first beach trip

On my 28th birthday, we packed up our curious crawler and headed to the beach. Jack loved it! We had such a great time and we were so thankful for a little getaway and some relaxation. Well, as much relaxation as you can have with a 9 1/2 month old. Here are some pics from Jack's first beach trip....












Does anyone know of a potion I can give this kid to stop growing?? He will be a year old in two months! :(

Good Reads

Like most women, I love a good book! I was thrilled when some girls in my life group at church decided to create a book club. I mean, who doesn't love discussing a good book? I decided to make a list of some of the books I have read lately so that I can remember. Also, if anybody who may read this blog wants a list of some good reads here you go. Side note- some of them have adult content/language and viewer discretion is advised ;).

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen

The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay

The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

Suggestions of good books are always welcome!

I am about to start reading another book that has not been published. It was written by my great grandfather who was blind. He tuned pianos and owned a little country store. I was told that he tuned Jerry Lee Lewis's piano (claim to fame). He could never get robbed, not just because he had a shotgun right beside him, but because he could tell the difference between the bills that you handed him. His family were poor farmers, and he was hand picked by Martha Berry (founder of Berry College in Rome, Ga.) to get a great education at the Georgia School for the Blind. I can't wait to read about his life and learn a little about my heritage at the same time.

Practice makes Perfect

For our two year anniversary, Jason bought me four photography classes at The Birmingham School of Photography. I have to say that this was a dream come true. I first fell in love with photography when I went to Thailand for two months in 2005. I wanted so badly to capture every detail of the culture around me so that I could remember it forever. Well six years later, I have this professional camera and know nothing about it. So, I have been so thankful for this class and thankful for my husband who listens to me when I go on and on about all of the different goals I have for myself. I am usually pretty good with the composition of a picture (which really has to do with taste). However, when it comes to lighting and manual mode (programming everything yourself) I am clueless. Today, we went to the botanical gardens and practiced a few things I have been learning...


How to freeze stuff...








How to make stuff look like it was painted...





How to take a picture with a large depth of field and maintain good lighting...


And here are some pics of that cute kid of mine...



He learned how to clap this week!



We love him.




I have a long way to go, but atleast I am learning something about all of those buttons on my camera.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you fabulous moms out there!