Da Eads

More Dance Pictures!

2011-07-06T20:37:00.000-04:00

I was backing up my files and found these that I never shared!

Lily's First Dance Recital

2011-05-23T09:28:00.000-04:00

Lily had her first recital this weekend. I literally started crying in the lobby after we dropped her off. I then cried again right before she danced, during her dance, and during two other heart wrenching songs when she wasn't even on stage.

Yeah I am a mess.

Mainly because she is like all grown. She has gotten taller in the past week. I swear it! Although it did make me feel a little better when I realized she was not only the youngest person in her class but the youngest one on stage during the whole recital. She did so good you guys!

She kept talking about how excited she was. And kept asking who was coming. She verified with Mimi and Paw at least half a dozen times the day off to make sure they were coming. She knew they were all there to see her.

So we took her out to lunch. Mexican. Hey she loves the chips and dip. At the resteraunt she proceeded to entertain everyone with her renidition of twinkle twinkle and Monkeys jumping on the bed. At the top of her lungs. She warming up for her big performance.

Then we went home to start our day of beauty. I painted her nails red to match her outfit. We teased, curled and sprayed her hair into a perfect ballerina bun. She even got to wear a little blush and glitter on her face for the special day.

Daddy who swore he would never ever go to a recital if we had a little girl got up at seven in the morning to stand in line for tickets. He was first in line and we were first row. She whined a little when I dropped her off in the dressing room so I could go get me seat. But I promised we would come get her as soon as she did her dance.

Being the little ones in the show they got all the giggles and aaahhhhs throughout the whole show. Here is the video. She is the one in the back on the far left. You can't really see her in the beginning but her shining moment is when she leads the circle prance. Then you can see her plain as day the second half of the dance. She was so tiny on the big stage. But she was my big star!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjspSemOoFc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Afterwards she got flowers and balloons from Brooke and Daddy that went backstage to get her. She ran out to meet us at our seat and gave me a huge hug and screamed "mommy I did so good!"

Yes you did Lily!

Share

If I die young...

2011-05-06T23:24:00.003-04:00

I lost a friend this week. Suddenly. Unexpectedly. I have lost family but never a friend. It hit me a little harder than I expected. Maybe because she was someone young that was not done living her life from my view. I think that is the true definition of a tragedy. I thought about her parnets. And how no one should have to bury a child. No one. It just doesn't seem natural. I never would have thought about it from that angle until Lily. She had so much more to look forward to. A husband, a child, maybe a daughter like Lily. While I know that is not everything to some people I think that this has made me see that it is everything to me.

Kim was a sorority sister of mine. We pledged together. Lived in the house together. Were both active in Chi Omega after graduation. We both advised chapters, and attended convention together last year. I remember when we met Letitia Niemeier Fulkerson (our national president). We were such nerds. So excited like we were meeting the most famous person ever! And I remember how shy I thought she was when we first met. Boy was I wrong! I still think her big sister brought her out of her shell and showed us the true Kim that was hiding. I still have pictures of us all young and carefree where I swear she looks the same as the last time I saw her! How she never seemed to age. We all drooled over her job after college at ESPN. I mean how cool does that sound? And how jealous I was seeing her facebook status Wednesday saying she had landed in Hawaii. Where her life ended not 24 hours later. While we didn't speak every day or even every month when we did see each other it was like no time had passed. She was always smiling, laughing, and was genuinely a great person. We lost a beautiful person for no apparent reason. Sometimes life and death is so hard to understand or defend.

I think her sudden loss will have a positive impact in some aspects. At least in my life. I think we often take for granted our lives and how precious each day is. So I hopefully have a little bit of a better outlook. In her honor I was a little nicer at work today, helped someone instead of saying that's not my job, gave my daughter that extra snuggle and kiss, gave my husband an extra I love you before I went to bed, and called my mom just to say hi. You just never know if that will be the last words you say to someone.

While nothing heals the loss of a young friend, I hope that I can honor her and maintain my "reality check" about how lucky I really am. How much I really have even though I complain about what I lack. How much love I am surrounded by because I am not alone. How many smiles, and hugs I get from a little girl that looks just like her Daddy even when I feel overwhelmed by the whole business of parenting. Because to me that is what is important. And I am determined to find the good in the loss of a dear sister. Thank you Kim for all you have given those lives you have touched. I know I am grateful.

Love in Chi Omega,

Stephaine

I downloaded this Thursday. Before I found out. It seems fitting now...

"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh, uh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger, I've
Never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a
Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well,
I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh (uh, oh)
The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
Share

Spring Daze Entry 2011

2011-04-27T21:45:00.000-04:00

I entered the Cary Spring Daze (formerly Lazy Daze) photo contest this year. I need your support. Come out this weekend and vote for my pictures for people's choice! The festival is going on from 9-5 on Saturday. The picture contest is in the Boat House. Here is a link to the map. Hope to see you there!

http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Parks__Recreation___Cultural_Resources/events/festivals/springdaze/map.htm

Send out to anyone you know that is heading out to the festival this weekend!

The two pictures I entered

I need your help!

2011-04-19T08:24:00.003-04:00

I am entering two of my photos in the Lazy Daze competition this year. I am having a hard time deciding which two to enter. Head over to the photography blog and help me choose!

http://www.lovinglyphotographedblog.com/

Share

Mr. Wuf

2011-04-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

I am a little ashamed to admit that I have never actually met and hugged a Mr. Wuf. Being the die hard NCSU fan I am this may shock some or all of you. It has always been my dream. Small I know but a dream nonetheless. Well this weekend at the Red and White Spring Football Game...guess who we ran into?

from across the parking lot Lily spotted him and that is when it started. The screaming. Not the screams of a scared little girl but the screams of raw excitement. I would be lieing if I said I didn't feel that way on the inside!

Lily literal starts running down the parking lot. (all the while trying to finish the muffin she was in the middle of eating). "Mr. Wuf Mr Wuf!!!!!!"

Well I am proud to say Lily lived my dream on Saturday. I like to think it was a shared dream the way she took off across the parking lot (supervised of course). And boy was she proud to show off that wolf sign!

And you know what? I forgot to take my picture with him because I was so excited for her.

Share

Lily wants to be a Mommy

2011-04-10T20:52:00.000-04:00

The Alden's visited this weekend with baby Libby as Lily calls her. Lily pretty much thought she was a big baby doll. She wanted to read to her, give her kisses, put her to bed. Anything that involved taking care of her. Of course she pulled the two year staple of "no these are my toys" but other than that they girls had so much fun together!

Here is Lily reading Libby a night night story

Lessons for Lily

2011-04-02T22:57:00.000-04:00

There are a few things that every woman should know. One of the top five is how to hover over a toilet seat. I am not sure when this talent develops. I am sure it is restricted by height. So I was probably twenty. Okay I am exaggerating. Maybe nineteen...before I was tall enough to hover. But there are many uses of this talent.

1. To avoid STDs, crabs, other people's urine and general grossness of public restrooms or worse portapotties!
2. Tailgate peeing. No toilet involved, same talent.
3. To avoid a cold toilet seat at all costs.

So the other day Lily was in the potty and as I walked by I saw her sitting down. As her bottom hit the seat her little face squished up and this is the conversation that followed

Lily: "Mommy? Why the toilet seat cold?"
Me: "Learned that the hard way didn't you Lily?"
Lily: :Dissappointed: "Yeah my booty booty is cold"
Me: "Reason number 1001 that is sucks to be a girl.."
Lily: "face still squished: "Brrrrrr"

Here is to teaching Lily this valuable life lesson in the years to come. It comes in handy in the middle of the night, in public restrooms, and in our guest bathroom where the toilet seat is just a little wobbly. Don't worry you only have fifteen more years until your tall enough. I apologize for that gene by the way. Until then I recommend learning how to not squish up your face like that when you hit the seat. That leads to this annoying wrinkle in between Mommy's eyebrows and her desire for botox. But that lesson is for another day and is reason 1002 that is sucks to be a girl.

Share

Stephie and Michele Take on Vegas-Part Two

2011-03-29T21:31:00.001-04:00

I am known for very few things in this life. My boring blog. My love of photography. Mediocre wife and mother. But one thing is known for sure by anyone that knows me. Any time I hit the sauce I start taking open mouthed self portraits.

This is what was found on my point and shoot upon my return to vegas.

Michele and I before Yard Drink: Night One

After yard drink and getting hit on by hot young guy in which I had to lie and say Steve (Michele's Husband) was my own to get the guy to leave. Who still has it??!!! and then immediately took out her camera to mark the occasion!

Before Night Two: AKA St. Patty's Day. $3 Guinness $20 buckets

A little later....five Guinness and two buckets deep

The end of the night...more buckets deep than we care to admit. Also followed by a search for firefly vodka and lemonades. To no success.

The very end of the night when asked how much money I had lost! Or wait was that about how many types of sweet tea vodka I tried? Or was it irish car bombs? Oh dear lord.

Gosh you would think no one but Michele and I were on this trip!! Oh wait I guess Steve was there.

And photographic proof that we were there to celebrate little bro's birthday...not just to take self tonsil portraits. And no ladies I did not photoshop the chick. Yes I hate her too.

So those that don't know me now know this. If you see me drinking out in public remove the camera out of my hands. Because ya'll no one needs to see my tonsils (or red tongue).

Want to see non-tonsil shots? AKA Sober shots? Head over to the photography blog.

www.lilymaephotography.blogspot.com

Share

Stephie and Michele take on Vegas- Part One

2011-03-28T22:56:00.001-04:00

So Michele and I hit up the VIP lounge while we were in Vegas. AKA Madame Tussauds. Yeah we are bad-ass. Enough said.

We were pretty much kissing fools!

I think Michele had already rolled in the hay with Hugh when I took this picture. Crazy hair!

Kissing again. Wow how do we not have mouth herpes by this point.

Most realistic picture of the day!

Michele is bringing sexy back....and JT is all like Whatev!

Thank god there was no video of when I realized Britney was there. That would have been embarrassing!

Don't worry we scheduled dentist appointments when we got back

Facebook profile pic anyone?

Her husband would be so proud!

Michele: Mistress 109 of Tiger Woods

This would have only been better if JT was in the scene in his leotard! (SNL...anyone? :crickets:)

uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh

Shoulda put a ring on it!

Stephaine: Little Monster.

See I told ya'll he wudn't dead!

This was the best part. I took my picture here.

She took hers here.

And all was right in the world!

Clean Your Room

2011-03-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

Lily is actually really good about cleaning her room. She cleans up without too much of a struggle most days. But as we have just returned from Vegas I think she wanted to do more playing with us than cleaning. So when I asked her to pick up her leggos this morning she responded with quite the little "Michaelesque" attitude:

I am always cleaning up!

complete with eye roll, huff, and throwing blocks into bin.

It is like I asked Michael to scrub a toilet.

Share

Bad Habit Explained

2011-03-18T06:00:00.001-04:00

Lily was never a pacifier baby. Never a thumbsucker. We just never had to deal with that type of behavior. Not even when she was teething. Lucky us. But recently a battle has emerged in our house. She has started gnawing on her fingers like crazy. I am not a germophobe but yuck! I know what they have at daycare and I don't want you eating it. I saw you just touch that toilet seat to keep from falling in and your hand washing skills are not hospital grade. I am not sure what to do to get her stop other than ask her to stop and remove her hand from her mouth. So last week when I picked her up from school she was chewing on her finger. I politely asked her stop and she responded matter of factly:

"I have to do it Mommy. I'm tasty."

Well that clears that up. My bad.

Share

Yeah Baby

2011-03-16T06:00:00.002-04:00

I will be checked out for the next week. My hubby's little brother turned twenty-one this month and we decided to celebrate with some adult fun. Vegas Style. No baby. No work. No email. No facebook. Okay maybe a little facebook. No phone calls. Okay maybe a few drunk texts. Anyways. I will be having some Mommy time so check back next week for at least one "I cannot believe this happened" because sometimes what happens in Vegas...is really funny and should be told. I'm just saying....

LilyMae Photoblog!

2011-03-11T18:11:00.002-05:00

If you haven't already take a second to go check out LilyMae. My new photography blog. You can follow the site if you scroll all the way to the bottom....it is a little hidden I know.

lilymaephotography.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Share

That's what you get for sleeping in....

2011-03-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I think getting to sleep in on the weekends is a curse. Don't get me wrong my husband is the most awesomest of the awesome. See every weekend I get to sleep while he gets up with the baby girl. Yeah like every weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday. Pretty much since she was born. I was would nurse and then he would take her. Sigh in jealousy here. Well I do get up on Father's Day. I am not that heartless. I just need sleep yo!

He claims it is because he is old and wakes up anyway so why not let me sleep. I agree. But this weekend I figured out the real reason.

All before I got up out of bed the following occurred in my household:

A game of CandyLand
A game of Chutes and Ladders
Storytime
Playtime outside on the playground
Hide and Seek in our front and back yard
Pretending the playground was a pirate ship
Pretending the pirate ship was being attacked by an alligator
Killing an alligator

At the end of the morning, while Mommy was still asleep, Lily came in from outside and said "Thanks Daddy. That was fun."

Makes you think you are doing something right huh?

Share

Laser Tag

2011-03-08T21:37:00.012-05:00

Our awesome neighbor Nga had a laser tag birthday party for her son Hamilton. This party was kick ass. The company set up laser tag in her yard, brought a bus that was wall to wall video games both inside and out, and to top it off a robot you could ride in and control. AWESOME! Needless to say Lily was the youngest guest. And the only nonsister girl. But my little girl ain't scared.

Dad I got this.....

And she stands alone.

What these pictures don't show is after this kid above her shoots her. I hide her behind the wall, take her gun, and take matters into my own hands. Da Eads: 1. Kid picking on the two year old girl: 0

She loved the laser tag. I thought she was way to young. And while she had no chance of winning she hung with the boys. With no fear. That's my girl....

BIG FAIRIES!!

2011-03-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lily: Who is a bigger stinkpot? Cleo or Daddy?
Mommy: Daddy
Lily: Who is a big fairy? Like a BIG FAIRY!?
Mommy: What are my choices?
Lily: Daddy. Daddy is a big fairy.

Five minutes later....

:enter Daddy post haircut:
Lily: Daddy!!!
Daddy: What's up Lily?
Lily: Daddy? Your hair fall out?

God I love this child. Entertainment (and Daddy torture) for days.

Share

Photoshoot

2011-03-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

With the launch of LilyMae I entrusted my dear friend Nicole Faby to take a few shots of me and Lily to help decorate the about pages of the sight. It is kind of hard to take pictures of yourself you know. Not impossible, but not easy.

Here are a few of my favorites! Check out nicolefabyphotography.com and www.LilyMaePhotography.blogspot.com for more

LilyMae PhotoBlog

2011-03-03T06:00:00.004-05:00

Well the day is finally here. I warned you changes were coming! I was still on the fence about how exactly I wanted to do my photoblog so it is a little late. A separate site, another page, etc. So I missed my initial roll out of date of my birthday last week. But hopefully it was worth the wait.

Introducing LilyMae my new photoblog!

www.lilymaephotography.blogspot.com

I will still be maintaining this site as well but I encourage you to go over and follow LilyMae in addition to Da Eads. I will be doing a lot more of my projects on that site and fun family posts/journaling on this site.

Enjoy!

Share

Good Morning Momma!

2011-02-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was my birthday weekend. Yes I said weekend. I like to drag out the awesomeness. Buy even best laid plans can be ruined. By poop. Yes poop.

Saturday night I had it all planned out. Dinner, take hope ice cream, eaten in bed with the whole family and latest Tinkerbell movie. I was quite excited. More about the ice cream than the movie choice but these are details. Well we didn't start the movie until like 9:30 so needless to say we all three fell asleep in our king sized bed like one big (and extremely stuffed full of ice cream) family. Which was fine. Until Sunday morning....

I had requested eggs and grits Sunday morning so Michael being the awesome husband he is got up early and went to the grocery store. When the front door shut I heard it and stirred a bit. But quickly dozed back off. For thirty more seconds until I heard a concerning whine coming from behind me. So I rolled over....right into it.

The massive diarrhea explosion that had come out of my sweet little darling.

How does something so precious make something so disgusting. It was like a scene from a Saw movie. It was everywhere! And it was now all over her, me, and the bed.

:Barf:

So yes it took me fifteen minutes to get us both in the shower and cleaned up. This was all before my morning caffeine. NOT. HAPPY.

Luckily Michael came home as I was getting out of the shower with flowers and breakfast goods. Oh and just in time to help me clean up the toilet that used by our bed.

Share

Brutal Honesty

2011-02-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Michael was in the bathroom this morning and Lily walked in.

Lily: Daddy. You have a really big butt.

whwhwwhahahahahahaaha.

My kid is awesomely entertaining on a daily basis. This is why Bill Cosby made a living off these little suckers.

Share

Feed the ducks

2011-02-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lily has been obsessed with wanting to feed ducks. She talks and talks about it. So last Saturday when it was super warm for a weekend in February, we load up all the stale bread we could find and head to grant her wish.

Okay I have to say I must have a fear of ducks that I didn't know about. These animals are CRAZY! Well let me correct that. The ducks are hungry the seagulls ARE CRAZY!!!! I felt like I was surrounded by the finding nemo birds.."MINE! MINE! MINE!"

I literally was attacked by the damn birds. Attacked I tell you!

But I did manage to get a few sweet pics.

She had a really good time. We fed the ducks and then Michael talked me into doing the paddle boats. For which I was repayed with not being able to walk for three days. Totally worth it though. The site of all three of us on a paddle boat squeezed onto the front row in bright life vests had to be priceless. Until the seagulls figured out we had Doritos! Then it was "MINE MINE MINE" all over again.

Share

First Trip to the Circus

2011-02-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

We took Lily to her first circus this weekend with the Bauers! She loved it. Or at least the popcorn and dumbo icee associated with the circus trip. She did really well but of course wanted to sit on our lap the whole time even though we bought her a seat. Why do they not have booster seats at these coliseums? That would be perfect and restore circulation to my leg.

She was obviously one excited little girl! Her favorite was the elephants! Followed by the tigers. Apparently we should have just taken her to the zoo. The cool cirque type acts they had she was bored with.

The Bauers

Da Eads

Scott and I loved the circus where as our spouses could take it or leave it. It is funny how our outings always end up like that. I think the best part about being a parent is reliving all this stuff. And I still to this day remember going to the circus as a child!

Remember when they couldn't talk?

2011-02-17T21:37:00.000-05:00

Conversations with Lily:

:Grabs a Tinkerbell blanket out of my hands:
Lily: My Blanket Punk!
When did Debo move into my house?

:When I got out of the shower:
Lily: Mommy there is your butt!!
Mommy: Sweetie that is not my butt....

Lily: Mommy I want to hear the bumblebee song!
Mommy: :singing: I'm bring home a baby bumblebee....
Lily: No not THAT one! The "imma be imma be imma be" :in tune to Black eyed Peas Imma Be:
Black eyed peas? Really! In her defense it does sound like he is calling himself a bee.

Lily: Why it smell like poopy in here?
I am cooking.

Mommy: What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor? A photographer?
Lily: No Mommy I be a princess.
Obviously....

Lily: Mommy?
Mommy: Yes Lily
Lily: You are stinky.
Mommy: Why I am I stinky?
Lily :matter of factly: Because your a poopydoo.
Well that makes sense.

Share

Changes are coming....

2011-02-14T15:35:00.000-05:00

In honor of my birthday this month, changes are coming to Da Eads. I know the site has been neglected recently but with a focus on my photography, my writing focus has suffered. As I change and grow the direction this site goes will follow.

It is not that I do not thoroughly enjoy the writing aspect but we cannot have it all. In an ideal world I would not have a day job, I would snap pictures of my perfect two year old in perfect outfits, always perfectly smiling, and then write amazing memories on a daily basis of my cool and sheik life as a mod mom. But real life is not so grand. I have started spending a lot of time and energy on my family, my real job, and finally my love of all things pictures. I have been busy taking classes, investing in equipment and I am even considering a photography club. Yeah I am a nerd. I know. No judgment zone people!

So keep your eye out for a new site...maybe a new name. Maybe a new site with a new name! Maybe a complimentary site? I am a little flighty in my need for change.

Share