The Life and Times of the Perry Family

Rainy Days Sessions: Best. Idea. Ever. (that no one knows about!)

2010-09-17T08:56:00.000-05:00

Last Spring, my SIL and her family came to visit us in Arkansas. My nieces are about the cutest things ever and I asked Amy to bring some rain boots with them (because it was supposed to rain), and I wanted to take some pictures of the girls jumping in puddles. I knew they would be cute, but didn't know that it would lead to an entire program that I would start! Ok, so enough with the background on how Rainy Day Sessions came to be and on to what they are.

Think about it. Your cute kids, rain boots, umbrellas and puddles. Yeah, cute beyond belief. Rainy Day Sessions will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays in October and November when the weather works out, of course! To do a Rainy Day Session, you have to be on the "CALL ME" list. If there are puddles on the days mentioned above, we will be shooting! You get on the list, I call to see if you can shoot that day. If you can't, you keep you place on the list and are the first one called the next day we shoot. The sessions are only 20 minutes long so they don't take your entire day up!

Sessions are $100 and you get 15-20 high resolution images on a disc for you to print your pictures as you would like! A regular session with me with the disc would normally cost $599, so $100 is a steal! To get on the "CALL ME" list, a $50 deposit is required. Email me at bperryphoto@aol.com to get on the list!

Here's more incentive for why you should do this. There is a referral program. If you email me to get on the list and know three of your friends who want on too, you get your session FOR FREE. They have to contact me and pay their deposit, of course. If you refer six friends, you not only get your session for free, you also get a free 10x10 canvas to display in your home. Seriously, what an easy way to get a free session and some cool swank for you home! For a canvas that size I would normally charge $109 for, so you are getting a pretty awesome deal for just getting your friends to have cute pictures too! Get on the list today!

Even better: After you get on the "CALL ME" list, copy this promotional picture and post it to your blog or Facebook, and receive a family session with NO SITTING fee!

New blog!

2010-06-08T20:03:00.001-05:00

Check out the new blog! I am celebrating this new blog by having a session give away! "Like" B. Perry Photography on FB and then follow the directions on the new blog! Winner will be announce on Wednesday, June 16th!

www.blaireperryphotography.com/blog

Change of heart...

2010-01-06T14:31:00.002-06:00

Those of you I talk to on a consistent basis know that I am reading a book right now that is totally changing the way that I look at parenting kids and I am sorry, but you are going to hear more about it on this post! The unexpected blessing has been how it is changing my understanding of how God deals with me. Me. Not my child. The book is LOVING OUR KIDS ON PURPOSE by Danny Silk. It is super funny and way not traditional (well, not traditional from the parenting standpoint I know and read about), but totally makes sense.

Here's some of the main points (I will do my best, but I am still processing all this stuff):

1. Jesus said,"If you have seen me, you have seen my Father." Your kids should know God because they have seen you. You will parent the way you see God.

2. In the Old Testament, we were motivated by external controls; basically, people were scared to death of the punishments that would come for their sin, so they tried to live righteously. In the New Testament, we are motivated from the heart. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will follow my commands," NOT "You will follow my commands if you love me." A love relationship brings obedience, obedience does NOT bring a love relationship with Christ. The same goes for parenting....Plus, what is keeping them in check when there are NO external reinforcements if it is not within their hearts? When you are not there threatening them with punishment for if they get really drunk one weekend or are out there with them and their friends or with their boyfriends or girlfriends and have the opportunity to make a poor choice?

3. That being said, kids, even at a young age, are responsible for their half of their relationship with their parents. When they realize that you have limits with them, it puts the ball in their court. Scary thought, I know, but it makes sense if you think about it. I can't be around Eli when he is throwing a fit, so he has a choice. He can stay with me and have fun, or he can go to his room. I can't be around Eli when he is throwing a fit for no reason or I am going to be a cranky and worn out parent who ends up resenting him. Basically, have boundries with your kids. Stop telling them what to do and start telling them what you are going to do if they continue to act the way they are. So, he gets to become responsible for his actions at 16 months. Yes, responsibility at 16 months. AND HE GETS IT!!! Kids are so stinking smart! When I say, "You can have fun with Mama or you can go to your room," he looks at me and stops throwing a fit because he wants to be with me! When you think about it, it's the same way with Jesus. Our choices either bring us closer to him or seperates us from him. Not because of him, but because of us. Seriously, I never would have had that expectation for him at such a young age. I am such a less stressed out parent and I have enjoyed Eli so much more the past two months. Kids can realize at a very young age that their choices effect you also. When you have a heart connection with your kids the way Jesus does with us, they want to be with you. They want to make right choices because they understand they can hurt your heart. That should be our motivation with Christ. He doesn't want us to be obedient because we are afraid of getting in trouble, he wants us to understand that our choices effect our relationship!

4. Controlling others does not make you more powerful and certainly does nothing for the person you are controlling. You are powerful when you can control yourself. Teach your kids that.

5. Create a safe place for them to fail. If you condemn them every time they fail, you are pushing them to solve their problems outside of the safety of your family and to solve their problems away from you and probably with those that are their own age! God does not withhold love from us when we fail. He doesn't say, "Bad boy!" or "Shame on you!" What does he do? He says, "Ok, what are you going to do about your problem? Would you like my help with this? i love you and will do whatever you need me to do in order to get things right. I love you regardless, but you have to know that you made the choice and have to deal with the consequnces. I am here when you need me. I love you." Jesus wants us to run right to him when we fail. Problem is, many of us want to run the other direction because we are so fearful that he is so mad or disappointed in us that he is just going to shun us. Where is that in scripture outside of the Old Testament? Even in the OT, God ALWAYS took his people back after repentance. Why do we believe that? Because that was the way most of us were raised. We want to be the place where they RUN to when they make a mistake and sin.

6. They create messes and we need to let them figure out with their brains. KIDS ARE SMART! That does NOT mean don't help them. That means to ask them questions about what they could possibly do in order to solve their problems. Think about Job. Remember at the end of Job after all of his friends had forced all of this advice on him and God came and asked him a ton of question to help him understand his situation.

There is SOOOOO much more, but this post is already so long. I'll write more later. I feel as though I am not even doing justice to the book, so I really hope that someone will go out there and get it and let me know what you think. If you don't have time to read, you can get the cd's too where Danny Silk is preaching on it. Both are really good. The book has more detailed examples, though.

Just some food for thought.

Christmas Card templates... Let me know what's your favorites!

2009-10-07T12:19:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Updated photog blog and question

2009-08-07T22:27:00.004-05:00

Check out the work I've done this summer on my photography blog! The link should be on the side of this page.

Starting in September, I will start taking bookings for Christmas card family pics. I am thinking of having a Mini-Session Christmas card day where people can meet me in downtown Fayetteville for a 30 minute mini-session where the fee would include the session and a certain amount of Christmas cards included. Help me out here:

What would make an event like this appealing?

What would you like to see a photographer offer to you the consumer?

Tell me what you think!

Eli's First Hair Cut

2009-07-02T12:05:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Umm... We are still alive...

2009-05-03T22:17:00.004-05:00

I said from the beginning that I would have a really hard time keeping up with this thing and I have stayed true to my word... I always forget about this thing...

Thankfully, I have been busy with photography and because of that I am going to only work part time next year. While starting this business has been extremely time consuming and made me feel like I have lost touch with the world, I am so thankful that God has totally blessed it and keeps providing opportunities for me to take pictures of people. Check out the website: http://www.bperryphotography.com/

Eli is getting huge and I now understand what people mean when they say that "they grow up so fast". I love this age right now. He is learning so much and is such a sponge. His new big thing is opening and closing anything and everything that can be opened and closed. Smashed fingers have not taught him anything because it happens all the time and he still procedes to do so. I would have never thought that I would have a hard time keeping up with the speed of an 8 month old! This obsession with doors and drawers did lead to some cute pics though...

Eli's 6 months old!

2009-03-03T21:34:00.006-06:00

Ok, so two months later.... well, he's six months old now and a the cutest chunk you have ever seen. Who knew that a potbelly, cellulite, and eight rolls on each leg would be so stinkin' adorable! I just want to eat him up most of the time. He is so happy most of the time and his smile just absolutely melts me.

Life has really changed the past few days... He's now mobile. It is so weird how they just figure out crawling one day and the life of just sitting them down on a blanket for a while while you do things is officially over. For a few days he would just stand on all fours like an animal... again, another little thing that just makes you think they are so cute.

New photography website and 25% off!

2009-01-31T11:11:00.008-06:00

So I am now doing the photography thing for real and bperry.com should be up within the next two weeks! To celebrate this step in my business, the first five people to book a session will get their choice 25% off of the package of their choice or no sitting fee. You can email me at bperryphoto@aol.com or call me at 479-283-8727 to set up a session.

One thing I am really excited about is the Party Package I am offering. Whatever kind of party you are having, I would love to photograph it for you. I know that moms are never in any of the pictures of their kids' birthday parties because they are always running around keeping all the kids in line, cutting the cake and trying to take pictures. So, if you would like great pictures of your birthday, graduation, anniversary, or any other type of party you are having, contact me. I will come take pictures of prom day also! The price for the package includes 2 hours of photography time, editing, and either a spiral bound proof book or up to 100 5x5 proofs. Check out bperryphotography.blogspot.com for the package price.

Eli's first Christmas

2009-01-12T22:25:00.007-06:00

I know it's been a while since Christmas, but whatever. It still happened. He won't remember it, but it happened. We were road warriors. NWA to Dallas to Baton Rouge, back to Dallas and finally home... all in seven days. Poor kid had a double ear infection and something called bronchilitis, but like I said, he won't remember it. That's when you feel like mom of the year when you think you kid MIGHT be sick and so you take him in and then they tell you that you need to be ready to go to the emergency room if a, b, or c happens. I think all mothers have had that experience. It PROBABLY wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with the time you took them in when you THOUGHT they were sick and they sent you home with a piece of paper with the title "How to Fight the Common Cold in Your Infant" along with giving you the "You don't need to bring him in for everything" speech. Nope, it probably didn't have anything to do with that.

So, like I said, the first place we stopped was Dallas to celebrate with the Perry's. It was great and Eli had such fun hanging out with his cousins, Taylor and Anna Kate. Not to mention Nana, Papa, Auntie Em, and Uncle Ryan.

Next, we went to Baton Rouge to see my family. We go every other year to visit my family and it is always fun.

My cousin Carrie and I used to wear really big bows and dress alike. Well, we thought it was time to bring it back. You know, for ol' times' sake.

3 months and counting

2008-12-02T22:08:00.000-06:00

It's like he's been here forever, but it has only been three months. I feel like everyday is different and has new joys and challenges. There are definitely more joys. He is so much fun now... he laughs when we laugh and smiles when he sees us. He knows our voices and I know that everyone knows that your kids knows your voice, but when you are first experiencing it, it is the neatest thing. I love that I know he knows my voice. My favorite thing to do is pick him up from the Kerrie or Mrs. Harvill's house and see him get the biggest grin on his face when he hears my voice. Like I said last time, it shows me so much about what God feels about us. We know his voice. Sometimes we try to ignore it, but everyone who knows Him recognizes his voice when he is speaking. I love to think about how it makes his heart so excited when we respond to him, just like mine (and many of yours does with your kids) when Eli responds so excitedly to me. I know I have said it before, but it is just really blowing my mind the way that God has set up this life to be such a reflection of how he intended our relationship to be with him.

I just thought this was funny. He looks like this a lot:)
Ok, this bear warm thing is the cutest thing ever. It is way too big on him, but I love seeing those little eyes pop out of the head opening.

Revelation

2008-10-27T22:38:00.003-05:00

Wow, time does fly by! I can't believe Eli has been around for two months... It seems so long ago, but at the same time, not so long ago. I feel like he has helped solidfy in my mind so many things about my relationship with Jesus. It was major revelation to me a few weeks ago. Like how Jesus talks about how his sheep will hear his voice and know that it is him. It is amazing how from the moment he came into this world he knew my voice. Another thing that is crazy is how much I love him and am willing to sacrifice things for him without hesitation. I love him even though he is not mature enough to love me the way I love him. Wow. That is just a tiny comparison to the way the Father loves us - crazy mad love despite our immature ability to love him back. He is CRAZY about us. I don't think we really understand the love of Jesus... it is not the "have to" love. He does not think to himself, "Oh, those pitiful people. Why do I have to love them?" Someone does not say, "Those the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, my love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed from you..." and love out of obligation. That is passionate.

Jesus,

I ask that you bestow upon us a revelation of your love. I pray that we would know how precious we are to you and how passionately you love us and want us to intimately walk with you. Fascinate our hearts - whoo us with your Spirit. Thank you that you love us despite our immaturity. Speak to our hearts and touch us with your love. I pray that you would take away the things in our hearts that steal our affections for you.

Pictures

2008-10-08T23:10:00.003-05:00

The wonderful Mrs. Jennifer Flowers took some pictures of us tonight and they are so cute! If you want to see them go to jflowersphoto.com and click on client proofing. The password is Eli Perry (capitals and spaces included). If you are looking for a photographer, she's your gal!

Eli's first date

2008-10-08T23:00:00.003-05:00

Our sweet friend, Lila Kate, came over today to say hello and Eli put the moves on her! You know, I am starting to believe more and more in prearranged marriages... :)Not quite sure what he's supposed to do when he sees a pretty girl...What a cutie! Good choice, Eli!

Hey, baby! How 'bout a little snuggling on the couch?

Trip to Washington

2008-10-07T20:37:00.004-05:00

Caleb, Mia, and Eli

Uncle Beau's football team... He's the center, #72

Eli and I went to Washington to visit my family this weekend. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous about bringing a newborn on a plane by myself, but he did great. It would have been nice to have an extra set of hands though. We got to see Beau play football and see him off to Homecoming (which was informal... weird) and also spend some time with Aunt BB, Mimi, and Pawpaw. We also got to see our friends Marlana and Shayna, along with their kids, Caleb and Mia. It was a short, but GREAT weekend. We love you guys and can't wait to see you again soon!

Eli and BB

Uncle Beau's going to Homecoming

Mimi loves me!

A weekend of family and friends

2008-09-24T21:24:00.007-05:00

This weekend we celebrated some Perry birthdays: Nana, Papa Joe, and Uncle Ryan. This was the first time Aunt Mimi, Uncle Ryan, Taylor and Anna Kate met Eli and we had so much fun!

Mike, Kailee, Emmerson and Finley also came to visit. Man, the betrothal list gets longer and longer! :)

Eli's a month old!

2008-09-24T21:20:00.003-05:00

On September 19th, Eli turned one month old! It is crazy how fast it goes...

Future Razorback...

2008-08-30T21:27:00.002-05:00

Funny how people automatically assume that because Caleb and I were Razorbacks, one of our kids will be also... I like that idea but am not counting on it... fun to think about though!

Hello, Sam and Blue... first bath, too!

2008-08-25T22:48:00.002-05:00

We finally let Sam and Blue meet their new family member, and surprisingly, they did great. They love to just sniff him... it's like they don't quite know why he looks the way he does. He's a human, yet he's their size. Weird. They like them a lot and always go to his swing to look for hime when they come inside.

We also gave him his first bath today. He LOVED it! I don't think I have ever seen him this calm except when he is sleeping or eathing! It's probably because I took baths every night when I was carrying him... :)

Pawpaw is here!

2008-08-25T22:45:00.002-05:00

Dad finally got to Arkansas and just LOVES Eli... thanks for reminding me to do this, Aunt Jill... :)

Eli's home!

2008-08-23T17:24:00.007-05:00

ELI'S FIRST DAY OUT OF THE NURSERY AND HOSPITAL

After a few days of oxygen and IV fluids, Eli is now home with us! On Thursday night, Caleb and I walked down to the nursery to say goodnight to the little guy and noticed that his oxygen tube was not up his nose. That was crazy because his nurse that day told us that she had to turn up his oxygen because he was struggling breathing that day and then we walk down there that night and he's completely off the oxygen. The doctors told us it was going to be another 2-4 days before he would come off the oxygen that day also. The next morning we woke up and they had taken him completely off EVERYTHING. It sort of freaked us out because we had no idea where he was when we went to say good morning to us the next morning! The nurse then came up and told us he would get to spend the day in our room and maybe go home that evening. We were so thankful and excited to finally get to hold and love on him when we wanted to! We didn't get to go home that evening, but we did get to come home this morning and it has been great to have him here. Here are some pictures of what he looks like now... much better!

He's here!!!!

2008-08-21T13:58:00.014-05:00

ELIJAH STONE PERRY

8 lbs. 15 oz.

20.5 inches long

Well, Elijah Stone Perry entered the world at 5:50 pm on Tuesday, August 19th. He was 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He looks just like his dad... barrel chested and has his nose and toes! His feet are HUGE!

We do have a prayer request. When they took Eli to get him cleaned up they noticed that he was not breathing very well. Turns out the little guy had a hard time coming out and in the process he sucked in some amniotic fluid. He right now has a breathing tube and is taking in 23% oxygen. He can't handle the 21% oxygen that we breath in the regular air. It is causing him to work really hard to breath, breathing about 70-80 breaths per minute instead of the 40 breaths per minute that is regularly healthy. He is making such great progress and we know he will be just fine. He is in great hands. We are praying that he will be healed so much sooner than later and that he will be home in the next couple days! Please pray for his healing.

He is SOOOOO sweet and loves to snuggle already! Here are some pictures...

Caleb is so proud of his DAD shirt!

No, this isn't how it happened. He's just REALLY excited!

Mom and Brooke offering some much needed love and support before he's born!

Caleb's family too!

Hooray! He's here...and he's big!

Came out a little pale... but still cute!

All tubed up! Doing well though!

They are taking very good care of him, but he sometimes isn't happy. Crying is good because it helps get the fluid off his lungs.

Definitely sooner than later!!!

2008-08-18T19:31:00.003-05:00

Breaking news: Eli's coming TOMORROW! I went in today and my blood pressure was high and didn't come down like they wanted it to, plus I was almost at 4 cm, so the doctor decided it was time to have him. How I am not in labor is beyond both me and and the doctor! Please pray for us and we will put pictures up tomorrow when he gets here!

Maybe sooner than later?

2008-08-12T22:32:00.002-05:00

Who the heck really knows when this kid is really going to come, but the report is that he might come sooner than later... yesterday at the doctor I had made some good progess... Dilated 2.5 cm and 80% effaced. The doctor said he would be surprised if I was still pregnant in the next ten days, but who knows? So that's the latest... I hope it's sooner rather than later! :)

Three weeks and counting... no change

2008-08-07T10:31:00.002-05:00

So we went to the doctor on Monday and the result was the exact same as last week. One centimeter and about 40%. Actually, this doctor told me I was only about 25% and I know you can't go backwards, so someone over or underestimated. Oh well. I still have three weeks to go and I know a lot of people who made it to their due dates and hadn't done anything. Hopefull there will be more progress next week! We just want him to come, but not until he is ready. It would be very convenient if he could come a week early... Just a thought, God. You know, since I have really good thoughts... :)

Eli's coming in just four weeks... here's the info!

2008-07-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

Well, I had my first weekly check up today and Eli is getting ready to make his entrance! His head is down and I am dialated 1 cm and 40% effaced. I know that is sort of weird info to post on a blog, but just trying to keep the family updated! No info on how big he might be, though. Please pray for a small baby. Seriously. "You don't have because you don't ask..." comes to mind, so we are praying that he would start off small. We are also praying for a smooth and short labor and delivery. We believe that God could also allow him to be a good sleeper, so we are asking that too! Please pray for this with us! Each day we pray the same thing for Eli: that he would be big, strong, fast, athletic, and fun, joyful, happy, sleep throught the night and feed well, easy delivery, smart, bilingual (even though neither of us know any other language. What? God can do it!), saved at a young age but at the right time, protected from sexual sin and anger, that his wife would love Jesus, that God would give us wisdom on how to raise him; that he would be violent in his spirit to love God, full of the Holy Spirit, bring many people to Christ, he would have the faith to see Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and cleans the leapers. Hmm... can your hear his father's influence on the last part of the prayer? :) Please pray this with us... We have heard so many stories lately of people praying specific things for their children and then watch as the Lord molds them into the things their parents prayed when their kids weren't even in the world yet.

This is such an exciting time for us. It is weird thinking that at any time, there will be another little Perry in our house. Weird doesn't even explain it. Thank you to everyone who has given us some really great advice and insights on the whole baby process and raising kids. So much to learn! Ahhhhhhhh!

New Pictures added to slide show!

2008-07-28T21:03:00.002-05:00

I just added pictures from month 7 and two showers to the slideshow. Take a look!

Beach trip 2008

2008-07-27T19:22:00.000-05:00

We got to go to Gulf Shores, Alabama for vacation this year. Each time we go, we get family beach pictures taken and they are always a lot of fun!

All of a sudden, I have vienna sausages instead of toes

2008-07-23T00:23:00.002-05:00

It has happened... Caleb and I went to a friend's house for dinner tonight and as soon as I got out of the car I noticed my legs and feet were sort of hurting. When I looked down I noticed that I no longer have toes. They now look like the little vienna sausages I loved to eat as a kid, now cannot even imagine looking at them in the canned meat aisle at the grocery store. Yeah, I know this is supposed to happen, but when you look down expecting to see regular looking toes and you see something that looks like a sausage that is made with the left over meats from all sorts of animals, it's a little shocking. Any "amen"s out there?

2008-07-12T21:43:00.002-05:00

I finally understood today what every other woman who has had a late summer baby meant by, "Oh, I am so sorry! You will be so hot!" I thought to myself that maybe it really wouldn't be that bad... WRONG. I don't think I have ever sweated so bad in my life. Really, who would have thought that you could really feel like you were sitting right in an oven like that!

It's funny sometimes to think about the way God does things. Really, I thought my plan was so much better on the timing of this pregnancy. Get pregnant in the summer, have the baby in early spring, take the rest of the year off from teaching and have the entire summer to spend at home before I went back to school. I thought that plan was perfect. What teacher wouldn't? Well, this has been exactly opposite. Got pregnant in the winter, have the baby in the late summer, start school (hopefully) and then take only a few weeks off. Tell me, which one sounds better to you? Not saying that being pregnant during the summer is a terrible thing... I am talking more about when I try to make plans for my life and the Lord in his wisdom does otherwise. Oh, how my vision is so limited and cloudy compared to His. Once this pregnancy happened, it didn't matter to me about MY timing anymore. If all I have to complain about it being hot, then I feel pretty blessed. What's a few weeks out of my life to be hot. A few weeks, that's all. But while I am at it, man, I am burning up! :)

New Photography Blog

2008-07-09T16:42:00.003-05:00

One of the things I really love doing is taking pictures. I am just starting to learn things with photography so I just do it for fun, but it is something I would like to do full-time one day. I decided the best way to get some more practice was to create a blog of just the pictures I have taken and maybe get some brave people to let me take their picture! So, if you are looking for some pictures to be taken, I'm your girl! Hey, what have you got to lose? If you don't like them we just take them again until you do! Couldn't ask for a better deal! :) Hope you will check it out! bperryphotography.blogspot.com

2008-07-07T23:31:00.002-05:00

Here are some pictures of our life with Eli so far... it's so neat to see how both of us have grown. I will have more pictures of MY growth (month 7 and 8 pictures), and I hope I will get one more look at him before he comes! Enjoy!

Eli's journey so far...

2008-07-07T23:29:00.001-05:00

This is a good idea if I can keep up with it!

2008-06-25T22:45:00.002-05:00

I figured that this would be the best way to keep everyone updated on what's going on with our growing family! Elijah will be here in 8 weeks (unbelievable!) and I am going to do my best to keep this thing updated.
Please pray for us! I am so thankful that I have gotten to see so many people go through this process. Our main prayer requests are for safe labor and delivery, wisdom, and energy to make it after sleepless nights! Be blessed and please tell us if we can pray for you in ANY way!