I have been busy

In my free time I have been busy painting pictures for others. I just finished one order that was 3 canvases with each letter of the monogram on its own canvas. I painted puppy dogs before Christmas along with another Monogram painting. Sometimes I get stressed becuase I am afraid the person requesting the painting will not like it, but once I hear thier reaction, I am pleased! Anyways, here are just a few of the paintings that I have done recently. I have another request for 3 different paintings I need to get started on in the comimg weeks. I will be sure to post those when I finish.

Here is one of the puppy dogs I did for baby Sam's nursery

Emma Kate's Monogram for her big girl room

This is the monogram painting I just finished, each letter on a different canvas

Sickly Girl

This is from today, she is absolutely pitiful! The dr. ran tests and thankfully it isn't pneumonia (which they were worried about) or bronchitis, just a nasty virus that we hope doesn't get worse. Looks like we will be spending a lot of time indoors this weekend.

Snow Day!

Yesterday, all the news stations were talking about how we were suppose to get 2-4 inches of snow. I couldn't believe it. They were not saying this was a chance of snow but we were definitely going to get a couple of inches. I was so excited!

Well the weather man wasn't quite right (surprise, surprise). We did wake up to snow this morning but it was very little and has now disappeared. Supposedly it was much worse in the city. I still bundled Ansley up and we headed outside this morning. I wanted to see what she thought of the snow. She really didn't care too much about it, but was more excited to just be outside; however, it was in the mid 20's and I didn't want to stay outside for very long. Here are some cute pictures of Ansley, ENJOY!

I love this picture (below)

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop

Wish you a Happy Birthday! We love you!!!!

2 year check up

Today Ansley had her 2 year check-up. She did surprisingly(is that a word?) well considering she ended up having to get 1 shot. Normally, Ansley gets upset as soon as they call her name and we beginning walking back. But not today, she just walked with us and then stood on the scale (which she loves because there is a Curious George sticker on it) and then she got measured and we went to our room. I had 2 things I wanted to talk to the doctor about, Ansley's speech and eating. For those of you who have met Ansley, you know she is a very laid back girl. She likes to sit back and take it all in. She has always been advanced with her motor skills but lacked in the verbal skills (this is just what I have thought). According to the doctor she is right on track! YEAH!!! She said if she wasn't saying at least 20 words and not beginning to put 2 words together then they would be worried. Considering she was saying 15 words at 18 months we have definitely passed the 20 word mark. So that is great! With all this worrying, I know she is going to wake up one day and just start talking, and then we will not be able to get her to stop :)

As for the eating issues, she said she is fine. She was happy to hear she likes fruits and veggies but we are working to get her to eat some meat. I just try hard to get her to eat other things so she doesn't end up like me. I am not a big meat lover and I was a very picky eater growing up (still am).... But according to the scale, Ansley is doing just fine!

The best part is.....we don't have to go back until her 3 yr check-up! YEAH!!! Obcourse I am sure we will be back there for something before then :)

Well here are the latest stats:

Weight: 29 lbs. (it was probably more like 28 since she was fully clothed and had her shoes on), she is still in the 50-75 percentile

Height: 35 1/4 inches, in the 90 percentile (dropped from 95%)

Can't believe our little baby is now 2

Ansley had a big birthday December 26th, she turned 2! I really can't believe it has already been 2 years since she made her grand-appearance into this world. She has brought us so much joy and happiness and a new found love for things we would normally would over-look. She is a typical 2 year old who LOVES to say "No" to everything and is so sassy. But she is the sweetest most loving child. She is an observer, who doesn't talk much, but is extremely smart. I think she is going to be creative like her mommy & Mimi. She will sit and do a puzzle all day and loves to take things apart to then have to put it all back together again. She absolutely adores her daddy! And would much rather be with her daddy then me. It doesn't bother me, and makes me so happy to see how much they love each other.

I am very interested to see how much Miss Priss has grown. We go to her 2 year checkup next week so I will post her stats then.

Here are some pictures from this past year as our baby grew into a toddler.

Love you sweet girl.

December 26, 2007 (just turned 1)

January 2008

February 2008

March 2008

April 2008

May 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008

September 2008

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008 (the day before she turned 2)

Christmas with both families

Christmas with the Mautz Family:

We left for Athens on Tuesday and had a wonderful Christmas with family. On Christmas Eve Rob, Matt & I went to church while Mimi & Pops watched Ansley :) We ended up going to the Children's service and it was quite comical but sweet at the same time. It made me think of the day that Ansley will be one of those kids singing on Christmas Eve for everyone...

On Christmas day we woke up early to open gifts. We needed to leave Athens by 12 so we could get to my parents house in Atlanta to have Christmas with the Willson Family. There were a ton of gifts under the tree so it took us quite some time to open them all. Ansley was spoiled rotten by Santa & everyone else :) As for Rob and I, our favorite gift from Mimi was a painting she did of Ansley from Harbor Springs. For those of you who don't know, Mimi (Rob's mom) is an amazing artist (we have several paintings of hers hanging in our house)! She has never done a portrait before, but all I can say is WOW! I started to cry when I saw the painting, because I knew she had never painted someone's portrait so it meant a lot to me for her to do that. This is such a special gift and we can't thank you enough Mimi! I will definitely take a picture of it, for you all to see.

We want to thank Mimi, Pops, Uncle Boo, and Gammie for a wonderful Christmas. We love you!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the Mautz Family Christmas. I took a ton so I am only posting my favorites :)

Ansley concentrating on her MarkersAnsley loves to wear Mimi's glasses

Christmas Eve lunch out at the Athens Country Club

Uncle Boo & Ansley

Christmas Eve after Church

Opening Ansley's birthday gifts from the Mautz's....notice the glasses (she is going to have the worse vision)

One of her favorite gifts from Mimi & Pops (AKA Santa)

such a happy girl!

playing with her "Tickle Me Elmo"

walking in Mimi's shoes

Ansley's very own high-heel shoes

Christmas with the Willson Family:

After we opened gifts at the Mautz's, we drove to Atlanta to have Christmas with my family. I know it is always hard for the family that doesn't get Christmas morning, but it is still great to be able to spend Christmas with both families. We are very fortunate that our families only live a little over an hour away from one another.

When we got to my parent's house, Great-Granmommy, Kelly, Brent, Madison & Hailey were there. Rob has never met Hailey and it had been a year since he had seen Kelly, Brent & Madison so it was great to all be together again. Madison was my dad's little helper this year, she distributed all the gifts to everyone. She did such a great job! Ansley didn't want to have anything to with that part and just wanted to snoop at what was under the blanket. Santa (AKA Nan & Pop Pop) had left a kitchen for Ansley. Madison & Ansley were both excited about this gift and really didn't care too much about the others, they were busy playing in the kitchen. Ansley and Madison get along so well, they really are like sisters. They do not get to see each other often but they are best of friends!

We are so fortunate to have such loving parents who still want to give us special gifts and spoil our children for us :) We love you so much!

We were definitely all wiped once the day was over. And to think, we still had more gifts to open the next day for Ansley's birthday....

And here are some of my favorite pictures from the Willson Family Christmas:

sweet Hailey

Me & Hailey

Ansley & Maddie checking out the kitchen

two peas-in-a-pod

Madison giving the tree "huggies"

giving kisses (notice Madison giving some tongue action, HA!)

Hailey chuckles like Ansley, she is just so sweet!