enjoy her little six month old self. She loves sitting up, rolling over, babbling, "reading" crinkly books, giggling fits, splashing in the bath, gnawing on her fist. She loves looking at everything. New sights and sounds are so interesting to her and she can stay happily entertained in the stroller or Bjorn, simply observing the world around her. 

I love this sweet girl to the moon and back. Six months old! What a big girl!

photography friday! on thursday

I'll be traveling all day on Friday but I sure didn't want to miss my favorite weekly post, Photography Friday! So here it is: one day early and jam-packed! 

One of my favorite things about this entire trip were my morning walks with Selah. Although I don't love waking up at 5:30 am, I had a good time hanging out with my girl. Plus, I got to take some beautiful pictures in that hazy morning light. 

The following two pictures are not the best pictures I've ever taken. In fact, the focus is totally wrong. But this is my girl! This is her little personality, the little girl I know.

I just love her. And her heart nose strawberry.

This was her first time in a swing and she loved it! 

Baby jeggings. Seriously into sand. And learning how to balance sitting on her own.

I can see now that I missed the focus slightly on this one of McKenna playing at the house, but I love this little expression. She looks so curious. :)

Selah had so much fun playing under Manhattan Beach pier! (This is how the pier looks in the morning.)

McKenna's new favorite treat is her Elmo DVD!

Big blue eyes! So serious!

I started learning a new method for focusing; I'm no longer half-pressing the shutter to focus and then recomposing. This is using AF-ON and I thought it was pretty successful. That, and I love her sweet smile. 

Whew! You made it through a lot of pictures! If you're up for it, check back Saturday for some pretty funny outtakes. Have a great weekend!

what we've been up to lately

So, you've probably been wondering why I've been MIA the last two weeks since I have been kinda neglecting my blog. Well, probably you weren't wondering... but I'll fill you in anyway. 

Yes, that is my girl sitting up entirely on her own!

I have been getting up early and strapping my little girl into the Baby Bjorn for walks along the Strand. I've been sitting on the beach and getting a tan. I've been wearing shorts and tank tops and flip flops. I've been pushing Selah in a swing at the park. I've been jogging with Selah in the jogging stroller. I've been reading outside on the porch. 

Oh, and there she is being adorable sitting in my beach bag.

My trip to Manhattan Beach is sadly coming to an end. I've started packing up my things and searching for the other half of about 6 pairs of baby socks that just cannot be found. I have enjoyed being here so incredibly much, I can't even begin to tell you how good this sunshine has been for my soul. 

Come back tomorrow for a photographic recap of our January at the beach :)

morning at the pier

bitsy pics

Carrie posted some new pictures of Selah Bitsy on her blog! 

The cuteness overwhelms me! Go check it out ;)

Ummm, that is the best dimple I've ever seen. Ever.

baby friends

Remember when I freaked out about getting tickets to go to LA? Wellllll... I'm here! Finally! And it's amazing and beautiful and sunny and perfect. Here's a sneak peek of what Selah and I have been up to so far. 

playing at the beach with McKenna

ooooh! sand! 

I'll post more later! I'm going to be busy soaking up the sun while I can :)

talking to aunt rere

Selah woke up from her nap and wanted to video chat with her Aunt ReRe :) 

I finally put together her crib! Alas, it is not 

Oeuf Sparrow crib

Dwell Century crib

IO crib

New Traditionalists Regency crib

It's just a regular old Babies R Us crib. Wanh wanh wanh. Why do all the really cool ones have to cost so much??

And truth be told, my regular old one was not all that cheap either. And it has exposed screws.
What's up with that?

I got a suuuper cute crib sheet from Bel Bambini back when Johnna came to visit me in LA. It was the pink and yellow mosaic sheet and I have been so excited to use it in her room, finally. So I took it out of the packaging to wash it and put it in her new crib... and frick! It was a bassinet sheet! I was so disappointed!

So, I'm on the lookout for a cute sheet-- just a sheet, though, not a bedding set. Did you know Chicago has banned the sale of crib bumpers?

Have you found any cute crib sheets that I should know about? Are you awesome enough to have one of those swanky cribs?