Karma...

Karma has a way of delivering a swift kick to the you-know-what when you need it the most...

For our school February break, I was feeling a little sorry for myself that the plan was "destination nowhere" (ie: staying home all week long).  I joked to many friends that my getaway was to "insert my home address here".

Let's just say I didn't spend my holidays at my home address.
I did escape the cold temperatures & howling winds...
But I wouldn't exactly call my destination desirable.

I got to spend the majority of my holidays in hospital with my poor little man - who had pneumonia with a little helping of asthma on top.

B's 1st ambulance ride...all cuddled up with blankie & strapped into stretcher with oxygen mask on.  Didn't move an inch the whole entire trip (one of the reasons I knew he really wasn't feeling well).

Another pic (from cell phone) of B's ride in the ambulance...even though this one is all kinds of bad as far as photography goes, it reminds me of how bumpy the back of an ambulance is and how little B seemed to me strapped into the stretcher in his Thomas pj's & monkey slippers. When your little one is sick, all else in life ceases to matter.

Karma delivered a pinch in the hiny to tell me to sit up and be thankful for all that I have in my life and to not dwell on all I have not.

Thanks, Karma...

You're a peach :)

Today I loved...

02.21.2009

Today, I loved spending time with my little family.  I love that my hubby changed his plans to accomodate ours.

Today, I loved getting home to a clean (relatively speaking) house and filling the fridge with fresh groceries. I loved seeing how happy the dog was to see his family come home.

Today, I loved the opportunity to take a great afternoon nap.

Today, I loved having chicken noodle soup & biscuits for supper.

Today, although I don't love the fact that my little man is under the weather, I loved the cuddles and down-time that this required.

Today, I took no pictures. Today, I was thankful that we got away, even if just for overnight, as a family. We so rarely get this opportunity. Today, I am grateful for a truly family-oriented family day long weekend.

Today, I LOVE that there is nothing on the agenda tomorrow other than to help the little man feel better. Today, I love that tomorrow is a holiday.

Today, to one, to all...Happy Family Day! Hope you had a chance to enjoy yours :)

Remember When?

Tonight (for me) is a night of reflection of the past year...

Remembering what life was like before becoming a mom, and how drastically life changed with the addition of that role to my life.  I'm not sure there are adequate words to describe it.  As with everything, it comes with ups and downs. I mostly feel just so very, very lucky to have had the opportunity to be a mom and experience the love that escapes description.

You have brought so very much joy into my life. You have taught me things about myself that I either didn't know or chose to ignore before you came along.

I can't believe that in a few months time you will be a big brother. I am so excited to see you fill that role and continue to watch you grow.

I am so thankful that I took many pictures of your first year.  I love looking back and seeing the changes in you...and think that this will continue to be something I cherish forever.

I am striving to not lose my interest in snapping pics of you right now (this is not because of you being any less amazing, or cute, or photo-worthy, but more of me being busy and not making it a priority to grab the camera). In the last month alone, I can count so many times when I've thought to myself "go grab the camera, get this memory caught" but then haven't gotten up to do so. I don't want to regret that...so tonight, I am remembering. I am remembering in attempt to revive my passion for catching those memories. I am looking back at pictures of you one year ago...and trying my hand to create some black & white edits that I can be happy with.

You are just about 17 months old now (but were around 5 - 6 months in these pictures) - my, how that time flies!

A part of me does not look forward to the certainty of being oh, so very busy with a newborn and active toddler...but I tell myself daily it will be so important to savour every moment as time passes so quickly - and we can never get it back.

Tonight, I am remembering.
Tonight, I am celebrating.

This is one of my very favourite snapshots of you - I just love your expression so much - it reminds me of how happy you were at this age! I can't help but smile every time I look at it.  I'm glad I did a b&w edit of this one - I actually like it!

I love the light in this picture...I love that you are sitting by yourself & playing with your stuffed animal. I love this picture in b&w...it never would have made the "cut" in colour as it was so dark in your room (this picture was taken only with the light of your lamp)...but in b&w I like how the lighting (or lack thereof) adds drama. I love your big eyes and forehead wrinkles as you talk to me.

Tonight, I am loving this.

Tonight, although I am remembering when, I am looking to the future.

Happy {Heart} Day!

Well, I honestly can't say I didn't get anything for Valentine's this year!

I got...(wait for it...I know you are all twitching on the ground with anticipation!!!)

...wait

...wait some more


Yes! You guessed it :)

...I got good & stuck in my own driveway! Then an unplanned walk to daycare/work. I'm so very lucky!

I can't wait until spring/summer arrives and all these nasty driveway (that was never really properly made into a driveway) issues can get rememdied once and for all! Don't get me wrong. I LOVE parking in the garage...but when you have an anxiety attack just thinking about backing out of the building and all the drama that could ensue, it is a small issue.

Oh well - I can't say my life is boring :)

(and no - I did not get a picture, although I should have...)

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day and got a little more spoiled than I!

Today...

02.12.2011

Today, we got some cuddles with this little cutie-patootie :) So easy to forget how tiny they are when brand new...

Today, we (over)baked some brownies with cream cheese filling - they were a little crunchy.

Today, when you wanted a snack, you were told to go sit in your chair on your bum.  You did just that, happily :)

Today, you sat at your little patio table and "read" yourself some stories.  They must have been good, 'cause you babbled & babbled away to yourself. I love to see you at this table - it is one of your favourite spots!

Today, you got into the "pots & pans & lids drawer".  You broke a casserole dish = porcelain shards all over the floor. You cut your hand = blood all over everywhere. You continued to smash the glass lids on the pots = intervention = unhappy little man.

Today, you stood on your stool and "helped" Momma make supper.

Today, you drug your "ball castle" all the way out from your bedroom, into the kitchen, the dining room, the living room & back around again = plastic balls everywhere.

Today, while Momma was in the washroom, you made several trips back & forth from dadda's "trinket bin" - aka screw, bolt, change, pen, etc storage to the central vac valve. You happily shoved as much of the trinket stash down that hole as you could in the 4 minutes while Momma was preoccupied. You acted proud as a peacock when Momma discovered this tactic.

Today, when Momma asked you if you wanted a banana, you smiled, got up and ran over to your little chair, pushed it up under the counter where the banana bowl is and reached up to help yourself (but you were still not quite tall enough), so you raised your hand in the air and made noise to make sure I knew what you wanted, and that I would get it for you THAT MOMENT.

Today, you got mad at the dog when he stole your cookie...but you wouldn't let him take the apple Dadda had given you.

Today, the dog got caught on the counter by dadda...and has since been banished to the basement/back porch/backyard.  No more "upstairs" life for him...

Today, you had oh, so very many kisses and hugs for Momma...that is MY favourite!

Today, boy, oh boy, were you busy! I'm not sure tornado adequately describes what you can accomplish within just a few short minutes. You keep us on our toes, that is for certain!

Today. A good day.

A different perspective...

One thing I am learning about life with a macro lens is that sometimes you look at things with a completely different perspective.

For example...sometimes it pays to have old, crappy windows in your dining room (aka whole house).  When it is cold, they "frost" up and leave you with lovely little "window trees".  I just happened to look outside and see they were there. I had no idea if I would be able to capture them (as there is a very dirty screen in front of the actual pane of glass) but playing around allowed me to focus right "through" the screen.  I actually kind of like the result - something I never would have dreamed to photograph before...I like how you can use your imagination and envision a tiny little frosty forest :)

(only edit was a slight contrast bump in camera raw, then a b&w action...and look folks! no texture :)

I love how this little detail caught my attention this weekend...when I never would have given it a second glance.

What unexpected item has caught your attention in the last little while?

Tonight...

Tonight, little boy, you were busy.
You started the evening with a little nap...but momma was scared it would keep you up too late, so I woke you.  When I went in to do so, you were sleeping like you typically do, with your bum in the air and your feet crossed underneath. You were so peaceful. Oh how I treasure your little toes. You cuddled with momma while you woke up, and then took "suzie" (your soother) out, and shook your head "no" you didn't want it back.
Tonight, you skyped with your "ga-ga" and talked and talked and talked.
Tonight, you turned your music on and off, and danced with just your head.
Tonight, you were army crawling while looking under the furniture for some treasure (and you did manage to find a few items).
Tonight, you were climbing onto (and into - yikes!) your highchair, and tapping your head so I noticed what a big boy you are.
Tonight, you ate grapes and yogurt for supper.  That's it.  You couldn't be convinced that anything else tasted good.
Tonight, I noticed just how good you are at manipulating your spoon...you put it in to your mouth right side up, but turn it over and scoop every last morsel before you take it out of your mouth again.
Tonight, you sat in your box, with your blankie and read stories to yourself. I love that.
Tonight, you showed momma your ears, your eyes, your nose, your belly, your lips, your hands, your fingers, your toes and your hair.
Tonight, you woke daddy up to take you to bath (cause that is the quality daddy time for you each day) and momma just wouldn't do for that task (you shook your head emphatically no when momma asked if she could give you a bath)....(daddy was tired today after staying up with you for three hours in the middle of the night last night).
Tonight, little boy, you ripped up kleenex after wiping your own nose, and wiping the table (yes! in that order), and made funny faces while talking to momma about it. You are such a copycat.
Tonight, you seemed just so grown up.  Momma can't believe just how grown up you are getting.
Tonight, just like every night, little boy, you are loved.
And...tonight...you are still my baby.

xoxo
Momma

The Winter...blahs?

Today, while the snow was falling and the temperatures warm (relatively speaking, for us here in Saskatchewan at least...feeling sorry for those in the normally "warmer" climates that are experiencing temps the same as our current ones) I decided to take out the ol' macro lens and practice some more.  I am challenging myself to find beauty in the bleakness that can sometimes be the winterscape. I am challenging myself to play around more with textures, less with actions for a different editing approach. In order for me to get a "decent" macro shot in the winter I am starting to accept it will take setting up the tripod - something that if you know me, know is not my norm and something I'm not likely to do (as usually I am trying to snap some pics while multi-tasking at something else, lol...like walk the dog). Basically, what I'm saying is that I'm not feeling the "love" with these pics I snapped today...but feel it is important to share so that I may look back and reflect upon how much I've grown in technique (crossing my fingers - or someone is going to have a macro lens for sale) when spring and summer hit. 

I struggle so much with converting any pic I take to b&w...I love it when others do, but can't seem to find the perfect editing combo for myself. Thought I would try this b&w texture today - again - not satisfied with the results, but definitely different than anything I've tried before. Therefore challenge taken successfully - check.

I would normally walk past things in nature like the seed pods that follow and think of them as so "ugly" and definitely NOT picture-worthy...but today, I tried to see "outside the box".  Challenge taken - check. Actually kind of like how this texture warmed the tones a bit...feels less like the standard "grey-blue" winter snap, and although it is not truly a macro shot, I managed to get the focus sharper with this lens than in the past. Are they beautiful? Hmmm...still leaning to the "not-so-much"...but at least I tried, right?



Thanks for sticking with me while I embark on this journey to "strive" to be a better me.  This snapping endeavour is just one small facet of that mission :)

Hope you are all having an absolutely fabulous weekend!

This kid!

02.01.2011

This kid is channeling his inner devil these days.  This kid is finding his voice and hitting his stride.  This kid is starting to really challenge his parents.
Words of wisdom heard from his dadda tonight "...this kid needs to start getting lickins'..."
This kid is loving his dadda's cinnamon buns for a snack - as evidenced by the cinnamon dusting every part of his face and the sugar forming spikes in his hair.
This kid says "pee" with a giant smile for "please".  This kid says "eee" for "cheese" when momma is snapping his pic. This kid is a total ham. This kid brings absolute delight.

Happy February!