It's been a long time....

I've been MIA from my blog, I know.

Here's what's kept me busy, my hubby, babies, and business! Thanks to everyone for supporting me in this business... have some previews of my beautiful girls, photos taken by me! <3 nbsp="" p="">Support me - share my website with all your pregnant mama friends, and mommies with kiddos! <3 a="" href="http://sweetrose.zenfolio.com" much="" so="" thank="" you=""> Sweet Rose - Newborn photography by Vanessa Sanoja

Just a random photography thought.

Someone asked me the other day what I wanted to focus on with my photography. At first I thought "why do I have to choose?"
After pondering for a few days I started to realize the blogs and websites I follow most are weddings and newborn photographers. All the rest of the stuff is peachy and fun, but I think those are the things that get to me the most..

Having had a horrible experience doing a wedding last year I swore I'd never do another wedding. But I'm starting to reconsider... because I want to make those amazing images. I want to help someone remember their amazing day.

A little vent-aliciousness

I feel pretty alone. I know majority of military wives don't have any family around when their other half leaves, but at least they have friends, or at least a friend, that they can rely on, that they can lean on when their special someone goes. No matter how I've tried since we got here, I haven't found that certain someone, that friend whom I click with. And I'm really feeling it right now.

When we were in Maryland, I had Melissa - she lived across the street. We both had tons of free time and no kids. We bonded over cooking and cleaning and Grey's Anatomy on Thursday nights. Even though we only lived there a few short months, Melissa and I still talk via facebook, I've visited her in Mississippi since then, and I just love her to bits.
When we lived in Japan, I had a few of these friends. Aly, Stephanie, and Rhonda were my neighbor girls, just a flight of stairs away. I always had someone to turn to! Then there was Lindsey, my bff on Okinawa, we grew to be like sisters. I've since visited with Stephanie AND Lindsey since we moved back to the states, and have it in my itinerary to see Stephanie again this summer. WOO!
I just don't have any friends like that out here. In fact, the other night I was in tears sitting in a parking lot in my car because I'd had a really rough, overwhelming day, and I kept trying to think of someone who I could call to talk to and I really had no one. I ended up calling my little sister, who luckily picked up her phone, and spilled my blubbering half-words guts out to her. Poor me, boo hoo.

I can't believe how fast it's kicking in this time - the loneliness. Usually it takes a while. But it's only been 3 days and I'm already feeling like my heart is half empty. Luckily Emma has the other half that she fills up with sunshine and giggles every day.

If I didn't have so many obligations here - a job, a business, a house - I think I would get into my car and just drive away from here. Go somewhere where people know me and love me.. Denver, then Las Vegas, then Thousand Oaks. Who knows - maybe for the whole time. But I can't do that - I have some amazing kids to watch each weekday and sessions booked on weekends, plus my sister has booked a flight out to see me and another Okinawa friend is going to pop in to see me mid-july.

So it begins...

First of all, I have several "saved" blog posts I never published about Emma because I didn't have time to finish writing them... that's kind of what happens when your baby starts walking, you seem to lose ALL your "free" time.

So here we are at the beginning of Danny's long training. He'll be gone for 8 days, come back for about 6 days, then leave for 4 more months. It's only been one day but I already miss him so much. That and he left his phone here so there is really absolutely no contact between us at the moment. Bla.

I shouldn't be allowed to have a credit card when he leaves, for at least a week.. I do it every single time he leaves, I go to the store to kill time and I buy stuff. Useless stuff that I don't need and junk food. I have a pile of "to return" already and I just went to the store today... oops. At least I know I don't need it. And Emma doesn't need it. (I started throwing stuff in she was interested in.. LOL)

So I came home and put Emma down for a nap, which she is now awake... so I have to cut this short... Her amazing 2 hour naps have gone back to 30 minute naps this week. GRRRRR

9 Months Old

Emma Rose Madison is 9 months old.

Emma has two teeth, rosy cheeks, and is growing lots of hair. She loves any kind of meat and red sauce, she likes ham, and hates chicken/turkey. Still a veggie girl, chowing down daily on squash and carrots, and she loves her grilled cheese and mac'n'cheese. 

Still not walking but getting more practice every day. She has now discovered that she can pull me around wherever she wants to go by standing next to me and reaching for my hand. She will walk for several steps just holding one hand with one hand, but to really "fly" she holds on with both hands. She's a master climber - climbing up on top of anything she can by pushing other things up to whatever she needs to get up onto.. the other day she pushed a toy truck up to the dresser so she could stand on it and reach the top of the dresser, and all the treasures that lay on top of the dresser. Sneaky girl!

She has a HUGE sense of humor - she laughs at the puppets on baby einstein when they make "jokes" and she laughs at daddy and mommy when they are being silly.. and when she is silly or is a stinker to one of us.. she laughs! 

Emma says "MOM' now! She says "mom" and means it - mom is a word only to be used when she needs my attention, never a babble word and never a word to be used when playing with dad or anyone else! It's quite amazing and melts my heart. she also gives kisses, she will snuggle up and then tilt her head back and open her mouth and lean in, planting a wet and slobbery kiss right on your lips, cheek, or nose. She will wave if you wave at her any say "hi!" and she's started pinching, too. Not so funny but she thinks it is! 

Emma will sign "all done" and then rock back and forth and cry when she is finished eating. 

She still goes on the potty, though lately we've had a few "accidents" at random times of the day, usually when she starts to teethe again. 

Emma now goes to sleep on her own, without mom or dad's help. She is learning to slowly sleep through the night and it makes us so happy! :) She is a big girl who sleeps all night in her own room. 

Some of the things I love about this month:

Cuddle bug

Kisses

Independent woman

Always willing to try new food

Feeds herself

Loves bath time and eating bubbles

Says MOM and Mama

Loves to play with dogs

Bonding more and more with Daddy, and will even say "daddy" some times.

7.5 Months

Crawl-running away from Mom at bed time

You've been keeping your mommy VERY busy, Emma! I haven't been able to update... even now you are crawling around getting into EVERYTHING of course!!!

In the past 6 weeks (or since I last updated your blog) you've:

• Mastered the art of crawling, you can now crun (crawl/run) away and do so every night at bed time.
• Learned how to pull up
• Learned how to sit back down after standing up
• Started waving
• Walking along furniture and walls
• Climb up stairs
• Climb up everything else
• Learned how to tell me you have to Potty or that you want to eat
• Learned how to sleep longer than 30 minutes at nap time (HALLELUJAH!)

You pick up and taste everything. You LOVE to eat whatever we are eating. You also love squash, it is totally your favorite food. You will find the smallest piece of lint on the floor and put it in your mouth. You love finger foods! You give hugs and snuggles, and you've started to let me know when it's nap time by laying your head on my lap. You also love yourself, and give yourself kisses in the mirror several times a day. You throw things... if you are upset and don't like what we are doing, you pick things up and throw them..... You're also learning that when we say "NO" that you have to stop what you are doing or we will take you away/move you away from whatever you are currently trying to do. You throw tantrums when you don't get your way but luckily they only last a second or two! You love to wander around the house. 

You still sleep with us most of the night and you still don't sleep through the night because you are ONE HUNGRY BABY! You eat all day and all night it seems, but you're growing like a weed so I don't mind. Of course I'd love to get more sleep....

Speaking of sleep, you're learning to put yourself to sleep. You'll fall asleep on your own at nap time for morning nap when we are at "work" You know it's nap time when I buckle you into the car seat and lower the visor. night time.. not so much.. all you want to do is snuggle. Like I said, you try to crun away from us after bath time before sleep time.. usually when you are still naked.. you do a hyperventilating smile and crun as fast as you can in the opposite direction! It's so funny! 

First visit to Pumpkin Patch

Learning about WT Sherman

Walking with Daddy

Climbing stairs

6 Months Old

AHHHHHHHHHHH STOP IT! Time flies too quickly. And you are just growing up too fast, emma!

So, we've started solid food. You love everything you've tried so far! You're also sitting up much better and you've started to crawl. You love to smack your hands on everything. Especially water! Although sometimes you startle yourself when you smack the water and it splashes you in the face!!
You've also started to sleep on your own - for the first part of the night anyway. You still love to nurse all night long so I feel tired, but worth it! Because you are growing so fast! 14 pounds 2 ounces now, and 25 inches long. The doctor says you have beautiful  skin for a baby your age and that you are one lucky kiddo! You're healthy as can be - and still vaccine free. Since you are a super star, the doctor said it'd be no problem for you to go without vaccines until 18 months - 2 years. :) We still put you in cloth diapers, though not as much. You still potty on the toilet every day, and we're working on sign language for the word "potty" so that you can let me know if you need to go! You've given up your 30 minute nap - stubbornness. For the past week you have taken at least one "long" nap each day! This makes mommy VERY happy!
You are mischevious - you like to get into everything. The other day I found you playing with the kids lip gloss , and you didn't see me yet. You noticed that your hands were sticky and made a weird face, and then tried to wipe your hands on the carpet! Naughty girl! You gave me this look like "SHOOT! I've been caught" and then you put your head down on the carpet and whined. So we washed your hands and you were back to being a happy girl.
You LOVE to give kisses, and you absolutely love to snuggle. When you wake up in the morning you roll over, crawl half way on top of me, then collapse when I put my arms around you. Sometimes you crawl up to my face and wake me up with sloppy kisses. You've just started to crawl over me to get to Daddy to give him snuggles as well.
You can't get enough of our cell phones. If you see one, whether it's next to you or across the room, you've got to have it. You will crawl over, under, around and even try to get through, everything just to get your hands on a cell phone. You goober!
Some pictures? OK!

Snuggles on the couch. Yes, you would just sit next to me and snuggle FOREVER.

Daddy was eating a peach while playing with you.

You decided to stare at it and reach for it until he gave you some.

You munched and sucked tons of juice out of that peach, and made a cute little bite mark!

You still love bath time, every night.

You now crawl right up to theTV when baby Einstein is on

Silly sunglasses! They confuse you. It's pretty funny :D

5 Months Old

Emma, you are already 5 months old! (well 5 months and almost 2 weeks, Mommy's been too busy to take pictures of you and write an update, Shame on her!)

I can't believe how quickly time flies. When I see newborn babies around now I think it feels just like yesterday that I brought you home. You're such a big girl, and so advanced! Pediatricians are stunned.

You are:
Sitting up unsupported
Scooting forward (not crawling because you don't use your hands and legs together, usually hands then legs)
Rolling around
Drinking from a sippy cup and water bottles, by yourself I might add, I don't have to hold them

Sometimes you get to eat rice cereal and apple sauce, and you just love the yumminess of trying new food. You grab everything and anything I'm eating and stick it in your mouth, sometimes too fast for me to stop you when you take somethign you really shouldn't. You tried lasagna the other day and even tried to go back for more!! You can't wait to eat real food like mommy and daddy. When we feed you rice cereal and apple sauce, you grab the spoon and shove it in your own mouth. I can't even believe it.

In the mornings, you've started to wake up and roll over, scoot your little tush over to me and give me snuggles and smooches. It definitely makes waking me up that early worth it.

One downfall you have, you don't want to let Mommy go! The moment I walk out of a room or leave you alone with daddy (or anyone else for that matter) you get really upset. I'm definitely seeing this separation anxiety. Just remember, I'll never leave you anywhere for too long, honey!! I'm always going to come back for you. =)

You're pretty awesome. I can't believe in a few short weeks you will already be 6 months old... 1/2 a year! Yikes!

Standing up (that used to be a dress..)

Helping(?) Mom do Laundry

4 Months

Emma is already 4 months old. Time really flies, doesn't it!!

My Darling Emma,

You are talking up a storm, telling us stories in your own little language, squeeling with delight when you wake up and see our faces or when Daddy comes home from work. You just love to smile and laugh at us when we make silly faces and noises. You don't talk to everyone though. Sometimes if a stranger in a store approaches you and talks to you, you look at them and scream and cry until you look back at me and realize you're not being taken away. You definitely know who your Mommy and Daddy are, and you like being with us the best. 

Here's what we do with you on a "normal' basis:

Wake up. You usually wake us up around 6am. You open your eyes and look around the room for a moment before you start kicking your legs and flapping your arms, and then you begin to tell us what it is you've dreamed about in a very excited, dramatic way. You smile and coo, you just love the mornings. Then we go potty on the toilet, and you smile big and proud at Mommy when you're done. We go downstairs where you sit in your swing playing with toys and talking to Baby Einstein on the TV while Mom eats breakfast. Usually Mom comes to play with you on the floor after this until it's time for a nap. 

After your nap you use the potty again and come back downstairs to play on your activity mat.  You reach for, grab and try to "eat" all of your toys, often times talking to them and kicking all over. Mom never leaves you in the room alone, she does some light cleaning while you play by yourself until you play yourself to sleep on the mat. You nap on the mat or on a blankey on the floor. When you wake up, you guessed it, we go to the potty again.

The afternoon is all Mommy and Emma time. We sit up, play tummy time, practice standing and sitting up, you tell mommy stories and usually "play with mommy's hair" or in other words, you yank on it. We laugh and I tickle your tummy. I read you a story and you try to grab the pictures in the books we read. Sometimes if you are cranky and tired and don't want to play, I will rock you in my arms while watching TV or listening to music. 

Then Daddy comes home. Daddy likes video games, so he'll sit with you on his lap or next to him on the couch while he plays video games. He likes to ask you questions about your day and you like to grab his nose.

Then bath time. Daddy reads to you and mommy washes you with lots of bubbles. We sing a few songs, and then it's time for bed.

This month you've learned how to sit up for a few seconds on your own, roll over, and so many other things I can't keep track of. You grow and learn new things every day and I am such a proud mommy! I love you Emma.

Here are some pictures of you doing some neat and cute things.

love, 

mama

Emma Rose Madison - 1 month old

Emma,
One month old already! Time flies too fast, and I am not ready for you to grow up yet! Slow down honey, mommy waited forever for this newborn and she's growing up too quickly!!
It's amazing to see you change from day to day. So far you've fount your hands and you like to hold them and suck on your knuckles. You love to look mommy and daddy in the eyes when we talk to you, and you've smiled at Daddy already! You have three, yes three teeth coming up already. When you were born you had two slits on the bottom where the teeth would soon come, and now I can see the teeth coming up under the surface of your little gums!
You love to sleep on mommy's chest. It's your favorite place to be. You can lift and hold your head up by your self, you love to stand up (with assistance) and do squats while someone holds you. You have your own sleep pattern at night, so we know when to expect you to wake up already. About once a week you have a sleep day, where you will sleep all day, and all night, waking up only to eat a little bit and then straight back to sleep!
You love, love, love bath time.  You can be crying and crying about who knows what, and as soon as we stick you in the bath tub you are totally content - until it starts getting cold of course. You don't mind being sprayed with the shower either!
You are quite the snuggle bug and you don't like to be left alone, or put down. Sometimes you'll fall asleep and we'll put you down and you'll wake up right away and cry to be held again. We love to hold you, we don't mind!
You like to be rocked back and forth, and you like it when we pat your back. Those are two sure fire ways to get you to sleep when you are cranky!

You are amazing and we love you so much. You have completed our world, and given us a daily reminder of how wonderful life is.

A good day

I really just want to share this in as many ways possible. I feel like it is so important to appreciate all that is given to you. I've been let down by negative statuses posted all over Facebook, and after seeing this I just want to share it with everyone.

You think this is just another day in your life. It’s not just another day; it’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s given to you. It’s a gift. It’s the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness. If you do nothing else but to cultivate that response to the great gift that this unique day is, if you learn to respond as if it were the first day of your life, and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well.
Begin by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can open, that incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us for pure enjoyment. Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going. We just think of the weather, and even of the weather we don’t think of all the many nuances of weather. We just think of good weather and bad weather. This day right now has unique weather, maybe a kind that will never exactly in that form come again. The formation of clouds in the sky will never be the same that it is right now. Open your eyes. Look at that.
Look at the faces of people that you meet. Each one has an incredible story behind their face, a story that you could never fully fathom, not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. We all go back so far. And in this present moment on this day all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world, flows together and meets you here like a life-giving water, if you only open your heart and drink.
Open your heart to the incredible gifts that civilization gives to us. You flip a switch and there is electric light. You turn a faucet and there is warm water and cold water — and drinkable water. It’s a gift that millions and millions in the world will never experience.
So these are just a few of an enormous number of gifts to which you can open your heart. And so I wish for you that you would open your heart to all these blessings and let them flow through you, that everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you; just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch — just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you, and then it will really be a good day.
– Brother David Steindl-Rast

Happy New Year!!

Year in Review: Since I didn't update my blog... ever...

January: New House!
We moved into our new home here in Radcliff Kentucky. We are proud home owners!

February - We received devastating news from our doctors after a two year struggle, we were informed that it was medically "impossible" for us to conceive. Vanessa got a job working in Retail. We experienced and enjoyed our first snow storm.

March: Danny got a promotion! We Dog sat an awesome Dog (who Atreus loves) named Sasha, and decided to search for a new puppy to adopt. We explored Mammoth Caves. It warmed up, so we went golfing..

 April: Danny went TDY for a while (no pics of that, and I don't even remember where he went.. honestly..) We found and adopted Naia. And there was a rainbow after an intense rainstorm.

May: Danny went TDY somewhere (again). We played more golf. Naia got bigger. I had several photography jobs that month. Danny took me to Saunders Springs. And Atreus tried to eat a Bee.

June- Danny went TDY (surprise!), Art Jr. & Fam came to Kentucky, & we found Amy's G-pa. We all got in the car to drive down and visit Danny while he was TDY, Danny ate a slab of ribs at the SHED and went to New Orleans. We visited some old friends at Keesler in Mississippi, while Danny was still TDY. 

Visiting Melissa

 July: SURPRISE! and then Danny went TDY.

August: Danny was still TDY.. I had morning sickness. A roommate moved in with her son.. no comment. I got poison ivy and could have died from allergic reaction(as the swelling had moved into my lungs), was on steroids for 3 weeks.. and I got to see our baby.

September: Danny came home from his TDY. I entered my 2nd trimester, morning sickness followed. We went to Wisconsin, The Mall Of America, and Chicago. Danny ran a marathon. We put Naia up for adoption.. and gave her away.

October: We celebrated 5 years of marriage and went to see The Phantom Of The Opera. Went to CALIFORNIA for a baby shower and visited with family. We carved pumpkins together gf It's A Girl!!!

November: Danny went TDY. My morning sickness finally faded. I worked a lot. I completed my second trimester. I saw Emma on an Ultrasound.

December: Danny returned mid December. We got our first real Christmas Tree. People started to recognize my pregnant belly. We spent the last two weeks of December at home, in the house, as Danny had a serious viral infection and had invasive testing done, which he had to recover from. He felt better finally the day before New Years Eve. We went to a friend's house for a NYE celebration. Happy New Year!!