{TODAY I'M JUST A STAY AT HOME MOM...}

This trade off is interesting, and I'm not sure if I like it. Yes, I love everything about the work that I do, but the bottom line is... I feel like I'm giving 43% all of the time. 43% to my babies, 43 to my business, 43 to my husband, 43 to the Lord...43 to my friends and family... And yes, I know that is over 215% that's still how I feel. I probably have no room to complain. After all there are mothers out there who hardly get to see their babies because of work. At least they are right in the next room most of the time??? Right??? Sometimes

Today I decided to just be a stay at home mom. I decided to give myself completely to my lil's today. All 215% :) ...

I turned off my phone, shut down my computer, put on extra comfy sweats, spent the day without make-up and got down and dirty with some good ole' planes, trains & automobiles....

we wrestled, we played, we watched a movie or two, sang songs and pigged out on animal crackers, Cherrios and string cheese...

It was magical...

Today, I was JUST a stay at home mom! I think I need more and more days like today :)

p.s. no make-up...don't judge!

XoXo,

Syreena

{JUST THE FOUR OF US...}

I was NOT looking forward to this day. The day when I tried to take a family photo with all four of us! 

The husbands mom is super awesome at following directions and having a TON of patience when I am trying to get a few quick photos that I REFUSE to attempt with just my sanity and a tripod. So, we walked a few blocks from the house and prayed for the best...

this photo is my absolute FAV. Mainly due to the fact that the big lil's feet are off the ground, the new lil's left shoe went M.I.A, and I smiled super big to hide the fact that I was totally already over it and sucking it up for the sake of memories...

the big lil' insisted on having a little more than a few animal crackers and totally made them a prop in the shoot for sure...ahhhh well...

I was seriously blown away by how much alike they look in this one...

the two of us with our Kendall Bear :)...

have no words for this one...just love it, that's all!!!

I had to chase the big lil' down and poke my head in for a pic...shame I tell ya!

a bit dazed and confused....weren't we all :)

While I'm sure I experienced some version of a heart palpation, I will say that it was worth it...

XoXo,

Syreena

{KENDALL'S FIRST BIRTHDAY...}

The best day of 2011 was, hands down, the day my new lil' was born. Changed my life in more ways than one..or two, or three...or thirty!!! This year he smiled for the first time, he laughed for the first time, he crawled for all of two weeks, then he walked for the first time. January 2, 2012 was my Kendall Bear's First Birthday!!!!! And, since I have resolved not to wait for perfect conditions and celebrate every moment possible of 2012, it started off beautifully with my baby's first birthday bash. 

My new lil' is so adventurous. So, the theme for his birthday was "Adventures Out There"! And I based it around the Disney movie UP. 

This was my favorite picture (s) of the day....

the quick and easy birthday table...

I made this super easy Adventure Book Scrapbook to document all of the adventurous things that my new lil' gets into this year...

and this is the b-day cake which I was totally trying to make into some UP awesomeness, which wasn't turning out so marvelously and so I dumbed it down a bit and kept it simple. I'm no baker, people!

I got these popcorn cans at Target in Charlotte with my mommy. They turned out to be perfect for our UP movie night premier!

Disney had these awesome little printables that took way too much effort to cute and assemble but sooo worth the effort.

this was the only picture I got of my Kendall Bear with his birthday hat on. He has a STRONG dislike for hats. Period.

I set out mini serving of Cherrios since the lil' is so digging them right now...

Clearly, they must be some kind of good...

And, this was our little b-day boy set UP....

would have given anything and three dimes if the new lil' had decided to participate and LOOK at the camera for this one. But I love it anyway...

a little candle blowing help from his big brother...

I still can't believe we are parents?!?...

me getting in on some icing action... LorD knows I love me some buttercream...

now onto the movie...

the big lil' rocked his adventure-like aviator sweater  he was gifted from his God-Parents, which was PERFECT for the occasion...thanks Nate, Meek and Morgie...

and the boys spent a little time in the tent...a.k.a the Alaskan Adventure...get it?

we kept the attendes small and simple... there will be many more years to have a house full of kiddos and today just wasn't one of those :)

me and the husband...

the peeps that made this possible...

and to my mommy who helped me find awesome stuff to pull it all together... I Love You!!! Wish you were here...

And to my Kendall Bear,

You're AweSomE. And, mommy LOVES you. That's ALL!!!

XoXo,

Syreena

{NEW PORTRAIT POST ON SBP...THE WALTONS}

My college suitemate came to visit and get behind my camera with her goWageous family. Check out more from their family session HERE over on Syreena B Photography Blog. 

XoXo,

Syreena

{LET THE PARTIES BEGIN... LO LO'S 1st BIRTHDAY}

So, I thought I would have a couple more years before I became one of those moms. You know, one of those moms who's constantly filling up the calendar and chauferring the kids to one birthday party after the next. But, apparently I thought WRONG! The birthday parties are in full effect and the big lil' is MORE THAN EXCITED!!! 

big lil': mommy!!! (quick breath here) let's get in the car (quick, excited breath here) and go to da par-eee!!!

me: ok hun-eee

big lil': and have durr-day cake!!!!

I LovE it!!!

I stayed at home with the new lil' a few Saturday's ago while the husband took the big lil' to his second durr-day party of the year (next to the new lil's). Then we turned right around on Sunday and hit up thier third party of the year and it's only the second week of January!!!

This time it was our Lo Lo's 1st birthday! Logan was born only a few hours before the new lil'. I actually carried my big ole', pregant, restless, ready-to-pop self to the hospital to visit her the morning before I went into labor that Sunday night. 

And, now she is ALREADY a one year old. 

Her mommy threw her an adorable Parisian Themed B-Day bash and we joked the whole party about how she and the new lil' are like twin-zzz's! They are SO ALIKE!!!

The cake was pretty awesome and Lo Lo even did a little cute clapping routine while we sung happy birthday...

I totally ruined the focus on this pic but I love it none-the-less. He's all...I'm here... and I'm ready to parrrrrrrr-teyyyyyyyy (Bridesmaids style...lol).

here is a better pic of my new lil' with the paci consuming about 3/4ths of his facial area :)

and I just 'bout cried to see how soft and gentle the big lil' was being with his little cousin Lo...

isn't she the cutiest...

Happy Birthday Lo Lo...

XoXo,

Your Twin-zzz's momma :)