Crew's 1st year pictures

Crew

Cruiser

Cruiser Bruiser

mini-tan

Crouton

Crew-ton

Bruiser

                             Don't you just want to kiss him???

I had these pictures taken at a new studio in draper (mainly because I really wanted to check out the studio).  I think they turned out great!  Crew is not the happiest of souls - so it was really hard to get him to smile.  Mostly he just looked at us like we were crazy. 

He may look exactly like Tanner - but they are polar opposites in personality.  Tanner is easy going, laid back, and a happy-go-lucky kind of guy.  NOT CREW.  He came with quite an attitude and he knows how to use it.  But oh how I love him!

Quilting and Photography

This past year I have picked up 2 new hobbies. Quilting and photography. I finished my 1st quilt and I am about 1/2 way through my 2nd one. I love working with fabric - there are so many wonderful colors and designs. The possibilities are endless. I love seeing the progress you can make quickly - then it all comes together and it's so cool! You feel like you've actually accomplished something worthwhile and beautiful. You can lose yourself in motherhood - you work hard all day and at the end of it - sometimes it seems like all your left with is a messy house, ornery kids, laundry and dirty dishes to wash. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing more important than motherhood, you just get faster results with quilting. Hopefully after 20 years of being a mother the results will be worthwhile and beautiful too.

My 2nd hobby I have worked on this past year is photography. Hopefully this one will be more than just a hobby. I've always loved taking pictures - been kind of known as the "family photographer" but I got a great camera and some great lenses and I LOVE IT!!! I'm always "armed" and ready with my camera - I think my kids wish I would just stick with quilting. So I've been taking classes at the U, reading tons of books and practicing all the time. The pictures below are from a field trip with one of my classes at Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. There are so many of Courtney because we could bring one model and I brought her. It was kind of funny - she ended up being the model for the whole class because my teacher loved her. Anyways - here are some of the ones I really loved.

This one of Court is my absolute favorite!

I've had so much fun with these 2 hobbies. I'm always open for suggestions and help - I know so many of you out there are pro at these things. But it's been a blast to find things that I love to do.

Blast from the past - Crew's birth from 2009

I know, it's now January 2011 but I'm finally posting my pictures from Crew's birth from 2009. The biggest event in my life since I last posted. Crew Grant Isom was actually born on his due date on Oct. 6th, 2009. He was born at 6:40 p.m. weighing in at 7lbs 9 oz. I was in labor nearly 24 hours and did it NATURALLY with much help from my wonderful husband, sister in law Emily and my mom. Words cannot express what I went through - but I did it! (Don't know if I will ever do that again!!!)

When Crew was born the connection was immediate. It felt like - where have you been my whole life?

Here is Porter and I in the Labor and Delivery room before all heck broke loose! I'm still smiling here.
Here's my sister-in-law Emily who came and literally held my hand through the whole thing. (Sorry if I broke any bones Emily). She was so great to have there and give me the encouragement and help that I really needed. (Thanks Em - you're the best!)

Me and my mom! My mom wasn't so sure of this natural thing - I think she thought I was crazy and she was probably right. I don't think parents like to see their kids in pain.

Whew........Crew finally made it. The whole fam!

1st bath....Courtney Jake and Tanner helped. They were so excited to have a new brother.

Home from the hospital.

Crew is now 15 months old. He has long, blond, slightly curly hair. We call him "mini-Tan" -Tanner and Crew could be twins. He can be quite a handful....they talk about the terrible 2's.........I think he started it about 6 months and is still going through it! We all love him very much.