Sloneker Stories

Meet Me Here Monday: Happy Due Date!!

2012-01-23T22:03:00.000-08:00

Not only is it the Chinese New Year...

but today is the day we thought we would celebrate for the rest of our lives as Davis' Birthday...

but in God's perfect timing...we've been able to enjoy and love on our little guy for an extra two weeks!

This was our first full week of "all by ourselves" parenting....so we just took it easy and spent some good time cuddling and loving our baby.

We also practiced using the Moby Wrap for when I actually do have to take Davis out in public. I think that thing is going to be wonderful because it keeps him all snug and happy in there!

But then on Saturday, we had a few visitors! The kids I nannied for, for the last 4 years came over to meet Davis. It was so great to see them and just chat with them about school, friends, and of course Hot Wheels. My favorite quote from our time together was when Ryan said, "Mrs. Chelsea, when Baby Davis hatched...." Ha! Yes, sweet boy, when he hatched!

My parents also came down for the day, so it was nice to just hang out with them for a little while as well.

They LOVE their grandson!

Del's parents will get here tomorrow which we are super excited about! I am so thankful that Davis was born when he was so that they could meet him before they head back to China. Yep, you read that right....Del's parents live in China. So, it's a huge blessing that they were here for Christmas Break, because otherwise they wouldn't have met Davis until Del's graduation in May.

Then on Sunday, we caught a "wild hair", and took Davis out in public so as to meet some friends for lunch. Yep, D's first outing was to Buffalo Grill! It worked out perfectly with his feedings, so he did great while we ate and visited.

So, in celebration of Davis' Due Date, he has moved from the bassinet in our room to his crib!

{I know, we are breaking probably 100 different " crib rules" in this picture. But don't worry, that blanket is a crocheted so he can still breathe if he moves it over his face....and he can't move around that much so I think we are safe with the bumper pads for now!} :)

But thankfully Del kept the monitor on his side of the bed, which is a good thing, because I know I would just stare at it all night to watch him sleep!! ha.

But so far this week is off to a great start!

We are still taking things slowly, so as to not get overwhelmed {speaking more for myself rather than Del}....but I am quickly realizing that I cannot get as much done as I am use to within the course of a day. I am having to set realistic goals, and just be happy with whatever happens!

I hope your week is off to a great start as well! Because it sure would make Davis happy if it was! :)

Davis Cole Sloneker is HERE!!

2012-01-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

A week ago yesterday, our son, Davis Cole, made his grand entrance into the world.

{So without rambling on and on...and without showing you every single picture we've taken over this past week, which I'd really like to do...I'm going to try and recap the day to the best of my epidural-enduced recollection.}

On Monday, January 9th, we went to our weekly doctors appointment hoping to see that I had made some more "progress" towards labor....which I had. Ever since 35 weeks I had been dilating about a cm or so a week. So by the time Christmas rolled around I was walking around at 3-4 cm dilated...which made me a little nervous since we spent 2 weeks up in NWA seeing our families. But we made it back to LR without Del delivering a baby on the side of the highway, so we breathed a sigh of relief. :)

So, last Monday when we went to our appointment, not only had I made progress, but my blood pressure was also a lot higher than its ever been...especially during this pregnancy. Samantha {our doctor} monitored it for a little while, and when it finally settled down she said to go home and just rest. Originally, she advised us to go for a walk since she had just stripped my membranes in an effort to try and get labor started...and let me tell you...it worked. I started having contractions every 5 minutes...and that trend continued for the next few hours.

We heeded Samantha's advice to go home and just rest. Del monitored my blood pressure {yes, while wearing a Snuggie...that's how we roll around here. Don't knock it 'till you try it! ha.} but the contractions still continued.

We started getting a little restless, wondering if we should head to the hospital or not...especially since Samantha kept texting to say to come on up so we could get this show on the road...but we just didn't want to get sent back home if the contractions weren't strong enough.

So we waited a little longer, and while we were waiting our stroller showed up {bonus!} so Del put that together and I finished up a few things around the house. We already had our "go bag" packed and the nursery was ready to roll as well. I felt like we were "as prepared" as we could have been...but it was still crazy to think that if we went to the hospital we could possibly bring home a baby! I don't know if you are ever truly prepared for that one! :)

But, around 9:00 we were finally ready to go. We snapped one last belly picture and headed out the door!

We arrived at the hospital and they already had a room waiting for us. We asked if I would get checked first to see if these contractions were "for real", and the nurse said "Nope! You're 38 weeks. You're going to have a baby tonight." Ok then! She handed me a gown and from that moment on, it was go-time!

The anesthesiologist came in and asked when I wanted the epidural, but I told her I'd wait for a little while. Then at 11:00 Samantha came in and broke my water, I had two contractions, and immediately told them that they could bring the anesthesiologist back in because I was ready for the epidural now. ha. Needless to say, I don't have the highest pain tolerance. Once they administered the epidural, it immediately went to work on my right side but I could still feel all the pain on my left. So they had me lay on my left side, hoping gravity would run it's course...and eventually it did. Thank goodness!!

Then probably around 1:30am, our nurse Selina {oh, and I can not even tell you how excited I was when we found out our nurse's name was Selina! It's one of my all time favorite movies! :)} came in and I told her I felt like I needed to push because I was feeling a lot of pressure. She had her doubts that I was actually ready to push since Samantha had just broken my water at 11:00. But she humored us, and when she checked she said "Yeah, the reason you're feeling pressure is because he's right there!"

She ran and got Samantha, got her suited up, and set the room up for delivery. It was fast and furious!

At 1:45am I started pushing and at 2:01, we heard the first sweet cry of our 6 lb 2oz, 18 3/4 in son.

And just like that, our family of two became a family of three!

My parents made it to the hospital right before Davis was born, so we visited for an hour or so before we all realized how tired we were. I think we slept for a few hours until around 7:00 when I got really hungry and Del went to get us some breakfast. But when he was walking down the hall he saw a familiar face! His best friend, Josh, had driven down from NWA to meet Davis and spend the morning with the new dad! It was a sweet time for both of them.

Throughout the day, Tuesday and then Wednesday morning, Davis had so many wonderful visitors. Thank you to each one of you for coming by and loving on our little boy within the first few hours of life.

Our first night with him went great. We worked on feeding and then just snuggled with him all night. We definitely could have gotten more sleep, but we just couldn't keep our eyes off him. {We're probably paying for it now. ha}

And before we knew it, it was time to head home...where the true test of parenting begins! :)

Since we've been home, we've only fallen more and more in love with our little guy. And little he is! I think he could stay all curled up in this position all day if we'd let him.

We've spent our days sleeping, eating, changing diapers, smothering him with kisses, trying to fix his hair into funny hair-dos, and cracking up at all of the funny faces he makes. And yes, if you're wondering, he looks EXACTLY like Del. {Which I, of course, think is a great thing!}

My parents left on Sunday evening, so on Monday, we spent our first day of "real parenting" by giving Davis a bath and then going for a walk! We've had beautiful weather here recently so we thought we should take advantage of it!

It was great for me to get out and walk as well. However it didn't take long for me to realize how COMPLETELY out of shape I'm in. Nine months of pregnancy will do it to ya'! Oh well, it was totally worth it...and pretty soon, Jillian and I will reunite for an all-out booty whooping! But for now, we will rest, recover, and love on our little buddy.

And so, for now....I'd just like to say thank you. Thank you for all of the prayers, texts, emails, phone calls, visits, and meals you've sent our way. It means the world to us and we truly are forever grateful for the love you've poured out on our family.

A few days before we went to the hospital, I got a little weepy at the thought that pretty soon it would never just be Del and I again. But now that Davis is here, it's like he's always been here and Del and I's love for each other has grown so much more since he's been here as well. It's an amazing phenomena that I can't really explain, but am completely thankful for!

I hope your week is off to a great start, and if you're ever in "the neighborhood" feel free to stop in and meet the newest member of our family! We think he's pretty great! :)

What a Wednesday!!

2011-12-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this week could have been any more exciting!

After much {and I mean, MUCH} praying, anticipating, waiting, studying, traveling, laughing, crying, moving, more studying, agonizing, expecting, hoping, dreaming, still praying...and lots more studying...

we found out that Del MATCHED in ENT in Tacoma, Washington!!

We are so excited but also very humbled by this opportunity the Lord has placed before us. We know that the decision could have gone so many different directions, but just like Del getting into med school, we are confident that this is the direction the Lord is pointing us in, so we will do our best to walk faithfully in it.

I don't know if I explained it in much detail here on the blog...but during September and October, Del was traveling around to different Army bases and interviewing for one of the few spots the Army opened this year for ENT. He spent a month in Tacoma, a month in Hawaii, and then a few weeks in DC interviewing and getting to know the people and programs as best he could in the short amount of time he was there. He met a lot of really wonderful people and was excited about the opportunity to learn under so many wonderful attending physicians and residents.

We knew that Wednesday, December 14th was the official date that they would release the results, but we didn't really know how it was all going to go down. But finally, at 12am Eastern/11pm Central Time, the results were released and there was much celebration in our household!

So, after calling and texting friends and family...and then really being too excited to sleep....we decided to celebrate the next morning with a fun breakfast date {which, I'll admit, was selfishly initiated by me because I was seriously craving some eggs benedict}. So, we woke up early and headed to IHOP before Del had to go into work. It was a great morning and a great breakfast....but I definitely went home and went back to bed because this prego has to get her sleep while she still can!

So, at the beginning of June, this little family of three will be heading West.

We are REALLY looking forward to living in WA and being so close to the fun city of Seattle. It will definitely be a big switch from living in the South our whole lives, but we are excited about the change and just the new phase of life we will be in.

But for now...yes, we will start planning for the future....but we also know that we need to live faithfully while we are still here. We still have six months to spend with family and the friends we have made here in LR...and as always, the Lord always has things for us to learn as well....but we will also be welcoming a new little man into our lives in 5 short weeks! So, as much as we are excited about this new adventure, we are exponentially more excited about meeting our son.

We pray this week that Davis will be single hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2

As you can see, Davis is growing fast and actually making progress in the labor department! We had an appointment today and I am dilated 2cm, which I know can stay that way for a long time, but it was also good to know that he was progressing on his own as well. His clothes are washed, and his room is almost ready....but I still feel pretty unprepared for the reality of what "bringing home a baby" will actually be like. Thankfully, Del will be off for the month of February, so we can figure it out together!

I hope your week is off to a good start and that you get to spend a lot of great time with those you love this week.

Sweet Six Month Sheppy {Little Rock Children's Photographer}

2011-11-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

We took Shepherd's 6 Month pictures before Fall decided to change to Winter overnight, and I'm so glad we did! Shepherd is not only part of our "Baby Plan", which means we get to document each major milestone of his first year of life....but he's also the son of some of our good friends, Josh and Aubrey. We love this family and wish we could see them more often. We were in Community Group together before we moved to LR, so it's a treat each time our lives cross paths. Shepherd {aka, Sheppy} was so good for this shoot....but for me the funnest {is that a word?} part was seeing his little personality come through in the pictures. I hope you enjoy!

Sweet Baby Feet

Love those little hands.

Rock On, Sheppy.

Ha. Everytime I look at this picture all I can think of is, "You sneaky, Mommy!"

{incase you don't know what I'm talking about in that last comment, you HAVE to watch this video!}

Ok, no lie, I started crying when I edited this picture. If this were Del and Davis I would blow this up, put in on a huge canvas, and cherish it forever. Oh I just love it!

Pretty Mommy

Love this family. Such sweet friends.

Happy 6 Month Pictures Shepherd! I've loved watching you grow thus far. Next up...1 Year!!

Meet Me Here Monday: Insta-Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T02:53:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving, I made the executive decision to give the camera a little vacation, and decided to just take pictures with my phone. Which in all reality, I probably ended up taking more pictures than I would have otherwise. So, win-win for everyone!

Thanksgiving this year was a little different because Del's immediate family is still in China, so we only had one side to visit and eat with. It was kind of weird, so we are really looking forward to seeing them over Christmas. So since we wouldn't have any traveling between houses to do, we envisioned that we'd easily slip into "sweat pant purgatory", but thankfully that never really happened!

Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of lounging that took place...but there was also quite a bit of productivity as well!

My holiday baking didn't start out too strong. I decided to get a jump on the Pumpkin Bars while we were still in LR on Wednesday morning...but unfortunately Batch #1 had other plans.

Thankfully Batch #2 turned out beautifully....especially once they were topped with the delicious Cream Cheese Frosting!

We loaded up the car on Wednesday night, and headed north.

My mom and I spent most of Thursday morning cooking and baking....

...and then we packed it up and went over to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving lunch.

I'm not sure who was more excited about the feast we were about to devour!

Davis' Great Grandmother! :)

Once we woke up from our Thanksgiving-coma, Del and my dad decided to burn some calories by starting on their Thanksgiving Cabinet Project. They worked on it late into the night...but then had to turn it in so that they could get some sleep before the Razorback game the next day!

Friday morning, we woke up and....well....we just kept eating. Ha.

I made Paula Deen's French Toast Casserole....which was just the right about of sugar we needed to get up geared up for the game!

....Unfortunately, the Hogs didn't eat the same amount of sugar that morning....because the fire they had in the first quarter died out in the second, and they never got it back.

So, the men turned their frustration into productivity and made a huge dent in their project!

On Saturday afternoon, we went up to Eureka Springs to celebrate my Great Aunt Elizabeth's 100th Birthday! Wow, what an accomplishment!

Grandma, Del, Elizabeth, and me.

Fun story, when I was 10-ish my Aunt Elizabeth {who was in her late 70's} and I water skied in a bicentennial celebration for Holiday Island. It's a memory that I will never forget.

My Grandma and her three sisters. What a wonderful group of women! I'm so thankful that I've had the opportunity to live around them for the majority of my life.

After the birthday party, we went out to dinner for Del's 29th Birthday!

Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a good steak dinner, right?

{I have a feeling I know what you're thinking....and the answer is, Yes, we still haven't stopped eating at this point}

On Sunday, we met Ellen and Todd {Del's sister and boyfriend} for lunch, and then we drove up to the UofA and finally found my name on the sidewalk! So, Davis and I had to get a picture with it! :)

Then we returned to the house and the men finished their project!
I think they did a pretty good job, don't you?!

So, now we are back home and life has pretty much resumed as usual....other than it was really hard to get motivated after such a wonderfully relaxing break.

I'm 31 weeks pregnant now, and still feeling like Davis is trying to dig and kick his way out of my stomach. ha.
We prayed this week that Davis would have a great submission and reverence to the Lord.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and are now getting excited about celebrating the birth of our Savior!

Happy Monday!

Game Time

2011-11-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

We've all woken up from our Thanksgiving Coma, and now it's time to burn off some of those calories by cheering on our Piggies!!!

Let's Go HOGS!!

Jason and Leyna's Wedding Day {Little Rock Wedding Photographer}

2011-11-24T22:41:00.000-08:00

As if you need anymore treats on this wonderful Thanksgiving Day...here is a special little low-calorie treat for you!

Jason and Leyna's Wedding Day was so special. This couple has been together since 7th Grade...so to see them say their vows was SO exciting! As soon as Jason saw Leyna come through those doors of the chapel, the tears started flowing and it soon became one of the most special ceremonies I've ever watched unfold.

So grab your favorite Thanksgiving leftover and enjoy Jason and Leyna's Wedding Pictures!

Sneaking a peek before Leyna's grand entrance.

A ceremony full of tears...

...and laughter.

Officially Mr. and Mrs. Dowden!

I. Seriously. Could. Not. Love. This. Shot. Any. More.

It's moments like this that remind me why I LOVE weddings!!

And we're off to the reception!

It doesn't get ANY sweeter!

Boom! I love all the personalized details!

Happy Thanksgiving and Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Dowden!

Leyna's Bridal Portraits {Little Rock Wedding Photographer}

2011-11-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

As I sit here and remember back at how beautiful Leyna looked for her Bridal Portraits and on her Wedding Day, I am wishing that I wasn't stuck in the "sweat pant purgatory" that is Thanksgiving Break! Ha. Maybe I'll go put on some mascara to spice up my favorite t-shirt/sweat pant combo!! :)

But seriously, I hope you enjoy Leyna's Bridal Portraits because we had so much fun shooting them!

I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing, comfortable....yet beautiful Thanksgiving! :)

Meet Me Here Monday: Davis' LR Baby Shower

2011-11-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we had Davis' Little Rock Baby Shower....and what a showering he received!

At that point I was 29 weeks pregnant, and definitely appreciating the Fall Weather that has started to move our way!

During that week, we prayed that Davis would be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

The shower was really special because my mom drove down for it, but it was also put on by some very dear friends. When we arrived we were greeted by these wonderful decorations! I will say, this child WILL know his name! ha. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way!

Everything looked so wonderful...especially all the yummy food! ha.

My mom and I had been running around all afternoon, so by the time I got to the shower, this pregnant girl was HUNGRY....and Shower/Finger Food was just what the doctor ordered! I could eat Shower Food every day if it was offered to me. :)

I loved every moment of this shower, because everyone had such a fun time hanging out and catching up with one another! Ann leaned over at one point and said "I hear a lot of residency talk going on"...and when I looked around, I couldn't believe the number of med school wives and girlfriends that were there! I was immediately thankful for the community of ladies God has given us without even realizing it! But then of course I am also thankful for the non-medical friends that were there...because I 100% believe that they are in our lives to keep us sane! :)

Davis received so many wonderful gifts....even his first piece of Under Armour! Del and my dad were so excited!!

And of course none of this would have been possible without these wonderful hostesses!

They truly made this day so special and I cherish each one of their friendships!

So now, I am a full 30 Weeks Pregnant!

Where in the world has time gone! Only 10 weeks to go...and they are going by FAST!!

This week we prayed that Davis, as well as the one he marries, will be kept pure until marriage.

"But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexual immoral person sins agains his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:17-20

This week Davis has really been going crazy! He is so active, pretty much all the time, that it keeps Del and I laughing a lot. It's to the point now where you can feel a hand, a foot, or maybe a knee or elbow as it jabs me in the side or moves it's way across my stomach.

On Friday, I had to go in for the 3 hour Glucose Test....because yes, I failed the 1 hour test. {Ugh, it was awful....but I won't go into how I cried about it for a long time in the shower and then called my parents to see if I could figure out if we had a family history of diabetes.}

But anyway...after the first hour, I started to not feel so good, so I went home to lay down and rest for a few minutes before I had to go back to the doctor...but Davis had other plans. He was going so crazy, Del was able to record it. Cracks me up every time I watch it.

This went on for the entire 45 minutes we were at the house. I guess all that sugar "water" had made it to his system! ha.

But thankfully I passed the 3 hour test, so that is one less thing we have to worry about. God definitely used that little test to break my pride, humble me in a lot of areas, but also to see how important it is for me to stay healthy during this time.

We are making progress on the nursery...but it's a project that seems to be never ending.

I'll post pictures as soon as it you can tell that it is actually a room, and not a storage unit! :)

Happy Monday!

Natalie's Bridal Portraits {Little Rock Wedding Photographer}

2011-11-16T11:48:00.000-08:00

I've been holding onto these pictures, because a part of me feels like as soon as I blog about them, then I will "officially be done with them"....and that brings a little *tear* to my eye. I've absolutely LOVED getting to know Travis and Natalie over this past year, talking details and ideas with Natalie over the phone, getting to know her family, spending the day with them as we photographed their engagement pictures...Part I AND Part II....and now, their Big Day! I could blame the "crazy pregnancy hormones" for getting so sentimental, but I'm pretty sure these are real feelings...especially because there have been many nights when Del and I've been sitting down at dinner and I've made the comment, "I really wish Travis and Natalie lived in LR so that we could hang out." Ha! So, with that being said, today and tomorrow's blog posts will be dedicated to a very special couple!

Enjoy the pictures!

So Sweet....and So Natalie.

And of course, this Bridal Session would not have gone as smoothly as it did, if it weren't for Natalie's mom, Ann! She was prepared for the heat, leaves, dirt, and anything extra that might have come our way...all to make sure he daughter looked her absolute best for her Bridal Portraits!

A++, Mrs. Ann! You deserve a "Mother of the Bride of the Year Award" for this one!!

Cora is ONE!! {Little Rock Portrait Photographer}

2011-11-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

In the beginning, we didn't know if she would be a boy or a girl...

...but from the moment she arrived, she stole our hearts...

...and then at 6 Months we started to see a little bit of her personality shining through those bright blue eyes....

...and now she's ONE and so much FUN!!

It has been such a joy to document this Sweet Girl's First Year of Life! Recently, it seems like I've had the opportunity to do that for a few of the newborns I photographed a year ago...and it is quickly turning into one of my favorite parts of this job!

Sweet Little Shoes

...And she's off!

Love these sweet mommy-daughter moments.

Could this girl be any more excited about eating cake? Answer: No!

Just givin' God praise for being able to eat cake!! ha.

Now, in honor of Cora...GO EAT SOME CAKE and enjoy this Terrific Tuesday!!

Meet Me Here Monday: He's HOME!!!

2011-11-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

After 2 1/2 LONG months...Del is finally HOME!!!

If you weren't aware, he has been on his away rotations for the Army/Med School. He spent all of September in Tacoma, WA and then all of October in Hawaii {hence the two trips to those places}. I'm so thankful that I was able to make the trip to each of those places...even if it was just for a few days at a time....because otherwise, it would have been like seeing a stranger when he arrived on Sunday!

After Hawaii, he flew home for less than 24 hours, met me in Memphis so that we could at least see each other while I shot a wedding that day. Then the next morning he was off to DC for a week and then spent the last few days with his sister, Erin, in Charlotte, NC visiting our new little niece, Aubrey Jane {who I will be doing a post about soon}!!

So on Sunday morning, I drove as fast as I could {without the wheels on my car literally bursting into flames} from NWA to LR to pick up my man from the airport! You'd have thought he had been gone for years by the way we were looking forward to that moment....so now I know that a few months is long enough for me!!

We spent the day unpacking, going to Sam's Club and Wal-Mart {I know, fun right?} and then I left for a family shoot, while Del got the grill ready for dinner! We had our first home cooked meal in a long time {because you KNOW I did know cook for just one while he was gone! ha.}

After we got done with dinner, we were both so exhausted {I blame the time change...or the growing human inside my stomach} that we were both dead asleep by 9pm and didn't wake up until 7am this morning! Wow...I can't remember the last time I got that much sleep.

And of course, now that the Breakfast King is back in town, we had dynamite omelets for breakfast! I'm pretty sure I could hear Davis singing the Hallelujah Chorus from inside my stomach after eating that meal! Because by now, he's probably a little sick of my V8 juice and 1 egg breakfast I had been feeding him. :)

Then after breakfast, we made some phone calls {so that we could feel at least a little productive} and then went for a hike. It was the perfect day outside, and it felt great to get out and breathe some fresh air. However, I had no idea how bad a little hike could wear you out at 29 weeks pregnant! I was exhausted for the rest of the day!!

By the time we got home, I had to get ready for work and then we both had BSF tonight. Once we got home, Del took over the responsibility of taking the weekly "Belly Pics". Susan stood in for him while he was gone, so you can thank her for actually holding me accountable to take them on a weekly basis.

But, I think Del was excited to pick up where she left off! ha.

This week we continued to pray that Davis would desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong ones.

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." -Proverbs 13:20

Davis is still moving around like crazy, but I am definitely starting to feel like my stomach is a lot heavier these days. We have an appointment next Tuesday, and I can't wait to see how much he has grown since the last time we did measurements!

I hope you all had a great weekend and that your week is off to an awesome start!

Meet Me Here Monday: Davis' NWA Baby Shower

2011-10-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

The week after I returned from Hawaii, the most wonderful group of friends threw us a Baby Shower in NWA. It was a wonderful time filled with lots of laughter and lots of hugs from great friends that I wish I could see on a daily basis!

The decorations were perfect, and the food was delicious....

But my favorite part was seeing so many fun friends and family!

Oh, Sweet Martha and Baby Levi!! This picture brings a huge smile to my face! What a joy it will be to raise these boys together!! God's perfect timing is just amazing isn't it?!?

...and Thank You, "Lucy and Ethel" for keeping us laughing all day!

These are all the women on my mom's side. I love my gma, aunts, and cousins!

Thank to all of you, Davis is now well stocked in all things blue, soft, and cuddly!

...and fun socks!!

...but I think we wore Katie and Julie out! :)

Major "mom props" to Jenny Beth because her sweet daughter was napping through the entire shower! Oh, Good Morning, Marion!

But the BIGGEST THANK YOU in the World goes to these wonderful women!

They truly were the Hostesses with the Mostesses!! But more than that, each one has such a special place in my heart because of their friendship and now love for our little Baby Boy. Del and I love each one of you.

They deserve so much more than anything I could have given them, but I have to send a special THANK YOU to Amy Hannon for creating the most special platters for these sweet women! They were beautiful, and perfect in every way...and I really wish I would have ordered one for myself...because I now have a new love obsession with Melamine Plates and Platters!

But in the end, we packed up the car and headed home!

And because I'm so behind on posting these pictures...you can now see how much Davis has grown...

3 weeks in a row!! I really will try to do better with posting these more frequently!

Week 25

We prayed that he will have a responsible attitude in all his interpersonal relationships.

"And this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him." -Daniel 6:3

Week 26

We prayed that he will respect those in authority over him.

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." -Romans 13:1

Week 27

We prayed that he will desire the right kind of friends and he be protected from the wrong friends.

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." -Provers 1:10

And just as a little "Davis Update":

He has been moving around like crazy these days! One of my favorite things that he does {which may not be a favorite for long} is when he balls up on one side of my stomach and my tummy gets completely lopsided! ha. I love it because I can feel the shape of his head, booty, knee...whatever it is. But I just think it's hilarious when it happens. I thought about posting a picture of it...but let's just say, some things are cuter when left to the imagination.

I hope your week is off to a great start! Happy Monday!

Meet Me Here Monday: Hello Honolulu

2011-10-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yep, after much agony, asking advice from friends, and debate {within myself} I decided to make the short but sweet trek to Honolulu to see my sweetie! :) Actually, there wasn't going to be ANYTHING short about the trip...but my time there was definitely going to be short. But in the end, I knew I would regret it if I didn't go. And let's be honest, last minute trips like this are about to come to a screeching halt once this baby comes. So, I decided to pull the trigger, pack my bags, and book the tickets!

I was 23 Weeks Pregnant at that point, memorizing John 17:15, under the title of "That Davis would be protected from the evil one in each area of his life - spiritually, emotionally, and physically."

"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one"......

...So I was cleared to travel but there were still a couple of things that made me really nervous about the trip. One being the swelling that would probably happen because of all of the sitting I'd be doing, and I also didn't want to experience jet lag too bad since I would be going back to work the day I got back. But, amazingly enough, the Lord worked out both of those fears/worries in the most amazing and unpredictable ways.

Provision #1: Samantha {our amazing doctor} wrote me a prescription for some support hose {which are incredibly attractive, and in her words look like ice skater tights...and could possibly be flame retardant. ha.} which would help with the swelling and the prevention of the o-so-lovely varicose veins.
Provision #2: My dad offered to come down on Friday night to stay the night and then take me to the airport on Saturday Morning. This was a huge blessing because my dad is the master of getting places early...so it was my guarantee ticket to getting to the airport on time! He also took Burt back to NWA with him for the week so that I didn't have to arrange for someone to take care of him here! Double Blessing!
Everything went super smooth Saturday morning. I {of course} got to the LR airport on time, made it on my flight to Atlanta with no problems, was able to lay down and sleep the entire way to Atlanta because there were maybe 25 people on this huge airplane, and then make it to my gate in Atlanta with plenty of time to go to the bathroom and grab a sandwich in preparation for my 10 hour flight to HI. However....once I got to the ticket counter at our gate, I was informed that I "didn't have a seat on this flight"! WHAT?! And then the flight attendant proceeded to ask me, "Would it be ok if you took the same flight tomorrow to HI?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

And within seconds of the question being asked, the most "amazing" thing happened....I realized I was experiencing my first true encounter with the "crazy pregnancy hormones".
With tears literally streaming down my face {like they are every time I watch Steal Magnolias} I said, "NO!! I HAVE TO GET THERE TODAY!!" When she finally looked up from her computer, her eyes got really big and said, "Oh no, are you crying?" ha.
I apologized and explained that I was pregnant and just really needed to see my husband, and her response was classic. She said, "Does he know you are pregnant?!" haha. I pointed to my stomach and said "Of Course he KNOWS!!" {....which caused more tears to start flowing,,,,}
Needless to say, her and another lady started typing really fast and then rushed me down to another ticket counter, where the re-routed me to LA, and then LA to Hawaii....AND bumped me up to First Class for the long flight to HI....AND gave me a travel voucher!!
It was a blessing in disguise because I would land only a few hours later than expected, and being able to stretch out in First Class was a huge deal in the "ankle swelling department".

I arrived at 6pm Hawaii Time on Saturday evening, and Del immediately whisked me away to a dinner at the Program Director's house. We had a great time, and it was really fun meeting the people that Del would be working with during his stay there. We stayed until 2am Arkansas Time {which is only 9pm Hawaii Time}, so needless to say I completely passed out once we got back to the hotel!

I woke up bright and early....like 4am...on Sunday morning {thank you time change}. So we went on a walk along the beach and then went and had breakfast at the hotel.

Then we packed up the car and headed to The North Shore, which is on the other side of the island. It was a beautiful drive because you literally drove along the beach the entire time. We stopped and had lunch at a little local stand that was set up on the porch of a Bob Marley Rastafarian Shop {which should have been our first clue to NOT eat there}. But we gave it a shot because we thought, how could they really mess up a hamburger and chicken sandwich? Umm...let me tell you how. While we were waiting, there were little chickens walking around our card table that was set up by the street...and once I bit into my sandwich, I realized that I was probably eating one of those little chicken's brother's. I have never appreciated a chicken breast sandwich more in my entire life, because at this point I wasn't sure which parts of the chicken were wedged in between those two pieces of bread. Yuck.

After finishing our meal {actually....after Del finished both of our meals} we went to a little supermarket and picked up some fruit and Reese's Cups to wash the taste out of our mouths...then headed to the beach!

It was such a fun beach because there were tons of families there and also a rock for people to jump off of. I, of course, opted out of the "bluff jumping"....but Del jumped on board and wowed the crowd with his backflip skills! ha.

It was beautiful, but unfortunately for me, Del had gotten sunburned really bad a couple of days before I arrived {like to the point where he had blisters covering his back} so by this point, he had officially turned into the "sunscreen nazi" and there would be no hope of me coming back with any sort of brown tint on my skin. :)

Once we got back from the North Shore, we went and had dinner at Roy's. Seriously, I think it was the best meal I've ever eaten.

Sorry, I know these pictures are a little blurry....

...but everything became very clear when we got the check. ha! Just kidding! It was an amazing meal with amazing conversation with my man. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

On Monday, the residents and attending physician let Del go at 9am, so we were able to spend that entire day together as well! It was such a treat because we don't even get to spend two full days together in LR! We ate lunch at Duke's and then walked around and swam the rest of the day. The whole trip was wonderful and relaxing.

Then on Tuesday Morning, Del and I said our good-byes because he had to go to work....so I packed my bags and headed to the airport early that afternoon, just to make sure I had a seat on the long flight home. And sure enough...I had a seat! Whew! And actually, when I got on the plane it was a completely full flight except for 2-3 seats....and ONE OF THEM WAS NEXT TO ME!! So I was able to lay down and sleep the entire overnight flight home. That alone was a true blessing from the Lord. I couldn't have been anymore appreciative.

So, I'm 24 weeks now...and counting down the days until my hubby gets home. 11 days at this point....so we are in the home stretch!!

This week we memorized Psalm 97:10, and prayed that "Davis would have a hatred for sin":
"O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of His saints, He delivers them from the hand of the wicked".

Davis is the size of an eggplant this week, and is kicking around like crazy...especially in the mornings!
I can't wait to see this little guy in person, and to observe the little personality the Lord has already given him. We love him so much already!

I hope your week is off to a great start!!

Our Trip to Tacoma, WA

2011-10-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's definitely time for me to do some MAJOR catching up over here on the blog.

After many texts, phone calls, and messages from my sister-in-laws, I figured I better get a blog post up {and up quick....oh, and one that included some "belly pictures"} so that they didn't reach through the phone, slap me in the face, and take a picture themselves! ha.

So...Erin and Ellen, there are "belly pictures" in this post...and there are more on the way! Enjoy! :)

A few weeks ago, my parents and I took a trip to Tacoma, WA to visit Del and to scope out one of the cities we could possibly be moving to if Del matched here. None of us had ever been to WA, so we were really looking forward to the trip. Especially because it meant escaping the Little Rock heat for a few days, and entering the land of 75 degree days and 60 degree nights! Ahh...purely wonderful.

We visited during the week, so Del had to work during the days...which left a lot of time for my parents and I to do some exploring around the area. Unfortunately, I came down with a nasty head cold the day after we got there...so I set up shop in the backseat of the rental car with my Kleenex box, Tylenol, and Benadryl. I would fall asleep and during the ride, and then my parents would wake me up if they saw something neat or if we stopped for lunch.

One of our favorite stops was Gig Harbor. It was a sweet little town right on the bay. We ate at a restaurant called Tides Tavern and it literally had the BEST Clam Chowder maybe in the entire world. That may be an exaggeration because I'm not really a Clam Chowder expert, it I could have dove in and swam around in that stuff. It was de-lish.

After spending a couple of days in Tacoma, my parents and I headed up to Seattle on Friday morning and then Del would meet us later in the afternoon after he got off work. Our hotel was right around the corner from the Space Needle so we walked up there to check it out...and while there...my dad took my 20 Week BELLY PICTURE!! ha. I really despise this pictures because of the angle, but I'm posting it because it's different than all the other ones we've taken. And it will be fun to look back on all the different places Baby Davis will have traveled before he even arrived!

Oh yeah, I guess I should mention that we decided on a name!

Davis Cole Sloneker

Don't ask where the name came from...because it literally came out of no where. We don't know anyone with that name, it doesn't {really} have any spiritual significance {other than it means "son of David" and after studying the life of David this summer, I would be proud to have my son's name be related to his in some way}, and it's not a family name. All I know, is that every time Del calls him that, writes it in a letter, or sends a text calling him by name...I immediately start balling. It could be the pregnancy hormones...but I love it none the less.

{Ok, Back to the story....}

After Del arrived in Seattle, we walked down to the ocean to scope out the Bay and take in the view.

It was beautiful.

Then we headed over to The Crab Pot. It had been recommended to Del by one of the residents and it did not disappoint. It was a super fun atmosphere and super yummy food. For the menu, you chose which mixture of seafood you wanted and they brought it in a big bowl and then dumped it out on the table for you to dig in. Good thing they give out bibs before you start to dig in, because it got messy....but totally worth the mess.

Then on Saturday Morning, we headed down to Pike's Market to spend some time taking in the sights before our plane left that afternoon. I think it was a blessing in desguise that I was still battling my head cold because being pregnant mixed with the smell of fish...might have just done me in!

I've always wanted to visit Pike Place Fish Market! I think the four of us could have stood there all day just to watch them work! It was so fun to see them throw the fish...or should I say launch the fish at one another?! I always thought they just tossed the fish around. False. Those guys aren't messin' around. They throw them fiercely fast! And sometimes they catch them....and sometimes they don't! ha.

....And, of course....we had to visit the VERY FIRST Starbucks. Del and my mom were in Coffee Heaven!

We finished up the morning by getting some yummy breakfast sandwiches from a local bakery and eating them by the Bay, while enjoying our "special" Starbucks drinks. {Just to let you know, they don't taste any different from the rest of the Starbucks in the world}

Then it was time to say goodbye and send Del off to his next destination....

Yep, you guessed it...HAWAII.

Ha. We saw this sign when we were getting in the car and it couldn't have been any more appropriate!

He left for Hawaii a week later....and yes, you better believe that I went to visit him there as well! :)

I told you, Davis is already quite the world traveler!

So, I leave you with my "official" 22 Week Picture.

{I know, I missed week 21, but sometimes you just have to cut your losses and move on}

But Davis is growing and moving around like crazy. I have to tell you that the only thing I prayed for our trip to Tacoma was for Del to feel Davis move from the outside, because neither of us had felt that yet. And I am here to say, that God answered that prayer the last morning we were there! It was such a neat moment, and Del and I crack up every time it's happened since! I hope this feeling never gets old.

During Week 22, we prayed that Davis would get caught when he's guilty, so we memorized

Psalm 119:71

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I might learn your statutes."

Thanks for bearing with me on this LONG post...but now you are almost completely up to date on what's going on with us! Check back on Monday for our trip to the beautiful beaches of Oahu!

Where Did He Come From Wednesday?! - Week 18

2011-08-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

Wow! I feel like this kid just came out of no where! When did he get so big?!

I told my dad tonight about how fast he was growing, and he said, "Well, get used to it...because you're not going to be getting any smaller for a while!" ha. That's for sure.

Otherwise, I'm still feeling a lot better. I don't know if I've felt him kick yet, because I think I'm anticipating a big soccer kick when I do. Otherwise, I'm not really sure about all these "flutters" that people keep telling me about. Oh well.

This week's verse still falls under us praying that He will know Christ as Savior at a young age.

2 Timothy 3:15:

"And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

I hope your week is off to a great start! Well, I guess it's 1/2 way over already! ha. I guess that's what happens when I don't blog on Monday.

We agree that Ava says.....

2011-08-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

Congrats Kevin Meurer on this fantastic caption!

It couldn't be any more perfect!!

Email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com and we will get your portrait session set up and you some Houndstooth gear!!

And Thank You to everyone that commented. You had us laughing all day!!

Tell Us What Ava is Thinking and Win Big!!

2011-08-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Remember this sweet little face?

Well, that sweet face is growing up fast and about to be on the move before we know it! Yes, I know she isn't mine...but I love watching these Sweet Cheeks grow up and change before our very eyes.

Ava is about to start crawling, and her expressions while trying are absolutely priceless!

When her mom sent me these pictures, I knew we had to do something fun with them.

I love the progression of pictures above, but I think this next one is just priceless and it makes me laugh OUT LOUD every time I look at it!

So, I thought it would be fun to do a Caption Contest with it!! Because I would LOVE to know what YOU think Ava is thinking!! ha.

Here is the deal:

All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me what you think Ava is thinking in this picture.

The winner will win a Free Sitting Fee for a Family Session this Fall or a Free Engagement Session that can be added onto their Wedding Package!

And in addition....

Ava's mom and Houndstooth Clothing Company will throw in a Free Houndstooth T-Shirt to be worn in your Portrait Session this Fall!! Razorback Season is right around the corner and a Houndstooth T-Shirt is just to thing to get you geared up for this season!

So get your cleaver pants on and leave a funny, witty, or just plain awesome comment and see if you'll be the Winner!!

Contest ends and Winner will be announced on Thursday Morning at 9am.

Blushing Blue!

2011-08-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

It's true...in late January I will officially be out numbered in our house...because we are having a BOY!!

We could not be any more excited! I wish there was a way for me to upload our ultrasound video, but I have no idea how to do that. ha. But you better believe if you come over to our house in the next 5 months I'll be sitting you down, offering you a snack, and showing it to you!! :)

Hope you've had a great day....I know we've been smiling all day long!

Meet Me Here Monday: House Update, Lessons Learned, and Week 17 Belly Pic

2011-08-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

As I sit here on this quiet Monday Morning, I thought I would reward myself for actually writing a blog post today...AND getting it up in a timely manner....with one {ok, maybe two} made-from-scratch Chocolate Chip Cookies. {However, I'm still a little disappointed in the taste because no matter how hard I try, and no matter how close I follow the EXACT SAME recipe, they still don't taste like my mom's. Ughh. Life is so hard sometimes. :) }

But no matter what, today is a great day because today is my first day in two months that I'm totally off work from one of the three jobs I've been juggling this summer.

{Well, technically 4 jobs if you count "criminal investigator" and "insurance paperwork filler-outer" as one. ha. Which have been pretty much full time jobs these last 2 weeks.}

This past weekend I called my parents to see if they would want to come down and help get our house back in order after the break in. I think mentally, this ordeal has had a bigger affect on me than I would have liked to admit, and I just needed a little help getting started in the "make your house feel like a home again" department. My mom and I worked on cleaning up the mess the robbers made {especially the mess they made in my closet} and then also folding and organizing the 8 loads of laundry that had accumulated on our guest room bed, and my dad and Del worked outside cleaning up, and doing yard work to help our house become a little safer.

One of the things I had noticed was that the huge hedge of weeds/bushes that cover the fence on our property line had grown so tall that it created a barrier so that our house had become a little less noticeable from the road. So my dad brought down a gas powered hedge trimmer, and I don't think I've seen Del that happy in months. Ha. He was like a kid in a candy store when using that tool...and I'm pretty sure he hasn't stopped talking about it since. So, problem solved! You can now see our house from all directions while traveling down one of the busiest streets in LR!

My parents stayed Friday night and then went home Saturday evening. It was a great visit and we really enjoyed having them here. On Sunday, Del and I woke up and had a "Snow Day-like Breakfast". It was raining outside, so I thought that was close enough to snow after living through this crazy amount of heat we've been having! :) {Am I the only one in the South that keeps thinking that after each time it rains, it will miraculously be Fall? I may just be setting myself up for disappointment here. ha} So, after we finished eating, we went to church and the sermon couldn't have been any more perfect for what we've been feeling recently.

I've had a lot of people ask recently, "Well, what has God taught you through this break in?" and my initial response was, "Nothing. We are just trying to survive, not live in fear, and take it one day at a time." But the other day when I was doing my Study on the Life of David, we were to the point where David has fled from Saul, and arrives at the first priest's house and asks for 5 loaves of bread. But the Priest only has The Bread of Presence to offer him. And as David ate the bread it was a reminder that the Covenant that God made with David would never be broken because of the Lord's Presence in His life. And as Believers, it's the same for us. We will have His everlasting Presence no matter what we go through. So that was a great reminder for me that day, and it also brought a great amount of comfort knowing that even if people crash into your house with their car, or break in and take your stuff, the Lord's Presence can never be taken from you.

But while sitting at church, I felt like God used Bill Parkinson's words to reach down, and rip the stone out of my heart and mind and replace it with a heart that beats more like His and a mind that is starting to think a little bit more like His. You see, I didn't realize it until the other day, but I really think this break in has really made me a bitter person. And I don't like it one bit! I had been having thoughts that sound a lot like; "I would NEVER do this to someone else!"...."Who do these people think they are?!"...."Why do they think they have the right to come into OUR house and take OUR stuff?!" But when you really break it down, all of those thoughts are really just centered in a very prideful attitude that thinks that I am better than someone else. And the Truth is, I'm not. I'm not any better than the next man, because we are all born sinners. The only difference is, that God has graciously saved me from a life of sin so that I can live my according to His Will and Word and not my own.

I don't know what drove those people to come into our house 2 Monday's ago, but I now know what was driving my emotions up until yesterday morning....pride and anger. But when Bill Parkinson spoke God's Word into my ears yesterday morning, those emotions have now been smashed down and changed to brokenness and humility. He told a story about how years ago, the London Paper sent out an essay topic asking, "What is Wrong with our World Today?" and people could write in whatever they wanted with their solutions. They received multitudes of entries which were long and very detailed essays, but the winner of the essay contest sent in a paper with 2 words written on it, "I Am." The winner was C.S. Lewis' Mentor. It was that story that made me realize that I am no different that any of my neighbors, but I do need to take responsibility for my actions and attitudes towards each one of them.

So, what has God taught us through this trial? That we need to take action and seek Forgiveness.

God graciously, freely, and quickly forgave me of ALL my sins, so why am I so slow and unwilling to forgive someone who sinned once again me? My prayers have now changed from "Lord, please catch these people and lock them up so that they can't do this to anyone else." to "Lord, through discipline, would you bring these people to repentance. And if we get the chance, could we tell them in some way that we forgive them?"

Am I saying that we have officially taken the "high and holy road" on this issue? No. Del and I are a work in progress, just like everyone else. But I am happy to be able to look at this 17 Week Belly Picture {that was taken AFTER church :)} and not see a bitter and scared woman. I'm excited to see all the things the Lord will continue to teach us through this trial, because I know that even though it's an inconvenience in our eyes, this was no accident in His. He works mightily through our trials and has a purpose for each and every one of them. So we are praying that He would continue to work in our lives and hearts as we walk daily in His Presence.

We have been memorizing a verse every week for the baby. This week we were praying that the baby would Seek and Find the Lord as Savior Early in Life, and the verse that corresponds with it was

Psalm 63:1.

"Oh God, you are my God;

earnestly I seek you,

my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

Meet Me Here Monday: Little Rock Strikes Again.

2011-08-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

I had all the intentions in the world to post a cute little 15 week Prego Pic, and telling you all about how I am feeling, and what verse we memorized for Baby Sloneker this week.....but unfortunately, Little Rock has struck again are we are now left here feeling thankful...but very unsettled.

Yep, I came home this evening and found our door wide open with the with dents and cracks all in it. It took me a second to realize what had happened, but when I looked around the corner and saw major electronics missing, I knew we had been robbed.

The Current Score:

Little Rock: 4

Del and Chelsea: 0

The worse part about the whole thing was that I immediately realized that Burt was missing as well. I didn't know if he had gotten scared and run off when the thieves were kicking in our door, or if the evil men had taken him. {I of course automatically thought of the worse case scenario, and had a major breakdown} I immediately called 911 and then called Del, because I was to scared to look through the house myself to see if they were still in there. Del arrived in about 3 seconds and went man-hunting though the house, just hoping to find someone that he could kick in the shins {that's my wife-version} for making his wife cry and taking everything she uses for her business! Get 'em, honey!

Unfortunately, all the evil men were gone....and so was our dog.

Susan and Kristin immediately showed up and started driving around searching for Burt. We joined the search crew once the cops and crime scene investigators left. We looked for a few hours, sending out pictures and prayers hoping that someone had seen him. Finally, on our way home a wonderful lady emailed me back, saying that she thought she had our dog and that he was sleeping with her puppies. We arrived at her house...and it was BURT! Rescued once again!!

So, now we are left feeling a little unsettled...but also thinking about all the ways we can Jack-Bauer-Proof our house. But until then, we are thankful that our little "family" is back together...and all the other not-so-little stuff can hopefully be replaced so that I can...you know...actually take pictures again somehow. :\

We would appreciate your prayers that all of the insurance stuff that we are about to embark on, would run smoothly and that God would calm our fleshly-anger/disappointment/worry, and turn it into something that would glorify Him. And while you're at it...you can also pray that this is streak of awful experiences is just a Little Rock thing and not a Del and Chelsea thing. We would like this stuff to end as soon as we move...or before! :)

Thanks and thanks for Meeting Me Here!

Travis & Natalie's Engagement Pictures Part II {Little Rock Wedding Photographer}

2011-07-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

Since you now know the "real" Travis and Natalie....let me introduce you to the 1940's version. :) Natalie had the great idea, that since their reception is in the Old Train Depot, their Save the Date's should be centered around that. Originally, we thought about taking pictures next to an old train and making tickets to send out for the Save the Dates....but then she suggested making Old Postcards. Couldn't. Love. It. More. And just to add a special little extra touch, her mom even made a license plate that has their wedding date on it! I love little details!!

Isn't this hat fabulous?!

So, how did we put all this goodness together for a Save the Date?!?

{Squeal! I love it so much!!}

Here is the Front:

And this is the back:

Natalie's Mom sent me some in the mail the other day, and I just love all the little stamps!

A Vintage Postcard they wanted....and a Vintage Postcard they got!!

Happy Wednesday!!

Travis & Natalie's Engagement Pictures Part I {Arkansas Wedding Photographer}

2011-07-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever met someone...or even just talked to them on the phone, and thought, "Yep, we could be really good friends." Well, that's how I feel about Natalie. From the first phone conversation we had, I knew that this was someone that had some serious "friendship potential". ha! I absolutely couldn't wait to meet her in person for her and Traivs' Engagement Pictures. Natalie was living in Oxford, MS and Travis was living in Jackson...so it was a real treat to have them drive all that way for their Engagements in Little Rock. I think you will see through these pictures that not only are they totally head over heels for each other, but they each just have the nicest most genuine personalities. I honestly couldn't be happier for them and I especially can't wait for their wedding in September!!

So, without further a due...may I introduce to you...the Future Mr. & Mrs. Mosley:

{I added the last little statement because Natalie left it blank! ha. I didn't think she would mind since we are pretty much BFFs by this point anyway! :)}

We found so many great locations for their Engagement Pictures! A wheat field, a field with yellow flowers, and one with hay bails! It was the perfect combo for this southern couple.

Oh, I love their little giggles.

Oh. My. Gosh....Love it. Favorite. I might frame it in my house.

I love see two people head over heels for one another!

Wait...this one might be my favorite.

Hello, Beautiful!

Last shot of the day....well, right before Part II of their Engagement Session!

Oh yes, Part II of their Engagement Session is coming to the Blog tomorrow...and TRUST ME, you aren't going to want to miss this one.

Happy Tuesday.

Meet Me Here Monday: 10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes!

2011-07-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Yep! It's true!! I'm now thrilled to announce that we are PREGNANT!!

We found out the week before Memorial Day, and were absolutely FLOORED! We had taken a couple of months off from "trying" so as to let my body rest and "get back to normal", so to find out that we were able to get pregnant again the first month was a huge surprise.

I had taken the test early one morning, once Del had left for class. When I saw that plus sign, I immediately called him and asked if I could bring him some lunch. So we met for lunch, and when he opened up his lunchbox, I had the positive test waiting for him inside! It was a really sweet moment.

We knew my parents would be coming down that next weekend for Memorial Day, so we thought we would make it a surprise and tell them in person.

{Even though I think they already had some strong suspicions.}

They were excited, to say the least.
We had to tell Del's parents over the phone because his dad was in China at the time and his mom had just had Lasik Eye Surgery, so she was pretty much blind at that point and had to have Del's little brother read her the text! ha.

So, what have we been up to since then?! Well....I've just been sick. Period.
Trying to find something that sounds good, AND something that actually sets well in my stomach was a really hard combination for about 12 weeks. ha.
Not to mention, it's been peak Wedding Season over here....which made me really nervous because not only was I getting sick all throughout the day, but I was also having a really hard time not taking a nap on a daily basis. But God has extended much Grace, because even though I was sick during the week, it seemed like each weekend when those weddings would roll around...I would have the strength to make it though. And thankfully, never got sick once at a wedding!

But here are some picture of what our Sweet Little One looks like so far!

After our 8 Week Appointment, we started calling the baby, "Baby Bean" because that's what it looked like! So, when we went back for our 13 Week Appointment, I could not believe my eyes! This child is no longer a Bean! It actually has legs, hands, fingers, and toes!! I was just expecting to see a bigger Bean....so I was completely amazed when we saw this:

And of course, if you know my husband AT ALL....you won't be surprised when I tell you that, we don't have a crib, we don't have a car seat, and we don't even have a single package of diapers....but by golly....we have a kid carrier backpack! ha. Del found it on Steep & Cheap the other day and has been wearing it around the house ever since.

Needless to say, we are pretty excited!

We will be keeping you updated on the progress, and would appreciate all your prayers as this Little One continues to grow big and strong.

January 23rd is going to be here before we know it!

Brandon & Joy's Engagement Session {Little Rock Wedding Photographer}

2011-07-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Brandon, Joy, and I {along with Joy's super helpful cousin, Hannah...I love it when friends or family come to Engagement Sessions and Bridal Portraits! It makes it so fun!!} had a 2-part Engagement Session....which explains the reason why some of the pictures look like they are in the dead of winter and some in the middle of the summer. Ha. Believe it or not, they were actually taken within the same week, but it was literally summertime for the first session, and super freezing for the second.

Brandon and Joy are the perfect example why I love this job so much. You get to meet total strangers and by the end...you want to keep hanging out with them because they are so fun!

I can't wait to show you their wedding pictures because Joy looks stu-uuuunnnn-ing!!

I hope you're having a great week so far!!

Meet Me Here Monday: Dancing Queens

2011-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

I don't know where it all started....

...Maybe it was in high school when I realized that I loved watching the pom squad and cheerleaders dance equally as much as I enjoyed playing in the basketball game....

...or maybe it was in college when we won FIRST PLACE in Step Show....

...or maybe it was when Val and I started watching So You Think You Can Dance and I saw Chelsea and Mark's Bleeding Love performance...{and yes, I'm pretty sure Mark rips my heart out right along with Chelsea's every time I watch this video. Ughh...gets me every time.}

....or maybe it was Katee and Joshua's Samba Performance from the same season...

{Oh. My. Gosh. I just watched this video 8 times...I LOVE IT. I can't figure out if I love it so much because I secretly want Del and I to learn it so that we can bust it out at a wedding or something....or if it's just because I love Joshua and Katee so much as a couple (which in my heart I keep telling myself that they got married in real life after the show ended)...or if it's because Nigel asks who "poured Joshua into those trousers?!" and that's all I can think of the entire dance? haha. Whatever the reason is, I hands down love this performance.}

{and I've now realized that there are SO many SYTYCD videos that I love, I may have to create an entire blog post showing each one!}

So as you can see I've had some serious dance "training" throughout my years...and now, for whatever reason...the inner dance machine in me is trying to bust through. And you know what....I'm NOT holding it back!!

And actually, to be fair...I would say this is a "Wedding Reception Induced Dance Machine"...because it doesn't really rear it's ~~ugly~~ amazing head in too many other instances. I mean, don't you dare ask me to choreograph a dance or go teach a dance team a performance. But if I hear the beginning beat of the Cupid Shuffle {and there is a group of people I can kind of hide myself in} you better believe I'm going to be dancing with the best of 'em!

But at the last reception Blaire and I were at, all the girls and guys started doing a different dance called the Wobble...and it is SO FUN! And as most receptions go, Blaire and I put our cameras down and joined in for a dance {or two}. However, when I looked up...I realized that she wasn't just taking pictures of my "stellar performance" but she was actually taking a video! haha.

Well, I'm guessing that this officially means....game on. Blaire might have drawn first blood on this one...but we have a many more weddings coming up that you can expect I'll be looking for the perfect opportunity to grab some footage of my sweet friend as she busts a move on the dance floor.
And if you're one of our Brides and are all the sudden thinking, "Who in the world have I hired?"...please let me put your mind at ease. Dancing is NOT our main objective at receptions, but if the time is right and the bride calls us out to the dance floor...we obviously aren't going to turn her down! :)
I mean, what Bride doesn't want to dance with her photographer to All the Single Ladies before she tosses her bouquet?? :)

So, even though you may se our foot tappin' or our hips shakin' a little while we are photographing your reception, there is no way in a million years we would miss these priceless moments. I love weddings too much to not give a bride these once-in-a-lifetime pictures from her Big Day.

I hope this post has put a little extra pep in your step today! I know I'll be Samba-ing around the house today as I clean! :)

Happy Monday!

Harper's Happy Nursery {Arkansas Newborn Photographer}

2011-07-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Remember Sweet Baby Harper?

Well, her mom texted me a picture the other day of her Beautiful Thin Wrap 20x24 Canvas the other day!

Isn't it beautiful? I could just sit and stare.

Thin wraps are so fun and make awesome wall collections. And in a 20x24...it truly is a piece of art.

This pictures makes this nursery super happy...which I know makes for a very happy momma! :)

Meet Me Here Monday: Cow Appreciation Day 2011

2011-07-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

Why are we appreciating cows around here? Probably because we are HUGE Chick-fil-A fans....especially when it comes to giving it away for free!! This is not another grand opening, but it is the one special day each year, where Chick-fil-A gives you a free meal if you come in "dressed like a cow". So of course, we jumped on the opportunity.

Nothing too fancy, just some white t-shirts and some black duck tape.

Well...until you throw super cute Ava in the mix....

We had to make her some cow ears to complete her outfit! ha.

Cutest Cow on the Block!

Thanks Susan for letting me dress your daughter up so that we could all get a free dinner!

It was a perfect double date night! :)

Where Have I Been Wednesday?!

2011-07-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Remember when I use to be a good blogger? Yeah, me too. That was fun. Ha.

I don't plan on making "Where Have I Been Wednesday" a regular theme on the blog...but I thought it would be appropriate since I haven't blogged in THREE WEEKS! Ughh.

My friend Jenny Beth actually called the other day and said, "Is everything ok? You haven't blogged recently." ha. Ok, now I know this is serious.

But, being that I've had 5 weddings in the last 4 weekends....ummm, tired would be an understatement.
But now that I finally feel like I can come up for air...I'm thinking that jumping back on the blogging train would be a good idea! :)

I hope you all had a great 4th of July!

See you soon!!

Riley Kate Wins a Big Print!!

2011-06-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

All I can say is....Riley Kate's Mom knows how to WORK. IT.

Every time I got on Facebook or looked at her Blog, she was talking about Riley Kate's Newborn Pictures and making sure they knew where and how to comment so that they could get a BIG PRINT for their Baby Girl's Nursery!

Well, her hard work paid off and they now have a 20x24 print coming their way!!

Congrats Guys, you totally deserve it!!

And for the winner of the FREE Photo Shoot:

Congrats #41: Great Aunt Bonnie!

Please email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com and we will set up your shoot!

Thank you everyone for commenting. I know it means a lot to Riley Kate's mom & dad.
Now I can't wait to see her Big Print up in her room!!

Have a great weekend!

Meet Me Here Monday.....I mean Wednesday?!?: Summer Bible Study

2011-06-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Major Blogging Fail on my part.

Yep, It's Wednesday....and I am JUST NOW getting to my "Meet Me Here Monday" Blog Post.

So sorry. I know you probably feel a deep void/longing in your life because you didn't get to start your week off with my Monday Blog Post.....ha. YEAH RIGHT!!

But if you are feeling a longing in your spirit for something greater {especially greater than a Blog Post}, then maybe you're like me and need to get your rear-end in the Word and start your Summer Bible Study!

We have a group that is meeting together this summer, and we will be studying Priscilla Shirer's Study: One in a Million.

I can't wait to see how God uses this study to change each of our lives so that we aren't just your typical church-goers....but rather living the Abundant Life of Christ. I don't know about you....but I know God better and in a more intimate way at the end of the Summer.

There are so many great studies out there. I hope you have something going or a group to meet with this summer....and if not, email me because we'd love for you to join our group!

Happy Studying!

Sweet Cheeks: Riley Kate {Little Rock Newborn Photographer}

2011-06-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, you guys are going to fall in love with these Sweet Cheeks.

Riley Kate stole my heart from the moment I laid eyes on all that head full of dark hair and those stunning eyelashes. It was instant love.

I knew when I saw pictures of her nursery that we were going to have a delicate little vintage southern lady on our hands....and that is exactly what Riley Kate is. She was such a joy to photograph and think these images are going to fit in beautifully in the perfectly designed space mom and dad have created for their new little princess.

Sweet Baby Smiles.

Love. Love. Love.

Hello Eyelashes. Love.

Matt & Cynthia's Engagement Session {Arkansas Wedding Photographer}

2011-06-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

If there is one word to describe this couple, it would be "Precious"!
Cynthia called a few months ago to see if I was available to shoot her wedding... and I am so glad I had an open spot my calendar, because I have absolutely loved getting to know this couple.

The love this couple has for each other is infectious, and I feel very blessed to have been able to be a part of their big day. Their engagement session was a great mixture of fun and sweet, but most of all these pictures truly display the good time they have together. They are just adorable.

Go grab your sweetie {or your favorite sweet tea} and enjoy this precious couple's pictures!

Blue Steel.

And while getting this picture....

Matt decided to be funny.

Question: Could I love this picture any more? Answer: No. Absolutely Beautiful.

Sneak Peek: Matt & Cynthia's Wedding {Arkansas Wedding Photographer}

2011-05-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

I shot Matt & Cynthia's Wedding on Saturday Evening and all I can say is that...it was a beautiful celebration!

{And yes, I teared up during the ceremony. Ughh, they get me every time.}

But come back tomorrow to see their Oh-So-Precious Engagement Pictures.

You are going to LOVE this couple. I just know it.

Meet Me Here Monday: Take me out to the Ball Game

2011-05-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

For us, this wonderful Memorial Day Weekend was filled with Burgers, Brats, Brothers, Baseball....and Best Buds!!

My Best Friend, Ashley, her parents, and my parents, all came into town to watch Ashley's Brother, Andrew play baseball. He plays for the Corpus Christi Hooks, so it was great seeing him play pro ball after "watching him grow up" after all these years! Makes a girl proud {yes, and I'm not even blood related! ha.}

But it was a beautiful weekend....and it was even better spending it with great friends and family...while eating and spending time doing things that were "super American" on this Holiday Weekend. :)
I mean, it doesn't get much more American than eating Burgers and watching Baseball. Don't you think?

The Rents.

Oh Little Billy. Always a character.

My Love.

Andrew, coaching 1st Base.

The Bestie.

The Whole Fam. What a good lookin' Crew!

Sisterly Love.

That's our boy!

The rest of our weekend was spent....sleeping. ha! Just kidding. Well, not really.
I think we were all so full from our gigantic lunch we ate before the game, we all fell asleep at 9:30...and that was pushing it!
But then today, we woke up refreshed and spent most of the day digging out a little "garden" for our tomato plants {that I'm going to try and not kill this summer} and replacing the Hydrangeas {that I did kill last summer} with new Hibiscus Trees/Bushes/Plants {whatever you call them}.
As you can see, I don't necessarily have a "Green Thumb". Del actually calls me the Grim Reaper when it comes to gardening....but I think this summer might be my shining moment.
....all I have to do is remember that water is a very important element for survival!

Happy Memorial Day!

Sweet Cheeks: Shepherd {Arkansas Newborn Photographer}

2011-05-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Yea!! Our First Sweet Cheeks BOY!!

It's been all girls around here for the last year, so I was thrilled when Shepherd's parents called and said they wanted Newborn Pictures. And don't think that this will be the last you see of this sweet boy....we will be doing 6 month and 1 year pictures as well! I can't wait to watch him grow!

Shepherd was so good during our newborn session. He just wanted to be all curled up with whole time...which is just how we want them! I could have done this whole post in black and white pictures...but his precious green hat was too cute not to include.

So without further a-due, may I introduce to you, Baby Shepherd!

The many faces of Shepherd:

It doesn't get much better than this.

Oh those little fingers! Love them.

Meet Me Here Monday: Heaven is for Real {Book Review}

2011-05-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

What?!?! I haven't blogged in a week?! Are you kidding me?

Did someone hack my account and delete all the posts I was sure I wrote?!

Oh well....at least we have Mondays, right?

Maybe I didn't blog last week because I was so busy reading. I finished one book that I am ~~mildly~~ seriously obsessed with {other than the Bible} that I will tell you about soon. But the one I'm going to review today, I literally finished in a few hours. It was so intriguing, I couldn't put it down. And if you know me, I'm NOT a fast reader....at all. But this one caught my attention long before I even had it in my possession.

A few months ago I went to dinner with my sweet friends Kari & Trinka, and when I arrived they had this book waiting for me on the table.

The book is, "Heaven is for Real"...

....and deep down within me, I want it to be "For Real".

I don't know if it is or not, but my {much more} level headed & practical husband seems to be a little skeptical. But he knows how much parts of it meant to me....so we are just agreeing to disagree on different aspects of it. :)

Either way you dice it, I think that it's a beautiful picture and reminder that heaven is a real place, with real people, and a very REAL God.

I think one of the endorsements said it best, when they wrote:

"It will encourage those who doubt and thrill those who believe."

Happy Summer Reading!

Meet Me Here Monday: Laundry. My earthly enemy.

2011-05-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Whew...I almost didn't make "Meet Me Here Monday"....

Well, I guess technically I didn't make it. It's midnight.

But, I AM still awake from when I woke up this morning....so in my books, it's still part of the same day! :)

But today, I have a true confession: I'm terrible at laundry.

I feel like it's gotten worse since we moved into this house. Maybe because we have a guest bedroom now, and so it actually gives me a place to put it....and shut the door if I don't want to look at it! :)

But seriously, a few weeks ago it was literally at it's worst:

Yep, that's about 6 loads of laundry and a closet full of hanging clothes that needed to be ironed. Why does it look like some shirts are hanging from the ceiling, you may ask? Well, because they are! :) It's my new way of drying clothes faster...I hang them on the light fixtures on the fans. Works like a charm!

{Actually, my newest method is hanging them outside from our patio umbrella! They dry so fast!! ha.}

Anyway...back to my story....

I couldn't take it any longer, so I loaded it all up, brought it out to the living room, put in a movie, and had a folding party with myself. I even barricaded myself in with laundry baskets so I "couldn't" get out. Yes. It was time to take care of business.

....And 2 1/2 hours later....

it was done!

I will admit, I still despise laundry....but that night was really my breaking point.

Ever since then, I've started doing a mid-week load, and it has been revolutionary! It goes by so fast that it's almost like a little laundry fairy shows up every Wednesday morning and does it all for us! {Wow, wouldn't that be amazing?!}

If you guys have any suggestions on how to make this process better, I would love to hear them!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

Mr. & Mrs. Josh Whatley {Texarkana Wedding Photographer}

2011-05-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

If I could sum up Josh and Suzann's Wedding Day in 2 words, it would be "Beautiful Performance". There was not a single detail left undone, and everything flowed together perfectly. Like I said in the last post, they were married at the Perot Theater in Downtown Texarkana...and it was absolutely stunning.

You may think, "Why did they choose a theater?"....well, let me read to you a little excerpt from their Playbill. {Yes, instead of a program, they had a Playbill. Love it.}

"Josh and Suzann not only selected the Perot because of it's beauty and historical significance, but it is also a part of their personal histories. Josh's parent's and grandparents attended live performances and fils during dat nights at the Perot. Suzann dance for over 15 years on the stage where she will take her vows tonight. Every one of those performances were preceded by her parents prayer and blessing."

Let the show begin!

....behind the scenes with the make-up artist and videographers....

....to get this shot. Love it.

Waiting patiently for their turn...

Ewww....kisses = koodies!!

ACT I

Father/Daughter Dance.....Performed to "Butterfly Kisses"

"There's two things I know for sure...She was sent here from heaven....And she's daddy's little girl..."

"Sweet 16 today...She's lookin' like her mama a little more every day....One part woman, the other part girl...."

"She'll change her name today....She'll make a promise and I'll give her away....I just feel like I'm loosin' my baby girl.... "

{Insert: Chelsea blubbering like a baby, all by herself in the balcony, while trying to keep my hand steady to take pictures. I'm such a softy.}

ACT I

{continued}

Dance Tribute/ Dixie Splawn........Performed to "When I Speak Your Name"

ACT II

The Wedding Ceremony!!!

ACT III

Giving of the Bride.....Profession of Faith....Exchange of Vows and Rings...Pronouncement...

and a Beautiful Prayer of Blessing by all the Siblings. {So Special}

....and the Couples First Dance.....Performed to "The Way You Look Tonight"

They're Married!!!

Off to the Reception!!

The Groom's Table!!
It doesn't get much better than an entire table full of Sweet {3-Dimential} Scooby-Do Treats!

Isn't Mrs. Whatley {Josh's mom} Beautiful?!?

And they're off......

....in the Mystery Machine!!! :)

The End....of a Beautiful Performance.

Congrats Josh & Suzann. It truly was a blessing to be part of your Big Day.

Suzann's Bridal Portraits {Texarkana Wedding Photographer}

2011-05-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

56 Engagement Pictures....92 Bridal Portraits....and 501 Wedding Pictures later....

I am finally ready to introduce to you the new, Mr. and Mrs. Whatley!!

Josh and Suzann are just the sweetest couple, who have been "together" longer than they can even remember. When I gave Suzann the "Lovie Card", she read the first line and said, "I can't really remember what my thought was when I first met Josh....because I was 3." Ha. Yes, they have known each other and have really grown up together for as long as they can remember. Their families support each other in ministry, so naturally they just love and adore the other....which made this marriage a very special event.

I knew that I was going to love Suzann from the first time I spoke with her on the phone, because when we spoke of her Sister-in-law, she said, "you mean my Sister-in-love". How precious is that?!? {Ummm, so precious that I may have to adopt that phrase!!} This family truly is filled with the Love of the Lord, and it was evident in their speech and actions throughout every encounter I had with them.

Josh and Suzann's Wedding Day started out like most others....except for it was in one of the most beautiful theaters I've ever {and probably will ever} see. It was the theater that Suzann danced in for 18 years, so it was so special and familiar to her and her family. The moment I walked in I thought, "How in the world am I going to be able to do this place justice?" It was breathtaking.

See what I mean?! It is a true treasure, placed right in the middle of downtown Texarkana!

Woah! Wait right there & grab a few tissues while you're at it because I simply adore this next picture.

Suzann making her final touches, and dad watching his baby girl in the distance. Priceless.

....and then the Bride was ready to make her grand entrance!

For Suzann's Bridal Portraits, we just walked around downtown Texarkana....which is pretty much a photographer's paradise. We could have spent all day just walking around, going down alleys, finding cool archways and doors....but this was her Wedding DAY...so we just spent {cough} 2 hours playing and having a hay day with the camera! :)

We started out with some fun pictures right outside the theater by the Stage Door, since that had special meaning to Suzann and then we walked over to a building across the street for some more "classic" Bridal Portraits.

Side Note: Blaire and I became mildly obsessed with Suzann's shoes.

{I just love it when Brides put little special touches on their Big Day. It makes it so personal and fun.}

So, I'm just warning you in advance that there is a good possibility you will be dreaming about these shoes tonight because you've seen so many pictures of them!

Once the "classics" were over, Suzann busted out the purple gloves {to match her shoes of course} and we went out to get some more dramatic and fun pictures by the art museum.

Suzann, you were truly a stunning bride.

Come back tomorrow to see the rest of the Wedding Party...and more shoe pictures!! :)

Meet Me Here Monday: The Slonekers

2011-05-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, this Blog use to be strictly devoted to just personal use.
It really did! I promise! It was so bad at one point, I actually started thinking in blog posts. Every event, every meal, every little funny/not so funny/super stupid thing we did I would want to blog about it. Finally Del started asking me, "Please don't blog about that." ha. He could read it on my face and knew when a blog post was being formulated in the mind of your's truly.

However, when pictures of those Sweet Baby Cheeks started flooding in, I couldn't help but post them too! And now, it seems this Blog has turned into a Photography Only Blog. But that is about to change!

There are so many blogs out there that have fun/catchy-weekly slogans....like "What I Made Monday" at Sincerely Yours, or "What I Wore Wednesday" at the Kate Box....so I thought I'd come up with one for us! "Meet Me Here Monday" Do you love it?! I think it's cozy and fun at the same time.

It will be a set day each week, that we meet here and talk about stuff! What kind of stuff you may ask? Well, it may just be about our day, a funny story, a great {or collection of great} You Tube videos, but mainly just about life. I've been wanting to do this for a while so as to get back in the habit of writing more personal blog posts, but also to give all those Brides and Moms-to-Be a little glimpse of what their photographer is really like! :) I have so many clients this year that I've never personally met before, so I thought this might be a great way to put a face with a name and "get to know" the lady that's going to be documenting one of the most important events of your life!
So, Hi! It's so nice to finally "meet" you!!

So, for those of you that have been following this blog for some time now....this will just be a continuation of what you've been reading for the last few years.
And for those of you I've never met, it's time to....

Meet The Slonekers

Del and I have been married for 5 years {6 years in June}. He is absolutely wonderful. He is a man that fears the Lord and truly leads our house with honor and integrity. We love to laugh, joke around, watch funny You-Tube videos until our stomachs hurt {that's a blog post in and of itself}, and just be together. He actually told me this morning, "You know, you're really fun to hang out with." Ha! Wow, thanks Babe! {I'm glad you're just now figuring that out!} But, using my "wife de-coder" skills, what I think he meant to say was, "You know, the longer we're married, the more fun it is to hang out with you." Ahh, now that's what I'm talkin' about! :)
Now, I will say he keeps me on my toes....or should I say on edge most of the time, because he also loves a good "joke". Which may or may not be funny to anyone but him. :)
{Truthfully, he has me completely paranoid right now, because at any moment I'm just sure he is going to run around the corner and throw a dead spider/cockroach/small rodent on me while I'm editing and in turn I'll faint out of pure terror.}

But, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that our life is perfect by any means.
We are two sinful selfish people by nature, and put in a room together on a bad day....it's not pretty. But we always try to work our differences out quickly {usually because he's really good at making me laugh when I'm upset}. And, because we are usually a magnet for any natural or unnatural disaster....we've learned to roll with the punches and look to see the Lord's hand in each situation. Which always brings peace and comfort in the midst of hard times.

So....what's been happening with us in the last 24 hours?
Well....yesterday afternoon, while Del was studying in the library and I was at home editing, I received a text from him that said, "Surprise Date Night at 7:15"!! {insert: Squeal of overwhelming excitement!!}
I got ready real fast, and we had a wonderful dinner and dessert on the patio at YaYa's...
which was just what the doctor ordered!
Del knew that since our miscarriage was just a few months ago, this Mother's Day might be a little harder than others. Especially because we were not able to be around family this year. And boy was he right! I had started to get a little sad before I received his text....so a dinner date with my man was the perfect way to celebrate, remember, reflect, and dream about what the next few months may bring.
Del told me on our way to dinner that he has these "I should {do something nice}...." instincts a lot, but most of the time turns them down to study or work more {which is so common for men and women}. But I'm glad he listened and acted on them this time. It was an evening I'll remember for a long time.

I say all this to let you know, we aren't perfect. But we do love each other. And I'm glad you've taken the time to Meet me Here today to learn a little bit more about us, and listen to part of our story.

Come back tomorrow {and each day this week} to check out Josh & Suzann's Wedding Pics!

And May God Be with You 'Till We Meet Again Next Week!

Happy Mother's Day!!

2011-05-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's, mom's-to-be, and grandmother's that I've taken pictures of this year!!
Each of you is so special, and you definitely deserve a day of recognition and thanks for all the hard work you do!

And a VERY VERY Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mother and Mother-in-law!

Del and I love you both very much, and we wish we could have been there today to celebrate with you in person. But please know that we were sending our love to you from afar, and we will give you extra hugs the next time we are in town! :)

Happy Mother's Day!!

Ryan & Libby's Engagement Pictures {Arkansas Wedding Photographer}

2011-05-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

In less than a month, Ryan and Libby will become Mr. & Mrs., and I honestly couldn't be more excited for them! I met up with Libby at the beginning of the year to talk about her May Wedding, and now the Big Day is almost here!! For their Engagement's, I drove to Fayetteville and met them at Carnal Hall, then we walked all over the University of Arkansas Campus in the misty rain. {But, had I not mentioned it was raining, you would have never known it because Libby's eyes and Ryan's sweet/protective personality stole the show.} Once the rain calmed down, the couple did a quick wardrobe change and we headed to Dickson Street for some more casual pictures.

For this Wedding Season, I added personal touch to the Wedding Packet that each couple receives. They are given {what I like to call} a "Lovie Card" to fill out on a fun date night in the park or over dinner at their favorite restaurant. This is a fun activity for them to do together, but it also allows us to get to know them better as well. You will be seeing this with each Engagement or Wedding Blog Post this year!

So without further a due, may I introduce to you, the future Mr. and Mrs. Wergerer:

Doesn't this picture say, "I will love and protect you forever."?!

Oh, I love catching sweet moments like this. Unposed...just real. Love it.

Congrats again, Ryan and Libby.

I can't wait until your beautiful May Wedding!! Only a few more weeks!! {Squeal!}

Our Weekend to Remember....at home.

2011-05-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know. On my last post I said that we would be going TO the Weekend to Remember Conference....but The Lord had some other plans.

It was 3:00 {yes, 1 1/2 hours before we were suppose to leave} when Del called and asked if we could just stay home this weekend. Those words took the biggest weight off of my shoulders. You see, I had been running around all morning trying to get packed, get our house ready for guests to stay there while we were gone, get ready for a 1 Year Cake Smash Shoot....all the while knowing that I had over 2000 pictures to edit. So, of course I quickly agreed.
And, it was amazing how the Lord affirmed our decision with the way everything worked out afterwards. We were able to transfer our "official" Weekend to Remember to a different date, canceled our hotel reservation with no problems, saved $120 in gas just getting there and back, and the family that was going to stay at our house actually called and canceled because of all the flooding.

So, on Friday night, we decided to use our 2 Free Chick-fil-A Meal Coupons that we got in the mail the other day {Thank you Chick-fil-A on Markham Facebook Page} and have a quiet low-key date night. Right before we left, I received an email from my new "Blog Friend" Brandi {that I've never met, but I really hope to someday!}, that had a list of fun questions to go over with your spouse. I printed it off and we went though them as we ate. It was so fun, and a time I will never forget with Del. I saved our answers and put them in our "Memory Jar" so as to maybe pull it out in a few years and see how our answers have remained the same or have changed. I love it.
Thanks Brandi for the fun questions.

I would encourage any of you reading to go over these questions with your spouse as well. It's a fun little exercise, and gives you an opportunity to talk about something other than work or the kids. I pray that it blesses your marriage and brings you just a few steps closer to your special someone!

Here are the "rules" and questions:
So today, in order to enhance your enrichment time together, I'm including a list of date-night conversation starters. Some topics are light-hearted to get the ball rolling. Others are a little more insightful which helps us see "under the hood" of our spouse's heart. Some of the questions are designed to open up some uninhibited conversation and some out-loud dreaming. Listen and enthusiastically engage one another, and do not "throw cold water" on your spouse's answers! This is a great opportunity for green-light thinking, a communication approach suggested by Dr.Greg Smalley where there is only listening and encouraging, not negative reactions or reality-checks that may squelch your spouse's thoughts or feelings.

1. If you could eat at one restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be?

2. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three books would you bring?

3. If you were able to have a super power, what power would you want to have and why?

4. If you could splurge on one item, what would it be?

5. If you had to go for a week without a cell phone, a computer or a TV, which would it be?

6. What is the most embarrassing moment that has happened to you?

7. If you could be on any reality TV show, which one would you be on and why?

8. What is your favorite activity that we do together?

9. What man/woman do you most admire and why?

10. If you could've been present at one moment in history, which one would it be?

11. When do you feel most appreciated?

12. What is your favorite moment in our marriage in the last week? Month? Year?

13. Where do you see yourself in one year? 5 years? 20 years?

14. If we could travel anywhere in the world together, where would you want us to go?

15. Name 3 items on your bucket-list.

16. Before we were married, what was the moment that you "knew" I was the one?

17. Who is the friend that you are especially close to right now? Why?

18. In the next year, what is something we can add to our marriage to make it better?

19. Tell your spouse three recent instances where you admired something they did.

20. ????

A Royal DEAL!!

2011-04-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hasn't this morning been fun?!

Even though I haven't watched a second of pre-wedding coverage, for some reason I felt this strong desire to wake up at 3am and watch this momentous event. But, when it came down to it {aka, when my alarm went off}, my desire to dream away in my bed was much stronger than watching the dream wedding Live online.

However, I did wake up a few hours later and watched all the recap videos on the BBC....along with many interviews from people that are there in London. My favorite was a precious little 5 yr old girl that when asked about Kate's dress she replied in the sweetest British Accent, "It was amazing! When she was walking down the isle it was as if she was floating in mid-air." ha. Love it!

Today is the day that the world has not only looked forward to with great excitement...but also, {if you're like me} maybe a little bit of sadness for every young girl that is between the ages of 25-29 that dreamed of this day when they were younger. Except they they dreamed it would be them walking down that long isle, wearing the most exquisite dress, rather than Kate. ha. But, the Prince has finally married his beautiful Princess, and as I watched her walk down the isle I couldn't help but think, "Wow, I am so glad that is not me!" Talk about pressure! Whew. I'm glad that I just felt like a princess on our wedding day, rather than actually becoming one! :)

So, In honor of The Royal Wedding, I thought it would only be appropriate to offer something special to all of those soon-to-be Brides/Princesses out there!

For this next week, I am offering our "Royal Package" at a "Commoner's Price."

{Ha. I just thought of that catchy little phrase! But don't worry, if you take part in this DEAL, in no way will you be treated like a "commoner" on your Big Day...but I promise to treat you like Pure Royalty!"

So, What does this Limited Time Offer Include? Well, hold on to your chair because this is almost too good to be true.

The "Royal Package" Includes:

Unlimited Hours of Wedding Day Coverage

Two Photographers

Hi-Resolution Pictures on DVD with Printing Rights

Online Proofing & Ordering

Bridal & Engagement Session

Three 3x3 Accordion "Brag Books" for Engagements

20x30 Bridal Portrait Print

200 Custom Save the Date Cards

8x8 Custom Coffee Table Album

6x12 Custom Guest Book

On any other week, this Package sells for $4295, but for this week and this week only,

I am giving this Package to you for....

$3295!

Yep, you read that right. That is $1000 OFF!!

This DEAL will end next Friday, so email me {cjsloneker@gmail.com} soon to reserve this amazing DEAL for your Big Day!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and are able to be somewhat productive as I'm sure most homes will have this being broadcasted in the background of their home all day.

Del and I will be attending a Family Life Weekend to Remember Conference this weekend...because as we all know, you have to invest in your marriage and not just your wedding. :)

I'll recap the weekend on Monday when we return!

Happy Royal Friday!

It's Friday.....

2011-04-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

It's Friday. And Sunday IS coming.

But today, we remember.

Thank you, Jesus, for the ultimate sacrifice you made for our sins. For My sins.
May it never be something I take for granted.

I do declare.....

2011-04-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

Congrats Wes & Kate!!

You are now the proud owners of a beautiful 20x20 Print for your house!

I can't wait to see which print you decide on, and which perfect spot it will fill in your home. Please send me pictures as soon as it makes it's grand appearance! :)

And now...for all of your sweet commentors...one of you is the winner of a Free Portrait Session...

Congrats to commentor #39....Vicki, You are the WINNER!!

Please email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com and we will get your Portrait Session scheduled!

Thanks again to all of you who commented.

I hope you have a beautiful Easter Weekend.

Seriously Sweet & Dainty Reese {Little Rock Children's Photographer}

2011-04-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a daintier 6 month old out there! Little miss Reese already encompasses the wonderful charm of the South in her sweet personality and her precious wardrobe! I have a feeling that you can thank her mom and amazing grandmothers for that. :)

It was an absolute joy to take pictures of Reese during this time in her life. And I only thought it would be appropriate to post her pictures after Baby Harper's, since they are destined to be best friends {even if they don't know it yet!}.

So, grab a glass of Sweet Tea and enjoy the pictures of this Sweet & Southern Six Month Old.

See what I mean? Dainty! Look at that sweet little hand. She kept it there almost the entire shoot! ha.

Seriously. Love.

There's that smile! We worked all morning trying to get this little Sweet Pea to smile...and all she needed were some kisses from mom!

Reese, you are loved.

Kisses all Around!

2011-04-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

This isn't going to be a very long post because there are tornado sirens going off all around our house.....

but I did want to say CONGRATULATIONS to Baby Harper's Parents who are the new owners of a beautiful 20x20 print! The last time I checked, there were 78 comments...which is a new blog record!!

And now, for all of you sweet commentors...one of you is the winner of a Free Portrait Session!

Congrats to Ryan/Andra...you were commentor #25!!

Please email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com and we will get your Portrait Session scheduled!!

Thank you again to all of you who commented.

I can't wait to see this beautiful big print up in Harper's House!!

Now...off to hide in the bathroom just incase a tornado decides to touch down on our house. :)

Stay Safe!

Sweet Cheeks: Harper {Fayetteville, AR Newborn Photographer}

2011-04-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Oh Sweet Baby Harper, I'm so glad that you have two older brothers to look after you when you're older, because you are just too cute for words.

I mean, really....is this not the most precious head of hair you've ever seen?!

Baby Harper was an absolute delight to photograph, so I hope you all enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them!

This is mom's favorite....and I totally understand why. Such a sweet little smile.

There really aren't many things more precious than a sleeping baby.

{And all the new moms out there answer back with a collective, "AMEN"!}

Wowzers! That was fast!

2011-04-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

I am cracking up right now, because when I woke up this morning there were 13 comments on Steven & Emily's Blog Post....then within a few hours there were 55!! Ha. Emily sure does know how to get the word out!!

So, congrats Mr. & Mrs. Duke for winning a free 20x20 print of your choice!!

And also, Congrats to Susanne....Commentor #39! You've won yourself a free Sitting Fee!

Please email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com, and we will discuss the details!

Thank you everyone for commenting and loving Steven & Emily though this wonderful time in their lives. I know they couldn't do it without you!

Have a great weekend!

Mr. & Mrs. Duke {Little Rock Wedding Photographer}

2011-04-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm just going to say it. I love weddings.

I love newborns too...but there is something very special about capturing the emotion of one of the "biggest days of your life."

I love all the little details and special glances....along with the surprise, suspense, and emotion of the entire day.

It is truly unique and wonderful.

Now, if there was a single word to sum up Steven & Emily's Wedding Day, it would be "special."

I think the reason it was so special was because everything revolved around the idea of "family." Their families were so loving and supportive of this marriage, that it just overflowed into appreciation for each person that was there on that special day!

Plus, I think the bride and the groom are pretty special people too....but I may be a little biased. :)

So, without further a due....may I introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Duke!

Yea! Now they're a beautiful family of FOUR!!

Emily is already keeping a close eye on her new groom! :)

Ok, brace yourself....because this might be the most fantastic thing you've ever seen. I know it was for me. I just wish I had a video to accompany these pictures.

Have you ever seen a 7 year old do the entire Thriller Dance....on the dance floor....by himself...all because of his deep rooted love for M.J? And {as if that wasn't amazing enough} he taught HIMSELF the dance!

Truly a boy after my own heart.

See what I mean? Totally sold out to the dance floor. Love it.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Duke!
I wish you all the best as a couple, and as parents to two of the sweetest 7 & 8 year old kiddos in Little Rock!

Anna Says, "Thank You!"

2011-03-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who commented! It was so fun reading all the comments, especially those from the Great Great Grandmothers! Oh, just warms my heart. :)

And Congrats to you, Kenneth & Stephanie....You are now the proud owner of one 20x20 print of your choice! Which I know will make Stephanie one Happy Mom. And in my opinion, Happy Moms mean Happy Nurseries! :) I can't wait to see where you guys put this beautiful print.

And for all of you that commented....you were entered into a "Random Drawing" for a Free Portrait Sitting Fee! Wow, Free Stuff all around, today! :) So, according to Random.com, the winner is.....{drumroll....}

The Fourth Commentor....which is Nici!!

Congrats Nici! Please email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com and we will work out all the details for your Free Portrait Sitting Fee!

Thank you all for commenting. I hope you had fun and enjoyed the pictures!

Have a good night!

Sweet Cheeks: Anna {Arkansas Newborn Photographer}

2011-03-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

In honor of Baby Anna's One Month Birthday, it is time to reveal her Sweet Cheek Newborn Pictures!

If you'll remember, we did Kenneth & Stephanie's Maternity Session back in the fall, so now we get to meet the precious little one that was tucked in there for those wonderful 9 months.

Congrats Kenneth & Stephanie, Anna is absolutely beautiful and already full of personality.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this special time in your life.

This is mom & I's favorite. Ah, pure love.

And just like that, those sweet peaceful moments ended....

and Anna decided to turn into a flamingo dancer, cheering on the crowd as they yell, "Ole!" ha.

I just love her little fingers sticking through the cocoon.

I know, Anna. I didn't want stop taking pictures either. But don't be sad, you're mommy and daddy are going to be taking pictures of you your whole life because you are just too sweet for words. :)

Sweet Cheeks: Marion {Arkansas Newborn Photographer}

2011-03-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

If you love 'smushy' baby faces, you are going to LOVE this little Sweet Cheeks. Her cheeks and lips to die for and by the end, you'll just want to snuggle up with her all day long. I know her momma probably wants to....that is if she has a free moment since this is kiddo #4 for the Walker Family! ha.

Enjoy the pictures!

Love. This. Picture.

This is another one that I'm thinking about getting printed for my own house because I love it so much!

Now these are two amazing Big Sisters....and super cute too!

Congrats Walker Family on the new addition of Baby Marion! We love you guys and are so thankful that God brought you into our lives many years ago.

Ava's Happy Nursery {Arkansas Newborn Photographer}

2011-03-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

Today starts a series I'm doing for all the mom's of those Sweet Cheek Newborns I've been taking pictures of. From the moment they found out they were pregnant, they started preparing a room in their house for their Little One to one day call their own....and that deserves a little attention! However, I believe that a nursery isn't completely done until there is at least ONE BIG PRINT of their little Sweet Cheeks, so that in the middle of the night {when you're getting up for the 5th time in 3 hours, because they won't sleep or stop crying and you can't figure out what's wrong with them} then you can gaze at that beautiful picture and it will remind you that everything will be ok...and that this phase won't last forever. :)

Because like I always say:

Big Prints equal Happy Mom's...and Happy Mom's equal Happy Nurseries!

So....let's take a peek inside Ava's Happy Nursery.

Oh....I'm LOVING what I'm seeing so far!!

Ahhhh, complete perfection!!

If you'll remember, I did a comment contest for Ava's Newborn Pictures...and boy did she get some comments! She received over 50 comments, so she won a free 20x20 print. Well, Susan wanted to upgrade that print to a canvas....so that is exactly what we did! And it turned out perfect!

Doesn't that yellow flower on her hat just go perfectly with the rest of her nursery?!?! I. Love. It.

I *heart* canvas prints. They truly are pieces of art.

Susan, thanks for allowing me to share pictures of Ava's nursery with everyone.

I feel like the room really is complete now that her Sweet Cheek's picture is up for all to see.....

and I know that it makes you a Happy Mommy....which in turn makes a Happy Nursery!

Kenneth & Stephanie's Maternity Session {Fayetteville Maternity Photographer}

2011-03-03T04:29:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE photographing friends....and Kenneth and Stephanie are no exception. We all went to high school together, so it brought me so much joy to see them about to enter into this new stage of life called, "Parenthood"!! We took their maternity pictures a few months ago, and now their new baby girl is here and ready for her first photo shoot!! {I know that because she sent me a text to tell me. ha} So, I traveled North this past weekend so I could photograph those 5-day-old sweet cheeks. And, oh...my heart melted when I saw her. She. is. be-u-ti-ful. Humm....I'm wondering where she gets it from? :)
Answer: Both of her parents! Beautiful, inside and out.

Kenneth and Stephanie,

Thanks for letting me document this exciting time in your life. It is truly a privilege. It was a privilege to meet Sweet Anna, and I can't wait to see how God grows you through the parenting process. You guys are going to be rock star parents...I just know it.

Yea! Welcome to the world Anna Elise! You have been blessed with amazing parents that love you so much already. What a gift they have been given in you.

He's Back!!

2011-03-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy I can finally say Del is home...for good.

He was in El Dorado all of February, for his Family Medicine Rotation. But he is home now, and I honestly couldn't be more excited.

Our nights of Skype have come to an end...and I'm not sad about that at all. However it has made me super thankful for things like Skype, Texting....and just the simple fact that we don't have to worry about making long distance calls anymore! It made the time apart just a little easier.

Welcome Home, Del. I love you.

Part of our Story: He Prepares Us & Promises His Presence

2011-02-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

I know what you're probably thinking, "Is this post going to be long and sappy?"....well...yes, possibly.
And would I rather post pictures of sweet little baby cheeks or pictures of couples who are head-over-heels for each other? Well....yes, but there will be plenty of time for that in the future.
So, even greater than my desire to post sweet little pictures, is my desire to give God the honor and glory that is due to His name, by telling of who He is and of all the marvelous works He has done.
And boy...has He done a marvelous work in our lives recently.

So, with all that being said...that is the intent behind telling you, Part of Our Story.

A few days after Christmas, Del and I drove up to Big Cedar Lodge to spend some time together before the 2nd Semester of his 3rd year of Med School started up. It was a great time to get away, especially because while we were there, we found out I was pregnant! We had been trying to get pregnant for a little over a year at that point, so we of course were beyond thrilled when we saw that blue plus sign on the test.

As we thought about all the pregnancy details that day, we just kept saying, "Wow, this is really perfect timing!" However, when we got home and really sat down with a calendar, we realized that there really were some MAJOR obstacles that needed some serious prayer.

So...just to name a few...we realized that:

....Del doesn't get done with his 3rd year of Med School until June 27th....

....which means he would do one of his month-long Away Rotations all of July....

....then come back and spend all of August Studying for his Step 2 Board Exam...

.... TAKE the Exam on August 25th...

....I would be 40 weeks {and possibly due} on August 27th....
....then he would leave again for another month-long stretch for the month of October....

....OH AND NOT TO MENTION, our insurance {that we had been paying maternity coverage on for the last 3 years} is no longer carrying private coverage, so as of March 15th you're being dropped....
....which means that because I was "already pregnant", no major insurance company would pick me up because I have a "pre-existing condition".

All of that added together equals a prefect recipe for TRUSTING GOD when you have NO IDEA how your, "Wow, this is really prefect timing!" turns into "Wow, how in the world is this really going to work out?"

Questions just started racing through our head and we went into total Fix-it mode. I started talking with my employers about how we were going to work this out with my job. Del started making phone calls and scheduling his away rotations and board exam, along with talking to as many insurance reps as we could possibly squeeze into a day. But we knew all along that God's plans are perfect and He doesn't make mistakes. So, being that we were studying Isaiah 37 in BSF, I began to pray the prayer that Hezekiah prayed in Isaiah 37:20, "Oh LORD, our God, {however you desire to work this out, I just pray that you do it} so that all men on earth may know that YOU ALONE, O LORD, are God." And that's where we left it. We work as if it's up to us, but knowing all along that it's all up to God.

And so we just continued on... just like anyone else would do. We took it one day at a time, one prayer at a time, one phone call at a time, one insurance rep at a time...until we finally settled on a plan that we could live with... and that wouldn't completely break us financially (since we would possibly have to pay for this pregnancy out of pocket).

Through God's Sovereign Hand....and talking with family, friends and employers, we decided a good first step would be to switch from a private hospital here in town to UAMS. One reason was because we could possibly get some discounts because Del is a student there...but another major reason was because I kind-of-sort-of-not-really "knew" the doctor we would be switching to. And by "knew", all I really knew was that her name was Samantha, I had met her sister once, and that we attended the same Bible Study. Which for me, that was enough of a connection to be excited about the switch! So, I canceled my 8 week appointment at the private hospital and scheduled my 10 week appointment with Samantha. I was a little bummed out that we had to wait so long for our first appointment....but I quickly got over that because I knew the further along I was, the more we would get to see on the ultrasound.

Well...Tuesday, February 1st finally arrived and it was the day of our first appointment. That morning, I woke up early to attend Bible Study, where we were studying the words of comfort that Isaiah gave to the nation of Israel in Isaiah 40. Just like Isaiah gave these words of comfort to Israel 150 years before they knew they needed them, I was sitting there with no idea that in 3 short hours I would be clinging to these same words of comfort.
He truly does go before us and prepares a way for us.

"The Sovereign Lord who comes with power, and His arm rules for him...and yet, He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart." (Isaiah 40:10-11)

10:45 arrived and it was finally time to meet Samantha for the first time in person! It was a wonderful moment meeting her, and then we heard the words we had been waiting for, "Are you ready for your first ultrasound?"
YES! Of Course we were!
As she turned the machine on, we joked and laughed and told stories....until the air in the room became still and quiet, and the laughter suddenly stopped. We quickly switched rooms, and went to a higher powered ultrasound machine....that unfortunately showed us the same results.
Samantha left the room, then came back in to talk with us... when suddenly her eyes welled up with tears.
It was true. I had miscarried.
My uterus was measuring at 6 weeks, but there were no signs of a baby inside.
I felt like someone had kicked me in the gut.
The three of us just sat there and hugged and cried together. It was a special moment, and one I will never forget. I told Samantha that through all of the crazy circumstances we had been working though, I knew God led us to switch to UAMS so that He could give her to us for this exact moment. And for that I will be forever thankful. She asked if she could pray for us, then left the room so Del and I could have a few minutes just to ourselves.

As we sat there and cried, all I could think of were the verses we studied earlier that morning;

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Even though I was completely blindsided by the news of the miscarriage, He had truly prepared me for this beforehand. And as the next few days passed, the same thought kept running through my mind, "What if I would have chosen not to do my Bible Study this week, and completely missed these Truths?" You see, there are so many days where I think I can go through the day just fine without spending time in The Word. So, as I look back on this situation, I think about all of the times I've missed His comfort, His peace, His guidance, His understanding...all because I chose Self instead of God. But I am so thankful I didn't miss out this time.

So, the next few days...and then weeks consisted of lots of blood work, lots of medicine, lots of tears, and also finding out that the transmission in my car had completely broken down and that I would need a new one. Ughh.
When it rains, it pours. Right?
But even though life was pouring forth trials, God continued to pour forth comfort and strength through the Book of Isaiah. I felt like with every day that passed, God was hand picking verses to strengthen me each step of the way.

Verses like:

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. " (Isaiah 43:1-2)

You know the saying, "When God repeats something, you might want to listen because He's trying to get your attention"....well, God kept repeating "I am with you, I am with you, I am with you". Even to the point, while we were sitting at church one day, the pastor said, "The most frequent promise in the Bible is, 'I will be with you'." WOW. And really, what else do we need? As a believer, if we have the presence of the One True God of the Universe, we truly do not have to fear anything. Not even death.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that, "because I have Jesus everything is perfect"....because ultimately the situation is still very painful. I mean, lets be honest....do I still cry every time I see the tupperware we were using to clean out closets as we prepared for the nursery? Yes. Do I still cry as we continue to get emails from people we contacted on Craigslist about cribs? Yes. Do I still cry as we cancel and rearrange our summer schedules because we no longer have a "Due Date"? Yes. And do I still cry over nothing because my body is still working out the pregnancy hormones, but yet I don't have a baby to look to and say "oh but he/she's so worth it" (so I just appear to be a complete lunatic)? Yes.
But is this trial worth it if God receives glory from it and I grow in my relationship with Him? Absolutely, 100% Yes.

James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James doesn't say "if you face trails", he says "whenever you face trials." In this life, we will face trails of many kinds, so how will you respond when they come? For me, as I look back on this trial, I am overcome with thankfulness. Thankful that God desires us to grow deeper in our relationship and understanding of Him and His ways, and is using this to accomplish that....Thankful that God has increased my compassion for those that walk through situations similar to this one....Thankful for friends that have come along side of us, to pray with us and cry with us....Thankful that we serve a God whose Word is living and active and speaks Truth to us in our times of weakness.

Ultimately, I can honestly look back and say that I'm thankful for this trial. Because, during trials I find that I am always more sensitive to God and the Truths from His Word. And without that sensitivity, I would have skimmed over and missed out on all of these wonderful lessons He's taught me this month.
So, in the end I can honestly say that (even though it's painful) I wouldn't trade learning these Truths and lessons for anything.....even for a baby. Because it's His Word that will endure forever, and that is what I want more than anything else. It has been my lifeline these past few weeks, and I can't imagine living a day without it.

Thank you Lord, for sending your Son to die on the cross so that we can have a relationship with You. You are worthy of all worship, honor, and praise.

Thanks for listening to Part of Our Story. I hope you will join in with us as we praise The One True God who doesn't make a single mistake. He is in complete control and is Worthy of Worship.

Have a Lovely Day....

2011-02-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

Ava says, "Thank You!"

2011-02-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

You guys sure know how to make a girl feel special. You have blessed Ava & her parents by leaving so many sweet comments and because of that...they get a free 20x20 picture of their sweet girl!! I think their nursery will "officially" be complete when that picture goes up above their changing table. I feel like I can speak on behalf of Chris & Susan when I say, "Thank You So Very Much!"

And for all of you that commented....I'm sure you're waiting to see who the big winner is?!?

Congratulations ANDREA {who commented: "These photos are just gorgeous! Adorable poses}!!
You were the 57th Commentor {is that a real word? ha.}....which means you've won a FREE Portrait Session!

Please email me at cjsloneker@gmail.com and we can discuss all the details!

Thank you again to everyone who participated! I loved reading each of your comments, and be on the lookout for more of these in the future.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Sweet Cheeks: Ava {Little Rock Arkansas Newborn Photographer}

2011-02-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

It's one of the greatest privileges in the world to watch one of your sweet friends become a momma. And that is what happened here just a few weeks ago. By now, you guys are use to seeing Chris and Susan's faces here on the blog. We threw a baby shower for them back in November, and then I did their Maternity Pictures a month later {which you can see the rest on my Facebook Page}....and now, is the moment we've all been waiting for.....Baby Ava has finally arrived! She is small, sweet, and oh so special.
Enjoy the pictures!

Oh don't you just want to give her some kisses?! I think she want to give you some too! Precious.

Oh, sweet baby eyelashes. Just dreamy.

Framer. Absolute Framer. I just can't get over that smushed-up nose.

Ava, you truly are a special gift from the Lord. I can't wait to see how He uses you for His glory all the days of your life. We love you very much.