Model Behavior

Day 2 of Carousel modeling an outfit from her grandma. Tomorrow I will post about Christmas Eve followed by, you guessed it, Christmas on Tuesday. :) Hopefully I won't be playing catch up much longer after that. :)

I know she is mine, but man, she is gorgeous!

And yes, she is even sweeter in person! :)



Wild Horses

After Houston, we went to San Antonio, and then to Dallas. Today and tomorrow, I will post mini photo-shoots of Carousel modeling outfits her grandma bought for her. :)

Family Christmas 2013

Here is post one of my Christmas catch-up!

 

Every year my mom's side all comes together to celebrate as a family. I failed in the photo department this year, but at least I got a few of Carousel. :)

 Carousel and Bristol in their matching outfits, and Tiana happened to match too. :)

The next morning- Carousel and Bristol in their matching PJs, with their elephants, Dumbo and Emma Kate. :)

Carousel and Santa my mom showing off one of the gifts Carousel made for her- Carousel's MistleTOES. 

A Dilemma Worth Having?

After Carousel's big fight when we put her back in her room on Monday night, it has been smooth sailing since!

 

BUT she is sleeping all day!

 

The first few nights I put her down at/after midnight, so her sleeping late was expected. Last night I put her down at 10, so I would expect her up between 8-10. Well after waking at 11, I decided I needed to check on her.

 Y'all, I woke her up! After 11 am! (she posed like she was sleeping...but check out her eyes- she definitely just woke!).

 

I know I shouldn't complain, I mean I did get to sleep in past 11 today! But, every night she has slept alone, she sleeps all morning, and I tend to wake her. I want her to wake on her own, and of course, I do not want to leave her laying in bed all day if she is not sleeping. And since her sleeping/lethargy is my biggest sign of a head issue, I need to know what is going on!

 

So tonight, after having her for a little more than 3 years, I finally got a video monitor.

 

This will definitely help me not stress out at night and it will help me discover what she does in the morning. :)

 

I asked what she wanted to do and right away she wanted to play with her toys:

 Jersey loves Carousel's toy nook too! And can you tell Carousel just woke up? lol

 Playing with her Princess Palace Pets.

 Each pet comes with her own brush, and Carousel made me match each animal and their brush so she could brush them all with their own brush.

 Just a few of the pets with their brushes: Pocahontas's Raccoon, Mulan's Panda, Aurora's Cat, Jasmine's Tiger, and Tiana's cat. :) If you love Disney Princesses and animals, you must get Princess Palace Pets! :)

 

Then she wanted to play in her kitchen, and of course eat cake. :)

Welcome 2014

Last night I kept Carousel up till midnight and did a photoshoot in the first minute of 2014!

 

She got to wear makeup for the first time. :) She has been begging for some makeup lately, (which is funny since I never wear makeup! lol).

 

And yes, I got choked up as we watched the clock turn to midnight and then I started to shoot our makeup wearing 4 year old princess. Emotion hit out of gratitude that we get to spend another year with our beautiful girl. My dream come true!

 

Oh, and I forgot to mention something about 2013... Carousel didn't have one surgery! First year ever!

 

2009: SB closure surgery and 1 Brain Surgery (she was born 2 weeks before the new year)

2010: 1 Brain surgery (before she came to us)

2011: 3 Brain Surgeries

2012: 2 Brain Surgeries

2013: NOTHING!! (a few hospitalizations but no surgeries!)

 

So while 2013 wasn't my favorite (wasn't my least favorite either), we have to celebrate the year of NO surgeries!!

 

Without further adieu, Carousel at her midnight shoot:

 Her fro is really coming in and I couldn't be happier. I LOVE IT!

 When I dressed her she said she needed a necklace. So, I grabbed her my Christmas present- her heartbeat on a necklace. :)  More details later. :)

 Makeup, y'all! :)

 

 

And for your terror:

 My camera caught this of Carousel moving her eyes- she looks like she is wearing monster contacts. lol

 

Then this morning we did another photoshoot, since it is still the same day as last night. :)

We wish y'all a happy 2014- we can't wait to see what God has in store for us!

Midnight

A tale of three midnights:

 

Midnight, Last Night

 

I told Carousel last night that tomorrow night she would be in her own bed. Well, she decided she wanted to last night, at midnight. Hey, if she wants it, DO IT.

 

Earlier we did a shoot of Carousel and Bristol in their matching PJs. We wouldn't let her wear them unless they were sleeping in her room:

 

She was so excited to be in her room...

 (stinker wouldn't look at the camera)

 Bristol in her crib surrounded by her elephants, and cuddling with her favorite elephant, Emma Kate.

 Carousel cuddling with her elephant, Dumbo. So happy...

 

THEN she asked if I was staying with her.

 

Nope.

 

It hit the fan, y'all!

 

She threw her first tantrum, ever. Tex wanted to throw in the towel. I did at first too when she started screaming...but when I checked on her and saw it was a tantrum and not distress I said, "forget this. I will not allow her to get her way after a tantrum." :)

 

She cried it out in 5 minutes, and spent the next 5-10 minutes calling out meekly, "Mom. Mom. Mom."

 

We all survived, and we will see how it goes tonight! lol

 

It's Midnight, Cinderella

 

{ten points if you get that title reference}

 

To celebrate our success, we did a Cinderella photoshoot with her life size Cinderella and Cinderella wig, (both Christmas gifts from Nana Nell).

 Carousel in costume, holding Bristol in costume. Carousel's first build a bear, Cinderelly. Life size Cinderella holding Cinderella's Princess Palace Pet, Pumpkin. :)

 Then she wanted to eat breakfast with her fellow Cinderellas. (and yes, Carousel's high chair has a baby doll high chair attached to it.) :)

 She wanted to use a fork to eat her bagel, lol, and I found her Cinderella fork. :)

 Then the 3 Cinderellas retired to my room to watch, you guessed it, Cinderella. (Carousel refused to smile).

And for your pleasure, here is a picture of Carousel in late October 2012 in another Cinderella costume photoshoot. :)

 

Midnight, Tonight

 

Unless you are living under a rock, you know tonight is New Year's.  I am torn. January-July 2013 felt to go at normal speed. But August-December FLEW BY. Way too fast! So, I am kinda sad to see 2013 end. Kinda.

 

I am so looking forward to 2014:

 

• I will be seeing a specialist to get to the bottom of why I feel so badly, and Lord willing, I will feel better for good!
• I will finish cleaning my house in January and keep it clean from then on out! (I already got a really good head start over the last few days) :)
• I will keep losing weight. Once I lose 40 pounds I will begin running again, and begin training for...
• I will run a half marathon in Boston in October 2014
• We will become foster parents!
• I will {finally} launch my non-profit!
• I will blog everyday here and keep up with my other blog, The Belle of Boston.
• I will begin homeschooling Carousel :)

(I don't make new year's resolutions...these were my plans for the year to begin with.)

 

I will be beginning 2014 with a few catch up posts from Christmas. :) Check back soon. :)

Carousel 365

One of my goals in my 30x30 is to take a picture of Carousel everyday for a year, starting on her 4th birthday, (December 10, 2013).  I won't post them on here everyday, so to keep up with it be sure to check out my page " Carousel 365" (see tab above).

 

 

 

Day 1:  December 10, 2013- her 4th birthday!

 

Day 2:  December 11, 2013

 

  Day 3:  December 12, 2013

 

Day 4:  December 13, 2013

 

Day 5:  December 14, 2013

 

Day 6:  December 15, 2013

Day 7:  December 16, 2013

 

 



Day 8:  December 17, 2013 (a gymnastics outfit) :)

 

 



Day 9:  December 18, 2013