photo challenge: favorite from june

paper mama's photo challenge for this week is "a favorite from june."  i haven't taken many photos this month.  it's been a busy month.  however, i do have a favorite, but technically i didn't take it.  nathaniel took it (i edited it).  and, this one won't win any special awards.  not only was it taken with our crappy camera, it was also taken in the hospital, where the light is horrible. (thank God for PSE!) 

it is what this picture represents that makes it my favorite for this month.  it represents, first, a successful ear tube surgery.  which also means that (so far so good anyway), no more repeated ear infections - thus no more antibiotics constantly messing up her system.  her stomach is finally healing.  her diaper rash is finally healing after 8 months of on-and off- bumps.

it also that she's also my baby.  look how she needed (and let) me hold her!  (forget the fact she was doped up.)  it also represents the end of her baby-hood, though technically i know it is long gone. but, she's been holding on to those pacifiers for way too long.  2 days after this, she gave them up.  it took a little bit of encouragement, but she really did it on her own.  she was ready.  she says "my big" (i'm big).

oh, holly, why did you have to grow so fast?  you know, she's 2-1/2 now.  and, big girl panties are her new thing.  diapers are next.  i will always look at this picture at her last real "baby" picture.

surprise!

this week's paper mama challenge is surprise.  i thought this picture was the perfect entry for it.  though he wasn't actually surprised here, this is technically his surprise face.  and silly face.  and fake smile face.

paper mama challenge: friends

well, i told myself i was gonna stop using old pictures and start taking new ones (hence the point of a "challenge") but when i saw the topic of "friends" at papermama, i knew this one was perfect to submit. heck, i look at this picture all the time as it is printed and hangs right over our mantle!

this isn't the best picture in the world and it sure won't win any awards, but i love the way they look in it.  kendal and holly act like this all the time, smooching and hugging all over each other... ever since she was born, he's loved her more than anything in this world.

so, anyway, to me this was the best picture for the topic of "friends" because my children are best friends.  i hope they are best friends - forever.  (a mom can dream, right?)