Dear Mallory - you need a new blog too.
There are so many things I want to do, and just not enough hours (or energy) in the day. On my want-to-do-list: Build a large picture frame. Sand and paint the rustic frames I already have. Create a huge portrait collage for Adrie's 1st year, which I can then use as a template for future collages for business. Learn how to use Adobe Premiere to put video snippets into my photo slide shows. Finish my web page. Get it up and running. Process and post my attempt at documenting Adrie's life in her nursery. Start advertising and attracting more business. Finalize what I want to demo/sell at the Heritage boutique this fall. Create more gift certificates. Find a wedding to shoot. Sand down and paint the new end table I bought at DI. Find some better fonts so I quit using the same 3. Create other unique photo-collage gift ensembles. Decide which digital picture frame I like the best, and figure out how I can add that service to my business. Make a dent in my sewing/mending pile. Cook some real meals. Clean out and organize my garage. Clean out and organize all my craft supplies. Work on my family's Christmas memory book. And I could go on and on and on, really.
In the meantime I had two wisdom teeth pulled yesterday and it went marvelously. No troubles at all - teeth were out in like 30 seconds each. Laughing gas makes me feel on the verge of fainting - I do NOT like that feeling at all. The teeth were absolutely disgusting and although I'd planned to post a picture of them, seeing them live was enough to make me ill so I won't terrorize you.
AND now Adrie has Cryptosporidium, a parasite that is making her ill and all diahhrea-like. Hooray for public pools and trashy parents who don't make their kids wear swim diapers. It's terrible, and she whines a lot so I don't have any freedom to work on that list above.
Although it sounds like I'm complaining, life is great and I'm excited about all the things I want to do. That's so much better than feeling bored and unchallenged, right!?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Happy Sunday!
This is how I begin every Sunday phone call to my family. "Happy Sunday!" Today was a happy one.
First off I'm so dang excited over Emily's senior picture shoot that I've broken my no-photoshop-before-bed rule, as it is now 11:02 pm and my goal is to be off the computer by 10, 10:30 at the latest each night. But you've got to check it out. She was a gorgeous model (it runs in the genes, right!?) and many of the pictures lent themselves easily to artsy creation that I'm sure the older generation won't like. But here is my favorite one:
It was dang hard to pick a favorite, go check it out and tell me which is yours.
Adrie is a little princess, keeping us constantly entertained... I took about 160 photos of her and her nursery today, trying to capture the flavor that's been her life as a baby. As she'll soon be running around and become a petulant toddler, I will miss this darling sweetheart stage. Stay tuned to the Digital Darkroom blog for my first attempt at a true journalistic-documentary style of photography. Here's one sneak peek:
Who can tell me what this is?
But I've got to go to bed. More soon!
First off I'm so dang excited over Emily's senior picture shoot that I've broken my no-photoshop-before-bed rule, as it is now 11:02 pm and my goal is to be off the computer by 10, 10:30 at the latest each night. But you've got to check it out. She was a gorgeous model (it runs in the genes, right!?) and many of the pictures lent themselves easily to artsy creation that I'm sure the older generation won't like. But here is my favorite one:
It was dang hard to pick a favorite, go check it out and tell me which is yours.Adrie is a little princess, keeping us constantly entertained... I took about 160 photos of her and her nursery today, trying to capture the flavor that's been her life as a baby. As she'll soon be running around and become a petulant toddler, I will miss this darling sweetheart stage. Stay tuned to the Digital Darkroom blog for my first attempt at a true journalistic-documentary style of photography. Here's one sneak peek:
Who can tell me what this is?
But I've got to go to bed. More soon!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Adrie's Jibberish
Video just doesn't do it justice! I am totally enchanted and can't seem to get enough.
She's Walking!
Adrie has been taking 1-2 steps since last weekend, but yesterday she started taking journeys of 3-4 steps, venturing out into the middle of a room by herself! This even happens on her own without any encouraging from us - we'll turn around to find her in the middle of a run! Usually the 4-step combinations happen when she is following the cat, poor guy... his freedom is coming to an end.
Her eye looks SO much more open than I think I've ever seen it. Here's the best picture I have right now:
Usually when she'd look up her eye would be completely covered. As swelling goes down we'll just keep our fingers crossed that it gets better and better!
Here's a shot from last week - shows how her eye looked before... Here she stole Indigo's ball. He follows her around, wishing she'd throw it for him!
Her eye looks SO much more open than I think I've ever seen it. Here's the best picture I have right now:
Usually when she'd look up her eye would be completely covered. As swelling goes down we'll just keep our fingers crossed that it gets better and better!
Here's a shot from last week - shows how her eye looked before... Here she stole Indigo's ball. He follows her around, wishing she'd throw it for him!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Strongbad
Awwww... I'd forgotten how much we used to laugh til our sides hurt at Strongbad.
Thanks to Natalie, I have now introduced him to Adrie. She sat and watched this favorite cartoon with me without trying to eat the keyboard. That's progress. Check it out and tell me what you think. The world can always use a little more crazy humor.
Thanks to Natalie, I have now introduced him to Adrie. She sat and watched this favorite cartoon with me without trying to eat the keyboard. That's progress. Check it out and tell me what you think. The world can always use a little more crazy humor.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Eye Surgery #2
We did Adrie's eye surgery #1 back in April, and even after the swelling went down her eyelid position didn't change much. This time instead of trimming out muscle the surgeon put a sling in place that connects the function of her eyelid to the muscles in her eyebrow. This way, when she looks up her eyelid should raise with her brow. Cross your fingers.
Keeping a very hungry baby happy in the waiting room at 6:30 am (mostly I just like how cut my arms look in this pic :)
The nurses gave her a bear, which she loved.
When she will actually sit on your lap (rare!), she has this cute habit of picking at my fingernails with hers. I never got a newborn pic of her finger in mine so I guess this is as close as I'll get!
She was pretty agitated for awhile from the anesthesia wearing off. Finally she settled down to watch cartoons and eat something.
After having a full tummy she reached out to give me a big hug - melted my heart!
The "after" picture with her Dad:
Keeping a very hungry baby happy in the waiting room at 6:30 am (mostly I just like how cut my arms look in this pic :)
The nurses gave her a bear, which she loved.
When she will actually sit on your lap (rare!), she has this cute habit of picking at my fingernails with hers. I never got a newborn pic of her finger in mine so I guess this is as close as I'll get!
She was pretty agitated for awhile from the anesthesia wearing off. Finally she settled down to watch cartoons and eat something.
After having a full tummy she reached out to give me a big hug - melted my heart!
The "after" picture with her Dad:
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Session Two
The second session in this laser hair removal process wasn't nearly as bad as the first. Probably because of the 4 advil, 2 tylenol, and bottle of licodaine cream I rubbed on my legs. My legs jumped involuntarily only about 3 times. but it still hurt a lot and I used many a deep breathing and distraction technique.
It will all be worth it, right!?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Photo Session: Take Two
Tried again to get a good, face-on pic of Adrie smiling for the camera. No such luck. Her Birthday invitation just might have to accept a profile pic.
The funniest was when she tipped over her walker and couldn't figure out how to get out:
In other news, we watched a 20-story building implode at 6:39 am Saturday morning. Thanks Grandma for letting us sleep at your house - we haven't done that since Adrie was born! And thanks Aunt Cheri for the delicious strawberry-mandarin compote for our waffles. We had a delectable lunch at Brick Oven Pizza to say hi & bye to Erica and Ryan, then took naps, then Kurt & I got a bona fide date to see Bourne Ultimatum while mom and Kevin watched Adrie. We brought hom peach & rocky road ice cream for dessert. Mmmm a perfect day.
The funniest was when she tipped over her walker and couldn't figure out how to get out:
In other news, we watched a 20-story building implode at 6:39 am Saturday morning. Thanks Grandma for letting us sleep at your house - we haven't done that since Adrie was born! And thanks Aunt Cheri for the delicious strawberry-mandarin compote for our waffles. We had a delectable lunch at Brick Oven Pizza to say hi & bye to Erica and Ryan, then took naps, then Kurt & I got a bona fide date to see Bourne Ultimatum while mom and Kevin watched Adrie. We brought hom peach & rocky road ice cream for dessert. Mmmm a perfect day.
Once Upon a Time
Adrie provided the unofficial entertainment at the Reunion Testimony meeting. I forgot I had pictures of her antics.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Adrie's 11 month Birthday
Only a month to go until one year old! I tried SO hard to get a picture of her with this little bear that she brought home from the hospital, in order to get a comparison of size, etc. As you can tell by the 60 pictures in the pile below, it was no easy feat to get her to hold still, much less look at me.
We've celebrated the day by doing laundry, cleaning toilets, and taking a long nap while I worked on her birthday party invitation. She grows more darling with each day - even those of you who saw her at the reunion would be surprised at how different she is in a week. She talks non-stop, in syllables that really sound like words. When I whisper to her she whispers back (a-ko-cho-ko-cho-ko). I catch her standing on her own (not holding onto anything) all the time, and she's even starting to try shooting the gaps between objects to walk along. Today she figured out that cupboards and drawers open. (Oh no!) She even chewed the top rubber stopper off the cupboard door next to me before I realized what she was doing!
Despite the failed shots, I got a few ok ones. First off is the original newborn shot, which is purposely large so you can see how she used to fit that carseat that she has now outgrown.
We've celebrated the day by doing laundry, cleaning toilets, and taking a long nap while I worked on her birthday party invitation. She grows more darling with each day - even those of you who saw her at the reunion would be surprised at how different she is in a week. She talks non-stop, in syllables that really sound like words. When I whisper to her she whispers back (a-ko-cho-ko-cho-ko). I catch her standing on her own (not holding onto anything) all the time, and she's even starting to try shooting the gaps between objects to walk along. Today she figured out that cupboards and drawers open. (Oh no!) She even chewed the top rubber stopper off the cupboard door next to me before I realized what she was doing!
Despite the failed shots, I got a few ok ones. First off is the original newborn shot, which is purposely large so you can see how she used to fit that carseat that she has now outgrown.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Momma Momma
My first day as a stay-at-home mom was a smashing success. I got my entire house vacuumed, swept and mopped the kitchen, cleaned up a week's worth of junk after being gone, finished the laundry, got all the family reunion photos taken care of, played lots with Adrie, hung up a bunch of pictures and other general move-in stuff that hadn't been taken care of yet, and even had dinner ready and waiting for when Kurt got home. We didn't leave the house once today and I really enjoyed myself.
While spending so much time with Adrie I noticed a few really fun things I have to record for history:
She crawls around carrying things in her mouth. Today it was a hair barrette, the cat's ball, her sippy cup, and some other random things I can't remember. She purses her lips around them and holds up her head like it's a big cigar. It's hilarious, she's figured out that it's an extra hand to carry something.
She loves when I chase her up the stairs. She'll start wrigging and trying to go faster but it just doesn't work. She squeals in delight.
She says "num num num" when we eat, and sometimes she makes a phrase/sound like "thank you." I realized that we say these things to her all the time so it would make sense she picks up on it. I swear she also says something like "Achoo!". One of her new books has that word over and over on every page so that must be where she gets it.
Silly as it is, I'm sort of glad to go to work tomorrow. I think this schedule might work out just perfectly. Never too much of one place to get tired of, and always looking forward to the next thing. :)
While spending so much time with Adrie I noticed a few really fun things I have to record for history:
She crawls around carrying things in her mouth. Today it was a hair barrette, the cat's ball, her sippy cup, and some other random things I can't remember. She purses her lips around them and holds up her head like it's a big cigar. It's hilarious, she's figured out that it's an extra hand to carry something.
She loves when I chase her up the stairs. She'll start wrigging and trying to go faster but it just doesn't work. She squeals in delight.
She says "num num num" when we eat, and sometimes she makes a phrase/sound like "thank you." I realized that we say these things to her all the time so it would make sense she picks up on it. I swear she also says something like "Achoo!". One of her new books has that word over and over on every page so that must be where she gets it.
Silly as it is, I'm sort of glad to go to work tomorrow. I think this schedule might work out just perfectly. Never too much of one place to get tired of, and always looking forward to the next thing. :)
Sunday, August 12, 2007
100 Posts! Flash to the Past!
Here is the chair from whence the very first blog was written. This isn't a picture of the actual event, but very close.
Here's what baby Adrie looked like when this blog was started:
Here's what I looked like around the time of blog #1 (okay... minus about ten pounds from baby but hey, here's a good excuse to post a fat pic.)
Although the blog officially started last October, it didn't pick up in full swing until January. At that point Adrie got more exciting and I had more to write about. Like this favorite pic of mine:
Then we put our house on the market, sold it quickly, and spent some stressful time packing:
Through all of this she just got cuter and fell more in love with her Dad:
One week after moving into the new house she had eye surgery #1:
Then came the bucky teeth:
And I'm realizing this is becoming an Adrie blog. I guess we are like most parents and measure time according to our kids. Not much exciting happens to us.
June started the Digital Darkroom blog, which is an ever-evolving project that keeps me well entertained. I can't wait for more.
And here we are now (last week) - would you believe this is the only picture I have of us together? Being the photographer means I'm rarely in them. But here we are, 9 months later and going strong! Thanks for joining the ride!
Here's what baby Adrie looked like when this blog was started:
Here's what I looked like around the time of blog #1 (okay... minus about ten pounds from baby but hey, here's a good excuse to post a fat pic.)
Although the blog officially started last October, it didn't pick up in full swing until January. At that point Adrie got more exciting and I had more to write about. Like this favorite pic of mine:
Then we put our house on the market, sold it quickly, and spent some stressful time packing:
Through all of this she just got cuter and fell more in love with her Dad:
One week after moving into the new house she had eye surgery #1:
Then came the bucky teeth:
And I'm realizing this is becoming an Adrie blog. I guess we are like most parents and measure time according to our kids. Not much exciting happens to us.
June started the Digital Darkroom blog, which is an ever-evolving project that keeps me well entertained. I can't wait for more.
And here we are now (last week) - would you believe this is the only picture I have of us together? Being the photographer means I'm rarely in them. But here we are, 9 months later and going strong! Thanks for joining the ride!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Family Reunion Pictures
Here are a few of my favorite pictures that weren't quite business material. But I know you will love them as much as I do.
Friday, August 10, 2007
We're Back!
The Reunion-slash-Portland vacation was a smashing hit. So fun, so relaxing (minus one day), so enriching and fulfilling. You know family is a little piece of heaven when you return home ready to be a better person than ever.
In Portland I loved: morning walk/hikes with Mom and Adrie in the backpack, huffing and puffing on hills to make my family feel happy that although I'm skinny I'm in terrible shape, riding in the girl's new car, looking at how much houses cost (too much), suffering through church with a screamy Adrie, seeing how much my little sisters love being Aunts, eating my bag of EL Fudge cookies stashed covertly in the closet, hearing Aunt Cheri exclaim what a beautiful view we had from the kitchen (and therefore reminding myself how gorgeous and breathtaking it is indeed), shopping with Mally and Rachel, how well Adrie slept in Dad's closet, the guest bathroom, and Mallory's bathroom, sneaking lunch at Chevy's, the fact we didn't turn on the tv the entire time I was there, hearing comments from almost every stranger about how darling Adrie and her hair was, and of course playing with the camera and doing a modeling shoot of those girls. Mally is a rock star.
At the Reunion I loved: Sitting down by any random relative and striking up an easy conversation, that Doug and Brittany brought every baby item I needed (especially that walker!), watching Konrad & Todd's cute kids, seeing the difference in Allie (all-girl family) and Ellie (all-boy family!), hearing the competitive sports talk among Jay and the relatives, seeing Grandma just watch and enjoy it all, Cheri & Randy the sub-grandparents who are always there when I need them (and even when I don't!), Kendall giving me new ipod music (and I haven't found a song I don't like yet!), eating three square gourmet meals and one delectable dessert each day (I'm amazed at how well people cook so far from home!), thinking about how interesting it is to watch the generations change (as my generation chased kids around and the old folks kicked back, and the teenage dorm was Rach/Ken/Mal/Kortni/Emily/Lindsay/Tessa instead of Corey, Chris and the Crabtrees), the Robinson girl's photo shoot, seeing the tweener-girls stalk Lindsay, playing games at night and watching the Crabtree marathon Settlers games, having my own little dungeon room (even if it was right by the basketball court!), hearing Jay talk about how much he missed Kurt, all the food and cookies and snacks that constantly sat in the kitchen, how much we share and use each other's stuff - consecration!, seeing how thin and gorgeous my mom is, watching Kendall giggle in the lake with Adrie, the nightly meetings that were the perfect length of time, the family song that made me cry every time I sang it, talking to Mally Kendall and Rachel at night in their 'dorm', seeing Adrie's excitement at being in the walker, and the general warmth and bit of Heaven that was there. I did NOT like the teens watching an entire season of Avatar - but hey, they were bonding (I guess?!) Just shows another gap in the generations. We used to play hide 'n seek outside and night games, they watch tv.
We are back and Adrie has an eye infection and an ear infection. But it was worth it. She has slept 90% of the time since we've been home and all is well. Can't wait for two years from now! Check the darkroom blog soon for my favorite reunion pictures.
In Portland I loved: morning walk/hikes with Mom and Adrie in the backpack, huffing and puffing on hills to make my family feel happy that although I'm skinny I'm in terrible shape, riding in the girl's new car, looking at how much houses cost (too much), suffering through church with a screamy Adrie, seeing how much my little sisters love being Aunts, eating my bag of EL Fudge cookies stashed covertly in the closet, hearing Aunt Cheri exclaim what a beautiful view we had from the kitchen (and therefore reminding myself how gorgeous and breathtaking it is indeed), shopping with Mally and Rachel, how well Adrie slept in Dad's closet, the guest bathroom, and Mallory's bathroom, sneaking lunch at Chevy's, the fact we didn't turn on the tv the entire time I was there, hearing comments from almost every stranger about how darling Adrie and her hair was, and of course playing with the camera and doing a modeling shoot of those girls. Mally is a rock star.
At the Reunion I loved: Sitting down by any random relative and striking up an easy conversation, that Doug and Brittany brought every baby item I needed (especially that walker!), watching Konrad & Todd's cute kids, seeing the difference in Allie (all-girl family) and Ellie (all-boy family!), hearing the competitive sports talk among Jay and the relatives, seeing Grandma just watch and enjoy it all, Cheri & Randy the sub-grandparents who are always there when I need them (and even when I don't!), Kendall giving me new ipod music (and I haven't found a song I don't like yet!), eating three square gourmet meals and one delectable dessert each day (I'm amazed at how well people cook so far from home!), thinking about how interesting it is to watch the generations change (as my generation chased kids around and the old folks kicked back, and the teenage dorm was Rach/Ken/Mal/Kortni/Emily/Lindsay/Tessa instead of Corey, Chris and the Crabtrees), the Robinson girl's photo shoot, seeing the tweener-girls stalk Lindsay, playing games at night and watching the Crabtree marathon Settlers games, having my own little dungeon room (even if it was right by the basketball court!), hearing Jay talk about how much he missed Kurt, all the food and cookies and snacks that constantly sat in the kitchen, how much we share and use each other's stuff - consecration!, seeing how thin and gorgeous my mom is, watching Kendall giggle in the lake with Adrie, the nightly meetings that were the perfect length of time, the family song that made me cry every time I sang it, talking to Mally Kendall and Rachel at night in their 'dorm', seeing Adrie's excitement at being in the walker, and the general warmth and bit of Heaven that was there. I did NOT like the teens watching an entire season of Avatar - but hey, they were bonding (I guess?!) Just shows another gap in the generations. We used to play hide 'n seek outside and night games, they watch tv.
We are back and Adrie has an eye infection and an ear infection. But it was worth it. She has slept 90% of the time since we've been home and all is well. Can't wait for two years from now! Check the darkroom blog soon for my favorite reunion pictures.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
We love Oregon
We've hiked every morning sofar, fed Adrie all sorts of food she's never tasted, and played around with my camera lots and lots. See my business blog for all of the fun, artsy shots. Now off to the family reunion tomorrow... Doubtful we'll have internet in the woods. So stay tuned! And drop me a line in the meantime!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
The Bourne Ultimatum
This was the best, and I mean absolute BEST movie I have seen in a long time.
Lots of action, non-stop nail biting, questioning, wondering, and trying to figure it all out. All without making me feel like I was lost and don't quite know what's going on. Exciting, intriguing, and more.
I love movies like this.
And I am SO excited for National Treasure II - didn't realize how much I liked that movie until I saw a preview for the next.
Any movies you're dying to see?
Lots of action, non-stop nail biting, questioning, wondering, and trying to figure it all out. All without making me feel like I was lost and don't quite know what's going on. Exciting, intriguing, and more.
I love movies like this.
And I am SO excited for National Treasure II - didn't realize how much I liked that movie until I saw a preview for the next.
Any movies you're dying to see?
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