Cille's Newborn Pictures

Now that Cille's birth announcements should have reached their destinations via U.S. mail, it is time to unveil the rest of her fantastic newborn photo shoot by Dara May Photography.   First up, Mommy and me...

Just the four of us...

In black and white...

Stella had a few shy moments during the shoot...

This one is Damon's favorite.  We used it for the back of the birth announcement...

Stella obviously warmed up to the camera...

Even though Cille was only a week and a half old, she was already a little too long for some of the props...

She is so sweet...

I love how it looks like she is thinking in this one...

All these pictures were taken in our living room, believe it or not.  Dara has quite the mobile studio...

Cille felt that she needed to adjust her hat...

Baby toes and Daddy hands...

In living color...

Look at those sweet baby wrinkles...

She's holding his finger but she already has him wrapped around hers...

I Want to Share Your Pillow

When Stella gets into our bed in the morning, she always wants to "share" Damon's pillow or mine. This time, she was doing the sharing, with her daddy and Cille...

This picture also made me realize that the stain that did not come out of her shirt was barbeque sauce.  Yum!

Water Park Fun

While we were in Minden, we visited the new hot spot for the toddler set: the water park!  At first, Stella wanted to stay on the regular playground...

Daddy enjoyed it, too...

Stella sat on a bench for a while trying to talk herself into it...

Eventually she got up the courage to test the water...

After that, she warmed up pretty quickly...

Be glad this picture doesn't have sound, because at this point Stella was emitting an ear-splitting shriek of delight...

This is my personal favorite picture from the day.  Look how much fun they're having!

Meanwhile, poor Cille forgot her bathing suit and had to just be a spectator...

She still managed to have fun, though...

Stella was having an absolute ball!

She slept very well that night...

Meanwhile on the bench nearby...

Cheese! They were soaking wet...

Cille thought they looked funny...

Unfortunately, Stella decided to head back to the sand in her wet swimsuit...

It led to this little dirt-encrusted booty...

But isn't sand just one of the funnest things in the world to play in?

She even got in some swinging before it was time to go home...

Cille and Grandpa Crane

Cille had a special treat last weekend.  She got to meet her Great-Grandpa Crane for the very first time!  He has the title for two reasons; one, he is Grandma Tonie's daddy, and two, he is the most wonderful grandpa ever!  Cille and Grandpa the Great posing together...

Cille was relaxed enough with Grandpa to really let it all hang out, so she bared her midriff...

We love and miss you, Grandpa! Come see us!

Keeping Ourselves Entertained

So, how did we spend our summer? Well, Cille and I enjoyed playing with the camera...

Today is my first official day back to school. While I am super sad to leave my biological children with someone else, I am also looking forward to meeting the hundred or so children that I will be borrowing from their parents this school year. I know that God has a special plan for all His children, and though it will be a big adjustment for Stella and Cille, I'm honored that God has trusted me to be His hands and feet to 7th graders at LES.  Please pray for all my babies this year, the big ones and the little ones.

Crafty Kids

After devouring their cupcakes, our crew "moo"ved on to cow themed activities.  First, construction paper cow heads using one of our favorite things: glue sticks!

Stella's was kind of an art-deco cow...

Next, the kids painted brown spots onto their paper plate cow bodies while I regaled/bored them with fun facts about cows having multiple stomachs and chewing their cud...

I'm not sure if Stella is making this face out of frustration at having to share the paint or because of my lame retelling of the golden calf Bible story...

Molly has an unfair advantage since her dad is an art teacher.  Check out that technique...

My little Picasso in action...

I think these original pieces should soon be up for auction.  Where should we start the bidding?

I love how there's not really a big difference between the plate they're scooping paint off of and the ones that they are actually painting...

Look!  They're sharing! 

Our final cow-themed activity of the day was teaching the kids how to "milk" a rubber glove full of water into a mop bucket. As you can imagine, their sharing skills became even more important during that exercise. Thanks, Emily and Cohen, for letting us share an "udderly" amazing day with you!