Thursday, June 30, 2011

Lately

Written by Shannon Leigh

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{June 5, 2011}
Yesterday morning I was awoken by a sweet little 15 month old screaming "hi mama" over and over again.
She was toddling along carrying a tube of disinfecting wipes (don't worry, the lid was closed tightly-I think).
She was so proud.
She handed them to me in bed as if she were handing me the crown jewels.
She then said "tank oooo (thank you)." She gets confused on when to use that.

She is changing SO FAST.
She says like a bazillion words. No really, like there are too many to list. We wrote them in her baby book and they filled up an entire page.
See?


She currently looks like she has been in a bar fight. She keeps falling down and scratching/bruising her face. It's pitiful. I guess that's just what happens when you're a toddler. This is new territory for all of us. Miss independent want to do it all herself.

She loves to get on and off of her radio flyer. I'm glad that she is finally figuring it out. Most of times she sits on it backwards.
She also LOVES the water. Like REALLY loves the water.
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{June 30, 2011}

I haven't been taking a lot of pictures this month. I am smack dab in the middle of wedding season and life around here is crazy. Good but crazy.
Even though we are busy I feel like the Lord has been multiplying my time. Hallelujah.
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{June 5, 2011}

I need to give a shout out to my man. Oh how I adore him.
He is so helpful and steady. He lets me sleep in in the morning and he takes Ruby duty until he leaves for work.
The other night I locked myself in the office to edit for a few hours. He even made dinner and brought it to me. It was like room service! I know he's not perfect but he sure is good to me (most of the time). ;)
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{June 5, 2011}

Ruby is also obsessed with trains. We live close to 2 different tacks so when she hears a train during the day she stops what she's doing and says "CHOOO CHOOO" at the top of her lungs. It's hilarious.
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{saying choo choo- June 5, 2011}

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Written by Shannon Leigh


I was completely unprepared when this sweet little gift came into our lives.
I mean I knew that I would love her but...
No one told me that I'd fall in love.
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For real.
The more I get to know her the more I love her.
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I'm head over heels I tell ya.

Especially when she wears a romper.

Amen.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Ain't Too Proud Monday

Written by Shannon Leigh

Ruby had ravioli for lunch a few weeks ago.
Here's the evidence.IMG_9242-1

And just in case you were confused.IMG_9239-1

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Written by Shannon Leigh


I never win anything by way of drawing.
My Grandma Dudley, however, has a great stroke of luck.
She won a car once.
She traded it in for an organ (like the musical instrument, not like a kidney).
That organ still sits in her great room.
I'm still amazed that an organ was the same price as a car.
She won a tree once too (like a big, nice tree).
My mom entered her into a drawing without her even knowing.
Lucky woman that one.

Anyway
My friend Kendahl started a new side business called All Things New.
They basically take old unwanted pieces of furniture (among other things) and bring them new life.
AHHH, one of my favorite things to do!

Isn't that what our gracious Lord does with us?
We are cherished and he makes us new, makes us changed.

Anyway,

I WON their give-a-way!
I won a chalk board slate made out of an old door and 3 vintage rosette hair clips that will look divine on the Ru.

You MUST follow their blog here.
And like their facebook page here.


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Lilly: 36 Weeks

IMG_8697The girl behind this belly:

One of my favorite people on the planet.

My maid of honor.

The one that I traveled half way around the world with doing missions in South Africa.

Has a servant’s heart.

Loves Jesus.

Is SNL kind of funny.

We’ve peed our pants together. A lot.

Is beautiful.

Strong.

A Physical Therapist.

My cousin.

About to experience one of the best miracles on earth, becoming a Mama.

I can’t WAIT to meet sweet baby girl T.!!

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Monday, June 13, 2011

Some Kind of Wonderful

Written by Shannon Leigh

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That is all.



Thursday, June 9, 2011

Shirtless

Written by Shannon Leigh

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Many years ago Matt drove to my parent's house for the first time.

It was June after my freshman year of college and Matt's first year of law school. We had only been dating since the very end of March. He had met my parents once before but he was about to meet the rest of the clan (extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc). It was going to be intense.

I already knew that I was going to marry him.

That weekend was the first time he told me he loved me.

In fact he said: "I have always had a picture in my head of the girl that would walk down the isle to me. She was blonde & tan (yes, I USED to be tan). Now that girl has a face."

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However sweet THAT was, that really isn't the point of this post.

Back to my story.

So it was June and Matt was driving from STL to my parents house outside of Springfield, about an hour and a half drive.

It was HOT, really hot.

Matt drove a red Ford Taurus that was all kinds of ghetto.

It didn't have air conditioning.

Did I mention that it was HOT?

So what did the love of my life do?

He drove an hour and a half in a red Ford Taurus without air conditioning... SHIRTLESS.

Yes, you read that correctly. Shirtless. As in he didn't wear a shirt, at all.

He didn't want to sweat through his shirt so his only option was to go SHIRTLESS.

Can't you just picture it?

Talk about classy.
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Luckily I didn't witness this debacle since he put his shirt on before he got to our driveway.
Thank goodness.
I might have wanted out. :)
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{all pictures from Matt Debackere, October 8, 2010}

All I know is that it was true love way back then and we're even more in love now.

I am one blessed girl.

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{Picture of us on that fateful day. June 13, 2004}

Hey there stair climber!

Written by Shannon Leigh

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We spent last weekend at my parents house since I shot a wedding in Springfield.
We don't have stairs in our house.
My parents have lots.
Now that Ruby is fully walking she is off on new/bolder adventures like stair climbing.
Oh how she loved climbing those stairs.
And she looked mighty cute figuring them out.


Monday, June 6, 2011

Aint too proud Monday

Written by Shannon Leigh

WARNING: If you are of the male persuasion and/or are easily offended by feminine hygiene products DO NOT proceed.

However, if you are female (which I am assuming most of you are) and/or you find the fact that my daughter LOVES playing with tampons funny, you will enjoy the following pictures.


She LOVES to play in the cabinets while I get ready in my bathroom.
I let her.
Because let's be honest, it takes at least 20 minutes to straighten my hair.

In this particular pile:
Curlers
band-aids
pepto bismol
calamine lotion
&
tampons

I also found this.
Remind me to throw away that hair tie.

The toddler days have begun.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Playing it Safe!



Shannon Leigh Anderson Photography was asked to partner with the "Playing it Safe" program!
Head out to the Champaign County Fair Grounds for fun and safety tips tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a chance to win a FREE Shannon Leigh Anderson Photography session!


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Babies don't keep

Written by Shannon Leigh


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The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby.
Babies don't keep.

Ruth Hulburt Hamilton