He has risen!

He has risen indeed!  What joy we have this day, as we celebrate the Empty Tomb and our risen Lord and Savior!  

My little 2 year old

You love to drive your truck around the house, Andrew!  And run over mommy's toes, too :)  It has even survived being thrown down the deck stairs.  You love to hear the noises it makes and i am sure you feel like a real construction man when you ride it!

Sweet boy, you are so wonderful at giving Natty hugs and kisses.  And when you call her "nonnie!" it just melts my heart.  She loves to watch you...i know she will look up to you so much as she grows.  I hope you keep sharing your toys with her like you do at this point.   She is such a blessed little girl to have you as an older brother!  I can't wait to see what adventures you two will go on together!

Here you are, in your Elmo jammies, watching an Elmo clip.  Or should I say "melmo".   He and Thomas the Train seem to be your best friends right now!  You can't get enough of them. 

And I can't forget to document the day where you decided to help yourself to the pie which happened to be innocently sitting on the counter.  While mom was blowing drying her hair, you so intelligently pushed the stool over to the counter, hopped on up, and began shoveling handfuls of pie into your sweet mouth.  When I came out of the bedroom to see what you were up to, you gave me a great big grin, and quickly stuffed another handful of pie into your mouth.  Because you knew!  You just knew that it probably wasn't something that was okay to do...but boy was it sure fun.  And yummy!  And mommy was coming over to stop the gobbling of pie.  You sure are my cookie monster, little buddy :)  love you.

Andrew and His Tool Bench

 Caught Andrew in action the other day as he as busy workin' away at his new tool bench.  Notice the hammer in the overalls...too cute!  He wants to be like his daddy so bad! 

This is the "mom, i don't have time to smile for a picture!  I am a busy man here!"  We have to watch out when you have the hammer in your hand, son.  You like to whack the bench so hard I fear it might break!  You have already broken the little plastic nails that came with the set.  I guess those were for whimps :)  

3 months!

 Tried to get Miss Natty to smile in this photo session but she was not having it...the expression in the photo below will tell you exactly what she thinks of the camera this day!

 Love how Andrew is sneaking into the background...he so wanted to get into the pics with Natalie!  Well, rather he wanted me to take pics of just him...no one else!

Finally we have a smile!  Joe helped me on this one, as it is very hard to extract a smile whilst behind a camera lens.  Can't believe how fast these kiddos are growing up!  But we sure are loving this adventure.  Natalie as begun to grasp at toys and amuses herself daily in her bouncy seat, watching the world pass by all around.

Betty Bunny

 So one day Andrew picks up this new pink bunny (from my parents to Natalie) and begins to "feed" her, push her in the swing, and then I suggested he read to her!  He was so cute while caring for this new child :)   Although Betty bunny found herself at the mercy of a 2 year old at times!  Natalie also received a book entitled Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake.  The silly pre-school aged bunny puts chocolate cake in her pocket to save until later (when it is essentially chocolate goo).  Andrew thinks this is the funniest thing!  So that is why we call this bunny Betty.  He giggles whenever I talk about chocolate cake.

lately...

 All dressed up for church...and being a ham while taking pictures!

 Andrew loves his baby sister!  She loves to just watch him (not that she can do much else at this point!)

 Andrew was "reading" to Natalie the other day...caught a pic of the sweetness!

Miss Sunshine

Here is Natalie at 2 months old!  She is truly a joy, and loves to coo and smile at us!  She is beginning to really take an interest in Andrew and the things he is doing around her.  Not to mention, he likes to try and put toy tractors in her hands, saying "Nonnie!"  in a high, sweet voice.  Too cute.  

Haha, this spit-up image just cracked me up, and was a bit startling in the midst of taking the pictures.  I wasn't expecting it!  Alas, the adventures of photographing a little one :)  Spit up is just a part of life.  Why not take a pic?

I was using my new 50 mm portrait lens, and still have some learning to do as far as how to capture the best images, keep them in focus (at least on the right point) get good lighting, and time it all just right!  But this picture was one of my favorite (out of many outtakes!), and I even got to try out my new editing system just a bit.  

Natalie you are growing so fast.  Even though I can't wait to see you continue to develop into the amazing little girl God has made you to be, I am still trying to treasure these days when you still fit into my arms.  These days when you are completely fascinated and captured by our faces and voices.  Your small voice that makes the most wonderful sounds as you try and talk back to us.  I know you will have so many things to say about the world around you!  We love you, dear little one.

Irish Belle

 Natalie and Joe were all decked out for the National Championship game this year...unfortunately the ending score didn't turn out in ND's favor...but we are still fans.  There is always next year!  Doesn't she just look so thrilled! It almost looks like she is cheering with her hand up like that...right before she dozes off.  Ahh, the life of a newborn...

sweet

 Using my new portrait lens (thanks mom and dad!!) I was able to capture a few pics of Natalie.  I love newborn photography, but am realizing that it takes alot of work, timing, and wouldn't hurt to have a few assistants either to take photos like those I see on blogs and professional sites.  Alas, I think these pics are pretty cute!  She wasn't sleepy for me at all, so I didn't get any with her eyes closed :)  But we had some pictures taken by a photographer who is trying to build her portfolio.  Natalie was only 4 days old at that point!  Those final pictures should be in soon, and I will probably try to print some out to hang in the house!  

Oh the Places We'll Go

It is sweet to see Andrew's heart and longing to play with his new sister.  Every once in a while I will walk by her bouncy seat and see the following....

Just wait bud!  She will be playing with you before you know it.  

Here they are together in Andrew's small tent!  He asked for her to be laid down in there with him!  :) too sweet...he loves to give her kisses and hugs!

 One day Andrew just pulled up his little chair beside Natty and made himself comfortable.  

One of our prayers from the time we found out we were pregnant was that Andrew and his new sibling would truly love one another and take care of each other.  We pray this continually, and look forward to watching them grow together, play together, and become great friends!  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your blessing and gift of love.  May we demonstrate that always.

Visiting Great Grandma and Grandpa

 Natalie and Gr. Grandma Brown meet for the first time!  What a sweet moment :)  

 Here is Andrew showing Grandpa his new book for christmas (Richard Scarry).  They looked through it for a while!

 Gr. Grandpa liked the book just as much as Andrew!  There were pavers, loaders, asphalt machines etc.!!  Men of the same heart and mind!  Needless to say, they had fun :)

As Andrew grows, he will have so much fun getting to know both sets of amazing great grandparents.  I am so grateful for their influence of faith, love, and strength in my life! 

Welcome to the World, little Natalie!

 Natalie Quinn was born December 19th, 2012 at 2:52 p.m.  She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.  What a bundle of joy and peace.  We love her to pieces already and are adjusting so well to being a family of 4.  What a blessing to have family and friends helping take care of us, bringing meals, watching Andrew, helping in so many ways!  We are truly blessed.

 Joe's idea to put our "little present" under the tree!!  Christmas morning, 2012 :)

 So glad mom and dad got to come out to stay for a while, and help us adjust to being at home with two little ones.  Natalie was just checking her out as she held her...so sweet!  Andrew LOVED having Gr. & Gr. Brown at the house.  He had non-stop playmates :)  We loved that too!!

Full arms, Full heart.  Thank you, Father, for the blessing of these two sweet babes.  We hope to honor you as we raise them, love them, enjoy them.  I read a quote by Dr. James Dobson the other day.

"One of the greatest privileges in living is to bring a baby in to the world to love and care for."

I whole-heartedly agree.

Workin' little man

 I captured our little guy working a few weeks ago, as Joe was putting in the new windows to the sunroom/andrew's new room!  He is definitely enamored with tools and "helping" do whatever dad is doing!  What a funny little look he has on his face here :)

 My favorite shot....

 Somebody get this boy a tool belt! 

Another favorite...completely oblivious to his mom who is taking pics like crazy :)