Biltmore

We decided to go, then changed our minds, then decided to go last-minute...to Charlotte, NC for spring break at the beginning of March. We literally packed that morning, drove, and spent 3 nights and 4 days in that area. It was BEAUTIFUL, and had mountains (both Jules and I were pretty excited about that). We did a lot of fun things in Charlotte itself, but also took a full day to drive out to Asheville to go to the Biltmore Estate (a Vanderbilt mansion, and the largest private home in the U.S.). It was definitely worth the trip. Jules took tons of pictures around the estate (none allowed inside), and we traded off carrying the Wheeze.

Julie and I decided we will move here when I retire. We already put down 40 bucks for tickets. We consider that a down payment. Now, if we live 8,000,000 more years, we'll have it all paid off.

I would like to thank some random stranger who allowed us the very rare opportunity to be in a picture all together.

Eloise is trying to look all the way to the top of the Biltmore mansion. I don't think I could do it, either.

That's not a cup of coffee, Bishop, I swear.

Beautiful...also a long hike back to our car.

Isn't Julie's photo work amazing? You should hire her...

The staircases were really cool. However, Julie has two unique fears--stairs and mascots. Since I ratted her out, I'm scared of sharks, drowning, spiders and my new found fear of possums. 

NBD (no big deal), that's just my backyard.

One of Julie's great photos. I love this.

Oh and this one, too. I wish I could take Julie now that all the flowers are in bloom. But, she made this one amazing, anyway.

Cool photo...but I'm not sure why really rich people liked having statutes of random people all through their gardens back in the day.

Taking a little break. The gardens and house was a lot of walking and Eloise is getting heavier, everyday.

Inside the greenhouse

Well, Wheeze, if you won't take a nap, I will.
(Jules adds: this is a sweet picture, and then you added a sassy comment? sheesh!)

Did I mention you should hire Julie? (she adds: there were SO many different types of orchids, a whole room full of varieties. It was amazing!)

Can't imagine what this place would look like in full bloom. It was already unreal.

This is simply the greenhouse. NBD (see earlier comment for NBD definition).

The only knock I have about being married to a photographer is that I have way too many photos of myself. Sorry that you all have to look at my mug so often instead of Julie's beautiful face.

Going to Biltmore was kind of like experiencing Downton Abbey...not that I watch that show.

Eloise and her Best Friends

If you ever see Eloise, it's no secret that she LOVES stuffed animals. We have a pretty big collection for her already, and keep introducing them one at a time. She seems to love each new one we give to her just the same (except for Mickey - he is her all-time favorite buddy right now), and seems to be recognizing some of them. She gets so excited when we hold one out to her, and she will promptly grab on to it and bring it to her mouth (yes, we're at that stage. Everything, everything, goes in to her mouth).
Well, apparently I was the same way as a child. OH, how I wish I had the comparison photo to show you. But there's this iconic (in my family) picture of me as a baby, sitting on the couch and surrounded by stuffed animals. To the point that I kind of blend in with them and you have to play 'find the baby.' Last week I got the idea that I wanted to take a similar picture of Eloise, and then when I find that picture again (Mom? Dad?), I will frame them side-by-side. For now, just enjoy Eloise surrounded by all of her buddies.

She was pretty much in heaven, surrounded by all of these friends

Find the baby!

'Mom, I LOVE this! Can we do this every day?'

And a photo with her teddy bear we stuffed for her (same one in all her month photos). She's getting to be as big as it now - wow!

Eloise Jayden: 4 Months Old

We finally had a sunnier day (= natural light coming in to our house), so we stripped Eloise down to her onesie and tights after church, and did a quick photo shoot (after filling her belly up, of course). Her 4-month birthday was on Friday - FOUR MONTHS? Where in the world did time go? We can't believe she's in her fifth month of life already, but she is just getting more and more fun, and more and more exhausting, all at once. She has been an active girl since she was born, and just keeps getting more so.
I don't feel like she's changed TOO much in the last month, but keeps filling out a little more, and getting SO TALL!
In the last week or so, she has been wanting to roll over to her tummy, but not quite making it there yet. She just arches her back, rolls on to her side, and just can't get her little arm tucked under enough to do a complete flip. But she is determined. Every time we put her down, she seems to make the attempt.
She also SAT UP ON HER OWN for the first time yesterday (so, technically in her 5th month), and did it two more times. Dylan called her his 'little gorilla'.
We decided we need more videos of her, too, so we've taken a few in the last couple days, trying to get her little laughs (still few and far between) on camera. Not a ton of luck yet, but she was laughed so much today while I pretended to eat her tummy (she loved the Nom-nom-nom sounds I was making).
Here are my favorite photos from this afternoon!

Possibly a favorite picture ever of her. Peeking over Daddy's shoulder at me while I set things up for her pictures.

Her face doesn't often look like this, so it was strange to see this as one of the pics I got, but I think it's pretty adorable and happy

Haha...a more normal face for her

Still loves clasping her little hands - such a lady :)

Smiling at Daddy's antics behind my head

Mmmm...love this girl

(I think I have a picture like this every month so far...her flailing out her body, trying to scoot away from the photo shoot)

Williamsburg Trip: Second Cousins!

On our last morning there, we snapped a few pictures of the little ones together (oh! I just realized we never got a picture of the four of us! oh no!). Eloise has some growing to do to catch up to Sofia! It was cute to see them 'interact' - meaning, poking each other unintentionally in the ears and eyes.

Beginning of the Eloise steamroll...

...agh! Practicing rolling. Haha.

Thanks again for having us, Chris and Karim and Sofia! We LOVED spending time with you, and are so glad we drove up there. You are GREAT hosts!