Tippytoe Foxtrot

I heart faces::on your feet!

2011-12-05T17:01:00.006-05:00

I have a zillion photos of my kids feet. They're so damn cute and I don't ever want to forget that. We spent a month at my mom's house this summer and Timmy's feet would get so dirty from running around the patio.

Shot on Walgreen's film. It was a $1/roll this summer!

bath time

2011-11-02T22:37:00.002-04:00

I'm grateful for bath time. I love watching them play. I love sitting next to my husband and talking while we enjoy our kids. (Even if he sometimes get stressed out by the splashing and the standing and the one year old that throws himself across the tub every chance he gets.)

2/30

november gratitude

2011-11-01T23:55:00.002-04:00

It's November. Thanksgiving will be here in a few short weeks. I have so many things to be grateful for. Today I am grateful for muddy feet that never stop.

This kid will climb on anything, and walk as long and as fast as his little legs will carry him. His favorite thing in the world is to pull himself up on the rocking chair, stand up and rock as hard as he can without holding on. He also turned the gas in the stove on. Life with a one year old is always an adventure.

whistle while you work

2011-08-18T12:34:00.003-04:00

When you're a kid the best thing about having a dad that's a police officer is the whistle. I'm sure my parents didn't enjoy listening to us blow it over and over again. Now that my dad is a Grandpa, he's tickled that she has so much fun with it. He even let her keep this one. He's a total sucker for her.

This is from our visit back in the Spring.

hello.

2011-07-20T22:06:00.005-04:00

It's really hot out and we are staying busy. Tomorrow is supposed to be 100 degrees. I plan on taking my kids to the mall and letting them play on the germ infested playground. This is the American dream, people.

And this is my adorable child. He's so old and big and doing things!

And this girl. She's so feisty it makes my head spin.

Now, go eat a slurpee.

easter eggs. a bit late.

2011-05-21T09:08:00.002-04:00

She's in her grandpa's shirt. Every time an egg would roll off the table she would get this sad look and say, "Oh no. My egg!" in just about the most forlorn voice you can imagine. She dipped and dunked to her little hearts content.

visiting

2011-04-28T23:12:00.003-04:00

I'm in Fort Wayne, Indiana visiting my parents. My brother was here last week for Easter. The four of us haven't all been together since Christmas of 2009, so it was a very welcome visit.The weather is dreary, but it's refreshing to be around my favorite people.
It's not exactly a sprawling metropolis around here, but I love photographing it.

spring

2011-03-31T20:14:00.002-04:00

Spring will be coming back to stay, yes? We have so much sliding, sand box playing and swinging to do. Don't even get me started on the big plans for sidewalk chalk.

making stuff and doing stuff and just stuff

2011-01-27T21:44:00.003-05:00

I have been crocheting. I sort of don't know what I want it to be yet. A hat or part of a scarf or maybe a lovely potholder. The point is it feels nice to do it. My mom taught me when I was about 17 and her mom taught her. My grandmother has HER mother's tiny little hooks that she used for doilies and all the fine little detailed beauties that no one does anymore. The yarn and hook just feel right. I don't knit. I know how to knit, but not purl. I don't know any left handed knitters to show me and the two sticks just don't feel RIGHT in my hands. Crocheting is like an old friend that I always come back to when I am sad or just need to make and do. Lately, I need to make and do. Partly because I feel inspired and partly because it's so calming. Like tea.

(3/52)

2/52

2011-01-23T21:59:00.002-05:00

Have you ever seen the dust float through the air in a flash of sunshine? Sometimes it's really pretty. I like those little bits of inspiration (don't think too hard about the dust part. It kind of ruins it. Ha.) that are all around.

52

2011-01-07T22:46:00.002-05:00

Last year I attempted a 365 photo project. I failed. I made a valiant effort until about May and then the exhaustion of my pregnancy with Timmy and chasing Coral around made me less than enthused to finish it. This year, I thought about giving it another try. And then I thought about how I'm still chasing Coral and now taking care of Timmy and realized it just wouldn't work for me. Last time, taking photos turned into a chore for me and coming up with new things to shoot didn't help my already frazzled mind. SOOO, I'm doing a 52. I hate the idea of not doing anything but don't want to jump into something as huge as a photo a day. One photo a week is completely possible since I take about 1,000 photos a month (no, seriously) anyway. (I did do a 365 of Coral for her first year. I did finish it. Poor Timmy, just another sign he's the 2nd baby.)

1/52
Coral is really loving pencils.
Don't worry.
We supervise.

I heart faces : best face

2011-01-03T11:05:00.004-05:00

This might be my favorite photo I've ever taken of my sweet girl.

Check out more gorgeous shots at I heart faces!

it's a boy!

2010-09-29T14:57:00.003-04:00

John Timothy was born Sep. 18th at home.
9lbs 5oz
21 inches
We call him Timmy.
We were especially excited to find out he's a boy.

family.

2010-09-02T21:18:00.002-04:00

Our family, as of a few weeks ago.
It will change so very soon. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week.

We are so excited.

sweetness

2010-08-15T00:26:00.005-04:00

Every once in a while my spunky, quirky ball of energy takes a quiet moment.
It's like a sigh.

definitely.

2010-08-12T22:26:00.003-04:00

Just one among a number of things I don't do enough?

Make homemade blueberry pancakes.

you capture: black and white

2010-07-22T12:15:00.000-04:00

I love black and white images. They have so much depth. These little beauties were drying out after a warm summer rain shower.

Head to Beth's for more black and white!

2010-07-20T21:11:00.003-04:00

Richmond, VA
We've talked about moving there. Maybe, maybe not. Anyway, it's about 2 hours from us and feels like the first city south of us that reminds you that Virginia is considered a southern state. My favorite part is an area called Carytown which is full of vintage stores, delicious restaurants and quirky boutiques. The neighborhood surrounding it is full of brick and old apartments and duplexes with verandas.

I love summer trips.

2010-06-18T22:31:00.002-04:00

My mom is in town. It's a great way to start summer. Coral adores her. I adore her.

We've kept very busy with parks and pools and eating. I only wish she lived closer. Maybe someday.

introducing

2010-06-10T21:30:00.003-04:00

This is fake baby. That's her name. You know. . . because Coral is the real baby. We've called her that since always and Coral knows her as the same. She has a constant glaze of dirt over her embroidered, tiny smile. When we go on walks she's run over at least a half dozen times. Some days she's covered in tomato sauce and bananas. My mom bought her. Coral isn't horribly attached to where she gets upset if we don't have faux baby (sometimes we are fancy and call her that), but she goes most places with us. We thought it would be a good thing if she had something to cuddle in bed. A "transfer object" they call it. THEY. The baby experts. Anyway, we love her even if she never pulls her own weight (she could try cleaning up her jumper a bit and GET A JOB), and hides from us a lot. Coral likes to squish her while we are reading, which is pretty darling. She's a good doll.

We'll keep her.

happy flowers

2010-06-09T11:54:00.002-04:00

Hydrangeas are one of the first signs of summer around these parts.
There are so many vibrant colors and they are always in huge, happy bunches.
I love them so.
So much that I HAVE to take a photo if I see them.
I try to get all the colors.

Happy hydrangeas.
Try not to smile when you see them.

true love.

2010-06-04T22:34:00.002-04:00

The Original Pancake House equals true love.
Dutch babies are my favorite.
Last time I had an apple pancake instead.
I'm pretty sure it weighed 2 lbs.

I want to be buried underneath the machine that squeezes the juice out of the oranges.

you capture: your best shot

2010-06-03T10:28:00.003-04:00

I took Coral took a local park that has a fantastic water fountain. This kid has no fear. She didn't care that she was the youngest person in the fountain. She charged right in and let the water spray all over her. She looks like such a big girl in this photo; it makes me a little sad. I'm looking forward to this summer so very much since she's walking and exploring. Big things are in store for her.

Manual settings: ISO 200, f3.5, 1/640
See more awesome shots at Beth's!

a week.

2010-05-28T21:35:00.002-04:00

This week was good.
Roses are in full bloom at one of our parks.
Coral was a champ in the 90+ degree heat.
I kept myself from eating more than 2 buster bar blizzards.
Unbelievable amounts of sand can fill very small shoes.
We didn't finish the loaf of kalamata olive bread in two days.
The little flower tent near us is having a buy one, get one free sale.
I made chocolate cobbler which would have been enough good to last the entire week.

Have a lovely holiday weekend!

you capture: sky

2010-05-27T12:44:00.002-04:00

happy sky

mad sky

See more sky at Beth's!

a good find.

2010-05-22T21:49:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite thrift store find in a while. A lady on flickr told me that her sister had the same thing when she was a kid. It has snaps on one side but no matching snaps on the other. The lady said it wasn't a full sleeping bag. More like an early version of a snuggie. Ha! It's comfy and pretty. A great combination. That's a faux quilt pattern on the front. I love love love the patterns and colors.

It makes me super happy. And it was $3.99.

you capture: DoF

2010-05-20T09:26:00.002-04:00

It rained here for several days straight. I was lazy and all my shots are of raindrops. I'm an overachiever like that.

More DoF at Beth's!

carousel

2010-05-19T21:31:00.002-04:00

Little lady's first carousel ride. She loved it, but had to take it all in the first few times around. This is her serious face.

love.

2010-05-17T20:54:00.009-04:00

I'm in love.

I could browse this dude's site for hours. Love the shape of this cabinet.

Every year at Crafty Bastards I see this illustrator. So cheeky. I think Coral needs the gorilla for her wall.

Can't you picture this filled with mini gherkins, olives and pearl onions?

A good excuse for cake...like you needed one.

Narwhal! Check out her faux feltidermy.

So playful. More woodland pretties in the shop!

2010-05-14T22:25:00.002-04:00

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.”--Eleanor Duse

two plus two makes four

2010-05-13T08:44:00.004-04:00

Next year at this time, a new tiny human will be in our family. We will have a new tiny person to swing and Coral will be in a big girl swing. My heart feels so full it could burst at any moment.

Is there anything better than a good swinging session in the spring?

Also, 45 minutes after I took this photo, I fell in a little hole in the sand. While holding Coral. And talking to 2 ladies. I must have looked like Humpty Dumpty.

in celebration of mother's day and us.

2010-05-10T22:08:00.003-04:00

Mother's Day and our early anniversary celebration (it's today!) was full of
cuddles

tiny hands

good food

loveliness

and lovin' from my honey.

Life is hard and wonderful and good.

very important person

2010-05-09T21:51:00.004-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to the most important woman in my life. Thank you for being steadfast, strong and loyal. Thank you for being honest and loving. Thank you for being the best example a girl could ever hope to follow in the footsteps of. xoxo.

you capture: spring, take 2

2010-05-06T10:29:00.000-04:00

I always think of Spring as the beginning of wedding season. Spring is fresh and full of new growth and renewal. What better time to start a new life with the one you love? Tom and I attended a lovely ceremony this past weekend in Annapolis, MD. Tom's coworker married her sweetheart who is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. The ceremony was in the USNA chapel and the reception was in another fancy building that I don't know the name of. I never get tired of the town or campus. Everything is gorgeous and quaint and historical. Annapolis and part of the campus lay right on the water. The weather was clear and 90 degrees. Aside from the heat, they couldn't have had more perfect weather.

My favorite part was the awesome antique Cadillac the happy married couple used for the day.

Spring is in full bloom at Beth's!

2010-05-04T22:40:00.002-04:00

I love finding beauty in something often overlooked. I don't pass this building often, but when I do, I'm alway struck at how hauntingly beautiful it is. The lines are so lovely and the bottom half of the building is decorated with colored tiles. It sits empty in a part of DC that like much of the city, has seen better days.

you capture: spring

2010-04-29T00:25:00.002-04:00

I am so so happy spring is here. It's probably the one season the DC area does right. People are no longer in shock it's winter and not yet in a hot, humid, angry frenzy from the hot cement and tourists of the summer. I love spring rain

and tiny flowers that pop up all over

going for walks

and exploring

with maybe a snack of found-on-the-ground stick. Yum.

More springy goodness at Beth's!

i heart faces, week 17-smiles

2010-04-27T10:17:00.002-04:00

I love baby smiles! This is one of my favorite shots of Coral. It was taken last July in my hometown. The look on her face is pure joy.

There are plenty more smiles to warm your heart at i heart faces...

you capture: fresh

2010-04-15T08:37:00.002-04:00

There is nothing better than farm fresh eggs from sweet mennonite girls at the farmer's market and fresh blooms. Spring, I'm so glad you've arrived.

Head to Beth's for more fresh!

you capture-love around your home

2010-01-20T22:26:00.006-05:00

I haven't participated in You Capture for a while. I love this theme! One of the things that makes me most happy is the Brownie 2B camera that belonged to my Great Grandma, Coral Haley (notice the name? she's who my baby girl is named after). I love thinking about her making her own memories with it. I love thinking about her playing with it, trying to figure it out. I LOVE that I have something to pass down to my Coral that belonged to her namesake and also happens to be a passion of mine.
I found some cheap flowers at the grocery store that are brightening my windowsill. Winter is killing me!
My favorite things around the house, though? Coral's shoes and the blankets my mom and grandma both crocheted for her.

Here are some photos I took the past few weeks. Normally I wouldn't post old pictures because that misses the whole point of you capture, but since I posted some new too, I don't feel so bad. All things I love, things that are special to me in their own way or just make me happy. The picture is my Grandma Bogie on the right with her MIL, my Great Grandma Bogie.

Go check out more love at Beth's!

another week started

2010-01-11T09:48:00.002-05:00

My gorgeous Grandma is on the right. Circa 1948? That's her mother-in-law, my Great Grandmother (and Coral's middle namesake), Celeste.

zombies and a shop I love.

2010-01-08T23:12:00.006-05:00

Do you like zombies? Or eating brains? Or just really love your significant other a lot? This is pretty much the most sincere way to show them. Folded Pigs uses repurposed dinnerware that is refired and dishwasher/microwave safe. If you have small children and find yourself repeatedly reheating your coffee, this is a serious bonus.

Photo via FoldedPigs.Etsy.com

I gave Tom a coffee mug a few years ago and it's standing the test of time. Maybe for Grandma's next birthday?

you capture-year in review

2010-01-07T11:39:00.004-05:00

2009 was the year of Coral in our house. By far the best moment of the year was when I got to hold her for the first time. I can't find my hard drive, so I can't use our first family photo. It's probably better that way since I'm not wearing clothes. Ha!

Great grandpa with his 10th great grandbaby.

Grandpa
/>
Grandma

And some other favorites.

Head to Beth's for more 2009!

light and dark

2010-01-06T20:36:00.003-05:00

4/365

5/365

6/365

365

2010-01-05T12:20:00.002-05:00

It's a new year and I'm doing a photo a day challenge (to go along with 365 days of Coral that I'm 10.5 months through).

1/365 1.1.2010

2/365 1.2.2010

3/365 1.3.2010

They write songs about this, don't they?

2009-12-09T22:46:00.004-05:00

Tom and I are counting down the days until we go home (Illinois and Indiana, respectively). During the year I often wish I lived closer to my parents. At Christmas, I don't mind so much. It means we pack up all our gifts, throw on our scarves and begin our holiday adventure.

In years past we've road tripped. We leave after my husband arrives home from work and drive through the night. It sucks, usually snows and we ALWAYS stop in Breezewood, PA. This year we are flying (easier with Coral). I'll miss our road trip, but I love the airport at the holidays. It's crazy, there are always too many people trying to get a beer at the Sam Adams restaurant and the bathrooms are always full, BUT people are on their way to loved ones. What's better than that?

fa la la la laaaa

2009-12-04T10:47:00.003-05:00

We are getting into the Christmas mood at my house. I sing loudly, off key and Coral dances. It's very festive. In years past, I've always handmade gifts for family along with whatever we buy. This year it will probably be more making and less buying. It's the North Pole here and I am head elf.

you capture-sunset

2009-11-19T09:39:00.000-05:00

I took these from the Iwo Jima memorial parking lot. The memorial has a gorgeous view and looks out over DC. I thought, hey, that would be a great spot for a sunset. I'd pretty much written off sunrise by this point; I really hate getting up early. Every other spot I know of is in DC and I sure as hell was not crossing the river at 4pm just to get stuck in rush hour traffic on the way back (not to mention that some of the good spots,ahem, Washington monument, close super early). But, guess what? The gorgeous view is facing east. Soooo, you really can't see the sun set. There are trees and apartment buildings. I saw a bit of it when I walked down to the edge of Arlington National Cemetery, but the only way I could get good shots was to go on the army base and I had forgotten my license. It did reflect off of the local office and apartment buildings, though. And it looked amazing.

Check out more sunrises and sunsets at Beth's.

you capture-my real life

2009-11-12T06:01:00.002-05:00

My real life is
coffee

feeding

playing

bathing

with some husband thrown in (and nursing and diapers and changing tiny pajamas).

See more real life at Beth's!

I actually like exercising.

2009-11-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

I went to the gym on last Sunday for the first time in over a year. My goal is to be skinny enough to not wear a bathing suit with a skirt next year. And be a runner again. And maybe end up with arms like Michelle Obama. So far, it's been AWESOME. And by awesome, I mean funny and slightly awkward.

Some Observations

-As I was getting out of the car on Sunday, a McDonald's bag fell out. Seriously. Clearly, God doesn't count sticking ones arm out of a window for french fries as a form of exercise.

-They have roughly 10 issues of Ebony magazine from 2003-2005 at my gym.

-Yesterday they added a Better Business Bureau index for Essex County. We live in Arlington County. Also? It was from 2003.

-The elderly woman on the eliptical next to mine was reading a large print issue of Reader's Digest, which made me giggle because it's such a stereotype.

-Said elderly woman was moving faster than I was.

-The man that used the machine before me on Sunday was incredibly hairy and wearing a sweatband on his head. I want to have his babies.

-He was there again yesterday. I'm pretty sure it's because he wants me to have his babies, too.

-Putting 2 sports bras over a nursing tank top with a Captain America shirt over everything is not enough for nursing G cup boobs.

you capture-photographer's choice

2009-11-05T09:09:00.003-05:00

I was going to post more pictures of leaves, but where is the fun in that? Instead, I want to welcome you to my street.

I can't wait to see what everyone else shot this week! Head to Beth's for a photo free-for-all.

The Halloween that almost wasn't because I was dumb enough to make the costume on the same day

2009-11-03T13:35:00.003-05:00

Are we insane because we picked what Coral would be last April?

I made her costume the day of, which I don't recommend.

We went to two houses and called it a night. Sweet merbaby!

dear fairy godmother

2009-10-30T13:43:00.003-04:00

Please clean my apartment.

Love,
Me

you capture-autumn

2009-10-29T08:43:00.003-04:00

I love autumn. I don't like the part where is starts getting cold, but I love the leaves and the smells and the holidays.

Head over to I Should Be Folding Laundry for more autumn!

hot cross buns

2009-10-26T22:40:00.000-04:00

Holy shit, folks. I made homemade pizza, crust included. The domestic sliver of my heart grew three sizes today.

Things I learned:
Kneading dough is hard work.
Kneading dough is also what I imagine it would be like having sex with Jabba the Hutt.

It was spicy sausage and green olive, in case you were curious.

a pretty horse, a pretty day

2009-10-23T21:34:00.002-04:00

You Capture-Technology

2009-10-22T11:00:00.003-04:00

I am not great at keeping up with technology. I'm sort of bad with computers. So much so, that my husband's stops working when I touch it. It hates me. I'm not sure why. Because I get mad when my husband spends too much time playing games? Is that why, laptop? Whatevs, laptop. I have episodes to catch up on with the TELEVISION.

Here's some of our technology (and it's not the g.d. laptop)

Also, this one. For some reason I found it really funny. The juxtaposition of the hubcab (from a car. technology, aha!)next to the sheep pen in the middle of a predominantly Amish area (because sheep and the Amish don't use technology, aha!) made for a great photo.

And then the sheep stared at me.

Head to Beth's for more technology!

pumpkin patch doll

2009-10-21T22:37:00.002-04:00

When I was a kid, we went to the same pumpkin patch every fall. It's a small farm on a county road that leads into the heart of the Amish community.

My mom and I took Coral.

She didn't have much of an opinion.

But, eventually came around to her fellow pumpkins.

I wanted to take this mofo home, but where would I put it? I could make a creepy pumpkin bed out of it for Coral, but I'm sure Delta airlines would have frowned on that and I needed a way to get home.

You can't really beat fall in the Midwest.

a birthday

2009-10-19T23:23:00.002-04:00

My darling mother turned 50 last Monday. What's 50 without a little Sally O'Malley?

That pantsuit is fantastic, btw.

Coral and I were lucky enough to spend it with her in Indiana.

You Capture-RED!

2009-10-08T09:24:00.004-04:00

First off, I must say that I love the color red. It's been my favorite color for pretty much ever. When I was a kid, I asked my mom what her favorite color was and she told me red. She had red nail polish and I remember thinking what an ugly color it was to paint your nails (Of course, as a kid, I preferred pink and sparkles). I thought my mom was pretty rad (I still do!), so for a few years I told people red was my favorite color, simply because my mother loved it. Ha! It eventually did turn into my favorite color and I love it dearly to this day. I like a nice whorish red for my nails and varying shades for everything else. I even ended up with a red-headed peach of a little girl!

Head over Beth's to see RED!

You Capture-happiness

2009-09-24T13:52:00.002-04:00

There are few things that bring my husband happiness more than chocolate (though I like to think I am one of them. Haha. Coral is, for sure. And any sort of combat training/gun shooting/shoot.move.communicate related things. And pork). Other than those, it's chocolate. Here is my very large kid in a candy store. Pure happiness, indeed.

Head to Beth's for happy, happy photos.

you capture-up close

2009-09-17T11:39:00.002-04:00

Meet Luci! My little brother adopted Luci last week from an animal shelter in South Carolina. That couch she's on? Her new favorite thing in the ENTIRE WORLD. Aside from my brother, of course. This girl is sweet as pie. She is a lover and a kisser and a please-rub-my-belly girl. I only wish we could have adopted every last dog.

Except for the one eating poo.

Just kidding! I'd even adopt that one.

Head over to Beth's to see some up close and personal shots.

Bumbleride Flyer!!

2009-08-31T22:44:00.003-04:00

Our stroller is the bane of my existence. It has a huge under basket that I love. It's red (part of the reason I bought it. Seriously). The price isn't horrible. Those are the pros and reasons I purchased it. The steering is pretty amazing. My love ends there. In order to pop the stroller up, I have to remove the seat. The handle WILL NOT come up over the footrest unless the seat is removed entirely from the base. That's why I'm have rabid over the giveaway at GoGrahamGo.com. They are giving away a Bumbleride Indie! It's light, has a rain cover and an adjustable handle. Sigh. I'm in love. Go look at how beautiful it is!

It even comes in Ruby.

you capture-food

2009-08-26T11:32:00.004-04:00

I cooked for my husband on Monday for the first time in weeks. Yeah, I'm kind of domestically challenged. Whatever. I made this. It was delicious. The kicker? I used bacon instead of ham. I think ham can suck it, but my husband's family raised hogs until he was 16, so he likes it more than most. "I can't believe I married someone that hates ham" comes out of his mouth pretty frequently (uh, dude? I didn't force you down the aisle. Also? I can't believe I married someone that plays World of Warcraft, so we're even). Anyway, bacon is a far superior pork product. Holy crap, if you only ever make one more pasta dish in your entire life, make this. It's easy and tasty, which are really the most important things when cooking, in my opinion. It called for leeks, which I've never cooked with. They were such pretty, opaque ringlets. See?

You Capture-motion

2009-08-13T13:31:00.002-04:00

I went to Navy Pier this week for a wedding that took place underneath the Ferris Wheel. While I was there, I noticed they have one of those giant swing amusement rides that I love. The photos didn't turn out quite how I wanted, but they'll do. What started out as a day full of angry clouds, turned in an evening of lovely blue sky and puffy clouds rolling by. The wedding was adorable and the bride wore a dress covered in faux rose petals that her FATHER made. He was a fashion designer in the '60s and '70s! The entire night was relaxing and refreshing. After the wedding was a picnic in the park with artichoke salad, wraps and sangria. The night ended with a boat ride on the lake. There's nothing more beautiful than the Chicago skyline at night.

Move on (move, get it?) over to I Should Be Folding Laundry for more shots!

you capture-me!

2009-08-05T23:22:00.003-04:00

I am so excited about this week's theme. Faces to go with the lovely photos I've been admiring for weeks makes me all giddy! Plus, I just really love looking at self portraits. I love laugh lines and creases, freckles and grins. There are so many fascinating things that make up a human face. They can tell you in an instant whether someone is elated or grieving. They tell you about life.

Head to I Should Be Folding Laundry for more of YOU!

thinking too much. much too much.

2009-07-30T22:47:00.004-04:00

Um, I am pretty lame at keeping a blog. I might be teetering dangerously close to abandoning ship or just using said ship as a photo meme place. Sigh. So many words to come up with. I really only have a dozen or so that clink back and forth in my head, none of which could complete an entire paragraph. Most of my life I've been horribly shy. Challenging myself to do things, THINGS that make me talk or connect with people I don't know well or at all is a struggle. When I gave birth to my daughter, I wanted to hold on to that feeling of accomplishment. I swore that it would give me the confidence to do wonderful things that I normally wouldn't do. Talking to a stranger should be pie after having a natural childbirth. WRITING ON THE INTERNET should be pie. And yet, it almost causes me more anxiety. Blogging where people can read and see what you've written is SCARY. I don't consider myself a writer. I don't spin words into beautifully written stories. When talking to a stranger, you are able to visibly see how they feel about what you are saying. You know you have an audience. I don't know what's more intimidating, the idea of people reading my words or typing for no one.

you capture-black and white

2009-07-23T00:03:00.003-04:00

I really, really love black and white. It's what I miss the most about 35mm. Developing black and white photos, waiting for the picture to appear and the image slowly growing darker is so magical. Now, all I do is click the mouse on the computer. It makes me a little sad. However, I have a very darling subject to make up for my nostalgia.

I'm still on my mom's computer, so I have no clue if it looks completely wackadoo. Don't laugh too hard if it does!

I Should Be Folding Laundry has plenty more shots to see!

i heart faces-feet

2009-07-20T10:17:00.002-04:00

Aren't baby feet the sweetest thing? Here are Coral's 5 month old feet.

Check out more feet at I heart faces!

you capture-food

2009-07-09T14:28:00.002-04:00

This week was Independence Day and food. Unfortunately, my husband and I didn't go anywhere on the Fourth. Not even to fireworks. Which is sad, since we live 4 miles from Washington, DC. I was not attempting to get in and out of the city with a 5 month old. I'm lame like that. I was going to take a picture of Coral in her red, white and blue outfit, but she pooped all over it before I got the chance. So, food pictures it is.

I'm visiting my parents in Fort Wayne, IN until the end of the month. We've been eating plenty of tasty food. Also, I am editing on my mom's computer, so if the pictures look insane and too bright or too dark or the colors are all skewed, it's because her monitor is really dark.

More pictures at I Should Be Folding Laundry!

You Capture-photographer's choice

2009-07-02T11:02:00.003-04:00

I chose "food" as my theme this week. In my previous post I talked about going to the Farmer's Market. The shapes and color of the produce were inspiring. Plus, I really love to look at, talk about and eat food. It's the reason I haven't lost all my baby weight yet (and the fact that I gained 60 freaking pounds). Fresh food is so wonderful and sadly I fall prey to Dairy Queen all too frequently.

Garlic scapes. You can make pesto with it!
Check out more photos at I Should Be Folding Laundry!

The one about the farmer's daughter

2009-06-30T01:01:00.000-04:00

A week with my mom went too fast. I love my mom. We always talk beforehand about all the wonderful things we will do while she's in town, but end up not able to get out of the apartment before 1pm. And then just hang out at Target. We did actually make it to Dupont Circle for the Farmer's Market. That's mainly because we really like to eat and tend to eat badly while together, so at least we had fresh things to make up for the 3 blizzards and thousands of chips we ate. We even insisted on Iced Coffees from McDonald's after my husband told us all the horrid things in them. Just know that many of the ingredients are directly related to making your body poop. And why I would even want to touch anything like that KNOWING that it has ingredients like that,I don't know, since I already have plenty of actual shit to deal with as the mother of a tiny human. But, alas, the tiny human is the entire reason I NEED iced coffee, so round and shit covered round we go.

The produce and flowers were gorgeous. The homemade yogurt with honey was amazing. They also sell the best peanut butter cookies I have ever tasted.

Burro's tail

Kalamata Olive bread!!!

You Capture-Summer

2009-06-25T02:01:00.003-04:00

My mom is in town this week. She's been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to put Coral in the bathing suit she bought her for Easter. We dig it out. It's a 6 month suit. Oh, it might fit, we say. No. No, it doesn't. We couldn't get it past her chubby waist. We decide to pick one up on the way to the pool. We buy a 12 month suit this time. That should fit, right? No. No, it doesn't. Still too small. Coral ends up wearing a onesie for her first time in the pool. Also, while at the pool, a woman was complimenting Coral while I was holding her. She then looks me in the eye and says, "Who is her mother?" I told her I was and she tells me that she thought I was her sister. Then, she stares at Coral for a second and replies with, "I guess I can see the resemblance there." Thanks, lady. I guess that's what happens when you live in an area where most mothers with young children are in their 40's.

Grandma!

Don't forget to see more summer photos at I Should Be Folding Laundry!

You Capture-Emotions

2009-06-18T09:17:00.004-04:00

This week's theme was Emotions. I have a 17lb 6oz, 4 month old bundle of emotion. What's more emotional than a baby that doesn't even understand her emotions, right? Most of the time she is pink gum flappin' happy. Sometimes, she is not. Oh, baby. And by the way, the only people I ever see are my husband and little girl, so yeah. Almost all of my pictures that have humans will include Coral. And they might start to look the same after a while. I hope you don't mind.

Head over to I Should Be Folding Laundry to see everyone's emotions.

I heart faces-Week 23-Sepia

2009-06-15T07:54:00.002-04:00

This weeks challenge is sepia tone. I love trying different editing features, so this one was pretty fun for me.

Coral is 17 weeks old this week. I can't believe how quickly she is changing and I try to memorize her little face every day.

Don't forget to look at all the beautiful shots at I Heart Faces!

You capture: nature

2009-06-11T09:23:00.003-04:00

I love nature. I love taking pictures of nature. I love red in nature.

I love a woodsy area after a rain. Everything is so GREEN.

Check out some more nature shots at I Should Be Folding Laundry!

You capture: family

2009-05-28T14:44:00.004-04:00

This is my first You Capture challenge! My grandparents came up from Tennessee to see their first great grandbaby. A perfect opportunity for family shots.

Great Aunt Laurie reading to baby girl and cousin.

Make sure you check out the other shots!

be still my heart

2009-05-18T23:47:00.003-04:00

I found these tiny vintage handpainted plates on etsy.

Maybe this wall?

Oh I wish, wish I could paint it.

I heart faces--May 18th

2009-05-18T22:37:00.004-04:00

My most favorite face, my darling daughter Coral.

I can't wait to see everyone's entries. This is my first time entering anything at I heart faces!

I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

What a difference a year makes...

2009-05-10T23:11:00.002-04:00

Today is my one year wedding anniversary and first Mother's Day. If you had told me a year ago between the Ouzo shot-taking and the dancing to "Let's Twist Again" that I would have a 2-day-shy-of-3 months baby girl today, I would have been skeptical. I mean, who does that? Who, in this day and age, gets pregnant 2 weeks after their wedding? Apparently, this girl. I had to call my husband in Africa(yay for work trips 3 weeks after your wedding). At 4 in the morning. Hello, honey? I know you are working and will be gone for a month, but you will be a father in 8 months. I'm taking another test right now, I'll call you back. Yep, it's for sure.

We (ok, me) decided to not find out the gender. Everyone thought we would have a boy. I secretly really, really thought it was a girl. And she is. A girl with reddish hair and very impressive belly.I am so very thankful for my surprise baby. We had a great day together. Tom brought home flowers on Friday.
Today we ate leftover pizza, went to Goodwill (where we bought a Captain America coffee mug!) and put baby to sleep by caressing her sweet little face. My gift was that I didn't change a single diaper. The night ended with year old cake. Yum.

Once upon a time...

2009-04-06T14:14:00.000-04:00

there lived a lady and a man.

They married.

Nine months later, a little baby girl was born.