A little help from your friends

There seems to be a lot to post but almost no where to start. We recently threw our neighbor and friend, Bill, a surprise 60th birthday. We had several surprises set up for him over a couple of days with different people coming in on different days. He was completely surprised and completely floored to say the least. I will post those pictures soon along with my dad's surprise party pictures.

I also need your help a little bit. Annie and I are participating in the Junior League of Asheville's Spring Market at the end of April. I have never done something like this and I am pretty anxious about it all. I am not sure how it will be beneficial other then getting my name out there, which I guess, is huge! Annie and I would love if you would come and see us over those 3 days. If you go to my facebook page you can print out a free coupon for entry into the Spring Market. I would like to blow up a few more prints pretty large and would love your opinion on what that image should be. You all know my pictures from here and from my photography blog and website. What pictures stand out to you and would make a great first impression? Also any advice would be greatly appreciated for anyone who has participated in something like this!

As I look at these pictures of my precious girls, I would be remiss if I did not mention my amazing grandma and her one year anniversary (yesterday) of her passing. I woke up yesterday with my heart heavy and tears in my eyes. It is hard to believe that I have not heard her voice in over a year, or that I have not touched those hands I loved so much. We carry her in our hearts always and I know she is loving my girls from heaven. They have so much of her in them, in their smile, and in their name, and in their spirit.

"Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name"

Spring!

I was in the middle of uploading pictures to this post then completely forgot all about it, well I am back now!
We have been busy but I don't think I have a lot to tell you. I guess we have just been busy being outside and enjoying as much of this amazing weather as possible. March is so weird. Yesterday was overcast and cool and today is sunny and 70 with tomorrow going to be 77. I will take it! We recently went to Atlanta to celebrate my dad's surprise 65th birthday, although he ended up finding out about it that day. That was totally fine because I don't have any idea how we would have gotten it all together in the hour he was going to be out. It was a complete blast and I will post photos soon!
This post is heavy with Hollings pictures but this is really like her first spring since last year she was a newborn and didn't really know what was going on. It is fun to let her just be in her diaper and figure out what grass feels like on her toes. I am pretty sure we have another water baby on our hands and I dare to say that Hollings is probably more adventurous then BellaRose, if that is possible.

Sunny days

Pictures as promised!
I got my sweet girls in some beautiful sunlight and snapped away. We are all doing great. Everyday passes so quickly and at the end of each day I am completely exhausted. Who know two little girls could wear a momma out so much.

Girls watching the trash truck. Hollings is a climber and will climb on anything and everything. We find her in all sorts of places, hence all the bruises.

Ellen had some fun on the swing yesterday. She kept saying "Sunny look". I loved being called Sunny!

Blog love

Wow I have not posted in awhile. I mean I posted last week but that was only to make an announcement and no pictures. This is going to be some sad news for you, but I have not taken ANY pictures of my family for like a week now! That is horrible. I will make amends.
Hollings did have her one year doctor's appt. She is 18lbs and 29 inches. She is almost right on track with where Rosey was at one. My little peanuts!
The pictures below are the leg kicks and fist pumps that I did not send in to Today's Letters. I still think that they are pretty darn cute though. It was fun watching Will and BellaRose goof around. You can read more about what leg kicks and fist pumps are on Today's Letters blog, it is also just a great read and an encouragement to any marriage. Since I am spreading the blog love I thought I would mention a few more. Have you checked out Style Nook lately? Margaret is one of my besties and has insane style sense and on her blog she spreads the style love! Check it. Also a blog that has totally inspired me lately is Going Home to Roost. I discovered this blog a couple of years ago but am rediscovering it again. You have to check out her NC home make over. You will want to gut your house and start all over. I have just one more shout out for you and that is for my friend Seth's band Called Floating Action. His new album release is called Desert Etiquette and I have been listening to it non-stop. It is also getting amazing reviews from magazines.

New Photo Blog!

Hello out there in blog world! As you know I have been updating and redoing my photography web presence and the final step was my a photo blog. Well now folks, it is up and running!
Check it out
www.sundaygrantphotography.com/blog
Please update your blogrolls with this information. Share the love if you would like. There are links to share posts for twitter and facebook.
And don't forget to leave some comment love on the new blog.
Thanks for always being so great to me and this business I am trying to create. I have done no advertising and every single bit of my business has been word of mouth. Let me just say you all are fabulous!!
Thank you!

Also check out Will and BellaRose throwing fist pumps and leg kicks on Today's Letters.
So sweet!

The fastest year of our lives

You know that ache you get in your heart when you love something so much? That is what I feel for Hollings. My heart is tight and I feel like I could burst out crying at any moment. How has a year gone by this fast. I honestly am almost in shock that I am not pregnant anymore let alone Hollings being one. It seems like yesterday that Worth was coming home from a nice dinner out and I told him I thought my water broke, and surprising you all in the morning with the announcement that Hollings was here, two weeks early! Hollings is a precious precious child. She gave us a run for our money when she turned about 2 weeks old (her due date). That is when the colic showed its ugly face. We finally found that laying her down on her belly was the cure. She did not sleep through the night as early as Rosey, but I have to give it to the girl, she is a good sleeper. She was forced to be portable, as most second children are. She would sleep on a towel in the shade when we would go to the pool over the summer. Of course who wouldn't want to take a nap like that, all warm with a steady sound of children playing and fountains running? At about 6 weeks she revealed that amazing smile to us and my heart lept for joy because the crying was becoming a little unbearable and my soul was heavy with the passing of my beloved Grandma. Hollings carries around the smile of my Grandma. The smile that tells you everything is going to be ok. The smiles that lights a room and stops people in their tracks. The smile of my sister.
Hollings is so lovable, so gentle, so funny. She really does things to make us laugh, on purpose. She brings a lightness to our house. She adores her older sister. She loves being near BellaRose. Hollings thinks BellaRose is the cat's meow.
She was born with a lot of hair and never lost any but this little spot in the back. I love seeing her be such a little peanut with so much hair. She stands, but does not walk yet. She only has two bottom teeth with 2 on the top just breaking through. Of course those two pumpkin teeth just add to that magnificent smile.
Having two kids is difficult, there is no two ways about it, but this year has been totally worth it. I would never change it, not one ounce, not even the colic. It makes me cherish these times so much more. It hard for me not to mourn for the last year that saw so many major events happen, but I will be joyful for the gift of Hollings. I wish Grandma could see her, but I can't help but feel close to Grandma when I am in Hollings' presence.
I look forward to the future, I just wish it would stop barreling by and maybe slow down a bit. I look forward to watching the bonding of two sisters. Giving them each a sister was the best gift we could have given either of them.
Hollings you are a precious child who has stolen our hearts. We love you forever! Happy Birthday Sweet Child!
You are 1 and you are fabulous!

The Hurray for Hollings banner is of course by KatieKate. Thank you Katie!

The shirt is by Custom Baby Clothes. Thank you JT!

Pictures

I mainly wanted to share these sweet pictures of the girls. Hollings loves my new desk almost as much as me. I guess it is time to get a lock! My mom warned me about that once we put pulls on the door.

Rosey set up those chairs below and made a little jumping course. It is pretty much fruitless trying to stop that child from jumping. In it is in her blood.
Maybe horses are in Hollings blood too because she can't get enough of our rocking horse.

I also should announce that my new website is up and running! Check it out
Sunday Grant Photography
Tell me what you think, honestly. I am ok if you tell me my grammar is wrong, or there is a picture that is just not working for you, or if you love it (I really like that!). You all helped me so much and I want to thank you!!

Rosey Jumping, and Hollings Riding!

Little almost one!

My Little is almost one I am slightly sad about it and slightly blown away that a whole complete year has flown by so fast. How did that happen? I fear that time will go by only faster now. I am trying desperately not to let her birthday sneak up me. That seems pretty difficult on child number two. Each day is so full and busy and that the day is over before I even realize. Our sweet Valentine will be celebrated properly and her birthday will probably have a valentine theme. I know one day that will get old, but she is so darn sweet that is hard for me not to want to surround her in pretty hearts. After all she and BellaRose are my hearts!

o sunny day

My little comment blog challenge did not go over as well as I hoped. I had 295 visits to my blog and 15 comments. So I realize that a lot of you just come to read and look at the pictures and stay hidden. I get it. I really do! I like to be hidden too sometimes. Thank you all who did comment, especially thank you to the people who never do but told me you were out there. That was sweet! I also appreciate your opinion on the music, so for the time I won't be putting music on the website.
Now lets get to the real reason of my blog, my family! We took advantage of the insanely beautiful weather this weekend (as I know everyone did). We decided to take a picnic to Biltmore and sit by The French Broad river and absorb as much vitamin D as possible. Rosey rode her bike, we went and got ice cream, it really was a perfect day. I know I have said it before but this is one of the many reasons I love the south and living where we do. We will get hit hard by some snow and then the next weekend it will be 70 degrees. You just can't argue with that!

Momma does exist!

Hollings loved being outside. Everyone is just happier when they can be outdoors. Hollings showed off her new skills of talking on the phone. I love how she is smushing it to her face.

I know, I know, I know we have shown you a million pictures of BellaRose skating! This was a particularly proud moment since she skated at The FoodLion Skatepark in the big bowl with Worth. Of course she was not dropping in like Worth but she was still going back and forth on her board. To say our hearts swelled is an understatement!

Worth would like to point out in the picture below he is not holding her, just spotting her.

Big Daddy.

The people have spoken

So the people have spoken and I will be keeping the blogs separate but maybe getting a bit more personal on my business blog. I like having discussions and hearing what you think. You all are a smart group of people, we should do this more. I will have another question for you at the end of this post and a little group participation challenge, but first pictures of my girls. It is strange to me that BellaRose has been out of the crib for over a year now. She seems so huge in it when she gets in to play with Hollings. Hollings always loves a little sister time in the crib except when Rosey knocks her over and she hits her head, she does not like that so much.



My goal for my home is to make my house feel like a beach house. Then it is the best of both worlds, a beach house feel in the mountains. These pictures of Rosey sleeping in her bed with the big window and sunlight streaming in makes me feel like I have accomplished my goal in a way. Who doesn't want to fall asleep in the sun on a cold winter day?

So now to my question. How do you feel about music on a website? For the most part I don't care for it because I usually am listening to something myself. After looking at many a photography website, they ALL have music and I have to say to does add to the images. So what do you think? What would your music suggestions be for a photo website. I like the nostalgic feel (Into the Mystic~Van Morrison), the spa feel (Thievery Corporation), the just because I love the song feel (A Sunday Kind of Love- Etta James). Now on to my group participation challenge. I would love to know who reads this blog. I realize people read for different reasons. So for this post only I am asking you to leave a comment, and really who does not love comments? Just even say Hi. Or tell me what you feel about music, or these pictures. It is easy enough to sign in and leave some sort of comment. Even if you are my sisters, or my mom, or my husband!
Thanks everyone!