toes & cries & zzz's

Having Elena home has been a big adjustment. I don't even know how to begin describing it. It's easy for me to love her. I'm in a constant love-cloud with her and I kiss her no less than 738 times a day, I dont care that she is stuck to me 24/7. I was asked how it feels to have a girl now, and I didn't really know how to explain the feeling properly. All I can see in my near future is a special relationship with her. Hopefully a good one, different and bountiful. 

Elena, in these pictures you were about 1 month old. Right now you are 2 months old. You cry when you're not being held most of the time, Daddy says you're a mama's girl. Your brothers are experts at ignoring your cries, but don't complain when you bathe with them. You're a lazy, but ferocious feeder and you have the cutest everything. When I stare at you, it's like I'm staring at a pretty version of your Daddy, and that's okay because I like him a lot too. 

I am so in love with you. Thank you God. 

Have a great week guys! 

just a few shots...

before little bean was born, Gary bought me a lens (so chivalrous and valiant like). one of those that every photographer covets? except it wouldn't auto-focus with my camera body (whompwhomp). 

at first, I was like I can do this. I can do manual focus. 

ha-ha.

this was while I was pregnant and my right eye was a total blurry mess. luckily, i focus with my left.

still. i was like, i got this, i just have to practice. 

then, as i sort through my pictures i'm like, crap. crap. delete. aw man. i thought that was focused. aw, this one would have been great if only it was sharp. delete. crap. crap.

and after taking numerous photos and fighting myself inside my head, trying to convince myself that i could do it, i finally gave in and returned the lens. why would i make it hard on myself? 

psh. i already have it hard enough (read: three kids is hard work). 

so with this photoshoot, these photographs are all i've got to show for...and in some aspect, this is a photographer's life--hundreds of pictures and only a handful are 'good enough'. maybe it's a perfectionists' life? all the same.

if i know you and have your mailing address, you'll be one of the lucky ones to receive this above photo.
>squeal with joy< do it.
have a great hump day!

bonus points: whoever comments first with how many "likes" i've used in this short post, gets a custom Lynet Witty doodle sent to them :)

tyler elena

Hey guys! Oh I've missed my blog. I'm in that newborn phase where you can't accomplish diddly squat all day. If you manage to feed your other kid + yourself, you've won half the battle, in my opinion. 

Anyway, here are the photos from the few days after Elena was born. She was all cheeks, pink, and soft. 

When she came out, the first person I associated her with was her paternal Papa. She was like a miniature Papa. Now, she's a spitting image of her Daddy. You'll see. Just wait for it.

Jonah was so adamant about taking a bath with me and Elena. It was our after-birth herbal bath. And the first thing Jonah said when he saw it was, "Mom, that bathtub looks yucky." After telling him that it was supposed to look brown and that it was good for Mommy and Elena, he was game. He was so happy!

After bath came her examination from my midwife--and look--she's a girl!

And like all newborns, she started turning slightly yellow. So we managed what we could with a plant lightbulb and open windows on a dreary, cloudy day.

This girl was all wrinkles too. Her fingers, her toes...so cute and yucky all at once.

She managed to find her index finger to suck on several times...I have the cutest video...somewhere...

...and of course everyone wants to hold baby!

The photo below is my most favorite!

While Gary was away, I was asked by a little boy if he could sleep with me. My heart ached so much for him because I just wanted to cuddle and hold him close to me. I was so floored by his request, I told him to crawl into bed with me quickly. 

Remember how I mentioned this little chick is a spittin' image of her Daddy? well, here's proof:

This is what happens on a 6.5 hr drive back home and an iPhone. :) Igualitos, que no? 

the shop

Hi everybody! Just wanted to do a quick update on our paper shop, ShopWitty.

I have some great news! Recently, we were invited to a Pop-Up show at our local West Elm store along with Etsy. And I am sooo ecstatic about it, it gave me the proper incentive to get back into the swing of things with all things paper. But also, a slight panic attack because of the new baby...I can't get stuff done! *sobs*

We are so honored to be a part of this, we hope this is just the beginning of a great year for our labor of love. 

So, if you live in the Houston area come check out our notebooks and meet us (and our new bundle of joy) along with eight other local makers! And as a bonus, we will have a couple of extra products that we haven't yet listed on Etsy! 

Here's the low-down: 

Find us at 3910 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77027

March 29th from 1 to 6 pm. 

See y'all there!! 

Check out the West Elm Blog for the announcement and further details and do me a favor & share this post! 

Check out our Etsy store at shopwitty.etsy.com

photo cred: @westelm Instagram

simple gifts

hey guys, just wanted to post a quick gift idea for someone you care about. in this case, a dear friend I've known for many years but unfortunately have only lived nearby before both of us had any kids *wah wah*
so we keep in touch through usual methods and once in a while we send gifts to each other...because what are friends for, right?
in this case, she just finished up her school and i wanted to send her something to let her know what an achievement that was!
i gathered office supplies, because come on, what kind of girl doesn't go nuts over those? i was so giddy picking up stuff for her thinking about what color she would like or how she would use each item.

super simple. super fun. and unexpected. 

some photos taken with my phone. :)