Sweet Blessings

The sweetest blessings come in the tiniest packages. and those tiny blessings steal your heart.

This is something I learned six years ago when I had my daughter.  In 2012 my family was blessed once again to learn what it was like to have your heart stolen by someone you never met. 



12 weeks

20 weeks

With finally having a nice camera to take pictures with and knowing that this is probably our last pregnancy and baby I took photos to document how I grew.  I loved being pregnant with my first but never had a huge belly, this time I was huge.  Enjoy the photos taken by my wonderful hubby showcasing how the belly grows over time...




28 weeks

From here I had a noticeable growth every two week. 

36 Weeks

Easter 2013 we painted the belly

36weeks.  From the front you can't help but think it looks a lot like an egg!

The day before I was due (40weeks) Big Sister telling the baby to hurry up

The day after my due date....I went into labor a few hours after this photo

I love that my husband and I captured these pregnancy moments.  The 9months that you grow a baby inside you seem both to fly by and drag their feet while you're pregnant, trying to get ready for the baby which it seems overwhelming at the time and by the end with back pain, and swollen feet and all the other things that happen to our bodies the end can't seem to come soon enough we want to meet this baby we've put so much work into growing.

That time came for us 2 days after I was due.  I was in labor for 12+ hours and so tired after labor, all the morning sickness I had with both pregnancies, the back pain, the tiredness, and the long labors and the hard work of labor...I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat for my girls.  They've filled my world with smiles, giggling, and love that you can't put into words.  There are hard times I won't cover that up....but the meltdowns, tears, tantrums, and sleepless nights, are over powered with hugs and kisses and when they finally say "I love you too"

It's hard to believe that those pregnancy pictures were 2 years ago now, the time has flew by.  I'd like to share some of the last 2 years with you, and I'm happy to say that my break from the blog and photography (while I never really retired my camera) is over...I'm looking forward to sharing more stories from Little Deer Photography and capturing many more moments!




 Just can't get over newborn toes and sweet sleeping bliss

And then it seems you blink and the new born baby is already a year old and running all over...hold on to each moment you have

One year old!

That face! and a mouth full of teeth

Of course there are special moments between newborn and one year:

My family photo 2013 

As much as my baby grew and changed so did I (with some work)

I was able to lose almost all the baby weight in a year's time thanks to breastfeeding, babywearing, and eating healthy

My older daughter seemed to grow just as fast as the baby, she went from being my baby girl to my big girl, my helper, and such a sweet heart (when she's not testing out her new older kid attitude)

2012

2014

 I LOVE moments like this.

Words can't describe what it means to become a parent.  Yes there are challenges and your life is forever changed, you're happiness depends greatly on their happiness and you no longer only have yourself to worry about but now the baby.

It's the best thing in the world!  I couldn't imagine my life without either girl in it!  They give me so many reasons to smile everyday.

My husband with our baby

photographer in training

Thank you to my friend Karen for this photo

I realize this is a poor quality image taken with my phone but I love it.. It shows what lazy morning in my house is like, PJs and cuddling

Paulie's HotDogs, Honesdale, PA

 

 

 

One of my favorite places to eat in town is Paulie's Hot Dogs on Park Street, in Honesdale PA. I love the food, family friendly atmosphere, and love that the prices are in our budget. I've been going to Paulies for the past 3 years and still can't get enough of their fries! I swear they have the best fries I've ever had! And that was one of the reasons last summer when I wanted to get a part time job that I went there and applied. Working there really made me appreciate the whole business of Paulie's Hot Dogs as I've gotten to know so much about the restaurant and Paul himself. I was sad in the fall to leave, due to my morning sickness with my second pregnancy. When Valentine's day came around and my husband and I were talking about what we wanted to do and how much money we had I told him the only thing I really wanted was to go to Paulie's for dinner since it had been a while since we'd been there, and it would be fun for our four year old daughter. So that's what we did.

Durning my summer working at Paulie's I knew that all the food was fresh, and I got to try everything on the menu. I have a couple favorites but this night for dinner I wanted my number one choice a hot wing wrap with Ranch not blue cheese (it comes with blue cheese unless you say different) and I added tomatoes, lettuce, and celery (because I love my veggies and wanted to add some more nutrition). It was delicious, as always!


  I love that the kitchen is all open to the customers so you get to watch your food being prepared right in front of you, fresh!!

 

 

 My husband ordered one of his go to favorites a Gyro. And since I was 7months pregnant he let me take a few bits of his, not that I hadn't had Paulie's Gyros before but because I wanted a bit (or 3). It was delish as well! So good in fact that the following week I had a huge craving for a couple days for my own Gyro and finally my husband ordered pick up from there on his way home from work. Yup he's the best! 

What makes a Gyro?  Lamb meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, tzatzaiki sauce, feta cheese (optional), all wrapped up in a toasted pita.  What makes Paulie's Gyro so good is that the taz sauce is made fresh in the back of the store, homemade!

The lamb meat cooking.

 

My husband and I got a small order of fries to share. We usually get a medium to share but since we weren't sharing our meal a small was enough for the two of us, when we get a cheesesteak or hotwing wrap to split then we'll get the medium fries and share them as well. I've had all the different types of fries that Paulies has to offer and they are all good! Chili, Cheese, and Disco are my favorite, unless I'm in the mood for something spicy then I'll get the Devil Fries with blue cheese or ranch for dipping. Tonight we went classic and just had plain fresh cut, fries. I had white vinegar and ketchup to dip mine in and my hubby ate his plain. I love that Paul has thought of everything his customers may want, having two types of vinegars, ketchup, and mustard for customers to help themselves to. What makes Paulie's fries so good isn't just all the toppings there are but that they are FRESH! I love that you see the fries being cut in front of you and they are fried twice in fresh peanut oil. Paul takes great pride in his fries and the way they are made and served :) and you can tell. I promise if you get fries at Paulies you'll never look at the frozen fries at other restaurants or home the same again. At least I know it's true for me. 








As I said Paulie's fries are the best there is to eat, you can't even compare to anything else because nothing holds a flame to Paulie's fries. Now why is this? They are fresh cut, right there in front of you, and freshly fried in peanut oil!!

 My daughter ordered a hot dog kids meal. Hot dog, kids fries, and Chocolate Milk, and it came it this cool little car. As always she loved it! And for the next week that's all we heard when we drove through town was that she was hungry and wanted a hot dog from Paulies!

 Not only is the food great, but the night was wonderful because there was no fighting with my daughter to sit down or behave. My daughter was occupied playing on the touch screen games while we waited the 10minutes or less for our food to cook, and she continued to play through the meal. 

 

After our meal we took my daughter back to the game room for her to play, it was the highlight of her night! 

 

 And this is what every parent wants to see after diner, a child with a smile and all the food gone :)

 In April I went back on my due date hopeing to induce labor with a extra hot hot wing hoggie. I was sad that it didn't send me into labor the same day but was happy to be back in and see all the new things that Paul has added to the store and menu. When I finally went into labor and had to stay at the hospital for 3 days my husband and I had Paulies all 3 days for dinner. The first night after our second daughter was born he brought me over deep fried oreos, which I had never had, and OMG they are delish!! Sorry no photo of them as I didn't have my camera at the hospital.  It was so nice to be able to order food up until 12:00 midnight since there were many late nights with a newborn.  And while we didn't take advantage of it Paulie's delivers all the way up until midnight anywhere in town!

 
You don't have to take my word on Paulie's being one of the best places in town to eat, Paulie has several awards, voted best delivery, best fast food, best children's menu, and more by the readers of the Wayne Independent.

 

Enjoy these extra photos I took at Paulies and their descriptions:

A small order of cheese fries to go

New at Paulie's!

A custom edit in Black and White of the outside of Paulie's

The game room with seating for those who want to enjoy their meal and games

One of my favorite arcade games

Not one but 2 pool tables.



I went early in the morning before Paulie's opens at 11 in order to get this photo with no people in it

Of course there's always plenty of Hatfeild hotdogs, try one of the 14 different styles or make it your way, made to order!

The Slaw Dog: coleslaw, yellow mustard, and chili

Get it "ALL THE WAY" with cheese, chili, brown mustard and onions



Or make it the way you like it as this customer did by getting relish and yellow mustard

Award wining cheesesteak! 

*New* Sausage Sandwich

*New* Deserts!!  The Deep Fried Oreos are a must!



Cheesy, yummy, mozzarella sticks

They will use all these potatoes within a week!

 

Be sure to try one of the *new* menu items Fresh Funnel Cake!!  Deep fried fresh right in front of you.  Yum.  Perfect to get in the winter to remind you of what summer time at the fair is like :)

Hot Dog and Fries

*New* Soft Serve Ice Cream!  In a cone or cup also offering 2 different sprinkles!

Fried pierogies with butter and onions.

One very important thing for me is a clean bathroom, and Paulie's is always clean!  And large which is great for mom's who have to help little ones go.

Remember Paulie's is open and delivering late :)

Be sure to check out Paulie's on facebook and stop by and get some great food if your in the area!