If you don’t get the title, don’t worry about it.  It’s because my neighbors have the longest freakin’ name ever, & I was just trying to be witty.  These two lovelies, Anna & Kate, are two of our neighbors that make me never want to leave my little place in our townhouse community.  Each year I anticipate what outfit their mom (and my friend), Laura, will buy them for Christmas.  She has done it again.  And we have not one, but TWO outfits this year!  We decided to try the Annapolis Mall again this year simply because the day we scheduled to shoot it was pouring rain outside…again!  I know God needs to water the earth & all, but it’s getting a little soggy over here!  Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed playing around the mall with Anna & Kate.  My girls absolutely love them & wanted to go copy them & have their own photo shoot just like Anna & Kate!  Needless to say, our Sroka Girls photo shoot didn’t turn out quite as well – what can I say!

Here’s Anna & Kate…

A lot of you faithful readers have already met my newest niece, Delaney.  If you haven’t, though, click here to read her story…she’s quite a girl!  Delaney, or “Maeby” as her daddy calls her, made her first visit to our house last week for May Day.  After spending a rousing, and almost rainy, afternoon looking at the May Day Baskets in downtown Annapolis, Maeby came over for her newborn session.  She did fabulously, especially for being out most of the day and in a new place.  Since Maeby’s a little over the 2-week newborn period, it took a little work for her mommy and me to get her sleepy.  I mean, hey, she’s been couped up for 9 months – of course she wants to be up and playing!  Enjoy Bert & Laura‘s newest little addition…

Josh and I had the chance to go see Maeby again last night and she is doing so much better!  She’s out of her astronaut hood, breathing room air, and her Breaths per Minute are at a calm rate now.  Which meant she was able to try eating from a bottle last night!  According to her mommy, she sucked it down quick!  And I just saw today on her dad’s Facebook that they have removed all feeding tubes and extra IV’s from her!  Yeah!  They are still waiting for results from a blood test that showed something growning in her blood, so continue to keep that in your prayers.  Also, continue to pray for Bert & Laura as they were discharged yesterday from GBMC and now have to spend nights at home with out their darling little one.  You can keep up to date on all their happenings at the Rode Family Blog.  Here are some quick photos we got last night!  Enjoy!

My husband’s sister, and my lovely sister-in-law, Laura and her husband Bert welcomed their second daughter into this world yesterday.  Delaney Mae, or “Maeby,” was born shortly before 8pm yesterday, April 13, 2009.  And she is precious!  She has a full head of hair, weighs 7lbs. 7 oz, and is 20 inches long.  Laura’s water broke Monday morning around 9 and she labored most of the day until Delaney made her debut.  Since Laura had a fever before delivery, Maeby was born with one as well and subsequently is having some difficulty with her breathing.  As you can imagine, she is going through a multitude of tests.  If you have time in your day, please remember to keep Maeby, Laura, Bert, and big sister Mackinzie in your prayers.  We’ll keep you updated on her status.  Here are some photos of my first shoot with her…hopefully one of many!

Who doesn’t like a party?  I’m really excited to have my first ever “Bare Bellies Party” this Sunday with my sis-in-law Laura and her good friend Sharon.  They are both currently growing precious little children in their bellies, so I talked them into letting me give them a little photo party to remember this special time.  We’ll start at Sharon’s house, then move to Laura’s (so we can capture both of their nurseries), and hopefully pop in some husband’s and siblings too!  I’ll let you know how it goes after Sunday.  And, if you are expecting a little bun, and want to have a party too, let me know!  I can give you your own session, or make it a fun girls thing with your other prego friends!

Oh, and by the way, that gal in the photo up top is my little sis, Maggie.  She has since given birth, but doesn’t her perfect, non-stretched-marked belly make you a little….sick???  It does to me!  She had such a beautiful pregnant belly, and I am just plain jealous!  Consequently, her little one is pretty darn cute too!