I'm Back

It is amazing how time can escape from you while you aren't looking. Things have been quite busy around here, but I'm hoping to update this more often now that I'm feeling better. What was wrong, you ask? Well, nothing really...

Just a bit of morning (read "all day") sickness! Yep, that's right. E is going to be a big brother! I'm not sure he really understands what that means yet, but we are excited for sure. And a little nervous. I hope that I have what it takes to handle the transition from one to two. I suppose we will have to see!

Now to catch up real quick....there, you are caught up. While life is busy it doesn't seem that too much exciting is going on, other than the above announcement. We've already almost played the summer away, and this Friday my little man turns (gasp!) two! How did he get to be so big?!? Like I said, time has a funny way of escaping from you when you aren't paying attention. Let me just post a few photos now, or else this will turn into a rambling post about...well...nothing.

These first few are from the 4th of July. E kept stealing his grandma's hat, and that one at the bottom there is hubby and some of my cousins after a pie eating contest. E went to the fireworks for the first time this 4th, and I have to say he really loved them! He was nervous at first with the noise, but ultimately he ended up enjoying them, and even ran around clapping for the people who were setting smaller ones off.

Just painting!

E with Toby, his best pal (and favorite place to sit!)

These are all some that I took for his "two year" pictures. I wish I could afford our photographer right now, since my photography is still so amatuer, but overall I don't think these turned out too bad! I plan to take some more later this week.

Photo Challenge Day 9

I missed Day 8 (and Day 6), unfortunately. The challenges were "rule of thirds" and "bokeh." I suppose I could have submitted older photos, but I wanted to take a new one each day. The ones I took for today's challenge weren't the best, sadly. I have a really hard time with exposure inside my house, and today was even worse because it was rainy and dark outside. But I will post them here anyway. The first one is the one I actually used.

All Grown Up

...And in a big boy bed! Yes, that's right. We made the transition to toddler bed last night. I admit it, I was emotional. Taking the baby animal decals off of the wall and replacing them with Mickey Mouse made me cry. My little baby is growing up.

We decided to go with a Mickey Mouse room because E loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so much. My parents were kind enough to spend the day helping us set everything up yesterday. He got a new bed, a new toy bin, and a new ceiling fan (which he loves).

He really took to the bed, and, much to my surprise, I didn't even have to fight him to get him to stay in bed last night. He ran around for a few minutes, climbed into bed, and went to sleep. Even better, he stayed in bed all night long! He slept until 8 this morning. It was awesome. Nap time this afternoon went just as well. I am so happy he likes the new bed. I was a bit intimidated by the thought of making the switch.

Photo Challenge Day 7 - Dessert

Yum

Photography Challenge Day 5

Eyes

I will admit that I had a difficult time with this subject, and in the process fell victim to frustration and had a non-so-great parenting moment. Let's face it. Toddlers don't want to sit still and look at the camera. And, quite frankly, neither do dogs. So after chasing my toddler and my dogs around with my camera for an hour, trying to get just one of them to look at me for what... 1/160th of a second or however fast my shutter speed was set to at the moment.

In the end I did get these two cute ones, though unfortunately the closeup is pretty badly underexposed. Otherwise I really love it!

I think that these two capture the light in his eyes pretty well. And can I say that I am in love with this kiddo's eyelashes?

Now, let's talk about that bad parenting moment, shall we? Nothing is worse than mom guilt. Nothing. It is hands down one of the worst feelings in the world. We were having a perfectly good morning, and I had to get snappy because I was getting frustrated over getting a stupid picture. Yes, I love pictures, and I'm loving photography. But is it worth getting snappy over?

The truth is, I just wanted to get the darn picture and get it over with. There's no joy in taking a picture if you can't get the subject to cooperate, and there's no joy in playing outside with your child if you are trying to get a specific picture. So let me say this. While I think this photo challenge is really fun and I did get these two cute pictures out of the deal, I'm starting to think that when it comes to my son, I'd prefer the candid shots, the ones where he is just acting natural, so that I don't have to feel so frustrated over not being able to get the one element that I want.

Of course I apologized for being snappy with him. Moms aren't perfect, right? I think it's important to let them know that we make mistakes too, and to take responsibility for our mistakes so that they can learn by example to do the same. So I said it to him, but I'll say it again. E, I am sorry that your mother is cranky. I am sorry that I got caught up in trying to get the right picture and snapped at you when you wouldn't cooperate. Trust me. I am so very sorry. I will have mommy guilt for the rest of the morning. (Forgiving myself and moving on is something I'm still working on.)

Now, let's go to the park and get some ice cream together. Camera free. The way the dog's stomach is gurgling over there, I don't think we want to hang out around here anyway...

Photo Challenge Day 4

A Fruit or a Vegetable:

This was the first time I have given E a whole apple. I think he had fun playing with it, but he wasn't really sure how to eat it. He got a bite or two off of it...after I took a bite. Poor guy. He's such a patient model while I practice my photography. OK not really. He's usually running around like a crazy kid. That's why I confined him in the high chair for this particular exercise....

Wordless Wednesday