Way to go, Paul!

Paul found out today that he won the Incoming Graduate Student Award which includes a cash award of $1,000. The award is for "outstanding graduate coursework and excellent teaching performance." I am very proud of my hubby!

Nadia did a good job smiling for the photos, and this time it was the photographer (instead of me) who did the work getting her to smile as I was needed to keep her in position since she kept wanting to walk around the room. A couple of weeks ago I had purchased a few items at JCP - one was a really fancy pale yellow size 12 month dress. I had wanted to get her a blue dress (had bid on some "sailor" style dresses on eBay but the prices went higher than I was willing to pay), but of the ones they had the yellow was the one I liked the best. Today though I had a last minute change of heart right as I was getting her dressed for her photos. I noticed that the size 24 month dress I bought (for next summer) was actually the same length. I

tried it on her, and although the bloomers were a bit big, the dress fit fine. So I deviated from the advice of choosing solid color clothes for portraits. I

think she looks very pretty in this dress. My only regret is that I wish I had spoken up and

asked for only solid color backgrounds (the white and yellow she used were both nice) as for the pose with the big number one, I think it's a little busy to have a pattern in the background as well as her dress.

The last 3 times it's been a challenge to pick since there have been many good ones! I knew I wasn't coming back until Christmas so I ordered a little more than last time.