Maternity/Family Photo Shoot

Once again, I have to compliment my super talented friend Gara Hill.  She is so amazing.  She has also opened a new studio!! So go and check out what she is doing at Beyond the Blue Studios.

It helps that Ellasyn loves her and will do almost anything she asks.  She captured some sweet moments of us as a family of three, Ethan and I as a couple, waiting for Caraline and our sweet Big Sister, Ellasyn.

Big Sister looking so grown up!

Family of 3... Not much longer!

Relaxed and Content in the arms of My Love

One of my very favorites! That sweet look on E's face is priceless.

E wanted to lay on the quilt too.

If you click to make this one larger you will notice that Ethan has E's fairy wand in his cargo pocket.
Dad of the Year!

Ellasyn needed to bring it so that she could "Bitty Botty Boo stuff"

This shot makes me laugh. I thought it would just be a quick couple pictures while I held her up above my belly.  Well, holding a 30lb squiggly, wiggly 3yr old on your 35wk pregnant bellly is harder than it looked.  She also kept bear hugging my neck making it difficult to keep her still.  Oh, my girl! I love her!!

Our "due date" is tomorrow. I am 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant.  Ellasyn was born at 40 weeks 1 day.  I am curious to see when Caraline will make her debut.  While I am thankful for a healthy pregnancy, and really not all that uncomfortable right now... I am ready to see her sweet face and snuggle her. 

Love,
The McDaniels

Mommy and Me

My super talented and sweet friend, Gara Hill, was offering some mini sessions for little ones in pearls and fluff. My clever mom suggested that E and I have some mother/daughter pics taken in that setting.  I think they are such a precious way to remember my one on one relationship with my girl!

Spring Break Staycation

Better late than never, right? 

We had big plans for an awesome road trip for spring break this year.  After a few planning glitches we realized that an awesome road trip might not be so awesome with a potty training two year old and a 6 month pregnant momma.  So... we had a staycation!  We tried to do some fun, local things to keep us all entertained and make the most of our days off.  It was great!

We rode the train to downtown Fort Worth and visited the water gardens:

I see it coming!

Enjoying the view

Look at me!

I can't believe I let 2/3 of my most precious family walk down there.
I never have and never will. It freaks. Me. Out!

I want to feeeeeel the water!

She loved, loved, loved the train.

We went to the Fort Worth Stockyards:

We rode a fifty cent carousel...

And a twenty-five cent pony...

And another fifty cent carousel.
This gal was a cheap date!

She had to work very hard to catch this tiny little baby goat for a picture.

She was so excited to see the cattle drive.
FW Stockyards has (I am pretty sure) the longest running daily cattle drive. They move the cattle at 11 and 4 every day.

Ellasyn and I joined Honey, Aunt Kelli and all the cousins at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens to see the Butterflies:

Just a little excited to see some butterflies.

I see one in there!

Honey and her gang.
(L - R: Zadie, Lili, Ellasyn, William, Olivia, Honey, Sarah)

The crew plus two preggo mommies.

Exerting some extra energy outside.
This was before I was forced to exert my extra energy by sprinting, yes six months pg and sprinting, to catch my daughter from running into a creek bed.  Fun stuff.

Don't pick the.... *sigh* flowers.

Daddy and Ellasyn went to the Fort Worth Science and History Museum:
(these pics are actually from a December trip when I was there to take some pics, but they illustrate the Daddy/daughter trip so well!)

Building pinwheels

Watching things spin

Fun for all ages!

We love to go to the Mooo-seum!

Ellasyn had a blast everywhere that we went. But, I think that the train and water gardens were her favorite.

Fort Worth Stock show and Rodeo

This was our first year to attend the Fort Worth Stock Show and our very first Rodeo... ever, I think.

We went to the stock show with Ethan's parents since our wonderful museum membership (courtesy of  Marmee and Papa) got us in free!  Ellasyn loved looking at ALL the cows. I think we walked through at least three buildings of different cattle.  The last building, however, was a little too loud for E's liking.   I guess the animals were getting a little stir crazy perhaps.  I think her favorite animals were the chicks and the ducklings. She kept asking me if we could "soft" (pet) them, which we could not.  We found a petting area later where she was able to pet and feed rabbits, goats, llamas, and an Irish calf.

~ "That's a scary noise!" ~
(referring to the loud cows)

~ test driving a tractor ~

~ family photo on the tractor... trying not to blow away ~

~ We got to meet Elsie, the cover cow for Borden Milk ~

~ Not sure about the Irish Calf checking her out ~

~ "He sniffed me!" ~

~ finally posing for the picture ~

The next week, we received an invitation from our friends, The Hills, to attend the rodeo with them.  I was a little nervous how Ellasyn would do and I didn't have much, if any, experience to share with her in preparation. As soon as we walked onto the grounds she said, " Mmmmm... it smells sooo good, Mommy."  Uh?  We may have a future FFA gal on our hands... 

She had a blast at the rodeo!  She loved watching the opening with all the people on horses and the "sparkly girls" with the flags.  She watched the bronco riding and bull riding with great interest and especially loved the motorcycle stunt that they did.  I think her favorite part, though, was wearing her cow girl boots.  This girl LOVES her boots!

~ enjoying some snacks with Daddy ~

~ stole this picture from Gara's blog :) ~

~ E, Mommy and C! ~

~ how cute are we in our boots? ~

Yes, that is four blog posts in three days...
Love,
The McDaniels