she calls me shoe.

Elly and her mama came over for lunch today.

Her vocabulary is growing, along with her sharp little mind.

She knows what a cow says, and a puppy, and a horse.  Lots of other animals too.

Her fish is particularly impressive.

And she calls me "Shoe." 

I love it.

She got a dolly for Christmas who gets lots of tender lovin' care.

And fresh diapers.

She takes this whole procedure quite seriously.

She's going to be a fabulous big sister.

But today, her heart belonged to Nick.

Perhaps, "adoration" is a more accurate term.

She has excellent taste.

p.s.  I love her little Toms!

http://www.toms.com/

coffee, tea, and charley, please.

It really was more party than photo shoot. 

Pete offered me coffee.  Yes, please.

Ruby fixed me some tea. Yum.

Charley was the sugar.

So perfectly sweet.

 Miss Ruby getting in the action!

Six Months Old.

Tea party with the Moores?  Anytime.

homestead of petersen.

This makes me smile.

We went over the river and through the woods...well, I'm not sure we actually traveled over a river,

but Jim and Genny's property is filled with trees and deer and plenty of room to watch their kids grow.

It looked like a Christmas card when we drove up and felt like one when we walked in.

Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Love love love their sweet cheeks...

...and sweet smiles...

Um...ok...so...getting the perfect portrait was not easy...lots of wiggles and giggles...

but these images will freeze the Petersen family Christmas 2010 in time for years to come.

I will end where I began...with the same image in black and white.

Because I love it that much.

And now I must go bake some cookies.

My own kids will be home soon.

Christmas blessings to you!

glad tidings.

birthday girl.

Indulge me. 

Twenty-three years ago on a snowy morning (2:49 in the morning to be exact),

this brown eyed, dimpled, dizzy-haired girl made her grand entrance into my life,

changing it forever. 

I would love to post a long, sentimental, rambling sort of entry

about how she's caused me to

love

hope

change

forgive

defend

cheer
 create
improvise

soften

stretch

laugh

cry

worry

relax 

pray

wait
challenge
support
confront
train
encourage
remind
wonder

applaud

listen

think

study

ask
watch

shut up
wake up
stay up
clean up
ease up
step back

let go
celebrate

but this really isn't the place.

After all, this is SusanChambersDesigns, not SusanChambersMotherhood.

So I'll save the sappy prose for her.

However,

this IS the place to share images I love.

So, here are some recent images I love

of the girl, now woman, I love most.

Happy Birthday, Natalie Michele!

Thank you for all you bring to my life.

baby it's cold outside.

A blizazrd warning was in effect for much of the mid-west, so we stayed inside for Fallon's six month session. She has grown and changed so much just since October when we met in the pumpkin patch.  I simply had to sneak a few snuggles between snapping pictures of her wide-eyed smiles and Christmas cuteness.  It may have been cold outside, but inside it was warm and wonderful!

 I'm getting a little tired....

 Please, can we be done now?

Christmas Shoes.