Baby Benjamin Update

Hello there!  Here is a little photo update on our nephew Benjamin... 

Just a couple [stolen] photos:

Love this idea for a newborn; taken by Sarah Burkhart (see below)

Look at that sweet little face - love him.

Me with sweet Benjamin :) 

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Here is a link to Ben's 2nd auntie's (and might I say, very talented & awesome auntie) photography blog so that you can see a few more of his precious newborn pictures. 

Sarah Sue Photography

In my opinion, I see a bit more 'May' in him right now.  His face somewhat even reminds me a little bit of Jeff (if you're reading this Jenny, I hope you don't think I'm crazy haha - his little nose and eyes somewhat look like his uncle right now to me and I love it!)  Of course who knows how this handsome little boy will grow and change.  We love you Benjamin!

What Are You Doing Today?

Well today, I am leaving Rio de Janeiro - Brazil to go back home to Texas, my husband and my sweet pup.  I cannot wait to see them and be home.  Ahhh, home - I love it.

Before I leave Brazil this evening, I will be visiting Cristo Redentor (in English, Christ the Redeemer) atop Corcovado mountain; one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  This truly is a once in a lifetime experience that I feel so honored to have the chance to do.  I mean, just look at all the beauty in this photo...I can hardly contain my excitement, thankfulness and a little bit of sadness that Jeff can't be here to experience this with me:



Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia



I will be blogging in more detail about my trips here to Brazil so stay tuned.

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Another thing on my mind today as I wrap up my work here is a bit of reflection on my time here, time at home, and everything that I've been blessed with thus far in my life.  Do you have those moments?  Where you just sit back and think, 'wow - I really have so much to be thankful for'...I try to think about this as often as possible so I can be sure to be glad in it all.  It brings me a lot of peace to think like this and choose to take time out ot acknowledge my blessings.  And with that, I wanted to share this quote with you all:

When asked “What thing about humanity surprises you the most?", the Dalai Lama answered:

“Man.  Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.  Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.  And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” -Dalai Lama XIV

*Warning - getting a bit preachy...* I am in support of avoiding this cycle and this quote encompasses many of my views on life in a few short sentences.  Don't let this happen to you - take care of yourself, your health, your family.  Do not be anxious, but be thankful and happy (happiness, many times, is a choice & you can control your thoughts), look to the future with hope & peaceful curiousity (do not fear or have doubt in a future that has yet to come), but enjoy the present and count your blessings.

Off my soapbox now...off to meet Christ the Redeemer!

Lots of love,

Rani

Our Sweet Nephew, Benjamin

My beautiful sister-in-law, Jenny, gave birth to her first son (and our first newphew), Benjamin last Tuesday - October 4th.  Benjamin was over 9lbs and is the most perfect, beautiful baby I have ever seen (I know, I am biased of course).  He is such a blessing to our whole family and the fact that he came into this world so healthy brings peace to us all and we can't help but be so thankful. 

Unfortunately Jeff and I went out of town the first weekend Benjamin was home and then I came here to Brazil for work on Monday and will be here until the 21st...so I have not seen his sweet face since his first and second days as a newborn or been able to get more pictures of the handsome little guy.  Right now, I have just these few...

Holding baby Benjamin at the hospital the day he was born.

Day 2 after he came home - look at the hair, I love it!  He is so precious!

Jeff had dinner with his sister last night and sent me this picture of our nephew.  (and of course Jeff and his witty self titled the photo "Ben Jammin" haha, love my husband). Look how much he has changed in just over a week!

We love this little boy so much already and couldn't be happier for the Burkhart family!

*Random side note*

I get asked here and there if being around friends and family with babies makes me want to have a baby of my own.  My answer to them is that yes, the thought of having children with my sweet husband brings me so much joy and curiosity (what will they look like, what will their sexes be)...all that exciting stuff.  But Jeff and I are just coming up on one year of marriage and intend on waiting to start family (so long as it is in our control) at least another couple years.  We still have lots of places to go, things to see and do, etc before we devote our lives to our children - we're both a little selfish right now and need to enjoy being able to be selfish/only focused on each other for a while.  We both are also getting to points in our careers that will really impact our standard of living (in a positive way) if we keep working hard to excel in our jobs; and ultimately this is important to us and the standard of living we'd like to have with our future family.  I certainly enjoy looking forward to the day when we move out of central Houston to a slower paced suburban area (Jeff is not so much excited about this...yet...haha...he will come around) with great schools and neighborhoods where we can start our family...it is always great to have something to look forward to.  And for right now, I relish in and am thankful for our nice life in the city, our busy work lives, our awesome first home we've now had together for almost two years, our sweet puppy (my baby), and the fact that Jeff and I can just focus on each other right now and build a strong marriage that is key for having a happy family in the future.

Here's to blessings, babies, (future babies), and being thankful for the life you have right now. :)

Pinterest

I don't know about you, but I love this site!  A virtual pinboard/scrapbook (whatever you want to call it) where you can save all the things you love is brilliant.  And talk about a great way to find a good idea, tip, fashion source, etc...it is all there and I just can't get enough!  Check it out!

If you haven't signed up, you need to get someone to invite you who has already signed up; certainly let me know here by leaving a comment with your email address and I'll send an invite your way!

Pinterst = love for me right now! :)

Dandy Idea...

Just giving a little love to Danielle over at Just Dandy (love her blog!) and her super cute ideas for storage.  Love the candlesticks for bracelets as well as the toothbrush/silver cups for make-up brushes, etc. 

Wanted to pass this cute idea and blog along...
Just Dandy

Well, Hello!

...that is if I still have any readers... ;)

It is obvious that I am truly a terrible blogger.  As much as I love the idea of blogging and enjoy reading blogs, I just can't seem to make time post on my own blog!  I have no excuses really beyond the fact that our lives are very busy with work, family and fun and honestly when I have down time, the computer is the usually the last place I want to be. 

That being said, I do not want to say goodbye to my blog.  I am going to attempt to continue to blog about things I enjoy, places we go and give small updates on what is going on in our lives.  I even gave my page a refreshed "look" in hopes that will inspire me to post more often.   We shall see...

And with that...here is one of the photos I love from our photosoot with Ashley at Countrygrown Images.  We did this session for some updated photos of Jeff and I (and our new puppy Max).  I also plan to use one of the photos for our Christmas card (love the holidays!).  A couple of them are so great, we may blow one up and hang in our stairway (I've got several decor projects in stow that I hope to share). :)