Peekaboo!

A new home!

2008-02-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

I now have a new home. Please join me in my new blogging adventures here-http://www.heatherbauers.typepad.com/ I will leave this up for a month so everyone can catch up.

Dark and edgy

2008-02-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

I just got home from a family shoot with a 1, 3, and 5.5 yr old. What fun! My PEZ dispenser got a real workout, let me tell you. I just downloaded the photos and this was the first one I pulled up. I'm normally more of a light/fresh BnW lover, but this one screamed contrast to me...so I converted it a bit darker/moodier. This girl has incredible hair...oh to be 5.5 again, right?

Hand-me downs are my FRIEND!

2008-02-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

I seriously love a bargain. I grew up in a family that LOVED garage-sales, thrifting and getting a good deal. My dad is the king of getting a steal, my mom the queen of saving, and my brother the prince of internet discounts. When we had A, we were given SO much we didn't know what to do with everything. Then, when we found out N was another boy...whoo-hoo, saving $$ by reusing a lot of the stuff we had from A. It was a win-win for us, besides...not that much time had passed in-between the boys-18months to the date almost. This bouncy chair is something I was excited to put N in for the first time. We got hours and hours of entertainment with A so I was hoping N would give us the same. So far...so good.

Just look at little N, does he not look like he's enjoying himself? Did I mention it vibrates and makes soothing noises? Ah yes...such is the life!

Obviously big brother wanted in on some of the action too. It's his first Lazy-Boy I think, just check that relaxed positon.

Snail-Mail

2008-02-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

I LOVE receiving things in the mail (minus all the junk of course.) There is nothing quite like a letter or card from a friend or family member. Taking time to actually send something via snail-mail takes time and energy, not to mention at least $.41 (although that's soon to change.) I've got a friend of mine (Hi Robyn) who is the queen of snail-mail. She's so great, she remembers anniversaries/birthdays and pretty much any important day ever. I love receiving cards from her because I know she cares. One of my New Year's goals was to write/craft more cards this year. So far I've been doing pretty well and hope to contine this throughout the entire year. I know my family who are out of state especially like receiving things-it keeps them connected. If you have not hand-written a note lately, I would encourage you to do so...it's quite theraputic. Who cares if you don't like your handwriting...your recipient sure won't. They will be so thrilled to receive it, they will totally overlook any typos too (at least that's what I like to tell myself anyway...)

Just a funny shot to wish everyone a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY (yes...my DH will do just about anything-I LOVE this man!)

A little peace and quiet

2008-02-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

I'm not afraid to admit it...I love nap time! Don't get me wrong...I so enjoy playing and interacting with my cuties, but sometimes momma CRAVES a mini-break. We are trying to get the boys on a similar schedule and it seems to be working. God has blessed us with 2, VERY good sleepers and their naps are starting to fall into place.

Little A gets his rosy cheeks from me.

Don't you wonder just what he's dreaming of?

Yup...

2008-02-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

I just KNEW I had seen this face before!

I love when babies make faces they don't even know they are making. It makes for some great candid pictures for the baby books. My N is VERY expressive (something he shares with me.) He can make the funniest faces, enough to make me laugh out loud when watching him. He has started to laugh and he will tilt his head back and let out a few giggles. It is seriously the cutest thing ever, I love it!

Thanks for all the nice comments about yesterdays post too. It's not always easy putting yourself out like that, but always nice to get positive vibes. Oh, and the lipstick is called Angel Red and it's from Clinique. I never thought I could wear red until I found this shade. It's more of a blue-red and works well with fair skinned, blonde folk like myself. I also recently found out it's one of their most popular sellers-go figure.

Gotta love yourself!

2008-02-11T11:37:00.000-08:00

Just a little conversion fun:)

I think in order to fully love, you have to love and be comfortable with yourself. Nope, I'm not completely where I'd like to be in this, that's why I posting...it's forcing me to evaluate things and work on this area in my life. I have got to work on loving me the way God loves me! Right now I don't care for photos of myself...I can be critical (as I know many of us women can be.) However, it's important for me to face some of my fears head on, so that's why you're seeing pics of me today. I'm facing my fear and learning to love myself the way I am right now. I thought this was a good way to start off Valentines week and for my mom to see a recent snap of me-HI MOM!

ISO250, ap5.6, 1/250, 24-70 (thus the reason for any distortion)

Some moments are priceless.

2008-02-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

This is how Dad and son spend Saturday morning...watching toons together. Don't they look mezmorized?

Just some candids

2008-02-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

We were chillin' in the nursery this morning and the boys were so happy! I decided to take advantage of the moment and get some snaps. I am just starting to get some pics of the boys together and am thrilled-even if they are far and few between.

I admit defeat, now HELP!

2008-02-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my home! Well...at least my living room. I'm in need of some help. Do you see the pic and vase above the fireplace? I love that picture and vase, but need something on the other side of the frame and am stumped! I've tried topiaries/candles/vases and the like and am just clueless as to why I like nothing I select. I figured it would request some help from my family/friends. If this were your room, what would you do? Please ignore the toys and the photos, I just wanted to give you a little idea of what you're up against.

Definitely brothers

2008-02-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Big brothers toes.

Little brothers toes. Any questions?

So sweet

2008-02-05T09:17:00.001-08:00

My little N is so my sweet boy! I love how happy he is, how content he appears, how he sucks on his soothie, how he looks at his momma. I love my sweetie!

Aperture example

2008-02-05T08:06:00.000-08:00

In photography, the camera lens opening and its relative diameter is called aperture. Measured in f-stops, such as f/8, f/11, etc. As the number increases, the size of the aperture decreases, thereby reducing the amount of light passing through the lens. Don't think too much or you'll get a headache. Mom...this is a little example for you, isn't it cool what changing the number can do?

I took a pic of these do-dads on purpose. I am going to scrapbook this weekend! If I say it out loud, maybe I'll actually do it. I told myself I would not get more than 3 months behind on N's baby book and guess what? He's 3months old and I have not started. Oh, I've got ideas in my head...but have not put those ideas down on paper yet. So, everyone out there...you're my accountability and I no longer have an excuse.

A BIG mommy moment!

2008-02-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

I knew this day would come eventually, it could not be avoided. Eventhough I knew it, it was difficult nonetheless...my baby was getting his first haircut. His big-boy haircut. We found a salon that specialized in childrens cuts, so we figured that would be a good place to try. We had no idea how little A would react to someone trying to cut his hair, but we were SO impressed with how he did. He was exceptional, didn't cry once and smiled several times. He got to watch Thomas the Train while in the little car chair, so I'm sure that had something to do with it. The stylist could tell I was a keepsake sort of mommy, so I got the little baggie with his curls in it. If you're wondering...yes, a few tears were shed. But my...look at my handsome little man! Isn't he cute sportin' his new do?

24-70L, 800ISO, F3.2-5.6.

Purple Mountain Majesty

2008-02-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well...you can't really see her, she's behind all the fog. I'm fortunate to have Pikes Peak in my backyard. This was taken today, on my way home through the Garden of the Gods park. We live close to GOG and often drive through it to and from places. It's so majestic and awe inspiring. When the weather is good, you see tons of bikers/hikers/walkers/climbers and runners enjoying the scenery too. Due to the bitter weather, today we saw mainly drivers.

24-70L, F11, ISO100, 1/30. I took one shot, turned a quarter to my right and got the vertical. My DH was more than a little nervous for I was standing right on the edge of a rock-definitely risky business. Oh, and on yesterdays post...yup-all natural light. I swear that I'm going to turn that nursery into a studio, but then WHERE would the boys sleep?

Larger than life!

2008-02-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

We've had giraffes as the theme to our nursery ever since being preggo with DD. After she passed, we never had the heart to change it, so our giraffe collection has continued to grow. When N was born, we received this big giraffe stuffed-animal as a 'welcome-to-the-world' gift. It's been in the corner for a while and A found it today! Oh, it was love at first sight. He just played and played and played and I loved every moment.

"Night-night!"

2008-02-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

N got this little gloworm for Christmas, but A has adopted it as his own. It plays about 5 different songs and when the song is winding down, the little face slowly goes dark. The little face reminded me of a moon.

My friend Rebecca tagged me for 7 random facts about myself. I told her I would accept the challenge, so here are 7 random things about me that are current.

1. I like to dance with my eldest son. We will turn on the radio for some tunage and then, dance like there is no one watching.

2. When I sit at the computer desk, I have to elevate my legs somehow. There is no rhyme or reason or medical necessity, I just do it.

3. After I get a professional haircut, 90% of the time I continue to trim it myself after I get home. Definitely an obsession of mine.

4. I dislike wearing coats, even in sub-zero temps. Don't worry though, I'll have a down vest on.

5. I crack my toe knuckles constantly (or so it seems...)

6. I don't have much of a sense of smell...sad, but true.

7. Bathtime with the boys is one of my favorite times ever!

Now...if you've got some time, go give my friend Rebecca some love. You can reach here here http://twiaa.blogspot.com/ She just relocated across the country, is pregnant and has a toddler at home.

These will have to do

2008-01-30T14:04:00.000-08:00

**sigh** I really wanted to get a shot with BOTH boys in it, but that's just too much to ask right now. Everytime I would put them together, A would either try and bop N on the head, or N would cry because he was uncomfortable. It was just NOT working, so I decided to snap a few individual shots so I could keep my sanity. I used props of course. Thank GOD for the Target $1 spot, it's terrific. I got this lollipop and bear there, one for each boy. The pink background is a blanket I found on a great clearance at Pier 1.

The lighting changed and I grabbed a few of N. He was So squirmy!

All shots taken with the 85mm, but all different settings.

Verticals

2008-01-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

Here are a few vertical shots from the engagement shoot. I also had to throw in some of just Sayo...she's such a beauty!

Yes, these were taken at Garden of the Gods park. It's a very popular place and one of the few places that's still free to visit. I used several lenses, but mostly my 24-70L-definitely my work-horse!

Ok, so I threw in a couple horizontals... could not help it.

Horizontals

2008-01-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

I had a challenging engagement shoot this weekend. The couple was terrific, but...the guy came dressed in a white shirt (complete with logo) and hat, refusing to take the cap off. This is when you try to make lemonaid out of lemons. Thankfully they are very funky and like BnW, so I was able to convert and make the whites not so mis-matching. These are a few of the horizontal shots, fitting along the horizontal/vertical theme this week, according to moi!

It's hard to see it on this small of a pic, but the phone has their wedding date in text.

My token shot with the hat off...

What a sport!

2008-01-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

I love how my DH is so willing to have fun! I can suggest something outlandish and he's game to try. In the 9 years we've been married, he never ceases to amaze me.

Impromtu sledding adventure.

2008-01-24T18:35:00.000-08:00

We decided we just needed out of the house for a little R&R. I get the cooped-up feeling a lot. In fact...we are looking at bigger homes as we speak. It's time to move and I could not be more excited. I digress... I was not even going to bring my camera for it's noon and FULL sun, and Colorado full sun is like 1000 times worse than anywhere else in the country (or so it seems) I then realized it would be a good challenge for me. I was not about to tote around a reflector or worry about any of that, I just wanted to have fun. Sometimes it is good to force that perfectionist inside to just be flexible.

Headed to the park. It's about 3 minutes from our house, the perfect little walk for the boys.

Just looking at these pics makes my hands soooo cold!

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day. It was crisp yet nice and sunny.

I cannot believe it, but my MIL got in on the fun and some sledding of her own. Way to go mom!

Uncle "Wigglesworth" helping out.

Following the leader.

Wipe-out!

If you're going to have shadows, may as well have some fun...right?

We went to the playground afterward. You have to look at her boots...what was she thinking? They are actually high-heeled. Definitely not the "right" boots to wear for sledding. Definitely marching to the beat of a different drummer. I therefore dub this photo as "IRONIC" and that is my word for today.

Built for Boyhood

2008-01-23T09:54:00.001-08:00

Tonka is a very popular name in our household. When A was about 8months old, we bought him his first set of these little trucks. They are perfect for hand-holding, so he gravitated to them quickly. It got to the point when all other toys were neglected and he had to have his little trucks by him. I think he's got about 30+ now, including the Speed-n-go Funway to "race" them on. These are a sampling of the different sets. As I was lining them up to take a pic, he had a fit. What you don't see is that he's in the background, playing with about 15 already. He just can't stand not having one if he even catches a glimpse of it.

Macro 100mm, ISO400, Ap 5.6, 1/40. This little van is my personal favorite.

24-70L, ISO400, Ap 8.0, 1/60.

24-70L, ISO400, Ap 3.2, 1/200.

Magnificent!

2008-01-23T05:43:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE Colorado and all the scenic oppurtunities we have! I could spend an entire year just visiting different locations, trying to capture what I see in real life through a lens. I'm not a landscape photographer and am afraid I cannot give Colorado beauty, justice. I am wanting to really work on that this year and have been investigating ultra-wide lenses in order to get the vastness of the land. We were coming home and I looked out the window to see these. I quickly took the camera out of my bag, rolled down the window to take pictures. I wish I had had the time to actually get out of the car and take some more shots, but was pleased with what I got. After getting home and looking at the photos, I decided right then and there where I wanted to take my photography next. I don't even remember the settings I had on the camera, except that the ISO was left on 1000 from earlier in the day (I think?) I'm looking forward to studying and practicing more throughout the year. I have MUCH respect for those who do landscape photography, it is certainly an art all by itself.

My truth

2008-01-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

I am the mom of 2 outstanding little people. They are the light of my life and are both at such fantastic stages in their lives. A is talking like crazy and exploring life around him in a very tangible way. N is smiling/cooing and such a breath of fresh air. Everyday is a new adventure, one I'm certain to remember. This Valentine's day I want to do something special for the boys in my life (DH included of course) because my love is definitely everlasting for my boys!

Eeek! Pay no attention to my dirty fridge. Nothing like a macro view to bring out all the details-good and bad. Macro 100mm, 3200ISO, ap 5.6, SS 1/20.

Just in case you forget

2008-01-21T14:26:00.000-08:00

This is actually the sign to one of the restrooms at the Children's museum. Next to it was the "kid size" so I definitely think I chose the right one, don't you?

I had a question about textures. If you're using the ones from textureking.com, I use the textures in the "grunge" category most.

What FUN!

2008-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

On a whim, we took A to the Denver Children's Musuem and had such a fabulous time. There was so much to do and lots of hands-on activities. It was the best $20 we've spent in a long time.

Can't remember the settings for every pic, but all were taken with 1000-1250ISO and around the ap of 2.8-4.0. SS was pretty low so I'm grateful for a super-steady hand. If you struggle with your steadiness, I have found having a battery grip can really help (especially for vertical shots.) All textures from textureking.com

high contrast fun

2008-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to try out an action my friend made, but knew I needed something that would look good with lots of contrast. I have this little fridge magnet of the Statue of Liberty and with all the grooves, thought it would be the perfect candidate. Obviously the first pic is the "fixed" one with the action (Oreo cookie) and texture (Leah's texure.) The second shot is the SOOC and note how I need to clean my sensor (spots on bottom left)-yipe!

Macro 100mm, ISO 400, AP 3.2, 1/80

"BOKS!"

2008-01-18T00:00:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things to do with A is play BOKS! It can occupy his active toddler mind for at least 20minutes, which is music to my ears.

First...he dumps the bag so ALL the blocks are on the floor. Truthfully I think this is his favorite part.

There are 26 total-one for every letter.

P is for penguin (where daddy works.)

I am going to use these to help teach his letters, but for now...he likes to study his own way.

He likes to stack the blocks then knock them down, over and over and over again!

All that playing gets him tired.

Oh, and just to stay on theme...here is a before and after shot of one of his semi-nutritional snacks. I bumped the curves and added a soft light layer at a low opacity.

All of these were taken with my macro 100mm lens. It was being neglected so I dusted it off. Thank you for all the comments about the texture, the biggest thing I've learned is to put the texture on a soft light layer, not overlay. It does not mess with the colors as much that way. I have Leah's texture action, but I've also gotten a bunch of free texture Jpegs off textureking.com

Outside frozy, inside cozy!

2008-01-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

It's roughly 8 degrees outside at the moment, so a cup of nice hot coffee was in order. I like my coffee to be extra-hot, even on the verge of burning my mouth. For Christmas my DH got me this mug for my stocking and I just love it. It's got a stainless bottom to keep the coffee, hotter, longer. He also bought me a large bottle of peppermint syrup, so I made myself a latte this morning and just watched the snow blow around-thanking God for my warm home. What's the weather like where you're at?

Speaking of cold...here's little N all bundled up. He stays like this pretty much every time we go out. He's got just enough room to peer out when the flap is lifted. Don't worry though, next year he'll be right in the thick of things, braving the elements with the rest of us.

Should come with a warning

2008-01-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

I need to join a support group because I'm addicted to texture! It took me a while to really understand how it worked, but the light bulb finally went off and now it's way too much fun. I'm going to have to resist the temptation to texturize all photos now. Here are a few of my first plays. The first photo is pretty much the SOOC with resizing and sharpening and then, the second is the play with texture/actions. I've been testing out Jess' actions, so most of them are hers.

In case you're wondering...you can get a lot of free textures off textureking.com

Just for fun

2008-01-13T19:08:00.000-08:00

I just thought this was a bit of a fun shot. I liked how it showed scale.

2 for the price of 1

2008-01-10T04:28:00.000-08:00

Let me first answer just a couple questions.... I finished my Penguin cards and am now just waiting for my photos to send them off. If you've never tried the online lab, WHCC (White House Custom Color, I HIGHLY recomend them.) They took about 5minutes a piece and I've made about 50. I used a 24-70L for the photo, sorry I forgot to include that info. Lastly, we still want a dog for the boys, but we will definitely wait until we get in a larger house (hopefully some time next year) because right now, our townhome is just too cozy.

I think I'm going to take a break from posting on the weekends-I just love the winter and am going to concentrate on getting out there, enjoying all the snow! At the moment, I'm trying to coax DH to take me up to the mountians for a little snowmobiling fun...we'll see. So, I'm considering this my post for both Friday and Saturday. This is one of my favorite things to help others focus. My PEZ dispensers work wonders with kiddos. You just shave a little off the bottom and insert it into your hotshoe (when the flash is not attached of course) Then, when the child (or adult) cooperates, you can give them a PEZ. I think I have about 10 and switch them around accordingly. Talk about great conversation starters too if you have a very shy subject.

We are transfering Nate into a crib on February 1st and putting him in the nursery with Andrew. I will miss him being in the room with us, but they must grow up (at least that is what I keep telling myself.) My SIL let us borrow a cradle, so he's been in that since birth and yesterday, I put up a mobile to help him focus on something other than a ceiling, as captivating as that must be. It was so cute watching him look at the different characters circling around his head that I had to try to get a shot. I got shots from different angles and then, realized that I could see his little face in the mirror of the toy. I decided to focus on something a bit different and got this picture, what do you think?

Others first

2008-01-09T11:49:00.001-08:00

This is Penny (named because of her coloring.) We've been dog-sitting for a week, with one more to go. She's a very good dog, but let me tell you...it's definitely an adjustment to my routine. It's easy to get frusturated and annoyed, but I have to remember she's a dog away from her home and may need to be a little clingy. I have to remember she may not do her business quickly when there's 6inches of snow outside. I have to remember that it's probably difficult for her to eat her dog food when there's a toddler playing in her dish. I have to remember to focus on her *sigh.* It's been a good wake up call for me. I have to remember to focus on others' needs, not just my own.

ISO 640, SS 1/15, Ap 2.8.

The constant quest for perfection

2008-01-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

At this very moment I'm trying to focus on getting these New Years cards done-ACK! This is what the front looks like, very simple and very...me. Every so often I get the need to be crafty, it's like an obsession. I think this is also a symbol of what I need to focus on for 2008. You see...I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to art and such and it's so frusturating. I need to just step back and just focus on getting the job done, rather than having all these half-finished projects lying around because they are not 'perfect.' Obviously this card is not perfect, some of the paint didn't adhere to the card etc, but I'm realizing that I actually like it better this way...imperfect.

Oh...and FYI, it's real paint, not digital. I'm so not good at the digi scrapping stuff.

A bag of Skittles

2008-01-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

That's what we look like here, all the colors of the rainbow. You would not believe how cold it was outside and yet, how good the boys were to endure the conditions-especially Nate. I am pleased that we are all at least looking at the camera and smiling. Because of this, I can overlook that blown out white background-yeesh! This is going to be our New Years card picture. I just didn't get organized enough to get out Christmas cards, so I figured I'd start a new tradition by sending out cards in January. In 2008, I really want to focus on getting more of me in pictures since I seem to always be behind the camera. I went through Andrew's baby book and was disspointed to see myself in a handful of photos. I'm going to change that with nate's book, having many more photos of momma.

Oh, and just so you know that my boys (including DH) are not always cooperative, here is what a dozen or so shots before looked like. Don't you just love the remote in my hand? Thank God for LCD screens!!

Mr. Personality!

2008-01-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Look mom...my eyes are OPEN! That's right...not only open, but totally smiling! Oh, how I had forgotten how much I love it when they start to interact and focus. It makes me feel connected. There is not a whole lot in life better than a happy, smiling baby. Before he was ever born, I prayed that he would be our little firecracker, full of happiness and joy and so far...it's a prayer that seems to be completely answered.

5d, 85mm, Ap 3.2, ISO 400, SS 160.

Happy...1979?

2008-01-04T14:13:00.001-08:00

We got some of DH's boy-hood clothes from my MIL a while back. At the time they were still a bit big for Dewey, but I recently got the notion to get the bag out again because he's definitely been growing. I found the most darling nightgown and cap and knew it begged to be photographed. The tag says 2T but I knew by looking at it that it was going to fit. A perfect fit it was, down to the hem of the gown. Oh, how I wish I had a picture of DH in this flannel jammie set, I know Andrew would love to compare when he gets older.

He was so good to stay in it for so long that I made him some special peppermint hot chocolate. He'll probably now equate the jammie/cap with the chocolate and want to wear it everyday.

5d, 24-70L, ap hovering around 3.2, ISO 500.

Think he's giving me a hint?

2008-01-03T09:39:00.000-08:00

I believe it's more like an obvious sign.

Not quite as fast as a speeding bullet.

2008-01-02T13:55:00.001-08:00

On New Year's Day, we wanted to take Andrew out for his first sledding run. We didn't know how he would like it, but were quite shocked/pleased when he took to it like a natural! Oh, the giggles and squeals just made my heart leap out of my marshmellow coat. The sun was disappearing behind the trees so it got very cold, very fast. Oh well...all that means is we'll have to go out again really soon.

Gotta unpack the Jeep and get all the gear on.

Poor little dude can barely stand up once it's all zipped and buttoned.

Little A had his own cheering section. "YOU CAN DO IT BABY!"

Here they come down the hill, don't go too fast daddy...

Hanging on for dear life...

Even-though he fell off the sled, he maintained the position...that's my boy!

I think this shot is so funny. Check me out, totally posing for the camera.

We had such a fun time, but now it's time to go home to a nice warm fire and some hot cocoa. We will go out again real soon, that's a promise.

All shots taken with 5D, 24-70L, AV mode, ISO 200-320, Ap 2.8-5.6, SS varied accordingly.

We are certifiably insane!

2008-01-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

For New Year's Eve, we went to the zoo. Nevermind the 1 degree temp and 25mph wind speeds...we wanted to see the lights. Don't worry though, the boys were bundled to the enth-degree-would not be surprised if they didn't see any lights. Despite the weather, the zoo puts on a nice display of lights to usher in the New Year and I'm glad we fought the elements and decided to go-after all...we are Coloradans!

A few of the lights around the zoo. I didn't have a tripod, or I would have love to have taken some long exposure shots (some of the animals moved.)

A nice stranger was kind enough to take this, allowing me to get in a picture. Please disregard the hat hair.

They were passing out hot cocoa to all the visitors, YUM-O!

My FIL actually brought this krispie treat from home. By the time he got to enjoy it, it was rock hard.

I was not about to nurse in the freezing temps, so N got the bottle (sorry Buba.)
I just LOVE this man...he's such a trooper to put up with all my crazy ideas. Oh, and speaking of crazy.....check me out (I was really bored in the gift shop.)

You definitely can't take life too seriously when you're with me...

All pics taken with 5d, 24-70L, AV mode with ISO 200-800, ap 2.8-4.0. I used the speedlite on the indoor pics and nope, not your monitor...there is a big color cast on my silly shot, but I just thought it needed to be in color to match the mood I was in.

A new year!

2007-12-31T11:12:00.000-08:00

Here's to the challenges/successes that 2008 will bring! We will get through them one at a time, day by day. I'm not big on resolutions because I tend to break them rather quickly. But...I'm certainly not against goals, so here are a few of my goals for 2008.

1. Get in shape to run my first (hopefully not last) marathon. I've been wanting to do this for a couple years, but I've been pregnant for a good portion of the last 3!

2. Purchase a minivan. It may sound crazy, but our Jeep just isn't cutting it in the storage department.

3. Get back into my '3 year ago, pre-pregnancy' jeans. I'm done with being pregnant for a while (Lord willing) and feel I can finally work at that goal. I think training for the marathon should definitely help this goal along.

4. COOK MORE! I started cooking a few years ago and then, started getting too tired to have the energy. This year I have all these amazing cookbooks my DH gets from work and I want to try out about 1000 recipies. That should definitely get me motivated.

5. Write more cards vs emails. Don't get me wrong...I love email and technology, but there is nothing quite like a hand-written note/card and I have family/friends who would SO appreciate the effort.

6. Start the potty training journey with DS #1. I have been reading a lot on the subject lately and hope to put that to good use.

So....HATS OFF TO 2008!!

Boys will most definitely be boys!

2007-12-30T06:13:00.001-08:00

Before I make too many comments, I just had to include this picture of Nate and grandma. I love the fact that he's smiling and that grandma looks interested in him...it's so unplanned and natural, defintiely a keeper for his baby book.

So...the next series of photos are of the boys doing what boys do best...getting into mischief and making crazy faces. I love that they are becoming buddies and able to live close to one another during this time in their lives.

His very first taste of egg-nog and he LOVED it! Someone other than me likes it now, yea.

My in-laws have 4 dogs, 3 of them quite small as you can see in the photo. I like how he's kicking them away, as if to say..."get your own drink."

His "say cheese" face. I'm totally going to have to un-train him.

Not sure what is funnier in this shot, A getting a cookie in the background or S eating my camera lens...

Observation pays off.

2007-12-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful I'm an observant person, think it makes me a better photographer. I know that one day, little S will be happy to have this photo-almost as happy as I was to have caught it. Part of my New Year's resolution if you want to call it that, will be to take lots of photos of the boys with grandma.

Boo-hooing today...

2007-12-28T15:55:00.000-08:00

Our dear friends relocated to Austin today and I'm super blue. They have a son who is A's age and are preggo with their second, due in July. We seemed to be perfectly matched and now...they are miles and miles away. You'd think I'd be used to saying goodbye coming from a military family, but it's not easy. We will miss them tremendously, but...we will try to get excited about a trip to TX this summer (I have not been back to TX since I lived in San Antonio years ago.) I decided to post a few pictures that make me smile, to try and ease the saddness. I rarely see my SIL laugh this hard, so when I looked at this shot, I just knew it would be priceless. The other two are of my ham of a DH, singing to the new Playstation 3 game, Rockstar that our BIL received for christmas. Hope they bring a smile to your face too.

The NEED for SPEED!

2007-12-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, so maybe A does like the paper from the packages most of all, but...we had to find him a "cool" gift this year. We searched online for options and DH and I toiled over every possibility. We settled on the Tonka Speed-n-go Funway, thinking he'd like the track to put his already growing collection of little Tonka trucks on. Well...it was a HIT!! Not only did A love it, but his cousin was mesmorized for at least 5 hours, which is a miracle if you knew little S. His 2-year birthday is coming up in Jan so we now know what to get him. DH and I like this toy too, it's quite entertaining and oh-so boy! After all...Tonka is built for boyhood.

A few of my favorite things.

2007-12-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone for 2007, but...the memories will remain in our hearts forever.

It's great to Find that 'hard-to-buy-for' the perfect gift!
Taking time to Show someone you care is priceless.
There is tremendous peace in resting in a loved ones embrace.

Seeing Christmas through a child's eyes rejuvinates your own sense of wonder.

Blessing another by your generosity is such a joy!

Merry Christmas!!

2007-12-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!!! I hope you look JUST like this tomorrow morning...

Enjoying a few luxuries

2007-12-22T04:42:00.001-08:00

We don't watch TV enough to warrant cable, so everytime we go to grannys house, little A wants to watch toons! They have the cartoon network/Disney/Nick...all the important channels obviously. DH and I have just decided that's it is fine for him to watch a little TV at their home, it won't kill him. Whatever he's watching must have made him forget to chew with his mouth closed, check out the "see" food.

Forget the TV mom...just give me a leather sofa and I'll be fine!

Prime real estate.

2007-12-21T19:48:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs to make a gingerbread house, they are just too much fun. Oh, and after you create it, you get to eat it...genius!

What Oliver Twist would like if he were Korean.

2007-12-20T14:52:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited! I can NEVER get my newphew to wear hats-he wisks them away faster than lightening. Well...for some reason, he allowed this hat on for more than a second and I got some pictures of him to prove it. I love the hat, bought it in 3 colors to put in my photography trunk and could not wait to use it on someone other than my DS. In case you're wondering, I got it at the Children's Place, on sale (think I paid $4) I have some other hats I'd like to try on for size, but best not get too excited quite yet...only time will tell.

Last minute Cmas gift.

2007-12-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

We "kidnapped" our nephew yesterday and took him out on a mission. I wanted to print off some pics for my SIL/BIL as part of their Cmas gift. Sure...his hair is a bit messy, the hat a bit lopsided and his shirt folded in places, but that is exactly him where he is right now. Gotta love it.

Angelic.

2007-12-17T10:24:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I wish I had curly hair. I just love the way the light is coming through her curls and know it would most certainly not look the same on my stick-straight hair. It also gives me ever so slight urge to be pregnant again. Oh, don't get me wrong...I am not in any hurry to be preggo, I just wonder what it would be like to have that dream of a little girl again. Today, I miss my little girl Kendall-in my mind, I picture her a lot like this-curly haired and a bit angelic looking.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

2007-12-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

AHHHHHH-mazing!

Goodbye white lights.

2007-12-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

We decided to replace our white lights with colored lights this year. I was not for it at first, but it has grown on me. It's fun to watch A point to the lights and know he's seeing all sorts of colors. What kind of lights do you have on your tree?

Too cold for N

2007-12-13T09:47:00.001-08:00

I can't wait until we feel comfortable enough to take baby N out in the snow for any length of time. But...for now, it's all reserved for little A and he LOVES it! This time we went out into the field of white, he was walking so much better-enjoying it much more than the last time we ventured out. I'm desperately awaiting the day we can stick him on a little pair of skis, sending him down the bunny slopes.

More from the aquarium

2007-12-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

There is only one pic of N...he slept most of the time. But, check him out-the littlest scubadiver.

Here's looking at you kid.

My MIL trying to get a sting rays attention.

Taking a little break.

Watching this really fun otter doing backflips, over and over again.

I thought this was funny...check out my BIL on the cell phone.

"HIIIIIII fish!"

Getting excited after being afraid initially.

Even dad gets the wonder of under the sea.

Totally enthrawled.

Looking at a yellow fish. A is learning the color yellow right now.

Another dad getting into the mood.

Awe and wonder!

For those that wanted some aquarium tips...here's what I found out. Make sure the glass you're by does not have a zillion fingerprints. i carry baby wipes with me and used a few of them, but I was also lucky the Denver one was pretty clean and fingerprint free. I have been blessed with a steady hand, but I did find that I had to really be steady, especially since I had shutter speeds that were right on that cut off of being blurry from camera shake. I bumped up my ISO pretty high, but my camera handles noise rather well thankfully. If I could do it again, I would really pay attention to the position of the fish and creatures when taking shots, especially where people are involved. Some really cool oppurtunities to get some awesome shots if you have the patience. I would take your fastest lens, wish I had in hindsight. Hope that helps someone out there in blogger land.

Non human post.

2007-12-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

We took the boys to the Denver aquarium and I'm not sure who had more fun...the boys, or me! I fell in love with all the glorious colors, it was a photographers paradise. Here are a few of the photos I took.

Walk with me

2007-12-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

Walk alongside me, daddyand hold my little hand.

I have so many things to learn that I don't yet understand.

Teach me things to keep me safe from dangers every day.

Show me how to do my best at home, at school, at play.

Every child needs a gentle hand to guide them as they grow.

So walk alongside me, daddy -We have a long way to go.

Horrific!

2007-12-10T04:53:00.001-08:00

We had a fatal shooting at our church Sunday morning. Please continue to pray for us and our commuity as we try and make sense out of a senseless act. If you want to get more details, visit our local news station at KRDO.com. Again, continued prayers/thoughts are coveted during this time...

Before and after.

2007-12-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Do any of the rest of you remember wearing these curlers as a child? Oh how I LIVED in them! Thought my mom looked cute with them in as a 50 something year old. Some things just never change.

No title.

2007-12-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

Guess lens hoods/caps are much more interesting than what he's "allowed" to play with.

he/he...look at me go.

Can you say wide-angle?

The fact of an active 19month old. Look quick for I'm changing daily.

Definitely NOT as good as pizza!

Whola!

2007-12-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

From this....

To this!

Gotta love Cmas time for all the baking! I have dozens and dozens of cookies right now, wish you could share them with me.

Time SURE flies.

2007-12-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

Little N is one month old. He's just the sweetest thing, adding so much life and joy to our home.

We had fun!

2007-12-04T04:55:00.000-08:00

My parents left this morning to head back to Florida. I always get a little sad the day they/we leave for it's just so great to be with them. While they were here this time, we celebrated an early Cmas and here are just a few of the shots from our festivities...note how A LOVES the paper (even more than the gifts...)

Negative space

2007-12-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

We had an early Cmas with my parents before they head back home and as suspected...little A LOVED the paper more than the gifts. I was just shooting randomly and came across this shot. I sorta liked the negative space and dramatic lighting, what do you think?

That Christmas magic

2007-12-01T20:41:00.000-08:00

I have always loved Christmas time, with kids it brings a whole new dimension to the holidays now. I love to look at everything through A's eyes, so much wonder and joy!

In desperate need of baby oil!

2007-11-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

Check out his cradle cap! I'be been told that baby oil works wonders, so it's off to try it out.

Reality dose.

2007-11-30T03:58:00.000-08:00

Say no more!

Back in the saddle again.

2007-11-27T13:26:00.001-08:00

I think it's so fun when families know exactly how to dress and look for a photo shoot. I don't have to correct anything or figure out how to...er...make something work that clearly does NOT work. This family was a dream, just look at coordination! Oh, and talk about cheeks to pinch! She looked so much like her dad it was amazing. The weather was freezing and we were loosing light fast, but managed a few shots in before all went south. It's nice to be taking photos of others once again.

I spy with my little eye...

2007-11-27T05:47:00.000-08:00

Something blonde! Yes, that's me my friends-I made a picture finally. It was rather warm outside and during this time of year, you've got to take advantage of that. Being outdoors was the only pre-requisite for a family photo, so we just went to the park close to home. For those that remember how short my hair was, check out my growth! I'm so desperately trying to grow out my hair and I'm finally at the place I don't want to hack it off everyday. One thing I did notice from these photos...got to get some highlights now that I'm not pregnant.

What a trooper.

2007-11-25T05:19:00.000-08:00

I am realizing just how difficult it's going to be to get little boys to cooperate for photos. Grandma bought them matching outfits so we had to at least try to get some coordinating photos. Well...not quite what we had in mind, but still great for the babybook!

Just look at that little devious expression on little A's face.

N could not have been any better, he dealt with all the poking and prodding from his brother and cousin like a trooper.

Nope...not even the brothers could cooperate for a photo-oh well.

Oh to be this manageable again...

Giving thanks!

2007-11-24T04:25:00.000-08:00

I've never seen so much food as I did on Thanksgiving day! We had turkey/ham/broccoli casserole/sweet potato casserole/squash casserole/green bean casserole/mashed potatoes/gravy/stuffing/cranberry sauce/strawberry pretzel salad/rolls, and all the desserts you can imagine. It was a dieters nightmare of the WORST kind! We didn't eat until 6pm due to work conflicts, so we even had candlelight this year. I think it was my favorite Thanksgiving in years, partly because my parents were here from Florida. We had so much to be Thankful for this Thankgiving that it was extra sweet. I hope you had a great holiday as well.

I wonder what these hands will do?

2007-11-20T05:38:00.000-08:00

When A was born, I would spend hours watching him sleep, wondering/dreaming about what he would do. I find myself doing the same thing with N. It does not matter to me what they end up doing as long as they are passionate about what they want to do.

Ode to the duck.

2007-11-19T04:29:00.000-08:00

Rubber duckie, you're the one.

You make bathtime lots of fun.

Rubber duckie,

I'm awfully fond of you!

*finger snaps*

Grandma has a halo!

2007-11-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

Well...sorta. We went to a tree lighting ceremony last night and got the boys these glow necklaces. Little A got a bit scared, so we gave his to grandma-great. Does she not look adorable in her halo? Looks like she'll be in Santas good graces this year!

My sleeping precious.

2007-11-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

I don't remember little A to be as alert as little N. He just does not sleep all that much, rather, prefers to stay awake in order not to miss any of the action. I did however discover he loves to wrapped up in this particular blanket. It's the softest blanket ever and I can see how cozy it would be, wish they made it in adult size. Today, we wrapped him up in this blankie and put him in his swing. After a bit, he drifted off to snooze and looked so peaceful. I love that he's so content here, so hard to believe he's already 2 weeks old.

I seem to take a lot of BnW shots of him, but there is just something to classic and timeless about them, can't help myself.

His first fat-lip.

2007-11-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

Sometimes little A goes a little too fast for his feet to keep up. Today, we went to the park and he got so excited he started running on the concrete walkway and oops... fell and busted his upper lip. After bleeding for a little while, the lip sorta blew up and he kept sucking on it. Of course, daddy and I were there to help him through his first fat lip and realized today that we can't protect our boys from bumps and bruises. Thankfully though, we can be there to kiss and make it better.

Of course...little brother N is too small to understand what is going on, but doesn't it look like he's got some sympathy pains?

Daddy's hand.

2007-11-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

~Elizabeth Stone

Another reason to love Colorado!

2007-11-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

I love herbal tea! There is nothing quite like a hot mug of freshly made tea on a chilly fall evening. When I moved to Colorado I was thrilled to find Celestial Seasonings was just up the road in Boulder. It's an incredible place with one of the best tours I've ever been on. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed due to top secret operations. In the gift shop however, they have tons of different teapots and art work displayed, so I took a few shots of some of my favorite tea pots and one of my favorite piece of Celestial art. Add a touch of whimsy to your day and maybe steep some tea.

It's a start...

2007-11-11T04:36:00.000-08:00

Me: Little A, would you help momma clean up?

A: See below.

YIKES!

2007-11-10T10:42:00.001-08:00

I never really anticipated how difficult getting a newborn to "cooperate" could be. Between the peeing, positioning and fussing, I was lucky to get these. My little guy is really squirmy, unlike his older brother. He also wants to be awake all the time, so this may be it folks. We'll try some more tomorrow-my DH is such a trooper.

First smile!

2007-11-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Yes, definitely gas but still makes a sweet shot, don't you think? I'm fortunate to have had the camera ready for you just don't know when those moments will come.

Sparkle!

2007-11-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

I just love it when the eyes sparkle, don't you?

My life has changed forever!

2007-11-07T04:51:00.000-08:00

If you were to have told me I could love another little boy as much as my A, I'd thought you were crazy. However...it has occured to me, that's just what has happened. Little N has stolen my heart all over again and it could not be sweeter. I'm the bursting proud momma of 2 little boys. 2 little boys...so hard to believe and yet, just the way it was always to be.

Baby penguin and some photo-therapy.

2007-11-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

This is baby N's Halloween costume although he never wore it for the actual date. He's sporting it a week late, but hey...at least I got him into it for a couple photos. His daddy works for Penguin Publishing, so we thought it was appropriate. More pics of baby to come...

Does this not look like a tanning bed for babies? That's the first thing I thought of when we went through this with little A 18months ago. Looks like baby brother is following in his footsteps. With our altitude here, it's not uncommon for babies to have jaundice that needs a little extra help leaving the body. If the levels are high enough, they will opt to put the baby on some photo therapy to get rid of the biliruben in their bodies. Baby N's levels were high enough, so he's under lights until his levels drop. We anticipate about another day or so and he'll be normal. Thankfully he does not mind the lights and actually probably likes the warmth they provide. I've been hesitant to take many newborn photos until he's off the lights completely though so that's why there have not been too many shots of N yet.

Baby N is HERE!

2007-11-04T06:11:00.001-08:00

I apologize in advance for no pictures, totally not like me. But...as you can imagine, our life has changed significantly-baby N is now here.

He arrived on October 30th at 2:11pm after a long night of labor. I was induced the night before and almost instantly started having contractions. The actual delivery went smoothly thankfully. it was the pushing that was quite difficult and we ended up having to use the forceps to help N along. No big deal though, he's healthy and perfect! He weighed in at 8lbs, 9ounces-just about a pound bigger than his brother. Oh, and he's also about 2inches longer in length that little A too...21 inches.

He's adjusting as is little A. In colorado with our altitude, it's not uncommon for babies to have jaundice and little N has it bad enough where he's on some photo therapy for it. I'll take a picture of the little bed he lays on (looks a lot like a tanning bed) and about 5 days of this, he'll be free of the biliruben. Little A went through the same process 18months ago.

We're getting rest believe it or not. N gets up about 2-3times during the night and our little A is just the best sleeper, so we are averaging about 5-6hours of rest a night. NO complaints!

I promise to have pics up soon, he's definitely resembles his brother, but I also think he looks quite different too.

MIA?

2007-10-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Where is Waldo? No, I'm serious...there IS a little dude there somewhere...

Just a little distortion fun...can't you tell he's amused?

Just chillin'

2007-10-22T13:20:00.001-07:00

Today, it took daddy a while to get going for work. He works from home, so sometimes getting him motivated to take a shower is difficult. He decided to play with little A before heading to his cave. It was so sweet, I had to take a wee little peek through the doorway. Oh, and have I mentioned that just love the color of the nursery walls, they make me very happy!

Check out my new threads!

2007-10-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

We bought DS a complete snowsuit, even with mittens and a hat. Thank goodness we did because we got 5inches today! Bless his heart, he could barely move in his suit, but he sure looked cute in it and that's what really matters, right?

Oh, so THAT'S when it all starts...

2007-10-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

One minute we can be darling and the next, total mood shift. Guess it starts very young eh?

A tummy without one just would not be right.

2007-10-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

OOOO, Belly Button,

I'm so happy you're mine.

A tummy without you

just wouldn't be right.

Little Belly Button,

you're a beautiful sight.

Belly! Belly button!

Patty pat pat.

Baby fat.

Patty pat pat, baby fat.

Itty bitty button in the middle of that.

Ok, so what is the purpose of this little ditty? You've got to go get a copy of the Philadelphia Chickens book and CD, it's just the best! My DS loves it (so do his parents...)

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

2007-10-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

We've had basically 3 weeks of sick at our home. It all started with little A, migrated to me and now, my DH is on antibiotic. Well...little A was desperate to get out for a little R&R and I could not dissapoint. He absolutely LOVED the leaves, especially the crunch underfoot and throwing them in the air. I'm glad that we finally got him outside for I think he would have gone mad one more day!

On fire?

2007-10-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

I woke up early this morning (blaming the insomnia) and got to see a sunrise. It does NOT compare to the sunrises in KY, but...I'll take it! What made this especially great was the weather. It was cool (in the 40s) and I had a nice hot cup of steaming coffee to boot-not sure you can get much better.

Graduating...toddler style!

2007-10-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Little A loves his sippy cups with handles. I think we literally have about 6 of them around the home. We decided to give a different kind of sippy a try. He didn't know what to think of it at first, but before we knew it...he had it all figured out, proving he's a growing boy. Nothing baby about this sippy, except if count the diluted apple juice inside.

Still GREAT with child!

2007-10-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Well...for those are wanting an update, I'm still with child. However, went to the doc and everything is ready to go, so if I go into labor...I'm perfectly fine to go. Wow, what a realization! If I don't go earlier, I'll be induced on the 29th, so 17 days and counting. Thanks for all the thoughts/prayers and well wishes.

Polyester man!

2007-10-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

Do you see Elvis? Nope...just little A. This is another one of daddy's outfits from the 70s and this one definitely fits the era. After about 5minutes, he started popping the seams, so back to the closet this outfit goes.

For those that asked about the PPing and lens from yesterdays posting...I used the 85mm and 24-70L for all the shots. For PPing, I like adding a soft light layer at 15% and then, a slight defog of 10-30-0.

like daddy...literally!

2007-10-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

My MIL recently gave us all of my DH's hand knit clothes from when he was a tike. Oh, the fun we had going through everything (not to mention a few laughs) I instantly knew that we HAD to put Andrew in a few of daddy's things to take some photos for his parents. The best thing is that I LOVE hand knit clothing and everything fit little man. This little sweater/hat was one of my favorites and so, we took Andrew to the park for some photos and fun.

Let the face tell all...

2007-10-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Little man likes his pizza! Don't get me wrong, we don't make this a habit, but every once in a while it's a nice little treat. The best thing is all the yummy goodness that's left on the face.

Homeward bound...

2007-10-04T13:32:00.001-07:00

My little man has a form of croup, so...I'm stuck at home. For me, that's torture. Not because I don't like being home, I just like the option of leaving if I want. I have also not had the camera out for a few days and wanted to take advantage of a warmish day around here-for we won't have too many more.

I put my cabin fever to use and decorated for the fall! It felt so great to get out the pumpkins, my simmering pot of autumn smelling scents and so much more. I even filled 3 blank large frames on my wall with prints I ordered from a recent fall color fix!

One of my favorite fall decorations is my wreath for the front door. I'm addicted to Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrell, but hate the prices. I found this at Marshalls a few years back for a whopping $14.99! That was a good day in my life, I can still remember the utter giddyness I felt when I found it sitting there, alone on the shelf. I had to give it a happy home and it's been displayed during the fall ever since.

So...I feel productive and it also appears my little guy is feeling a little better (with the help of some meds and lots of hugs from us.)