Sunday, October 24, 2010

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I had a crazy week this week and wasn't sure I would get the photos taken for the scavenger hunt. These aren't my best, but I tried.  Things should calm down for me next week I hope, but probably not

 1. Sky
This would have been great for the sunset last week, but it works for sky this week.
 2. 5 Senses 
It's so exciting to watch him explore new things.  It's like learning all over again!
 3.  Dining
This was my anniversary dinner.  I couldn't decide and got a hamburger, but it may have been the best hamburger that I have eaten.  It was a lovely evening spent with friends.  It was so strange to be out without the baby.
 4. Child
He's just too cute!
 5. Night
I had a crazy week this week and wasn't sure I would get the photos taken for the scavenger hunt. These aren't my best, but I tried.  Things should calm down for me next week I hope, but probably not.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Finding Balance

I am having a tough time balancing the things that I want to do, need to do, and should do lately.  After working all week and running around I usually don't want to do all the things that need to get done and should get done on the weekends.  I am trying to make priorities, but sometimes that doesn't even work.  There have been things on my list of to do's for a month that still haven't gotten done.  I am trying to adjust to this new managing of my time.  Some nights it is enough to get the baby to sleep and at that point all I want to do is sleep.  Thankfully my husband is amazing!  While I am getting JP to sleep he is usually cooking dinner for the two of us.  If I had to do it, I don't think we would eat. 

We used to cook our meals together and we tried lots of different recipes.  It was so much fun.  Last night we actually did this.  I had to make a vegetarian food for lunch at work today and we made a crock-pot soup together after we ate dinner.  At that point I decided that we need to do that more often.  We need to set up the crock-pot at night and have a meal ready in the morning.  It smelled delicious in our house and we have plenty left to eat and freeze even after I brought some to work.  This is something that we need to get better at.

I have also been trying to exercise and am still finding it tough to fit it.  It is something I want and need to do.  I really did my best with this when I had a trainer once a week and was going to the gym.  I know that right now that is not feasible due to a few restraints.  I have been trying various exercise videos I have taken out of the library and this has been working I just need to make a better effort to do it.  Maybe if we eat dinner just a little bit later and I can do it right after I get him to bed.

I am feeling a bit like I am rambling on and on today, but it's just how I am feeling lately. 

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Playing with Gimp

I downloaded some free photo editing software, Gimp, because I don't have anything loaded on my laptop and we have Photoshop on our desktop and it is slow and not at all portable.  Since I don't really  know how to use Photoshop I figured that this would work.  My husband looked it up on cnet and it had great reviews.  I was playing around with a photo that I had previously posted.  I really don't know what I am doing, but I figured out how to add a texture from Kim Klassen.  I added a quote that I have used before on here as well. 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday


The Scavenger Hunt Sunday items this week were:
  1. Side Lighting
  2. Jack O' Lantern (October 2010 item)
  3. Faces formed in Nature (October 2010 item)
  4. Sunset
  5. Warm
 1. Side lighting

I loved the way the light was hitting this apple just right from the side.  This was taken on our trip to Vermont.  I'd love to go every weekend!
2. Jack-o-lantern
 3. Faces in nature
 This one was tough for me, but we found it in the arboretum!  Such a pretty place.  More to come on that!

4. Sunset
 I wasn't able to get a sunset picture til the last minute.  This is taken from my sons bedroom window.

5. Warm

I am excited that I was able to do this two weeks in a row!  I hope that I can keep it up.  This week might be rough, but we'll see what happens.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Parent interview from Feet on the Ground

This week an interview I had done on parenting was posted on Feet on the Ground.  Please check out the interview.  D has a great blog and has conducted several interviews already.  It's been nice to read about different views on parenting and see how similar they can be.  I think that everyone finds their own parenting groove and that you settle in to what works for you.  If you get a chance check it out, the other interviews are great as well.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Infant Loss Awareness Day



I have thought about what to write here today, but I am not quite sure where this is going.  Today is Infant Loss Awareness day.  I am sitting typing to the flicker of the candle that I have lit for Lia Rose and all the other parents who have lost their babies, and I know many, but here's just one

It's quite amazing that just when you think that you cannot grieve anymore, that there are no more tears left to cry, something happens that brings you right back to that moment.  It could be a song on the radio, or that you have heard of a loss, or you see a picture...it could be anything.  I know that sometimes I still have a good cry for the loss of Lia Rose.  I find it happens most often in the quiet of the night as I am feeding JP or cuddling him to sleep.  He often looks like he is gazing right past me and it makes me think, can he see her, is he so innocent that he can see her and she is right there with us.  Our own little angel.  That's when the tears usually start and it isn't that inconsolable crying that occurred in my deepest of grief, but more of a gentle stream of tears.  If Lia Rose was here JP would not be and that is so strange to think about because I cannot imagine life without him.

I hope for a day that no babies are born still, but right now I know more people who have lost babies than haven't.  The losses occurred at all different stages.  I am thankful that we were able to hold Lia and have a service for her.  She is buried in a special section of the cemetery that is dedicated to infants.  It breaks my heart when I go there, but I am glad that I have someplace to go. 

I have learned how strong I am, how strong my husband is and how strong we are together.  I know that we can do anything.  I learned that there are so many people who truly care and would have done anything that they could.  I learned that sometimes people come into you life at certain points for a reason, and people go out of your life for the same reason.  I learned how incredibly generous people are.  I am a changed person having gone through the loss, I feel that I have lost so much, but in a way have gained even more and for that I am thankful.  I don't think that a year and ten months ago I would have ever thought that I would say anything like that.

So thank you Lia Rose for cracking my heart wide opened and showing me what unconditional love truly is.

At one glance/ I love you/ With a thousand hearts-Mihri Hatun

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Long weekends





Long weekends are my favorite! I mean really who doesn't love them. This one I spent in Vermont with my two loves and our very good friends. We saw gorgeous fall leaves from the top of Killington, went to barn sales and tasted beer at some breweries. All in all it was a fantastic weekend. The worst part as usual is just the traveling there. Leaving we did great because the little guy decided to get up at around 2:30 and wouldn't go back to sleep so we left by 4. Needless to say we were both exhausted that evening. We still had a great time though. Today it is back to reality! Why do short weeks seem so long sometimes?

I also must say that I am overwhelmed by the response to my photos for the Sunday Scavenger Hunt. It was fun to take the shots, but the feedback is really just what I need. It's nice to hear when others like my photos aside from my husband. I don't proclaim to be great, but I do enjoy it and I think that with practice I'll keep getting better. I am still learning my camera. So to all of those who left such nice comments thank you!!! The pink converse were my favorite shot as well.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sunday Scavenger Hunt

I am participating in the Sunday Scavenger Hunt over here.  These are my photos for the week.
1. Pink
2. Books
 3. Fall Colors
 4. Leaf
 5. Orange

I played with some of these in photoshop as I am trying to learn how to use it a little bit.  I hope you enjoy my pictures from the Sunday Scavenger Hunt.  I am not sure I will be able to keep up with it all the time, but I am going to try.  We'll see how it goes.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Gina Red Tartan Plaid Gathered Infinity Style Scarf with Button Detail

My Bestie is a very talented artist and this is her new Etsy shop. We've known each other since we were three and have been through just about everything together. I have some of her necklace charms and they are the CUTEST ever! I love the scarves and this one is named after me!!!! I think I am going to have to get one of them...the question is which. Check out her site.

Gina Red Tartan Plaid Gathered Infinity Style Scarf with Button Detail

Sunday, October 3, 2010

New Kicks

Check out my kicks!  

Another great weekend with the family!  Sundays are always a little bit sad for me because I know that the two days that we spend together just aren't enough for any of us.  Saturday was an absolutely perfect day here.  A trip to the farmers market and the outlets near our house.  I couldn't resist picking up these converse for JP.  My husband stopped in the store to look and I really couldn't help it.  The best is that they match mine!  They look adorable on his little feet, which apparently are not so little we had to buy him a size 4.  They are a bit big, but he'll grow into them for sure!  Yay to weekends with the family.

Today is a gray day outside and it is much cooler than I thought it would be.  I welcome the cooler weather right now though.  It's a refreshing change from the heat that we have had.  The leaves are starting to turn and fall and the air has a crispness to it.  

I came across this today and I think that I am going to try to do it, Sunday Scavenger Hunt on Ramblings and Photos.  It looks like fun.  I am not sure that I can manage, but like I said, I will try.  I need to keep motivated to take pictures of things other than my little man.  Although he is one of my favorites to take pictures of.  I have a bunch for the photos that are coming up next week.  I still need a few more.  Hopefully I will have some time to do it.