FAVORITE SONG: POPCORN POPPING

I looked out the window and what did I see?
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree

Spring has brought me such a nice surprise
Popcorn popping right before my eyes

I can take an armful and make a treat

A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet

It wasn't really so

But it seemed to be
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree

Photographer's note: The only thing I couldn't catch here is that when Stella "looks out the window," she usually covers her eyes so she can't see.

TAKE PICTURE

This morning as I came downstairs holding my camera for my engagement shoot later in the day, Stella said: "take picture." I took one of her and showed it to her before I left. When I was sitting with her in the bath tonight I wanted to capture her adorable curls, which didn't happen. Instead Stella started posing for me and then would want to see each picture after I took it.

Not one of these pictures is just a moment captured by mom. EACH AND EVERY ONE is Stella posing for the camera and holding it. I loved these as black and whites. I hesitated having them all be B&W, but we all know already how blue Stella's eyes are, right?

THE PURSE

Stella hasn't gone anywhere without her purse for a long time now. Aunt Ashley bought it for her for Christmas, and lately having her purse with her is as important as having shoes on before she leaves the house. She likes to keep it up on her shoulder, but it usually drops down to her elbow as she walks around. What does a 22-month old girl keep in her purse? You might be surprised to find out that it is about the same as it is for an adult: keys, money, cell phone, credit card, and the occasional bracelet. When we get to the car like we did here at the park she opens up her purse and gets out her keys. Stella really is a girl on the go.

Another cute thing that Stella does that I want to record is her obsession with loved ones. From the moment she wakes up she is talking about the people she loves. "Ty-Ty, and Papa, and Nama, and Ava, and Ty-Ty, and Dada, and Papa, and Ava, and Mama, and Ava, and Ty-Ty, and Papa, and Ashee, and Ava." It goes on and on like this ALL day. Add it to the list of "Adorable Things I Do" by Stella Sallay.

ASIAN BIRTHDAY PARTY

Yesterday was my mommy's birthday. We decided to head to Asian Star for a delicious Chinese dinner. I have to say that the Evans kids were lookin' good. Ashley had on her Chanel necklace, Tyler was wearing the cardigan I helped him find, and I was wearing one of my five new J. Crew headbands. I almost didn't bring my camera since, you know, sometimes I just want to enjoy myself and not have to "capture" life all of the time. But I am so glad I did because the lighting was dreamy, and we happened to run into Krisi, who is the only other person I know that can use my camera. She took a lovely group shot of all of us together. Mom was spoiled with trinkets, one being a teeny-tiny purse from Brighton that I had to buy for Dad on the sly. She was excited to get it, even though she had a hunch it was coming since I had left a Brighton water bottle in her car. Oops!

SIX YEARS AND COUNTING

Yesterday was our six-year anniversary. It was a lovely day. Brent surprised me with six tulips (one for each year), and then he surprised me even more when he didn't make a fuss when I told him I wanted to have a photo shoot before dinner. To add to my surprise, he modeled for me and even let me take more pictures after dinner. Our dinner at Cucina Toscana was amazing. We both kept asking ourselves why it had been so long since we had eaten there.

After dinner we went home and watched several episodes of Angel. All of this time we were Stella free while she was having the time of her life at my parents' house. It was a great night and I loved spending it with my sweetheart.

FIRST HUNT

This year for Easter we decided to have a little hunt for the girls at my parents' house. We got together after conference, and when we finally arrived at their house I found my camera battery totally dead. You can't imagine the panic that shot through my body at the thought of going without having any pictures of Stella on my favorite holiday! So I rushed back home for my backup battery. Unfortunately, by the time we actually had the hunt it was too dark inside to get any really amazing action shots of the girls getting their eggs. Plus, Ava and Stella were FAST!

The hunt pictured is actually the second hunt of the day. While I was getting my camera battery Ava was showing Stella how to find the eggs and helping her to put them in her basket. Either way, Stella's first hunt was a success thanks to my mom and Ashley. They provided all of the adorable Easter items for the girls.

Picture Trivia: What is Stella holding in her hand in some of these pictures? A roll. AKA her dinner. AKA the thing that got stuck to the bottom of my shoe and made us laugh when we realized what it was.