Project 365: 2015

2015 was the fifth year I have done a project 365 photo project. Wow. I can't even believe that myself.

This year was predictably mostly Charlie photos. One reason I keep doing this project is because I love seeing the every day photos. The ones that may not make the yearly photo book but that still capture our every day lives. This can be seen pretty starkly in my first and nearly last photos.

Working on getting Charlie's room all ready and taking a break from the holiday and family craziness. 

Last night, our 11 month old playing with his favorite Christmas gift, the xylophone. 

They aren't great photographs from a photography stance, but they capture moments that would otherwise be forgotten. And that's priceless. 

It's been a huge year of change and it will be so fun to flip through this year's finished book. (I turn each year's project into a photobook through Blurb.) 

At this point I'm not sure if I'm going to do it again in 2016. Part of me is used to it so its not that big of a hassle, but on the other hand, do I really want to do another year? Probably yes. 

Baddorf Christmas

This year we celebrated at Brett and Sarah's apartment/back house/? the day after Christmas. (Side note: having a full weekend after Christmas was wonderful!) We had a nice lunch, followed by our traditional readings, and presents. Charlie was a trooper despite a 20 minute lap nap.



Zelly read Luke 2 before we opened presents.



Bryan got to help open presents this time.





I had to take a sleeping selfie. This happens so rarely.

Christmas Day

Bryan and I totally played the baby card this year. Worth it! In years past we've gone out to my parents house in Cordova on Christmas morning. But this year we had them come to us. Charlie was able to go down for a decent nap which was so nice. We had brunch and then opened gifts. Charlie opened his gifts after his nap.

In the afternoon we went over to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas dinner with my dad's family, also known as Best Meal of the Year. Charlie even napped over there for an hour. Christmas Miracle!



Charlie's Santa loot.







Don't mind my half dressed outfit.





Funny story. We both put Porcellino's beef jerky in each other's stockings.















Spreaders from Ireland.



Trey gave us marshmallow guns.



Roux helped with Bryan's stocking.



Bryan's big present this year was a new grill!



Post nap.







And then we broke out the guns.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve was abnormally quite and low key. The past few years we've done brunch with the Baddorf's on Christmas Eve, but scheduling didn't work out this year. So instead we stayed at home. Bryan, Charlie and I went to the 4 pm family service at Independent and then went to Panda Garden just the three of us. This worked out best for Charlie's schedule, but it was odd not to see family at all. After dinner we went home and opened presents. Charlie went to bed at a normal time and Bryan and I watched Family Stone with a bottle of wine. It was a pretty nice day.

Life Lately

Life lately at least according to my phone.... 

Charlie is progressing physically. He didn't get this way on his own, but he's getting closer every day. 

Morning play time.

This kid loves to stand. He's gotten so much better that I'm comfortable leaving him here for a few minutes at a time. It's nice to have a little more mobility back. 

We really should take more walks through the park. We were just trying to kill time the other day. 

Bath time! He really is a happy kid. Although this same evening we had one of the roughest nights sleep in a long while. We're chalking it up to teething... we think. 

LuniTECTs Tour: Chisca Re-Visit

Last week we met with our LuniTECTs group through the Memphis AIA. We've been a part of this group for over five years and absolutely love it. 

We toured Hotel Chisca in it's beginning construction stages last October. With one half of the building complete and the other half nearing completion it was fun to go back and see the progress. 

Above is a one bedroom apartment on the first floor of the original building. There were windows on two walls. The stairs lead to a loft like bedroom above the kitchen area. 

From the second floor terrace. There was a worker in that top center window and I was trying to capture it, but stupid iPhone camera couldn't handle such an artsy photo. Oh well. 

I didn't take any pictures in the newer side which is already complete and has some tenants. The project looks well done and I'm excited about the restaurants going in the first floor retail spaces. Yay for having another empty building revitalized! 

Christmas Time is Here

Christmas time is here! Music everywhere!  Sorry, we've been listening to a lot of Christmas music around here. I thought I'd share a few snaps from my phone before the season totally gets away from me! 

I put up a little tree in Charlie's room. Minutes after I took this picture it fell on the ground and now it does not look quite the same. We sadly lost a few ornaments, but I don't put anything priceless on this tree so it's no big deal. Just a little sad. We're extra careful with it now. 

This was taken two weeks ago at Chad and Julie's house. We were getting together with the Baddorfs' for the first three December birthdays. Charlie with his cousins. Cade was around, but did not feel up for being in the picture. 

Our tree! Which took me over a week to decorate. Weirdly I have been a bit of a Grinch this year. Reluctant to decorate, in bad moods over family gatherings, slow to watch Christmas movies. I'm not really sure why, I'd think the opposite given that this is Charlie's first Christmas. My only idea is that because Charlie is in such a needy place right now I just don't have the energy or free time to devote to it. It's getting better though. We've watched several Christmas movies and went to my favorite Christmas event of the year last night. 

This was taken before church last Sunday. Charlie was looking pretty cute and festive and I had a few seconds to spare while Bryan was getting dressed. I'm so glad Roux wanted to get in it too. Priceless! 

Our sweet friend Emily had Charlie and I over on Tuesday and we made Christmas crafts! Here's Charlie with his hand impression ornament he made. 

Family photo!!! Last night we went to Clark's Christmas Dinner at the Majestic. Also known as the Christmas Vacation dinner. It's so fun to dress festive and go out, doing something fun for the holidays. Charlie didn't get to go, but I put him in Christmas jammies anyways.

I hope you are having a wonderful, peaceful holiday season! I hope to check back in later this month with more decorations and event recaps.

Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving morning as I prepped our turkey for Saturday and made a casserole and pie for the meal later that day, Bryan and Charlie started their own tradition. Bryan remembers fondly sharing the turkey liver and other giblets with his dad. This year he shared them with Charlie. 

It should be noted that Charlie liked them and even walked forward to get some. 

After Charlie's nap we went out to Gram and Gramp's for a late lunch. 

On Saturday we had the Baddorf clan over. 

Uncle Brett wanted Charlie to open his Christmas present early. Charlie was thrilled with his Little People manger scene.