Watch Out Ansel Adams

Last Friday, the nicest FedEx man showed up on my doorstep with my birthday gift.  Inside the nondescript brown box was this:

To fully appreciate the gift, I must explain that my love affair with SLR cameras began when Emma was about 4 days old. My dad stayed with us when Emma was born and he had a Cannon XTI, which I used to take about 1,000 pictures of Emma when we got home from the hospital.  I was instantly in love with the quick shutter speed, the image quality and of course the subject of all my pictures! Since then,  about 2 days before every visit my Dad makes I place a phone call that goes something like this:

Dad: Hello?

Me: Hey Dad.  Looking forward to you visiting.  Listen, I know that you are getting a little older and you're trying to cut back on the luggage you travel with, and that you are flying from California to visit me, but could you lug your camera bag, camera, and telephoto lens with you on the plane so I can use it to take pictures of Emma?

Dad: (inaudible sigh)  Sure.

Well, save your back on the next trip Dad!  Thanks to the generosity of our family for my 1st annual 29th birthday (and some final prodding from Jason who is SICK of hearing me talk about cameras for the past 18 months), Momma's got herself a new camera! :)

So, below is what you've been reading for, right?  Here is what Emma's been up to lately...

At least 1 hour of "Porch Time" each day..

and trips in the Little Red Wagon..

tormenting our neighbor with incessant splashing...

and the most AMAZING bed head you've ever seen. 

(Please disregard the flannel Christmas PJs.  While they are very cute, I recognize the inappropriateness of dressing a toddler in them in July in Alabama.  However, some days, the laundry just doesn't get finished.)

So I promise much more pictures and more often!