I will forever cherish these.

While I was home in Wichita Falls, I met up with my sweet friend Rebecca. Rebecca and I have known each other since junior high and now we're both Mamas to beautiful girls. She is also the incredible photographer behind Rebecca Cain Photography.

We met up before I left in late July for portraits of Felix. It was a generous and perfect gift from my twinkie (and Felix's Mama Two) Marianne. We asked my parents to be in them and it's a decision I will forever be thankful for. 

It was so hot out and Felix was fussy. And yet you'd never guess it the way Rebecca captured the sweetest moments. It was so hard to narrow down a few favorites. I'd love to share some with you!

^candid moments are my most favorite!

^A sweet little old lady named Winnie from church gave Felix this book on our first Sunday home. I am so glad my Papa thought to bring it along. Reading is something that is special to Felix and I. I pray she grows up knowing that Jesus does love her so. 

^I hadn't planned on being in any photos but I'm glad Rebecca knew better :) Knowing my love of toys from my childhood, she brought along a magnetic writer. We used it to announce my second pregnancy and Noel. 

^hands down, my absolute favorite photo #swoon

You can see the rest of the photos in my facebook album. 

Rebecca, thank-you for taking these precious photographs. There's nothing like seeing your parents love on your baby. I will forever cherish these xo

If you're in the North Texas area, I highly recommend R Cain Photography. You can also check out her facebook page for more information.

Happy Birthday Felix!

Dear Sweet Felix,

We are so lucky God chose us to be your parents. Happy 1st Birthday to you, our dream girl! You make the world more beautiful Felix Lechuga Maxham. 

We love you so very much,
Mama & Papa xo

Speaking of portraits... the sweetest gift.

My vintage soul sister Amanda seriously has a heart of gold.

A couple of months ago, she shared an art swap she did with another artist, Danielle of too you to be hippies. Amanda made her a beautiful embroidered pillow, lavender filled sachet, and a water color and Danielle drew the most incredible portraits of Amanda's beautiful children. 

Amanda, I hope you don't mind I borrowed this from your blog but dear readers, you should check out Amanda's blog post for better details. They're so wonderfully done! 

Imagine my absolute surprise and delight when Amanda sent me the sweetest Mother's Day card with a note saying my gift was a custom portrait of Felix by Danielle. What a perfect gift for my first Mother's Day! That's simply just the kind of thoughtful person Amanda is. 

I wanted to share the awesome portrait Danielle sent me. I love the photo and the style she went with:

I LOVE IT! Danielle, it's amazing and something I (and Felix. plus, my family since they'll all get a print!) will always treasure. 

Amanda, I am so lucky to know you and one day I hope to hug you in person and tell you so. Thank-you with all my heart! xo

(You can contact Danielle for a portrait of your little by getting in touch with her through her IG @tooyoungtobehippies. You'll be happy you did! trust me)

19/52.

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

How she woke up from a nap, laying next to me. My sweet girl.

Felix, 34 weeks.

17/52 and 18/52.

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

Felix, 32 and 33 weeks.

Felix getting a smooch from her Granddaddy (my dad) is my favorite. 

Baby Pen Pals.

It is as cute as it sounds. 

Jasmine (we met when we were paired in this fun swap) emailed me about an idea she had with her sister Emma Kate. 

Emma Kate and I actually had the same due date so our daughters are days apart in age. Felix was born on September 17th and Emma Kate's beautiful girl Scarlett was born on the 21st of September. 

It's no secret I love old fashioned letters. I love putting together happy mail and receiving it means even more now as a stay at home Mama. 

Jasmine asked if Felix would like to be Scarlett's pen pal. For now, Emma Kate and I will write for them until they are old enough to take over. 

In their first letters "they" told each other how they got their names, what foods they were eating, how Scarlett loves swim class and Fe, story time.

Obviously, we hope they will love writing like their Mama's ;) but hopefully this will help get them excited about it for sure (someday this friendship will even be a sweet learning tool for writing/reading).  

Some of my very best friends started out as pen pals. In fact, one of my closest friends is my pen pal Sanja who lives in Slovenia. We started writing each other when we were 12 and though we have yet to meet, I love that we text almost daily. 

I hope Felix will have those amazing kind of friends in her life. 

They were destined to be pen pals --they have the same ring rattle and they live a world away from each other (Scarlett and Emma Kate live in Australia).

Scarlett, Felix can't wait to hear from you next. She says she hopes you got her postcard from Virginia XO

16/52.

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

I'm the lucky one. 

Felix, 31 weeks.

Felix's Mama Doll.

Last year for Father's Day, I surprised my husband with a custom Who's Your Daddy doll from Duke & June. I have loved watching Felix play with her daddy doll. Imagine how excited I was when Mandi started making Mama dolls! 

My sweet twinkie Marianne ordered one for Felix for our birthday and lovies--- I am so in awe of Mandi's work yet again. 

Her attention to detail (like my side part, beauty mark) makes the doll one of a kind. Marianne chose the floral dress I wore during our maternity shoot. How Mandi found fabric exactly like my dress makes her (and my doll) even more amazing! She even made sandals like the ones I was wearing.

I love these dolls so much and think how special I hope they will always be to Felix.  I would have loved to have one of my parents when they were young and first figuring out their little family.

We're best friends, didn't you know?

 and then my heart exploded!

Her poses kill me! Oh Felix girl, you are something else.

Marianne, you couldn't have picked a more perfect gift for us. We love you and your thoughtful heart! XO 

Mandi, we love your thoughtful heart too. Thank-you for taking the time to make another extraordinary doll, even with nesting and being 30+ weeks pregnant. I know I say that over and over, but I am a huge fan of your dolls. You are awesome, my friend. THANK-YOU!!! Our best wishes for baby Duke ♥

15/52.

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

Around this time a year ago, we found out my dreams were coming true. I was getting the little girl I always prayed for! One of the first things I bought for our baby girl was this outfit on etsy. At nearly 7 months, it fits like a crop top. I can't believe how fast time goes! Every parent tells you that. Warns you of it. Time slow down! this is such a fun age.

The other day I sent my family a video of Felix and I hanging out (i  can always make her laugh by kissing under her neck). My little sister's husband said it's like Felix and I are the best of friends and how he couldn't wait to experience that one day. She is my absolute best friend and I am blessed I get to hang out with her every day. 

Felix, 30 weeks.

13/52 & 14/52.

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

Yes, I am posting a grainy front facing iPhone photo, but I just love this sweet moment I was able to capture. 

Felix had her six month wellness check-up where the doctor gave us the go on starting solids. My boobs and I were pretty excited about this! We've decided to do a week of rice cereal to get her used to eating from a spoon. Then for a month, we'll introduce her to a green vegetable each new week. 

Fe weighed 16 lbs 1 oz, 25 inches. My growing perfect little girl.

Felix, 28 weeks. 

Felix decked out in her Texas Rangers gear for Opening Day!

Her first food was green peas (understandably, she was more excited about the game).

How I still kissed that green smeared mouth of hers.

Felix, 29 weeks. 

Felix's pal.

We spent all of yesterday traveling. I can now say I've been on a plane that has been struck by lightening. I know it happens more often then you (I) think, but it has never happened to me and I'm already a nervous flyer. I was glad to have husband's hand to hold. Thanks be to God for keeping our Felix girl safe.

Our few days with family in Virginia was just that-- TOO FEW. It went by incredibly fast and I wasn't ready to leave.

I'll share a few photos from our trip next time but today I want to relax with my teething baby (she cut her first tooth!!! at least now we know the reason for the extra fussiness) and attempt at unpacking our bags.

But! I had to share Felix's new pal that came home with us from our trip to my in-laws. My husband's cabbage patch doll when he was a baby!


I think Felix and Bobby Humphries are going to be the best of friends, just like her Papa and him. 

(this is totally random but two things I loved at the airport : family restrooms are so much cleaner! & those quick spa places. I spent $50 for a 30 minute back/shoulder/neck chair massage and it was quite possibly the best massage I have EVER had. My poor back needed to be popped in so many different places and when he did me that favor, it felt so good I wanted to cry and hug him at the same time)

A Pretty You & Me bracelet for Felix.

My really good friend Sarah makes beautiful bracelets for her jewelry line, Pretty You & Me. The other day while on a lunch date at our favorite brick oven pizza place, my heart exploded when she handed me a little PY&M bracelet she made just for Felix. 

Just to give you an idea of the mini cuteness, Fe's bracelet is on the left and one of mine is on the right. Sarah even put a sweet deer charm on Felix's. Swoon!

(The sandals she's wearing? How we announced we were having a girl!)

I asked Fe to pose for me and she went Blue Steel. Oh Felix Zoolander, you crack me up.

Sarah, thank-you for the cutest bracelet ever! We are in love with it. I'm thinking you need to definitely start a Pretty You & Me tot line. Felix is already a fan. XO 

12/52.

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

When Felix and I are out and about, perfect strangers stop to sweetly comment that she looks just like a doll. I can't get over it either.

Felix, 27 weeks.

11/52.

 "A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2013."

My baby girl is six months today! To celebrate her half birthday, we had Dunkin' Donuts and had her photos taken.

I am still pinching myself that this perfect little tiny being is mine, all mine. How did I get so lucky?

Someone please figure out how to bottle up this sweet baby smell because I want to remember it always. And those big giggles! gosh those giggles.

This evening as we Maxham girls were cuddling before bedtime, I played our song and remembered that magical (and let's be honest, sweetly terrifying!) night we met. I had no idea what I was doing, holding this tiny beautiful baby to my heart. Felix, thank-you for trusting me because I think we're pretty amazing together, you and i.


Dear God, I am so thankful for her. For her laugh. That she is healthy and happy. Thank-you for choosing me as her Mama. I feel so blessed! I am sorry if I don't tell you that enough. Or that I love you.  Love, Micaela xo