Photography

So I really want to get more into photography. I take my own family's portraits and have had the pleasure of taking photos for some friends. I still have a lot of work to do and A LOT to learn, but I am having fun along the way. I've always actually enjoyed photography. I started in high school and practiced taking photos of my littlest sisters. I took photos of them very often with an old Nikon manual that my dad got for me one year for my birthday or Christmas, I can't remember which.

Well, I've since moved onto the digital world. I enjoy film, of course and would actually like to get back into doing some film photography, but I also thoroughly enjoy digital and I appreciate the convenience of loading the photographs onto the computer and seeing them right away.

Anyway, I've never had any sort of photography class. Everything I've learned comes from practice, reading, asking questions and more practice. Like I mentioned above, I have a TON to learn and I am pretty critical of myself. I always see something that I could have done better- which, I think is good.

Today, I had the privilege of taking some photos of a little 2 week old baby boy, Champ. And he was a champ, too! We got some shots of him both awake (he was awake for a lot of it) and asleep. Caleb came with me, so that added an interesting dynamic- trying to entertain my toddler while getting some good shots of Champ, but in the end I think it worked out alright.

I am going to look into taking some photography classes and I'd really like some new equipment as time, energy and my work progresses. One day, I will be a real photographer. For now, enjoy some photos of little Champ:

I love those little bubbles!

No baby yet....

So, I am still pregnant... yup. There's still a baby inside of me. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not overdue or anything. I just thought I'd have the baby this weekend- for no real reason, really... probably just more hopeful than anything. And well, Caleb was a week early- which I know means nothing really.

Anyway, I just knew everything regarding my labor and delivery with Caleb and I have no intuition with this one. Nothing, nada. Anyway, so who knows when I am having this baby. I am trying not to be impatient. I did get sick with some sort of upper respiratory infection, so I guess it's good that I haven't had the baby yet. Also, Jeff was set apart in his calling today and if I had had the baby last night, he wouldn't have been there and it would have been sad to miss that meeting. It was actually a really neat meeting. So those are good things. Anyway, I'm just blabbering... but my new guess is that the baby will be here by Wednesday.

When I walked into my primary class today, my students couldn't believe that I hadn't had my baby yet. "Still no baby?!" I confirmed (thinking in my head, "I sure hope that once I have this baby, my stomach will at least look a little smaller. :)") Anyway, when one of the students gave an opening prayer, he prayed that my baby would come this week. So, perhaps the baby won't be late according to my due date. Perhaps, I can rely on the little childlike faith of my primary class and my little bean will be here sometime this week.

I have been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, but that's nothing new- nothing more though. So we'll see. Jeff thinks the baby will come on tomorrow... we'll see! I'm just excited to see this little bean and so excited to see what we're having. Oh, speaking of which, I had a dream the other night that I had a boy... so now I am not even sure what I think we're having anymore!! Aagghh! At this point, the waiting really is the most challenging part, I guess. :)

On a final note, Jeff gave me a blessing this past week to help alleviate some fears I've had throughout the end of the pregnancy. I'm delivering in a new setting, this pregnancy's been a lot different and more painful and I have just been nervous about some things. I do feel better about all of that now... so time for baby to come, right?! :)

19 Months

I realize I just posted about Caleb turning 18 months about 2 and a half weeks ago, but it's amazing what 2 weeks have accomplished. He turned 19 months old on Friday.

Here are some fun things about him:

- This month Caleb has started trying to articulate more.
- He is starting to label things. Currently, he labels  apple, star and ball independently.
- He is repeating a lot more now and will say sounds or words that he hears in conversations.
- He now has a pretty good list of words that he will say mostly independently, which is super exciting. All of the words might not be understandable by unfamiliar people though. He says the following words:
             -bubble
             -pop (when referring to popping bubbles)
             -apple (sometimes this means apple other times it means "snack")
             - Daddy
             - Mama- and he's finally understanding that I am his mama and that that is my title and will call Mama when he wants me specifically. He says it a lot more now, which is awesome. He'll say "Mamma when he wants my attention, when he wants a hug, when he needs help- lots of times. :)
              -bed (beh)
              - owie
              - star
              - amen
              - vroom for car
              - again ("din din")
              - bye and hi
              - uh oh
              - Nummy (for yummy)
              - cookie (tuhtee)

So that's a pretty good list. He also tries to say some other things and will say lots of things with prompting.

- Caleb is super active. He has a ton of energy and often times it seems he has just two speeds: fast and faster.
- He resists change and still doesn't care for nursery at church. He cries throughout most of it.
- He is super sensitive and perceptive of other's feelings. He's so sweet.
- He is very affectionate these days and loves to give hugs to his family members and friends.
- He likes to give high fives/ fist pounds and shake hands.
- He loves to climb and tries to jump.
- He continues to love reading and will ask to have the same book read over and over again and then will sometimes sit with that same book for a few minutes before getting another one.
- He enjoys sleeping in his big boy bed for naps.
- He loves to be outside. Lately though when it's been cold, he'll say "Owie" after his hands get too cold and then he'll want to go inside. We just need to get him some thicker gloves.
- He is becoming more and more independent. Especially in the last couple of weeks, it's been really neat to see how he's matured.
- He's been doing soooo much better at sleeping. He goes to bed most nights pretty well. He was sleeping really well for a couple of weeks, but recently got into the habit of waking in the middle of the night, but will usually fall back to sleep on his own after a little while. He sleeps until about 5:15 or so every morning and then wants to come cuddle with Mama (so he'll wake up and call "Mama" or "daddy" until one of us gets him (usually Jeff) and then he'll come running to his Mama and cuddle- often times going back to sleep for a bit. It's been so  nice having him sleep better lately. Hopefully he keeps it up.
- He got to play in his first snow this month. He loved crunching in the snow and watching his footsteps. He didn't love touching it. He loved the noise that his wet boots made once in the house.
- I know this is strange, but Caleb doesn't like anyone in the backseat with him- unless it's mama or daddy. So whenever we pick up someone or someone rides with us, he usually ends up crying for a greater part of the trip. He's gonna have to get used to it with a new sibling though!
- He loves his baby doll and a bunny that he got for Christmas. He likes to take one of them with him when we head out places.
- He also has a pretty strong arm and can throw a ball pretty far (and other things- we are definitely in a throwing stage right now).
- He is so clever and so funny! What a sense of humor he has already! :)
- Oh and before I forget, he can identify a lot of body parts: back, head, ear, nose, mouth, eyes, toes, belly, leg, fingers. Some of them, I never actually taught him, so I was surprised to see that he knew them.

- He likes to "test" us. He has started hitting us or himself or whatever inanimate object is closest to him. Mostly for attention. 

He continues to be such a joy! Seriously, he is just at such a fun age and it's so fun, as always to watch him grow and progress...

Here are some pictures from the past month:

We've been using cloth diapers more, still not full-time but definitely more frequently.

I love this cute face!

so sad this is blurry.

Here he is trying to say "snow".

I love the look he's giving.

So intrigued by the snow coming down. This is one of my favorite things about being a mom- I get to experience things for the first time again- with wonder and amazement. 

The snow's getting a little cold!

Reading one of his favorite books. (The Very Busy Spider- Other current favorites include: Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, One, Two, Three (by Sandra Boynton) and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?)

38 and a half weeks...

So I am 38 and a half weeks pregnant... this baby will be coming soo soon and I am so excited. When I was pregnant with Caleb, I knew when he was going to be born. This time around, I just have no idea. I guess I am not as intune. Honestly, it was a true blessing to be so intuned with my body during my last pregnancy and I guess I just don't need that as much this time around. Anyway, I thought I'd take a post a picture just in case I don't get to take another before I have this little bean. I kind of wish that I had taken more pictures this pregnancy. Alas! At least I have some. :) This pregnancy, though it has been a little, scratch that, a lot more painful at times, it's still been pretty easy. My blood pressure has been pretty decent- even though it crept up there a little when I was pregnant with Caleb. I also haven't really had any swelling. I did get some minor swelling with Caleb- but maybe that's because it was during the summer? I feel pretty blessed that I have not had morning sickness with either pregnancy. I had a ton of food aversions with Caleb, but with this pregnancy, I've not really had any. Anyway, I am able to be active, which has been great since I have a toddler to chase after. I have been more tired this time around, but everyone says that's to be expected. Overall, it's been pretty good- minus the pain. I have a lot to be grateful for. :)

This baby is a bit transverse/posterior, so I've been trying to work on things to get the baby to turn. Wish me luck!! I saw one of my midwives today and the baby is still not in a great position, but it's now on the opposite side that he/she was last week, so maybe this baby just likes to move. She didn't seem to concerned, so I'm not going to be either. Though she did still give me some things to work on to help the baby move. The hard part is that I sleep in a recliner on my back due to the intense pubic/hip pain that I experience if I try sleeping on my side. I have been laying on my side at sometimes though to help and have been trying some other exercises that will hopefully work.

Here are a couple of pictures of me... and let me warn you, it's not super flattering. I had the idea of making myself look pretty, you know dress up a bit, do my make-up and hair, but then I forgot about it and I really wanted a picture from today (because the last picture I have before I had Caleb was also on the 22nd of the month and then I had him on the 25th).

 And here I was on June 22nd- 3 days before giving birth to Caleb. :)

We were talking tonight and Jeff says it hasn't hit him yet. I am just super excited to finally meet this little bean. :)