Ava is walking!!

Today I had to run a few errands and Ava went to her grandmother's house (MaMi) for a few hours.  When I got back Muncle Matthias told me that Ava had taken her first steps to him!!!!  He was excited that one day he will be able to tell Ava that her first steps were to get to him!  I wanted to see so we all knelt on the floor and sure enough she took about 1 1/2 more steps to get to her MaMi!  I was holding back tears as my little baby concentrated so hard to move those chubby little legs.  It was so cute.  I can't believe how fast all this is going by! 
When Gabriel got home we tried to convince her to do it again and again.  When I would try to record her she became less interested in walking and more interested in the fastest way to the camera, crawling.  So when bath time rolled around (she LOVES bath time) we convinced her to take a couple of little steps to the tub.  I have a short video below.  If you watch the video turn it down because I, for some odd reason, am VERY loud!  Hope you all enjoy!
My apologies for the sideways video!

Lent Day 2

I wanted to share with you a couple of things today.  I decided to say the rosary everyday during Lent.  For a couple reasons.  a.  because I don't normally do it b.  because I really wanted to know how  c. because my soul really needs it and finally  d. because I feel this will bring me closer to where/who I would like to be.  I have many books that teach you how to say the rosary and they have been helpful but it can get a little confusing when you get to the mysteries (for me anyway).  So, I turned to Google and I found an amazing website that I plan on sharing in our next RCIA class and, of course, with you! 

This site is perfect for those just learning how to say the rosary.  There is a video with peaceful beautiful pictures that scroll by as someone guides you and says the rosary with you.  You can choose to say the rosary individually or worldwide.  At any given point, if you choose the worldwide option, there can be 100's of people saying the rosary with you, all from your home computer!!  There is a screenshot below that I took a few moments ago and you can also see where it highlights in green where you are on your beads.  I am truly excited about this!!  You should give it a try, it doesn't take very long and leaves you a little bit more at peace each time you do it!  I hope I can continue this even after Lent is over.  I really think this is going to be a great help!

Here is the link to the website and the screenshot I took.  If you try it please let me know what you think of it!  Hope that everyone has a wonderful day!

http://www.comepraytherosary.org/



"It's not the load that breaks you down - it's the way you carry it"



I saw this quote today on someones facebook status.  It really caught my eye and made this morning one a good one for me.  A morning where I really sat here and thought about what it meant and how it applies to me and my life. 

I think sometimes we are our own worst critic.  When we receive forgiveness from GOD he lets our sins go and never looks back on them.   If GOD then can let them go and forgive us completely then why is it so hard to forgive ourselves?  There is another saying that GOD never gives you more than you can handle.  That is very true.  It's just that sometimes where GOD has forgiven our sins WE continue to carry them with us.  When a hardship or a rough day comes along we just pile that on top of our already heavy "load" and it continues to pile up and before long we have accumulated an unbearable load. 

Today is a new day, tomorrow will be too. 

We should all try and unload the things that already have been forgiven and start each day fresh with nothing on our shoulders.  We can't change what happened yesterday, an hour ago or a minute ago.  But we can change what is happening now.

So, I challenge myself today to let go of the things that HE has long forgotten about.  I challenge myself to look ahead instead of backward.  I challenge myself to love myself as the person I am right now and not the person that I was then.  Afterall, HE doesn't even remember the person I was then.  He only knows me as I am now, with Him.

Celtic Woman

I am so bummed right now.  Last year I promised myself that I would keep up with this years tour schedule for these amazing women.  Well, time got away with me as usual and of course they are going to be performing in Fayetville, Ashville, Charlotte & Durham in the next 3 weeks.  Not in enough time for me to save and buy a ticket.  I am sure it's going to be wonderful and I am sure they will return next year.  Until then, here is a little clip!

Dream Baby Dream

I took some pictures the other day of sweet little baby Ethan.  I have this one that stood out to me that I love and just thought I would share it!  Dream Baby Dream.

Sleep, Baby, sleep,

Dream, Baby, dream,

Dance in the starlight,

Swing from a moonbeam

Imagine the things

You'll grow up to be,

Create your own world

In still reverie.

Play on the playgrounds

You're meant to explore,

Sail all your sailboats

To faraway shores

The future is yours, Baby,

To have and to hold,

Take hold of your fancies;

Be strong and be bold!

Sleep, Baby, Sleep,

Swing from a moonbeam,

Tomorrow's your future,

So Dream, Baby, Dream

Few things are sweeter.

As I type this right now I have this little Angel asleep on my chest.  There are very few things in life that are as sweet as a baby.  At times I am just about as frustrated as a person can be.  But as I sit here right now and look at her little face, her little hands and watch her eyelashes flutter from the beginnings of beautiful baby dreams I can't imagine a world or a life, MY life, without this little girl.  All things bad in the world melt away when she looks at me and smiles or lays dreaming in my lap.  There simply can't be anything in this world better than this.

Reading for the FIRST time!

After this LONG wait I finally have it in my possession!!! Ree Drummonds "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" book. I have been waiting on this book to come out for some time now and couldn't be more excited that I have it. I read a little tonight and I realized that I was going to sit here all night until I finished it and that's just not acceptable! You know those times where you have a really really good book and you read through it so fast because it's so good and you just can't put it down? Then, when you read that last page you give the *sigh* because you know now that it's over? NOW WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?!?! The book is over and you have read it and it was the best book ever but now it will never be the same again. Why can't I just read it again you ask? Well, I can, and I do, and I will! But it's something about your first time reading something. You are surprised at every turn of the page. When you read it a second or third time you already know what is coming.

I remember when I met my husband and his family I felt like I HAD to read Narnia in order to understand and participate in conversations with his handsome little hobbit brothers (I already had LOTR down). I read the first few pages and was hooked. I believe I read the entire series in lightning speed. I couldn't put it down, not just because I loved the little handsome hobbit brothers so much but because it was REALLY good! Then when it was over I was disappointed. Not disappointed because the book wasn't good, it was wonderful and I have since read it over again! But, disappointed that I will never get to read Narnia for the FIRST time again.

Anyway, I feel like I have rambled on a little much tonight but as you can tell I am excited! I will let you know when I finish it. I will try and take my time although I know that's probably not going to happen.



Until next time!

OK, so I am not a very good blogger. It's been since October since my last post! I am going to really try to get better at this. Since October I have started doing photography on the side. Although I am not the best photographer it's still lots of fun for me. You can see what I have been up to here at DuSablonPhotography.webs.com. It's been educational for me too. The more pictures I take the more I learn! I have my first infant portrait session next week and couldn't be more excited. I have so many ideas built up for this little guy that I am going to have to take a list with me to be sure I don't miss anything. I am also a little nervous. I always get worried that they won't like them. I realize that I have different tastes and sometimes they aren't the same tastes as others. I just want them to be happy with the pictures I take.

We also just moved into our new home this past weekend. We are going to be SO happy here. We have a ton more room and we are just far enough out of town to make the 3 of us happy. We even have a fireplace!!!! Which we hope that we won't be using it for too long because we are super ready for spring to pop up!

I will promise that I will try my very best to post as much as possible. For two reasons really. One, for myself because I think blogging can be a bit therapeutic in ways, I read my sister-in-laws blog everyday because it always gives me so much inspiration for my day! She is really uplifting. And two, for you all who follow this blog. Again, my apologies for not posting in so long!

The Pumpkin Princess

I took these this weekend. Ava's first Halloween pictures! I'm sorry there are so many but I couldn't pick a favorite! Hope you enjoy!

Lucky Lucky Me!

My husband, Gabriel, was cooking on the grill today and I snapped some pictures of him. I am still getting into the whole photography thing. I'm no good and I don't know a thing about shutter speed or ISO or any of that jazz. I am more of a "point and click" type girl. But anyway, I looked at this picture and just fell in love with him all over again!

A Day At the Beach!

Yesterday my friend Elaine and I took a day trip to the beach. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't resist a few pictures! We stopped on the way in Kinston at Neuse Sport Shop, a family tradition of mine, and got these WONDERFUL floppy hats! I love love love my floppy hat! An added bonus to the hat is the little turquoise accents that happen to match my shoes!! It really takes so little to please me doesn't it?!?! Anyway here are a few pictures of my beautiful friend Elaine and my awesome floppy hat that matches my shoes!!

Cute Kid of the Day Award Goes to.....

LEO!!

My sweet little nephew at the softball game the other night. He was the most darling little subject around and I couldn't resist a few pictures of the little guy! Enjoy!!!

Our First Smile Caught on Camera!

Ava's favorite spot in the house is the changing table! Don't have any idea why but she loves it. In fact a couple of days ago she was fussy unless she was on it so we picked up the changing pad and moved it into the living room and left her on it. Daddy was on diaper duty the other day and ran for the camera and got her smiling on camera finally....we have been trying to catch one for a while and haven't been near the camera when it happens. She smiled very early on though, mostly in her sleep but in the last few weeks she would smile AT you! It's so cute I wanted to share!

Like Mother like.....Brother?!?!

My previous post was about how much our little girl looked like me. The two pictures are almost identical...the pose, the eyes, nose, they even have both of their little tongues poking out. But my husband looked at the back of the picture and the date on the back is July 1988!! So the picture is of my then 4-5 month old little brother!! I couldn't believe it! So my little one, while she still looks like me and her daddy a bit, mostly resembles her Uncle Ashley!

Like Mother Like Daughter!

Ok so everyone always says how much our little one looks like her daddy. And that she does. She has his nose, his little cheeks, and she is a master at the "serious look." I was looking at her the other day and realized that she may look a little like me. So, my mom said that I needed to find my baby pictures and I would be amazed at the resemblance between my sweet Ava and myself as a baby. I found this picture of me and it was taken July 1982 so I had to be a week old baby or so because I was born July 26....then I went through Ava's pictures and came across one that was SHOCKING! I can't believe how much she looks like me...I FINALLY see it! We even posed the same!! I was so excited and when I showed them to Gabriel he was amazed at how much we looked alike.

It is so amazing to have her here and discover all these new things every day. I thought she looked JUST like her daddy, and at times she still does, but I am glad to know that I had a little something to do with her too!

Me!! July 1982_____________________________Ava Rose June 2010

Weddings, Baptisms & Ordinations!

This past weekend was a busy but wonderful weekend. There was happiness all around!! First we had a lovely wedding for my little brother, he isn't exactly little but he IS younger! It was beautiful. Ashley (my brother) and Britney (his wife) have been together for 5 years and they have a little one, Jake (my nephew). The wedding was at the Paul V. Berry park here in Wilson N.C. and the reception was at a beautiful school auditorium just across the street. The school has been there for many many years and has just recently been renovated. It made for some beautiful pictures!

So congrats to you Ashley & Britney! The wedding was perfect and you two looked amazing! May GOD continue to bless you and your family! We love you both!

Next on our list of festivities this weekend was the baptism of our sweet little girl. It was a very special baptism because her grandfather was ordained a Deacon in our Church Saturday and was able to baptize Ava yesterday!! It is truly a special event all on it's on but having her grandfather do the ceremony made it all the more special for us. We were also lucky to have such wonderful friends and family attend the baptism. Being that the wedding was the day before we had lots of family down and they were also able to come for Ava's special day.

After the baptism we had a reception in the church school gym for Michel (my father-in-law) for his ordination. It was filled with food, family and beautiful little people!!

So congratulations Ashley, Britney & Jake. You are a beautiful family and we love you very much.

Congratulations to my wonderful father-in-law for your ordination. It was truly a honor to have you baptize Ava. It made our day twice as special!

And congratulations little Ava! You are a perfect little girl and we thank GOD for you each and every day!

And a very very special thank you to Lori & Ann and the girls for being here for us (Ashley & Britney too)! It means so much. And thank you Mark & Liz for coming down and spending this time with us too, you are great friends and we can't wait to get together again SOON!!

Ordinary Miracles

It's not that unusual
When everything is beautiful

It's just another ordinary miracle today.

The sky knows when it's time to snow

You can't teach a seed to grow

It's just another ordinary miracle today.

Life is like a gift they say

Wrapped up for you everyday

Open up and find a way

To give some of your own.

Isn't it remarkable

Like every time a raindrop falls

It's just another ordinary miracle today.

Birds in winter have their fling

Will always make it home by spring

It's just another ordinary miracle today.

When you wake up everyday

Please don't throw your dreams away

Hold them close to your heart

Cause we are all part of the ordinary day

It seems so exceptional

That things just work out after all

It's just another ordinary miracle today

Sun comes up and shines so bright

And disappears again at night

It's just another ordinary miracle today.

Our Brand New "Happy Distraction"

Our very first Happy Distraction! I didn't ever think I could love something or someone this much. She is such a blessing. Children make you a brand new person.

As of today our little one is a month old!! I can't believe it's already been that long. It's true what they say about how time flies with children.

So for those who haven't met our beautiful Ava yet here are some pictures. Ava Rose DuSablon born May 21, 2010 at 1:37a.m. 9lbs 3oz and 21 inches long and my first blog post for Happy Distractions!!

Ava & mommy.

Our precious baby girl.

Ava with her daddy!