Halloween & Hurricane, Oh My!

It was a big weekend around these here parts... Cony's birthday, Madelyn turned 11 months and Hurricane Sandy came our way. We were expecting a lot worse in our area and thankful we weren't effected as dramatically as the news warned. Clark came in town for business and it's been lovely having him around. Especially since MMM hasn't had a lot of time with family. We celebrated Cony's birthday with good food and no school. Doesn't get much better than that...

My mummy made her adorable costume...

Our Praying Angel...

with our Little Devil Dog. 

Trick or Treating at a good friend's house...

Helping hand out candy..

 

Head of the Charles

There was a time when rowing did my body good. Now rowing does my heart good. I'm a little embarrassed to say that this is our third autumn here in New England and this is the first year we've made it to the Head of the Charles. It was exactly five years ago that Cony and I visited Boston for the first time and yesterday was Madelyn's first time visiting. Hearing the coxswains yell, watching the shells swiftly move across the water brought us back to a time in our life that we cherish. We cherish it for many reasons but mostly because that's when we fell in love and gained lifetime relationships. 

I've had on my mind a lot the last week about Madelyn and how I want her to know without a doubt Heavenly Father knows her and loves her and hope she strives to have a relationship with Him. So I taught the Young Women yesterday at church and we talked about prayer because I know that's the best way to gain that relationship. Although we have experienced our very own miracle, we still go through times when we just say words and have no feeling behind those words. We've been patiently waiting for confirmation on a few things and it's been a struggle waiting. We feel our life is in complete limbo. However, I was reminded yesterday that sometimes the Lord allows us to struggle for our own good and we should be thankful for the struggling moments. That hit me pretty hard because dang it- haven't we struggled long enough all ready??? It was a humbling experience... I got most of my lesson from this talk and video. 

Vermont

Fall here has been wonderful. Rainy, but wonderful. I had the opportunity to photograph a very intimate wedding on Saturday in Vermont. It was lovely in every way. It's late in the season for the leaves so I missed the deep red and orange leaves but it was still beautiful. 

We met up with some friends yesterday and caught these images of our Little Lamb. We're obsessed with her yumminess. She's walking longer and longer and getting stronger and stronger. She also loves to point her little square finger at us and we just touch our finger to hers. She gets a good kick out of it. I'm starting to get a complex because she's been "talking" for a while and she still won't say Mama. She's got Dadda, Dad, Da, and Pa down with no problem. I'm not giving up though! 

I adore this image Cony captured of the two of us. Adore. 

10 Months Old

Baby just turned 10 months old on Friday. Which reminded us that exactly one year ago we had been chosen to be her parents. I remember the shock, excitement, disbelief we felt the days & weeks that followed. It's been a year full of amazing love, learning, growing, crying, stress, laughter, no sleep, peace, bliss, diapers, formula, routines but most importantly-unity. I always check on her before we head to bed and a few nights ago she stood up partly awake. I picked her up to take advantage of a snuggle when Cony walked in and we stood there in the dark holding our baby together. It was one of those moments where you feel nothing could possibly get any better. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we feel so lucky to be her parents. We look at her and are reminded that miracles do happen! 

Thank you to our Nana for the beautiful dress & bonnet. 

This is her new favorite facial expression to show her excitement! 

I love that I was able to capture her teeth and a full image of her hand. Her hands are so yummy.