Mary

This is the little light of my life, my nephew, Ben!  One of the great highlights of my day by far was our phone call.  He narrated several minutes of Ice Age to me, complete with sound effects.  Somehow he can always cheer me up, no matter how rough my day has been.

In a side note, my beau, Clint, turned 30 today, so we've been doing birthday stuff, rather than New Year's festivities.  It's been a quiet evening, all in all.  Hope everyone had a great evening.

Jen

We're planning an impromptu party at our house tonight. I love that there is no time to stress - the ideal party to host. Happy, healthy new year to all of you!

Phyllis

Today we celebrate 9 years.  That's 3,287 days, including the leap years.  He's my best friend, my rock, and an amazing human being.  He's also one of the funniest people I've ever met.  I'm so glad he puts up with me.  This was the actual sign from the back of his truck that his best friend made for our wedding night.  I ♥ him with all my little black heart.

Cori or Becca Depending :)

It's a long story if you don't know it already. You can call me Cori or Becca, I will answer to both! 

I am full time Mommy to two wonderful babies. Kate is almost 4 and Luke is almost 2. There will be no more babies for this Mama! I love the baby part but my poor body can not go through 9 more months of that! Being preggo does NOT agree with me. 

I am married to my amazing hubby Jay. We met on a plane and where engaged 6 months later. Talk about God's hands all over that one! In April we will be married 7 years. 

I have my crazy schipperke dog Murphy. He has the worst breath on the planet. He was my baby before babies. Poor thing is still mad at me for having kids. His only saving grace is that is amazing with the kids! 

Its hard for me to find a picture of myself. I take ALL the pictures. Its a joke in our home that if I die the kids will have nothing to remember me by. Just pictures of them & my voice on video. 

Elyssa, 24

My name is Elyssa and it looks like I'm the baby of the posters thus far!

This photo was actually shot by Phyllis' little man, Z (as I like to refer to him.)

I'm a born and raised, very proud Texan who has wandered to a few other states the past 3 years but am now back to the "Motherland." I graduated a Longhorn with a fashion merchandising degree and decided to head in a different direction. I taught 2nd grade for a year which I absolutely LOVED and am now about to head back to school and pursue Nursing.

I have a dog, Cayenne, who will likely be the subject of many of my photo posts. She is my rock and I love her like a child and am sad when I'm away from her. (I wish the world were more dog friendly so I could bring her everywhere!)

The following are things I thoroughly enjoy:

• red wine
• sushi
• dark chocolate
• baking cookies and sweets
• music and concerts
• strong cheeses
• flowers
• photography

I look forward to seeing all the exciting photos posted on here!

Angel, 31

I'm Angel, a 31 year old mom, wife, sister, aunt, daughter and friend. My son, Ian, is 8 years old and the absolute love of my life. I'm new to this blog thing (as you might be able to tell) but a good friend invited me so I thought, why the hell not? I am an archivist for a congregation of sisters in San Antonio. Although I don't belong to the Catholic Church, I see why people do. Being around all the ceremony and love the sisters offer makes it a very attractive place. If you knew me, which I guess soon you will, you wouldn't believe my life would have taken me to where I am. I am a lover of music (especially old punk) and a voracious reader. I enjoy taking pictures but haven't honed my skills by any stretch of the imagination. That's about all I can think of to tell right now. Nice to meet you all.

Jen, 34

Hi everyone, I'm Jen.

My husband Mark and I were married nearly eight years ago and have two children - Lainey is nearly four years old and Graham is a year and a half old. I became a full-time mom this past summer when I quit my PR writing job and I've never worked harder in my life. I have a degree from Baylor in journalism and environmental studies and worked in PR for 12 years. Since quitting, my blog has become my creative outlet and a way to preserve memories for my children.

I grew up in several places, but call San Antonio home. My husband and I met in Austin and hope to get back there some day. He and I are both interested in photography, but for him it's more a part of his job and for me it's about capturing these moments with my kids that are going by too fast. Right now I am trying to just enjoy each moment with them - as difficult as that often is for an OCD mom with an emotional, control freak preschooler prone to tantrums and a rough and tumble toddler who actually enjoys getting into trouble.

I'm posting a picture of me and Lainey at a family Christmas party last week. She was still getting over a black eye she gave herself by (in her words): "scratching my cheek on the bathroom counter while I was having a fit."

Mary, 27

Hey everyone, I'm Mary.  I grew up in a suburb of Dallas, and I moved to Austin about five and a half years ago.  I'm 27 and although I am an incredibly proud aunt, I have no kids to call my own.  :)  That's okay with me, because I've got my hands full between full-time school and an almost full-time job.  I see less of friends, family, and my boyfriend than I'd like, but I try to make the most of the time I've got.  I'm currently a senior at Texas State University, studying forensic anthropology.  I hope to use my degrees (someday there will be several) to do international human rights and war crimes work.  I work as a bank teller to pay the bills, but my heart's not in it.  I love spending time with family and friends, reading, listening to music, and traveling.  Really, I look for things to be excited about, and I enjoy all things whimsical.  I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Heather, 27

That's me, Heather on my wedding day, May 2 2004. An old photo? Yes, but one I actually like of myself:) I like being behind the lens, not in front. I am a wife to my hubby David, we've been together since age 15 way back in 1996. We have 3 children. Taelyn will be 8 in January, I just cannot believe she is THAT old already. She loves Hannah Montana and her new DS Santa brought for her! Sebastian will be 4 in February, he was supposed to be a girl. Yes you read that right, he was not supposed to have a penis, but he does and for a boy I guess that is a necessary thing to have;)Our youngest and most likely our last is Aubrey, she's 19 months and loves to color on the walls (Thank God for the Magic Eraser!)She was a late walker and is a slow teether but she has a will (like me) to do what she wants when she puts her mind to it.

Dave and I grew up in Western New York, around the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. We left NY in Sept 2005 for a short lived adventure in Omaha, NE. We currently live in a suburb of Austin, TX and have been here since 7/06. I am just starting out as a professional photographer. I have always been the crazy girl with the camera;)I love it...wouldn't want it any other way;)

Well I guess that is long enough for now. I'm looking forward to being a contributor to this blog alongside some wonderful women!

Happy New Year ya'll!

Sheree, 25...er, 26

It's me, Sheree! I am 25 for ONE more day as tomorrow is my 26th birthday...only four more years left of being a twenty-something.

I have lived in California my entire 26 years and could not imagine living anywhere else. I'll be a California girl for life! I am a stay at home mom to my two gorgeous babies, Cameron and Gabby. Life with an almost-4 year old has been interesting to say the least! We welcomed our second baby in May and were blessed with an extra chromosome, which has made life SUPER exciting and interesting. But nevertheless, she is our sunshine and we could never dream of having a more fufilled and blessed life with our two angels.

I am going back to school this month and I am still in limbo as to choosing what it is I'd like to be when I grow up. Since having a child with special needs, my heart is being pulled into the field of special education. My "latest" idea is to go into genetic counseling, but still not 100% sure. We'll see where this crazy road of life takes me...

Ciao!

Phyllis, 34

I'm Phyllis - tomorrow I celebrate my 9th wedding anniversary & I am the proud mother of one amazing 6-year old boy (above is a self-portrait of me & said boy, taken in December 2006). I was born in a suburb of Detroit, but moved to Austin when I was seven. Going back to visit now, I see what a good decision my parents made, and how different my life would have been had we stayed. I do accounting work, but long to do photography full-time. Hopefully, when my son gets a little older, I will be able to chase after my dream. For now, I'm content taking photos and hoarding them until the day I can figure out a way to show them to the world. I am fiercely loyal and consider my close friends to be an extension of my family. I love to laugh, I love music, and I dig tattoos. I love to travel, love to eat, and love to take pictures - I would like to find a way to do all three at once, and get paid for it. I have no interest in portraits; instead I love to photograph nature & food. I love God and all the blessings I have been given. In summary, I'd say I'm one lucky gal.