disappearing act

A friend of mine posted this to her facebook and I figured I would share as I found it interesting. I wonder what was in the newspaper back in 1987 about what children that year wouldnt know about? I feel like I know about most things. I might have ever seen them but Ive at least heard of them.. or seen them in antique stores.

In other news. My belly button has seemed to lose itself recently. I know its there I just cant see it. Its like Santa or the Easter bunny. Ok, I know its not COMPLETELY gone yet but its pretty flat and I dont like it. That means im closer to an outie than I want.

oh and dont judge the hair around it.. apparently that happens when youre pregnant too.

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twenty two - hooty hoo!

So, on top of this being an adventurous year for me with the move and the baby I want to to continue to be creative. Or rather Ill rephrase, Im feeling a bit uninspired and lacking something. What im not sure of though. I feel like recently Ive just been living inside my house. Barely moving from my computer. Which.. is no fun. Its cold and I dont have that many sessions to get out and about with. A lot of my work now is working on albums and editing. So I want to start getting out more. Even if its just going around Pine Level and seeing whats up there. I need to get out. Im feeling a bit cramped. Ive started looking through photos over the past few years and what im finding is that now that im done with my 365 I BARELY ever take photos during the week. Or of things I see. Well, im pretty good with my iphone but I feel like im not documenting like I should. 

Anyway, in other news.

Im at 22 weeks!

It doesnt seem like I look all that different with my clothes off. But I look crazy different with clothes ON. See that sweet photo by my new friend Bobby Bonsey? That was taken New Years Eve right at 21 weeks.

How im feeling? (im still very tired of this question BTW)

Well, quite sad actually. The house is lonely again without Neil here. Id kinda just got used to being alone and now im lonely again. I miss being able to just look over and say 'hey, what do you think of this?" How I function when he's gone im not sure. 

Baby wise im feeling tons of movement! Everytime it happens I get a little freaked out. Its still hard to believe there is something living inside me. I imagine my belly to be a fish tank right now. Theres a tiny goldfish that just keeps on getting bigger bumping into the walls right now. It seems like its flying by quite quickly. In less then 5 months Ill have a baby. THATS SO SOON! oh my. So much is going to happen between then and now its nuts.

What im craving?

Well you may or may not know I gave up soda for 2 years as New Years resolutions. If I were to say I was craving anything it would have to be Dr. Pepper. I think I may have been craving it the entire time and now I can drink it again. Im really trying to take it easy because I do have the little one inside to think about. I also know im not eating as healthily as Id like. Its hard to eat healthy being just me. I do need to throw in some more veggies though. Im not 100% Ive even had one veggie this week minus a few pieces of lettuce which I dont count as it was iceberg. So yeah, craving dr Pepper and thats about it. 

Any other changes?

Other than my larger belly most everything else is normal. Well, everything except my skin. Its C R A Z Y dry. My forehead flakes like snow. My arms and legs are dry too. Its quite odd. But im moisturizing as much as possible. I dont notice my hair getting any thicker due to a lack in hair loss. I also notice my hair coming out more than the usual. Perhaps Ill have an absolutely normal pregnancy and nothing will change except my belly. Id be ok with my feet not growing too.

I had a Drs. appointment yesterday and everything seemed fine. Im measuring normal. apparently Im 22 inches..( i think inches at least) from top to bottom and he says thats good cause it coincides with my week. Odd. Ive also not gained any weight since my last appt which he says is ok since Im measuring normal and im not starving myself. So Im still only +2 and still under 150 lbs for the time being.

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You say goodbye, I say Hello!

Perhaps I started out 2010 a little TOO adventurous. I ended up being a W H O L E lot busier than I had ever anticipated. Part of what some people do at the beginning of a new year is reflect on the year past. These are my resolutions from last year.

1) Not to drink soda pop again this year (last years old resolution) CHECK!
2) Cook at least 10 things a month Does Mac & Cheese count?
3) Read at least 5 books, rereading the Twilight saga doesn't cut it. :(  I think I read three..
4) Obviously the crafts, hopefully 365 in the end. I definitely crafted when I had time.. though not merely enough
5) Shoot 15 weddings, I have 5 booked now I just need to find 10 more. Any takers? CHECK-ish. I ended up with 14 weddings under my belt this year. It was a fantastic year!
6) Shoot a model once a month. I'm no good when it comes to models, mainly because I don't know strobes the way I want to. Because of that it makes me think I'm less of a photographer. I know that sounds silly but I'm going to try. Ive already got January's lined up for when I'm in Orlando later on in the month. I started out well but when my weddings for more frequent I had to hold off a bit.
7) Ill also try to clean more but im not having that be a resolution Yeah, not so much.. I did buy myself a DYSON for Christmas though..
8) get creative with my 52 weeks I started today. You should check it out in a few weeks. I have a few awesome ideas. Again, I got super swamped. No time for excess things.. plus I was feeling quite uninspired for a while there. 

Yeah.. so I did end up holding out on the whole soda thing. But I must admit.. I sincerely missed Dr. Pepper. He and I have been reacquainted and it has been a lovely relationship. I just dont want to spend too much time with him. Water and I need to maintain our relationship too. I was quite surprised to shoot 14 weddings. Its hard to wish to do something you have no control over. Though.. technically with second shooting I shot 15 weddings.

As for this year, my goals are quite different as there are a lot of changes coming up in my life soon.

1) Im only allowed to eat Fast Food once a week. Subway doesnt count.

2) I will try not to bite my nails. Ive been trying since I was old enough to realize biting my nails is gross. Now im just worried my nails will be SUPER ugly when/ if they ever DO grow out. Anyone have any tips or hints to help with this?

3) I will have a baby. I know this one is a given but I think its a pretty big thing. Its a good goal. I mean.. it would be weird if Little Jack just hung out in my belly for the rest of my life.

4) I will not buy any new clothes maternity or other wise until my pregnancy weight is back to where it needs to be. 135 lbs. I am allowed to buy accessories and baby clothes of course.

5) I would like to photograph 5 weddings this year. Why 5 you ask? 1: Im due in May(terrible timing with it being right smack dab in the middle of wedding season) 2: We are moving. We don't know where or when but we probably wont be here in good ole NC when the second wedding season sets in. 3: Because of those 2 reasons I only have one wedding booked right now. Thats 9 away from last year at this time. Ugh. Its very frustrating and there's nothing I can do about it.

6) I still want to get my craft on this year and I know I will with the baby on the way.. but I dont want to set any expectations. The same with cooking, reading and cleaning. :)

7) This year I WILL do a 52 weeks and 8) start a 365 of Little Jack. The 52 weeks because I want to document this sweet, huge belly Im getting. Once I have the baby it will turn into a 365 with one photo a week being a family photo. I also of course want to document Jack and his growth and the best way to do that is with a 365. Its going to be fun even if I dont post everything I take.

9) Take more photos for me. For no reason at all. Id like to document North Carolina while im still here. I need to go and do some exploration. I guess I just need to be outside more often.

10) I really need to get some things on the wall. Canvas', prints, random thrift store findings. Just something so our next house feels more homey.

 A few weeks ago Neil came home for emergency leave and we hiked over to his hometown of Oak Harbor, Washington. To get out of the house we did a little hiking to the top of a hill and of course I had to have a few photos of the newly developed bump. Here I am at 20 weeks. Im even bigger now at 22!

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Getting things done!

I have been slacking. Well in some things. Ive been getting the things Ive wanted to do done and leaving the things Im not AS excited about for later. Well, im finally somewhat caught up on me Bee blocks. Now that they are done they were actually quite fun and I dont know why I was dreading them so much. I supposed its because its not for the new baby. Oh well, Im still working on one more block to finish but theres a lot of sewing involved in that one so.. its going to take some time. Here's what Ive been working on!

I didnt have quite enough to finish 2 squares but I got you started

A close'r up of the wiseman

I really like this idea. She sent us all am embroidered piece to work into the quilt. 

Ive started making baby pants for little Jack!

They are reversible and are missing elastic but.. I haven't tackled it yet..It looks hard. These are both from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings.

This state fabric is one of my absolute favorites and Ive been waiting to find something perfect for it.

Ive started one of his baby quilts. Im only going to make two.. if I even have time for that second one. I love yellow and grey together!! Its so 70s and lovely. Perfect for a happy bouncing baby boy!

Obviously this is just some of the top but I don't think it will take me too  long to quilt at all and im hoping to work on it this week!

Also since its my 'off time ' photography wise Im going to be picking up newborns sessions here and there. This little cutie was my first of many im sure. I made her headband which.. wasnt meant to look like rabbit ears but it did work out for my first 'headband' type thing. Next time Ill put the leaves a bit further behind the flower.

AND I got an ultrasound last week and here are a few updated shots for the baby book.

He is still a boy :)

He also looks less alien like now a days. These were taken at 18 weeks 4 days.

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Embroidering up a storm!

So, I really like embroidery. Its like crochet to me. I can do it anywhere and I dont have to think about it. Knitting you have to think about... and count. I can take my embroidery anywhere. I like that. Ive also been busy perfecting my stitches. Im far from close but Im getting the hang of it. I bought some plain white bibs to practice on along with some onesies! I love embroidered onesies! They are so cute! These bibs arent all for my baby.. the more boyish ones are for him, the rest will be gifts to people with little girls.

My favorite ones Ive done have been both birds. I just love them. I dont think the blue one is too girlish do you? Also I tried my hand at embroidering on a onesie which I heard through the grapevine takes some getting used to. I got my stabilizer to help out and it did but the cotton is so thin and I used such a think thread I broke the shirt fibers in a few spots. Im glad I started out with the owl first cause my other idea for the onesie is INTENSE and will take a lot. Ill go with a thinner thread and a thinner needle in hopes I dont mess it up.

Heres a close up of the owl design for the onesie. These are mostly all from Sublime Stitching

Oh.. whats that at the bottom of the owl you ask? Well.. im silly and didnt notice it and it went on with the pattern transfer. Hoping it comes out in the wash.. but if not, its going to my baby and I dont care!

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Holy Shit Balls!

Im totally not going to turn into one of those people that just shows you youtube videos but a friend of mine posted this and its awesome. Neil and I got to see Michael Buble' back in 2007 and he was awesome. Neil and I were having a fight but the concert and MB was fantastic. What an awesome mom for going up there and doing that. Also super glad MB didnt just throw her off stage or whatever.



Yay! Go Sam!!

I have an appointment today! I get to see Jack! Well.. here's hoping he's still a Jack! I guess we'll see.

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Ill be Barbie, you be Ken ok?

Being pregnant is scary business. There is so much riding on me to have a healthy baby. And I will have to continue it for the rest of my life. Making sure my child(ren) is safe, healthy and awesome. A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend who has also lost her mom and she told me getting pregnant scares her, because she doesnt have anyone to talk about it to. I feel the same way, sometimes. Im more sad than scared. It makes me miss her just as much as Ive ever missed her ever. How am I supposed to know if Im doing it right? How am I supposed to compare my pregnancy to hers with me? My Mama raised me right. I would be completely different had I not had her as a mommy. How am I supposed to know if im doing it right? How do I know Im going to be the type of mom she was. I was a pretty fantastic kid, pretty perfect for a single mom. I didnt get into much.. that I remember and she could take me into a lot of non children friendly places. Im also nervous again because its a boy! What am I supposed to do with him? He'll be Ken, Ill be Barbie? Im sure once he's here it will all come naturally. Thats what motherhood is supposed to be like right? Ill learn to play cars and learn about Thomas the Train. Ill learn a lot more about sports that arent soccer. I remember my stepbrother when I was younger. He was all about some cars and Tonka trucks. I guess maybe thats why guys always wanted the nice cars in high school and us girls just wanted cute clothes? I mean.. a nice car would have been nice but you know..I just feel like Im going to have a lot to learn. He'll teach me though, im sure of it.

I know I have support from Neil and his parents and my friends and family but its just not going to be the same. Shes missing yet another major part of my life. One of the biggest. This is way bigger than highschool graduation! She would be so excited for me and for herself. For a grandbaby. A grandson. Men dont come easy in my family. We are a family of girls except for a few random ones thrown in, but the majority is girls. Anyway, it makes me sad. I miss my mom.

In other news. 18 weeks!! Hooray! Its going extremely quick. SUPER Quick! Still not really showing. I can tell my belly has got a little bigger but I don't think its 'bump' worthy. Ill try and post a photo this week.

A friend of mine posted this video to her facebook and I thought it was kinda interesting so I figured id share it with you :) I feel bad for all those sperm that just didn't make the cut. Poor guys. Wish I could put them in a fishtank so they didnt die... well... not really but you know.

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Holiday Wreaths!

So about a week before I had to leave to go to Tennessee I decided what I was going to make for my family for Christmas. So I had a week to make these wreaths. I did a lot of googling on things to make and which ones and these type seemed the easiest. And they weren't hard to make but boy were they tedious to make! Worth it though- my family seemed to love them!

This first one was different than all the others and I sorta liked the way it came out. I made this one with my cousin Amie in mind. She loved it!

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Tis the season

for giveaways! There are a ton for photographers right now! Id really like to win one of them! This one has a lot of neat non 'photog' stuff too.

Check out my most recent find over at: Laura Winslow Photos!

Here's another fun one to enter from Paint the Moon Actions

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Ive got a penis growing in me!

Hello from Nashville, TN and from week 16! If you haven't heard the news as of yet you may be living under a rock. Neil and I are going to be having a little boy join the family in May. CRAZY! A boy. I knew I was having a boy but its still weird to think about. As I imagined my life.. my whole life not just in the past few months. I never imagined having a boy. It just wasnt something Id ever thought about. In my dreams and thoughts about being a mom it was always a girl. I think I get a bad opinion of boys because of my ex- step brother. He was terrible and treated my mom like crap. Maybe it was the 'step mom' part of it but I think he was just a rotten child. Never made me want then.. plus now I cant pass along all my 'girl' toys ive saved up and they have to wait a few years. Oh well, all this writing makes it sound like im sad, and im not at all im quite happy to know what I am having and Im even more excited to get him here already. The quicker the baby comes the quicker Neil comes home too! Im in Nashville because one of my very best friends lives here and she happens to be an ultrasound technician. If not for her I would have had to have waited until I was around 20 weeks to find out the sex. So my Thanksgiving plans to Kentucky worked out awesomely. Leslie did my U/S the day I got into town because Neil could be on skype for longer. Baby boy was sure not wanting to show us his parts. It took about an hour of trying before wegave up a little and told Neil to call us again in an hour. In the meantime I ate sugar and moved around as much as possible so he would also move and stop showing us his spine. Its a lovely spine might I add. ;) Here are some of the best shots my friend got of the little guy.

he was giving us a cute yawn here

babies look extremely alien at this stage in life. 

look at those lips! AND that nose!

we got a lot of this

heart rate was around 130 BPMs which makes him a boy according to some old wives tales.

and the money shot!

This shot was taken after Neil had called us back he was all about giving up the goods then.

Leslie took this quick video of the baby hiccuping! look at that heart!


so yay! Thank you aunt Leslie!

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