Funny Bunny!

Only in the country can something like this happen. I mean, I walk outside my door, and there is
a beautiful little baby bunny sitting there in the grass! But the crazy part is, she didn't scurry off at the sight of me. She just...kind of stayed there, looking all content, and kind of curious. I was able to get so many good pictures of her! I was so excited, because this was like the cutest baby bunny I have ever seen.

You may be wondering how I knew she was a girl. Well, you'll see when you look at the pictures, she just looked so...pretty! There's no way this bunny was a boy.

I have a soft spot for bunnies. I never call them rabbits. They are all bunnies. Once, my dad and I saved a small newborn bunny that fell in our pool. It would fit in the palm of my hand. I saw it struggling, screamed, and my dad came and skimmed it out. Then I prepared a small cup of water and lettuce and put it next to the bush where he huddled all day. I swam all day nearby to give him space. I was so sad he wasn't eating or drinking, but he was breathing and just stayed there in the shade. Then, at 5:00 in the afternoon, his mama came hopping over with his brother. And they all snuggled together and jumped in circles, and then hopped off together. It was one of the happiest things I ever witnessed.

Another time, in 9th grade Biology, we had a bunny that I named Pinkie because he was albino and had pink ears, eyes, and nose. I loved him. I took him home for the summer and took care of him. Turns out...he hated me. He scratched and attacked me whenever I went near him. I still love bunnies, though.

Anyway, back to our photogenic lawn bunny. Here she is.




I told you she was cute!! And so girly, right?

Look, she even has little front bunny teeth coming in!


I think I want to take her in and adopt her. I will feed her carrots and take good care of her.

Maybe she's a friend of the Easter Bunny's? Dropping off some early goodies?

Love & Dress Up,

DR Mama

Pwetty Babygirl

Recently, my friend Kate are her BF came to visit for the weekend. And took adorable pictures of my babygirl. Well, they took pictures. Let's be honest, Reilly made them adorable. Ha! Teasing.

Anyway, I just love this picture of her. I was getting dressed, ready for her photo session with our family photographer. Okay, fine, she's not really just our photographer, but Reilly is the first baby on her homepage. And she's known Reilly since before she was born. And then with her first tiny little itsy bitsy newborn shoot. I can't believe we only have one more photo session left! When Reilly is ONE. Anywho, I digress.

I was dressing her, combing her hair, talking to her, telling her how pretty she was, putting on her tiny shoes. And Kate got this picture.

This is how she looks at me every day. This is how she watches me while I get ready in the morning, while I put my makeup on, while I fold the laundry. Always watching, always learning. I just love her. I'm so happy that I have this picture of how my baby looks at me.

I could stare at her all day. Okay, maybe I will.

Love & Pwetty Pwofile,

Dirt Road Mama

My Poor Girls

My poor little babydoll face is teething. Look at that face. I can't even deal. I want to just give her ice pops or something. She's not crying all day or anything, but she is fussier than normal in the afternoon. And she is chewing on anything and everything, more than normal.

I mean, everything.

My poor baby.

My poor breasts.

I know. Say a prayer for me. All my girls are suffering. Owie.


Love & Mama's Have the Highest Pain Tolerance in the Universe,

Dirt Road Mama

I Didn't Doubt You for a Second!

This is Rei Rei with one of her new balls!

She made this face as soon as I picked up my camera. And it was hilarious.


Then she dropped her little square block. And shocked me once again, when she did this in order to get it herself.
Look at where her foot is! She such a limber little bean.

She was stuck in this position for a little bit, but she wasn't upset at all so I just let her go to see what she would do.

And then, she got it. And gave me this little face.

Hey, Mama. I toldja I could do it! You didn't think I was gunna get it didja?

Yes I did baby! I knew you could do it!

Okay, well I'm glad. But now that I reached my block, I'm kinda stuck. Wanna help a sista out here?

Sure thing, girlfriend. We still have time to learn such things.

But I sure am proud of you, pumpkin muffin!

Love & Princess PJs,

Dirt Road Mama

My Favorite Time of Day

Who knew that my favorite time of day would ever in a million billions years every have anything remotely to do with morning? Not me, I tell ya.

When Reilly was just a wittle wee one, I first realized this phenomena known as "a mama's lack of sleep". And subsequently, the blending of morning and night when baby is young. And before you know it, you are waking up at the crack of dawn before baby is up to get a start on the day, have coffee, take a minute to reflect. And suddenly, you are a morning person? What happened? In my mind, I'm still a sleep-till-noon teenager, except now I'm married to my boyfriend. Like, for sure.

Anyway, somewhere in this tangle of motherly changes, morning became my favorite time of day. A very specific part of the morning, however. I am sitting in the living room, watching the monitor and catching up on my emails, while I sip my coffee. I start hearing the teeny tiny high pitched squeals of the little pip squeak. I recently started calling her pip squeak, and I love it. Cause she squeaks now when she's happy. And, you know, she's pippy.

So she kicks and kicks, and then lifts her feet into the hair and stares at them. Then she scratches her sheets with her fingers, and stares at the sound it is making. Then she says "Da-da-da-dad. Dad. Ahhhhh-da-da-da-daaaaaa." Over and over and over. Until I just want to run in there and get her cause I miss her.



So I go into her room, and she hears me immediately. Sometimes her door makes a little creak, sometimes it's my feet shuffling. But she stops whatever noises she is babbling, and totally freezes, and turns her head toward the door. By the time I peek my head over the crib, she had a huge grin on her face. I love that even though she can't speak, she knows when she hears that noise in the morning, that her mama's coming to pick her up and snuggle her.



Then I change her, and then we play on the bed for as long as she'll giggle. Then she starts to remember that she hasn't had any milk in 12 hours, and starts her little milk whine. And then I breastfeed her, while she works on waking up for the day.

It's my favorite time...playing, snuggling, starting our day. Seeing her excited face. There is nothing better. Okay, one might be tied. Cooking dinner, with my glass of wine, while baby plays, and we wait for Daddy to come home. That's a close second, what with the wine and cooking and all.

Love & Morning Coffee,

Dirt Road Mama

This Face.

It makes me melt.
In all different kinds of ways.

Even though every time I say, "Mama?", she either laughs or says "Dada!" back to me,
this face...


this face says "Mama".

She is speaking right to my soul with those pretty blue eyes.

Love & Babyface,

Dirt Road Mama

A Painting for Babygirl

The idea for this came from the need to have Babygirl's clothes nearby when I am dressing or changing her. Sometimes, when we're going somewhere special, I have the outfit she will wear already planned. And this outfit ended up being hung on her crib, laid on the bed, etc. I felt I needed to do her adorable clothes justice - give them a place to live besides the closet.

Then I thought, why not make something that will grow with her? Why not paint her something that she will have always, and can hang her first day of school outfit on? Her prom dress? Her graduation gown? Her wedding dress?

Great, now I'm crying.

[Mommy and Daddy I'm sorry I got married and made you feel the way I do right now! I'm sorry you have to experience it TWICE because you have 2 daughters! I will be there to console you/get you drunk on Sissy's wedding day!]

Moving on...where was I?

Ah yes, my painting. So then, after a bit of planning and talking with Hubby and finding the perfect piece of wood, this was born.

First of all, go ahead an faint at that dress. Reilly will be sporting it at Aunt Mimi's bridal shower. Mima and Poppy got it for her for Christmas. Okay, wake up, and I'll continue.

Anyway, I really love how it came out. Her walls and room are sage and neutrals, so I like how this added pink to her room. And now it usually used as a display piece for my favorite outfit of hers. I think when her first birthday nears, I will hang up the outfit she came home from the hospital in. Just to torture myself. Then I'll go ahead and have another baby. [Hubby - you in?]

I read the quote somewhere, I think it was part of a poem. I just loved it. It reminded me of her and her disposition. It reminds me of God's grace in her, and how He protects her every step she takes. And how her eyes are a little peek into her soul. Her pretty little sweet, sweet soul.

I made one more of these for a friend of mine who had a babygirl. I knew she would love it as much as I do. I love when I can paint something for someone and just know they will love it.

This part, Hubby picked out! I explained to him the vision, and said I wanted it to have "a crystal doorknob". He was so confused. He didn't know doorknobs were made of crystal. I said "No, not actual crystal." Then he came around and understood.

I think Hubby's favorite kind of crafts that I make are ones that include the sentence, "Honey, I need to you to go to Home Depot and get ________." Even if the blank is "crystal doorknob". He still loves it. And one day, he came home with this gorgeous one! I was so pumped.

If anyone would like me to paint one, I would love to! Email me and we can discuss pricing. They are totally custom, so I could change the quote, change the colors, or personalize. I could even make it boyish with a quick change of doorknob/hook! Cause you can trust that my future baby boy is so betting on of these.

Love & Dresses,

Dirt Road Mama

Polka Dot Chic

Mama says I look chic in this outfit.
I don't know what chic means, but I like the sound of it!

Hi, nice to meet you, I am chic.

[On a completely separate note, this is a face I have been trying to catch on film for quite some time now. This is Reilly's poopin' face. It is very distinct, as you can see. Definitely not a smile...that girls a-poopin. And I happen to think it's adorable. Over and out.]

Also...get ready for 7 month pics tomorrow! 2 words: CHRISTMAS DRESS.

Love & Black Headbands,

Dirt Road Mama

Alert the Media!

Reilly's hair is long enough to hold bows!

Kind of.
No, sweet pea, dresses are for twirling, not sucking...

Yes, I mean you, peanut.

What's cuter than Smiley Reilly?


Smiley Reilly IN A BOW.

In a plaid dress with ruffley sleeves.

I love dressing up my little doll face!

And no, despite what it looks like, the bow is not glued to her head. It really is hangin' on to some whispy golden hairs!

On a different note...this little bow-wearing-Babydoll is 7 months old today!!
7 whole months that I've been her Mama. Best title I've ever had.
7 month post to come soon!