The Paper Mama Photo Challenge: Family.




This weeks guest judge: Joni from Six Cherries on Top
This weeks challengeFamily.
The challenge: The challenge will be based around your children. Take or find a photo of your baby (or kid… or puppy… or kitty) and your family.









Joni’s examples of “Family”:

My example of “Family”:

……………………..

Here are a couple links to some free photo editing software if you don’t already have something:
Picnik 
Picasa
Gimp
Pixlr

……………………..
There always has to be rules… I know, boring right? But, it’s to help me and you. ๐Ÿ™‚ Click on the link for more details… Each entry does need to link back to my blog… All photo entries need to be in by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on December 30th…
……………………..

Guess what…. after 4 challenges there will be a week long vote off of the winners from the 4 previous challenges… 2 more challenges to go…


Winners so far:
Holiday Colors: … Window to My Soul
Winter: … Letters to Little
Your Holiday: … no one yet …
Bokeh: … no one yet …

The Paper Mama

And, if you all get a moment…. I’d LOVE a vote! ๐Ÿ˜€
Vote For Us @ TopBaby Blogs! The Best Baby Blog Directory

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: family


AND, the winners of the "Winter" photo challenge are…

This weeks guest judge: ME!
This weeks challenge: Winter.
The challenge: The challenge will be based around your children. Take or find a photo of your baby (or kid… or puppy… or kitty) and what winter looks like to you. Picking out a Christmas tree. Snow. Rain?

Wow… you guys are getting SO good! It’s getting so freakin hard to pick winners! This weeks “winter” photos were especially difficult to choose from!

My top 5 picks:

  • First: Letters to Little

Why I chose this photo: “This week was ESPECIALLY difficult to choose a winner for the winter challenge. But, even with all the beautiful photos… I kept coming back to this one. I know I say this a lot, but it was so magical! This little baby outside in the cold winter weather. Everything is so soft and fuzzy except for those beautiful eyes: so sharp! Wonderful job!”

{Letter to Little}

Congrats! Please feel free to grab a “fact: I’m awesome … #1 winner” button below. Because: you ARE awesome! And, thank you SO much for participating!


The Paper Mama




  • Second: Window to My Soul
Why I chose this photo: “I don’t think I need to even explain why I chose this photo. Just look at those eyes! Gorgeous!”

{Window to My Soul}

  • Third: Bunch of Barrons
Why I chose this photo: “Once again, those eyes! I’m also loving how her wintery hoodie frames her face. This photo feels like winter!”

{Bunch of Barrons}

  • Fourth: The Art of Making a Baby
Why I chose this photo: “First, I love the edit. Second, what a cute kid!”

{The Art of Making a Baby}

  • Fifth: Super Piper Callie Docious
Why I chose this photo: “Bundled up baby. Snow falling. This photo is totally winter! I love how you can see all the little snowflake specks.”

{Super Piper Callie Docious}

Congrats to the top 5 winners! Great job, and please feel free to grab the top 5 button below! You’re all awesome!

The Paper Mama


My favorites (in no particular order):

{Tezzie}

{A Good Life}

{Finally Mom}

{DRW Photos}

{Mars Pics}

{Hot Coffee Mama}


If you’re one of my favorites you are more than welcome to grab a “Paper mama hearts me” button below!

The Paper Mama

……………………..

Here are a couple links to some free photo editing software if you don’t already have something:
Picnik 
Picasa
Gimp
Pixlr

……………………..
There always has to be rules… I know, boring right? But, it’s to help me and you. ๐Ÿ™‚ Click on the link for more details… Each entry does need to link back to my blog… All photo entries need to be in by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on December 30th…
……………………..

Guess what…. after 4 challenges there will be a week long vote off of the winners from the 4 previous challenges… 2 more challenges to go…


Winners so far:
Holiday Colors: … Window to My Soul
Winter: … Letters to Little …
Your Holiday: … no one yet …
Bokeh: … no one yet …

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: Uncategorized


Ruari teaches us how to ride a tricycle…

“Hey everyone! It’s Ruari! Look what I have! It’s my new tricycle!”

“It’s pretty cool, huh?”

“What? You want to know how to ride a tricycle?”

“First you lick it.”

“Then, you bite it!”

“I’m glad I could help! -Ruari”

Can I get a vote for my blog?
Vote For Us @ TopBaby Blogs! The Best Baby Blog Directory

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: Uncategorized


Wordless Wednesday: Eat

{I like watching Ruari eat. She’s so careful as she grabs at her food. Sometimes she’ll chase the food around with her finger… forgetting to use her thumb to help her pick it up! Ha. And, after dinner we usually find over half of the food she’s grabbed in her lap… But, she loves feeding herself!}

{I’m SO freaking tired you guys. I don’t work too much, but I did work this week and I’m exhausted. It’s retail and everyone’s out shopping. This means we’re busy! I love it, but I’m so tired! It’s Tuesday night and I HAVE to go to bed. I hope you all have a Happy Wednesday!}

{If you have a Wordless{ish} Wednesday, please feel free to post it below. And, feel free to link up to these blogs too… (Wordless Wednesday HQ, 5 Minutes For Mom, Parenting by Dummies, Jolly Mom, Go Graham Go, Supermom,  and My Wee View.). Happy Wednesday to all of you! Don’t forget to check the announcements above the posts. Giveaways and the photo challenges!}

{Can we get a vote for our blog?}
Vote For Us @ TopBaby Blogs! The Best Baby Blog Directory

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: Uncategorized


Last minute Target shopping…

Ruari and I did some quick last minute shopping at Target. I’m done shopping, but there were just a couple more things I needed. All done now! It was super windy and chilly… this meant that Ruari kept her hat on! She usually hates hats!

Some photo challenges for the photo above.
Shutter Love: Reason for the Season (Ruari is my reason for the season.) Simplicity: Love… I LOVE this girl!
ShutterLoveTuesdaysSweet Shot Day

Photography love...

She’s so cute!

If you thinks she’s so cute.. could we get a vote for our blog?
Vote For Us @ TopBaby Blogs! The Best Baby Blog Directory

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: Uncategorized


Winner winner chicken dinner!!!

Ruari’s birthday giveaway winner have been randomly chosen by the fantastic Random.org! Here they are:

First, the winner of the Paper Mama Shop giveaway is:

That would be Amy from A Good Life! Congrats!

Second, the winner of the Ashley Sisk print is:

That would be Jenn from 5 and a Highchair! Congrats!

Third, the winner of the Pear Tree Greetings giveaway is:

I will contact you through email.

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: Uncategorized


The First Birthday.

One year ago Saturday, December 18th, Laureli Lynn came into this world at 1 pm.

{Listening to your birthday song.}

{You were looking around the room during Happy Birthday looking at everyone like they’re crazy!!! Funny.}

Laureli,
On Saturday you turned one! I wouldn’t say the year flew by fast…. (lack of: sleep, showers, make-up, etc.) BUT, it’s been good. Since you turned 7 months: your personality REALLY started to appear. You weren’t just a baby anymore… you were a human. My little human. ๐Ÿ˜€ My little girl.

{Your FIRST taste of cake/sugar ever!}

{Ok, you like it!}

What have you been doing for the last month? Well…

– You are silly. REALLY silly. I’m afraid you have my sense of humor…
– Playing peekaboo is awesome. The way you play peekaboo: you turn your head away from me… then whip it around fast and wait for me to say, “Peekaboo!”.
– You LOVE LOVE LOVE books. You will sit and “read” a book for a good 20 minutes all on your own! Babbling and pointing at the words and pictures.

 
– The other day you asked me a question (in babble-talk). You sat there waiting for me to respond! When I did, you seemed pleased and went back to what you were doing.
– Every time we see a dog or a kitty on TV or in a picture you get VERY excited and point and babble!
– You talk SO much! We call it Aiden-ese (Aiden is our friends baby that would carry on babble conversations with anyone around). Talk talk talk.

– You like to dance.
– You’ve been cuddling…. sometimes. BUT, I just love it. It’s the best.
– You sort of want me to hold you 24/7… You cry when I walk away from you.
– Your new favorite toy: a stuffed Bernese Mountain dog that your grandma gave you for your birthday. You LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Cuddle it. Hug it. Rub your face on it. Pet it. We’ve named him Bernie.

– You absolutely LOVE to chew on my hair that his fallen out… Yeah, I’m still losing a lot of hair…. I find much hair in your poop.
– Speaking of poop: your poo is nasty! It’s no longer baby poop. Yuck.
– When I open the front door you get VERY excited. That’s the door your daddy comes home through and the door we leave the house through!
– Bath time is awesome.

– You think you’re pretty funny.
– You’ve started hiding things behind you back when I go to grab them! How did you learn that?
– If you put something in your mouth (suck as dirt) and I go to grab it… you crawl away FAST and clamp your mouth shut!
– Stick your finger in your nose and laugh.
– What you’re saying: Doggie (dah-geh), Angus (An-duh), Mama, Dada, Hi (also comes out as: heh), and I’m sure there are others that I just haven’t caught.

 – You wave at anything and everything.
– I think you weigh about 22 pounds.
– You love to eat: bananas, baby crackers, turkey in a jar (you like savory), sweet potato, satsuma mandarins, strawberries, avocado, and cake. Yeah, you thought cake was the best ever… don’t get used to it… you wont be eating much of that. ๐Ÿ˜€
– Bad food: Oatmeal (allergic reaction), applesauce, pear, carrots, and peas.
– Wearing size 5 diapers!
– Crawling like a maniac.
– You pull up on everything.
– You can stand without holding on to anything… but, you don’t think you’re quite ready yet.
– I swear you’ll be walking soon. You hold on to just a finger and walk (and fall).
– You have 6 teeth. 2 on the bottom and 4 on top!
– You are a little shy, but warm up with time.
– Your eyes are DEFINITELY blue.

– You share kisses (or you lick our faces, but we still love it).
– Raspberry blowing, fake coughing, high-pitch screaming… all sounds you love. ๐Ÿ˜€
– Still addicted to your pacifier… that’s ok. We currently use your pacifier to keep you from eating absolutely EVERYTHING you touch.
– You HATE getting your clothes changed. That includes your diaper.

The birthday party:

I made the paper banners. VERY simple to do. Would you guys like a tutorial? The lollipops are photos that I printed out and glued on sticks. You can buy the photo in my shop for $5 for your birthday party/wedding here!

The little ribbon banner tutorial can be found here.

{Mama made this birthday cake for you, with the help of Grammy.}

{Mmmm! Cake!}

I got the idea for this rainbow cake after I read Lacey’s (Our Life) rainbow cupcake post.

{Rainbow cake!}

{Gumdrop tutorial here.}

{Opening the birthday presents! See, there’s Bernie: new favorite toy!}

Look who showed up for Ruari’s birthday: Amy and Parker from A Good Life! I’m SO happy they showed up! She’s so sweet. If you haven’t seen their blog yet, you probably should go check it out right now!

Look, it’s my dried up and dead Christmas tree! It’s completely dead. Well… I guess that’s what we get for buying a tree from a grocery store. ๐Ÿ™‚

Happy birthday baby girl!!!

Would anyone be interested in a giveaway of the birthday decorations? Such as the banners and lollipops.

Ruari would LOVE a vote for her birthday!
Vote For Us @ TopBaby Blogs! The Best Baby Blog Directory

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Categories: diy