365 Photo Project: Day 30

Justin brought this back from Germany for my birthday! It is just a plain picture (like I said, weekends are difficult for me in regards to this project for some reason), but I just had to share. I love it; it is beautiful! Hearing it chime every half-hour is such a treat.

365 Photo Project: Day 29

My glasses. Yeah, weekends seem to be pretty boring (I'd have thought the opposite, but whatev). Anyway, I shot this with my macro lens and so was manual focusing. It was pretty difficult to do without the gift of perfect eyesight!

365 Photo Project: Day 28

Gorgeous, even with the power lines and stop lights.

365 Photo Project: Day 27

I'm still learning my new macro lens, but I love it! The focus on this isn't quite what I was aiming for, but I still think it looks cool. This is the zipper and pull chain on my work bag.

Family Update 1/26/2011

I haven't posted on family stuff in awhile, but I figured it was time. We've just been living our daily life, but it gets crazy. I know all parents say that, but it really is so true. Adding a second child just adds to the fun. :)

Speaking of second child, she turned nine months old today. I can't believe how much time has passed since she came careening into my world. I can remember holding her little body. She just stared at me. The only time she broke her eyes from mine was when her daddy got into the room and spoke, and she turned toward his voice. It was beautiful. She still is.

Her nine month check up isn't until February 1st, but I know she's petite. She might hit 16 pounds by the time she weighs in, but I'm not counting on it. What she lacks in size, though, she makes up for in determination. Every parent says it, but she's so intelligent. She has been trying to give her baby doll a bottle (the baby makes eating sounds when the bottle is held to her mouth). Kels also amazes us physically. Her brother was so chill at this age, and didn't care about moving. Kelsey pulls up and walks around furniture, and has even started pushing a toy across the living room at times. It will be so funny when she starts to walk because she doesn't look big enough to be able to do it.

Landon is an awesome big brother to her. Don't get me wrong, he takes things from her and we have to remind him to be careful with her. But aside from that, he's so helpful. He tells me what [he thinks] she needs, brings her pacifier to her when she starts to fuss (and takes it away when she's happy), and just loves on her all the time. I love hearing him call her terms of endearment (sweetie, cutie, beautiful, precious, baby, etc).

Big brother had his three year check up yesterday. He weighed in at 32 pounds, 6 ounces and is 37 inches tall. He did really well and everything looks good. The doctor ticked me off a few times, though... I hate their spiel they go through. I think it is just military pediatricians, but they go into discipline tactics and tons of other things that I don't think should be in the scope of a pediatrician. Then, she failed to ask Landon if it was okay to touch him in certain places, which upset him and bothered me. Three years old is old enough to tell him what you're doing and why, so he understands before the pediatrician touches him. I think I'll have to put in a complaint or comment.

Today was his first dentist appointment. It went really well. I have a few photos that I'll have to post. He was distracted by Dora so he really didn't pay much attention to the dentist, but he does have all his teeth.

That's about it for us for now.

Update 1/27/2011: I forgot! Landon had to have blood drawn at his doctor appointment. They asked if he spent time in buildings older than some year (I think in the 1960s). I've always said no, but this time I said yes because I just found out his daycare was built in the 1940s. Now, it is a military daycare, so it has been completely renovated and lead isn't an issue, but they had to test his lead levels anyway.

It was awful... he was screaming with tears running down his face - not even really crying, though, if that makes sense. I was trying to comfort him, but the tech didn't get a good stick so it took forever to get enough blood (half a vial). Finally it was over and she had me hold some cotton down on his arm and of course, I started to feel faint. I always get that way, even if I'm perfectly okay with what I saw. It is totally subconscious. So I had to sit down, too. Mommy and Landon went out for ice cream after that!

365 Photo Project: Day 26

I don't drink a ton, but tonight I made myself a sour apple martini, photographed it, and drank it. :)

365 Photo Project: Day 25

Landon had his 3-year checkup today, so I got him out of daycare early for it. He had to have blood drawn, so I took him for ice cream afterward, then we went to get Kelsey and got home earlier than normal. I left Kelsey with Daddy while Landon and I went down to the park to enjoy the nice day. On the way, we passed a wooden guardrail. Maybe it is a silly thing to take a picture of, but I liked it. :)

365 Photo Project: Day 24

I don't think there's much to be said about this picture... it was just an absolutely gorgeous sky. This doesn't do it justice.

365 Photo Project: Day 23

Another lazy day at home.

365 Photo Project: Day 22

Just a lazy day at home. ;)

365 Photo Project: Day 21

We adopted Xena while we were stationed in Turkey. She's one of the quirkiest cats I've ever met. I was taking random pictures tonight, but when I came back to my seat, I found it occupied by Xee. I took some shots of her and this one turned out to be my one for the day.

365 Photo Project: Day 20

I played with my macro lens again tonight, finally getting this of my engagement and wedding rings on the dining room table while Kelsey ate her dinner. I guess that's what happens when you've got young kids.

365 Photo Project: Day 19

Bathtime through Mommy's new macro lens. Kelsey was fascinated by the bubbles and toys.

365 Photo Project: Day 18

The DC-Metro area was covered in ice this morning. The federal government (my employer) was on a two-hour delayed arrival. By the time I got to the Metro to catch the train for work, the ice was starting to slowly melt. I spotted this ice-pattern on one of the covered benches on the Metro platform.

365 Photo Project: Day 17

Mommy and Daddy have a touch of the flu so today was a very low-key day. Here's Kelsey crawling toward me, with her pacifier. I love the little fairy on it. So cute. :)

365 Photo Project: Day 16

"I love you right up to the moon - and back."
- Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Chaos, Scooby Doo style!

As I posted in my post for my 365 Photo Project, today was Landon's birthday party. We waited until the 15th because Justin was gone last weekend (and his actual birthday was Monday, of course). As of two weeks ago, we had not made any plans for celebrating. We played with the idea of Pump It Up or Chuck E Cheese in Waldorf, but I was afraid no one would come. So while Justin was gone, I finally set a date and time and decided to hold it at the house, and ordered decorations, an edible cake topper, and everything else I needed. Landon decided he wanted he wanted a Scooby Doo party.

We had nine kids here. I think. And parents, of course... well, mamas. And then Justin and I. It was a madhouse, but we had a great time! We didn't end up doing the pinata - it was hard to find a place to put it anyway, but we'd decided on the playroom and that was absolutely trashed once the kids got hold of it.

Landon had a great time with his friends, though. They played hard, ate well (snacks and cake and ice cream), and by the time the night was over, he was pretty much ready for bed. I'm quite tired myself so I'll try to post some pictures of his party tomorrow.

365 Photo Project: Day 15

Landon's birthday party was today. By the time he opened his gifts, he was pretty tired (as were Justin and I!). This is the best shot I could get for the day... I was too tired to do anything else! A friend of ours (who knows how to use my camera because she was an Air Force photographer) took pictures of him blowing out his candles and such for me.

365 Photo Project: Day 14

I have a headache after editing this picture. Yuck. I was playing with sun flare through the truck window as we were driving today. This was one of my favorite results... it isn't sharp, but I liked the angle.

365 Photo Project: Day 13

I was given a plant at work that used to sit on my desk. While I was on maternity leave, LuAnn cared for it, but it died. (It probably would have died if I'd been there, anyway. I'm not good with plants.) Anyway, we ended up getting a clipping from a coworker, and put it in a water bottle in the sun to grow roots. It needs to be transplanted into soil soon, but here it is in its water bottle in LuAnn's window.

Role Reversal

As we got out of the car this morning, I played into Landon's sense of humor. I asked him if he was going to drop me off at daycare so he could go to work.

He grinned and agreed. Then, "You holding my hand, Mommy. Watch out for cars."

He's so funny. He played along with a similar scenario a couple weeks ago, which involved getting Daddy ready for bed.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

365 Photo Project: Day 12

I was sitting in the file room at work today and saw this ordinary light fixture. It caught my eye because it reminded me of the rule of thirds, and I also was itching to play with higher shutter speeds (in order to avoid overexposing the shot).

365 Photo Project: Day 11

This is where I wait for the Metro to take me home from work each day. It would have been better if you could see the station name in the foreground or if the platform wasn't showing above me, but eh, it is what it is and that's where I stand.

365 Photo Project: Day 10

It was a normal work and school day for us, but since his party isn't until Saturday, I brought home cupcakes for after dinner. He was on top of the world. :)

Three Years

How can it really have been three years already? It is incomprehensible to me that the little baby who made me a mother can really be turning three. He has turned into a (nearly) fully capable little person who can reason and bargain with me to get what he wants. Of course, he doesn't always get what he wants, but he sure tries hard.

There are just no words for how much I love this child. He amazes me every day. When I see him do something new, I think about the little baby he once was, and how he has gone from something so helpless and turned into a bundle of energy who runs back to me for one last kiss as I walk out of his preschool classroom in the mornings. Everyday miracles. I'll never stop being amazed that this child is the same flutter of life I felt move inside of me.

Mommy and Landon's song:

Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
by the Dixie Chicks

Dragon tales and "The Water is Wide"
Pirates sail and Lost Boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh, my love will fly to you each night on angels' wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight Moon, we'll find the mouse
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh, my love will fly to you each night on angels' wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

God bless Mommy and Matchbox cars
God bless Dad and thanks for the stars
God hears "Amen," wherever we are
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh, my love will fly to you each night on angels' wings
Godspeed
Godspeed
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

365 Photo Project: Day 9

We spent the day at home today. In order to get some things done around the kitchen without hearing Kelsey scream, I put her on my back in the Ergo. Looks pretty comfy, actually...

365 Photo Project: Day 8

We spent some time at a friend's house with more friends and kids for Landon to play with. Their dog, Roxy, has a ton of energy and gave Kelsey her first doggie kisses. ;)

365 Photo Project: Day 7

It was a rough day. Not just for my photography. I was tired after last night (Kelsey woke up and puked and was choking on it when I got in there), and just didn't feel like doing much. Then I had a hard time making it work around the house, too. I guess I was due for another bad day after a few good ones. I finally settled on taking a picture of the little statuette Justin brought me back from Egypt a few months ago. I love it. :)

Note: I really really really want a macro lens, a fisheye lens, and a wide-angle lens. It would make this project so much easier.

Single Momming it...

When Daddy's away, Mommy is very, very busy. The kids have been really pretty good, though, so I cannot complain! Hope to post more than the photo project soon!

365 Photo Project: Day 6

I finally took a picture at work, which is what I've been wanting to do. OKAY, so maybe, just maybe I casually leaned on the rail holding my camera (with the lens off, of course), and casually snapped 5-10 photos. This one happened to be one of them. Maybe I never actually looked through the viewfinder because I didn't want anyone to see me taking pictures in the building. Maybe. However, I think it looks pretty cool anyway. This was in our atrium, with the solar roof overhead and all the windows to the nine open floors all around. I was standing on the one open side.

365 Photo Project: Day 5

The kids and I had a really good evening together playing with Landon's Lego Duplo blocks. He has a set from the Cars movie, so to commemorate our evening, here's Mack.

365 Photo Project: Day 4

Yeah, more Christmas lights. Not intentionally, though - I was trying to get one of Kelsey to introduce her to the blog and the photo project since Landon appeared in Day 1. I liked how she was looking way in this one, though, so I went with it.

365 Photo Project: Day 3

I did take my camera out of the house with me today as I headed to work, but I'm still battling a phobia of taking photos in public and therefore didn't get any great shots. This one was taken through a snow globe with our Christmas tree behind it. Sure, Christmas is over - but the decorations are still pretty!

January the 3rd

On this day three years ago, my son was due. It also marks six years since we boarded the plane to fly to Turkey, but I want to focus on three years ago.

It was my due date.

A woman's due date is really just a guess. No one knows for sure when baby will be ready to be born, of course. Still, there's something about that date...

My whole pregnancy with him, we looked forward to January 3, 2008. The days and months creeped by so slowly. We bought baby items. My belly grew larger. Family, friends, and co-workers generously had baby showers for me. We decorated the nursery - I still have the wall letters that Justin and I decorated to match his bedding.

(This was taken 8 days before 1/3/2008, but it is the last picture I have of myself pregnant with Landon.)

When January 3rd finally arrived, I wasn't in the best of moods. I was achy, itchy, cranky, and tired of being pregnant. You know, just like every other woman at 40 weeks pregnant. :)

Landon wasn't born on January 3rd. However, I still carry a fondness for the day I looked forward to my whole pregnancy. On January 3rd, I was still innocently expecting everything to be peaches and roses. I expected that loving your baby and wanting to be a mommy was going to mean everything was perfect. He was perfect, but my learning to be a mommy wasn't.

We adjusted. I learned to be a good mommy to him. Justin and I gave him a baby sister. Though we still are far from perfect, I wouldn't trade where we are now for anything else in the world.

365 Photo Project: Day 2

We stayed at home all day today, but I did manage to come up with something unique. I definitely need a Macro lens for shots like this in the future, though!

365 Photo Project: Day 1

Yesterday I started my 365 Day Photo Project. We had a pretty boring day - we stayed around the house until Justin woke up, then went up to the AAFES Food Court to eat before he left for work. I managed to snap some photos of the kids at the food court, and chose this one for today's shot... Landon being goofy. My firstborn, doing what he does best. ;)

MMXI

Happy New Year!

So ends the year in which our family grew not only from three to four people, but also in maturity and love that can never be measured. 2010 flew by so fast for us.

In January, we celebrated Landon's second birthday on the 10th with a party at the house. He was so excited.

In February, I turned 26 on the 4th, and we celebrated 7 years of marriage on the 24th. We also met Nana and Papa in Tennessee so they could bring Landon home with them for a two-week trip.

In March, Landon came home from his trip. We spent the rest of the month savoring our last moments with Landon as an "only"... we took him to the National Zoo and had a blast.

In April, we welcomed Kelsey Rowan to our family on the 26th at 4:15 AM. She was 7 lbs, 8 oz and 20 inches long. I not only had my VBAC, but Kelsey was almost born in the truck while driving.

In May, we flew for the first time as a family of four to Alaska and had a great time introducing the new little girl to her daddy's family.

In June, we flew to Arkansas to enjoy visiting with my parents and my brother. Justin also celebrated his 28th birthday on the 4th.

In July, Landon began potty training and was in underwear within a couple weeks.

In August and September, we enjoyed just being a family amid our normal day-to-day activities.

In October, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch as a family and had a great time. On Halloween, Landon dressed up as a cowboy.

In November, Nana and Papa visited for Thanksgiving! We were very happy to see them again.

In December, we spent Christmas with the Sontags in NC and Landon got to go sledding for the first time!


It was a great year. One that is a little hard to leave behind, but I know we have to move on. The kids are growing and changing by the day. I look forward to the future with my amazing family.